Remembering Sister Joyce: December 4, 1948-January 19, 2014

Academy of Our Lady of Peace Issue 3 March 2014 Page 1

Pilot Press

On January 19th, OLP lost a guiding force behind the mission and values of the Academy. Through her passion for education and unwavering dedication to the students at OLP, Sister Joyce changed the way we learn and the way we serve others. The following has been taken from the necrology written by Dr. Blade and Mrs.Hadzicki and read at Sister Joyce’s funeral: In 1983, she arrived at the Academy of Our Lady of Peace, where she taught English, was the Department Chairperson and worked in administration as the Associate Principal for many years. Ironically, Sister Dolores Anchondo (who hired her at OLP) was a third grade teacher at St. John Baptist de la Salle when Joyce was in elementary school, although they did not know each other. In their 30 year partnership, the “dynamic duo” of Sisters Dolores and Joyce continued a tradition of excellence at the Academy with the renewal and renovation of historic structures and a capital campaign to build a multi-purpose event center. Sister Joyce moved the school forward in the areas of technology, academic leadership, curriculum enhancements, teacher mentoring, peace education, and service learning. She was the voice of OLP in educating teachers, parents, and students about CSJ history and the profundity of the Sisters’ spirituality. She kept the mission and charism alive and vibrant at the Academy. Perhaps because of her name and birth date, Joyce loved Christmas. Her abiding sense of joy was a result of her knowing and serving God with great faith, hope and love. She relished filling the shoes of OLP

students (all 750 of them!) with treats and a holy card on the feast day of St. Nicholas each year. She enjoyed nothing better than the smell and taste of her mother’s Polish influenced food, especially during the holidays, so it’s no surprise that Joyce also loved to cook. Watching the Food Network and perusing cookbooks were favorite hobbies, but she did so not for her own pleasure. She was a gracious hostess at OLP, bringing a sense of welcome and hospitality to all. She cooked numerous meals and treats (her coffeecakes and brownies were particularly loved) for the faculty and staff over the years, and baked yearly Christmas cakes for each member of the Board of Directors. No comments on Joyce’s interests and talents would be complete without mention of her “cat mistress” duties. Joyce was “owned” by three OLP cats during her thirty years at OLP: Ditto, Smokey and Brandy. She was their attentive captive and catered to their every whim. Joyce was a master wordsmith and her prose had a sense of lyricism to it. She could even make WASC accreditation reports sound fascinating, a rarity! Her love of words began in childhood, as she was an avid, “under the covers with a flashlight” reader. She loved the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew. As an adult, she was an eclectic reader, and enjoyed reading biographies, mysteries and books about wizards, especially one named Harry Potter. She took that love of reading into the classroom, entertaining students with her storytelling abilities. Her Sophomore Honors English class gaily celebrated Emily Dickinson’s birthday each year,

Joyce dressed as Emily. Joyce taught Japanese literature dressed in her kimono. An excellent essayist and poet, Joyce also was the founding editor and chief writer for the Academy’s AtOLP Newsletter. Further, she contributed to other CSJ publications. She was published in Designs, the Review for Religious and she also wrote an article on women administrators for the National Association of Secondary Schools Principals Journal. She was able to extract disparate ideas and mold them into a cogent design. Her thirty-year presence at OLP will be her legacy. She instilled within each of us the CSJ expectation of achieving “excellence, tempered by gentleness, peace and joy.” Moreover, each OLP student, faculty and staff member was challenged to be all of which she or he is capable, just as each student and alumna knows that she

has been called to care for the “dear neighbor.” In conclusion, Joyce was a lacemaker in the fashion of her CSJ Sisters of past centuries. In lace making, the material that connects the larger pieces of material is called a bride. Joyce was the bride in the lace that is OLP. Her lace legacy is what will bind OLP together for generations to come. She offered her family, Sisters, friends and colleagues an open heart, wise counsel and tender understanding. Thank you, Joyce, for following your vocation to religious life. Thank you for being a true servant leader. Thank you for “going where there is need.” Thank you for being you. Thank you for directing us until we could direct ourselves, and then, with a true sense of humility, like smoke, you vanished.

INCLUDED IN THIS EDITION....

- Plaid Problems: Spring Sing Bonus Questions! (Page 2)

-10 Things You Didn’t Know About Mr. Reichardt (Page 3)

- BYOD: The New Tech Policy at OLP (Page 3)

- Countdown to Spring Sing (Page 6) - Saintsman Profile (Page 7)

- Sudoku, jokes, and a comic (Page 8)

Students looked forward to hearing Sister Joyce present at the Course Selection Nights each year. (Photos by Ms. Cascarano)

