Take the quiz and test your Rally Day knowledge.
Carpe Diem!
The Junior Classical League’s Certamen team celebrates the end of an eventful day at the Certamen Tournament on Feb. 2. In this tournament, teams answer questions using their knowledge of Latin history and culture against other schools in the New Orleans area.
Members of DHS’s Certamen team are seniors Elise Cresson, Camille Scandurro, freshmen Janie Bickerton, Ada Holmes, Elizabeth Mobley, senior Isabelle Mermilliod, junior Irene Yu, senior Anne D’Armond, and freshman Katherine Mansfield. Bickerton, Holmes, Mobley and Mansfield – members of the Intermediate Certamen Team – took first in the competition.
The Junior Classical League is Dominican’s resident Latin, Greek and ancient culture club that participates in classics-themed events related to the preservation of ancient history and culture, such as the Certamen Tournament. The Certamen Tournament is an annual Latin quiz bowl sponsored by the Louisiana Junior Classical League in which several schools in the New Orleans area participate.
During the tournament at Archbishop Chapelle High School, teams of five students from competing schools crowded around buzzers as they competed to answer trivia questions. The questions ranged from mythology and history to grammar and mathematical equations that must be answered in Latin. Certamen means “contest” or even “struggle/battle” in Latin, which is fitting for the tournament’s atmosphere.
“As nerve wracking as it is to try to understand the Latin phrases (during the tournament) and to be expected to answer ‘in Latine,’ it is so rewarding to win a question for your team,” said JCL president senior Anne D’Armond. “Even if it was a pure guess.”
- Natalie Rodriguez-Ema
Pro-Life Pilgrims Defend the Unborn
An unborn child’s heart beats loudly over the ultra-sound machine as a couple cries in joy and anticipation of meeting their child for the first time. This special moment that celebrates life is exactly what Dominican’s Pro-Life Club members marched to defend.
March for the Voiceless- DHS students join the March for Life in January to mark in protest the Roe V. Wade decision. The pilgrims walked 1.2 miles in freezing Washington, D.C, weather from the National Mall to the Supreme Court Building. The mission of the March for Life is to end abortion by uniting, educating and mobilizing people in the public square.
Thirty-four Dominican Pro-Life Club members and three faculty members participated in the March for Life in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 18. Dominican marched with 500 students from the Archdiocese of New Orleans, alongside the 500,000 other attendees from across the country.
The purpose of the annual March for Life is to end abortion by uniting, educating and mobilizing people in the public square. This year, he large crowd braved freezing cold weather to march the 1.2 miles from the National Mall to the Supreme Court Building. Along the way, the crowd used their voices through chants, signs, and prayers to express their thoughts against abortion and the infamous ruling of the 1973 court case Roe v. Wade.
“To see the massive crowd marching for a cause so close to my heart is such an inspiring sight to see,” said senior Meredith McKeough. “This trip is one of the best ways to learn gratitude and humility and to thank God for the gift of life in all of its stages.”
Members of the Pro-Life march in Washington, D.C., using their voices to defend the unborn. Dominican students joined more than 500,000 attendees who participated in the peaceful March for Life demonstration. Dominican participates in March for Life annually to remember the somber anniversary of the Roe v. Wade court decision.
Though the March is the highpoint of the pilgrimage for most attendees, there is much more to the entire journey. DHS participated in several activities such as concerts, ministry nights, the Geaux Forth Rally sponsored by Louisiana Right to Life and the Life is Very Good Rally.
“My favorite part of the trip is always the Life is Very Good Rally,” said Ms. Ashlyn Ciolino (’07), co-moderator of the Pro-Life Club. “It’s amazing to be in such a big arena with thousands of people who all stand for the same cause as you. Seeing all those people participate in adoration is a unifying experience but, at the same time, is completely personal.”
