Category: Features

Hola! Bonjour! Salve! Whichever you prefer, at Dominican we say all three.

Dominican provides students with the opportunity to learn Spanish, French, Latin and Greek. Within those languages, there are many activities a student can take part in such as being involved in language clubs, taking national tests and going to exciting conventions.

The Foreign Language department provides a variety of activities – both inside and outside of the classroom – for students to enrich their language learning journeys at school. Dominican’s   language clubs take the work done in class into a lifestyle perspective.

Those students who take Spanish or are simply interested in the Spanish culture can join Dominican’s Spanish Club. “The mission of the Spanish Club is to bring awareness of the Hispanic culture and language to our DHS community,” said Mrs. Claudia Vallejo, Spanish teacher and Spanish Club moderator.

Junior Alexis Tran, a Spanish Club officer, and her fellow officers organize activities throughout the year to reflect this mission. This includes celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month and organizing one of the most exciting events that Spanish Club has to offer: their annual picnic or fiesta with Hispanic food.

Spanish Club has not only had great activities to offer but it also provides a community for those who are interested in this language. “My favorite thing about the club is how diverse it is,” said Tran. “I’ve met some of my closest friends in the Spanish Club.”

For the students that prefer crêpes over churros, Dominican also offers a French Club along with its French classes. Like the Spanish Club, the French Club aspires to bring some French culture to St. Mary’s Hall.

“The mission of the club is to celebrate and explore some of the best parts of French language and culture: the holidays, the food, the traditions, and the music. We have access to some great French desserts and cheese in New Orleans,” said Madame Joan Rupp, French teacher and French Club moderator, “and students need to try it all!”

The French Club celebrates Canada Day, Cheese Tasting, Crepe Day, Mardi Gras, Le Noel (Christmas) and L’Halloween. “Students should join French Club because it’s an amazing opportunity to learn more about the language and culture. Even students who don’t take French  can still join the club as long as they appreciate the culture and want to learn more about it,” said junior Sydney Raymond.

For those students who are interested in Latin and would like to seize the day, or carpe diem, Dominican has Junior Classical League, fondly abbreviated as JCL. “The purpose of JCL is to promote the love of ancient Greek and Roman culture and language,” said Dr. Wayne Rupp, Latin teacher and JCL moderator. Unlike the Spanish and French Clubs, to be a JCL member, a student must have taken a Latin, Greek or a class dedicated to Classical Civilization. JCL is a club for those who truly love the classics. Members attend a variety of events put on by the state chapter such as Fall Forum, State Convention and a regional Certamen, which is a Latin, Greek, and Mythology quiz bowl, according to Rupp.

Sophomore Olivia Casserino, President of JCL, said being in JCL feels like being part of a family. “I love being able to closely work with my fellow officers and doctor up to make the club a really fun place to be. JCL is a place where you can truly be yourself” said Casserino.

Dr. Rupp loves the club so much because of the students’ enthusiasm. “I didn’t take Latin in high school, so I missed out on this club. I love all the people who come together both in our chapter and at convention because we share love for the ancients,” he said.

It is no secret that foreign language is an exciting activity to get involved with at Dominican. There are so many different events that a student can take part in, and the community is very enthusiastic.

Until next year, Adiós! Au revoir! Vale! The foreign language clubs at Dominican hope to see you soon!

• Olivia Olson

Being in a house all day surrounded by homework and distractions can be stressful. Some of the Dominican community focuses on a place where the stress melts away – the kitchen. With a recipe for success, DHS students and faculty have dished out happiness at home.

Out of the many recipes junior Allie Koenig has tried during quarantine, her favorite is her Mushroom Rosemary Risotto. This dish is vegetarian, which means there is no animal meats included. For Koenig, preparing her own dish “makes me happy when I get to share my food with others.” Koenig’s love for cooking and baking came from watching her dad cook. She said that she was always fascinated by the process and wanted to help with his next culinary masterpiece.