Academy of Our Lady of Peace Issue 3 March 2014 Page 2

By Morgan Hazel ‘14 and Katie Hammond ‘14

Senior Privileges: Past and Present

By Bianca Gonzalez ‘14 The white shoes, senior sweaters and tees, college sweaters, on-campus lunches and the senior parking lot. Yes, these are the things we call senior privileges here at the Academy. It may seem like these privileges have been around forever, but just like how the times change, senior privileges have also developed over the years. Talking to Ms. Nagem about her privileges as a senior, she informed me about the super stylish class color blazers that the seniors were able to design themselves. Blazers would have definitely made a statement as an upperclassman. Who wouldn’t want to wear a royal blue blazer, which was Ms. Nagem’s senior class color by the way, to show off their pilot pride? Another privilege she mentioned was the chance to eat anywhere on North Terrace. The pool was still open at the time and the seniors would sit poolside while enjoying their lunches. The idea of sitting by the pool every afternoon seems like a relaxing way to take off some of the stress of senior year. Besides the pool, sitting on North Terrace for lunch everyday would remind you of the most anticipated day as a student: graduation day. The steps of North Terrace would hold both the memories of your last year at the academy and the very important day when you leave OLP as alum. Other past senior privileges include class color shoes and off campus lunch. Off campus lunch served unsuccessful because of the small lunch period, but the idea of colorful shoes is one way to stand out in the crowd of endless black sneakers. So what privileges will the future generations of senior classes uphold and will some privileges be repeated in the years to come? There’s something to think about for you soon to be senior ladies.

A Week in the Life of an OLP Cheerleader

By Alexis Breeze ‘16 Hello fellow Pilots! I would like to give you a glimpse of what a week of OLP cheer looks like. In the past few weeks, we have competed in four competitions ranging from Fontana, California to The SDSU Viejas Arena here in San Diego. The Blue team has placed first in the past four competitions and the Silver team has placed first in three. We have been working hard all year and have been keeping our spirits up to try and place first in all our competitions. Both teams are working very hard now to improve our routines for our national competition coming up. A week of cheer usually starts on Monday with an afternoon practice out in the El Cajon Cheer Force gym for both teams. Most carpools meet right after school to get to Cheer Force in a flash. As a team, we support one another at all practices. Between run-throughs and stunts, we always have one another’s back. The next thing on the OLP cheer agenda is a lovely Tuesday morning practice at the OLP campus, bright and early at 6:30. We begin chilly winter morning practices by rolling out those blue mats and then taking a brisk run around the gym. After that warm up, we get into staggered lines and stretch. It is important to get stretched out and prepared for the jam-packed practice ahead of us. Wednesdays are morning practices for tumblers only. They go to the OLP gym for private coaching with one of Coach Casey’s tumbling coaches from Cheer Force. Then, after school is another session at Cheer Force for the Blue team. We usually either work on one stunt in particular or do run throughs of the entire routine.

Thursday mornings are for non-tumblers, those who do not have a backhand spring. These girls also have tumbling coaches from Cheer Force that help them to improve on the skills they already know. I personally find these practices very helpful because they give us the opportunity to improve with one another as a team. Thursday afternoons are Cheer Force practices for the Silver team. They work hard to improve the stunts they have in their routine. They also bond as a team through silly antics and having fun with one another.For the most part, our Fridays consist of games. Whether it is football season or basketball season, we are always thrilled to go cheer for both the Saintsmen and our fellow Pilots. Games are one of the very fun experiences of cheer. My favorite games to cheer, and most people on the team would agree, would have to be Saints football games. Both JV and Varsity have loads of fun on the football field with not only one another but also with the other cheer teams. Getting together with them and playing games is one of the things I always look forward to. Finally, Saturdays and Sundays are for competitions. Most of our competitions take place in the morning, although a few have been in the afternoon. Meet times usually range from as early as 8:00 a.m. to as late as 2:00 p.m. Once everyone on the team is accounted for, we move into the warm up area. There we warm up stunts one by one, ensuring everything will go smoothly. Once warm up time is over, we wait by the stage. This is one of the most nerve-wracking and stressful parts for me because I hope that everything will go as planned. But once we step out onto that mat and hear the crowd cheering, we experience one of the most fulfilling feelings we will ever have.

The biggest Spring Sing fans in the entire nation answer your questions with gentleness, peace, and joy.

Spring Sing is ending soon, which means I will go straight home after school instead of staying until 5 for practice. What will I do with all that time? Spend the exact amount of time that you would have spent at Spring Sing practice sitting criss-cross-applesauce in a corner of your home, surrounded by candles and the sound of a serene rain forest coming from your iPod, and reflect intently on your Spring Sing performance. Ask yourself, “Did I do everything I could have done? Did I dedicate my entire mind, body, and spirit to my performance? Did I become one with the theme ‘Eras’?”. Go over every dance move and every lyric, and improve. There is no time to waste, Spring Sing 2015 is almost here.

