Roses Career Day

From police work to graphic design, Saint Rose’s annual Career Day offers plenty of options to student who wish to pursue various careers. The day was packed with fun and interesting lectures from people with valuable work experience. Students were able to ask questions about working hours, what daily life is like, and how the speakers decided on those careers. They spent the day learning what working in a real work environment was like and gained more knowledge about important aspects of the job.

When considering a career there are many things that need to be taken into account, but the most recurring theme in each presentation was to pick a career that makes you happy. Every speaker appeared fully content with the work they were doing, and they were  more than happy to share the work they were so proud of with others who wished to pursue the same field. Thank you to our wonderful volunteers who took time out of their busy schedules to tell our students all about their busy lives and their aspirations.

SRHS Artists Shine

On Thursday, March 21, students were able to show off their artistic abilities during the Monmouth County Teen Arts Festival at Brookdale Community College. Students were able to show off their pieces and share their performances with other schools form the area and to receive criticism from professors on how to better their performance. This trip included exhibitions from our students, performances from our choir and dance team, and workshops where our students were able to better their skills and even pick up new ones.  Victoria Reich 19’, was able to perform a solo as a part of the Saint Rose Choir had this to say about the experience, “I have gone to Teen Arts for the past four years, and I have always benefited from the advice of professionals. The guidance provided is always useful and meant to help us succeed in our respective artistic disciplines.”

This trip is coordinated by Mrs. Fulton, one of the art teachers at Saint Rose, who teaches classes such as computer graphics and foundations of art. She encourages the student to always put their best work forward and to always think creatively when working on a project. When I asked Mrs. Fulton about the Teen Arts Festival and what it means to her she had this to say, “The Teen Arts Festival is a celebration of the Arts at the high school level! The festival gives our students the chance to not only celebrate their accomplishments but those of their peers.”. With a decline in funding for art programs all over America, these types of gatherings are important now more than ever. This program gives students the chance to enhance their skills and to let them express themselves in an environment that encourages and nurtures their talents and helps them grow into wonderful artists. So, do your best work, and maybe next year, your work will hang on the wall.

AP English Visits Senior Center

 

On Friday, December 7, 2018 the AP Language and Composition students had the opportunity to visit the Senior Center located approximately one block from St. Rose High School. The prior week, the students collaborated and created a series of questions for the senior citizens to answer in their interviews. Each student was assigned a senior citizen and the event went over spectacularly. The students gained a new appreciation and a better understanding of the senior citizens. The senior citizens loved sharing the stories of their lives and spending the afternoon with enthusiastic high school students.

The trip was coordinated with the aid of Mrs. Conover, The AP Language and Composition. She saw a need in the community for interactions between highschool students and the elderly. She wanted our students to have interactions with our Senior Citizens and give them the opportunity to share in their lives. Often times, our elders can feel forgotten or unimportant. Giving them the time to share their life stories gives them a renewed sense of dignity and allows our students to see everything they accomplished in life and learn from those lessons. Mrs. Conover hopes that the AP Language and Composition class realized the wealth of experience and history that older people can share with us and that they received a few words of wisdom that can help them in their life. Perhaps they were even able to make a new friend! Mrs. Conover enjoyed seeing a genuine look of happiness and joy on the faces of the senior citizens.  

We all have a story to tell, which the elders recognized and began asking our students about their own lives and it became like conversations and not only interviews. It was fantastic to hear that the students also had a great time visiting the Senior Center. Fiona Cinquegrana ‘19, exclaimed, “ I really enjoyed it, my senior citizen was really cool! I had a great time, it was fascinating learning about her impressive life.” Mary Schuld ‘20 said, “I enjoyed learning about their life experiences, I would love to go back!” Anna Cahill ‘20 recounted, “It was super interesting to get advice from people who have lived such amazing and full lives.” Overall, the students who participated in the Senior Center visit only had good things to say about the experience. It is heartwarming to hear how the visit has affected the students’ lives at St. Rose High School, hopefully the lives of the senior citizens have been touched similarly by the students.

Competing Roses

The St. Rose Softball team is excited to be back on the field. The team is led by returning coaches Joe Braun, Tina Bogdanski, and Justin Sauer. For the first time in years, there are both Varsity and JV Teams. With over twenty girls on the team, the group is split in two from time to time to let the younger girls get experience in the field. Victoria Zawada, Maeve Cosgrove, Isabella Tallarico, Molly Moore, and Halle Pannkuk are captains for the Varsity team and Emma Spang and Ella Rossetti are the captains for the JV team. Everyone is incredibly excited for the new changes and they’re all ready to be back.