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Freshman Madeline Pourciau recreated one of her favorite Jazz Fest specialties, crawfish enchiladas. She enjoys making Prejean’s Famous Crawfish Enchiladas because “incorporating different cultures into dishes is amazing when the different flavors and ideas are put together.” Pourciau has grown up around many cooks in her family, but her father has especially inspired her. He taught her the ways around a kitchen and has made cooking a great way for her to handle stress. She finds many of her favorite recipes in the many cookbooks that have passed on to her from generations. Pourciau even has an Instagram page that inspires followers. Anyone can go to @nolagoodeats to enjoy her epicurean tips. Clink the link to get Pourciau’s favorite crawfish enchilada recipe: https://www.keyingredient.com/recipes/474694388/prejeans-famous-crawfish-enchiladas/

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After watching her mother cook for years, eighth grader Layah Cavett has turned to the kitchen during her spare time in quarantine. Cavett finds being in the kitchen comforting because of “the experience of becoming independent and trying new things on my own.” In addition to  having a special love for Spanish and Italian cuisine, Cavett’s favorite recipe from her time at home was a chocolate cake. She especially enjoys the prep work before her baking. While doing prep work, she listens to music, gets out her ingredients out and mixes up some fun.

Classic Chocolate Cake 

Ingredients 

• 2/3 cup butter, softened  
• 1-2/3 cups sugar  3 large eggs, room temperature  
• 2 cups all-purpose flour  
• 2/3 cup baking cocoa  
• 1-1/4 teaspoons baking soda  
• 1 teaspoon salt  1-1/3 cups whole milk  
• Confectioners’ sugar or favorite frosting  

Directions 

1. In a bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Combine flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with milk, beating until smooth after each addition. Pour batter into a greased and floured 13×9-in baking pan.  

2. Bake at 350° until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 35-40 minutes. Cool on a wire rack. When cake is cool, dust with confectioners’ sugar or frost with your favorite frosting.  

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English teacher Ms. Charlene Ford has also taken to the kitchen while teaching from home. Ms. Ford makes vegan dishes that avoid all animal products, which can make baking extra tricky. However, using no real butter, eggs, or dairy products has proven to be no challenge for Ms. Ford’s Blueberry Banana Bread. Since banana bread does not require yeast and is an easily prepared dish, it has become one of Ms. Ford’s quarantine essentials.

“I love the scent of baking and the sweet smell that permeates the house,” said Ms. Ford. “I can hardly wait for it to come out of the oven, and I certainly don’t let the instructed time pass before cutting in and having a taste!”

Vegan Blueberry Banana Bread Based on recipe from Giada De Laurentiis 

Ingredients 

• Plant-based Butter, for greasing the loaf pan  
• 1½ cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for dusting the loaf pan  1 teaspoon baking soda  
• 1 teaspoon fine salt  
• 1½  teaspoon baking powder  
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon  
• ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg  
• 1 cup sugar  
• ½ cup vegetable oil  
• ½ cup applesauce 
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract  
• 2 ripe bananas, peeled and coarsely mashed to yield about 3/4 cup of mashed banana 
• 1 cup (about 4 ounces) fresh blueberries  

Directions 

• Place an oven rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour a 9- by 5- by 3-inch loaf pan. Set aside. 
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, baking powder, cinnamon and nutmeg.  In a large bowl, beat the sugar, oil, eggs and vanilla until blended. Stir in the bananas and blueberries.  
• Add the dry ingredients and stir just until blended. 
• Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Bake until a cake tester inserted in the center of the loaf comes out clean, about 45 minutes. Cool for 15 minutes. Remove the loaf from the pan and cool completely on a wire rack, about 2 hours. 

Notes 

• Mini loaf pans or cupcake tins also work well! 
• If you don’t have nutmeg, double the cinnamon! 

• Lindsey Foles

Dominican Students Embrace Home Learning

As new online adventures begin, many students are finding ways creative ways to bring school… home.

No more track practice? That’s not a problem for eighth grader Grace Koenig. Koenig has found that while running around her neighborhood may not come with the same experiences as running around the track, it gets the job done and leaves her feeling a little better about quarantine and home learning.

Koenig has found that home learning allows her to work at her own pace and put more effort into her work; however, it’s not the same as being at Dominican. “I miss working with the teachers in class and eating lunch with my friends,” said Koenig.

Since home learning started, she has learned how to be positive and work around any difficulties she has during online school. Koenig transfers that same mentality into her life.

When she’s not doing schoolwork or exercising on her yoga mat, Koenig enjoys talking to friends over text and facetime, watching Netflix and playing games with her family and pets.

• Isabelle Fitzmorris

Jumping right into the new swing of online learning, senior Ally Firmin has found many new ways to keep herself occupied while quarantined.

From daily walks with her family to sleeping in late, Ally takes advantage of home learning.