I keep hearing ‘BYOD’ around school. What does it mean? BYOD is entirely open to your own interpretations. Here are some suggestions: -bring your own drinks -be your own dill (pickle) -baby, you out do (yourself)-believe in your own destiny -bake yams on (wednes)day-buy your own Dior!-but you only die (once)

I have a serious addiction to Netflix! It’s affecting my school work, my relationships, and my hygiene. I don’t know what to do anymore, please help. The first step is admitting that you have a problem. Netflix is a poison more powerful than any other distraction and, unfortunately, the most difficult to recover from. There is only one known cure and, luckily for you, we are the doctors who discovered it: Drop out of school for approximately 18-22 weeks and devote your life to watching the entire Netflix inventory. Survive on a strict diet of ¾ cup sunflower seeds every hour and 7 tablespoons of vanilla extract on Tuesdays and Fridays. Ignore the pleas from your concerned family and friends to come out of your room. Pay no attention to your skin’s sudden paleness from lack of sun. Forget about the SATs and the possibility of a college education. You must be entirely dedicated to your recovery. After the 18-22 week period, carefully emerge from your room wearing sunglasses to protect you from the sudden glare of authentic light and attempt to reenter civilization. We wish you all the best on your road to recovery and we look forward to hearing from you in about 18-22 weeks.

Besides Spring Sing practice, what goes on in Saint Catherine’s? The question is not what’s going to be in St. Catherine’s, the question is what is in St. Catherine’s right now. We are ever dedicated to answering our readers questions so last tuesday night we broke into the building to uncover the secrets that St. Catherine keeps behind her closed doors. At first, we observed nothing but deserted hallways and old carpeting. When working in journalism though, it’s important to remind oneself that things are not always as they appear. We dug a little deeper and upon finding an old staircase, we traveled down. At the bottom we found a mysterious door. In the pursuit of knowledge, we decided to open the door, only imagining the horrors that were waiting behind it. To our surprise, we were met with the sweet smell of coconuts and sandy beaches along with the image of Ms. Hanley limboing and Ms. Rodriguez taking a swing at a piñata. Beyond that, Mr. Kirschbaum and Ms. Tooker were lounging in beach chairs, sipping pineapple juice, and next to them, Mr. Paluso and Mr. Gonzalez were getting mani/pedis. The horror was too much. We shut the door and ran out of St. Catherine’s, never looking back. This tropical teachers’ lounge was worse than anything we could have ever imagined.

Jokes

1. A gummy bear2. A teapot3. Because he didn’t have anyBODY to take. 4. Because his mother was a wafer so long. 5. “You stay here, I’ll go on a head.”

Pilot Press StaffEditor in Chief: Morgan Hazel

OLP Life Editors: Katie Hammond and Karla Lopez

Athletics Editor: Sarah Quiñones

Peace and Current Events Editors: Danielle Burner and Lillian Kelsey

Entertainment Editors: Katie Anastas and Katelyn Fecteau

Layout and Design: Danielle Nguyen, Emily Edgin, and Renata Galan

Moderators: Mrs. Turner and Ms. DeVore

Answer Key (See Page 8 for Activities)Sudoku

Academy of Our Lady of Peace Issue 3 March 2014 Page 3

1. I was adopted.

2. I could recite the alphabet backwards at the age of 2 and still can.

3. I was born on the same day as Super Bowl III.

4. I was an All-American swimmer in high school and set a Missouri state record for the 200 medley relay.

5. During the ‘90’s, I was a DJ for a couple of years.

6. I enjoy playing trivia.

7. I won $1,000 playing the lottery.

8. I played one of the summer campers in a movie titled Stuckey’s Last Stand.

9. I carpooled with and graduated from high school with sportscaster Joe Buck.

10. I hate dolphins!!!! Just kidding, I only hate them a little.

By Emily Edgin ‘14 As I’m sure the entire student body has heard by now, OLP has taken another step into the 21st century with the announcement of the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policy which will be implemented starting with the 2014-15 school year. Classes will begin utilizing resources like Prezi, digital textbooks, and even Tumblr in some cases, to make the classroom experience more congruent with what students use outside the classroom. And, despite not officially beginning until next year, many students and teachers have already made the transition to a more tech-reliant school experience. The BYOD policy is already in place for many, if not all, students and it’s enhancing the learning experiences in and out of the classroom. However, remember that the BYOD policy isn’t an OK from the administration for a tech free-for-all. There are a few restrictions that students are encouraged to keep in mind to avoid misusing our new privileges. So here are some general ground-rules: This is just common sense, but, while in the classroom, only use your tech for school related

purposes unless your teacher specifically says otherwise. BYOD doesn’t mean you can go on Twitter or shop online in class. For most classes, laptops, tablets, and e-readers are allowed for everyday use. Leave cell-phones and cameras at home or in your backpack unless given permission. Depending on the subject, a teacher might ask that no devices be used in his/her classroom at all, or that they only be used at certain times. If you’re not sure what’s allowed, check with the teacher. The BYOD policy is a much appreciated, much needed step toward becoming more technologically conscious and forward at OLP, and being able to use our devices in class can make for a much more efficient and effective learning experience. Just remember to use your common sense when deciding when to use your devices, and what to use them for. *The Mathematics Department differs slightly from the rest: there is a department wide policy that the only technology permitted (or needed) is calculators – scientific or graphing according to need.

BYOD: Bring Your Own What? The New Tech Policy at OLPMr. Reichardt poses with one of his most favorite things in the world: Dolphins. (Photo by Isabella Hoang)

10 Things You Didn’t Know About...Mr. Reichardt

By Nia de la Peña ‘15

What’s on olppilotpress.org?