This year, the softball team was moved up a division to the Non-Public Division A. This means the competition is much fiercer than it has been before, but it is nothing the Roses aren’t able to handle. Despite the difficulty, the girls have been working harder than ever before and giving their best effort to put up a good fight during games. Last year, the girls made it to the first round of states after a successful season. The team is working their hardest to try and relive last year’s excitement.

There are four seniors on the Varsity team this year. Maeve Cosgrove, Dashka Delva, Taylor Landau, and Victoria Zawada are overjoyed to be back for their last year at St. Rose. Maeve and Victoria began their St. Rose Softball careers their freshman year while Dashka and Taylor started their junior year. Despite only having been on the team a short while, Dashka and Taylor both agree that softball has been a highlight of their high school careers. Maeve and Victoria are two of the Varsity captains this year, and it is turning out to be a bittersweet ending for both girls. While they are excited for this next phase of their lives in college, they are sad to be leaving behind such a big part of their high school lives.

The rest of the team is rounded out by Emma Krebs, Abigail Dyhr, Hannah Hensler, Cecelia D’Erasmo, Samantha Kelly, Brianna Berzins, Monserrat Merino, Jamie Caltabilota, Morgan Crowley, Ellen Gallagher, Mia Rose, and Emma Spang. The team is feeling hopeful and ready for their season this spring.

“James and the Giant Peach” Performed!

The Spring Musical this year was “James and the Giant Peach”, based off of the book by Roald Dahl. The show tells the story of a young boy, James, who is forced to live with his atrocious aunties, Spiker and Sponge, after losing his parents. He soon discovers a magical potion that turns a dead tree into a blooming giant peach tree. James soon finds himself inside the giant peach and on an adventure with five human sized bugs, all with their own unique personalities. They are soon on a trip across the Atlantic, but things take a twist when they finally land in New York City.

Megan Stefanacci played the titular role of James. Other principle characters included Taylor Landau as Aunt Spiker, Jada Weedon as Aunt Sponge, Madison Cancro as Ladahlord, Dillon Groh as Grasshopper, Tori Reich as Ladybug, Gavin Springer as Earthworm, Calista Colbert as Spider, and Samantha Jordan as Centipede. The ensemble was composed of Angela Hickey, Zach Alseika, Gianna Chuisano, Anna Nardelli, Fiona Cinquegrana, Isabella Stevens, Mary Schuld, Kayla Latendresse, Jenny Bassi, Nico Landino, Angy Audelo-Riano, Erin Doran, Maria Wong, and Samantha Golding. The show was directed by Reid Henderson, choreographed by Christine Baglivio, and musically arranged by Brian Krajcik. Julia Benol also worked as the student director for the production.

The show took place on March 1, 2, and 3 at the Spring Lake Theater. This was the first time in over four years that the show has been performed here. With the new venue, students had access to new equipment, more space, and a more professional setting. Everyone was incredibly grateful for the upgrade in venue as it gave everyone on both cast and crew more creative freedom as well as exposure to a newer, more technical setting.

Rehearsals began when students returned from Christmas Break. Everything was in full swing as the cast learned the dances, songs, and scenes to prepare for the show. Reid Henderson, who made his St. Rose directorial debut with the fall drama, guided actors through their roles and helped everyone give more meaningful performances. Christine Baglivio worked as the choreographer for the show and taught students not only the dances but also how to perform them well and showcase their talents. Brian Krajcik returned for his third year of musical direction and helped students showcase their vocal talent throughout the show. Julia Benol assisted during rehearsals by suggesting ideas, taking notes, and recording videos so students could watch and practice the choreography at home. During the show, Julia was in charge of all of the musical cues backstage.

The Spring Musical was a huge success with audiences raving for weeks after performances. This show is the first of many changes and upgrades coming to the music and performing arts department at the school over the next year. St. Rose is working to put more funding and work into the arts department to make it a more educational and enjoyable experience for all involved. “James and the Giant Peach” entertained audiences and showed the first signs in a new and improved arts department.

 

Advice to the Class of 2019

As the class of 2019 prepares to graduate on June 4th, it is important that they are given valuable advice from faculty members. These faculty members have guided and supported us through our high school careers, and the seniors can all benefit from their wise words. The faculty are an extremely valuable resource to students of all ages, however, the seniors can take the advice further as they move onto college next year.

The impact that the faculty have had on the senior class is evident in the academic performance and incredible character displayed by the students. It is evident that the seniors and faculty have formed a close bond over their time at St. Rose, and the students have confided in the faculty as a source of support and friendship. As the end of the school year approaches, the faculty was more than happy to bestow their wisdom upon the seniors. The Courier had the opportunity to speak to faculty members, and ask them what tips and advice they have for the graduating seniors.

