The Jo Blog

The official blog of Josephinum Academy, a Sacred Heart high school located in the heart of Chicago. Founded in 1890, Josephinum is a single-sex, Catholic, college-preparatory school serving young women of Chicago. Josephinum Academy educates each...

[josephinum]

2016 Sacred Heart Cultural Exchange Camp

By Alisa S.

"For the sake of one child, I would have founded the Society." - St. Madeleine Sophie Barat

Every school year, Josephinum Academy sends one or two rising seniors on a Sacred Heart exchange trip. I recently had the opportunity to travel to Taipei, Taiwan for the 2016 Sacred Heart Cultural Exchange Camp. It was my first time traveling outside of the United States. This trip was truly a blessing. 

During my time at the camp, I took various classes at the Sacred Heart High School for girls in Taiwan. I became friends with Sacred Heart students from Taiwan, Tokyo, Seoul, Sapporo, México City, Brisbane, Montreal, San Francisco, Detroit, and Pennsylvania. For the first time in my life, I felt I made genuine friends. On the second day of the camp, each of us gave a presentation about ourselves, our country, and our school. We took the following classes: Art, folk dance, calligraphy, Taiwanese history, cooking class, and Mandarin Chinese. 

I learned many facts about Taiwan such as:  • Taiwan has one of the lowest birth rates in the world • Taiwan has the largest amount of convenience stores in the world (especially 7-11s) • Taiwan is Asia's first democratic nation • Taiwan has elected a female president: President Tsai Ing-wen • Taiwan is one of Asia's five tigers, which means it's an economic powerhouse • Taiwan has factories on the east coast of China • Products from Taiwan include Giant, a bike brand, and HTC • The 7-11s in Taiwan have a laundry service • Well-renown film director, producer, and screenwriter, Ang Lee, was born in Taiwan. You might be familiar with his films "Life of Pi," "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon," and "Hulk" • Though Taiwan is referred to as the Republic of China, it is not apart of China. Taiwanese citizens often debate wether or not the should become completely independent from China. Taiwanese citizens are he descendants of Chinese citizens who fled communism. Taiwanese people and Chinese people share the same lineage, but they have VERY different cultures • Since Taiwan was once a colony of Japan, many elders in Taiwan speak Japanese • There are 13 indigenous Taiwanese tribes • Taiwan is famous for their huge night markets • Two of Taiwan's nicknames are "Kingdom of Butterflies" and "Formosa" (beautiful island) • As of now, Taiwan is not a member of the United Nations 

 As you can tell, Taiwan is very different from the United States, and while I was there, it felt as though I were in a completely different world. In addition to going to school and meeting all of the students, my peers and I went on a three-day trip to Yilan. Throughout my stay, many Taiwanese people wanted to touch my hair, and they asked my host family many questions about me. It felt very strange standing out that way, but I felt very welcome! 

At the Farewell Ceremony, each Sacred Heart student got to say something to the entire school. The last thing I said to the school community was, "I had a lot of fun on this trip. The most important thing I learned is that there are good people in this world. No matter where they come from. Thank you." At the Farewell Party, each student got to say something to their host families. I told my host family members, Ai-An and Sara, the following: "Before I came to Taiwan, my father gave me his blessing saying I can be anything I want to be and do anything I want to do. I want to leave you with that same blessing. Thank you so much!" I'll never forget that day or this trip. I've never felt so much joy before in my life. I didn't want to leave! The most awful feeling is feeling as though you'll never see someone again. As I hugged each of my friends goodbye and said goodbye to my host family at the airport, I fought back tears. Though I felt sad while leaving, I feel happiness and peace every time I think of my time in Taiwan. I took a the sixteen-hour plane ride back home with these memories. 

 St. Madeleine Sophie Barat (1779-1865) founded the Sacred Heart Network with a mission to provide young women with education. Though she is originally from France, Barat recognized issues which took place beyond her own nation's borders. By the time of her death, Barat's mission had been completed in North Africa, Europe, North America, and South America. She changed the world for the sake of individual children. Today, the Sacred Heart Network is an association consisting of the Province and Catholic independent schools guided by St. Madeleine Sophie Barat's mission. As of now, there are 22 Sacred Heart schools in the United States and 150 worldwide. The Network provides various services and programs which promote leadership and innovative education, and every summer, students are able to travel and complete service projects while meeting other students from the network.

I was one of the many Sacred Heart students who had the opportunity to partake in Madeleine Sophie Barat's legacy. Sonya Everett, Marlen Gonzales, and Julia Sosnivka are a few alumni who also attended this trip. I can't wait to see who's next. I would like to thank my host family, my host sister, Ai-An, and my host student, Pallas. Your generosity has allowed me to explore the world and have a life-changing experience. You have softened my heart and given me a reason to preserve throughout my Senior year. I would also like to thank Mr. Dougherty for communicating with my family, and the Sacred Heart High School for girls in Taiwan for their phenomenal hospitality and kindness. Last but not least, I want to thank my parents, Ronnie Scott and Melissa Acevedo. I love you. 

[josephinum]

Review: Josephinum’s production of “Two Gentlemen of Verona”

By Alisa S.

"...our impulses are too strong for our judgement sometimes."

-Thomas Hardy (Tess of the d'Urbervilles)

The Josephinum Theatre has recently performed and showcased "The Two Gentlemen of Verona" by William Shakespeare on February 4, 5, 6, 9, and 10. Though Shakespeare's creations have a reputation for being quizzical and/or complicated, the cast and crew completed the admirable task of successfully translating Shakespeare's text through their hard work.

The cast and crew consisted of the following:

Proteus- Emily G. Antonio, Eglamor- *Emy A.

Valentine- Tamae D. Thurio, Panthino- Hope T.