- More stories: -Checking in with Transfer Students -Delicious and Healthy Superfoods -Juniors “Wake Up” On Junior Retreat- Movie Reviews- Restaurant Features- Vote in the poll- View pictures, videos, and audio clips of interviews- Read past printed editions and online versions of articles seen here

Like us on Facebook: The Pilot Press

Send us your questions, comments, and ideas: pilotpressnewspaper@gmail.com

Academy of Our Lady of Peace Issue 3 March 2014 Page 4

Do you remember the first time you rode a bike? The excitement of finally learning how to keep your balance, pedal at the right speed, and watch where you were going all at the same time was an experience hard to forget. Thanks to the newly formed Saints and OLP Bikes for Kids club, 45 students at Franklin Elementary School were able to have that priceless childhood experience of riding a bike that so many of us consider one of our favorite memories. On December 20th, the Bikes for Kids Foundation sponsored an event that surprised the Franklin Elementary third graders with new bikes. Each student was asked to write an essay and was told that later in the month, five students would be chosen as a winner of a new bike. However, on the day of the event, dozens of third-grade squeels and gasps erupted from the school auditorium as Bill Pollakov, affectionately called Mr. Bill and founder of the Bikes for Kids Foundation along with his wife Debbie, announced that not five, but forty five students would be getting a new bike. The Bikes for Kids foundation has support from organizations such as the San Diego Chargers and now the Saint Augustine and OLP community are showing their support with the addition of a Bikes for Kids club. This past year, the club raised over $2,300 to fund the Franklin Elementary school bike giveaway and is already planning for next year’s big event.

Fundraising included selling donuts on the Saints campus, spreading awareness of the foundation at local grocery stores, and enlisting the support of generous friends and family members. Along with gathering donations, the club was also in charge of assembling the bikes and helmets. The club officers organized multiple “fundraising days” and “build days” in order to make the final event possible. Katie Pollakov, founder of the Bikes for Kids Saints and OLP club, says, “It was such an amazing feeling knowing that we worked for all of their smiles and for all of them to be able to take home a bike.” The club members from both OLP and Saints would like to thank everyone who made the Franklin Elementary event possible and, as evident in their giant smiles and giddy giggles, so would the forty five third graders. Enthusiastic club member Eric Monroe, a sophomore at Saints, comments, “Biking is something that is underappreciated in this country.There are only so many things you can do to give underprivileged kids free bikes, so that, my friends, is exactly what we have done.” If you would like to join the Bikes for Kids club, contact Katie Pollakov and look for club announcements in the bulletin.

Do You Like Biking and Helping Others? Join The New ‘Bikes for Kids’ Club at OLP and Saints

Local Music Spotlight: The Boondock Brothers and Emma Hazel

By Pitrina Gilger ‘15 and Riley Stenehjem ‘15 You don’t have to look far to find great talent. There are literally hundreds of artists across San Diego trying to create a name for themselves through their music. For example, The Boondock Brothers is a band composed of San Diego State University students with a rock and blues sound. Emma Greenburg, an OLP freshman, sings folksy songs about her high school experiences using the name Emma Hazel. Check out these two artists and support them on their musical endeavors.The Boondock Brothers The Boondock Brothers, a three-piece band consisting of Michael Schenk (lead vocals and guitar), Cris Luna (bass and vocals), and Alberto Sandoval (drums), was formed when Alberto and Michael met each other at San Diego State in 2012. Their sound is influenced by many icons in music, such as Jimi Hendrix, The Clash, Pink Floyd, and The White Stripes. After “going through about ten thousand names”, they finally came up with the name “The Boondock Brothers” and they played their first show as a band downtown at The Stage. It was Alberto’s first time playing live in front of

people, and Michael reflected that “having that experience, with the drummer giving it a full sound, it was pretty incredible.” After playing at bars and other small venues for a few months, Alberto and Michael decided to find a third member to further define their sound so their friend Shawn joined as a bassist. After about a year, Shawn left the band, and Cris joined to fill his place. Although Cris had a slightly different musical background, he fit in perfectly and “stepped [their] live show up”, Michael said. Alberto added, “At the first practice, Cris and I did something at the same exact time, we both stopped playing...it was like telekinesis right off the bat.” All three musicians have been playing music for several years. Alberto started playing piano when he was ten, learned guitar a few years after that, and then learned the bass. Michael has been seriously playing music for about four years and Cris has played for ten years. Before forming Boondock Brothers, they all got experience playing in various bands throughout high school. The band’s next show is at the World Beats Center in Balboa Park on March 13th. For more information about the Boondock Brothers, check out their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/BoondockBrothers.Emma Hazel Emma Hazel is a singer and songwriter who uses her music to express her thoughts and

experiences. While she goes by Emma Hazel for her music, you may know her as Emma Greenberg, the music-loving freshman at OLP. She has been taking voice lessons for two years and plays guitar, ukulele, and a little bit of piano. Emma’s self-described folksy and acoustic music is very organic. She avoids auto-tuning her voice and never uses computer-generated music. Emma strives for a raw and emotional sound, similar to the sound of some of her favorite artists: Ed Sheeran, Nina Nesbitt, and Lewis Watson. She is currently working on an EP using completely unedited guitar and vocals. Emma is confident in her natural voice and thinks that it sounds more relatable than a modified version. Emma says that her biggest accomplishment so far has been performing at the House of Blues, but she hopes to accomplish even greater feats in the future. One of her biggest dreams is to open for any of her favorite musical artists. After experimenting with a mix of upbeat and even-tempoed songs, Emma reflects, “Slow, mellow songs are the ones that mean the most.” This realization has helped Emma to begin developing herself as an artist. Head to emmahazelmusic.com, to hear a demo version of her song, “Straightforward Love Song”, and find out when her next gig is!