“I wake up around ten now. My sister is home from college, and my mom is home. I appreciate the time I spend with family even more,“ said Firmin. 

An avid athlete, Firmin was devastated to learn about an end to softball season.

“I was really upset in the beginning, but my teammates and coaches have been there for me,” said Firmin. “They uplift my spirits and that has definitely helped.”

While there have been new advantages to home learning, Ally realizes how home learning has meant less contact with friends and teachers.

“Not being with classmates and friends is tough,” said Firmin. “However, I try to stay connected with my friends through video calls and texting.”

• Gloria Thomas

Junior Aria Dody misses wearing her red sweater every day with her junior class. The experience of social distancing has given Dody a new outlook on life: how much she loves school.

“It has been hard knowing that my cheerleading team won’t get to perform one last time, but it has helped knowing that I am not alone in missing out,” said Dody.

A fun pastime that is getting Dody through is Just Dance. Because the members of her family are avid Just Dancers, they dance at least twice a day. Dody’s favorite dances are any set to the music by One Direction, but her all-time favorite is “High Hopes” by Panic! at the Disco. In addition to her family’s best pastime, Dody has started to relearn tunes on her guitar as a way to unwind.

Dody has adjusted her prayer schedule to fit in between completing schoolwork, playing Just Dance and strumming on her guitar. She has found different ways to be in the presence of God and shares her faith through her Student Preacher virtual prayers. The prayers come to Dody when she is reading scripture or while sitting and listening to her prayer playlist.

• Morgan Muscarello

Although sophomore Emily Anding is not able to see her friends every day like she used to, she keeps the connection alive through a screen.

Anding helps cope with missing out on school activities by having online chats with her fellow members of Students for Human Dignity and Diversity in Action on their usual club days. During their chats, they all discuss ways to adjust to quarantine and how it has been working out for each of them.

Getting accustomed to home learning has been sometimes challenging for this Dominican sophomore. Anding said that when working from home, “I tend to get a little more distracted since I have plenty of free time on my hands.”

It is easy to waste valuable day time by lounging the day away, but Anding had other plans in mind. With all her free time, Anding took on a hobby of crocheting and going on walks to stay active.

• Lindsey Foles

Spending more time at home has allowed freshman Annette Haynie to explore her passions. As a member of the Liturgical Music Ministers and Drama Club, Annette has been keeping herself busy with her artistic talents.

“I like to listen to music, draw and play piano or sing to take up my time,” she said. Annette enjoys her art classes at school, so continuing her drawings at home has allowed her to keep the creative juices flowing.

One of Annette’s favorite things about quarantine has been sleeping in and having more time to relax in general. “My favorite way to unwind is to put on my headphones and either sit on my porch or go rollerblading,” she said. Annette has truly taken her time away from school and used it as a way to enjoy the things she loves.

• Olivia Olson

Junior Jordyn Taylor  is no stranger to relaxing during these new QuaranTeen times.

Whether outside sunbathing on the porch or watching Netflix, relaxation after working is a must for Jordyn.

“My favorite way to unwind at home has to be watching my favorite movie, Moana, on Netflix,” said Taylor.

Jordyn says home learning allows her to be more flexible with her time. “I wake up when I want and do my work when I want,” said Taylor.

However, being in the last group of juniors to experience Junior Retreat was a tough miss for Jordyn. “I missed out on reteat, and I have yet to cope with it,” said Taylor. “All of my other classmates got to experience retreat, I didn’t.”

Yet, spending time with family puts a patch on sad misfortunes.

“We go on two walks a day and even play card games,” said Taylor.

• Gloria Thomas

Eighth grader Meredith Kononchek tries to find the positives of learning at home. She likes being able to create her own schedule and spend more time with her family, especially her little sister and brother. In fact, her family goes outside and plays baseball together almost every day. Even though she enjoys spending more time with her family, Kononchek misses her extracurricular activities.

“I miss my friends from band, student council and robotics, ” said Konocheck. Even when she is down about missing her friends, Kononchek remembers not to take anything for granted. Home learning has made her appreciate the fact that she attends Dominican and has met so many great people.

Aside from schoolwork, Kononchek has created a new prayer schedule. Every morning, she and her mom watch daily Mass online. She misses attending Mass at St. Pius X with her family and altar serving.

