A day in the life of an msc hockey academy student:
joseph gannon
As a freshman at Mount and a member of the U14 Hockey Academy team, parents and prospective students often ask me what a typical day is like for a boarding student. In fact, we don’t really have one typical day. Instead, we actually have four typical days since we work on a four day (A through D) rotating school schedule. So, I’ll take you through a day in the life of a “B Day” at Mount. For me, “B Days” consist of four classes and a hockey block in the morning. On the U14 team, we usually practice during the school day which gives us more time to workout, do homework and participate in clubs in the afternoons.
7:00-7:15 AM I awake to the sound of my alarm ringing. My bed in Brother Josephus Hall, like many of the beds in the dorm, is on stilts so we can maximize the floor space in our room. All of these beds have wooden guardrails, but they didn’t have a set of rails for mine so they put on the kind of plastic ones you see on toddler beds. I get chirped a lot by my friends for sleeping in “a crib,” but it’s all in good fun. My roommate, Pete Nicoletta ‘27, is usually the early riser and jumps in the shower first, while Carson Mertz ‘26 and I usually take a bit longer to get out of our beds. Sometimes we have “dress down” days at Mount, but usually our school uniform of a Mount polo shirt and khaki pants (or shorts) is required.
7:15 AM I leave the dorm and hustle over to the cafeteria for breakfast in the main building.
7:20-7:45 AM Most mornings, I have scrambled eggs, sausage links, homefries, and a blueberry yogurt. Breakfast is and always has been my favorite meal so I like to load up on the calories in the morning to get lots of energy for the rest of my day. I sit with my teammates for this meal because hockey academy kids are the only students who eat breakfast at the school. Our team tends to talk about professional hockey news or just random funny things like someone falling out of their bed the previous night!
7:45-8:35 AM I walk up four flights of stairs to attend English, my first class of the day. We are currently reading and having Socratic discussions on the novelette Of Mice and Men, which I really love. Mr. Hogue, our teacher, does an outstanding job of making sure we understand a book cover to cover. Sometimes I get a little overwhelmed with the amount of reading and writing in this class, and Mr. Hogue likes to say ”pencils should be flying” when we take notes, but at the end of the day, I know I’m working hard to succeed in his class.
8:38-9:00 AM I have to hurry down to Adelard Arena and get dressed for practice. Even though it’s still early in the day, it’s nice to get a little break from school and catch up with the guys on my team. Christian Hernandez ‘26, Pete Nicoletta, and I are usually in charge of the music in the locker room, and we try to pump up the boys.
9:00-10:15 AM Coach Uber and Coach Cronin run a great practice with a series of flow drills, small area games, and situational play like penalty kills and power plays. I can honestly say these are the best practices I’ve ever had in my eleven years playing hockey, especially since I get to compete every day against some of the top players in the country.
10:15-10:55 AM After a quick shower, I rush back up the steps that join the rink to the main part of campus. My least favorite part of Mount is probably going up these stairs after a hard practice. Some days, it can feel like you're climbing Mt. Everest, but it is good for the quads!
10:56-12:01 PM Seven of my teammates and I are in biology class together, which is the most from the team in any of my classes. Typically, I have about three to four teammates in a class. My favorite part of biology is the labs where we get to dissect things, and I really appreciate that Mr. Sutherland, our teacher, is a hockey fan and comes to games to support our team.
12:02-12:31 PM By this time, I’m usually starving so I sprint down three flights of stairs to the cafeteria for lunch. On a typical day, I might have chicken tenders with fries, a chocolate chip bar, and a blue Gatorade. Usually, I sit with friends and classmates. At the start of the school year, Ryder Tanner ‘25, Griffin Davey ‘25, Brady Hall ‘25, and Tristan Hagerman ‘25 noticed that I was sitting alone, and they were nice enough to invite me to sit with them.
12:34-1:24 PM World History with Mr. Burson is often one of the best classes of my day because I love history and learning about interesting topics from Mr. B such as the fall of Rome.
1:27-2:17 PM My last class of the day is Foundations of Our Faith, or better known as Religion. I didn’t attend a Catholic school in California before coming to Mount so this is a new experience for me, but I like that Mr. Monahan covers all the material similar to a history class.
2:25-3:00 PM As a member of the National Junior Honor Society, I volunteer for community service each semester. For my service, I chose to join the afterschool Homework Help Club, where I tutor middle school students in math and science. This has been a great way to get to know some younger students at Mount and try to help them with their academic challenges.
3:15-4:15 PM I get started on some of my homework when I get back to my dorm room on the second floor of Brother Josephus Hall. I might also eat a quick snack which usually consists of rice cakes and honey.
4:15-5:45 PM I go to workout with my two teammates Pete Nicoletta and Gavin Callahan ‘26 in the gym located in the basement of our dorm. It’s really nice to have this so close to home. Pete, Gavin, and I always get a good session in, but sometimes the workout can take longer than expected if we have trouble getting Pete’s big JBL speaker to work.
6:00-7:00 PM After a shower, I head over to the cafeteria for dinner. In the wintertime, this can be a little rough if it’s 10 degrees outside, but there is a passageway from the dorm to the school that we can use to stay inside if we want. By far, my favorite meal is the Mexican food on Wednesday nights, which is kind of similar to Chipotle, but I also enjoy the chicken parmesan too. The cafeteria employees work really hard to feed us well, and we try to help out by cleaning up after ourselves and not making a big mess. My roommate, Pete, and Anthony Cutalo ‘26, are two of the funniest guys on our team, and I like sitting with them because they always crack me up.
7:30-10:00 PM By the time we get back to the dorm and settle in for the night, it’s time for study hall. Most kids stay in their rooms to do homework, but I usually move around to different places such as the common room or basement to find quiet, isolated areas. Typically, I might have about two and a half hours of homework which is a drastic change from the hour or less of homework that I had at my previous (middle) school. Usually around this time I also order DoorDash and get a burrito from Chipotle, but sometimes I try to go easy on my parent’s credit card bill and just eat a snack in my room.
10:15 PM By this time, my day is usually done, and it’s time for bed. However, even after lights out, Carson, Pete, and I might usually talk about random stuff for a little while. Politics can be a tricky subject, but, even when we’re arguing, we still have fun. These guys, and all of my teammates, are like my brothers, and the Mount Hockey Academy is like one big family.
-Joseph Gannon '26
7:00-7:15 AM I awake to the sound of my alarm ringing. My bed in Brother Josephus Hall, like many of the beds in the dorm, is on stilts so we can maximize the floor space in our room. All of these beds have wooden guardrails, but they didn’t have a set of rails for mine so they put on the kind of plastic ones you see on toddler beds. I get chirped a lot by my friends for sleeping in “a crib,” but it’s all in good fun. My roommate, Pete Nicoletta ‘27, is usually the early riser and jumps in the shower first, while Carson Mertz ‘26 and I usually take a bit longer to get out of our beds. Sometimes we have “dress down” days at Mount, but usually our school uniform of a Mount polo shirt and khaki pants (or shorts) is required.
7:15 AM I leave the dorm and hustle over to the cafeteria for breakfast in the main building.
7:20-7:45 AM Most mornings, I have scrambled eggs, sausage links, homefries, and a blueberry yogurt. Breakfast is and always has been my favorite meal so I like to load up on the calories in the morning to get lots of energy for the rest of my day. I sit with my teammates for this meal because hockey academy kids are the only students who eat breakfast at the school. Our team tends to talk about professional hockey news or just random funny things like someone falling out of their bed the previous night!
7:45-8:35 AM I walk up four flights of stairs to attend English, my first class of the day. We are currently reading and having Socratic discussions on the novelette Of Mice and Men, which I really love. Mr. Hogue, our teacher, does an outstanding job of making sure we understand a book cover to cover. Sometimes I get a little overwhelmed with the amount of reading and writing in this class, and Mr. Hogue likes to say ”pencils should be flying” when we take notes, but at the end of the day, I know I’m working hard to succeed in his class.
8:38-9:00 AM I have to hurry down to Adelard Arena and get dressed for practice. Even though it’s still early in the day, it’s nice to get a little break from school and catch up with the guys on my team. Christian Hernandez ‘26, Pete Nicoletta, and I are usually in charge of the music in the locker room, and we try to pump up the boys.
9:00-10:15 AM Coach Uber and Coach Cronin run a great practice with a series of flow drills, small area games, and situational play like penalty kills and power plays. I can honestly say these are the best practices I’ve ever had in my eleven years playing hockey, especially since I get to compete every day against some of the top players in the country.
10:15-10:55 AM After a quick shower, I rush back up the steps that join the rink to the main part of campus. My least favorite part of Mount is probably going up these stairs after a hard practice. Some days, it can feel like you're climbing Mt. Everest, but it is good for the quads!
10:56-12:01 PM Seven of my teammates and I are in biology class together, which is the most from the team in any of my classes. Typically, I have about three to four teammates in a class. My favorite part of biology is the labs where we get to dissect things, and I really appreciate that Mr. Sutherland, our teacher, is a hockey fan and comes to games to support our team.
12:02-12:31 PM By this time, I’m usually starving so I sprint down three flights of stairs to the cafeteria for lunch. On a typical day, I might have chicken tenders with fries, a chocolate chip bar, and a blue Gatorade. Usually, I sit with friends and classmates. At the start of the school year, Ryder Tanner ‘25, Griffin Davey ‘25, Brady Hall ‘25, and Tristan Hagerman ‘25 noticed that I was sitting alone, and they were nice enough to invite me to sit with them.
12:34-1:24 PM World History with Mr. Burson is often one of the best classes of my day because I love history and learning about interesting topics from Mr. B such as the fall of Rome.
1:27-2:17 PM My last class of the day is Foundations of Our Faith, or better known as Religion. I didn’t attend a Catholic school in California before coming to Mount so this is a new experience for me, but I like that Mr. Monahan covers all the material similar to a history class.
2:25-3:00 PM As a member of the National Junior Honor Society, I volunteer for community service each semester. For my service, I chose to join the afterschool Homework Help Club, where I tutor middle school students in math and science. This has been a great way to get to know some younger students at Mount and try to help them with their academic challenges.
3:15-4:15 PM I get started on some of my homework when I get back to my dorm room on the second floor of Brother Josephus Hall. I might also eat a quick snack which usually consists of rice cakes and honey.
4:15-5:45 PM I go to workout with my two teammates Pete Nicoletta and Gavin Callahan ‘26 in the gym located in the basement of our dorm. It’s really nice to have this so close to home. Pete, Gavin, and I always get a good session in, but sometimes the workout can take longer than expected if we have trouble getting Pete’s big JBL speaker to work.
6:00-7:00 PM After a shower, I head over to the cafeteria for dinner. In the wintertime, this can be a little rough if it’s 10 degrees outside, but there is a passageway from the dorm to the school that we can use to stay inside if we want. By far, my favorite meal is the Mexican food on Wednesday nights, which is kind of similar to Chipotle, but I also enjoy the chicken parmesan too. The cafeteria employees work really hard to feed us well, and we try to help out by cleaning up after ourselves and not making a big mess. My roommate, Pete, and Anthony Cutalo ‘26, are two of the funniest guys on our team, and I like sitting with them because they always crack me up.
7:30-10:00 PM By the time we get back to the dorm and settle in for the night, it’s time for study hall. Most kids stay in their rooms to do homework, but I usually move around to different places such as the common room or basement to find quiet, isolated areas. Typically, I might have about two and a half hours of homework which is a drastic change from the hour or less of homework that I had at my previous (middle) school. Usually around this time I also order DoorDash and get a burrito from Chipotle, but sometimes I try to go easy on my parent’s credit card bill and just eat a snack in my room.
10:15 PM By this time, my day is usually done, and it’s time for bed. However, even after lights out, Carson, Pete, and I might usually talk about random stuff for a little while. Politics can be a tricky subject, but, even when we’re arguing, we still have fun. These guys, and all of my teammates, are like my brothers, and the Mount Hockey Academy is like one big family.
-Joseph Gannon '26
Artist of the month: nolan king '23
Artist of the Month features accomplished art students who exhibit exemplary work ethic or achieve a significant accomplishment within the month.
Our Artist of the Month feature is senior Nolan King. Nolan is a student in Art 2.
Nolan’s featured piece is called “Buddy's Ball,” named after his dog Buddy. The drawing features a golden retriever looking at a tennis ball. Though open to interpretation, it inspires a story of an owner playing fetch with their beloved dog. Nolan’s dog inspired the creation of this piece, though the image isn’t of his dog.
Nolan used different pencils and graphite with variations in the hardness of the lead to achieve the lights and shadows in the picture. He also utilized a shading tool to achieve the shadows and create different textures in the piece.
Awesome work, Nolan!
-Amanda Masse '23
Our Artist of the Month feature is senior Nolan King. Nolan is a student in Art 2.
Nolan’s featured piece is called “Buddy's Ball,” named after his dog Buddy. The drawing features a golden retriever looking at a tennis ball. Though open to interpretation, it inspires a story of an owner playing fetch with their beloved dog. Nolan’s dog inspired the creation of this piece, though the image isn’t of his dog.
Nolan used different pencils and graphite with variations in the hardness of the lead to achieve the lights and shadows in the picture. He also utilized a shading tool to achieve the shadows and create different textures in the piece.
Awesome work, Nolan!
-Amanda Masse '23
Making Blankets with Alex Hoffman and Ava Rataic
“As part of your CAP 11th grade Religion Class, you will need to research, put together a proposal, and complete a service activity/project connected to a real need in our local/world community.” is one of the first quotes from Ms. Vassallo’s PBA rubric that is practically imprinted into my brain.
As stated above, all juniors are tasked to produce a service event to help a specific cause that they feel is important to them. It is a challenging yet inspiring way to incorporate our school and faith’s core value of serving communities into the lives of young-independent students. Even though event proposals have just started in class, Alex Hoffman and Ava Rataic are the two pioneers from the class of 2024 who took it upon themselves to kickstart this classwide journey.
Once a month, Ms. Vassallo leads students on a trip to St. Charles Soup Kitchen to serve the less fortunate Providence locals. Hoffman and Rataic are no strangers to the kitchen, as they are loyal members of these trips- going ever since the beginning of the first semester.
On their trips, the girls felt the most sympathy towards the younger generation of the soup kitchen’s customers. They noticed many families with children would be there consistently. Experiencing the effects of poverty on a group of individuals they have grown to love granted them the realization that our society needs to take action and help impoverished people. This deep compassion is what inspired them to host their blanket-making event.