The Boondock Brothers

Emma Hazel

The third graders at Franklin Elementary received new bikes from the OLP and Saints Bikes for Kids club. (Photo by Debbie Pollakov)

By Morgan Hazel ‘14

Academy of Our Lady of Peace Issue 3 March 2014 Page 5

Before They Were Teachers...By Danielle Burner ‘14

Crazy as it seems, teachers at the Academy actually have lives outside of school. Yes, really! Just like every other student that walks (or runs!) through those green gates every morning, the faculty and staff here at the Academy have their own unique stories to tell. Over the past week, I took the opportunity to sit down with two of the Academy’s most mysterious educators in an attempt to shed some light on what teachers did before they were, you know, teachers… In the outer reaches of the Carondelet building lies the office of Mr. Christopher Boyer. Nestled between rows and rows of PC monitors, the occasional passerby may regard him as one who is pensive and contemplative. I personally find myself begging the question: who is this cryptic tech man? Where did he come from? Christopher Boyer had a not-so-typical childhood, but then again, who ever does? Because his family owned a few Radio Shacks in the San Diego area, a young Mr. Boyer spent a lot of time around electronics during his high school summers. If that wasn’t cool enough, Mr. Boyer also traveled around with his dad during his college years, regularly installing computer software at Chapman University. It’s important to note here that up until this point, the young Christopher Boyer learned everything he knew about technology from his surroundings. In a very literal way, he was a self-taught technician. A mathematics major from San Diego State University, the newly graduated Christopher Boyer originally intended to teach math. Technically, he still could if he wanted to. But, fresh out of college, Mr. Boyer went out into the workforce searching for a job. He heard of an opening for a technical position at some place called the Academy of Our Lady of Peace and was immediately interested. Funny enough, at the time of his interview, Mr. Boyer had no idea that the Academy was an all girls high school! Lucky for us, Mr. Boyer nailed the interview and sixteen years later, he’s still our

top notch technology guru. Moving away from Mr. Boyer, there is another member of the Academy’s staff that lurks behind a shroud of mystery. You may recognize her as our lovely librarian, Ms. Siobhan DeVore. Just like Mr. Boyer, Ms. Devore has had her share of exciting adventures over the years. For example, did you know that after she graduated from OLP in 2001, Ms. DeVore went on to study Psychology at Loyola University in New Orleans and then abroad in Keele, England? After she graduated from college, an adventurous Ms. DeVore moved to Italy for seven months and waitressed at a restaurant, saving money to travel across Europe. When she returned to the States, Ms. DeVore found a job at the San Pasqual Academy, a foster home for teenagers. There she worked as a tutor and house supervisor. She utilized a lot of what she had learned in

college as a psychology major. In our dialogue together, Ms. DeVore expressed to me that at the end of the day, she “just likes helping out the kids”. Towards the end of her time at San Pasqual, she began searching around for alternative ways she could continue helping teenagers. After earning her masters in Library Information Science, she went on to work as a librarian at Francis Parker High School and then later took over Mrs. Burr’s job as the Academy’s librarian. When talking about previous jobs she had during high school, Ms. DeVore mentioned that she had volunteered extensively at her local public library. The library was somewhere she felt comfortable and so a career as a librarian seemed like a natural fit. And there you have it folks! A ray of light has been cast into the dark depths of the faculty’s past. If there are any OLP staff members reading this right now, be warned. You might be next!

The weekend is just around the corner and with it comes a much needed rest from school. You cannot wait to have four whole days to yourself (after you finish your homework, of course), but this weekend, try something new and take an adventure with your friends. There is so much to do in San Diego. Grab some friends, get in the car, and get ready to discover more of the beautiful city you live in. Here are three places around San Diego that make great locations for an all-day outing.Old Town Grab some friends and head down to this historic San Diego location. Start off the day at one of the many Mexican restaurants located in the area. Then, travel back in time at San Diego’s very first schoolhouse, newspaper office, and blacksmith shop. Check out the visitor’s center for a free tour of these historic buildings. If you are in the mood for a scare, visit the famous Whaley House, known for appearances of the Whaley family ghosts. Finish off the day at a street Bazaar, held almost daily in Old Town. Walk down the streets and look at Hispanic art, clothing, and pottery. You may even be entertained by a live mariachi band!