Julia- Melony A. Host- Emily M.

Sylvia- Jocelyn G. Lucetta, Outlaw 1, Musician- *Jackie V.

Speed- Anna H. Outlaw 2, Musician- *Arianna L.

Launce- Xochitl V. Outlaw 3, Musician- *Jessika M.

Duke of Milan- Diamond B. Crab- A dog

Stage Manager- Lesley F.

*Assistant Stage Managers- Jackie V., Arianna L., Jessika M., and Emy A.

Box Office- Maria H.

Program Graphic- Jackie V.

Program and Photos- Kayleigh Fladung

Director, Teacher, Set Designer, and Sound Designer- Mr. Fehr

Costume Designer- Gosia Goralczyk

The setting of the story takes place sometime during the late 1950s in Verona [Italy],  Milan [Italy], and a whimsical forest. The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Proteus the "thinker" and Valentine the "adventurer," are close friends who maintain a brother-like relationship due to their differing personalities. In order to escape the strict conformity of Verona, the two gentlemen decide to try new things: Proteus does this by falling in love with Julia, and Valentine decides to leave Verona to visit Milan. However, Proteus makes his situation with Julia complicated by promising himself to her; this is an obligation that he is eventually unable to fulfill.

Despite the fact that Julia is uncertain of how much Proteus really loves her, she still finds herself drawn to him. Julia's maid Lucetta has an interesting perspective that makes this situation even more of a reality for Julia! Proteus's father, Antonio, feels that Proteus should join Valentine on his venture to continue his education. Proteus is not thrilled with this idea because he is infatuated with Julia, but Antonio still decides to send him off. Before he leaves, he exchanges rings with Julia.

Valentine meets a girl named Sylvia, but at times he doesn't seem to be good enough for her. Sylvia is a wealthy girl, and her father is the Duke of Milan. However, Valentine's servant Speed insists that Valentine should pursue Sylvia. Valentine eventually has to take desperate measures to woo Sylvia. In one scene of the play, Valentine has musicians perform a song dedicated entirely to her, but she remains a bit indifferent. Eventually, Proteus realizes that he has now become infatuated with Sylvia and has almost forgotten about Julia. If he cannot contain his feelings, he will attempt to gain Sylvia's love instead of Julia's. Unaware of this, Julia decides to visit Proteus, but Lucetta warns her that a trip may be dangerous for a young woman. Julia then decides to disguise herself as a boy.

The two gentlemen eventually create further turmoil. Each character plays an important role in this dilemma, and they are each somehow affected. Mr. Fehr writes, "The struggle that all of the characters encounter is how to balance their desires and instincts with the expectations that have been set upon them by family, society, and (the ever encroaching pressure and shadow of) adulthood."

"...our impulses are too strong for our judgement sometimes."

Josephinum Academy's production of "The Two Gentlemen of Verona" was a very complex and well-executed project. As an audience member and prior Shakespeare course student, I find this to be reflective of how the text of Shakespeare is able to be applied to various life lessons. Having been behind the scenes for prior school theatre productions at Josephinum, I know how much work is required to produce a series of performances.

I'm very impressed with this cast and crew!

Don't forget to join us for our next production, HerStory, on March 24 at  3 p.m.!

[josephinum]

5 Steps to a New Year's Resolution:

By Gabrielle S.

The first month of the new year is almost up girls! Have you been keeping up with your New Year’s resolutions? If your answer is “I didn’t make one” then it isn’t too late! Coming up with a resolution is nothing easy so I’ve come with with the top five way to make a fun and exciting New Year's Resolution and some encouragement on how to keep them!

1. Figure out what you want to change     We can come up with a whole list of things that we can't stand about ourselves but let's get one thing straight..... It's only part of being HUMAN! nobody's perfect! So try thinking of changing things that you know is possible to change.

2.  Choose a date to begin      This is one of the most important parts of the process. You don't exactly have to start on the first day of the new year. Choose a day you feel is best for YOU. It can happen anytime throughout the year and end whenever you want it to.

3.  Set reminders      If you feel like you're the type of person who forgets to do things then you can easily be reminded by setting reminders. Try setting reminders on your phone or sticking sticky notes around your house or room. Write it in your planners or even on your hand.

4.  Team Up     If you have a group of friends or a sibling with the same resolution as you, you all will keep each other motivated when feeling like you want to cheat! You can even find a friend with a different resolution as you.

5.  Reward Yourself!   Keep a journal to track your progress on how you’re keeping up! Do this so you can see the awesome progress you will be making and reward yourself here and there. This is a great way to keep you motivated throughout your journey.

[josephinum]

HAPPY NEW YEAR... HERE’S A FINAL EXAM!

By Emily P.

Pause your imminent freak out, because we got your back. 

It's kind of obvious that most of our winter break was filled with binge-watching Netflix, getting all that homework done, and other memorable moments, but it’s time to get our heads back in the game. One way to focus your attention while studying is to make a study sheet. This, my fellow peers, is a sheet full of concentrated, review-worthy information that makes studying easier to reflect on and simpler to understand. 

So, you are probably wondering: How do I make one? I’m glad you asked. If you didn’t ask, don’t worry; I would have informed you regardless. 

THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO THE ULTIMATE STUDY SHEET

Step 1: Prepare (Finals are Coming) My favorite template is the plain note sheet model because it is straightforward. However, I have also included various study sheet templates in this Finals Guide, so that you can make different sheets depending on the subject and what works best for you. Remember, there is no definitive strategy for studying, so it's best to not waste your time by strictly following other people's study techniques. You can modify your own study habits and strategies simply by finding what works best for you. You can even just take a sharpie and a blank page and create your own template. Here are a few examples of this: 

1) PLAIN NOTE SHEET TEMPLATE

2) CORNELL NOTES (HOW TO MAKE IN A NOTEBOOK) 3) CORNELL NOTES STRUCTURED BLANK NOTE SHEET  4) CONCEPT MAP (GOOD FOR ESSAYS OR REVIEWING THEMES OF MAJOR UNIT) 5) BLANK SHEET (DIY TEMPLATE) EXAMPLE

Step 2: Assemble the Avengers-I Mean, Your Materials Dig up everything you’ve cleaned out of your folder these past few months (who are we kidding, it’s all still in there), and whip out those binders! Use the following to create a pile for each subject that will be used to label key information for your study sheet:  

o Textbook o Old Tests/Quizzes o Practice Problems/Bell ringers o Study Guides o AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, ASK YOUR TEACHERS! They are probably going to give you some insight on what to expect on the test beforehand. You should write down and remember what they say, because (and I am going to go out on a limb here) they might have had something to do with making the test?

Step 3: Make a Key to Success Break out your highlighters, markers, colored pencils, or any other colorful writing utensils, and think about how you will go about organizing your sheets. I am providing an example below of what you are striving to do. You may want to take a notecard, or just save some space on the sheet, so that you can create a key that labels what each color represents. You can make one key that applies to all the sheets, or get a bit more detailed and make many keys that pertain to a specific subject:

EXAMPLE KEY

Step 4: I Dunno, Maybe Actually Make the Sheet Set aside specific time once you have completed the first two steps for each subject, and determine how much time you will need to make the sheets. This can be determined by how much content is being tested, and this is even a smart thing to do for those classes where you have projects. You want to make sure you are getting everything done at least a few days before finals. You can do this by assigning a subject or two (depending on how much content there is) a day, or doing small chunks of units whenever you can. If you read the last post about studying for Midterms (which is still up and available for viewing), you will recall that you have two options: 20 minutes studying, 5 minutes break (for frustrating subjects) 40 minutes studying, 10 minutes break (for subjects you are more confident in)

Step 5: Sit Down and Plan Out Your Review, Then Actually Follow Through (Unlike Your New Year’s Resolutions) Make sure you spend some quality time with your calendar and planner. Schedule time to not only make study sheets, but to review them. Each day leading up to the test, take a short amount of time to look over your sheets. It doesn’t have to be an hour. It can be a 20-minute review to make sure that you are keeping the information fresh in your memory. However, working out example problems for concepts you don’t understand is just as important as reflecting on the unit. It would be wise to not solely depend on study sheets for every subject as a strategy.

And that’s it! Best of luck on studying from everyone on the Blog Squad, and good luck on finals!

[josephinum]

Book Recommendation:  “I Am Malala”

By Chelsea Z.

This is an inspiring story by a Pakistani education advocate, Malala. She is a remarkable girl who has positively influenced how the world views females. On the day she was shot for attending school, the world was shocked at the determination and aspiration of a young, 15-year-old girl. Though this work is different from other versions of Malala's story, it has offered a more real, determined, and even sassy side of Malala, because it was written by the teen herself.

The story begins from the time Malala was a baby. As the Taliban negatively affected  Malala's life, little by little, she felt a desire to stand up for girls' education. This was the only opportunity to not be ignorant and helpless. She began to write about her daily life in Swat under a fake pen name in a BBC newspaper while Swat was bombed constantly by the terrorists. She was threatened, teased, warned, and shot due to her campaigns. Despite this terror and negativity, these events never prevented Malala from becoming free of religious stereotypes.

This book was told from the point of view of a true survivor and extraordinary female model. Malala was so articulate and humane, that the merciless taliban felt threatened. It is definitely something significant to think about when we once lived in a society where women were ignored, objectified and abused. Despite the complexity of the topics discussed, the book is quite amusing and enthusiastic as it is told from the perspective of a teenage girl. This is  a must-read for teenage girls, like us, who have the ability to explore various treasury thoughts and reflections from someone else our age.

Find out more about malala visit the websites below

http://www.malala-yousafzai.com

https://www.malala.org/

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-23241937

[josephinum]

ATTENTION ALL STUDENTS! MIDTERMS ARE THIS WEEK! THIS IS NOT A DRILL!

By Emily P.

... but don’t freak out, we have your back!

If you are a freshman, or even a senior, that familiar word “exam” sends a shiver of dread down your spine. You start breaking out the highlighters and post its, and getting stuck in the classic I-know-I-put-the-notes-in-here-but-its-gone-on-an-adventure-and-this-backpack-seems-to-never-end dilemma. Once you discover those notes in a very obvious place you swear you already looked in, read the rest of this post.

WHAT KIND OF LEARNER AM I?

Everyone has their own strengths. If you are serious about acing your exam, it would be very helpful to discover your learning style. If you already know, move ahead and read the tips. If you don’t, take this short quiz:

http://vark-learn.com/the-vark-questionnaire/

HOW DO I BEST STUDY?

VISUAL LEARNERS:

- Maps/Charts/Graphs/Diagrams

- Videos and Power points

- Flashcards

- Annotate/Mark Up the Page

AUDITORY LEARNERS:

- Talk/Logic your answers out loud

- Read aloud

- Explain concepts to yourself as if you are holding a conversation

- Use word associations (this sounds like this and means basically the same thing) to remember

READ/WRITE LEARNERS:

- Rewrite Notes

- Paraphrase Notes

- Create Bulleted Lists

- Turn charts into written summaries

- Write questions on the material and answer them

KINESTHETIC/TACTILE LEARNERS:

- Flashcards

- Study with others

- Study in short blocks of time

- Use examples when creating study sheets

- Have something in your hands (pencil, stress ball, play-doh) to keep from getting restless

GENERAL TIPS BEFORE AND WHILE YOU STUDY:

1. PUT. THE. PHONE. DOWN. You won’t get anywhere when the group chat is blowing up. Put your phone in another room and just allow yourself to take some time and really focus. If you need to time something, use your iPad or turn off your cellular capability. Remember, with great wifi comes great responsibility.