Hoffman stated that the purpose of the activity was to “put a smile on kids' faces who don’t have anything to keep them warm [in the] winter.” “Families… We want to provide just even a little bit of comfort to them.” Rataic adds. The idea was simple: gather our Mount community to create and donate blankets for the St. Charles Soup Kitchen community, who need it most.
The pair’s determination allowed them to crack down under a short period of time to market and proceed with the event, and the student turn-out proved that the sense of dedication was incredibly strong. Many students from both the middle school and high school showed up that Valentine’s Day with scissors, templates, and fabric in hand; ready to support the cause.
Alex and Ava were fantastic hosts: they provided materials, detailed instruction, and help throughout the entire time. They were so fantastic, in fact, they brought complimentary Valentine’s donuts for participating students.
Not only did I get to meet Mr. Sutherland’s talented sons and spend time with my friends, I also was able to release my love for craft making. The pair were actively helping students in the crafting process, showcasing natural leadership skills.
Our group’s blanket ended up looking very similar to the models, and left me in a state of pride and accomplishment. I know that it will be safe in the hands of Hoffman and Rataic, and soon to be united with a person who needs it most.
- Olyvia Bendza '23
A Senior Skip Year
Almost everyone is familiar with some sort of school change. Be it a change from an elementary school to a 6-12, a middle school to a high school, or a mid highschool transfer, one will most likely take place. That being said, how about a change from a high school to a jump right into college? I’m not talking about graduating high school and changing to a college or university. I’m talking about leaving high school early to move on to the college/university level. That was a reality for one of my closest friends, Lane Sylvestre. Lane attended Mount for ninth and tenth grade, but for eleventh, he decided he wanted to participate in Burrillville High School’s “Running Start” program. I was unaware of this program, but when a student chooses the running start path, it allows them to practically skip their senior year, instead, essentially jumping right into college-level classes to fulfill credits at CCRI, which can be transferred to a different college/university the next year, which would normally be the first year of undergrad, but now, after this program, would be the second. I asked Lane a few specific questions and wanted to let you know the answers so that you got them firsthand and it’s not just me rephrasing. Here's how the interview went along:
Q: “When did you decide you were gonna participate in the running start program?”
A: “So I learned by chance about the running start program from a conversation with my brother. He had talked about this girl he used to go to school with who participated in this program. Before this, I had never heard about it, and this was around the beginning of my sophomore year at Mount, or maybe just a few months into the school year. So I researched the program, what it was, and what benefits I could gain from it, and I decided it was something I was seriously interested in. So I approached my guidance counselor at Mount about doing this program, but she said they did not offer it to the students at Mount. Things got more complicated because of that. It came down to making a decision between staying at Mount entirely or leaving to attend Burriville High School which did offer the program. I did not make the final decision until probably about a month before the tuition needed to be paid for Mount’s following year, and I decided to leave. And I did so because I felt the benefits outweighed the cost.”
Q: “How was your final year of high school (in 11th grade) at Burrillville different from your past two at mount?”
A: “To be perfectly honest, I expected my year at Burriville to be horrible because it was going to be a new place that was unfamiliar to me and where I had no one to turn to. However, even though I understood how difficult it would be, I was ill-prepared for the experience. I tend to be a person who is perfectly fine with being alone, but being so isolated was difficult. After quarantine, I had lost the social skills I once had and social anxiety made it difficult to connect with people, even if they were nice to me and approached me with friendly intentions. Though I can’t say it was entirely bad as I liked my teachers and classes, and the people were kind even if I wasn’t particularly close with anyone. It was difficult to get through that school year, and it was honestly one of the worst years of my life. All I can say is that life isn’t worth living if you only wait for the days to come. Though it was difficult, that year I spent essentially by myself taught me a lot about who I am and how I should live my life. We grow through struggle, and after that year, I started to feel more connected with who I am and began to realize a lot about what I want out of life. In short, it was awful, but paved the way for better things, so I look back on it fondly.”
Q: “Would you recommend the program to other high schoolers?”
A: “I would absolutely recommend this program to other high schoolers. Maybe not kids in M
ount exactly, but anyone in public schooling should absolutely consider this program. Let me explain: this program has a factor that is essentially the burden of payment. Say if Mount were to have approved me going to CCRI for the running start program in my senior year, they would likely still charge me the year's tuition while also placing the burden of payment for CCRI’s tuition and textbooks on me. A double whammy, if you will. But in public education, the school must pay the tuition and the books on your behalf. This is because public schools get paid x amount of money for each student that attends their school. So tuition and books are charged from that money the school receives for you. Putting financial aspects aside, this program is difficult because you will have to be away from your friends, which are harder than you think. And, even if it is a community college, it is an entirely new playing field. You have to be absolutely sure of what you want and be completely determined to get it. It is a great experience and sets an amazing foundation for your future. So I recommend it, but I do so while also advising caution.”
Q: “What are the pros and cons of the program for you personally?”
A: “So I actually generated a comprehensive pros and cons list before ever deciding to transfer and do this program; it’s actually how I came to the decision I did. But looking back after experiencing everything, I would say I have a better idea of the pros and cons. Keeping it short, the pros are that it gives you valuable college experience, specialized courses to help you decide your future major, more freedom than a high schooler could ever wish for, and one amazing college application. But the cons are there too. In a community college, there are no dorms. People aren’t forced to hang out in close proximity and get close. So, it is unimaginably more difficult to meet people and develop friends outside of class. Especially because you will enter this program as a child in a world of adults. I take classes with people that have lived full lives. A war veteran in my foreign affairs class, a single mother in my American government class, one of my better acquaintances is a guy in his late 20s or early 30s who sits next to me in ethics has a real career, and is in classes for some extra education. The population is more diverse and the people don’t really have the time or patience to get to know you. So you have to expect that you might be alone. But I’m my opinion it is worth it because the pros always outweigh the cons.”
Q: “Finally, are you glad that you made the decision that you did?”
A: “You can probably tell from my previous answers, but yes I am glad I made the decision I did. Despite everything I’ve been through to get where I am, I still don’t regret my decision, and if I could do it all over again, I definitely would. The world can be a scary place, but if I decided to remain in that familiar bubble I was in I would have never realized that. In doing this program I gained the experience I am going to need to succeed in college. I also found a major I’m interested in and want to pursue. I set a great foundation for my future and found out how to be independent and self-sufficient. Even now, I need a reality check every now and then, but when everything you do is in your own time and you need to manage yourself and your own actions, you begin to mature as a person. I am always going to regret not having a great high school experience as my brother did, but COVID kinda messed that up for me anyway. Though I still have a long way to go, I can take solace in the fact that I prepared myself to the best of my ability for what comes next.”
- Nick Rave '23
Q: “When did you decide you were gonna participate in the running start program?”
A: “So I learned by chance about the running start program from a conversation with my brother. He had talked about this girl he used to go to school with who participated in this program. Before this, I had never heard about it, and this was around the beginning of my sophomore year at Mount, or maybe just a few months into the school year. So I researched the program, what it was, and what benefits I could gain from it, and I decided it was something I was seriously interested in. So I approached my guidance counselor at Mount about doing this program, but she said they did not offer it to the students at Mount. Things got more complicated because of that. It came down to making a decision between staying at Mount entirely or leaving to attend Burriville High School which did offer the program. I did not make the final decision until probably about a month before the tuition needed to be paid for Mount’s following year, and I decided to leave. And I did so because I felt the benefits outweighed the cost.”
Q: “How was your final year of high school (in 11th grade) at Burrillville different from your past two at mount?”
A: “To be perfectly honest, I expected my year at Burriville to be horrible because it was going to be a new place that was unfamiliar to me and where I had no one to turn to. However, even though I understood how difficult it would be, I was ill-prepared for the experience. I tend to be a person who is perfectly fine with being alone, but being so isolated was difficult. After quarantine, I had lost the social skills I once had and social anxiety made it difficult to connect with people, even if they were nice to me and approached me with friendly intentions. Though I can’t say it was entirely bad as I liked my teachers and classes, and the people were kind even if I wasn’t particularly close with anyone. It was difficult to get through that school year, and it was honestly one of the worst years of my life. All I can say is that life isn’t worth living if you only wait for the days to come. Though it was difficult, that year I spent essentially by myself taught me a lot about who I am and how I should live my life. We grow through struggle, and after that year, I started to feel more connected with who I am and began to realize a lot about what I want out of life. In short, it was awful, but paved the way for better things, so I look back on it fondly.”
Q: “Would you recommend the program to other high schoolers?”
A: “I would absolutely recommend this program to other high schoolers. Maybe not kids in M
ount exactly, but anyone in public schooling should absolutely consider this program. Let me explain: this program has a factor that is essentially the burden of payment. Say if Mount were to have approved me going to CCRI for the running start program in my senior year, they would likely still charge me the year's tuition while also placing the burden of payment for CCRI’s tuition and textbooks on me. A double whammy, if you will. But in public education, the school must pay the tuition and the books on your behalf. This is because public schools get paid x amount of money for each student that attends their school. So tuition and books are charged from that money the school receives for you. Putting financial aspects aside, this program is difficult because you will have to be away from your friends, which are harder than you think. And, even if it is a community college, it is an entirely new playing field. You have to be absolutely sure of what you want and be completely determined to get it. It is a great experience and sets an amazing foundation for your future. So I recommend it, but I do so while also advising caution.”
Q: “What are the pros and cons of the program for you personally?”
A: “So I actually generated a comprehensive pros and cons list before ever deciding to transfer and do this program; it’s actually how I came to the decision I did. But looking back after experiencing everything, I would say I have a better idea of the pros and cons. Keeping it short, the pros are that it gives you valuable college experience, specialized courses to help you decide your future major, more freedom than a high schooler could ever wish for, and one amazing college application. But the cons are there too. In a community college, there are no dorms. People aren’t forced to hang out in close proximity and get close. So, it is unimaginably more difficult to meet people and develop friends outside of class. Especially because you will enter this program as a child in a world of adults. I take classes with people that have lived full lives. A war veteran in my foreign affairs class, a single mother in my American government class, one of my better acquaintances is a guy in his late 20s or early 30s who sits next to me in ethics has a real career, and is in classes for some extra education. The population is more diverse and the people don’t really have the time or patience to get to know you. So you have to expect that you might be alone. But I’m my opinion it is worth it because the pros always outweigh the cons.”
Q: “Finally, are you glad that you made the decision that you did?”
A: “You can probably tell from my previous answers, but yes I am glad I made the decision I did. Despite everything I’ve been through to get where I am, I still don’t regret my decision, and if I could do it all over again, I definitely would. The world can be a scary place, but if I decided to remain in that familiar bubble I was in I would have never realized that. In doing this program I gained the experience I am going to need to succeed in college. I also found a major I’m interested in and want to pursue. I set a great foundation for my future and found out how to be independent and self-sufficient. Even now, I need a reality check every now and then, but when everything you do is in your own time and you need to manage yourself and your own actions, you begin to mature as a person. I am always going to regret not having a great high school experience as my brother did, but COVID kinda messed that up for me anyway. Though I still have a long way to go, I can take solace in the fact that I prepared myself to the best of my ability for what comes next.”
- Nick Rave '23
Artist of the Month: Brooke Eagan '24
Artist of the Month features accomplished art students who exhibit exemplary work ethic or achieve a significant accomplishment within the month.
Our Artist of the Month feature is junior Brooke Eagan. As an AP art student, Brooke has been working hard on her AP Art portfolio pieces. These pieces will be sent to CollegeBoard at the end of the year.
Brooke’s featured piece is called “I Will Be a Legend,” a quote from Freddie Mercury. The painting features Freddie Mercury mid-performance. Her dad inspired her love of rock and roll music. He even took her to a Queen concert, her first of many rock and roll concerts. Brooke used bright oil paint to highlight Freddie Mercury’s shining personality.
Brooke’s piece reminds her of her father and their shared interests. The portrait of Freddie Mercury connects her to him or others that have accomplished their goals as she works to accomplish hers.
- Amanda Masse '23
Our Artist of the Month feature is junior Brooke Eagan. As an AP art student, Brooke has been working hard on her AP Art portfolio pieces. These pieces will be sent to CollegeBoard at the end of the year.
Brooke’s featured piece is called “I Will Be a Legend,” a quote from Freddie Mercury. The painting features Freddie Mercury mid-performance. Her dad inspired her love of rock and roll music. He even took her to a Queen concert, her first of many rock and roll concerts. Brooke used bright oil paint to highlight Freddie Mercury’s shining personality.
Brooke’s piece reminds her of her father and their shared interests. The portrait of Freddie Mercury connects her to him or others that have accomplished their goals as she works to accomplish hers.
- Amanda Masse '23
my best performance on the turf
I have been performing since kindergarten. Starting out as an eager miniature ballerina and eventually evolving into a theatrical performer, I have experienced my fair share of unique experiences upon a stage. This past month however, I found that my most gratifying performance was on a turf with a soccer ball.
Sarah DeLappe’s The Wolves centers around a girl's indoor soccer team. The Pulitzer Prize nominated play is edgy, thought provoking, and a true testament to the essence of young womanhood. I became aware of the play a little more than a year ago in a class that focused on improving scene work and monologue interpretation. I was drawn to it as it was introduced to me with a warning about its graphic nature and slightly raunchy edge. I came to find that the warning in question was true regarding the play’s consistent appearance of curse words and sensitive subjects, but came to find out that the warning was on the minds of the food chain’s cruelest predators: teenage girls.
The play has a cast of nine. There is no real action or much of a storyline. But within, it explores themes of politics, sexuality, and even the teenage reaction to grief. I was overcome with excitement as I found out my local theater company would be producing the play this January, and jumped on the opportunity to audition. I was a tinge shocked that the company had even considered such a contemporary and bold piece to present.
Upon booking the role of #8, I was thrown into a measly two week long rehearsal process (an unheard of timeline to those familiar with theater). The cast was all female. The creative team was all female. The crew was all female. I had never been in a production that was purely powered by female creativity. This environment of femininity was exactly what this play needed to become as authentic and as beautiful as it became.
Though the process of the production was speedy, the connections I shared with my castmates were genuine and special. We all had the task of mustering up the guts to perform such a strong piece. Our director (making her directorial debut), Ali Funkhouser, approached the play with blatant passion and fearlessness, fostering an environment of raw emotion and creating a space that allowed each and every one of us to explore our own femininity through acting. I could not have expected to have learned so much about not only myself as a performer but also as a young female.