Ocean Beach There is so much to do in Ocean Beach. First off, grab some burgers from the area’s most famous burger lounge: Hodad’s. For a new experience, take your food to go and eat it on the beach. Then, take a walk through the many shops by the beach. There are dozens of swimsuit, clothing, and even record shops. Head down to the pier for a perfect view of the ocean. This is a great place to watch the sunset. If you are a skateboarder, there is a large Ocean Beach Skate Park for you to show off your skills. Ocean beach is a nice place to hang out with friends and have a fun and relaxing day.Little Italy Start off your day in Little Italy by dining at a nice Italian restaurant, such as the Mona Lisa. Spend some time browsing through the countless art shows and galleries on India Street. Many galleries are rented by local artists who would love to share their experiences in art with you. Take a rest at a patio café, or buy some fresh gelato from a confection shop. On many weekends, Little Italy hosts a farmers market featuring fresh foods and handmade trinkets. The dates and times of the farmer’s market can be found online. Little Italy is a great place to visit for a day filled with art and culture.

Miss OLP Recap

By Gemma Carretta ‘17 On February 8, 2014, our annual Miss OLP Ball took place at La Gran Terazza at USD. Walking up from the parking lot you could already hear and feel a rising buzz from the crowd. After receiving your gorgeous bid designed by sophomore Spencer McVeigh, you opened it to see the names and faces of our beautiful honorees. They were recognized for their amazing personalities and activities that embody what a student of the Academy of Our Lady of Peace should be. Taking a look around, you saw elegantly dressed young women and dashing young men laughing, talking, and dancing in front of a projected movie, Rio, and clips from past Carnavals. Themes of Carnaval were ever present in the table decorations and in many groups who posed for pictures wearing colorful and feathered masks.The room was decorated in purple and gold streamers and balloons. Just past the dance floor, the room was filled with tables covered in purses, jackets, sweaters, and uncomfortable high heeled shoes as students covered the dance floor. Three hours of “appropriate” dancing and “clean fun” that Ms. Nagem would be proud of certainly created memories that will be cherished forever.

Mr. Boyer: OLP’s go-to for all things technology related. (Photo by Isabella Hoang)

Ms.DeVore, OLP graduate of 2001, is always ready with book recommendations and research paper help. (Photo by Isabella Hoang)

By Pitrina Gilger ‘15

Making Plans for the Four Day Weekend

Academy of Our Lady of Peace Issue 3 March 2014 Page 6

Countdown to Spring Sing

By Morgan Hazel ‘14 It’s the most wonderful time of the year at OLP and the event that everyone loves to hate until the actual performance nights is finally here. No matter how many complaints, moments of doubt, and practices filled with simultaneous screaming and laughing, Spring Sing is an event full of memories that stay with every participant long after graduation. While the result of over three months of hard work is a twenty minute long performance, Spring Sing showcases more than just the musical talent at OLP. Backstage in the cramped rooms filled with costumes and the smell of hairspray, the unique friendships that we often don’t fully realize until we have to say goodbye are strengthened through giggling and excited conversations. Waiting behind the curtains praying that you don’t forget that one side-step to the right during the chorus, the nervous glances at your friends will remain in your memory long after you have forgotten the actual moves to the dance. As the awards are announced and you sit side-by-side your classmates who just a week before you had been passive aggressively angry at for not knowing the lyrics, you will create memories of hand-holding and alma mater singing that will mean much more to you than who won “Best in Show”. Spring Sing practices bring out the best and the worst in our teenage-girl personalities, but Spring Sing performances make every Saturday practice and frustration filled afternoon more than worth it. As Friday and Saturday night get closer, remember the lyrics and the dance moves, but also remember the unique bond you have with

the girls singing the lyrics and doing the dance moves right beside you. And then do it all again next year. The Spring Sing directors of each class check-in with the Pilot Press just days before their final performance with an update on how they have been preparing and what they expect this weekend:Freshmen: Erin Stumm and Natalia Ventura As directors, our first year of Spring Sing has been a journey. We discovered great talent in the freshman class that we would not have discovered if it were not for Spring Sing. We learned new things about our classmates, and about ourselves, and we gained leadership and teamwork skills that we will use in our future. We hope that with our little experience, we can exceed your expectations of what the freshmen can bring to the stage. We are very excited to show everyone the hard work we have put in to this performance.Sophomores: Rachel Rougas and Jen Seguin Being directors, we came into the first day of practice with great expectations and high spirits. Now that it is almost over, we still have great expectations and high spirits, but in addition we made wonderful memories, lasting friendships, and a wonderful production. On Friday and Saturday night, we expect a performance that will make the audience fill with nostalgia, giant smiles, hit songs from the 20th century, and a few hints of KISS and other iconic figures. We are excited about the progress we made in the past three months and for everything we have been working hard on to be shown on stage. All of leadership put in hard work, dedication, and those extra hours needed to make this performance one to remember. We have no regrets and at the end of the day, we will be able to say ‘Can’t touch this’.Juniors: Katy Johnson and Riley Stenehjem There’s nothing that embodies a “love-hate relationship” so well as the one