2. PREP YOUR STUDY SPACE. That means:

• Avoid annoying and disruptive sounds (Pets, Siblings, Vacuums, Washers)

• Being alone. People, even when quiet, are still a presence that can unnerve or distract.

• Getting all your materials ready. You cannot afford to waste time and potentially distract yourself by going off on the great hunt for a notebook or glue stick or binder every five seconds.

• Keep your space uncluttered. Most students do the stereotypical movie thing where they expand their study space until the room is littered with papers. Just take what you need and prepare it in stacks by subject in one place. That way, you are not digging into your backpack and pulling out useless things. When it comes to making study sheets, you can use this step to only get out notes you need to make those.

• RESIST THE TEMPTATION TO MULTITASK. DVR the newest The Walking Dead episode or realize it will always become available sometime after it airs so you can catch up. This next sentence may be hard for many (including myself) but the music. MUST. BE. OFF. Classical is the only exception where your mind is not struggling to jam out or getting confused with thoughts of both Trig and  random lyrics.

3. PLAN, PEOPLE. I cannot stress the importance of planning. If you have five days until your math exam, use four to break up little portions of what will be on there, and the day before should be spent doing a couple practice problems and reviewing study sheets

4. TAKE A BREAK WHEN YOU NEED IT. On top of planning how to break up each subject, figure out how you will do breaks, and what you will do during those breaks. I highly recommend not going to your phone, because five minutes can turn into two hours of endless scrolling on (insert social media name here).

• It can be estimated that you should have a five minute break for every twenty minutes you study. However, you can break that into 20-5-20-5 or 40-10-40-10. If you feel confident in a topic, you may want to do 40-10 so you can get through it and have longer recuperation. If you are struggling, take the 20-5 route. This allows a cool down for the end of those twenty minutes when you are getting frustrated.

Sources:

https://collegecandy.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/image.png

http://blog.flashnotes.com/study-time-2/make-midterms/

http://study-hack.com/post/79938599192/taken-from-my-psychology-textbook-psychology-the

[josephinum]

Josephinum Attends Chicago Ideas Week

By Alisa & Emily P.

On October 9, 2015, Ms. Vai's Ethical Entrepreneurship class and Mrs. Johnson's AP Biology class went on a field trip to the McCrone Research Institute. We had the opportunity to use  polarized light microscopes, solve a burglary case with the use of small samples of fabric, examine a variety of substances such as: table salt, starch, marble, silk, oil soot, dandruff, clay... The list goes on! We even got to prepare our own sample slides with mineral oil, cotton, wool, and polyester. For our last session, our instructor showed us how to heat up TNT with a small flame, and use the microscopes to watch it change color as it continued to warm up. It looked as if someone was creating a painting.

The McCrone Research Institute has been active since 1952 and was founded by Dr. Walter C. McCrone in 1960. Our instructor has had a lot of experience with Forensic Science and using high-tech microscopes, so we learned about interesting information that is usually kept behind the scenes. This field trip was one of the many events from Chicago Ideas Week. For one week each October, the Chicago Ideas Week invites many speakers from different career fields to present their ideas and experiences.

Fellow Blogger Emily P. attended more CIW trips! Here's what she had to say:

Another amazing opportunity that was presented to Ms. Vai’s business class was the chance to spend October 16 at the Cadillac Palace Theater to watch the Edison Talks. The theater was gorgeous, and the stage was stunning. A clever decision by those in charge of CIW was to start the show by having a two-minute countdown. This played into the theme of the Edison Talks, which this year sought to answer the prompt “Is There Time for…”. Edison Talks are the longest and most immersive day of CIW, where the audience disengages from the outside world and instead takes their minds to a place of wonder and innovation.

The talks opened with the most obvious question, “Is There Time?” which Olympic speed skater John K. Cole attempted to answer. His take on time is that it is neither chronological nor linear. He believes that depth and perception of memory can make time seem longer or shorter. I had the opportunity to talk with him after the talks, and he was extremely friendly in elaborating. I asked how we can make our lives seem longer, and he responded with three things he thinks all people can do:

1. Increase breadth and depth of mind (Always be fully engaged in what you are doing)

2. Replace repetition with meaning (Switch up your schedule to prevent the feeling that days are just flying by)

3. Expand your mind (Try new things)

My favorite speaker was Salman Khan, however. As the founder of Khan Academy, he has saved my grades many times, and I am sure many of you can relate. His humble story of tutoring his cousin to being recognized by Bill Gates on TV made it seem possible that any little bit of help can grow into an idea that is widely praised by all. His question, “Is There Time to Make Education A Human Right?” was a problem directly solved by his business, and I cannot wait to see Khan Academy grow throughout the world.

Other riveting speakers including Jennifer Eigenbrode (Is There Time for us to Live on Mars? Yes!), Jason Mayden (Is There Time to Regain the Lost Genius? Yes!), and perhaps most famously, Michael Strahan. His answers to “Is There Time to Wake Up Happy?” revived the entire crowd and really gave a good sense of his values, which were to always push yourself and say “Not If, But When I…”.

In all honesty, Chicago Ideas Week was one of the most eye-opening experiences I have ever had, and if anyone gets the chance, they should try to go next year.

You can read more about the McCrone Research Institute and Chicago Ideas Week [CIW] here:

http://www.mcri.org

https://www.chicagoideas.com/about

[josephinum]

Introducing the 2015-2016 Blog Squad!

