For many students school is not just a place of learning, it is a place to meet friends and discover talents that cannot be explored in the classroom. One such student is Caitlyn Coyle, who plays the violin with the school choir group, Encore.

Caitlyn has been playing violin for several years and has been playing with the school for the last two years as a current sophomore. She accompanies the school’s vocal choir at their concerts and during mass. “It’s really interesting to see how all the different sounds fit together,” stated Caitlyn. “And it’s even more fun because I get to play with my friends.”

Being a student musician means attending rehearsals every week. The school’s choir group Encore meets Tuesdays and Thursdays to rehearse their music. Besides attending rehearsal, Caitlyn says, it is necessary to practice at home as well. “I need to make sure I have the music down because I have to be ready when they start singing.” Needless to say, being a student musician is a lot of work, both at school and at home.

Although it can mean extra work, being involved with the school’s music program does have its perks. “I like it because it’s extra time I get to spend with my friends and we all have fun at practice,” Caitlyn stated of playing violin for the school. “Normally I play on my own, but this is different and that makes it interesting.” Playing with the school is hard but rewarding work in the end.

Caitlyn also finds that playing music for her friends challenges her more than playing on her own. “On my own, I don’t challenge myself as much as I do with them, because I know they’re depending on me.” Friends can be help to improve each other by kindly pushing them to do their best. “I know they’ll tell me if I mess up, and I can count on them to help me improve.”

Overall, being a student musician can be challenging but is mostly rewarding and enjoyable. It also helps students like Caitlyn push themselves for their peers. As Caitlyn says, “[My friends] help me to do the best I can and I push myself harder because I know they are counting on me.”

By Sarah Hendricks ’17

It is always interesting seeing siblings interact with each other in school, and one pair of sisters that walk St. Rose’s hallways are Lauren and Sarah Bunn.

Lauren, a sophomore, and Sarah, a junior, love going to school together and talking about what happened throughout the day at St. Rose. Besides seeing each other around the house, the Bunn sisters now share another common experience. When asked if they ever see each other in school, Sarah said that the two sisters barely see one another except for at lunch. Lauren and Sarah sit at the same lunch table and even sit next to each other. “It was the only open seat,” Sarah says, laughing. “But it’s nice to spend time with her.”

Like all siblings, Lauren and Sarah share some similar interest. For example, both sisters like to run, play sports, have a love for animals, and listen to the same genres of music. Both sisters take Latin and have had the same teachers. They even played on the same sports teams in grammar school, such as the soccer and basketball teams. Particularly, they both love to play and take care of their dog Moose. Moose, who joined the Bunn family in November, holds a very special place in both Lauren’s and Sarah’s hearts, and has given the sisters another thing in common.

Although they are very alike, Sarah and Lauren participate in different sports and other activities. Lauren runs track and cross-country while Sarah plays volleyball and swims for St. Rose. Other differences include their favorite ice cream flavors and even their favorite colors. Typically, the sisters get along, but as usual there is sibling conflict. “We eventually get over it. It’s usually not that big of a deal,” Lauren explains. When asked about friends, Sarah and Lauren do not share any of the same friends. Both the sisters joke that they like each other’s friends more than they like their own sibling. In addition, according to Sarah, all of Sarah’s friends claim to like Lauren more and all of Lauren’s friends claim to like Sarah more.  “Of course she would say that,” responds Lauren.

Growing up together has provided Sarah and Lauren with various memories of each other. Lauren recalls her earliest memory of Sarah. “We were playing Polly Pockets and she would tell me what to say during the game. Typical Sarah.”  Now, although they no longer play Polly Pockets, the sisters still spend time together in different ways. For instance, now that Sarah has her license, she drives Lauren to different places. “One of my favorite things to do with Lauren is to drive around listening to our favorite bands,” explains Sarah. “Specifically, the Front bottoms.” Even though the Bunn siblings are different, they like spending time with one another. “When it comes down to it,” says Sarah, “I love my sister and can’t imagine life without her. It’d be weird fighting with someone else.” Whether it’s getting ice cream or driving home from school, it is always an adventure for Lauren and Sarah.