between Spring Sing and its leadership. The hundreds of hours of work each member of leadership puts in to make the performance great requires blood, sweat, and tears. Okay - maybe not blood. And only a little sweat. Tears are definitely likely as a result of a mental lapse due to the stress of both school and the looming performance. Jokes aside, it’s an amazing feeling to watch all of your hard work come together almost miraculously by the end of the three-month process. Without the help (and the pizza donations) of our teacher moderators, Ms. Ma’ake and Mr. Gonzalez, as well as the teamwork of our fellow leaders, Spring Sing may have shifted towards the negative end of the “love-hate” spectrum. When people hear the word “director”, it’s assumed that she is running the show. However, Spring Sing is a collaborative effort between directors, props, choreographers, music directors, and the secretaries. The performance is rapidly approaching, and as we make last-minute improvements and changes in the last week of rehearsals, we all hope to make the Junior Spring Sing a great one. We’re all excited - and a little nervous, of course - for opening night.Seniors: Rosie D’Amato and Rosie Oshana The excitement that Spring Sing incites is undeniable. Any stress or frustration built up during practices melts away on the day of the performance. Everyone’s dedication and determination throughout the process is validated and showcased. This year, our class has worked on uniqueness—making something that we can always remember as our own. No matter what happens on Saturday night, we know that the experience was indispensible and will never be forgotten.

Pilot Press asks: How do you feel about Spring Sing right now?

Ms.Herb said, “Exhausted, but happy with their progress!”

“I’m excited and nervous. We want to do well because it’s our first time,” said freshman Carrissa Barragan.

Freshman directors Erin Stumm and Natalia Ventura

Junior directors Riley Stenehjem and Katy Johnson

“We’re excited! We’re in a good place. We just need to clean things up and I think we’re gonna put on a good show,” said sophomore directors Jen Seguin and Rachel Rougas. “We’re under a lot of pressure

but in the end we hope it comes together,” admitted freshman Laura Toscano.

“It’s stressful. Everyone’s stressed. It’s only one week away but I’m excited.”-senior Kimberly Ha

Senior directors “Rosie Squared”: Rosie D’Amato and Rosie Oshana

“I’m excited and super nervous, but everyone does it senior year, so I’m excited,” said senior Naomi Smullen.

Photos by Natalie Covarrubias ‘16

Academy of Our Lady of Peace Issue 3 March 2014 Page 7

By Sarah Quiñones ‘14

Location, location, location! Although this expression is mostly used by realtors trying to sell houses, the issue of locality has a greater impact on our mental state. When it comes to houses, prime real estate is considered to be adjacent to the beach with an amazing view. Anyone who lives outside of California or has even traveled beyond the Golden State will tell you that it is the epitome of prime real estate. Californians are blessed with temperate winters that are basically a continuation of summer. The weather, particularly Southern Californian weather, will make any New Englander green with envy. What’s not to love about year long summers or a perfect flipflop climate? Well, even though the seventy-five degree winters are not despised by most Californians, it can alter the way a person views herself. Californians may have a reputation of being too relaxed, yet their location leads to some stressful situations. California is unique because at

any moment wearing shorts and a tank top can be acceptable. It is impossible to go a day without seeing someone in such clothing. The subculture in California is more vulnerable to body image issues because the social foundation of this state is based on the proximity to the beach and the pleasant weather. Californians are known to be more self conscious than residents of other states due to the normality of showing so much skin without breaks, even in the winter months. At the moment, Boston and other places on the Eastern Seaboard are experiencing a polar vortex that has blanketed the coast with snow. New Englanders are not worried about which bikini they should wear for the bonfire this weekend, instead their priority is keeping warm in the subfreezing temperatures. Beaches and warm weather are not the only thing that make the Golden State a unique hub of people extremely obsessed with body image. San Diego borders the headquarter of the entertainment industry, Los Angeles. Remarkably unhealthy celebrities, models, and movie stars

The Power of Location: How Southern California Effects Our Body Image

When I first met up with Tyler, I was embarrassed. I had googled locations for Starbucks, saw there was one on 30th Street, and thought it would be a perfect place to do the interview since it wasn’t too far for either us to meet after school. What Google failed to inform me of was that this Starbucks was in a Vons. I had him meet me at Vons. After profusely apologizing for having him meet me at Vons, we went inside to have our interview. We both decided we wanted this article to be a little cheesy which prompted the question, “Do you like long walks on the beach?” He responded simply with, “I hate sand.” So, no to beaches but he does love “long, romantic walks around Fashion Valley mall”. To each their own. Tyler isn’t just friendly, funny, and well dressed- he is also an inventor. Tyler invented a tricycle that has back wheels which can turn 360 degrees and a handle that is connected to the back wheels. “Just picture shopping cart style,” he explains. He goes on to say that he and his dad have been working on this invention for about three years together and have done all the engineering themselves. I asked Tyler if he had any advice for other people who had an idea and weren’t sure if they should pursue it and he responded with, “YOLO. You have to believe fully in it, if you get influenced by other people or one bad break happens and you quit after that, you’ll never be successful.” It didn’t take a genius to guess that Tyler was going to major in engineering. He will hopefully be gracing Southern Methodist University with his creative presence this fall. Tyler is motivated, intuitive, has a good head on his shoulders and I’m sure we will be seeing more of his work in the future after majoring in engineering, even though he “hates math.” We wish the best of luck to you Tyler and can’t wait to see what other doohickeys you come up with.