Alisa:

Hey, my name is Alisa and I'm a junior at Josephinum. I have been a JAC member, stagehand for school theatre productions, and student blogger ever since I was a Freshman. In my free time, I enjoy drawing, painting, caring for plants, and doing service. My favorite subject is history, and one interesting fact about me is that I always keep my hair in a bun, because I have crazy curly hair. I'm looking forward to writing this year!

Emily P.:

Hi! My name is Emily Pfeiffer, and I am one of the Blog Squad members here at Josephinum. I am a junior who just transferred in this year from a school in Virginia. I am involved in a bunch of clubs at the Jo (JAMs, JACs, Dance Team, Debate Team, Creative Writing, Fitness Club, Club of Social Action and the Lexus EcoChallenge) so you will probably see me around. If you ever have any questions about any of these clubs, feel free to ask! I am so excited to be able to share the school's opinions and post what you guys want to see online. Outside of school, I volunteer and enjoy reading, playing guitar, and trying different crafts. One thing many people don't know about me is that I used to live overseas when I was younger in Malaysia. Once again, I look forward to writing all about the Jo for you guys!

Gabby:

My name is Gabrielle Sianez, but I prefer to be called Gabby. I'm a 10th grader here at Josephinum and transferred from Trinity High School, so this is my first year here at the Jo. I play volleyball and enjoy singing. A fun fact about me is that I'm a huge Taylor Swift fan and she's actually who I went to see for my first concert. As part of the Blog Squad I will be, along with the other members, in charge of writing articles for the blog.

Chelsea:

My name is Chelsea and I'm starting my first year here at Josephinum Academy. I have A's in all my classes, but I am especially good in math, biology, Shakespeare and literature. Other than studying, I love to listening to French videos, playing piano in JAMs, reading, and jogging. One interesting fact about me is that I am starting a Science Enthusiast Club with Ms. To and Ms. Johnson. Similarly, I am looking forward to the Lexus EcoChallenge I am planning to participate in. I am also excited to be on the Blog Squad and learn more about the Josephinum Academy.

Valentina:

Hey! My name is Valentina and I'm new to Josephinum this year. A fun fact about me is that I love taking pictures, going to concerts and I love animals. I am so excited to learn more about the school through the Blog Squad.

Emily M.:

My name is Emily and I'm one of this year's Blog Squad writers. I'm 15 years old and am a sophomore at the Jo. I'm involved in a wide variety of clubs including Dance Team, Spanish Club, Creative Writing, Debate and Mock Trial, and the Club of Social Action. A fun fact about me is that I've been dancing since I was two and a half!

Mariah:

Hey there! My name is Mariah and I'm super excited to be able to write articles for the school's blog this year! In my last three years here I've taken part of many of the leadership opportunities the Jo provides and have become much more confident. I'm apart of 10 clubs/sports ranging from Speech and Debate to Yearbook to Volleyball. A fun fact about me is I'm currently learning American Sign Language! I'm so excited for what the rest of this year holds. Email me if you have any fun ideas for things we should write about!

[josephinum]

The Last Day of Junior Year!

Everything they say about Junior year is true. It is the hardest and one of the fastest. First semester went by so quickly that the second one hit me like a slap to the face. I’ll be honest, I was not ready. I gave in to the number one rule nobody, and I mean nobody, wants to be involved with: procrastination.

Goodness gracious! If I could give ANY upcoming Junior just a FEW words of advice it would be this: DO NOT. I REPEAT. DO NOT PROCRASTINATE. If you follow this one rule I promise that Junior year will not be the epitome of darkness.

I would like to review some of the many other lessons I learned this year:

1)    When you’re stressed, TAKE A BREAK; but that doesn’t mean you should PROCRASTINATE. Know the difference. Also, procrastination WILL cause you more stress. It’s been proven.

2)    Take care of each other. We Josephinum girls are only together for four years if that, so care for one another, check in on each other. High school is hard, and we’re all trying to find ourselves. Allow that to happen, and don’t judge other people. Be kind and be thoughtful.

3)    It’s hard to be someone you’re not, so stop trying to be. Instead, BE YOU and BE YOU UNAPOLOGETICALLY. To be genuine is a beautiful trait desperately needed in this world.

4)    Attack the IDEA, not the PERSON. When it comes to communication, we ‘teens’ may or may not be lacking a little bit. What I learned this year was to discuss and argue appropriately and to communicate efficiently. If you do not agree with someone, DO NOT ATTACK THEM. That’s not the problem. Instead, attack and discuss the IDEA. Also make sure you’re LISTENING to UNDERSTAND and not to RESPOND. Communication is about understanding the other person, and it is also about actively LISTENING. No distractions, no texting, no breaking off the conversation because you have something ‘better to say’. Just listen. Make eye contact. Understand where the person is coming from. Communication is key.

5)    Opportunities will fly towards you only if you reach for them.

6)    Leadership. I recently volunteered for a leadership seminar and had quite the life-changing experience. While it is extremely hard to describe what I went through, I will leave you with a quote from the seminar: “A leader is not someone on top, but the person on the bottom catching the ones who fall.”

Junior year has been hard, stressful, emotional, and all together crazy, but I loved every second of it. You know it’s insane thinking I’ll be a senior next year. INSANE. Time goes by so fast it feels like I was just walking in as a new freshman. I’m way too excited for summer considering I’ll be taking part in the summer Cultural Exchange Program to Taiwan along with another Junior, Marlen Gonzalez. Expect an epic blog post …

To my Junior classmates, I know what you’re all thinking: “Am I a senior yet?”  Well class, the answer is YES.

- Sonya 

[josephinum]

Lupita's Last Blog Post - Graduation 2014!

