Anita Perez ‘24 After many colleges across the country have gone “test-optional,” College Board announced on January 25 that by 2024, the SAT will be taken online by all students and will only take two hours.
The digital format of the SAT was first tested in November 2021, and 80% of student subjects reported that it was easier to take and less stressful. 100% of the teachers involved also reported that it was easier to administer and had a “positive experience.” International-based students will be able to take the SAT online by 2023, while American students will be able to take it by 2024. This new format of the test will allow students to use a calculator on the entire math section, and reading passages will be shorter. It also allows students to receive their grades in days rather than waiting anxiously for weeks. Cheating will also be nearly impossible, as every student would receive different test questions. The exam will still be scored out of 1600 and will still be administered in schools. Representatives at College Board have reassured that if one’s internet access went out, they would not lose their work or lose time. They will also provide computers and tablets to those who do not have access to one. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many colleges and universities are no longer mandating specific SAT scores, or don’t require to know them at all. Representatives at College Board say that because so many schools have gone test-optional, they want to give students “the best possible option” if they choose to submit their scores. Students have mixed opinions on whether or not they’d prefer taking the test online. Some think that it would relieve some test anxiety, while others think that traditional pencil and paper is the way to go. Giana Capialbi ‘24 says, “I think that it is really good that it will be easier because it’s such a big factor in college and some people don’t do good on it only because they are bad test takers.” Lily Keane ‘24 says, “When I’m using paper I can write my thoughts down and I’m a lot more focused when I do that. I feel like I work better on paper instead of on my computer.” Some seniors that have taken the SAT are shocked at this change because the test was so important for them. Niamh McCarthy ‘22 says, “After spending much of my junior year preparing to take the SAT, it is crazy to see that standardized testing is becoming less of a factor in the college admissions process.” Not only does College Board’s decision to change the SAT’s format take pressure off high school students, it brings forth questions regarding the future of standardized testing. Will all standardized tests go digital after this? Or does this mark the end of standardized tests?
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Kristen Russo '24 On the morning of January 9 2022, a deadly fire broke out in a Bronx apartment building, killing 19 people and harming 44, 13 of whom were left critically injured. Nine out of the nineteen that passed were children.
This apartment fire has caught lots of attention as this tragic accident has been said to be “One of the worst fires witnessed in the city of New York in modern times.” The building where this all went down is located in Fordham Heights in the West Bronx. This apartment complex was first built in 1972, so it has no fire escapes. And in case of emergency, residents have to rely on getting downstairs by the stairwell. The fire first began when a space heater had a malfunction, and it sent smoke spreading all across the halls and stairways. It spread all the way up to the 19th floor, causing everywhere in the entire building to be filled with suffocating and sight-taking smoke. Daniel A Nigro, Fire commissioner, stated “Smoke spread throughout the whole building, thus the tremendous loss of life and other people fighting for their lives.” Some of the residents heard the fire alarms but did not react at first, since they would often hear many different alarms throughout the day. “The fire alarm goes off in the hallway all the time, at least twice a week,” said the 18th-floor resident. “People on the third,fourth, and fifth floor went about their day until they saw the smoke.” Firefighters had found victims on every single floor and worked hard to try and save lots of lives with very few oxygen tanks. Some residents were even saved by jumping out onto a landing pad from the third floor. Mayor Eric Adams stated that the city would help provide support for the victims, and made sure all injured victims received the help needed. Gov. Kathy Hochul also stated that she would assist the victims with the costs of burials, housing, etc. “Tonight is a night of tragedy and pain, and tomorrow we begin to rebuild,” she stated. Cardi B, American Rapper, is originally from the Bronx, and when she heard about this horrible tragedy she offered to pay all of the fire victims burial costs. Cardi B stated, “I'm extremely proud to be from the Bronx and I have lots of family and friends who live and work there still. So, when I heard about the fire and all of the victims, I knew I needed to do something to help. I cannot begin to imagine the pain and anguish that the families of the victims are experiencing, but I hope that not having to worry about the costs associated with burying their loved ones will help as they move