Volume 2, Issue 2

The Blarney Stone D e c e m b e r 1 9 , 2 0 1 2

Christmas Edition

Vocal Ambassadors and Band Impress!

Fine Arts pg. 1

Christmas Traditions pg. 2

Mistletoe pg. 2

College Signings pg. 2

Make a Difference pg. 3

Spring Musical pg. 3

Poms/Basketball pg. 5

Short Story pg. 6

Spain Trip pg. 7

New Staff pg. 8

Homecoming pg. 9

In This Issue

The Blarney Stone has undergone many

changes over the past few years. What

used to be a monthly, printed publication

has now gone digital and is produced just

four times a year. Why is this? With the

advent of e-mail, internet and social

media, news travels much quicker these

days. Our Blarney Stone student

newspaper is still a valuable resource to

our school, but the need for numerous

editions and “hot of the press” news is no

longer necessary. As you can see, our

paper now focuses on more editorial

based articles. With that said, we would

like to invite you to join our staff. We are

looking for good writers, photographers

and artists who would like to share their

talents. Don’t worry, you can work on

your own time, you simply need to email

your work by the deadline.

We are also are looking for a new editor.

If you would like to be part of this, please

e-mail our moderator, Miss LaMore at

glamore@bishop-mcnamara.org

And be sure to have a Merry Christmas!

Dear Community of Bishop McNamara,

A Letter From Your Editor?

Top Gifts of 2012

• Smartphones

• E Readers

• MP3 Players

• Gift Cards

Top Toys of 2012

• Disney McStuffins Doll

• Crayola Light Dispenser

• Undersea Mermaid

• LeapPad 2

• Furby

• LOL Elmo

• Wii U

Congratulations to the McNamara

Band and Vocal Ambassadors! The

holiday shows were fabulous! Both

groups performed at their annual

concert and the Ambassadors sang at

the Museum of Science and Industry

while the band played at a local nurs-

ing home. If you haven’t had time to

watch your classmates perform, you

are in for a treat at this year’s spring

concert. Both programs have made

great strides in the past few years!

The choral program has added a

great new name, flashy outfits and

choreography! The band has been

steadily growing under the enthusi-

astic leadership of Mrs. Ruesch and

they sound great! Both groups offer

our students a chance to showcase

their talent.

Christmas Traditions

It’s that time of year again! The Christmas songs are on the radio, everything’s decorated for the holidays, and people are

out and about shopping for the perfect gift. There’s just one thing missing… the SNOW! Around the holidays everyone

gathers together to celebrate and everyone celebrates in their own unique ways. As a family, some... pick out a fresh

Christmas tree to decorate; bake sweets and goodies; have a large holiday party; get together to exchange gifts; or go to

mass. A few students’ traditions are:

Senior Brant Beland said, “A tradition I have is I go to the Christmas parade in Bradley.”

Jordan Lakomiak, a junior, said, “Every year around Christmas we choose one day and all we do is bake. We make

all kinds of cookies, sweets, and other Christmas goodies. Another tradition we have is there is always Christmas music playing.”

Sophomore Jorge Juarez stated, “My family and I do posadas, it’s a Spanish tradition we have. It is singing and a reenactment of Mary and

Joseph trying to find a place to stay. We also have one big family reunion and exchange gifts.”

Bailey Theisen, a freshman, exclaimed, “On Christmas morning we always have cinnamon rolls for breakfast! They are so delicious. My

cousins also spend the night either Christmas Eve or Christmas night, it’s so much fun.”

Although we can get caught up in the fun of Christmas, our family traditions keep us rooted in the true meaning of Christmas: the birth of Jesus

Christ. MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!

By: Cassie Skyer

The Magic of

the Mistletoe -By Taylor McThenia

What is it about the mistletoe?

Does it have magical powers? Some

people think the magic of the

“kissing plant” is a myth, others

think it’s an important part of

Christmas/ New Years Eve spirit. It

is even said that mistletoe can cure

illnesses.