Baccalaureate Mass

On Friday, May 30th, Josephinum held the 2014 Baccalaureate Mass where Seniors were inducted into the Alumni Association. We all wore beautiful white dresses in honor of the Sacred Heart tradition, and Father Wayne Watts led an insightful mass service. Before the induction, Ms. Vai gave a speech to the Senior class. Ms. Vai has taught every Senior for Capstone, and some of us had the opportunity to have her as either an English or Business teacher as well. Ms. Vai started off by reflecting on our year together with her. She talked about our future challenges and how it will not be easy.

What stood out the most from Ms. Vai’s speech was this: "You have a choice. You can continue taking the easy way out and have an average life, or you can wake up, take some risks, fail a couple times, and achieve something great." Being a Senior in high school, I find that it's really easy to forget this. Senior year is a rough year not only because of college applications, but also because we finally have to make decisions by ourselves. It's the year when we realize we're not a little kid anymore. Ms. Vai emphasized this and how we have the power in our lives to make the right decisions, and stand up tall even if we don't. I absolutely loved Ms. Vai's speech; I will miss her motivational speeches and "tough love" advice.

To conclude the mass, we had a candlelit ceremony as we were inducted into the Alumni Association. Josephinum's Alumni provided a luncheon as well, and it's safe to say the Seniors enjoyed every minute of it! It was a fantastic way to spend time together before graduation.

  Graduation

On Saturday, May 31st, Josephinum held the Class of 2014 Graduation at Saint Aloysius Catholic Church. We all arrived early Saturday morning to get ready, took fun pictures, and talked about how crazy it was to be done with high school. Walking down the aisle in my cap and gown was insane; I was smiling but on the inside I was holding back tears. I always wanted the day to come, but I had many mixed feelings. Nancy Garcia was our valedictorian, and she talked about the memories over the years and gave a last word of advice for the Senior class. Mr. Powlowski gave a lively speech and reminded us about our strength as independent, smart women and how no one can take that away from us. We all received our diplomas, laughed (and cried), and said our many "see you soon" comments with endless hugs and pictures. I am so grateful to be a part of Josephinum's Class of 2014. We've had our ups and downs, but we’ve loved each other through it all.

  Reflecting on my Four Years at the Jo

It's incredibly bittersweet to be leaving Josephinum Academy. I've never had a warm, welcoming environment filled with people who truly care about me. I've made the most amazing relationships through the years. If I was ever in trouble I knew I had someone there for me. I have many great memories including: nominating my English teacher Ms. Keller my Freshmen year for the Chicago Bears 'Hero in the Classroom' Award and WINNING; being elected Vice-President of the Josephinum Ambassadors Council my Sophomore year; being selected the Helen Bruns Ryan Scholar last year; and my Senior Retreat in Michigan this year. I've had a lot of FUN throughout my four years! Being at Josephinum, I learned a lot about life and how important it is to choose love and gratitude everyday.

I will miss my teachers and friends dearly, and I will always cherish them. The one thing I'll miss the most, though, is this blog. I will never forget the day when the Development team asked me to write and run the blog back in 2011. I had just finished my Freshman year, so I was anxious of being the first writer. Josephinum believed, trusted, and saw potential in me that I didn't know I had. Josephinum's Development team changed throughout my three years of blogging, but the support never stopped. I was given the opportunity to share my experiences with Josephinum's audience in a way that was unique to my personality. Whenever I gave a tour at open houses, I would have parents or their child tell me about a blog post they read. I had other Sacred Heart schools reach out to me via Twitter telling me they've enjoyed learning about Josephinum through my blog posts. I would have never had these connections if it wasn't for the blog.

Working with the Development team through my years, along with blogging for Josephinum, sparked an interest in their career fields. This Fall I will be attending Saint Mary's University of Minnesota as a double major in Public Relations and Journalism. I am so excited to start my journey and learn as much as I can. I hope I can become a dedicated woman like all the women in Josephinum's Development team - past and present - who have inspired me in every possible way.

This summer I will be finishing my third and final year of my internship at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, an opportunity made possible thanks to Josephinum's Counseling Services.

Thanks for reading about my life at Josephinum for three years. I truly appreciate it with all my heart. I am so blessed and delighted to be an alumna of Josephinum Academy and the Sacred Heart network. 

- Lupita 

[josephinum]

Spring Theatre Production: Black Comedy

On May 8-10, the Josephinum Theatre showcased their latest performance: Black Comedy by Peter Shaffer. Shaffer's first play, Five-Finger Exercise (1960), was a drama that gave him his reputation as a playwright. Later he released works such as The Private Ear, The Public Eye, The Royal Hunt of the Sun, Equus (which was originally performed as a play in 1973, and made into a film in 1977), Yonadab, and many more. The diverse titles of the play represent the major differences that are found in each of Shaffer's plays. He went from writing plays about the history between the Spanish and the Inca, to a black comedy, and then a biblical epic! Shaffer started his journey working for a music publisher, and then worked as a book reviewer before he started writing plays. His hard work, artistic view, and plays, have inspired many audiences, and his 1965 work, Black Comedy, made its way to the Josephinum theatre stage!

The people behind the scenes of Black Comedy are students: Destiny (Senior), Sonia, and Na'Jia (Sophomore), and professional artists: Kaitlyn Grissom and Gosia Goralczyk. The characters in  Black Comedy are: Brindsly Miller, Carol Melkett, Miss Furnival, Colonel Melkett, Harold Gorringe, Clea, Schupanzigh, and George Bamberger. All played by (listed in order): Stefany (Sophomore), Endia (Junior), Maiya, Emy, Joanna, Sonya (Junior and fellow student blogger), Sonia, and Na'jia (Sophomore).

Setting: Brindsly's apartment, evening.

