German Violinist Wows Audience

by Catherine Davidson-Hiers

Earlier this month, a German violinist flew in from New York to play at UWF for a small concert. Samuel Park, a graduate of UWF himself, now attends Juilliard on a violin scholarship. Born in Germany but of Korean descent, Mr. Park’s musical enthusiasm is contagious. Often having been described as having a “sensual” interpretation of his art, Mr. Park demonstrated his outstanding abilities in an hour-and-a-half concert in which he played as soloist for all but one piece. Notwithstanding, Mr. Park delivered each piece convincingly and emotionally; he also memorized and performed a ten minute composition by Franz Waxman, “Themes from Bizet’s Opera ‘Carmen.’”

In the first half of the concert, Mr. Park performed on a Baroque violin, which he explained to the audience, “differs greatly from a normal fiddle.” He then pointed out the gut-made strings and the lack of a chinrest. If one looked closely enough, one would also notice the differences between normal and Baroque violin bows and the differing sizes of the two violins.

Mr. Park was in Pensacola on pleasure, not business, but pleasure for him includes everything violin. That is how the lucky members of the UWF auditorium’s audience were able to experience the artistry of Samuel Park that night. Ending to the sounds of a standing ovation, Mr. Park was applauded back to the stage twice, and finally conceded to play an encore. Again, applauded offstage by a standing ovation, Mr. Park waved good night to many of the audience members; ten minutes later, he stood amongst them, greeting old friends and making new acquaintances.

Needless to say, it was a night to remember. Samuel Park’s “sensual” interpretation is haunting and emotional and will change the way many view and hear music now and in the future. Best of luck to him in his endeavors and Juilliard and Pensacola wish him a fond farewell and bright future.

St. Vincent dePaul Society Needs Your Donations

The CHS St. Vincent dePaul Society will be building Birthday Boxes for those less fortunate than ourselves, as some families struggle to choose between celebrating a birthday party or paying a bill.

Students may earn service hours by donating the following items to Mrs. Bell by April 23.

ITEMS NEEDED:

• Party plates and napkins, cups, forks, table cloth (FOR 8) (4 hrs)
• Balloons, streamers, and other party decorations (2 hrs.)
• Cake mix, can of icing, and candles (3 service hrs.)
• A fun party game, such as pin the tail on the donkey (2 or 3 hrs.)
• Birthday Invitations: (1 hour)
• Other items (service hours to be determined by Mrs. Bell)

Crusaders Push Forward for Wins

Yesterday, Tuesday, April 16, the CHS Girls Tennis Team tied for third in the State of Florida in the State Finals in the Orlando area, following three wins in Class 1A doubles and two in singles.

Also yesterday, the country’s No. 1-Ranked Crusader Baseball Team held onto its winning streak against Pace.

CHS Math Students Rake in Awards at Milton Competition

On Friday, March 8, twenty-five students, representing five teams, traveled to Milton High School for the 41st Annual Nicholas S. Walker Mathematics Tournament.  A First Place trophy was awarded to the CHS Algebra I and Precalculus Teams for their superior performance in those categories.  A Second Place trophy was awarded to the CHS Algebra II team.

In addition, CHS placed first in the overall competition by earning the highest number of points among the Escambia and Santa Rosa County schools in attendance.

Team members were as follows:  Algebra I – Gabrielle Dosev, Ethan Floyd, Michael Provosty, Michael Roberts and Heidi Schellin; Geometry – Hayden Broussard, Macauley Hafercamp, Megan Morrison, Eddie Neyman and Danny Sullivan;  Algebra II – Hannah Branstetter, Jodee Flurry, Maria Gund, Hannah Stefancik and Troy Stringfellow;  PreCalculus – Taylor Busch, Jackson Kemp, Joe Lennon, Taylor Merritt, and Joseph Snyder; Calculus – Giuseppe Feo, Maurice Inkel, Colleen Kidder, Talia Leonard and Angela McGaugh.