From the moment the buses were loaded to the second students return home, the welcoming, inspiring atmosphere of the trip allowed everyone to open their hearts and minds to the joys of life. Every moment of the trip focused on unifying the voices of the Pro-Life Generation to make an impact on the world, in hopes of one day reversing the culture of death into one of life and acceptance for all.
“Stepping away from the stress of my daily schedule and traveling to D.C. with all of my closest friends reminded me of how lucky I am to be alive,” said McKeough. “Life is a gift. This trip reminded me to not only fight for the lives of others, but to also be thankful for mine.”
- Natalie Rodriguez-Ema
Dominican Teams Wrap Up Fall Sports Season
Spike! Run! Swim! All three of Dominican’s fall sports teams strove to achieve their team goals. The Volleyball Team led the pack by spiking their way through season and making it to the Bi-District Rounds of the Volleyball Playoffs.
Following the Volleyball Team’s lead, the Cross Country Team had a great season and ran all the way to the State Competition, placing fourth. Soon afterwards, the Swim Team closed a rewarding season, taking fourth place at the State Competition in November.
The Swim Team Performs Swimmingly
On Nov. 16-17, the Dominican Swim Team competed the Allstate Sugar Bowl/LHSAA State Swim Meet in Sulphur State Competition resulting in the team placing fourth. Senior Hannah Morris also became the state champion in the 200-yard individual medley, finishing with a time of 2:08.17, just days after signing with Texas Christian University in Fort Worth.
Thirteen team members competed in state, and it was a very rewarding season overall, according to moderator Ms. Erin Baker (’95).
Gathering around one of their co-captains, the Swim Team congratulates senior Hannah Morris as she signs with Texas Christian University in Fort Worth on Nov. 14.
According to junior Morgan Gunnels, the girls always make sure to keep each other motivated and support each other throughout the ups and downs in the season. “They’re my support system,” said Gunnels. “They taught me the power of encouragement and how it can keep me motivated.”
The Cross-Country Team Races to State
The Cross-Country Team ran their way State Competition and kept running until the team placed fourth.
The team beat the odds while running at the state meet. According Ms. Ashlyn Ciolino (’07), cross-country coach, the girls went into this meet not knowing what to expect. The weather was cold. The ground was muddy. The girls had never run in conditions like this before.
Despite the weather setbacks, the girls still ran and placed fourth overall. “I’m really proud of how the girls ran in state and in that weather,” said Ms. Ciolino. “I’m very proud of how they handled that.”
The team also accomplished one of their main team goals of winning regionals with freshman Kelsey Major placing first overall with a time of 18:19, which is the second-best time for a Dominican runner. Major also placed eighth at State, accomplishing a personal goal of placing in the Top Ten. “It felt rewarding because of the work we put in during the season,” said Major.
Bump, Set, Spike into the End of the Season!
The Volleyball Team had a successful and winning season. “We had a young team and a very successful year,” said Mrs. Jessica Chatellier, volleyball coach.
All the Volleyball Team’s hard work throughout the season paid off when the team made it to the Bi-District Round of the Playoffs after a great season. The girls then advanced to the Regional Round of the Playoffs after being victorious over Barbe High School, winning a three-game match.
Although they fell to Mount Carmel Academy in the next round, they fought their hardest and had a great season. “We grew closer as a young team,” said junior Adele Hoth. “They’re my second family and they teach me how to work hard.”
- Grace DiFranco
The NEHS Book Nook
Reading recommendations for the bibliophile in all of us
Storm of the Century by Stephen King
Like many of Steven King’s novels, this is not one for the faint of heart. Storm of the Century is a horror novel written by Steven King. King originally wrote Storm of the Century as a screenplay for a television miniseries of the title. The novel is set in the fictional town of Little Tall Island, Maine during one of the most catastrophic blizzards the town had ever seen.
During the storm, a man with supernatural powers visits the town. The people of the town face multiple tragedies before they are faced with an ultimatum. King does an excellent job blending the supernatural with raw human emotion. He makes you ask, “Would you give up your most precious possession for the good of the whole?”