A new skill Kononchek is learning during this social distancing is cooking. Because her parents are also working from home, she is learning how to cook and has started to prepare meals for her family. “Some were definitely better than others,” she said. The best meals she has made so far are spaghetti and meatballs and pulled pork sandwiches. She even learned how to bake a cake.

• Morgan Muscarello

Senior Emma Fitch tries to make the best out of the final days of her senior year at home.

During Fitch’s quarantine, she especially misses her senior activities and spending some of her last days of high school with her friends. Events like senior prom and

To stay active, Fitch does a circuit workout that also doubles as an assignment for Health and PE class. She also walks her dog at least once a day to keep her entertained as well.

One of the struggles she has faced is the difficulty of learning when she cannot communicate with her teachers face to face. Fortunately, having access to messaging her teachers and classmates any time during the day helps when in need of a consult.

Looking at the bright side, Fitch sees this as an opportunity to find your own schedule. Fitch said, “It’s a great preview of college and how much freedom we will have with our time.”

• Lindsey Foles

Ninth grader Izzy Tran has become a student-turned-teacher during this period of home learning. Because her parents’ work is considered essential, Tran watches her younger brother and teaches him his lessons, while maintaining her own classwork and chores.

Tran misses spending time with her friends and being in a classroom, but this prompted her friend group to find new ways to communicate. Some nights, her friends have virtual trivia nights. Each girl creates questions about herself, and the others answer to see who knows that friend best.

As a way to stay active, Tran has started to bike more, and she attends a virtual dance class during the week. Tran admits that the dance classes are different but still fun and a good way to get active

• Morgan Muscarello

Coco Ondrusek has been making the best of her quarantine. As a junior, Coco loves to be involved in robotics, art, and horseback riding. Since her horseback riding lessons have been canceled, she has taken her exercise regime to the park. “For exercise, I run around Audubon Park and work out at home,” she said.  

Coco has stayed productive during this time which has allowed her lots of free time. “I like having school at home so I can have the rest of the day to do whatever I want,” Coco said. “To unwind, I love to work on my art, paint and draw.”

As much as Coco has enjoyed the time to herself, she understands the unfortunate way COVID-19 has impacted the world. An important thing to Coco and her family is remaining prayerful during this troubling time and they say the rosary every night after dinner to pray for everyone affected by COVID-19.

• Olivia Olson

Now that home learning is the new normal, eighth grader Amie Lewis is spending more time with her brother …and not her human brother.

Learning more day by day, Lewis has taken up sewing as a hobby and is using the Brother JX2517 sewing machine.

“Now more than ever, we need face coverings,” said Lewis. “So, I sewed some face masks for my mom and me.”

Along with picking up a new hobby, Amie says home learning has come with lots of advantages. “I make a schedule that fits to the time I wake up,” said Lewis.

Missing all of her friends and techers, Lewis says focusing is sometimes a disadvantage to working at home.

“I definitely miss seeing all my friends and teachers at school,” said Lewis. “The lack of human contact is hard to adjust to.”

However, to keep her mind off things, Lewis exercises to cheer herself up. “I do a ten minute cardio at home workout and it helps big time,” said Lewis.

• Gloria Thomas

Freshman Anne Harduoin is keeping herself busy during her not-so-busy quarantine life.

Every day, Harduoin tries to wake up around the same time, do her schoolwork and then do leisure activities when she is done. Making sure to wake up before noon and completing all schoolwork before vegging out is key to staying on top of her work.

Even when Harduoin is done with school work, she is often left completely bored and missing practices with her volleyball team. Luckily, her sister, junior Elizabeth Harduoin, is the perfect gal to play volleyball with and help cope with the lack of practice.

During this time of home learning, Harduoin especially appreciates her “teachers and their lessons and the time spent with her friends.” It is times like these when she remembers to never take her access to a great school community for granted.

• Lindsey Foles

To celebrate their Big Sisters’ last week of high school, Dominican’s eighth graders salute the Class of 2020.

Few days are more anticipated in the Dominican community than Rally Day. Rally Day 2020 did not disappoint.

Quiz Design – Morgan Muscarello

Spending a day at Dominican is the best way to see the many faces of Dominican.

Dominican is walking down the hallway and laughing with friends about absolutely nothing. It is debating in English class whether or not Hamlet was truthful when saying, “To be or not to be.”

Dominican is a place where young women learn lessons, find truth and gain friends for life. By spending a day at Dominican, middle school girls learn about the many opportunities this high school can offer them.