forward and heal. I send my prayers and condolences to everyone affected by this horrific tragedy." Alex Sommerville '24 Governor Hochul of New York has proposed a 14 mile long mass transit line connecting Brooklyn to Queens. Hochul claims that this transit line would be able to fit up to 88,000 riders a day. MTA Chair Janno Lieber told reporters from CBS that the transit line would have a price tag in the “single-digit billions of dollars,” and construction would take between three and five years. They would put this transit line along the Bay Ridge Branch (Brooklyn to Queens) over existing railroads. This transit line would be extremely beneficial for New Yorkers. This would give people with longer distance jobs and schools an easier way of transportation. As we speak there are just abandoned train tracks along the Bay Ridge Branch, so why not put it to good use? It would be especially beneficial for Fontbonne students. Alara Brunell ‘24 said, “This would be great if they had a transit line connecting from Brooklyn to Queens. It would be very helpful and quicker for me to get to school.” Especially since it is very challenging to transport from Brooklyn to Queens, this would be a great idea. Queens Borough President Donovan Richards was interviewed by CBS and said “Any ways we can generate tourism, connect people to jobs, is a major step in the right direction in addressing inequality in this borough.” The Regional Plan Associations New York director Maulin Mehta said, “The need that has existed for a long time is finally aligning with some of the political realities that are needed to make sure that New Yorkers are thriving in their own communities.” Governor Hochul seems to be heading in the right direction to making transportation in New York quick and convenient. Efstasia Karahalios '24 Fontbonne offers many amazing opportunities for all interests, such as arts and music. Fontbonne Hall's concert chorus and chamber choir have been practicing for weeks for the upcoming performances they have. And they recently performed at St. Patrick's Academy on December 3, 2021.
They’ve been practicing every day after school for the Christmas concert. The groups performing are the drumline, the chamber choir, concert chorus, and the Tusks, Fontbonne’s rock band. The performance at St. Patrick’s left the girls ecstatic for the new one coming up. Tech-week has been in full swing since Monday, meaning the different groups have scheduled rehearsal time in the music room or in the gym. Rehearsals can range anywhere from 30 minutes to three hours. Thursday, December 16th is the final run-through of the show before Friday's performance. This last rehearsal will be from 3-5 pm, requiring all the groups and everyone to participate. “It's been a little hard to stay after school later and meet certain requirements, but it’s all worth it in the end, and I'm so glad we get the chance to perform this year,” states sophomore concert chorus student Tiffany Roqueta. “I’ve heard so many exciting things about the winter concert and all of Fontbonne’s holiday traditions. I’m so excited to perform,” says freshwoman concert chorus student Venetiana Garyfallos. Because of Covid-19, having live performances were uncertain, and many were postponed, but the music department and audience members are thankful we are able to have in-person events this year. The girls have been preparing and practicing for so long, and we wish the best of luck to them and Ms. Rege. [Editor’s note - the Winter Concert was indeed held on Dec. 17th, and went off without a hitch. It was a great success, as all Fontbonne students performed impressively. Thank you to Ms. Rege and all participants for bringing more holiday cheer to our Fontbonne family.] Courtney Murtagh ‘24 In early December, both the JV and varsity cheer teams competed at the Poconos Regional. The competition was held at the Lancaster Convention Center in Poconos, Pennsylvania. It was an important competition as it determined if the team would be going to Nationals.
The JV team competed early in the morning soon after arriving. The team placed second in their Game Day Cheer division. Varsity came in fifth place overall in their Game Day Cheer Division. Both teams earned bids to Nationals in Orlando, Florida. Nationals will take place during February break. Keira Ward ‘24 said, “The competition was my first time competing, so it was interesting. I am excited for Nationals but i'm definitely nervous.” Like every sport, the cheer team works hard. Kayla Leon ‘24 said, “I think the hardest part about cheer is the commitment.” The cheer teams practice two to three days a week for two hours. All team members are super excited to go to Disney and compete. Victoria Verrecchio ‘24 says, “Competition is fun but stressful. Getting a bid to nationals was definitely a surprise, but all of our hard work at practice paid off. I can’t wait to go to Disney with my team and compete all over again.” When asking students how they felt about the Cheer team going to nationals, I’ve found that everyone is impressed and super happy. Lauren Eposito says “I’m very proud that not only my classmates but some of my best friends won and are able to go to Disney''. Alex Sommerville '24 There was a new addition to Fontbonne Hall Academy this year! Ms. Nicole Mleczkowski teaches Algebra 1 and Geometry.
