Anjali Moothedan – Providence Academy Word

May 24, 2017June 6, 2017

And They’re Off!

For many, the thought of graduation began on the first day of senior year. Many students savored the last year of their high school experience. Others like, Luke Butek, Colin Neeson, and Leah Barron counted down the days until they would be “free”. Graduation, however, is the last night all the seniors come together in honor of graduating. They also come together in remembrance of their high school experience with one another and to treasure the unforgettable memories they made.

“I am so excited to be done with high school, but I am nervous to start all over again” says Jack Wall. High school is where you build character and independence.
“I think one of the hardest things for me will be leaving the people I have grown up with since I was like 5, and starting a new beginning without them. I know I can do it, but the thought of it is something I am still coping with,” says Ashley Servais.
Derek Onserio stated his excitement for a new beginning. “I am excited to see what I will become and how I will change. Comparing myself to the first day of high school to now, I am still in shock of how much I changed as a person. You hear everyone in the years ahead of you say high school secretly builds your character without you knowing and you don’t really realize how true that is until you graduate.”
Graduation this year is on June 2nd in the new performing arts center. All graduates will be acknowledged for their achievements and will be included in memories given by teachers. Many seniors are excited for graduation but also know it will be a sad night. “I for sure am going to cry my eyes out once we throw our hats up. Their is no doubt in my mind that I won’t cry. I will honestly start crying when I start to put my gown on,” says Ellie Schneider. Jacob Zielinski also states, “Even though I will be with them for the next four years in college, I still will cry. Memories were made on these grounds that I don’t want to leave, but, hey, there are grounds in college we can make new ones on.”
One more farewell and the seniors will be on their way.
“I will start crying. I had some of these kids in Lower School and to see them go will break my heart, but I know they will do great things and make me more proud than I already am,” says Mrs. Harrington.
Once the seniors toss those hats in the air, their new lives begin.

April 30, 2017May 15, 2017

From Plaid to Solid

New beginnings are filled with excitement, adventure and a bit of nerves. As the year comes to an end, many seniors will be starting their new beginnings. Along with seniors experiencing this fresh start, 8th graders will be as well.
Towards the end of the year, an 8th grade banquet is held for all the 8th graders as a celebration for the end of middle school and the start of high school. As many have experienced, high school has many differences from middle school, but also many similarities.
“I am super interested to see how different middle school is from high school. In movies they always show the freshman being lost and scared and I hope that doesn’t happen to me,” says Kylie Onserio ’21.
When the question, “What are you most excited/ nervous about for high school” was asked, many 8th graders had a quick response. “I am excited for my high school experience. I am able to get my license and drive around with my friends. I also feel like my summers will be less boring,” says Abby Rossini ’21. Elliot Tomaschko ’21 says, “All your best and worst memories are in high school. I am nervous for that, but excited at the same time. I feel like I will enjoy my experience, but be way more stressed about homework.”
The transition from 8th to 9th grade is a very big milestone in a student’s life. With high school comes long nights and stress. But the most important thing obtained from being in high school is new opportunities and memories. The experiences had in high school never go away. Challenges will be faced, but students learn valuable lessons which make them better people.
“At first, I think they will be nervous for the transition, but after the first day they will realize they got this and become more excited for whats to come!” exclaims the Middle and Upper School Director Mrs. Harrington.

April 27, 2017April 28, 2017

Out with the Dome, in with the View

dscn3596 — Dome take down almost complete

With Spring just around the corner, it is time to say goodbye to the dome. Lacrosse, track, softball, and any other spring activities will now be able to enjoy their sports under the sun.
The dome was put up at the start of Fall. Many local clubs like Maple Brook and Fusion use the dome at night as a way to practice or hold games. The dome has become a very popular place and is usually always booked by many different teams wanting to get the chance to practice.
The dome was put up on November 1st. It took about a week and a half to put it up and was taken down April 19th, 2017. The removal of the dome is a long process that takes many hands. It normally takes about 3-4 days to take down the dome.
Yeadon, the company that helps take it down, sends two or three guys to oversee the dome on the first day. As they start removing the dome they send more men. The first day starts off with the removal of the lights and net which is stored behind the bleachers. Then, on day two and three, they bring around 50 men to take the actual dome apart.
They use tools such as a blowman, lift, forklift, and a scissors for lifting up the net. The company itself does not own these tools, but rents them. This has caused issues in the past because the company has not been able to get the tools necessary.
Although the dome takes on an average about 3-4 days to remove, this year it took a week and a half because the company was not able to get the tools they needed on certain days. Also, due to the rain, the crew was not able to get rid of the dome on time because the dome was wet. This is a big issue because putting the dome away wet would cause mold and discoloring.
On days where there was no rain, all 50 men slave away from 7am-5:30pm, getting as much done as they can. This year, Yeadon needed to send a little over 50 men to help out since the dome removal was behind schedule. Some men were in charge of removing the 1,000 bolts used to tie down the dome. Others took down lights, nets, and cables and stored them under the bleachers. Finally, all hands were on deck to take down the dome itself. After the crew detached the dome from the bolts, the dome started to come down. Once down, the crew gathered all around it and lifted it. They then rolled it up, bundled it, and stored it in a fenced area that is located in the senior parking lot.
Next year the dome is scheduled to be put up on October 30th. The same process is done for the set up of the dome. “It is a long process, but man does it look nice when it is done,” says Mr. Jones.