I felt slightly disconnected from my character as #8. She is ditzy, peppy, and childlike for the sake of concealing her true opinions. I was confident that I was nothing like this 16 year old as I consider myself generally outspoken in my thoughts with a good head on my shoulders- an image I work hard to maintain. As I delved deeper into developing #8 however, I realized that I was once her. Looking back to my freshman year, I recall multiple accounts of biting my tongue in hopes of keeping peace and popularity- values I no longer carry at the forefront of my mind. I soon was able to appreciate how special it was to partake in creating an accurate representation of the many facets to being a young woman trying to navigate the waters of being a teenager.
Though I may not know much about art, I do know this: it is often meant to make you uncomfortable and that is why we appreciate it. The Wolves embraced the uncomfortable through performance art. The uncomfortableness that is shared in glances between teenage girls. The uncomfortableness that exists in conversations regarding loss. The uncomfortable thing is being a 16 or 17 year old girl.
I will continue to look back on this experience as a door opening to appreciating the nature of theater and embracing the uncomfortable. I have grown as an actress and a young adult. Cheers to those who are willing to embrace that discomfort with me.
-Madigan Wirkus '23
Sarah DeLappe’s The Wolves centers around a girl's indoor soccer team. The Pulitzer Prize nominated play is edgy, thought provoking, and a true testament to the essence of young womanhood. I became aware of the play a little more than a year ago in a class that focused on improving scene work and monologue interpretation. I was drawn to it as it was introduced to me with a warning about its graphic nature and slightly raunchy edge. I came to find that the warning in question was true regarding the play’s consistent appearance of curse words and sensitive subjects, but came to find out that the warning was on the minds of the food chain’s cruelest predators: teenage girls.
The play has a cast of nine. There is no real action or much of a storyline. But within, it explores themes of politics, sexuality, and even the teenage reaction to grief. I was overcome with excitement as I found out my local theater company would be producing the play this January, and jumped on the opportunity to audition. I was a tinge shocked that the company had even considered such a contemporary and bold piece to present.
Upon booking the role of #8, I was thrown into a measly two week long rehearsal process (an unheard of timeline to those familiar with theater). The cast was all female. The creative team was all female. The crew was all female. I had never been in a production that was purely powered by female creativity. This environment of femininity was exactly what this play needed to become as authentic and as beautiful as it became.
Though the process of the production was speedy, the connections I shared with my castmates were genuine and special. We all had the task of mustering up the guts to perform such a strong piece. Our director (making her directorial debut), Ali Funkhouser, approached the play with blatant passion and fearlessness, fostering an environment of raw emotion and creating a space that allowed each and every one of us to explore our own femininity through acting. I could not have expected to have learned so much about not only myself as a performer but also as a young female.
I felt slightly disconnected from my character as #8. She is ditzy, peppy, and childlike for the sake of concealing her true opinions. I was confident that I was nothing like this 16 year old as I consider myself generally outspoken in my thoughts with a good head on my shoulders- an image I work hard to maintain. As I delved deeper into developing #8 however, I realized that I was once her. Looking back to my freshman year, I recall multiple accounts of biting my tongue in hopes of keeping peace and popularity- values I no longer carry at the forefront of my mind. I soon was able to appreciate how special it was to partake in creating an accurate representation of the many facets to being a young woman trying to navigate the waters of being a teenager.
Though I may not know much about art, I do know this: it is often meant to make you uncomfortable and that is why we appreciate it. The Wolves embraced the uncomfortable through performance art. The uncomfortableness that is shared in glances between teenage girls. The uncomfortableness that exists in conversations regarding loss. The uncomfortable thing is being a 16 or 17 year old girl.
I will continue to look back on this experience as a door opening to appreciating the nature of theater and embracing the uncomfortable. I have grown as an actress and a young adult. Cheers to those who are willing to embrace that discomfort with me.
-Madigan Wirkus '23
Femininity
Femininity defines me. Since I was little, I have been very in touch with that area of my identity. I admit with no shame that I still indulge in the stereotype of being a “girly-girl.” I gravitate towards the color pink. Getting my hair done is often the highlight of my week. I like a bit of retail therapy, fresh flowers on the counter, and the delicate glass perfume bottles aligned on my vanity. When my mother was expecting, my grandma prayed for a girl, even buying me white ruffle socks before knowing my gender. But aside from these societal- stereotype conforming traits about myself, I know that my femininity extends further than pink and ruffles.
My favorite American poet on-the-rise is Amanda Gorman. Many recognize her from the poem she delivered at Joe Biden’s inauguration in January, 2021. Her interpretation of femininity resonates with me. In an interview with Marie Claire earlier this year, she stated “femininity is authentically growing into power, voice, and strength.” These three values have shown to be very authentic and natural in my persona as I’ve grown into a young adult.
For me, my power really manifests through grace. I try to be graceful as always. Physically, I have been trained in ballet, which might give me more delicate hands and good posture. But this gracefulness is truly internal. Whenever I have found myself in a situation where my patience and balance is tested, I try to approach it with grace. Though grace is not a requirement of femininity by any stretch, for me it is how I carry myself and tap into this shade of my character.
I exercise my voice through actions. Leaving every place I go a little bit better than when I arrived is a driving ideology for me, and I have found that to be fulfilled through action. Admittedly, I was still very naive to the appropriate use of voice until about a year ago. A friend of mine’s mother works for a nonprofit called Dignity Matters. The program provides women from all over Massachusetts with feminine care products as they are not covered by food stamps. It serves homeless women, single mothers, domestic abuse shelters, food pantries, and even some high schools. People often neglect this need because it is “uncomfortable.” Though I do not carry that in mind, I understand that reality. Being involved in a cause such as Dignity Matters has allowed me to exercise my voice for femininity in a really special way, supporting women through a specific cause.
I think every girl and woman has their strength, both physically and emotionally, questioned many times throughout their lives. I recall getting agitated when teachers in elementary school would ask only the boys to carry books to the library. As a teenager, I have had plenty of encounters where the phrases “just go cry about it,” or “yeah, ‘cus you’re a girl” are thrown out as insults. For a long time I believed that being drawn to these hyper-feminine indulgences of pink or perfume justified these perceptions. But as I have matured, I know that what color I choose to wear or having my hair colored artificially has absolutely nothing to do with my strength. I still know I can be just as strong as the boys to carry library books. Just because I have cried doesn’t mean that I am weak by nature. And yes, I am a girl- thank you for highlighting such a powerful part of me.
I have chosen to let my femininity be a defining feature of myself. I believe that femininity is a choice for each individual. I have personally understood that term to be a combination of both a love for being a girly girl and also being a strong female. You can be both. The idea of femininity has been warped into a generalization when down to the bones it is an individual interpretation made by every female. I value what femininity has granted me while charting the waters of being a young woman, and I know I will value the power and character that femininity provides me as I progress in life.
-Madigan Wirkus '23
Femininity defines me. Since I was little, I have been very in touch with that area of my identity. I admit with no shame that I still indulge in the stereotype of being a “girly-girl.” I gravitate towards the color pink. Getting my hair done is often the highlight of my week. I like a bit of retail therapy, fresh flowers on the counter, and the delicate glass perfume bottles aligned on my vanity. When my mother was expecting, my grandma prayed for a girl, even buying me white ruffle socks before knowing my gender. But aside from these societal- stereotype conforming traits about myself, I know that my femininity extends further than pink and ruffles.
My favorite American poet on-the-rise is Amanda Gorman. Many recognize her from the poem she delivered at Joe Biden’s inauguration in January, 2021. Her interpretation of femininity resonates with me. In an interview with Marie Claire earlier this year, she stated “femininity is authentically growing into power, voice, and strength.” These three values have shown to be very authentic and natural in my persona as I’ve grown into a young adult.
For me, my power really manifests through grace. I try to be graceful as always. Physically, I have been trained in ballet, which might give me more delicate hands and good posture. But this gracefulness is truly internal. Whenever I have found myself in a situation where my patience and balance is tested, I try to approach it with grace. Though grace is not a requirement of femininity by any stretch, for me it is how I carry myself and tap into this shade of my character.
I exercise my voice through actions. Leaving every place I go a little bit better than when I arrived is a driving ideology for me, and I have found that to be fulfilled through action. Admittedly, I was still very naive to the appropriate use of voice until about a year ago. A friend of mine’s mother works for a nonprofit called Dignity Matters. The program provides women from all over Massachusetts with feminine care products as they are not covered by food stamps. It serves homeless women, single mothers, domestic abuse shelters, food pantries, and even some high schools. People often neglect this need because it is “uncomfortable.” Though I do not carry that in mind, I understand that reality. Being involved in a cause such as Dignity Matters has allowed me to exercise my voice for femininity in a really special way, supporting women through a specific cause.
I think every girl and woman has their strength, both physically and emotionally, questioned many times throughout their lives. I recall getting agitated when teachers in elementary school would ask only the boys to carry books to the library. As a teenager, I have had plenty of encounters where the phrases “just go cry about it,” or “yeah, ‘cus you’re a girl” are thrown out as insults. For a long time I believed that being drawn to these hyper-feminine indulgences of pink or perfume justified these perceptions. But as I have matured, I know that what color I choose to wear or having my hair colored artificially has absolutely nothing to do with my strength. I still know I can be just as strong as the boys to carry library books. Just because I have cried doesn’t mean that I am weak by nature. And yes, I am a girl- thank you for highlighting such a powerful part of me.
I have chosen to let my femininity be a defining feature of myself. I believe that femininity is a choice for each individual. I have personally understood that term to be a combination of both a love for being a girly girl and also being a strong female. You can be both. The idea of femininity has been warped into a generalization when down to the bones it is an individual interpretation made by every female. I value what femininity has granted me while charting the waters of being a young woman, and I know I will value the power and character that femininity provides me as I progress in life.
-Madigan Wirkus '23
Student Spotlight: Caitlin Belisle
Hello and Welcome to a new addition to the Hilltopper, Senior Spotlight! Each edition we will interview a different senior and ask them a series of questions.
This edition’s feature is Caitlin Belisle.
Caitlin first came to Mount when she was in 9th grade. Unfortunately for her, 9th grade was one of the last “normal” years given to her for school. Covid-19 took over the world the same year that Caitlin and many others were entering high school. As a freshman, she made the varsity softball team but the season was cut short because of Covid. Damaging circumstances have not been able to keep Caitlin from thinking about her future, though. She plans on attending URI to major in elementary school education. Caitlin has always been influenced by her father, who is a teacher himself. Ms. Vassallo also played a huge role in her decision to pursue teaching. Always encouraging and eager to teach kids, Ms. Vassallo not only helped Caitlin find her way, but also made her believe in something she loved. Caitlin hopes to inspire younger kids as Ms. Vassallo has done for her. She also finds great friendship with Brother Frank, one of Mount’s most beloved members. She sees herself in 10 years being an elementary school teacher pretty far away from here but with a family and life of her own thanks to Mount. Caitlin’s relationship with her friends truly gives meaning to the high school experience. They have all been friends since middle school and some even elementary school. Toward the end of our interview, I asked Caitlin to give some advice to other students going through high school, and she gave some great advice:
“High school is really about going at your own pace. You may not know what you want to do and that’s okay. Everyone is different in their own ways. Just be yourself and everything will turn out great because we’re all children of God.”
- Emma Roberts '24
Hello and Welcome to a new addition to the Hilltopper, Senior Spotlight! Each edition we will interview a different senior and ask them a series of questions.
This edition’s feature is Caitlin Belisle.
Caitlin first came to Mount when she was in 9th grade. Unfortunately for her, 9th grade was one of the last “normal” years given to her for school. Covid-19 took over the world the same year that Caitlin and many others were entering high school. As a freshman, she made the varsity softball team but the season was cut short because of Covid. Damaging circumstances have not been able to keep Caitlin from thinking about her future, though. She plans on attending URI to major in elementary school education. Caitlin has always been influenced by her father, who is a teacher himself. Ms. Vassallo also played a huge role in her decision to pursue teaching. Always encouraging and eager to teach kids, Ms. Vassallo not only helped Caitlin find her way, but also made her believe in something she loved. Caitlin hopes to inspire younger kids as Ms. Vassallo has done for her. She also finds great friendship with Brother Frank, one of Mount’s most beloved members. She sees herself in 10 years being an elementary school teacher pretty far away from here but with a family and life of her own thanks to Mount. Caitlin’s relationship with her friends truly gives meaning to the high school experience. They have all been friends since middle school and some even elementary school. Toward the end of our interview, I asked Caitlin to give some advice to other students going through high school, and she gave some great advice:
“High school is really about going at your own pace. You may not know what you want to do and that’s okay. Everyone is different in their own ways. Just be yourself and everything will turn out great because we’re all children of God.”
- Emma Roberts '24
November Artist of the month: Lily Cunanan!
Artist of the Month features accomplished art students who exhibit exemplary work ethic or achieve a significant accomplishment within the month.
Our next Artist of the Month feature is senior Lily Cunanan. As an AP art student, Lily has been working hard thinking about possible projects for her portfolio.
Lily draws her inspiration from the horror subject, such as movies, books, or other drawings. In her art piece this month, Lily’s sketch depicts ‘Frankenstein’ with a few bats. Lily used several colored markers to block in her colors as well as decide what details should “pop” on the page. Through her sketch, we can see Lily’s thought process in the notes for herself. Hopefully, we will soon see Lily’s finished piece in the hallways at Mount Saint Charles! To the left (or wherever) is Lily Cunanan’s sketch:
- Amanda Masse '23
Artist of the Month features accomplished art students who exhibit exemplary work ethic or achieve a significant accomplishment within the month.
Our next Artist of the Month feature is senior Lily Cunanan. As an AP art student, Lily has been working hard thinking about possible projects for her portfolio.
Lily draws her inspiration from the horror subject, such as movies, books, or other drawings. In her art piece this month, Lily’s sketch depicts ‘Frankenstein’ with a few bats. Lily used several colored markers to block in her colors as well as decide what details should “pop” on the page. Through her sketch, we can see Lily’s thought process in the notes for herself. Hopefully, we will soon see Lily’s finished piece in the hallways at Mount Saint Charles! To the left (or wherever) is Lily Cunanan’s sketch:
- Amanda Masse '23
My Favorite "Banned Book"
From September 18th to the 24th of this year, a unique holiday that celebrates a specific genre of literature took place. Banned Books Week honors and brings awareness to books that have been challenged, or even removed from libraries and districts across the United States.
The American Library Association deems a book challenged when an “attempt to remove or restrict materials” takes place because of material that contains “sexually explicit” content, “offensive language”, or is “unsuited to any age group.” More often than not, a challenged book is not banned officially but rather tagged with the title of being a “Challenged Book”. However, it is not uncommon for a book to be banned.