The Spend-A-Day Program at St. Mary’s Dominican High School allows prospective students see what it is like to be a high school student. The visiting girls travel from class to class with their hosts and learn about the many different things that DHS has to offer.

Managing this program is Ms. Elyse Harrison (’13), recruitment director. She coordinates visits from the nearly 800 students who will spend a day at Dominican this academic year. Ms. Harrison pairs each Spend-A-Day student with a host who has similar interests. To make the middle schoolers feel special upon arriving on Walmsley Ave., Ms. Harrison gives each girl a bag filled with special Dominican treats and a complimentary lunch pass.

DHS students believe that being a Spend-A-Day host makes Dominican all the better. “Giving these young girls the true insight on what Dominican is gives me the best feeling,” said senior Abby Ordoyne. Ordoyne enjoyed spending a normal day at school with her younger cousin, Alexa Walsh, a fifth grader at St. Rita School in Harahan.  

Alexa enjoyed seeing Dominican through her older cousin’s eyes. “Spending the day at Dominican has helped me make a choice on where I want to go to high school,” Alexa said. She then told her cousin that she plans on attending Dominican.

Current DHS student Isabella Totorico, eighth grader, said that after spending the day as a seventh grader last year, she felt confident in making her decision to attend Dominican. She said that walking through the schedule helped her decide on Dominican. “I really liked how the schedule rotates, and I would not be doing the same thing every day,” said Totorico.

Walking the halls and meeting the teachers gives the students the chance to see what it is like to be a Dominican girl. Admissions Director Ms. Cathy Rice agrees. She said that the Spend-A-Day program is the most influential factor for students who decide to come to Dominican. It is all about the girls feeling comfortable and at home.

Dominican is truly a second home to all the girls that have walked these halls. And that feeling radiates to the girls that spend a day.

• Morgan Muscarello

Oh, the places they went!

Adventure was on the itinerary as three Dominican students traveled to new places and learned exciting things. Those students brought back their memories and experiences to share with the rest of Dominican community.

During the summer, seniors Tai Sutherland and Amanda Bolden, as well as junior Sara Sciortino, embarked on journeys all over the country and world – from Michigan to Australia. Though the girls traveled for unique purposes, they brought back their knowledge to share with the DHS community.

An Australian Adventure

Have you heard about the Aboriginal Australians? If not, Tai Sutherland has the answers. This summer, Sutherland journeyed across the Atlantic Ocean to the Outback.

With her family, she visited Melbourne, Sydney and Uluru, Australia. While there, she visited many attractions, including an invitation-only Aboriginal Australian island.

Sutherland’s trip taught her about Aboriginal culture. Aboriginal Australians have been on that continent for over 70,000 years.

 “It opened my eyes to things I didn’t know about their culture,” said Sutherland.

With the knowledge she gained from her trip, Sutherland hopes to bring back insight about the Aboriginal Australians’ lifestyle.  “With what I know now, I can discuss diversity from a new perspective,” she said.  

An Innovative Internship

Working in the school lab can be fun, but working in a research lab surrounded by paid professionals is even more fun. Over the course of eight weeks during the summer, this was senior Amanda Bolden’s life.

Bolden earned a research internship at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, Maryland. There she conducted research on cell biology, worked in labs, collected data – all while taking math and sciences classes.

However, that was not the only thing that impacted her summer. While in Baltimore, Bolden lived more independently than she ever had.

“I had to take the bus every day to my internship, make sure I made it on time and take care of myself,” said Bolden. Today, Bolden remains independent in many of the things she does.

Bolden hopes to go into a research field in the future. With this experience, “I can help students who struggle (in math and science) so they will improve.” said Bolden.

A Preaching Pilgrimage

Bringing back knowledge from a trip can be the most fun part of the experience, but for Student Preacher Sara Sciortino, it was even more. Deciding to embark on this journey came easily to Sciortino. “I felt myself falling out of my relationship with God,” said Sciortino. “I felt God was trying to call me back to him, and I felt that becoming a student preacher was the best way to do that.”

In June, Sciortino, along with other new student preachers and Ms. Claire Gallagher (’04), headed to Adrian, Michigan, for the Dominican High Schools Preaching Conference.

After a day of working with the Salvation Army, Sciortino collaborated with the Colegio de San Antonio, a school from Puerto Rico, on a prayer service. She participated in the washing of the feet, and she gave her first reflection during the service.