dscn3599 — Just some of the many parts from the dome

The dome is not just a place to practice sports, but a way to come together as a community. Saturday afternoons are open to all families to bring their kids and run around and have fun. The dome allows us to play our sports and have fun which always makes for a good time.

March 15, 2017March 17, 2017

Lent

Lent is a time of repentance, fasting and preparation for the coming of Easter. Lent is a season of forty days, not counting Sundays, which begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday. It is a time of self-examination and reflection. In the early church, Lent was a time to prepare new converts for baptism. Today, Christians focus on their relationship with God, and also choose to give up something or to volunteer and give of themselves for others.
Many students at Providence Academy have decided to give up something for Lent. ” I decided to give up cookies at lunch because I get two or three a week and thought I would challenge myself,” says Carolyn Tomashko ’18.
Food is often the common thing people give up, but others decide there are other avenues to grow closer to God. “I gave up social media, like Snapchat and Instagram. This is gonna be really tough because those are the only two apps I really use,” says Elsa Feltl ’19.
Just like Elsa’s tough decision to give up social media, Grace Baird ’19 also gave up something she uses often. “I get Starbucks every day and have been for along time. But this season I really wanted to see if I could commit to my decision of giving up Starbucks every day. I will be really proud if I last,” says Grace.
After the season, the students who have chosen to give up something often have a reward for themselves. “I gave up all candy, and anything chocolate, so after Lent is done I have decided I am having a whole day of just eating chocolate and candy,” says Mark Richelsen ’19.
Throughout this month it is important for students and teachers to realize that giving up something, even a tiny thing, grows your relationship with the Lord. Lent is an opportunity for self-evaluation and sacrifice, so I encourage that the ones that gave up something, to not give up and grow in your relationship with God.

February 15, 2017March 13, 2017

Juniors vs. Seniors parking

Senior Jack Wall drives into the senior parking lot late Monday morning. Its already 8:20 am and he still needs to unpack and go see a teacher. He comes into the parking lot only to realize that all the spots have been filled. He questions this because he normally always has a spot, but today he doesn’t. So instead, he drives up and around to the front and just as he’s getting out of his car the bell rings and he receives a tardy.
Providence Academy senior privileges are very slim. But one advantage of being a senior is having their own parking space behind the building. This parking space allows only seniors the right to park there and no one else. But lately juniors have been parking in this lot leaving some of the seniors without a parking space in the morning.
“It’s a little frustrating when the juniors park in the senior parking lot because it takes spots away from us,” says senior Luke Butek. Senior Jacob Zielinski also says, “The juniors can wait a little longer before they start parking in the back.”
But juniors think that it is not a big deal, considering that they are almost seniors, so they almost have that right.
“I do sometimes park in the back when I’m running late in the morning because it saves me time,” says junior Carolyn Tomaschko.
“It is way easier to park in the back because then you can get out of school easier, and if you are doing track, you do not have to bring your car down to the back at the end of the day,” says junior Juliet White.
Parking your car to the back if you are a junior is easier, but it is also taking away spots that the seniors rightfully have.
“Juniors are not allowed to park in the back because that is reserved for seniors. They will get their chance when the seniors leave,” says Mrs. Harrington.
Now, not all juniors park in the back parking lot. Many do take advantage of the two available parking lots in the front and respect the seniors privacy.
“I don’t really have a need to park in the back. Plus I like parking in the front better cause there are more spaces and all my friends park up here,” says junior Mo Burns.
Juniors parking in the back is only a small problem, one that many people have not heard about. Only some juniors do it, not because they want to annoy the seniors, but because it is easier to get to classes. But they should respect the seniors right, and soon enough they will have that whole lot to themselves.