Maus by Art Spiegelman is a metafictional graphic novel that is nothing short of genius. The story revolves around Spiegelman's time interviewing his father, Vladek, about his experience as a Holocaust survivor. It has a unique metaphorical element to it; comparing Nazis to cats, and Jews to mice through the artwork.
A lot of the clever devices and techniques are found throughout the art rather than the writing itself. This is mainly because the writing is, for the most part dialogue, but it also allows readers to pay careful attention to the art. This is what I like most about Maus: the content is complex enough to capture a glimpse of how the Holocaust impacted the lives and relationships of Vladek Spiegelman, yet simple enough for readers to grasp and stay engaged. The perfect balance.
After reading both volumes, I can confidently say that Maus should be everyone’s next and most anticipated read, if not already read.
After being completely entranced by volume I, I began to research about Maus. I stumbled upon an abundance of news clips which included the phrase “Maus banned.” Earlier this year, a Tennessee school board banned Maus from being in their curriculum entirely. The topic of banning Spiegelman's work was broadcasted on CNN, various types of local news stations, and even The Daily Show with Trevor Noah.
The controversy appears to speculate on a specific scene in the first volume that depicted topics relevant to suicide that may be disturbing. The complaints came from parents and teachers who believed that the content was unsuitable to teach in their curriculum. Spiegelman has been very vocal about the banning, saying that the school board wants to teach a “nicer Holocaust.”
The United States is a country built upon the belief that the right to free speech is essential, so why do we value censorship so much? We can see the power of censorship prevail through much more than just literature. Movies, music, news, and many more aspects of media are all a target for being considered challenging.
We celebrate Banned Books Week to not just celebrate the fact that a book is considered controversial and was given a stamp of disapproval, but rather to celebrate the stories of Americans that have been silenced.
- Olyvia Bendza '24
From September 18th to the 24th of this year, a unique holiday that celebrates a specific genre of literature took place. Banned Books Week honors and brings awareness to books that have been challenged, or even removed from libraries and districts across the United States.
The American Library Association deems a book challenged when an “attempt to remove or restrict materials” takes place because of material that contains “sexually explicit” content, “offensive language”, or is “unsuited to any age group.” More often than not, a challenged book is not banned officially but rather tagged with the title of being a “Challenged Book”. However, it is not uncommon for a book to be banned.
Maus by Art Spiegelman is a metafictional graphic novel that is nothing short of genius. The story revolves around Spiegelman's time interviewing his father, Vladek, about his experience as a Holocaust survivor. It has a unique metaphorical element to it; comparing Nazis to cats, and Jews to mice through the artwork.
A lot of the clever devices and techniques are found throughout the art rather than the writing itself. This is mainly because the writing is, for the most part dialogue, but it also allows readers to pay careful attention to the art. This is what I like most about Maus: the content is complex enough to capture a glimpse of how the Holocaust impacted the lives and relationships of Vladek Spiegelman, yet simple enough for readers to grasp and stay engaged. The perfect balance.
After reading both volumes, I can confidently say that Maus should be everyone’s next and most anticipated read, if not already read.
After being completely entranced by volume I, I began to research about Maus. I stumbled upon an abundance of news clips which included the phrase “Maus banned.” Earlier this year, a Tennessee school board banned Maus from being in their curriculum entirely. The topic of banning Spiegelman's work was broadcasted on CNN, various types of local news stations, and even The Daily Show with Trevor Noah.
The controversy appears to speculate on a specific scene in the first volume that depicted topics relevant to suicide that may be disturbing. The complaints came from parents and teachers who believed that the content was unsuitable to teach in their curriculum. Spiegelman has been very vocal about the banning, saying that the school board wants to teach a “nicer Holocaust.”
The United States is a country built upon the belief that the right to free speech is essential, so why do we value censorship so much? We can see the power of censorship prevail through much more than just literature. Movies, music, news, and many more aspects of media are all a target for being considered challenging.
We celebrate Banned Books Week to not just celebrate the fact that a book is considered controversial and was given a stamp of disapproval, but rather to celebrate the stories of Americans that have been silenced.
- Olyvia Bendza '24
October Artist of the Month: Olivia Young!
Artist of the Month features accomplished art students who exhibit exemplary work ethic or achieve a significant accomplishment within the month.
Our first Artist of the Month is Olivia Young. Olivia is a senior in AP Studio Art. Her featured piece is one of her favorites she made: a charcoal and watercolor painting of a girl.
In class, Olivia and others were asked to research artists. One artist she looked into was Patricia Ariel, an abstract artist with works such as “Dignity” and “Amber.” Ariel’s work and themes inspired Olivia’s piece. Olivia’s piece
was created using charcoal, a favorite medium of hers. She added subtle color with watercolors to tie the piece together. Olivia also chose to blend white and dark charcoal to make a unique texture to the piece. Image shown is Olivia Young’s piece:
- Amanda Masse '23
Artist of the Month features accomplished art students who exhibit exemplary work ethic or achieve a significant accomplishment within the month.
Our first Artist of the Month is Olivia Young. Olivia is a senior in AP Studio Art. Her featured piece is one of her favorites she made: a charcoal and watercolor painting of a girl.
In class, Olivia and others were asked to research artists. One artist she looked into was Patricia Ariel, an abstract artist with works such as “Dignity” and “Amber.” Ariel’s work and themes inspired Olivia’s piece. Olivia’s piece
was created using charcoal, a favorite medium of hers. She added subtle color with watercolors to tie the piece together. Olivia also chose to blend white and dark charcoal to make a unique texture to the piece. Image shown is Olivia Young’s piece:
- Amanda Masse '23
Teacher Spotlight: Mrs. Polseno
The editor gig is one that I enjoy most thoroughly. I appreciate the ability to cater the newspaper in the ways I see fit. But what I did not realize until being placed in the position of editor this year was the amount of support and collaboration necessary to get all of the parts moving. The ultimate support however, as agreed upon by the entire staff, came from Mrs. Polseno.
Any reader can find her impressive bio under the “Meet Our Writers” section of The Hilltopper website, so it isn’t necessary for me to repeat here in full. A graduate of The University of Rhode Island with honors, and previous experience as an English teacher, Mrs. Polseno joined the Mount community as the media specialist and librarian. Through her time here, she could be found at her desk in the media center with a good book recommendation or a helpful hand in helping to print or even foster an idea.
Known to some members of the Mount community, this era of The Hilltopper was instituted less than a decade ago under limited membership and a lack of passion by its leaders. This near-failed attempt was saved by Samira Lakhiani and Brendan Donahue when they assumed the roles of editors-in-chief, leaving a legacy for those who follow in their footsteps to withhold. Mrs. Polseno saw The Hilltopper through its trials and errors, failures and revisions, helping it to get to the place where it is today in Amanda and my hands.
When encountering a low, as any club or organization experiences, Mrs. Polseno helped to guide us on the right track. She attended meetings with ideas for students to latch onto for the next edition and offer words of encouragement when we could not phrase them correctly.
Mrs. Polseno cared about each of her students at Mount, especially the members of The Hilltopper. She made sure we stayed on track and protected us from getting into gray areas in our journalistic ambitions.
As a whole team, the staff of The Hilltopper has been permanently affected by Mrs. Polseno’s standards for us and all that she provided us with to flourish, reminding us of how far we have come and how to continue that.
We wish her all the luck with her new endeavors as she and her family move down to Florida. The Hilltopper won’t be the same without Mrs. Polseno, but what we do have wouldn’t have been possible without her faith in us. Thank you Mrs. Polseno!
Madigan Wirkus '23
The editor gig is one that I enjoy most thoroughly. I appreciate the ability to cater the newspaper in the ways I see fit. But what I did not realize until being placed in the position of editor this year was the amount of support and collaboration necessary to get all of the parts moving. The ultimate support however, as agreed upon by the entire staff, came from Mrs. Polseno.
Any reader can find her impressive bio under the “Meet Our Writers” section of The Hilltopper website, so it isn’t necessary for me to repeat here in full. A graduate of The University of Rhode Island with honors, and previous experience as an English teacher, Mrs. Polseno joined the Mount community as the media specialist and librarian. Through her time here, she could be found at her desk in the media center with a good book recommendation or a helpful hand in helping to print or even foster an idea.
Known to some members of the Mount community, this era of The Hilltopper was instituted less than a decade ago under limited membership and a lack of passion by its leaders. This near-failed attempt was saved by Samira Lakhiani and Brendan Donahue when they assumed the roles of editors-in-chief, leaving a legacy for those who follow in their footsteps to withhold. Mrs. Polseno saw The Hilltopper through its trials and errors, failures and revisions, helping it to get to the place where it is today in Amanda and my hands.
When encountering a low, as any club or organization experiences, Mrs. Polseno helped to guide us on the right track. She attended meetings with ideas for students to latch onto for the next edition and offer words of encouragement when we could not phrase them correctly.
Mrs. Polseno cared about each of her students at Mount, especially the members of The Hilltopper. She made sure we stayed on track and protected us from getting into gray areas in our journalistic ambitions.
As a whole team, the staff of The Hilltopper has been permanently affected by Mrs. Polseno’s standards for us and all that she provided us with to flourish, reminding us of how far we have come and how to continue that.
We wish her all the luck with her new endeavors as she and her family move down to Florida. The Hilltopper won’t be the same without Mrs. Polseno, but what we do have wouldn’t have been possible without her faith in us. Thank you Mrs. Polseno!
Madigan Wirkus '23
Student Spotlight: Interviews with Senior President Nick Rave and SLA President Caroline Monaco
As we are approaching summer vacation and coming to a close of the 2021-2022 school year, a selection of students have been elected to the Student Leadership Association for next year. I interviewed Nick Rave ’23, a member of The Hilltopper as well, who is taking over as senior class president next year and is very enthusiastic about this new role in his high school experience.
Q: Do you have any ideas for senior year?
A: “First of all, yes I have ideas in mind, but I would like to keep those to myself for the time being. I need more time before announcing them to further map them out and finalize them. I will make sure our senior year is the best year yet and plan many events to solidify that promise.”
Q: Why did you want to be senior class president?
A: “I wanted to become the senior class president because I feel our class deserves events that build more of a community. Seeing as this is the last year we will all be together, I want to make it special and create memories that are sure to last a lifetime.”
Q: Are you excited to be senior class president?
A: “Obviously I'm excited to be president of the best class the school has ever laid eyes on. I'm excited to see what I, along with other fellow class officers come up with for the year to come.”
I also took the time to interview Caroline Monaco ‘23 about her new position as SLA President! This is a very important role to have at Mount and Caroline is very enthusiastic about her new responsibilities.
Q: What are your plans for next year?
A: “Next year, I want the student body to be as united as possible. although we haven't solidified much as of now, I plan to have a number of events to help develop class and school identity; whether it be a clash of the classes, class events, or school-wide events and rallies, I think we should all feel an overwhelming sense of community in all that we do.”
Q: Are you excited to be SLA president?
A: “Of course! I'm incredibly proud to be representing all students, and I hope I'm able to give everyone the year they deserve. I can't wait for next year!”
Q: Why did you want to become SLA president?
A: “Next year will be my seventh year at Mount, so I wanted to be deeply involved within my final year here. I felt that I am able to represent everyone - I've experienced every stage of being a Mountie, so I have an idea of what everyone looks forward to! I also knew I was capable of forming connections with many different people, so I felt comfortable knowing I could ask anyone about what they wanted!”
After hearing from both “POTUS” (A newly dubbed nickname for President Rave) and SLA President Monaco, I personally think next year is going to be one that not just the senior class will cherish forever, but the whole student body. Caroline and Nick have great plans for next year and I am sure they will not disappoint us. However, for the time being, it's time to enjoy a long, and relaxing summer!
Lexi Vercauteren '23
As we are approaching summer vacation and coming to a close of the 2021-2022 school year, a selection of students have been elected to the Student Leadership Association for next year. I interviewed Nick Rave ’23, a member of The Hilltopper as well, who is taking over as senior class president next year and is very enthusiastic about this new role in his high school experience.
Q: Do you have any ideas for senior year?
A: “First of all, yes I have ideas in mind, but I would like to keep those to myself for the time being. I need more time before announcing them to further map them out and finalize them. I will make sure our senior year is the best year yet and plan many events to solidify that promise.”
Q: Why did you want to be senior class president?
A: “I wanted to become the senior class president because I feel our class deserves events that build more of a community. Seeing as this is the last year we will all be together, I want to make it special and create memories that are sure to last a lifetime.”
Q: Are you excited to be senior class president?
A: “Obviously I'm excited to be president of the best class the school has ever laid eyes on. I'm excited to see what I, along with other fellow class officers come up with for the year to come.”
I also took the time to interview Caroline Monaco ‘23 about her new position as SLA President! This is a very important role to have at Mount and Caroline is very enthusiastic about her new responsibilities.
Q: What are your plans for next year?
A: “Next year, I want the student body to be as united as possible. although we haven't solidified much as of now, I plan to have a number of events to help develop class and school identity; whether it be a clash of the classes, class events, or school-wide events and rallies, I think we should all feel an overwhelming sense of community in all that we do.”
Q: Are you excited to be SLA president?
A: “Of course! I'm incredibly proud to be representing all students, and I hope I'm able to give everyone the year they deserve. I can't wait for next year!”
Q: Why did you want to become SLA president?
A: “Next year will be my seventh year at Mount, so I wanted to be deeply involved within my final year here. I felt that I am able to represent everyone - I've experienced every stage of being a Mountie, so I have an idea of what everyone looks forward to! I also knew I was capable of forming connections with many different people, so I felt comfortable knowing I could ask anyone about what they wanted!”
After hearing from both “POTUS” (A newly dubbed nickname for President Rave) and SLA President Monaco, I personally think next year is going to be one that not just the senior class will cherish forever, but the whole student body. Caroline and Nick have great plans for next year and I am sure they will not disappoint us. However, for the time being, it's time to enjoy a long, and relaxing summer!
Lexi Vercauteren '23
MSC Prom Through The Years
As we all know, the past couple of years have been super hard for those of us trying to get together for traditional coming-of-age celebrations. One of these major moments is prom. Mount was lucky enough to only miss the big event for one year in 2020, having separated the junior and senior classes in order for the celebrations to continue. This year, in an even better stroke of fate, MSC is able to go back to all the upperclassmen holding prom together. With the outstanding theme choice of the Roarin’ 20s, this exciting opportunity is being held at the Providence Marriott on June 3rd. In light of the resurgence of this iconic tradition, I thought it would be fitting to look back on prom throughout Mount’s history. After consulting some of the old yearbooks from over the past 60 years, I saw that this amazing chance for classes to come together one last time at the end of the year has a very interesting history within the MSC community.