At the conference, Sciortino experienced new cultures and diverse ways of worship. She learned to unite people of different backgrounds through prayer and is bringing back this concept to the DHS community.

This year, Sciortino plans to make the students of Dominican feel welcomed into the activities the preachers have to offer. She hopes everyone will feel comfortable getting involved with the activities.

The adventure continues as these students share their broadened view of the world with their friends on Walmsley Ave.

Oh, the things they learned!

• Isabelle Fitzmorris

Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler

“Four score and seven years ago” (or maybe just one score), Mr. Duplantis served the city in the hospitality industry. The job included walking around New Orleans to assist tourists with directions, recommendations and any other questions they had about the city. Working in the hospitality industry required a vast understanding of the unique culture of the city of New Orleans, and that experience has benefited Mr. Duplantis in teaching history and civics at DHS. Conversely, he was able to have a better understanding of the history he teaches in the classroom through his experience working in the city. Working in the hospitality industry can put someone in some interesting and bizarre situations. “I once had to chase down a donkey because it broke loose from its carriage,” said Mr. Duplantis. “Just another day at the office I guess.”

Anjel the Science Bell

Not only does Ms. Guitroz know the anatomy of the human body, but she knows microorganisms, too. Ms. Guidtroz was also a research scientist with a focus in molecular biology and microbiology for the United States Department of Agriculture. Her research projects spanned from finding a cure for fungal infections in plants to developing biological means to eliminate termite populations. She did this for nearly 20 years until her journey brought her to DHS. “Working in research is like working in a problem. There is always some sort of problem that you need to solve, and I loved looking for those answers,” said Ms. Guitroz.

To Relate or Not to Relate

Before reciting the tragedies of Shakespeare and preaching the importance of the Oxford comma, Ms. Thomas’s skills resided in public relations. With an English degree and her natural affinity for writing, Ms. Thomas worked for United Way, Tulane’s A.B. Freeman School of Business and the Friends of the New Orleans Public Library. Ms. Thomas worked for these organizations in fundraising, event planning and media relations. During that time, she also developed interpersonal skills and a worldwide perspective that makes her teaching unique. “In my public relations work, I used my skill set to meet people from all walks of life and learned how to work with others,” said Ms. Thomas, “It gave me a life experience, which I bring into the classroom and share with my students.”

Teacher by Day, Insurance Salesmen by Night

Mr. Cusimano sold insurance and worked in real estate for 26 years before becoming a teacher. Along with selling insurance, he worked in real estate management. After 26 years in the business, he wanted to go back to what he loved doing – teaching! His career in business taught him how to multitask in his teaching career. He teaches both religion and United States history. He brings his love of prayer and songs into both of his courses. Mr. Cusimano does not just teach at Dominican; he also is the coach of the Bowling Team. With his witty bowling jokes shared during announcements, Mr. Cusimano spreads his love for bowling to the entire Dominican student body.

Journey to Teaching

From building guitar amplifiers for celebrities to doing classified government work, Mr. Lannes incorporates his love for engineering into the classroom. Since middle school, Mr. Lannes set his sight on becoming an engineer. He began by working for some big companies including Texas Instruments, Northrop Grumman and ION Geophysical. Shortly into his career, Mr. Lannes did some classified government work to experience the security aspect of technology and to be exposed to the state-of-the-art material. Before making his way to Dominican, he started his teaching career as an adjunct professor at UNO and found his calling in teaching engineering. Besides teaching, one of his favorite professional experiences has been building guitar amplifiers and meeting celebrities like Randy Jackson, Steve Hackett and Clarence “Gate Mouth” Brown.

Reporting Live

The newspaper staff has a new journalist to introduce—Mrs. Claudia Vallejo! A Spanish teacher and Zumba instructor, Mrs. Vallejo also has a passion for writing. She had worked as a journalist in Columbia for two years before moving to the United States. Although she’s admittedly shy, she loves talking to people and getting to know everyone’s side of the story. She studied journalism, social communications in college, feeding her interest in issues of today’s society. She incorporates her journalism expertise into her Spanish IV AP class having her students to interview many Spanish speakers from around the world. Currently, she works independently at Viva Nola, a New Orleans and Hispanic magazine, and is in the process of writing a story on Amanda Shaw, a Latina Cajun singer.