By Caroline Lowry ’17

Helping Hands is one of the many wonderful clubs at St. Rose that reaches out to serve the broader community.  It is run by Sister Eileen who devotes her time to staying after school and meeting with the officers to develop projects for the other members to get involved in.  The club usually meets on one Thursday a month, sometimes more if necessary.  The officers, who are elected by the underclassmen, may meet with Sister Eileen more if necessary.  Helping Hands is involved within St. Rose, but is more dedicated to the broader community and serving others in need.

Every year, members of Helping Hands donate food to be sold at the annual Walk-a-Thon.  Sister Eileen and some other members are at the halfway point selling the waters and snacks to all students participating in the walk.  Club members are responsible for signing up and bringing in the items to be sold.  Every year for Thanksgiving, every student signs up to bring in an item for the food drive during religion classes.  Helping Hands is responsible for organizing and boxing the large amount of food brought in by their classmates.  The club gathers in the hallway afterschool and pitches in to make sure everything is in the right spot.

Other projects developed by Sister Eileen and the officers this year were extremely successful.  For example, the club got involved in the “Birthday Box” program for the Emmanuel Cancer Center.  Members paired up and chose a child from a list of patients or a sibling of a patient to help make their birthday a little more special.  The box was filled with party supplies, a small gift, and other fun items appropriate to the age of the child to be given to them for their birthday.  Also, club members brought in jellybeans to be sold during school lunches to raise money for families in need during Easter.  Members came after school to put the jellybeans in festive bags to be sold in the cafeteria for a dress down day.  They also made Easter necklaces to be given to children for some Easter fun.

Helping Hands is a wonderful way for students who enjoy reaching out to others to put their talents to work.  It has many members and is extremely welcoming, especially to freshmen looking to get involved right at the start of the school year.  The one-a-month meetings are perfect for students who participate in a sport because it is not a huge time commitment.  Sister Eileen loves for everyone to come and to stay as long as they can, even if it is just a few minutes.  Brendan Considine ’19 said, “Helping Hands was a really fun way to do a good deed and to get involved in the school right away.”  Join Helping Hands to serve the community in a very special way!

By Katie Considine ’17

Ever wonder what a day in the life of an AP student is?

St. Rose High School offers numerous AP courses to their students, in hopes of challenging and engaging their advanced studies. Students are able to excel in classes such as AP: European History, French Language and Culture, Biology, and Calculus, to name a  very few. These advanced placement options are taken very seriously, as students work hard to achieve high scores. A score of at least three is passing, and usually a four and five may count towards college credits!

Senior Jeff Mahon lives a busy life at St. Rose High School! He is able to maintain a GPA of at least 96 to keep his placement in the National Honor Society. While busy completing hours of community service throughout the year, he is a key player on both fall boys soccer and winter boys swimming team. As he perfects left defense on the field and breast stroke in the pool, he manages to also participate in clubs such as Helping Hands and Ambassadors. There, he is able express his appreciation for his school, and  share the academic excellence he has experienced. Jeff finally adds AP classes to his list. As a junior, Jeff was a part of AP English Language & Composition, AP United States History, and AP Spanish Language and Culture. He was able to achieve a high score of 3 on his US History exam, putting him above the national average! That was thanks to his hard work and dedication, diligent note taking, and studying outside the classroom.

This year, as a senior, Jeff is in AP English Literature and Composition, as well as AP Environmental Science. His English class is taught by Mrs. Carlotz, his environmental science by Mrs. Bergman. “My favorite part of AP Literature has to be the Socratic seminars. I find group discussions extremely helpful on better understanding of any book. When the entire class participates, I see the literature through different perspectives that overall better my own thoughts on what we had read,” said Jeff. Some of his favorite pieces read in the class include Great Expectations by Charles Dickens and “The Rocking Horse Winner: by D. H. Lawrence.

Students just like Jeff Mahon can be found all around St. Rose High School. The teachers and guidance counselors encourage their students to take further steps in deepening their education here. A day in the life of an AP student is a busy one, but it is a great one!

By Kelsey Patrick ’16

There are a plethora of siblings that attend St. Rose High School. One set of siblings are sophomore Will Lemonie and freshman Sarah Lemonie.