Prom at Mount began in the 1960s. Throughout the decade, up until 1974, it was held in the Mount gym. These proms were not as well documented as the dance would be in the future as it was a new and upcoming event that did not hold quite as much meaning as it does today.
Once 1974 came around, though unclear as to where the Mount prom made the move from the academy to the outside world. The Mounties were finally able to take the world by storm and have some fun “on-the-outside” as it were.
Trucking along, the 1980s continued to hold prom out of the school and at various locations throughout the state of Rhode Island.
Then the 90s hit and the school began to document the proms within the yearbooks more and more rigorously. For instance, 1995 saw the prom held at the Holiday Inns at Crossings for an excellent night of music and fun for all.
Moving into the 2000s, the prom began to become more like the modern proms we are accustomed to today. The dresses look more like something most of us may even consider for ourselves. 2005 got an Under the Sea theme at the Kirkbrae Country Club. They stuck to the theme flawlessly, with perfect decorations and even gave the prom queen the title “Ocean Blue Beauty''.
The 2010s are very familiar to many of us. Most of us have built our expectations on these proms and both how they went and what they looked like. These are the stereotypical proms of our youthful rom-com favorites. The 2015 prom was held at Gillette Stadium. The megatrons broadcasted the school's name and greeted all the guests. The evening rounded out with “Don’t Stop Believin’” by Journey before everyone had to wave goodbye to the perfect night.
As we all are probably unfortunately aware, the 2020 MSC prom had to be canceled due to Covid. Luckily, the juniors and seniors that year were not going to let it get them down, however. Some of them got dressed up anyway and took pictures from quarantine, getting at least a small moment to remember when they look back on their wild and unique high school years.
Then, prom came back strong in 2021. Though found in most high schools across the nation, the Mount prom was split between juniors and seniors for the first time. This may have been different, but it ended up working out for the better. Although the attendees at both had to wear masks and it was slightly smaller, especially since they were separated by grade with no guests, the fact that the MSC community was able to get together for a formative event after only missing one year was both miraculous and heartwarming to see.
Finally, this year was a huge success back to the original Mount prom setup. The Providence Mariott was decked out in the Roaring 20s theme and was all ready to go for the Mounties to take the stage. As the night began, everyone began to mingle and take pictures with the friends they were meeting up with for the first time that night. At around 7, everyone sat down for an excellent meal before taking the dance floor by storm for the rest of the evening. Thanks to the outstanding DJing of Mr. Rowe, the night was an absolute blast. The Prom King and Queen (Isaiah Smith and Isabella Sughrue) were announced at 9 before everyone got right back to partying. Overall, everyone spent the whole evening partying their hearts out before SLA President Alex Gasbarro broke them by reminding us all that this was the end of a chapter for half the group. Prom may not always be perfect, but I can’t find it in myself to find a single complaint about when it comes to the Mount 2022 success.
Amanda Thrul '23
As we all know, the past couple of years have been super hard for those of us trying to get together for traditional coming-of-age celebrations. One of these major moments is prom. Mount was lucky enough to only miss the big event for one year in 2020, having separated the junior and senior classes in order for the celebrations to continue. This year, in an even better stroke of fate, MSC is able to go back to all the upperclassmen holding prom together. With the outstanding theme choice of the Roarin’ 20s, this exciting opportunity is being held at the Providence Marriott on June 3rd. In light of the resurgence of this iconic tradition, I thought it would be fitting to look back on prom throughout Mount’s history. After consulting some of the old yearbooks from over the past 60 years, I saw that this amazing chance for classes to come together one last time at the end of the year has a very interesting history within the MSC community.
Prom at Mount began in the 1960s. Throughout the decade, up until 1974, it was held in the Mount gym. These proms were not as well documented as the dance would be in the future as it was a new and upcoming event that did not hold quite as much meaning as it does today.
Once 1974 came around, though unclear as to where the Mount prom made the move from the academy to the outside world. The Mounties were finally able to take the world by storm and have some fun “on-the-outside” as it were.
Trucking along, the 1980s continued to hold prom out of the school and at various locations throughout the state of Rhode Island.
Then the 90s hit and the school began to document the proms within the yearbooks more and more rigorously. For instance, 1995 saw the prom held at the Holiday Inns at Crossings for an excellent night of music and fun for all.
Moving into the 2000s, the prom began to become more like the modern proms we are accustomed to today. The dresses look more like something most of us may even consider for ourselves. 2005 got an Under the Sea theme at the Kirkbrae Country Club. They stuck to the theme flawlessly, with perfect decorations and even gave the prom queen the title “Ocean Blue Beauty''.
The 2010s are very familiar to many of us. Most of us have built our expectations on these proms and both how they went and what they looked like. These are the stereotypical proms of our youthful rom-com favorites. The 2015 prom was held at Gillette Stadium. The megatrons broadcasted the school's name and greeted all the guests. The evening rounded out with “Don’t Stop Believin’” by Journey before everyone had to wave goodbye to the perfect night.
As we all are probably unfortunately aware, the 2020 MSC prom had to be canceled due to Covid. Luckily, the juniors and seniors that year were not going to let it get them down, however. Some of them got dressed up anyway and took pictures from quarantine, getting at least a small moment to remember when they look back on their wild and unique high school years.
Then, prom came back strong in 2021. Though found in most high schools across the nation, the Mount prom was split between juniors and seniors for the first time. This may have been different, but it ended up working out for the better. Although the attendees at both had to wear masks and it was slightly smaller, especially since they were separated by grade with no guests, the fact that the MSC community was able to get together for a formative event after only missing one year was both miraculous and heartwarming to see.
Finally, this year was a huge success back to the original Mount prom setup. The Providence Mariott was decked out in the Roaring 20s theme and was all ready to go for the Mounties to take the stage. As the night began, everyone began to mingle and take pictures with the friends they were meeting up with for the first time that night. At around 7, everyone sat down for an excellent meal before taking the dance floor by storm for the rest of the evening. Thanks to the outstanding DJing of Mr. Rowe, the night was an absolute blast. The Prom King and Queen (Isaiah Smith and Isabella Sughrue) were announced at 9 before everyone got right back to partying. Overall, everyone spent the whole evening partying their hearts out before SLA President Alex Gasbarro broke them by reminding us all that this was the end of a chapter for half the group. Prom may not always be perfect, but I can’t find it in myself to find a single complaint about when it comes to the Mount 2022 success.
Amanda Thrul '23
What’s Coming up for the Music Department? - Sitting down with Mr. Rowe
With the end of the year swinging into full gear with dances, Mount day, and AP exams
coming up, the question of “when will Mount do class trips again?” has concerned the student body. There have been rumors of music department trips, senior trips, and more, but nonetheless those are nothing but rumors. To confirm some of the said rumors and get the low-down on what’s coming up for the Mount St. Charles music department, I sat down with Instrumental Director Brian Rowe to ask some questions.
Question: First things first, introduce yourself! What’s your name, where did you go to school, and what do you do at Mount St. Charles?
Answer: “My name is Brian Rowe and I call myself the Instrumental Music Teachers at Mount St Charles and I have been teaching here for three years. Well, I’ve been teaching for three years period.” Mr.Rowe continued on to tell me that his official title is ‘Director of Music’, “Not that I ever call myself that.” he said.
For his collegiate education, he received his undergraduate in Music Education with a focus in Clarinet at The College of Saint Rose which is in Albany, New York.
Question: There have been a few rumors about the music department going on a trip for the upcoming school year. Would you like to confirm or deny any of these rumors?
Answer: “Absolutely! Yes! Confirm! The band department of Mount is planning to go on a trip to New Orleans, Louisiana during April vacation of 2023. While we are still in the early planning, we are creating an Ireland-esque trip to New Orleans focusing on musical performance, sightseeing, and building a partnership with some sister schools in New Orleans.”
Another exciting opportunity down in New Orleans is that Loyola University of New Orleans is there. Mount St. Charles Alumni Michael Tenreiro is a current student at Loyola and he is working with Mr. Rowe and a few of his current professors to see if Mount Students can get into some workshops with some professors.
“We really hope to ultimately go see the best part of New Orleans and get into the culture and history.”
Question: Even if I hate to admit it, there are numerous very talented and dedicated musicians coming up from the middle school and underclassmen. What is it like to have so much potential and drive coming up in the music department?
Answer: “It’s really cool. Seriously. The best part of being a music teacher is seeing the growth of musicians and students. I love to see a student pick up a new instrument in the fall and by the end of the year they feel they want to pick up that instrument outside of my class.”
Mr.Rowe knows that not everyone in the band is going to become a professional musician, but being able to fuel the fire of passion for music is fulfilling for him.
“There is potential everywhere for music. I strive to make all my students lifelong listeners. I want them to appreciate the music they not only play but also the music they listen to.”
Question: What does the Mount Community have to look forward to as far as events of the music department in the upcoming months?
Answer: “Oh my goodness, so much! I can’t wait. I was just making the ticket sheets.”
There are many opportunities to see the music students in action during May and June. The iconic Pops concert is taking place on May 21st including every instrumental band in the department. The weekend before the 21st (the 15th) is the Choral Cabaret which includes the symphonic orchestra and the chorus in a show-like setting.
“Another thing I’m excited about is the Boston trip with the middle schoolers!” for the first time in two years the middle school is making their annual trip to Boston to see the pops and no one is more excited than Mr.Rowe is.
Question: What is your favorite part of teaching music to young minds?
Answer: “When I see kids choose to jam with each other, then my job is complete.”
Mr.Rowe gushed about the importance of kids just having fun with each other playing music. I absolutely agreed. Some of my fondest music memories are the ones when I was just messing around with my neighbor Tommy.
“Some of my best friends, the ones who I’m going to be in their weddings this summer, are the ones who I was in bands with in middle school. When I hear kids play together it makes me feel like I’ve completed my job.”
Brigid Gilberti '23
With the end of the year swinging into full gear with dances, Mount day, and AP exams
coming up, the question of “when will Mount do class trips again?” has concerned the student body. There have been rumors of music department trips, senior trips, and more, but nonetheless those are nothing but rumors. To confirm some of the said rumors and get the low-down on what’s coming up for the Mount St. Charles music department, I sat down with Instrumental Director Brian Rowe to ask some questions.
Question: First things first, introduce yourself! What’s your name, where did you go to school, and what do you do at Mount St. Charles?
Answer: “My name is Brian Rowe and I call myself the Instrumental Music Teachers at Mount St Charles and I have been teaching here for three years. Well, I’ve been teaching for three years period.” Mr.Rowe continued on to tell me that his official title is ‘Director of Music’, “Not that I ever call myself that.” he said.
For his collegiate education, he received his undergraduate in Music Education with a focus in Clarinet at The College of Saint Rose which is in Albany, New York.
Question: There have been a few rumors about the music department going on a trip for the upcoming school year. Would you like to confirm or deny any of these rumors?
Answer: “Absolutely! Yes! Confirm! The band department of Mount is planning to go on a trip to New Orleans, Louisiana during April vacation of 2023. While we are still in the early planning, we are creating an Ireland-esque trip to New Orleans focusing on musical performance, sightseeing, and building a partnership with some sister schools in New Orleans.”
Another exciting opportunity down in New Orleans is that Loyola University of New Orleans is there. Mount St. Charles Alumni Michael Tenreiro is a current student at Loyola and he is working with Mr. Rowe and a few of his current professors to see if Mount Students can get into some workshops with some professors.
“We really hope to ultimately go see the best part of New Orleans and get into the culture and history.”
Question: Even if I hate to admit it, there are numerous very talented and dedicated musicians coming up from the middle school and underclassmen. What is it like to have so much potential and drive coming up in the music department?
Answer: “It’s really cool. Seriously. The best part of being a music teacher is seeing the growth of musicians and students. I love to see a student pick up a new instrument in the fall and by the end of the year they feel they want to pick up that instrument outside of my class.”
Mr.Rowe knows that not everyone in the band is going to become a professional musician, but being able to fuel the fire of passion for music is fulfilling for him.
“There is potential everywhere for music. I strive to make all my students lifelong listeners. I want them to appreciate the music they not only play but also the music they listen to.”
Question: What does the Mount Community have to look forward to as far as events of the music department in the upcoming months?
Answer: “Oh my goodness, so much! I can’t wait. I was just making the ticket sheets.”
There are many opportunities to see the music students in action during May and June. The iconic Pops concert is taking place on May 21st including every instrumental band in the department. The weekend before the 21st (the 15th) is the Choral Cabaret which includes the symphonic orchestra and the chorus in a show-like setting.
“Another thing I’m excited about is the Boston trip with the middle schoolers!” for the first time in two years the middle school is making their annual trip to Boston to see the pops and no one is more excited than Mr.Rowe is.
Question: What is your favorite part of teaching music to young minds?
Answer: “When I see kids choose to jam with each other, then my job is complete.”
Mr.Rowe gushed about the importance of kids just having fun with each other playing music. I absolutely agreed. Some of my fondest music memories are the ones when I was just messing around with my neighbor Tommy.
“Some of my best friends, the ones who I’m going to be in their weddings this summer, are the ones who I was in bands with in middle school. When I hear kids play together it makes me feel like I’ve completed my job.”
Brigid Gilberti '23
A Personal Connect to the Gold Age of Movies: The Beautiful 80s
I make my way home from school around 2:30, and already feel like I need to check my homework load. That wonderful feeling of junior year, making sure you never have a free moment. Thankfully, this is one of those extremely rare homework-free weekends that lets me do something else with my time.
Suddenly, I’m stuck in detention on a Saturday morning with an unlikely bunch of students. I cannot believe Mr. Vernon made us stay for nine hours, but at least I made some unexpected new friends.
Since we all lost our jobs, we find an old firehouse to camp out in while we study mysterious paranormal activity. Nobody believes us until ghosts start appearing. We accidentally open a portal to another dimension and now have to save the city from vicious spirits.
I stumble back home and follow Mikey to the attic, where I discover a frame. “Is that a map?” (Brand, ‘The Goonies’) my friend asks. We’ve always wanted to go on a treasure hunt together! The map helps us locate secret passageways through Mama Fratelli’s restaurant that lead to the caves. The Fratelli family tries to hunt us down to steal the treasure, so of course, we have to beat them to it.