Traditionally, the mistletoe is hung over a doorway or a

person will come up holding it for two people to kiss.

The mistletoe has a wide history. A story exists about

two enemies who were fighting in the forest and stum-

bled upon mistletoe. Because of this, they had to have

a truce for the whole day. Is this magic? Does a kiss un-

der the mistletoe really cause people to fall madly in

love with one another? Magic or not if you have a spe-

cial someone make sure you meet them under the mis-

tletoe this Christmas!

College Signings

Congratulations to our classmates who have signed to continue their athletic

careers in college!

Caitlyn DeLong signed

to play softball at

Goshen College in

Indiana.

Jaelen Hull signed to

play softball at Bradley

University in Peoria, IL..

Alee Rashenskas signed to

play softball for West

Point.

Sean Corcoran signed to play football (long snapper) for Penn State.

Photo unavailable.

This year’s Spring Musical is Bye Bye Birdie!

Try Outs

January 16 & 17, 2013

6:30 pm Cafeteria Stage

Performances

March 23, 24 & 25, 2013

Kankakee Jr. High School Auditorium

For more information see Deacon Skelly.

All students should get involved in what promises to be a great experience!

YOU Can Make a Difference! From a Student’s Point of View

Be the difference you want to see in the world.

“I’m starting with the man in the mirror, I’m asking him to change his ways. And no message could have been

any clearer. If you want to make the world a better place take a look at yourself and make that change,”

- From Michael Jackson’s “Man in the Mirror”

This is one of the best songs I’ve heard because of the message it sends. Listening to these lyrics is an inspiration.

The world that we live in today isn’t always a nice place. I can say that from personal experience that life isn’t always

easy. But what I have learned in my short seventeen years of living and especially in the three that I have spent in high

school, is that it can’t always be about YOU. Now that I’m in high school I have looked at real world situations and

wondered “why?”

The worst thing about high school kids is that most complain, including myself. We complain about how people are treated, the way people

live, how people act, etc. But what do we do about it? WE can make a difference in this world. Children and adults are hungry; we say it isn’t

fair…feed them. Teenagers commit suicide; we say it’s sad…stop making fun of them. LOOK AT YOURSELF AND

MAKE THE CHANGE. As much as we like to think teens should be happy and positive, teen suicide has become a

huge issue; and much of it is due to bullying. The types of bullies out there range from one to infinity. The

irony behind it is that those being bullied aren’t always the people you look at and think, “They’re weird,” or,

“they’re not like us.” Not to say that it’s not them either. But many suicidal teens include the all-star quarter

back, the class president, the brainiac, the head cheerleader, and the kid who everyone thinks is a loner. Every-

one has their own problems whether it is at home, in the classroom, or maybe even on the streets. Tearing

someone down to give you a high isn’t worth the life of someone else. Thinking about how much their words

hurt doesn’t even usually go through the mind of the person making fun of someone else. Sometimes it can

even be your own best friend who thinks you won’t be hurt by mean spirited things they may say. Calling

someone a; faggot, fatty, slut, ugly… that person could go home every night and cry themselves to sleep.

Maybe that same person listens to their parents screaming at each other, or their siblings doing drugs and throw-

ing parties, or maybe they don’t have a home… maybe they live in a foster home, or with a friend, or another fam-

ily member. You never know. No one knows the strength that it takes for some people to wake up in the morn-

ing. No one knows the fight people have to fight everyday to stay alive. The fact of the matter is this; here at Bishop McNamara we are all

most likely very fortunate… there are others out there that are not so fortunate. Even with us living the life we do now, coming to a private

catholic high school every way, we face troubles. There are students in this school that have to fight everyday to wake up and maybe even to

go back home. Why not make the lives of those around you pleasant.? Stop sitting around and talking and thinking about it, go out and make

a difference in the world. Help someone in need. Make a new friend. Feed the hungry. Help those men and women and children that have

been assaulted. Do something good not for your own benefit, but for the benefit of a complete stranger… you may change their life.

By: Allison Kuhn

Photo: The Kurzejka brothers

assisted at this year’s

Thanksgiving Dinner.