Families are attracted to the closeness of St. Rose High School and the quality of education. Once an older sibling attends St. Rose, it is very common for younger siblings to follow soon after. This has been the case for so many families that have gone through St. Rose. Attending the same school as a sibling really brings the family closer together.

Will and Sarah have a very close bond and they carry that into St. Rose. They both attended Wall Intermediate School, therefore they were used to attending the same school. This made for a smooth and quick transition to high school for the two of them. It has become a routine for them to go to the same school everyday. They do not have any classes together but both are very quick to help the other with their schoolwork and homework. Will likes going to St. Rose with his sister Sarah because he knows she is safe in the St. Rose High School community. Sarah enjoys going with her brother because he is able to share his class experience with her.

Will and Sarah are both very involved with St. Rose in terms of sports, activities, and clubs. Will is the ice hockey goalie and also plays golf. Sarah plays field hockey and lacrosse. She is also a hockey team manager and takes pictures at the games and makes the video slideshow for the hockey banquet. They are very supportive of each other during their sports seasons and love to go out and cheer for each other every chance they get. “I like the atmosphere of St. Rose and also how our school comes together for good causes such as the wounded warriors basketball tournament,” stated Will. Sarah stated, “I like how St. Rose is a small school. But the school still shows so much spirit supporting sports teams. I also enjoy how everyone is so friendly.”

The school community sees the great relationship these siblings have. Senior Lily Murray was a hockey manager along with Sarah this year. She shares her thoughts on their relationship, “It’s nice to see how supportive Sarah is of Will’s high school hockey career. By never missing a game and always congratulating him after, it really shows the tight bond they have as brother and sister. I think this is something that is very sweet to have in our St. Rose High School community.”

Will and Sarah are great examples of the closeness of siblings that attend St. Rose. They are very involved in school activities. The Lemonies are also very supportive of each other and the other St. Rose students and they also enjoy participating in events that promote school spirit such as sporting events.

By Jeffery Mahon ’16

Encore! is the music group at St. Rose High School. This group consists of members who are ready to break out in song whenever possible! From masses to concerts, Encore! has done it all. They continue to bring the creative spirit and energy to each and every liturgy. Something truly special occurred just this year. There has been a new addition, The Joyful Noise choir! Joyful Noise consists of the Encore! group with the members of the spring play. Together they work in harmony to produce a lovely sounding ensemble. The Joyful Noise choir performs at every mass. Encore! is glad to have teamed up with the cast of Singin’ in the Rain to provide a beautiful selection for each mass.

Emily Stewartson is the cantor for every mass here at St. Rose. She leads the church in song, uniting the school as one. Emily, along with everyone in the choir, work hard and prepare in advance to make sure each song runs smoothly. Mrs. Madden, the teacher of the group, works extra hard to make sure everything is perfect. Mrs. Madden is so dedicated to her students and job here at St. Rose High School! She puts time, energy, and effort into selecting songs to sing. Each song is hand picked by Mrs. Madden. She then practices each and every song with everyone until they know it front to back. Perhaps even back to front! Mrs. Madden encourages members to try their best and maybe get out of their comfort zone a bit. She understands that some people may be a bit more shy then others. She gives everyone a chance to shine and sparkle in the spotlight.

By Erin Flohr ’16

The library is the place to be! On a typical school day the St. Rose library is filled with students working on homework, classes utilizing the computers, and NHS members meeting for tutoring sessions.

The National Honors Society at St. Rose is a very popular student organization to be involved in. NHS requires members to participate in peer tutoring sessions; a member dedicates their time to assist students with understanding complex subjects. Senior Colleen Duddy is an NHS tutor and she helps fellow students in math, specifically algebra 1, that may need her help. Colleen as well as all NHS tutors are assigned to a student in need of some extra help. The moderator of the National Honors Society, Mrs. Bordelon, aids students by running this program for the student body. Mrs. Bordelon allows NHS members to fill out a survey asking what times in the day they would be able to tutor as well as what subject they prefer.

When the tutoring assignment was presented to Colleen she took action and right away contacted her student by sending an email. Then Colleen worked out a schedule with her student that would fit both of their busy schedules. Colleen and her student plan to meet after school one day a week because this is what works best to fit their schedules. The flexibility in the schedule works well for Colleen because as a well-rounded student she is still able to concentrate on her own studies as well as her student’s.