On my way home from school, I pay a visit to my crazy scientist friend. He tells me that I need to meet him in the middle of the night to check out his time machine. By mistake, I’m sent back to the ‘50s (88mph is too fast, Marty!)-Suddenly, my parents were teenagers! Oops - I accidentally interrupted their first meeting and now have to find a way for them to reconnect, so I don’t jeopardize my return back to the future. We have to be quick so I can get back, thankfully, Marty is racing to get the DeLorean to 88mph. “Come on Marty, you can do it-”
Suddenly, the clatter of hockey sticks on the living room floor snaps me to attention. I see my brother walk in after coming home from a late night hockey game. It's now 10:30 pm. Completely shocked, my mom and I realize that hours have gone by since the beginning of our first movie. My train of thought evaporates and I suddenly realize I am back in my own world.
All this time, I was lost in the different storylines of 80s movies.
“You know what I did to get in here? Nothing...I didn’t have anything better to do.” Just as The Breakfast Club’s Allison Reynolds says, I did not expect to fall in love with these films, but all it took was one glance and the sound of the TV yelling “McFly-” and I was hooked.
"When you get old, your heart dies," says Alison in the Breakfast Club, but as long as I have 80s movies (and my trusty co-watching mom), I know mine never will.
These films became a way for me to bond with her and lose myself in something so different from today that I could temporarily escape my own reality.
But don’t we all need a little season of escape?
However, movies aren’t just escapism at its finest. It’s not the movies that skew my sense of time, it’s the idea of how they reflect on friendship. As fantastical as the films may be, they are a cultural snapshot of a group of friends hanging out and discovering something new. The issues they face are quite serious, yet the overall tone is light and humorous. To me, these films stand the test of time because they capture both individuality and acceptance. The characters are all unique but manage to get along and respect each other. It reminds me of my own friendships. Even though we all have our differences, we find comfort in each other’s company.
Isabella Jordan '22
I make my way home from school around 2:30, and already feel like I need to check my homework load. That wonderful feeling of junior year, making sure you never have a free moment. Thankfully, this is one of those extremely rare homework-free weekends that lets me do something else with my time.
Suddenly, I’m stuck in detention on a Saturday morning with an unlikely bunch of students. I cannot believe Mr. Vernon made us stay for nine hours, but at least I made some unexpected new friends.
Since we all lost our jobs, we find an old firehouse to camp out in while we study mysterious paranormal activity. Nobody believes us until ghosts start appearing. We accidentally open a portal to another dimension and now have to save the city from vicious spirits.
I stumble back home and follow Mikey to the attic, where I discover a frame. “Is that a map?” (Brand, ‘The Goonies’) my friend asks. We’ve always wanted to go on a treasure hunt together! The map helps us locate secret passageways through Mama Fratelli’s restaurant that lead to the caves. The Fratelli family tries to hunt us down to steal the treasure, so of course, we have to beat them to it.
On my way home from school, I pay a visit to my crazy scientist friend. He tells me that I need to meet him in the middle of the night to check out his time machine. By mistake, I’m sent back to the ‘50s (88mph is too fast, Marty!)-Suddenly, my parents were teenagers! Oops - I accidentally interrupted their first meeting and now have to find a way for them to reconnect, so I don’t jeopardize my return back to the future. We have to be quick so I can get back, thankfully, Marty is racing to get the DeLorean to 88mph. “Come on Marty, you can do it-”
Suddenly, the clatter of hockey sticks on the living room floor snaps me to attention. I see my brother walk in after coming home from a late night hockey game. It's now 10:30 pm. Completely shocked, my mom and I realize that hours have gone by since the beginning of our first movie. My train of thought evaporates and I suddenly realize I am back in my own world.
All this time, I was lost in the different storylines of 80s movies.
“You know what I did to get in here? Nothing...I didn’t have anything better to do.” Just as The Breakfast Club’s Allison Reynolds says, I did not expect to fall in love with these films, but all it took was one glance and the sound of the TV yelling “McFly-” and I was hooked.
"When you get old, your heart dies," says Alison in the Breakfast Club, but as long as I have 80s movies (and my trusty co-watching mom), I know mine never will.
These films became a way for me to bond with her and lose myself in something so different from today that I could temporarily escape my own reality.
But don’t we all need a little season of escape?
However, movies aren’t just escapism at its finest. It’s not the movies that skew my sense of time, it’s the idea of how they reflect on friendship. As fantastical as the films may be, they are a cultural snapshot of a group of friends hanging out and discovering something new. The issues they face are quite serious, yet the overall tone is light and humorous. To me, these films stand the test of time because they capture both individuality and acceptance. The characters are all unique but manage to get along and respect each other. It reminds me of my own friendships. Even though we all have our differences, we find comfort in each other’s company.
Isabella Jordan '22
A Review of MSC's The Little Mermaid
As some of The Hilltopper readers may know, I am a designated theater kid, appreciator of performance art of most kinds, and self proclaimed high school theater connoisseur. I took a bit of a hiatus from the stage this month which allowed me to enjoy performing from another adored lens of being an audience member. I attended 3 total productions this month by seeing the regionally produced The Drowsy Chaperone through The Franklin Performing Arts Company, The Lightning Thief through The Hock Theater Institute, and for our purposes, most importantly, Mount’s production of The Little Mermaid. And to those involved: Brava!
I myself was once a frequent cast member of Mount productions, but have flipped the switch to being an audience member. My expectations are usually met with high school theater. And those expectations are not typically exceeding I may add. By this time I was thoroughly impressed with what I saw. Upon entering The Bell Tower Theater, audience members are truly immersed under the sea with an elaborate stage set up, raised seating, and an impressive atmospheric setting of umbrella jellyfish, bubbles, and string lights. To further the visual experience, the costumes used were of the Broadway caliber. I often complain about costumes in a show as the allotted budget can typically be estimated by the usage of “a black base with accessories suggestive of a character.” I especially appreciated the flowiness of the mersisters costumes providing a textured look to an underwater outfit. Overall, the lighting and sound was up to par with only mild feedback occasionally, but that is to be expected at any live production.
As for the performers, I once again offer you a brava. Though I am biased as my brother played Prince Eric, I was happily surprised by the mermaiden ingenue and her counterpart. Emma Foxon ‘26 and Michael Wirkus ‘26 were cast as the headlining roles and completely carried their weight. I had seen Emma perform “Part of Your World” at the Disney Cabaret last spring as a little preview, and she delivered an equally great performance as Ariel. I often find that many young performers “throw away” their lines, however I found none of that in this production. A refreshing enjoyment of the art they created was much appreciated. Kudos to all the supporting and ensemble roles as well! I found your highlights made the show and filled the stage with energy and light. A final congratulations to the senior in the show, Shailyn Kennedy ‘22, who excellently portrayed Ursula!
My final appreciation goes out to Ms. Luther, Mrs. Breault, and Mrs. Kennedy with their work advertising, organizing, choreography, and directing this show. Your work is appreciated by the Mount community as you helped many aspiring performers have an experience they will never forget. I got an inside scoop from Prince Eric on all the effort put into this show, and I will make it a point that it has seldom been unacknowledged.
Once again, congratulations to the whole cast. I have no negative comments to slyly sneak into this review, just thanks for a great night of theater. Continue to do what you love, because it will make the audience love it too. Encore!
Madigan Wirkus '23
As some of The Hilltopper readers may know, I am a designated theater kid, appreciator of performance art of most kinds, and self proclaimed high school theater connoisseur. I took a bit of a hiatus from the stage this month which allowed me to enjoy performing from another adored lens of being an audience member. I attended 3 total productions this month by seeing the regionally produced The Drowsy Chaperone through The Franklin Performing Arts Company, The Lightning Thief through The Hock Theater Institute, and for our purposes, most importantly, Mount’s production of The Little Mermaid. And to those involved: Brava!
I myself was once a frequent cast member of Mount productions, but have flipped the switch to being an audience member. My expectations are usually met with high school theater. And those expectations are not typically exceeding I may add. By this time I was thoroughly impressed with what I saw. Upon entering The Bell Tower Theater, audience members are truly immersed under the sea with an elaborate stage set up, raised seating, and an impressive atmospheric setting of umbrella jellyfish, bubbles, and string lights. To further the visual experience, the costumes used were of the Broadway caliber. I often complain about costumes in a show as the allotted budget can typically be estimated by the usage of “a black base with accessories suggestive of a character.” I especially appreciated the flowiness of the mersisters costumes providing a textured look to an underwater outfit. Overall, the lighting and sound was up to par with only mild feedback occasionally, but that is to be expected at any live production.
As for the performers, I once again offer you a brava. Though I am biased as my brother played Prince Eric, I was happily surprised by the mermaiden ingenue and her counterpart. Emma Foxon ‘26 and Michael Wirkus ‘26 were cast as the headlining roles and completely carried their weight. I had seen Emma perform “Part of Your World” at the Disney Cabaret last spring as a little preview, and she delivered an equally great performance as Ariel. I often find that many young performers “throw away” their lines, however I found none of that in this production. A refreshing enjoyment of the art they created was much appreciated. Kudos to all the supporting and ensemble roles as well! I found your highlights made the show and filled the stage with energy and light. A final congratulations to the senior in the show, Shailyn Kennedy ‘22, who excellently portrayed Ursula!
My final appreciation goes out to Ms. Luther, Mrs. Breault, and Mrs. Kennedy with their work advertising, organizing, choreography, and directing this show. Your work is appreciated by the Mount community as you helped many aspiring performers have an experience they will never forget. I got an inside scoop from Prince Eric on all the effort put into this show, and I will make it a point that it has seldom been unacknowledged.
Once again, congratulations to the whole cast. I have no negative comments to slyly sneak into this review, just thanks for a great night of theater. Continue to do what you love, because it will make the audience love it too. Encore!
Madigan Wirkus '23
Mount of the Past (1931-1944)
As members of the Mount community, we all know of the importance and emphasis placed on the unique qualities of all Mounties, both past and present. We are connected with our past in so many amazing and historic ways. One of which is through alumni from years prior and their Mount experiences. Below is a collection of various pictures and supplies from Mounties of the past, opening the door for those of us today to explore the school’s history. The first box is from the early 1930’s, the second is from the early 1940’s, and the third contained sports photos and memorabilia from both time periods.
Box 1 (1931-1932):
As members of the Mount community, we all know of the importance and emphasis placed on the unique qualities of all Mounties, both past and present. We are connected with our past in so many amazing and historic ways. One of which is through alumni from years prior and their Mount experiences. Below is a collection of various pictures and supplies from Mounties of the past, opening the door for those of us today to explore the school’s history. The first box is from the early 1930’s, the second is from the early 1940’s, and the third contained sports photos and memorabilia from both time periods.
Box 1 (1931-1932):
Above (left) is a panoramic image of the Mount class of 1931. Above (center) is zoomed in on the box’s owner, Ernest Lamontagne. Above (right)is another image of Lamontagne, taken outside the MSC to the left of the Jesus Statue by the front circle.
The certificate above was presented to Ernest Lamontagne for excellence in Grammar, a class that is no longer taken at Mount. As seen in the image, the certificate itself was quite large, much larger than a normal sheet of printer paper (comparison sheet to be found to the left of the certificate).
Located above (left) are two examples of address cards that would’ve been used by students and families to send packages to and from students at school. The left would’ve been attached to send the mail to the someone at the school, in this case Ernest, and the one to the right would’ve been sent from Mount itself. On the right is an example of a postcard from Mount that could be bought to send a short message home rather than a package.
Pictured above are two old Mount yearbooks. The one with the blue cover (left) is from 1931 and the red one (center) is from 1932. Both were written entirely in French (as seen on the right). This was because the staff and students spoke the romance language in school, though many were bilingual and also spoke English.
Box 2 (1940-1945):
Above are clipouts from various newspapers from the era. The one on the left is Tally-Who, the newspaper of Hill College located out of Woonsocket itself, from the spring of 1940. It contained information on the college for students. The center one is the Toss-HP from December 1945, giving global news. The clipping on the right is a comic from 1944.
Above are clip outs of magazine covers from the Sunday News newspaper based out of New York. The one on the right is dated October 8, 1944. The one in the center is dated September 10, 1944. The one on the left is from September 17, 1944.
This is an example of a Mount student’s notebook for their class notes. The journal was in both English and French. The left image shows an entry on George Washington with pictures.
Above is a penmanship workbook that was used at Mount. Penmanship/cursive writing used to be taught as its own class in school, and this was one of the practice books used.
This is an algebra textbook/workbook out of the series that was used by MSC students in the 1940’s. There were multiple books and it appeared to be part of what we would consider an Algebra II course as it was quite advanced.
Above are two letters that were sent to a Mount student, Harry, while he was at school. These were written in English in 1943.
Above is an old prayer book used at MSC. It was written in French and contained multiple different hymns and prayers.
The sheet music above would’ve been used at Mount. Once again, it is in French, the language used prominently at the school.
If you’re interested in history, above is a map from 1942 of the paths taken by US ships to aid the Allies, as outlined in red.
Box 3 (Sports):
The photo above contains the MSC football team with a list of the players written on the back(where each player is in the photo was not to be found).
This is an example of part of a football uniform that would’ve been worn by the team pictured above. It was covered in dirt from the field and the padding seemed as though it was not nearly as protective as it is today.
The images above will most likely be of interest to many present-day Mount students and alumni as they capture an old hockey program with the MSC team and schedule for the 1937-38 season. The left is the back and front covers, indicating the players and their positions, those who ran the program2 and where one would have purchased game tickets. The right is the inside information, with the schedule on the left page and the various fan cheers (team and individual player alike) located on the right page.
The records and list above are from a program given at a 1940 football championship game between Woonsocket High School and Mount Saint Charles (when MSC had its own American football team). It contained the two teams’ records on the back and the full roster of players and their positions (as shown above).
Amanda Thrul '23
A Review of the 2021 Faculty Play
“ “It’s a Wonderful Life'' is one of my favorite Christmas movies and I loved Mr.Shea’s adaptation. I wasn’t expecting all my teachers to be good actors! I think Mrs.Pepin as the voice of God was my favorite part. The Mount play never disappoints and I can’t wait for next year.”
- Brigid Gilberti ‘23
The Mount Saint Charles faculty play. An event that students look forward to attending that was cancelled last year, but had entertained audiences in years prior. As a self proclaimed theater kid and enthusiast (I carry no shame), I was more than pleased to see my teachers on stage in “The Most Wonderful Gift” adapted by Mr. Shea. I was fortunate enough to see Hamilton twice this month, however this topped the charts. It was not as much the actual quality of the performance that made it special, but rather the joy of the performers and celebration of the season. My teachers were truly (or at least seemed to be) having a good time in a unique way to celebrate the holidays, and that resonated with the audience. I attended the Saturday night show with my two friends Melissa Reggio ‘23, and Caroline Monaco ‘23. It seems best fit to review this play on two different aspects: the set design, and of course the plot and performance itself.