From State Dancer to Basketball Star

From State Champ Dancer to Basketball Star

Now, obviously no one has seen me “balling it

up on the court” or “making 3’s like it’s my job”

but I’m no longer spending my long hours after

school in the cafeteria. I suppose I’ll have to

start at the beginning. In the school year of 2009-2010, while cur-

rently attending Limestone Grade School, I came to Bishop McNa-

mara to try out for

the Mac Poms and

boy was I scared as

ever! Low and be-

hold I made the

team. I was as ex-

cited as a little kid

on Christmas morn-

ing. It was such a dream come true. Practices started that May and

after that day, they never stopped. If you know anything about the

Poms or even see them while walking through the cafeteria, you

know they don’t let a minute go by without doing something rather

productive. March of 2011 finally came around, and as we’ve all

shared several times, we won state. But, the journey didn’t stop

there. Practices started

right back up again at

the beginning of May

and we were already

working towards our

next goal of winning

state for the TDI Cham-

pionship of 2012.And once

again, after a long and trying

season we won. We would’ve never been able to be so successful

without our coaches Lisa Tutt, Kendra DeMarah, and Timoney Ger-

non- Elliot. Now that was over and

another group of beloved seniors left

us, and it was startin’ time again. This

time, we started in June; things were

off to a different start this year. We

had a new coach for the summer and

then Mrs. Baronowski (Haley’s mom

as most people know) took the

reins of our crazy team. We’re for-

ever thankful for this otherwise; they wouldn’t have been a team

this year. A conflict arose and as I never dreamt of happening, I

backed away from the only “high school life” I’ve ever known slipped

through my hands as I knew it. I knew life was going to move on,

with or without me and I was waiting for God to answer the ques-

By: Olivia Sproul

tion of “What now?” And boy did He answer it. To keep this from

being too lengthy, I was at a cross country meet with Katie Calvert

and I saw Mrs. Gonski there. Katie, Mrs. Gonski, and a few other girls

were talking about basketball and how excited they were for their

season to start. I threw out the idea of me being on the team and if

that wasn’t the “joke of the day” then I’m not sure what was. But

then I started thinking, high school is too short and goes to fast to

just sit around and watch it pass by. Sounds cliché, but think about

how many things everyone has the opportunity to do while in high

school. Sports teams, clubs, band, chorus, Green Key, you name it,

and high school usually has it. But why don’t we? We’re scared be-

cause we feel we won’t be able to remember all the cheers or

dances, or be the one to miss the winning basket at an important

game, or be the one that doesn’t get to the buzzer fast enough and

we’ll lose for our team. I saw God answer my question that day at

that cross country meet. Mrs. Gonski told me to come on out and

she’d be very happy to have me. So as scared as I was that first day

of (EXTREMELY HARD) conditioning, I went. I had so much fun being

a part of a new team, with people I’ve never even taken a second

look at, but we’re so excited to have someone new to teach and

take an unexpected journey with. I honestly considered playing or

not because I didn’t know the plays or even who went where or

what the positions were even called. The first words that came out

of my mom’s mouth were, “Olivia…….. You’re never even going to

make a basket.” I had played basketball before…. In like fourth

grade. But I talked to Mrs. Gonski and we figured out a more suit-

able job, Team Manager/ Statistician. I absolutely love it. It’s so fun

being part of a team and a great, loving one at that. I’m so glad I

took a risk and tried something new. I really encourage all of you to

do the same whether it is big or small. It’s a phenomenal feeling.

Talk to new people or join a new club, or in you’re off- season try

swimming or tennis just for the heck of it. You’ll make several new

and unexpected relationships. Always remember to make the best

out of a pessimistic situation and always be the bigger person and

just move forward. Because life moves on with or without you. And

for the record…. Y.O.L.O.

Photo: Around the time of tryouts.