Sister Marie O’Hagan provided lovely guidance  on how to keep God in our lives as we move into a new chapter.  She advised, “Wherever you go in life, look for God’s light. If you can’t find it where you are, then provide it yourself; Always remember, whatever you give to the materially poor, you will get back; God loves you unconditionally.” It is important to remember the influence of God in our lives; He is watching over us in everything that we do, and will always be available to provide solace and comfort in any situation. As college approaches, the seniors can keep this with them in times of stress and sadness.

In terms of the social aspect, Mr. Critelli spoke about getting to know people and putting yourself out there. He said, “My advice would be for freshman to be open for any and all new opportunities during the first two or three weeks. Keep your door open in your dorm, walk around the floor and meet new people, go to Rush and the club fairs going on around campus. Even if you’re not somebody who does not consider them self to be social, I would challenge that person to go out at night and try to get comfortable in situations that they are not used to. Every single freshman is just as nervous about making friends and the college experience. They are dying to meet people just like you!” And, in true Mr. Critelli fashion, “Do your best forget the rest, obviously.” We, the senior class, are extremely grateful for the guidance and friendship they have given over the last four years. We will carry what they have taught us through the rest of our lives beyond college; they have done so much to prepare us for the future and to help us succeed in this next chapter of our lives.

The Top Ten

The Top Ten Students for the Class of 2019 have been announced! It is a bittersweet time for our seniors, as their high school careers are coming to an end. The graduations celebrations have already begun, and it started with the announcement of the Valedictorian and Salutatorian of the Class of 2019. These awards are given to the two students who have achieved the highest grade point average in their class. These two students have gone the extra mile during their high school years and have committed their time to their studies, assignments and exams. Thanks to their hard work and dedication to academics, two senior boys have received the award of academic excellence.

 

The award of Salutatorian is given to the senior student with the second-best grade point average in their class. The Salutatorian will deliver the Salutatory speech at the graduation celebrations. At Saint Rose High School, this is the Baccalaureate Mass. This is the first speech given at the ceremony. The award was given to Brian Gero. We congratulate him on this outstanding achievement and wish him luck on all his future endeavors.

 

The award of Valedictorian is given to the senior student with the best grade point average in their class. The Valedictorian will deliver the Valedictory speech at graduation. This honor is given to the student at the top of their class, thanks to their extraordinary commitment to their academics. The award was given to Nico Landino. We congratulate him on this outstanding achievement and wish him luck on all his future endeavors.

 

The remaining Top Ten, in alphabetical order are:

Zachary Alseika

Jennifer Bassi

Matthew Forleza

Dillon Groh

Taylor Landau

Samantha Mikos

Anna Nardelli

Maria Wong

Senior Transition Day

On March 6, St. Rose had its annual Senior Transition Day in the Little Theater to give the Seniors a glimpse into the world after high school. Four speakers were brought in to talk to the seniors and give presentations throughout the course of the day. This is held by the SADD Club to help the seniors move from the St. Rose shell and warn them about the possible ‘destructive decisions’ that college students can make during this significant transition. The main focuses of the day were mental health, safety in relationships and sexual safety, and maintaining your faith throughout the next four years. These speakers came from the organizations Minding Your Mind, 180 Turning Lives Around, You Cannot Be Replaced, and St. Rose’s very own Father Chris.

The first speaker of the day came was Father Chris who talks to our students with a great ease and brings a calming atmosphere to everyone. His focus was the importance of  strengthening our relationship with God while we are in this overwhelming adjustment to a very different part of our lives. It was a good way to ease into the day before the talks got more serious.

The next speaker was  Lucas from Minding My Mind. This organization’s speakers are people who have battled depression throughout their life and so they decide not to share their last names for a slight sense of anonymity following their visit. Lucas deeply delved into his struggles that he has faced with depression since he was a junior in high school. His case was one that showed how truly anyone you know could be suffering with depression and you would never even know, which is a far more common and concerning subject than we know. Stories like this raise awareness to the seemingly unlikely cases that could be in your family or some of your close friends and highlights how important it is to check on people.

          Jennifer Carasia was the speaker from 180 Turning Lives Around to talk about the dangers that can come with being in a relationship and the dangers of sexual predators as students approach a popular age of common victims of sex crimes. She discussed the importance of being able to reach out to others and to be strong enough to leave your boyfriend or girlfriend. These situations can happen to anyone and they are very much a reality in our society.

           Chip and Melissa Dayton (Father Chris’s parents!) also came to speak for their non-profit, You Cannot Be Replaced. The organization was started by their daughter because there was a time of great distress in the community because several high school students she had known had taken their own lives. She wanted a way to find some sense of comfort and unity for everyone and told her parents that she wanted to make bracelets with the slogan: You Cannot Be Replaced. The idea is to pass on the bracelet to someone you think may need it. They started making hundreds and it caught more fire and they made thousands. They carry on the organization with their daughter due to its popularity and shows our seniors that even though situations may seem very bleak, you can turn the community around.