As someone who mainly does performances in a Black Box theater, I appreciate how creative you must get to make a set as functional and visually appealing as possible. I have performed a few times myself in the Bell Tower Theater with shows like “Thoroughly Modern Millie”, “Once On This Island”, and “The Sound of Music”, all of which had arguably great sets for high school theater, especially “The Sound of Music”. This set however was consisted of 5 main parts: three platforms (Ms. J. Silva’s office, The Biddle family living room, and George and Mary’s living room), a painting of a tree on a large wooden plank, and finally the bridge. Each of the platforms was decorated to fit their perspective locations, and created a differentiation in time periods as well. As for the tree, it first appeared to be damaged by a car wreck caused by a distraught George Pratt years prior. As the plot progressed however, it became known that the damage was a painting on top of the tree painting that could be removed. Very creative if you ask me. My personal favorite set piece however was the bridge where most of George’s storyline developed. It was made from riser platforms and decorated with colored Christmas lights. I would easily give the set a 10/10 for effectiveness and functionality. A special thanks should be given to Mrs. Morrisette for all her hard work on much of it!
Next I will move onto the play’s plot and performance itself. Mr. Shea, the adaptor of the play, took the main plot from Phillip Van Doren Stern’s unpublished short story from 1943 titled “The Greatest Gift.” Only a few copies remained as it was given to friends and family of Stern. It later got reworked and made into the Christmas classic movie “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Mr. Shea took bits and pieces from the movie and original short story to make it into a 45-minute one act. It is set in two different time periods- Christmas Eve today and Christmas Eve in the late 1940’s in upstate New York. The Biddle family opens the show. Hank Biddle was played by Mr. Holl and his wife, Evelyn was played by Mrs. Breault. Their three daughters are played by Mount students Emma Foxon ‘26, Chloe Marcotte ‘26, and Sophia Lepre ‘27. The grandparents are played by Mr. Guevermont and Mrs. Pontes, who I personally thought did phenomenally. I enjoyed watching Mrs. Breault as the narrator of the story. She spoke clearly and made the plot easy to understand. Mr. Holl did a great job in his role. My class and I have seen him act before as he played his high school’s production of “The Children of Eden” for us towards the end of the year last year. Mrs. Desaulniers was featured as Ms. J. Silva, the local girlboss business woman who lived in the 1940s. We are introduced to the main character of George Pratt when he goes to Ms. Silva’s office begging for a higher paying job than the one he has right now, and is later faced with a dilemma in deciding what to do when denied. I personally thought that Mr. Rowe portrayed his character very well and was entertaining to watch. The comedic relief of Mr. Shea as George’s guardian angel sent by God (Mrs. Pepin). I overall thought that the performances of all the teachers involved were great. They clearly seemed to have some sort of an affinity for entertaining. I can see why they might be good actors as a result of being a teacher as they try to keep students engaged all day long. As for the plot, it was a bit cheesy, however I think that's what makes the faculty play great. It definitely successfully embodied the meaning of Christmas and put my friends and I in the mood for the holidays.
I would highly recommend to all students in the future to take the time and come see their educators in a faculty play, especially if you yourself are involved in Mount theater. They support you, so return that great gift (see what I did there) and come see them. I promise you will enjoy it. All in all, congratulations to the cast of the 2021 faculty play, and Bravo!
Madigan Wirkus '23
“ “It’s a Wonderful Life'' is one of my favorite Christmas movies and I loved Mr.Shea’s adaptation. I wasn’t expecting all my teachers to be good actors! I think Mrs.Pepin as the voice of God was my favorite part. The Mount play never disappoints and I can’t wait for next year.”
- Brigid Gilberti ‘23
The Mount Saint Charles faculty play. An event that students look forward to attending that was cancelled last year, but had entertained audiences in years prior. As a self proclaimed theater kid and enthusiast (I carry no shame), I was more than pleased to see my teachers on stage in “The Most Wonderful Gift” adapted by Mr. Shea. I was fortunate enough to see Hamilton twice this month, however this topped the charts. It was not as much the actual quality of the performance that made it special, but rather the joy of the performers and celebration of the season. My teachers were truly (or at least seemed to be) having a good time in a unique way to celebrate the holidays, and that resonated with the audience. I attended the Saturday night show with my two friends Melissa Reggio ‘23, and Caroline Monaco ‘23. It seems best fit to review this play on two different aspects: the set design, and of course the plot and performance itself.
As someone who mainly does performances in a Black Box theater, I appreciate how creative you must get to make a set as functional and visually appealing as possible. I have performed a few times myself in the Bell Tower Theater with shows like “Thoroughly Modern Millie”, “Once On This Island”, and “The Sound of Music”, all of which had arguably great sets for high school theater, especially “The Sound of Music”. This set however was consisted of 5 main parts: three platforms (Ms. J. Silva’s office, The Biddle family living room, and George and Mary’s living room), a painting of a tree on a large wooden plank, and finally the bridge. Each of the platforms was decorated to fit their perspective locations, and created a differentiation in time periods as well. As for the tree, it first appeared to be damaged by a car wreck caused by a distraught George Pratt years prior. As the plot progressed however, it became known that the damage was a painting on top of the tree painting that could be removed. Very creative if you ask me. My personal favorite set piece however was the bridge where most of George’s storyline developed. It was made from riser platforms and decorated with colored Christmas lights. I would easily give the set a 10/10 for effectiveness and functionality. A special thanks should be given to Mrs. Morrisette for all her hard work on much of it!
Next I will move onto the play’s plot and performance itself. Mr. Shea, the adaptor of the play, took the main plot from Phillip Van Doren Stern’s unpublished short story from 1943 titled “The Greatest Gift.” Only a few copies remained as it was given to friends and family of Stern. It later got reworked and made into the Christmas classic movie “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Mr. Shea took bits and pieces from the movie and original short story to make it into a 45-minute one act. It is set in two different time periods- Christmas Eve today and Christmas Eve in the late 1940’s in upstate New York. The Biddle family opens the show. Hank Biddle was played by Mr. Holl and his wife, Evelyn was played by Mrs. Breault. Their three daughters are played by Mount students Emma Foxon ‘26, Chloe Marcotte ‘26, and Sophia Lepre ‘27. The grandparents are played by Mr. Guevermont and Mrs. Pontes, who I personally thought did phenomenally. I enjoyed watching Mrs. Breault as the narrator of the story. She spoke clearly and made the plot easy to understand. Mr. Holl did a great job in his role. My class and I have seen him act before as he played his high school’s production of “The Children of Eden” for us towards the end of the year last year. Mrs. Desaulniers was featured as Ms. J. Silva, the local girlboss business woman who lived in the 1940s. We are introduced to the main character of George Pratt when he goes to Ms. Silva’s office begging for a higher paying job than the one he has right now, and is later faced with a dilemma in deciding what to do when denied. I personally thought that Mr. Rowe portrayed his character very well and was entertaining to watch. The comedic relief of Mr. Shea as George’s guardian angel sent by God (Mrs. Pepin). I overall thought that the performances of all the teachers involved were great. They clearly seemed to have some sort of an affinity for entertaining. I can see why they might be good actors as a result of being a teacher as they try to keep students engaged all day long. As for the plot, it was a bit cheesy, however I think that's what makes the faculty play great. It definitely successfully embodied the meaning of Christmas and put my friends and I in the mood for the holidays.
I would highly recommend to all students in the future to take the time and come see their educators in a faculty play, especially if you yourself are involved in Mount theater. They support you, so return that great gift (see what I did there) and come see them. I promise you will enjoy it. All in all, congratulations to the cast of the 2021 faculty play, and Bravo!
Madigan Wirkus '23
Sitting Down with SLA President, Alex Gasbarro
As a typically high-strung person, I was essentially a bit nervous to sit down with SLA President Alexander Gasbarro, arguably the most known student at Mount currently. But Alex is such a naturally friendly person, I immediately felt comfortable chatting with him. When the first thing he said to me was "make sure you write fast because I have a lot to say,” I knew this was going to be great. Being able to ask him some questions about his presidency, Mount experience, and future was a great way for both myself and the Mount community to get to know him better.
Brigid: “How long have you been at Mount? What is your role in the student body?”
Alex: "I was completely new freshman year, but I had played basketball over the summer. I made friends fast though."
He added that he became friends with many people and it helped "worked his way up" to becoming SLA president. His true goal however was to "represent the people of Mount". It wasn't originally his dream to be SLA president per se, but now he's ecstatic that he gets to do it every day.
Brigid: “What enticed you to be SLA President and how do you feel it has affected your school year so far?”
Alex was in Mrs.Breault's TC in junior year, so he'd sometimes sit in on Mrs.Breault's TC was in junior year and he was there for SLA meetings (even when he wasn't in SLA)
Alex: “Mrs.Breault asked me to run and Samira [his predecessor] trusted I would do a good job. Now? We’re here.”
Brigid: “What's been your favorite Mount tradition over the years, specifically during the holiday season?”
Alex: “Well I’m a basketball player, so I’m always excited for winter sports” he said after jumping on the question. I agree. Winter sports at Mount are something different. Who can’t help but love them?
He continued by stating “I think it's something new though. The third-floor TCs had a door decorating competition and I already love it. I’m so excited to see how everything turns out!” He just loves to see the good in every year. Especially during the holiday season.
Brigid: “What's your favorite tradition in general at Mount?”
Alex: “This might be a weird answer, but Open House.”
He is excited to show off his school and takes pride in it because Open House is his favorite thing to do every fall.
“I am probably most proud of just being a Mount student” He wants to be the best that he can be to show that a Mountie’s journey will be worth it no matter what.
Brigid: “Many people, including myself, admire you for so many reasons. I’d say the biggest reason is probably your attitude. How do you keep such good morale all the time?”
Alex: “Wow, thank you,” is all he could say at first. I let him have his moment to slightly bask before he said. “I appreciate the little things because those make all the difference.”
"I want everyone to have someone to say hello to in the halls. I like to check in on people," he told me.
Brigid: “What is it like to get into your dream school?”
Alex: "There are pictures of me as a literal baby in Friars gear. When you've been waiting seventeen years for something it hasn't hit you yet."
"It's hard to get excited about college when I'm still hyper focused on Mount. I love what I do here and I'm still excited to do it." His first priority is still Mount Saint Charles and it will be until his graduation day.
Brigid: “Even if you do talk to the student body a lot, it’s never quite you. It’s always you making an announcement or trying to boost the student body morale. If it was just Alex Gasbarro talking to the student body what would you say?”
Alex: "I am your friend first. I look forward to seeing people every day. I look forward to seeing you every day." There isn't much I can say to elaborate on that. He's just a genuine human who loves his school and community.
All in all, Alex is just a genuine person and I am glad that I have the honor of knowing him. After the questions he thanked me. It made me smile and I know that that was all that he had wanted. The last thing he said to me before leaving Chapel Hall was, "If you had told me four years ago I'd be doing this? I'd laugh. I love it and I thank you for thinking of me." Thank you for being a great interview subject, Alex!
Brigid Gilbert ‘23
As a typically high-strung person, I was essentially a bit nervous to sit down with SLA President Alexander Gasbarro, arguably the most known student at Mount currently. But Alex is such a naturally friendly person, I immediately felt comfortable chatting with him. When the first thing he said to me was "make sure you write fast because I have a lot to say,” I knew this was going to be great. Being able to ask him some questions about his presidency, Mount experience, and future was a great way for both myself and the Mount community to get to know him better.
Brigid: “How long have you been at Mount? What is your role in the student body?”
Alex: "I was completely new freshman year, but I had played basketball over the summer. I made friends fast though."
He added that he became friends with many people and it helped "worked his way up" to becoming SLA president. His true goal however was to "represent the people of Mount". It wasn't originally his dream to be SLA president per se, but now he's ecstatic that he gets to do it every day.
Brigid: “What enticed you to be SLA President and how do you feel it has affected your school year so far?”
Alex was in Mrs.Breault's TC in junior year, so he'd sometimes sit in on Mrs.Breault's TC was in junior year and he was there for SLA meetings (even when he wasn't in SLA)
Alex: “Mrs.Breault asked me to run and Samira [his predecessor] trusted I would do a good job. Now? We’re here.”
Brigid: “What's been your favorite Mount tradition over the years, specifically during the holiday season?”
Alex: “Well I’m a basketball player, so I’m always excited for winter sports” he said after jumping on the question. I agree. Winter sports at Mount are something different. Who can’t help but love them?
He continued by stating “I think it's something new though. The third-floor TCs had a door decorating competition and I already love it. I’m so excited to see how everything turns out!” He just loves to see the good in every year. Especially during the holiday season.
Brigid: “What's your favorite tradition in general at Mount?”
Alex: “This might be a weird answer, but Open House.”
He is excited to show off his school and takes pride in it because Open House is his favorite thing to do every fall.
“I am probably most proud of just being a Mount student” He wants to be the best that he can be to show that a Mountie’s journey will be worth it no matter what.
Brigid: “Many people, including myself, admire you for so many reasons. I’d say the biggest reason is probably your attitude. How do you keep such good morale all the time?”
Alex: “Wow, thank you,” is all he could say at first. I let him have his moment to slightly bask before he said. “I appreciate the little things because those make all the difference.”
"I want everyone to have someone to say hello to in the halls. I like to check in on people," he told me.
Brigid: “What is it like to get into your dream school?”
Alex: "There are pictures of me as a literal baby in Friars gear. When you've been waiting seventeen years for something it hasn't hit you yet."
"It's hard to get excited about college when I'm still hyper focused on Mount. I love what I do here and I'm still excited to do it." His first priority is still Mount Saint Charles and it will be until his graduation day.
Brigid: “Even if you do talk to the student body a lot, it’s never quite you. It’s always you making an announcement or trying to boost the student body morale. If it was just Alex Gasbarro talking to the student body what would you say?”
Alex: "I am your friend first. I look forward to seeing people every day. I look forward to seeing you every day." There isn't much I can say to elaborate on that. He's just a genuine human who loves his school and community.
All in all, Alex is just a genuine person and I am glad that I have the honor of knowing him. After the questions he thanked me. It made me smile and I know that that was all that he had wanted. The last thing he said to me before leaving Chapel Hall was, "If you had told me four years ago I'd be doing this? I'd laugh. I love it and I thank you for thinking of me." Thank you for being a great interview subject, Alex!