As an author, King has always captivated me. His ability to capture and execute the psychological horror genre on film and on paper has made him an icon. This novel will literally send chills down your spine. King does an amazing job of making his reader question his or her own morale.
As the people of the town are faced with a choice, you are also faced with a dilemma. Would you sacrifice your emotions for the good of another or would you remain stubborn in your way
Talking As Fast As I Can: From Gilmore Girls to Gilmore Girls and Everything In Between by Lauren Graham
Talking As Fast As I Can: From Gilmore Girls to Gilmore Girls and Everything In Between by Lauren Graham
Talking As Fast As I Can is an autobiography by Lauren Graham that chronicles her life from her childhood, to her career as an actress, to what it was like returning to her beloved role as Lorelai Gilmore. Like the title promises, the book gives an insight into the events of her life and everything in between, and it truly feels as if you’re talking to an old friend.
The book is a New York Times bestseller, and I enjoyed every minute of reading it. It was funny, witty, lovable, and very entertaining, and if you are an avid Gilmore Girls fan like me, it’s honestly a must. Also, if you are a fan of the show, the autobiography is full of stories about what it was like to film the show, what it was like to work with the talented and colorful cast, and which moments and scenes were the most fun to shoot.
It also contains multiple diary entries that Lauren wrote when she recently returned to the show in the Netflix reboot, Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life. The entries include pictures and commentary on the days she spent back on set, reconnecting with fellow cast members, and the celebrity guests who made appearances in the new series. It feels as if you’re experiencing the new show right there with her, and I loved it.
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah is an amazing historical fiction novel about Nazi-occupied France. It follows the lives of two sisters, whose parents are dead. One sister, Vianne Rossignol Mauriac, is more traditional and stricter than her sister, but still helps the French Resistance Movement and helps Jewish children escape persecution. The other sister, Isabelle Rossignol, more directly helps the French Resistance Movement in a wide variety of ways. Isabelle starts by handing out anti-Nazi propaganda in the streets of a quaint French village but quickly helps out in larger way. Its point of view is that of an old woman recounting the events of her life, most specifically the war, but we do not find out which sister is the narrator is until the very end of the book.
This book is simultaneously heart-wrenching and heart-warming, and I still do not think that I have gotten over it, even though I read it over the summer. It deals with love, family, work, and so much more, all set during World War II. This book would be great for anyone who has any interest in Vichy France or just wants a fantastically interesting read. (Just a warning: this novel is not a light read.)
I think that the best part about this book is that it is based on the true events of Andrée De Jongh, a heroic and courageous Belgium, who at a very young age helped the Belgium Resistance during World War II. Isabelle Rossignol’s life strays from Andrée de Jongh’s near the end of the book, but it is still a very close relation.
500 Things You Should Know About History by Belinda Gallagher
History is a lovely subject that inspires everyone. Every person has a unique time period which he or she loves to learn about. For me, that time period is the BC era of Ancient Egypt. During this era, many pharaohs reigned as gods on earth. They were worshipped by their people. The outlandish treatment of the pharaohs has always interested me. From birth to burial, pharaohs were served in unique ways. This book explains some of the traditions of the magical time period, specifically the mummification process.
This book first recounts the stories of the first mummies ever discovered, beginning with the people of South America. The book then discusses the “Ice Men” of Europe. The Ice Men are those who were mummified in ice and snow nearly 5,300 years ago. Then, part of the grand finale: the mummies of Egypt!
The story of how mummification began as a natural process and ended as a respected tradition in Egypt is incredibly interesting. Egyptians began to make artificial mummies in 3,400 BC. Before their artificial creation, people were naturally mummified when they were buried in desert sand. The book then discusses the creation of the very first Egyptian mummy, the general mummification process, and the later threat of grave robbers.