CHS Students Sweep History Fair Awards

Historical Web Site Awards

Senior Individual Website Division
Tie 3rd place    Gillian Peterson, “When Irish Eyes Weren’t Smiling: The Hardships of Irish Immigration 1845-1890 (Pensacola Catholic)
Tie 3rd place    Matthew Balette,“Curt Flood and the Free Agency Act” (Pensacola Catholic)

Senior Group Website Division
3rd place    Eric Pelham and Paige Mougey, “Opening the Door of Faith for the World” (Pensacola Catholic)
1st place     Drew Anderson and Sara Fuller, “Sputnik and The Cold War” (Pensacola Catholic)

Historical Paper Awards

Senior Division
Tie 3rd place        Hannah Bosarge, “The Invention of the Microscope and Its Impact on Medicine of the 17th and 18th Centuries” (Pensacola Catholic)
Tie 3rd place         Case Wagner, “The Marian Reforms: A Comprehensive Report on the Reforms of Consul Gaius Marius in 107 BCE” (Pensacola Catholic)

Historical Documentary Awards

Senior Individual Documentary Division
3rd place     Chad Jasso, “Attack on Pearl Harbor” (Pensacola Catholic)
2nd place    Nick Villanova, “We the People” (Pensacola Catholic)
1st place      Katarina Kurtts, “America’s First Big Business: How Railroads Generated Economic Prosperity and Created America’s Modern Business Institution” (Pensacola Catholic)

Senior Group Division
3rd place       Taylor Busch and Haley Sherman, “The Haber-Bosch Process: Transforming the Food Industry”    (Pensacola Catholic)
1st place         Olivia Ross and Taylor Merritt, “Dorthea Lange: Giving a Face to the Great Depression” (Pensacola Catholic)
Historical Exhibit Awards

Historical Web Site Awards

Senior Individual Website Division

Tie 3rd place    Gillian Peterson, “When Irish Eyes Weren’t Smiling: The Hardships of Irish Immigration 1845-1890 (Pensacola Catholic)
Tie 3rd place    Matthew Balette,“Curt Flood and the Free Agency Act” (Pensacola Catholic)
1st place            Corey Nolan, “Fostering the Future of America: The Louisiana Purchase” (Pensacola High School)

Senior Group Website Division

3rd place      Eric Pelham and Paige Mougey, “Opening the Door of Faith for the World” (Pensacola Catholic)
2nd place      Zachary Berryman, Caleb George, and Emily Bougher, “The Creation and Effects of the Food and Drug Administration (Pensacola High School)
1st place        Drew Anderson and Sara Fuller, “Sputnik and The Cold War” (Pensacola Catholic)

Historical Paper Awards

Senior Division
Tie 3rd place     Hannah Bosarge, “The Invention of the Microscope and Its Impact on Medicine of the 17th and 18th Centuries” (Pensacola Catholic)
Tie 3rd place     Case Wagner, “The Marian Reforms: A Comprehensive Report on the Reforms of Consul Gaius Marius in 107 BCE” (Pensacola Catholic)

Historical Documentary Awards

Senior Individual Documentary Division
3rd place     Chad Jasso, “Attack on Pearl Harbor” (Pensacola Catholic)
2nd place    Nick Villanova, “We the People” (Pensacola Catholic)
1st place      Katarina Kurtts, “America’s First Big Business: How Railroads Generated Economic Prosperity and Created America’s Modern Business Institution” (Pensacola Catholic)

Senior Group Division
3rd place     Taylor Busch and Haley Sherman, “The Haber-Bosch Process: Transforming the Food Industry”    (Pensacola Catholic)
1st place      Olivia Ross and Taylor Merritt, “Dorthea Lange: Giving a Face to the Great Depression” (Pensacola Catholic)

Historical Exhibit Awards

Senior Individual Division
3rd place     Zackary Wyant, “A Glorious Morning: The American Victory at the Battle of Saratoga” (Pensacola Catholic)
2nd place    Hannah Branstetter, “Criminal Profiling: A Psychological Approach to Law Enforcement” (Pensacola Catholic)
1st place      Steven Pearce, “Penicillin: The Wonder Drug” (Pensacola Catholic)

Senior Group Division
Tie 3rd place   Carter Haferkamp and Hunter Haferkamp, “The Battle of Gettysburg:   Turning Point of the Civil War” (Pensacola Catholic)
Tie 3rd place    Anne Tran and Philip Tran, “Frank Whittle: The Jet Engine” (Pensacola High)
2nd place          Jodee Flurry and Macauley Haferkamp, “Broken Promises: Lakota Sioux Disputed Land” (Pensacola Catholic)
1st place            Peter Jutras and Mary Jutras, “Can’t Bear the Heat: A Look at Our Nations Fire Policy” (Pensacola Catholic)

Drama Club to Present Wizard of Oz

Students are rehearsing for Wizard of Oz! The play is Tuesday, April 23, at 3:15 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. in the school Gym. Come join Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin Man, the Lion, and the Wizard of Oz himself for a fun-filled time.