Plot: Brindsly and Carol are new Fiancés, who have some obvious relationship struggles. Both characters are at polar opposites of the earth with eachother, but they still find a way to deal with one anther. Outside of their relationship, Brindsly also has a relationship with Clea, whom he has known for four years! Colonel Melkett (Carol's father) is going to visit Carol and her new fiancé, to see if Brindsly is really the man for his little girl. To impress Colonel Melkett, Carol and Brindsly decide to "borrow" their neighbor Harold's most prized furniture for the evening ... but then the power goes out.

Things only get worse. Miss Furnival and Harold come to Brindsly's place while Carol's father is there to visit. The problem at this point of the play is that Harold is in the presence of his stolen furniture, and Miss Furnival becomes very suspicious (she could possibly reveal the truth!). If anyone finds out about Harold's furniture, Carol's father will not allow Brinsly to marry Carol. So Brinsly decides to move Harold's furniture out of the apartment, and put his original furniture back in; in the midst of a black out! Then in the middle of nowhere, Clea, Brinsly's lover of four years, stops by to pay him a visit. He kindly asks her to keep quiet, but she ends up ruining the whole evening!

The prevalent theme in Black Comedy is Recognition. The Director and Chair of the Fine Arts Department at Josephinum, Mr. Fehr wrote: "Recognition is a strange experience. It is the moment something clicks inside, knowledge is gained, and you realize that the world works differently than you first thought." This statement completely matched Black Comedy, and the play also demonstrates how far people can get with lying. Black Comedy is only one of the many amazing examples of the work that Josephinum has showcased, and I can't wait to see the next show!

-Alisa  

[josephinum]

Senior Prom 2014

Senior year of high school is filled with many experiences that take students on an emotional roller coaster. Things like choosing the right classes, applying for college, waiting for admission decisions, choosing a college, being a positive role model for the underclassmen, maintaining good grades... I could go on and on. But there is one highly anticipated event of Senior year: Senior Prom!

Being at an all-girls school, you can't help but be excited about Senior Prom. I feel like we talked about prom since our first day of school, and it has been a top priority no matter how complicated our year has been. This year, Josephinum's prom was held at Hotel Allegro, and the majority of my classmates attended. When we all gathered at the hotel, we spent a good amount of time complimenting each other and taking tons of pictures. We had a lovely dinner, and dancing started soon after! Everyone was in a great mood and had a lot of fun. 

I am so proud to be a student of Josephinum's Class of 2014. I think prom was such a success this year because we love coming together as a class. It's not always easy to put a bunch of strong-minded girls together to communicate, organize, and participate. Every school has it's own drama, and I would be lying if I said it doesn't happen at Josephinum. But my class was able to put aside any differences and just enjoy each other's company. It was amazing to celebrate one of our last "hurrahs" together, and I'm so glad we've built the maturity to love each other and stand united. I'm so proud of my Senior Class for this.

  Finally, our teachers' presence at prom was a gift in itself. Our relationships with our teachers are what made our time at Josephinum unique and meaningful. I have had the most INCREDIBLE teachers throughout the past four years. Teachers like Ms. Keller and Mrs. D'Amico, whom I've known since my Freshmen year, and my first-time teachers like Mrs. Vai and Mr. Narvaez were all there to support us. Our teachers were celebrating the end of our high school career with us, dancing, taking pictures, and being fun spirits. Every Senior has a teacher they're close to, so I know having them there meant a lot.  

Prom was definitely a "night to remember." The Seniors' are preparing to pass on our leadership to the Junior Class soon, working really hard to finish the year off strong, and spending our last few weeks together. I encourage any underclassmen reading this: GO TO PROM!  It's honestly the best time, and personally, my favorite high school experience by far.

- Lupita

[josephinum]

3rd Annual All-School Reunion

On April 27, Josephinum Academy held its third-annual All-School Alumnae Reunion! After welcoming all of the alumnae, a few of us Josephinum students joined them in the wonderfully decorated cafeteria to hear some inspiring words from our President, Mr. Dougherty. He spoke about how much Josephinum has changed throughout the years since the alumnae have graduated and how we plan to continue to grow and flourish. Mr. Dougherty also mentioned last week's School Choice event, and noted that as a Catholic school, we should open our school doors to peacefully discuss and raise social awareness for problems in our community. The alumnae were extremely attentive and asked Mr. Dougherty some great questions!

I was very happy to see that the alumnae were extremely dedicated to education. Some of them raised very good points about how Josephinum Academy gave them the tools that they needed to take on the world while certain schools fail to educate the youth in Chicago. Mr. Dougherty also mentioned that Josephinum emphasizes teaching us students how to think, not what to think. Josephinum is doing just that!

After Mr. Dougherty's speech, some students and I took the alumnae on a tour around the school! It was an awesome experience to hear how different Josephinum was through the eyes of former students. There were alumnae from the Class of 1960 all the way to the Class of 1979, so there were many different perspectives. While giving the tour, I felt that the woman I was specifically walking around with was giving me a tour of the school! Based on what she said, a lot has changed except for the doors and windows. When I told her about J-Term at Josephinum, she was very impressed and interested; it definitely wasn't something that she had fifty years ago with her classmates! She told me about their school uniform, and how the students used to do many different activities such as cooking and sewing.

The Reunion was fun and very different from any other event I have been a part of at Josephinum. The alumnae truly embody what it means to be Josephinum student. They have paved the way for future students, such as myself, and they have given Josephinum the wonderful reputation that we have today. One day I hope to be in their place and inspire the Josephinum students that will come after me!