I have cherished this book since childhood. I learned many interesting facts that I am still able to recall. Most of these facts are unforgettable, like how a deceased pharaoh’s brain exited through the nostril before his body was dried, wrapped in linen, decorated with valuable items, and placed in a gold sarcophagus.
The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
Over the summer and back in middle school, I read The Outsiders. While this is an old book, the legacy of it lives on. The plot of this novel is the main character Ponyboy getting into big trouble with the law which in turn causes his journey of self-realization to end. Honestly, if this book does not move readers to tears, they are not fully reading this book.
The underlying themes include friendship, family, and loyalty. Lately, these themes have been an important topic in my life; therefore, I have leaned towards a book involving them. The book follows a group of young boys orphaned by a traumatic event and they rely on each other. No matter the trouble one member got into, the group helped each other out.
They call themselves the Greasers because they have slick long hair styles with grease and do not follow rules set for anyone. On the West side of town, the group is called the Socs, and they are arch rivals of the Greasers. Throughout the war between the two gangs, the book follows the struggle of the boys within one side.
The book is exciting, fun, and a page-turner. It makes you feel good inside reading about people who rely on each other no matter what.
Ode to the Big Easy
by Vivian Palmer, class of 2019
I’m aware that I carry traits, genetic wiring, emotional baggage. I can feel it in my bones. I am constantly shaped by the people, the places, and the things I encounter. Each one flows into my life and contributes to the formation of my person like the tributaries into the Mississippi. New Orleans is my one and only home, the only place I’ve ever lived, and a central part of my identity. Its culture and quirks are what make me who I am, and the music and arts of the city impact my life on a daily basis. As an arts lover and a dancer, New Orleans allows me to be immersed in a rich and colorful arts scene that is unique to this city alone. New Orleans is the only place where you can walk down the street and hear a jazz quartet playing in a club on one corner, and turn and see a collection of paintings hanging for sale on the wrought iron fence of Jackson Square on another, and for this, I am eternally grateful. Tennessee Williams once wrote, “America has only three cities: New York, San Francisco, and New Orleans. Everywhere else is Cleveland.” Every day, I wake up and thank my lucky stars that I don’t live in Cleveland. Anywhere else, the city will not embrace you at first glance and let its artful culture seep into your pores; but in New Orleans, it’s just how the city says hi. Here, because art is a vital part of the city’s composition, I can be passionate about it without boundaries. However, without a city that freely and unapologetically expresses itself, I don’t think I would feel comfortable doing the same.
Overall, society suppresses the arts, but in this city, they are highlighted, and dance, specifically, is something that New Orleans embraces. The art of dance, in and of itself, is universal. Everyone can dance, anywhere, at any time. Dance is spontaneous, and it can begin in an instant. It requires no formal training, no formal attire, and no objects, except two mobile feet, and because of its easy access, dance can be found in every inch of the city. From the second liners on Bourbon Street to the tap dancer in front of St. Louis Cathedral trying to earn a buck, to the partygoers at Rock ‘n’ Bowl and even all the way to my own dance studio, dancers move and descend further and further into the New Orleans culture, a culture that has been alive with dance for three hundred years. From New Orleans’ very inception, Cajuns gathered in dance halls to preserve their culture and traditions, and the same is true for the African slaves in Congo Square. Even when they had nothing else, no freedoms, no rights, they still had their own customs, which they preserved through dance. Once a day, for a few minutes a day, dance was a slave’s escape from the tragic reality that was his or her life. In a similar way, dance allows people in New Orleans to escape their realities and be someone else, if only for a moment. However, it is only because New Orleans has the arts at its core that this escape is possible. Without things like dance and music pumping through its veins, New Orleans would lose all vitality, all spirit, all culture, and in turn, I, and many other artists, would as well. Without the arts, New Orleans would just be Cleveland, and the world would suffer an unbearable loss.