Make-up and costumes transform students into Dorothy, Scarecrow, and Tin Man.

Living Stations a CHS Tradition

The Living Stations of the Cross is an annual tradition at Pensacola Catholic High School.  Through our meditation on the last hours in the life of Christ, we are able to draw closer to Him and come to a deeper understanding of the meaning of the Cross. This is a prayerful event in which students pantomime the traditional 14 stations of the Cross. Many of the “actors” from the Senior Class have been participating since their freshman year.  However, all students are invited to be a part of the tradition.

Standardized Testing April 29

Monday, April 29, is set aside for the annual EDS standardized testing for all students in grades 9, 10 & 11.  Students will report to their assigned homerooms by 7:40 a.m. on that morning.  It is very important to arrive on time and to be prepared. The tests will run until about 1:45 p.m., with breaks and lunch to be announced.   No classes will meet on that day; however, it is a required day of attendance and very important that you are present to complete your EDS testing from 7:40-1:45 p.m.that day. bbStudents who miss the EDS test date of 4/29 will be required to make-up the test on another day.

Get plenty of rest, set your alarm, eat a good breakfast, arrive to your homeroom on time, and be sure to bring your two sharpened #2 pencils for the test on Monday, 4/29.

Some great “perks” given to the students to encourage optimal achievement are:

–Students may wear jeans on both Monday, 4/29, and Tuesday, 4/30!

–Students may chew gum during the test on 4/29!

–Students will have NO homework on both Monday, 4/29, AND Tuesday, 4/30!

–Pizza (Papa John’s) lunch will be served FREE OF CHARGE to all students and faculty members on Monday, 4/29, including a drink.   SLA will NOT be serving any other lunch options that day so any student who desires something other than pizza is encouraged to bring their own lunch on 4/29.

Course Highlight: Documentary and Narrative Filmmaking

by Jack Nguyen

Students used a camera crane to capture this angle.

The students of Documentary and Narrative Filmmaking are immersed in a world of filmmaking theory and history, as well as hands-on production. Teacher, Travis Patterson, guides students in the use of equipment such as shotgun microphones, HD camcorders, HD Video, SLR cameras, and a camera crane. “Mr. Patterson taught us out to create different shots in a film with a camera, taught us different camera techniques, and how to do other operations such as audio,” shared Sjoerd Green.

More than learning the tools, students undertake the process of filmmaking.  From storyboarding and script writing to filming and undertaking post-production and marketing, students are at the center of learning.   Students take on various roles in pre- and post-production, including acting. “I have learned that it takes a team to make a movie,” said Dominic Seale. “This class has furthered my knowledge of how the movie-making process works.”

At the center of the students’ work is Umbra, a comical, urban legend short film about Abdullah la Gucci, a transfer student, who quickly learns his new high school is home to a few strange characters and a mischievous entity.

“As of now, we are in the process of post-production which includes editing, music accompany, and sound effects. We’re also making trailers and posters. Pretty much, we’re making and marketing our film all in one class,” said Sam Peterson.

Students turn to acting to complete the film.

Many more exciting productions are expected from this thrilling elective. “This is one of the best classes I have ever taken.  It is amazing!  I have learned so much.  We learn the behind the scenes of filmmaking,” said Peter Jutras. “It is one of the best classes I have ever taken.”

Peter is not alone in his opinion of the course. “I’ve absolutely loved this class.  I’ve learned so much about one of my biggest passions: filmmaking. It’s been a lot of fun, and I’ve made many good, lasting memories,” said Adam Newsome.

iRead Book Club

by Josef Pezdirtz

The iRead Book Club is a club moderated by Mrs. Frandsen, our school Librarian. They read many interesting books, including The Demon King by Cinda Williams, City of Bones by Cassandra Clare, and Helen of Troy by Margaret George.  Most members agree that their favorite book so far has been The Uglies by Scott Westerfield. They plan on reading Life of Pi by Yann Martel and Seraphina by Rachel Hartman.  At the meetings, they discuss the literature they have read and eat snacks, though every discussion seems to lead to Harry Potter or Twilight.  Mrs. Frandsen usually prepares topics for members to discuss, though the discussions seem to take off without much stimulus.  The iRead Book Club is a great club for anyone who likes reading and talking about books.