Brigid Gilbert ‘23
Interview with John B. and the Steel Drum Ensemble
This year, students at Mount have had the opportunity to participate in a steel drum ensemble! In the ensemble, students can play any of a wide variety of steel drums, ranging from tenor to bass drums. Some students have even had the chance to play other percussion instruments. This ensemble has occurred in previous years but did not play last year. To learn more about this ensemble, I was able to interview John Benevenuto, who is a sixth-grader here at mount. Here is what I was able to learn in my interview with him:
Ted: “What type of music does the band play in the steel drum ensemble?”
John B: “We play reggae music. It is a very laid-back genre, with a jazzy feel to it.”
Ted: “What songs are the band working on for their upcoming concert?”
John B: “We are working on Jamming by Bob Marley, Waiting in Vain by Bob Marley, and Carol of the Funk. Carol of the Funk is like Carol of the bells but with a funky rhythm.”
Ted: “How does playing the steel drum differ from the instruments the band normally plays?”
John B: “The steel drums are literal steel pans made from oil drums. We use special mallets to bang on bumps in the pans. The bumps have been bent out of the pan so that they can make different sounds.”
*John B. gets up to get a carrot cake *
Ted: “What Concert will the Ensemble be playing this year?”
John B: “They will be playing at the Christmas concert. Everybody should go to it! It will be lots of fun!”
Ted Bielecki '25
This year, students at Mount have had the opportunity to participate in a steel drum ensemble! In the ensemble, students can play any of a wide variety of steel drums, ranging from tenor to bass drums. Some students have even had the chance to play other percussion instruments. This ensemble has occurred in previous years but did not play last year. To learn more about this ensemble, I was able to interview John Benevenuto, who is a sixth-grader here at mount. Here is what I was able to learn in my interview with him:
Ted: “What type of music does the band play in the steel drum ensemble?”
John B: “We play reggae music. It is a very laid-back genre, with a jazzy feel to it.”
Ted: “What songs are the band working on for their upcoming concert?”
John B: “We are working on Jamming by Bob Marley, Waiting in Vain by Bob Marley, and Carol of the Funk. Carol of the Funk is like Carol of the bells but with a funky rhythm.”
Ted: “How does playing the steel drum differ from the instruments the band normally plays?”
John B: “The steel drums are literal steel pans made from oil drums. We use special mallets to bang on bumps in the pans. The bumps have been bent out of the pan so that they can make different sounds.”
*John B. gets up to get a carrot cake *
Ted: “What Concert will the Ensemble be playing this year?”
John B: “They will be playing at the Christmas concert. Everybody should go to it! It will be lots of fun!”
Ted Bielecki '25
Mr. Guev: Mount's Most "Sic" Storyteller
Through many generations, Mr. Guevermont has brought life to English classes at Mount. He is renowned for elaborately engaging tales from his life starting from when he was in grammar school all the way to “borrowing” reading glasses from his church’s lost and found. Each previous student that has had Mr. Guev has offered the phrase “has he told you that one yet?” to a current student in reference to a particular story they might have recalled. Though I have only been in his class for a little under 2 months, one story had particularly struck me as a melancholic yet touchingly meaningful account presented to his students.
For 4 years, the Mount community was aware of Mr. Guev’s wife, Donna’s battle with ALS. The community was deeply saddened over her passing in August of 2020, and continues to cherish her memory. Mr. Guev has never, at least in my experiences, painted her as nothing less than an extraordinary person by filling his lessons with side bits of information regarding their lives. In class on a late September day, Mr. Guev let us know he wasn’t like most teachers: He is a “sic” teacher. In the final years of Donna’s life, they spent most of their time cherishing each other’s company. Mr. Guev prefaced a particular story regarding them by stating he was against tattoos. He later explained to me that he viewed tattoos differently as it wasn’t something “commonly accepted in my [his] generation.” Gen Z and even millennials see tattoos now as a form of self expression or obtaining a greater meaning rather than a mark against professionalism or good judgment. However, like most modern turmoil, this dispute is a case of generational differences.
About two years before her passing, Mr. Guev and his wife went to a friend’s lake house. As they sat together one night, she spontaneously said that the two of them should get tattoos. Through his shock he simply asked “why?” Her response truly touched me: “Because I still can.” The next day the two went to the tattoo parlor. They received each other’s initials in black outlined hearts. Mr. Guev’s is placed at the top of his right arm. His personal favorite part of the “inked up” experience was when another tattoo artist looked over the one who was working’s shoulder to ask what it was he was doing. He told him it was an initialled heart which was met with an enthusiastic response of “SIC!” That is why Mr. Guev has been deemed Mount sickest storyteller at his request.
To be completely honest, a part of me was surprised to actually see the little heart. I don’t know what I was expecting. I slightly believed that the story had a catch and he didn’t end up going through with it. Maybe just by the way he had explained his opposition to tattoos prior to the end of the story. But nonetheless I was far from disappointed to see that he had.
Mr. Guev has made it a point to relate all of these stories he tells to the material of the actual course he is teaching. “A good communicator is a good storyteller” he explained to me as we chatted during the early stages of the Walk-a-Thon last Wednesday. By telling these stories he is able to connect with a new set of students each year by establishing a more tangible nature to him by sharing snippets of his life, though also reviving due respect. He does this by using, dare I say it (the situation is too fitting not to), pathos.
Incorporating these stories into his curriculum conversationally has helped my fellow classmates and I stay more engaged in the content of the classroom. It has created a successfully entertaining learning environment. Though one story has already touched me, I look forward to gaining a collection of them over the course of the school year. Thank you Mr. Guevermont.
Madigan Wirkus '23
Through many generations, Mr. Guevermont has brought life to English classes at Mount. He is renowned for elaborately engaging tales from his life starting from when he was in grammar school all the way to “borrowing” reading glasses from his church’s lost and found. Each previous student that has had Mr. Guev has offered the phrase “has he told you that one yet?” to a current student in reference to a particular story they might have recalled. Though I have only been in his class for a little under 2 months, one story had particularly struck me as a melancholic yet touchingly meaningful account presented to his students.
For 4 years, the Mount community was aware of Mr. Guev’s wife, Donna’s battle with ALS. The community was deeply saddened over her passing in August of 2020, and continues to cherish her memory. Mr. Guev has never, at least in my experiences, painted her as nothing less than an extraordinary person by filling his lessons with side bits of information regarding their lives. In class on a late September day, Mr. Guev let us know he wasn’t like most teachers: He is a “sic” teacher. In the final years of Donna’s life, they spent most of their time cherishing each other’s company. Mr. Guev prefaced a particular story regarding them by stating he was against tattoos. He later explained to me that he viewed tattoos differently as it wasn’t something “commonly accepted in my [his] generation.” Gen Z and even millennials see tattoos now as a form of self expression or obtaining a greater meaning rather than a mark against professionalism or good judgment. However, like most modern turmoil, this dispute is a case of generational differences.
About two years before her passing, Mr. Guev and his wife went to a friend’s lake house. As they sat together one night, she spontaneously said that the two of them should get tattoos. Through his shock he simply asked “why?” Her response truly touched me: “Because I still can.” The next day the two went to the tattoo parlor. They received each other’s initials in black outlined hearts. Mr. Guev’s is placed at the top of his right arm. His personal favorite part of the “inked up” experience was when another tattoo artist looked over the one who was working’s shoulder to ask what it was he was doing. He told him it was an initialled heart which was met with an enthusiastic response of “SIC!” That is why Mr. Guev has been deemed Mount sickest storyteller at his request.
To be completely honest, a part of me was surprised to actually see the little heart. I don’t know what I was expecting. I slightly believed that the story had a catch and he didn’t end up going through with it. Maybe just by the way he had explained his opposition to tattoos prior to the end of the story. But nonetheless I was far from disappointed to see that he had.
Mr. Guev has made it a point to relate all of these stories he tells to the material of the actual course he is teaching. “A good communicator is a good storyteller” he explained to me as we chatted during the early stages of the Walk-a-Thon last Wednesday. By telling these stories he is able to connect with a new set of students each year by establishing a more tangible nature to him by sharing snippets of his life, though also reviving due respect. He does this by using, dare I say it (the situation is too fitting not to), pathos.
Incorporating these stories into his curriculum conversationally has helped my fellow classmates and I stay more engaged in the content of the classroom. It has created a successfully entertaining learning environment. Though one story has already touched me, I look forward to gaining a collection of them over the course of the school year. Thank you Mr. Guevermont.
Madigan Wirkus '23
Sitting Down with the OG MC: Michael Calabret
As I sat with Michael Calabret in the empty chapel hall, excitement filled my bones. This was the first time I was ever interviewing anyone, nonetheless a "school celebrity". After every question with his well thought-out and engaging response, I began to understand why everyone loved him so much. I began to know the real MC.
Q1: "Where are you from and why did you come to Mount?"
A: "I'm from Hudson, Ohio about 45 minutes outside of Cleveland, and simply the reason I came to Mount was hockey. I knew how great hockey was here and I love the fact that I get to further my education at such a great school as well."
Q2: "What's life like in general for a boarding student?"
A: "I'm an only child right? I also have a small number of cousins, so moving here and having older and younger brothers for the first time ever changed my life! I love each and every one of them. They are literally my brothers."
Through the entire interview, it became apparent that Michael loved his roommates more than nearly anyone else. Multiple times he referred to them as "my favorite people besides my parents.''
Q3: "What made you want to start the morning announcements?"
A: "One day when I was in Marine Biology class, when Mr.Wilde was still teaching, I was standing for the prayer, pledge, and daily scrolling normal announcements. Now, I like school and I'm a great public speaker, so I decided I wanted to do the announcements."
To change this, he decided to go to Mrs.Beauvais' office and ask if he would be able to do the morning announcements. For the entire second semester of the 2020-2021 school year, he was "auditioning" to be the official Mount St. Charles announcer.
"I want to not only bring energy to the people, but I want to bring Mount together!"
Q4: "What's your favorite part about doing the morning announcements?"
A: "Oh, gotta be Sportscenter! What is life without sports?"
He loves learning about the other sports teams and covering them. He loves shouting out people for their individual achievements during games and he knows how much sports mean to the Mount Saint Charles community.
"Even the smaller announcements, like talking about service opportunities now and again. I know how serious it is and that's my other favorite part."
Michael also added some important insight as to the Hockey Academy and Day Student relationship: "I also think Mount has kind of an "us against them" mentality between boarding and day students. I'm up here representing Brother Jeuphaus Hall, so I really want to give a good impression of boarding students out there. We have to unite Mount!'
Q5: "How has being the "OG MC" changed your Mount St. Charles experience?"
A: "When I was here the first semester of last year I didn't know anyone besides the hockey academy, so my mindset is that I needed to be myself, and if they love me for it great and if they don't then whatever."
Unfortunately, many times throughout the year we got many covid shutdowns and Michael had to go home multiple times. He missed Mount so much that he realized how much it meant to him. "It's the place I love most."
"I wanted to show the people what I was all about and I got to bond with most of the school. During the second semester, everyone started to love the morning announcements and I loved that! When I started to hear people from the upper floors it was amazing. I knew that I was actually doing something."
Q6: "If you could say one thing to the student body what would it be?"
A: "I try to be the best person I can be every day out there and the world doesn't wait for you. You have to get up and keep pushing through. That's the reason I've been so successful. Like I said when I ended the school year last year, father time waits for no man… get back up when you get pushed down. Don't give up because I know you can do it."
So, when you don't believe in yourself just know that Michael "The OG MC" Calabret knows you can pull through and do it.
Brigid Gilberti '23
As I sat with Michael Calabret in the empty chapel hall, excitement filled my bones. This was the first time I was ever interviewing anyone, nonetheless a "school celebrity". After every question with his well thought-out and engaging response, I began to understand why everyone loved him so much. I began to know the real MC.
Q1: "Where are you from and why did you come to Mount?"
A: "I'm from Hudson, Ohio about 45 minutes outside of Cleveland, and simply the reason I came to Mount was hockey. I knew how great hockey was here and I love the fact that I get to further my education at such a great school as well."
Q2: "What's life like in general for a boarding student?"
A: "I'm an only child right? I also have a small number of cousins, so moving here and having older and younger brothers for the first time ever changed my life! I love each and every one of them. They are literally my brothers."
Through the entire interview, it became apparent that Michael loved his roommates more than nearly anyone else. Multiple times he referred to them as "my favorite people besides my parents.''
Q3: "What made you want to start the morning announcements?"
A: "One day when I was in Marine Biology class, when Mr.Wilde was still teaching, I was standing for the prayer, pledge, and daily scrolling normal announcements. Now, I like school and I'm a great public speaker, so I decided I wanted to do the announcements."
To change this, he decided to go to Mrs.Beauvais' office and ask if he would be able to do the morning announcements. For the entire second semester of the 2020-2021 school year, he was "auditioning" to be the official Mount St. Charles announcer.
"I want to not only bring energy to the people, but I want to bring Mount together!"
Q4: "What's your favorite part about doing the morning announcements?"
A: "Oh, gotta be Sportscenter! What is life without sports?"
He loves learning about the other sports teams and covering them. He loves shouting out people for their individual achievements during games and he knows how much sports mean to the Mount Saint Charles community.
"Even the smaller announcements, like talking about service opportunities now and again. I know how serious it is and that's my other favorite part."
Michael also added some important insight as to the Hockey Academy and Day Student relationship: "I also think Mount has kind of an "us against them" mentality between boarding and day students. I'm up here representing Brother Jeuphaus Hall, so I really want to give a good impression of boarding students out there. We have to unite Mount!'
Q5: "How has being the "OG MC" changed your Mount St. Charles experience?"
A: "When I was here the first semester of last year I didn't know anyone besides the hockey academy, so my mindset is that I needed to be myself, and if they love me for it great and if they don't then whatever."
Unfortunately, many times throughout the year we got many covid shutdowns and Michael had to go home multiple times. He missed Mount so much that he realized how much it meant to him. "It's the place I love most."
"I wanted to show the people what I was all about and I got to bond with most of the school. During the second semester, everyone started to love the morning announcements and I loved that! When I started to hear people from the upper floors it was amazing. I knew that I was actually doing something."
Q6: "If you could say one thing to the student body what would it be?"
A: "I try to be the best person I can be every day out there and the world doesn't wait for you. You have to get up and keep pushing through. That's the reason I've been so successful. Like I said when I ended the school year last year, father time waits for no man… get back up when you get pushed down. Don't give up because I know you can do it."
So, when you don't believe in yourself just know that Michael "The OG MC" Calabret knows you can pull through and do it.
Brigid Gilberti '23