Click Clack
Cby Ella Cheramie, class of 2019
Click-Clack goes the horses marching down St. Charles, atop them police united with the people
Click-Clack goes the soles of a young boy’s feet, of his makeshift taps from his daddy’s cans
Click-clack goes the spare change thrown in the box of a performer who sits near the historic steeple
Click-clack goes the Abita bottle, being tapped by a lost drummer’s hands
Click-clack goes the tractor sinking into the pothole, taking the brunt of damage so the float lugged behind it rides smooth
Click-clack goes the beads aimed straight for the drains, green shiny plastic meets hard metal Click-clack goes the tambourine off the hip of a Mardi Gras Indian, who feels the groove
Click-clack goes the spoon, stirring the tea to awaken New Orleans creative minds, brewed straight from the kettle
Click-clack goes the cruiser bike switching gears, as it approaches the bustling colorful Frenchman street
Click-Clack goes the track of the ruby red Canal Street streetcar, dropping off local and tourists to the river
Click-clack goes the succulent crawfish poured atop the table, an aroma Catholics on Fridays adore more than meat
Click-clack goes the spray paint can marking a Katrina- X, as the national guard plays the role of a giver
Click-clack goes the lights of the Superdome, a place of refuge and unity, for the first time since the storm
Click-clack goes the hammers of volunteers rebuilding our homes
Click-clack goes the sounds of the heartbeat of resilient city reborn
Click-clack goes the door of our newly built fence to a home built from love and a yard for us to roam
Dominican Students Win Over the City
“Click-Clack goes the sounds of the heartbeat of resilient city reborn.”
Click-Clack goes Dominican cheering on senior Ella Cheramie, the winner of the Patrick F. Taylor Foundation’s 18 in ’18 contest.The Taylor Foundation created the contest for New Orleans youth to commemorate the New Orleans tricentennial celebration.
Cheramie placed first among eighteen finalists. Her poetry entry entitled “Click Clack” earned Cheramie an $1,800 prize. Cheramie’s first place poem also earned Dominican $18,000 which will go towards the English Department, according to DHS Principal Mrs. Carolyn Favre (’70).
Read Cheramie’s poem by clicking the link http://click-clack
“Dominican has been around for half of the tricentennial, since the Irish sisters came here in 1861,” said Mrs. Favre. “Dominican is a part of the fabric of New Orleans, and I am so thankful for our capable and talented students who are able to express their passion for our heritage.”
Alongside Cheramie was senior Vivian Palmer, one of the eighteen finalists for her essay “Ode to the Big Easy.”
“I enjoyed getting to combine my love for New Orleans with my love for the arts,” said Palmer.
Read Palmer’s essay by clicking the link http://ode-to-the-big-easy
The five winners of the contest were announced at the new Taylor Education Center on Oct. 18. Participating students submitted artistic entries varying from poems and essays to visual artwork and videos which all reflected on what the city and its culture means to them.
Cheramie drew inspiration for her poem from her family. Her father had been a jazz drummer, and her mom grew up in the Seventh Ward with her Lebanese immigrant family. “I came up with the idea of writing about New Orleans through sound because music and sound inspire everyone in the city, no matter their background.”
For Cheramie, the contest gave her and the other contestants a new perspective on the city that they often took for granted. “My favorite part of the contest was meeting the different students from schools across the city,” said Cheramie. “Everyone was open-minded and wanted to explore their curiosity about the city.”
Mrs. Meg Womble, English Department Chair, knew the Taylor Foundation 18 in ’18 contest would be a great opportunity for Dominican students. “DHS students are so talented, poised, and creative. Anything to showcase that is worth it,” said Mrs. Womble.
“Our students are great representatives of our school, our city, and what it means to be young Catholics in our society.”
Natalie Rodriguez-Ema
Alums Bond Through Rally Day
Arriving at Dominican after years of being away, alums reunited to relive the most exciting day of the year, Rally Day.
Cheers, costumes, and relay games brought the excitement back to alums during the second Alumnae Rally Day. On Saturday, October 29, nearly 250 alums from the graduating classes from the 1950s to the 2010s revisited their past through Rally Day.