Saintsman Profile: Tyler Hadzicki

By Kat Thatcher ‘14

send a direct message to women all across the world. However, since we are closer to the epicenter we tend to receive the news in a more intense way. From the countless photos on Instagram to the myriad of magazine articles, the issue of bodies is never too far away. As if the weather did not make women feel the pressure, Hollywood sure does! The pressure of looking a certain way weighs heavier on the shoulders of Californians, but you should not let this knock you down. No matter what is being displayed in magazines, have confidence! Love yourself and focus on everything that is amazing about who you are. Instead of confining yourself to talk of pessimistic self image, use that same time to do something fun. Pick up a new hobby that takes your mind off negative thoughts, such as hiking or biking. Don’t fall victim to the California body image problem. Use the amazing weather to your advantage and enjoy what the state has to offer in a way that celebrates all the wonderful parts of you!

Have Teachers Kept Their New Year’s Resolutions?

By Ris Leal ‘16 and Karime Laborin ‘16 One of the most popular 2014 New Year’s resolutions among the OLP girls was to get back in shape. It may sound a bit cliché, but finding your old routine again can be hard, even a little intimidating. This idea left us with a question: What about the faculty and staff at OLP, what are their New Year’s resolutions? We got a lot of feedback from the teachers which allowed us to take a sneak peek into the personal lives of your extraordinary faculty at OLP. Mr. Gonzalez, a history teacher here at OLP, had set his resolution to go running at least three times a week starting January 1st. Mr. Gonzalez had set this goal for two reasons: he had run five half marathons about a year and a half ago, and had wanted “to get back into the swing of things.” Another reason was because he is expecting his third child and has been wanting to lose some “L-Bs” so he can gain them back during the first few months of having a newborn baby in the house. Up until two weeks ago, Mr. Gonzalez had only run

once in the month of January. But for the past week and a half, he has been meeting that goal of running three times a week. Better late than never, right? Hopefully Mr. Gonzalez will keep up the good work and keep his motivation for his baby-to-come. Mrs. Turner, Pilot Press moderator and English teacher, also let us know about her resolution for the year of 2014. She says that she keeps the same resolution every year, “I resolve to slow down, breathe, and notice the world around me as much as possible.”. We believe this is one of the best resolutions to keep. Every January, Mrs. Turner “resolves to walk (and live!)” with intention, rather than simply race through her life. She took this idea from the zen Buddhist and peace activist Tich Nhat Hanh in his book Peace Is Every Step. She says that it is hard being a mom of two and a teacher at OLP. There are times when her children are running, galloping, tripping or hopping ahead of her down the sidewalk, or when they dance to the Cody Simpson song that plays from their toothbrushes, and there are times when she allows her body to sink and relax into her couch as she reads a book, or when she reads something perfect from her “incredibly interesting students”. Mrs. Turner notes that even when she forgets about the resolution she made in January, it somehow always finds her. For many the New Year begins on January 1st, the day when almost everybody is up and going trying to fulfill their recently determined goals. But unlike the average person, Mrs. Lek finds it interesting and effective to make resolutions in the middle of the school year. Mrs. Lek said, “I do not do New Year’s resolutions because being in the academic world I’m all about the school year, and because of this the start of my New Year is in August.” But even though her New Year begins in August, Mrs. Lek still makes a resolution. Mrs. Lek’s 2013-2014 school year resolution is to “learn as much as I can about the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Carondelet… and be able to translate that into the community.” Second chances are rare in life, but a New Year allows for a clean slate to better oneself. So ask yourself this: Have you truly taken this chance to better yourself? Hopefully some of these teachers and their resolutions will inspire you to work harder towards your own goals, or, like Mrs. Lek suggests, start your own school year resolution today. Left: Tyler tries out his own bicycle invention. Right: Tyler works on building the bicycle and prepares for his future

as an engineering major. (Photos by Tyler Hadzicki)

Tyler is a senior at Saint Augustine.

Sudoku (Key on page 3)

Academy of Our Lady of Peace Issue 3 March 2014 Page 8

Jokes (Answers on page 3)1. What do you call a bear with no teeth?

2. What begins with T, ends with T, and has T in it?

3. Why didn’t the skeleton go to the dance?

4. Why was the cookie sad?

5. What did one hat say to another?

Pope Francis recently gave his infallible approval to the Pilot Press and declared it Vatican City’s official newspaper. *

*False.

Guess the Teacher...Match the Baby Photo to the Teacher’s Photo

1. Mr. Kirschbaum 2. Mrs. Hooper 3. Mrs. Zapala 4. Mrs. Flannery 5. Ms.Kamrath

A. B. C. D. E.

Answers: 1,D; 2,A; 3,E; 4,B; 5,C.

By Gemma Carretta ‘17

SPRING SING 2014

By Spencer McVeigh ‘16