Born and raised in Middle Village, New York, she went to CUNY Queens College on a scholarship, going for a specialized program for mathematics. Ms. Mleczkowski specializes in teaching 7th-12th grade math. She is also currently in a joint Masters program, saying she is very excited to complete the program. Ms. Mleczkowski decided that teaching was the right fit for her when she was in 7th grade, and her teacher let her go up to the board and explain how to factor. She said that she loved the feeling of helping explain topics to people that were failing to understand it. On top of that, she has two younger brothers whom she helped through their middle school and high school math. She thought Fontbonne was the perfect fit because it is an all girls school, and she is a strong believer in women empowerment and encouraging women to not be afraid to be successful. Before she decided she wanted to become a teacher, she enrolled in a different college, majoring in civil engineering. Ms. Mleczkowski realized that it wasn’t the right fit for her and wanted to pursue teaching mathematics. Her favorite hobbies are reading, walking her dog, and hanging out with her siblings, saying she is looking forward to playing with her future nephew in a couple months. In high school she was the captain of the varsity handball team, winning three city championships. Following that, she was one of the finalists for best in the city for handball. “She is a wonderful teacher and she is always there to explain things to me when I need help,” says Courtney Murtagh ‘24. She is so glad she chose to teach at Fontbonne! Students seem to love her. Jenine Samara '22 Social justice is often politicized and associated with streamlined ideologies and concepts. At its core, social justice and activism are vital principles that merge the exercise of free speech and passion for issues that hold a deep personal significance.
As members of the Fontbonne community, we're called to apply gospel principles to pertinent social and ethical dilemmas. By taking ancient scriptures and using them as the fuel for modern movements, we uphold the mission of our faith and fuse it with our responsibility to champion change. On December 3rd, five other Fontbonne students and I took a trip to Washington D.C. to protest Title 42: an immigration policy that seeks to maintain tight borders while implementing racist procedures behind the facade of public health. Implemented under two different political administrations, this law and the issues that accompany it transcends political leaning. It deals with all individuals' inherent right to seek safety during social, political, and economic crises. It's a human tendency to organize people and things into groups. Labeling under a generic pretense is far simpler than taking the time to acknowledge various situations and perspectives. Likewise, when we hear topics such as the border crisis, we may collectively assign numerous people an overall persona and experience. On this trip, though, we had the chance to listen to the experiences of many, who all had vastly different backgrounds, but one collective desire for change. We learned that these issues take a personal effect on each person that varies in its presentation and severity, and we must utilize the privilege we have to aid them through speech and activism. Students' Perspectives: What is the most critical thing about activism? "The most important thing about activism is that it teaches people, especially the youth of today, to make positive change. For people our age, that means thinking critically about the laws in place, becoming aware of what's happening in our government, our nation, and thinking about whether or not it is making a positive or negative impact. Our voices are important. We use our voices to speak for people who can't. Activism is important because it works. It makes a change, and we need that to continue to better ourselves & our world". Anaya Qayyum '24 What is something students should know about Title 42? "This is a Catholic issue. Jesus called us to love and care for our dear neighbors. Jesus called us to welcome the poor. By responding to the call to action to end Title 42, we are doing what Jesus taught us." -Anastasia Morris '22. Have you had any meaningful discussions during the car ride or while walking throughout D.C.? "During the car ride, we were able to talk about the response to these very prominent and important issues in our society and how people can be ignorant about it, and all it takes is one little spark to ignite a fire of knowledge and awareness and support. It's up to the younger generations, and years under us, and we all must try to educate ourselves on the topic at least because if we don't know what is going on in our society, how will we be able to hopefully one day run it? Because we truly are the leaders of tomorrow and it is important to start now." -Andrianna Polito '22 Though the injustices we hear daily may appear to be out of our reach, as students, the prospect of achieving change is the first step in creating the improvements we seek. This, coupled with older generations validating the work of their descendants, is the means for forming thoughts into tangible action. Earlier this year, the Sisters of Saint Joseph released their direction statement which seeks to uphold justice and restore the widespread appreciation for diversity and inclusivity. As young women attending CSJ schools, it should become our personal objective to listen to the voices that are overlooked, and advocate for the ones that are unheard. Michael Franti once said, "When many little people in many little places do many little things, then the whole world changes." This day-long excursion provided me with the opportunity to watch Franti's sentiment come to life. Little people, both young and old, students from Fontbonne and sisters as far as New Mexico, came together as a community to protest legislation that affects a particular group but holds a collective moral implication. For more resources on Title 42, and how you can be part of the effort see the following links:
by Efstasia Karahalios '24 For a few years, the English Language department at Fontbonne Hall taught the book The Lost Wife by Alyson Richman to its 11th graders. Having not done it the previous year, Ms. Sosa decided to teach the book to her incoming 10th grade Honors students.