Photo: Our reaction to winning state my

freshmen year

Photo: Getting ready to perform at

the Turkey Tournament

Photo: At a competition last year (Harajuku Girl)

Bad Day—A Short Story

Writers

Allison Kuhn

Taylor McThenia

Anonymous Contributor

Cassie Skyer

Olivia Sproul

Photo Credits

WAYBA

Nikki Liptak

Rhonda Kinstner

Gina LaMore

Olivia Sproul

Blarney Stone

Contributors:

You know that feeling that when you’re on the Space Star at the Fair? It’s when they first close the door to the ride; it starts spinning and

your whole body is compressed. Then afterwards, when you get off, the air feels wonderful. That’s exactly how I felt when the truck hit me; com-

pletely crushed but then fine. How odd. I was a kid in the middle of the street unharmed after being hit by a truck. I looked at the house across

the street but no one saw anything because there was nobody around. I finished crossing the street to the side walk and turned left onto my

street. It may be weird that I live across the street from my school but still, home is home. I entered through the unlocked door. The room was

spinning and turning different coolers. I barely had time to lie on the couch before I collapsed.

I started dreaming that people were screaming and that someone needed help but never got any. They all screamed and died from a fire.

Agony, destruction, pain, these were the things that were hurting them. Couldn’t I help? Couldn’t I tell the people to come together and get some

water? I woke up in a cold sweat. The once bright sky was filled with a starry night. I got up and walked straight to my bedroom without even car-

ing about my chores. I fell fast asleep in my bed.

I had another dream where I was changing into black clothing. Nothing on my body was visible, I even wore a ski mask on my face. I

opened my window and jumped out into the soft, earthy ground. Then, as if the sun had appeared in the clear of night, a car with its headlights on

zoomed down the road. I was already there. I felt the speed and the direction of the car and knew where it was going. It was almost as if I was the

car! After some time I entered a city. The city had large skyscrapers and was crowded with people swarming through the sidewalks, even at this

late hour. As I was zooming down one of the various streets I noticed that one of the skyscrapers was on fire

and that civilians were trapped!

I headed that direction until I came upon crowds of people trying to get near the fire while police tried

to keep them out of the harm’s way. Behind the orange barricades was a massive black skyscraper with orange

passing over parts of it. I jumped out of the car and watched the chaos unfold. One of the police officers finally

obtained a blow horn .

“People please stop pushing your way into the building, the fireman and the police force are trying to save as

many lives as possible and put out the fire.” he stated in an authoritative tone.

“But there are still people in there! “wailed a woman from the crowd.

“As I said we our trying to save as many lives as possible and put out the fire.” He repeated.

They aren’t going to save everyone? I thought. I have to do something! I started to weave through the

crowed and managed to gain access to the front of the building. I somehow managed to get inside unnoticed.

I raced ahead and managed to make it towards the top of the building where the fires were.

“HELP! HELP! SOMEONE ANYONE HELP!” Screamed people in the room beyond.

There were two large steel columns blocking the door. I touched one of them with my hand and oddly it felt cold. I lifted the columns,

which were surprisingly light, threw them to the side and smashed open the door.

“Come with me if you want to live!” I said

I managed to get them all out of the room and down the many flights of stairs until they were safely outside the building. I hurried away

from the scene before the police had a chance to figure out how the people got out. That’s when it dawned on me… I can do whatever I want! So

I walked up the side of a skyscraper and focused on trying to make the planet’s gravity reverse. To test my skills, I spit up into the air only to

have it land back down on my face. Then I inhaled deeply and my eyes fluttered up. That’s when I realized I was no longer dreaming.

To Be Continued in the next issue…

Game: Christmas Songs

Draw a line from the song to the correct lyrics.

Songs Lyrics

Silent Night On a cold winter’s night

We Three Kings Looked down where he lay

Joy to the World Round yon Virgin mother

Deck the Halls And Heaven and nature sing

Oh Come All Ye Faithful Bearing gifts we traverse afar

Away in a Manger Joyful and triumphant

The First Noel Tis the season to be jolly

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen God and sinners reconciled

Hark the Herald Angels Tidings of Comfort and Joy