The seniors are always very grateful for Transition Day and it is always a great success and will certainly continue for future classes.

Hitting the Links!

Girls Golf

The girls golf team has had a monumental year. The Varsity team consists of Seniors; Kelly Crines, Lauren Hickey, Kate Bourke, and Fiona Jordan, Junior; Emma Dougherty, Sophomores; Kiernan Hickey, and Anne Ditullio, and Freshman; Leah Duffy. The team also has its first JV team with 6 members. The team has won 5 matches beating Freehold Borough,  St. John Vianney, Barnegat, and Ranney twice. In addition, the team placed 4th in the Monmouth County Tournament, and Emma Dougherty qualified for the Shore Conference Tournament. When asked, Kiernan Hickey explained the team morale, and what the team was about, “We are a close-knit team, as there are only 8 of us. We are constantly cheering each other on, and want the best for each other. It’s never hard for us to laugh on the golf course, and we know how to have fun while playing!” The team will be in good hands next year, after the seniors graduate, and the future looks very bright for the Girls Golf team!

 

Boys Golf

The Boys golf team has had a very successful season! The team consists of 10 members, seniors; Brendan Kenny, Travis Long, Tim Schall, Matt Forlenza, and Andrew Harms, junior; Matt Deluca, sophomores; Michael Fluhr, and Michael O’Rourke, and freshman; Liam Donnelly. The team is 9-1 as they have beaten, Holmdel, Ranney, Shore, Red Bank Catholic, Wall, Manasquan, Pt. Beach, and Monmouth Regional. In addition, the boys placed third at the Wall Invitational Tournament, with Brendan Kenny placing first individual with a score of 73.The boys placed sixth in the Shore Conference Tournament. The senior boys are proud of finishing their last season playing for St. Rose strong, and the future of the Boys Golf team looks very bright with the help of the underclassmen!

SRHS Visits Spain!

For the first time since 2001, students and faculty from SRHS travelled abroad to Spain! The group consisted of Señora Delgado-Lavalle, and Señorita Mantlick, and 11 students; Shannon Brown, Jamie Bassi, Jenny Bassi, Kelly Crines, Erin Doran, Tara Glover, Brenna Harold, Lauren Hickey, Alex Nappi, Emma Spang, and Anna Southwell. The trip was run through the Worldstrides program, and were led by their tour guide Hugo! They were also joined by another school from Seattle!

 

The trip ran from Friday, April 19 when they flew from Newark Airport to Frankfurt, Germany and then to Madrid, Spain. The group experienced the enriching culture of Spain through various activities. In Madrid, the group saw many monumental landmarks  including Plaza Colon, Plaza de Espana, the Royal Palace, and the Reina Sofia Museum, that was enriched with beautiful artwork. One night the group took a cooking class where they made Paellas, Huevos con Patatas, Sangria, and the Spanish dessert Torrijas. The meal was very delicious and everyone had a great time. One day the group travelled to the small city of Toledo, where they were amazed by the stone architecture of the city. In Toledo, the group was taken on a guided tour to see St. Mary’s Synagogue, Toledo’s Cathedral, the Monastery of San Juan, and to a Sword Factory, as Spain is the Sword making capital of the world. Two students, Shannon Brown and Alex Nappi, even bought swords for home! After traveling to Toledo, the students spent their last night in Madrid taking a flamenco dance class. The group was graced with the lesson from professionals and they experienced the show they put on for them after. Everyone then took high speed train to Barcelona, where they were immersed in the fast and exciting pace into the city. In Barcelona, the group took a guided tour where they saw Park Guell, the infamous Sagrada Familia, Barri Gotic, and the Olympic Stadium. In addition they were informed about Picasso’s famous artwork as they visited his museum, and learned about Gaudi’s architecture and design as they visited his Casa Mila. The time spent in Barcelona was equally as rewarding as they spent a lot of the time shopping and experiencing the foods of the city, to bring home souvenirs to their families and friends.

 

The group made many memories from eating Tapas, Paellas, and Churros con Chocolate, to listening to a rap battle between Shannon and Alex, to practicing their Flamenco dancers on the beach and everything in between. The group will never forget the memories they made, and the laughs and smiles they shared, with the help of the hundreds of pictures they took. Everyone hopes that the trip at St. Rose will continue in the future because they want other students to experience the same exposure to culture and the fun that they had. The group flew home on Friday April 26 from Barcelona Spain, exhausted but grateful for the time they had.