In the library Colleen reviews work that is confusing for her student and she does practice problems to help her student in order to understand the lesson better. As they first arrive in the library Colleen signs in at the NHS tutoring binder. This binder includes what subject you are assisting in, how long you tutor for, and the teacher’s name for the class you are assisting the student in. Prior to the tutoring sessions Colleen meets with the teacher of the class she is tutoring in. This is a great way for her to go over the coursework that the student is currently learning. This also allows Colleen to be more aware of what certain aspects the student is struggling with.

To make sure that the NHS tutors are performing their jobs Mrs. Bordelon keeps in contact with the tutors on a daily basis. She also checks in with the students to make sure that they are in attendance for study sessions. This is crucial for the program because it is a two-sided process and requires both to be present for a successful outcome. The NHS tutoring program has several students whom are academically qualified and able to lend a helping hand in any specific subjects.

Colleen expressed that her experience as an NHS tutor has been very rewarding over her past four years at St. Rose, “There is no better feeling than when you teach your student something and they begin to understand.” This student organization brings together students in a different atmosphere and the result makes it all worthwhile. “I like helping the younger students thrive in their studies and feel like I am making a difference,” Colleen stated.

By Clare Peropat ’16

There are many siblings in the St. Rose community, from twins, quadruplets, or just brothers and sisters. Many families send all of their children to St. Rose because of the friendly, loving, and Catholic environment St. Rose creates.  One set of siblings at St. Rose are Titus and Addy Hood; Titus is a junior and Addy is a sophomore. The two siblings grew up in Jackson, New Jersey, and both attended St. Aloysius, in Jackson. The Hood siblings are used to going to school together from when they were little, although they were separated for a year because of their age difference.

Addy and Titus have a very close relationship. “I am friends with both of them, and it is nice to see siblings having such a great relationship, especially around school. It makes a positive atmosphere and the two of them serve as great role models for other siblings in the St. Rose community,” stated Junior Hannah Gammond.

After talking to Addy, it is obvious that the two enjoy going to school together and have a good time together. Addy stated that it is fun knowing the same people and having common friends. “It’s nice seeing him in the hallway throughout the day. We don’t have any classes together, but we both take Spanish 2 so it’s nice to have a built in study partner at home and always have someone who can help you with school work,” Addy stated.  The two often hang out with the same group of friends after school, on the weekend, and at school events. Titus also says that he likes having his little sister in school because watch after her and help her succeed in her schoolwork. “I help her with Spanish since we are in the same level, but she also helps me with some things with is also nice.”

The two siblings are both active in the St. Rose community, especially through playing sports. Titus plays soccer, swim, and lacrosse. While Addy plays volleyball and lacrosse. Playing sports is one of both of their favorite aspects of St. Rose because of the nice people and competitive atmosphere. Through sports, Addy says that she has met a ton of Titus’ friends, so they share common friends.

Overall, the Hood siblings are a part of the multiple sets of siblings found throughout the St. Rose community, and add to the positive, close-knit community that St. Rose creates. Although St. Rose is already known for having a tight bond between students, families and siblings create an even closer community.

By Paige Regan ’16

The Lab Assistants club is run by Mrs. Bergman who also teaches Chemistry and AP Environmental Science. Membership is open to everyone in any grade level, and the club meets every Thursday. Before getting to work, lab assistants often enjoy a snack provided by moderator Mrs. Bergman. Once they get started, they usually help prepare scheduled labs for science classes as well as clean up after them. They get to familiarize themselves with lab equipment as they clean and arrange them. Assistants are also tasked with watering plants in the 500s hallway and feeding the two class snakes, Rosa and King.

Members do much more than work, however, as they also meet for club parties; to kick off the year, they meet in the fall for Bunsen burner s’mores party. The group also conducts cool science experiments outside of the classroom, hear from returning alumni who were also lab assistants, and enjoy a pizza dinner to end the school year. During the science fair award ceremony in the spring, members are honored with a gift from Mrs. Bergman for their faithful service of one, two, three, or four years.

By Armelle DeJoie ’16