For summer reading, the students were required to read the book, and a majority of the students thoroughly enjoyed it. The class had several discussions about what could have been different, what could have been added, and what they loved about it. Sophomore student Alanna DeAngelis’s mother was scrolling through Facebook one day and saw that one of her coworkers had posted about The Lost Wife. “My mom commented under the post saying that I had read the book for summer reading. Her friend then replied back saying she is good friends with the author, and that Mrs. Richman would love to have a Zoom meeting with the class. My mom and Ms. Sosa emailed each other and organized the event.” So a Zoom meeting was set up on Tuesday, November 9th. During second period, the sophomore English students gathered in the cafeteria to meet with Mrs. Richman. The conversation started with how the book came to be; the students were surprised to find out that the beginning and end of the book were based on a true story that she had discovered when her agent had told her the book wouldn't sell. That story made Richman want to push forth with her book and get it published. She then went on to explain how she researched for a book like this. The Holocaust was a terrifying event in history with an overwhelming amount of information. Before even coming up with characters, research took her between six months and a year. This once again shocked the girls, who found out that the names of the characters are mostly real people who lived during the Holocaust that she was able to find information on. The girls enjoyed the event, and we are appreciative of Ms. Sosa and Mrs. DeAngelis for organizing the event, and Alyson Richman for talking to us. by Lily Keane '24 There is a new club in Fontbonne Hall dedicated to spreading awareness on Autism and ADHD and how they impact many children and teens across the world.
Seniors Adrianna Polito and Alexa Giambra, and Juniors Ava Mollaghan and Jacqueline Ghorra formed the club in October with Mr. Cleary as their moderator. Andrianna Polito, the president of the club stated that she “wanted to promote awareness and provide a safe space for those who struggle with ADHD or Autism”. Alex Somerville ‘24 - a student who was recently diagnosed with ADHD stated, “In school before I actually got diagnosed with ADHD, I had pretty low self esteem from how my grades were. Everyone around me seemed to get things a lot easier than I did.” Having a group of people who share the same struggle can be really helpful, especially when others share advice on how they deal with their own struggles. If you are struggling with ADHD, Autism, or are interested on learning more about them you should definetely consider joining this club. by Gabrielle Laforest '22 Fontbonne Hall has been facing rumors that along with the cameras all around campus, there are hidden microphones for administrators to listen on what is being said amongst the halls. This has turned into an uproar amongst students because a rumor will never die down, especially in Fontbonne Hall.
As girls go back full time in school, the drama comes back full time. Fontbonne administration has been dealing with misbehavior from some students, so the plan of action was to be on high alert on watching students on what they have been doing throughout the school day. This resulted in the most famous rumor going around the halls: that there are hidden microphones in these cameras. This rumor has been told in so many ways that some students actually believe in it. Some students are even scared to go to the bathroom because they don’t want administrators to hear their conversations. “I actually did believe the rumors for a few days until I was told there are no microphones from a faculty member,” says Madison Batiz ‘22. This shows how rumors spiral out of control, especially in a highschool environment - an all-girls highschool environment will create stories that never would’ve been heard of before. Mark Surdyka, Head of Technology at Fontbonne Hall said “There are absolutely no microphones.” There will always be rumors swirling around in Fontbonne Hall Academy, but officially, there are absolutely no microphones in the halls. So your conversations are safe in Fontbonne. |