“Dominican was a very important part of my life,” said Ms. Maureen Eames (’82). “The values and lessons I learned there helped make me a better person. Having the chance to experience some of that spirit and visit with other alums was a valuable opportunity.”
Just as it is for Dominican students, Rally Day is a highly-anticipated event for alums, too. Participating grads spent months preparing the cheers, hand motions and headpieces – all to relive their Rally Day glory.
The Blue Angels, from the decades of ‘50s, ‘60s, and ‘70s, took first place artistic presentation. They also won for best headpiece, mascot, poster and attendance, filling the SARG with smiles and laughter.
The Blue Angels’ mascot, Mrs. Lynne Levy O’Leary (’70), and spirit stick, Ms. Karen Boudreaux (‘75), share a love for Dominican. “Things never change when we come back to Dominican,” said Ms. Boudreaux, and even some of her former teachers still know her familiar face. Mrs. O’Leary agreed, saying that when she returns to Walmsley Ave., “Time melts away.”
The L’Eighties of the Red Carpet took the junior bleachers with loads of spirit. In fact, the alums of the 1980s won best spirit stick and best cheerleaders.
Rally relays are always an important part of the day, and the alums of the ‘90s took first place. With the theme of Thanks A Bunch, Dominican, they raced with scooters, hamster wheels and hoola hoops.
The youngest group of alums, representing the 2000s and 2010s, were the green-garbed 2K Pop Mixtape. They may have been the freshman alum class, but they secured a win for overall presentation. They also won best pep squad and best cheer.
“Dominican Rally Day provides a special opportunity for women from diverse backgrounds and beliefs to have a singular focus on the spirit of Dominican and their group,” said Ms. Eames. “For those few hours, no one cares about your social status, family make-up or political beliefs. Everyone is united in Dominican spirit.”
- Jennifer Yrle
Dominican Soccer Takes the Field
Rain or shine. Hot or cold.
Weather is not a problem for the Dominican soccer team.
Through harsh winds and cold practices, the hard work is surely paying off. The team has kicked off the season with victories, scoring 4-0 against Destrehan High School at their scrimmage game, 8-0 against Bonnabel High School at their district game and another 8-0 against L.W. Higgins High School in November.
“Continuing to train hard and putting that work into games are helping the team improve,”said Mr. Al Silvas, soccer coach.
Continuing their winning trend, the team successfully scored 8-1 against Fountainebleu High School and a 2-0 against E.D. White. Senior Olivia Singleton, co-captain center forward, scored both goals against E.D. White.
With such a great start to the season, Singleton is excited for the year. Because she’s been on varsity for five years, “this team means a lot and has taught me to be a leader,” said Singleton. “I’ve learned to play the game, but also to teach the game.”
With years of hard work and dedication under her belt, Singleton has signed with Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne to pursue her soccer career in college. “It’s definitely emotional, since this is my last year. Giving your all to a sport definitely takes a piece of your heart,” said Singleton.
Along with Singleton, senior Bella Cordoba, co-captain and attacking midfielder, has signed to continue her playing career at Louisiana Tech in Ruston.
“It’s one of my biggest goals in my life that I’ve finally accomplished,” Cordoba said. “It makes me happy to know that all my hard work has paid off.”
As the season progresses, DHS soccer players have one goal in their mind.”Our team has a board where we write our goals, and our main one is district championships,” said Singleton.
A personal goal defender Molly Walter, junior, strives to accomplish is becoming a better soccer player overall. “I’m striving to be a better teammate and a better friend,” said Walter. “I hope to become closer to the underclassmen as I approach my senior year.”
The soccer team has had a successful start to the season as it continues throughout winter. “There’s been a little more focus so far than last year. We’re going to continue to get better each and every game,” said Mr. Silvas. “Team unity has definitely started out strong.”
- Jade Nguyen