-Alisa    

[josephinum]

NFTE Program at Josephinum

This semester, several Josephinum Seniors took Mrs. Vai's Ethical Entrepreneurship class, which partners with the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE). As a student in this class, I learned about business process, and I found out that It's not as simple as I thought it would be. There is so much involved, including: creating the business, figuring out the right location, identifying your competitors, finding a need or a want, marketing, etc. We had the opportunity to start our own business to get a "hands-on" experience. Businesses in the class focused on helping others; ideas ranged from after school programs for girls to help with self-esteem and build relationships, helping the environment, an ACT Prep Course, bringing awareness about medical diseases, and more.

As part of the NFTE program, we got to attend different events throughout the school year. For example, we attended Chicago Ideas Week where we interacted with people like Major Rahm Emmanuel and Grant Hill. We participated in various workshops in local businesses to learn about networking and different marketing strategies. In a couple of weeks, NFTE invited our class to attend a Ted Talk Conference, so I'm very excited about that!

Finally, our class participated in the NFTE Classroom Competition. The girls in the class presented their business plans to a panel of judges. The top three winners received a money prize, and our first place winner, Maricarmen De La Rosa, will be competing in the city-wide competition! We wish her the very best of luck! I think we all did a fantastic job!

- Lupita 

[josephinum]

Social Action Month 2014

Josephinum Academy's first Social Action Month was a big success. First, we had guest speakers present about the the world's hardships and how we can make a difference by volunteering. I asked my Freshman classmates what they thought of the presentations, and this is what they had to say: 

"The presentation was very good. I saw some people getting teary-eyed." -Sairis

" I thought it was a very interesting presentation because I didn't know much about it. It was very sad, and I'm actually interested in volunteering myself." -Alexandra

"I thought it was really moving, I thought it was great that they showed it because many people don't learn much about bad things that happen in other places because it isn't going on around them." -Mariah 

For my first service of Social Action Month, I got to visit the North Avenue Daycare with my Freshman Academy class! The service took place on Thursday, March 13 right after school. During my time there, I read a book to the children, made some book marks, helped clean up, and played with Play-Doh! My experience at the day care was very fun and eye opening. We all got an idea of what we were like when we were younger, and we were able to unleash our inner child! Here is what a few of my fellow classmates said about the experience:

"I really liked it because we got to work with little kids and have the staff take a little break." -Jocelyn G.

"It was so fun because the kids were so cute and so tiny!" Jillian H.

"I was nervous at first, because children are difficult to deal with! But my friends and I were able to handle them." -Anonymous

For my second service of Social Action Month, I got to visit the Wicker Park Lutheran Church on March 22. Once my group and I arrived at the church, we met Pastor Jason and got a quick overview of what the Lutheran church is all about! He told us about Martin Luther and how he began the era of the Lutheran Faith, which has since led on to Lutheran Churches being founded throughout our country.  The specific church we had visited was founded over a century ago by Germans and Norwegians who settled in America to practice their religion and to worship. Now the church community is still going strong with an even more diverse community. The church space isn't only dedicated to worship; there is a Children's Nursery, hall space for Anonymous Groups, and a kitchen to feed the homeless or just those in need. The church has recently been renovated, and more construction is going on to transform the church into a community center! During my service, I cleaned the kitchen area, swept, picked up some leaves at the side of the church, and played with one of the kids in the nursery. My experience was very interesting, and I can't wait to go back.

To conclude Social Action Month, the Josephinum community gathered for an all-school assembly. We began with an opening prayer by Oscar Romero titled, "A Step Along the Way," which I helped lead. Then Ms. Rischiotto had some wonderful news to share with us: over the course of Social Action Month, 90% of the Josephinum student body participated in community service. We were all blown away and gave ourselves a big round of applause! As a reward, we enjoyed many performances from our fellow classmates. The Jo A Cappella Group sang Amazing Grace to demonstrate how our community outside of school would say thank you for the support that we have put forth. Next Sonya, a Junior and student blogger, read a poem that she wrote about an abusive relationship and what it finally feels like to be free. We also enjoyed a performance from the Jams and Choir group. The two groups joined their voices and instrumental abilities together to sing "Imagine" by the Beatles. Next, the assembly took a more serious tone when Gabby stepped up in front of the whole school to share her experience with bullying and battling depression. She ended her story by telling us all that we are beautiful, and that we can get through anything. To lighten the mood a bit, Junior Salma performed a hip-hop dance routine to the song "Where is the Love?" by the Black Eyed Peas. Finally, we had our closing prayer read in Spanish and French, lead by the AP Spanish class, the French class, and the Club of Social Action.

Everyone left the Social Action Assembly buzzing about the performances!

[josephinum]

Her Story 2014

Mr. Fehr, Josephinum Academy’s drama teacher, has continued the school's tradition of Her Story, which is an annual performance event originally conceived by Assistant Principal Mary Rose Guerin many years ago. This year's Her Story theme was tradition, and we had two weeks to interview an influential woman in our lives about her own personal traditions, to edit and revise a transcript, and last but most important: to memorize a monologue.

2014 marks the celebration of the centennial year of Janet Erskine Stuart, a woman who influenced the Sacred Heart Community and the world with her writings. Between each Her Story monologue, the cast recited pieces of Janet Stuart's letters together and individually. Her letters offered a different perspective about the world of tradition.

This was my second time participating in Her Story, and while some things felt just as they did before, this was a whole different experience! This year's performance was intense, with the last week of rehearsal falling on the same week as final exams for this quarter. I tried to balance my time, and let's just say I'll do a better job of that next year. Sometimes I have to remind myself that I can't do it all not matter how much I want to, but I have to take the school year one step at a time and remember that school work comes first.

Her Story 2014 was truly a work of art. If you didn’t see the performance this year, I absolutely recommend that you catch it next time around.  

[josephinum]

Field Trip to Steppenwolf Theatre

On March 4, the Josephinum Freshmen and all the theatre students visited Steppenwolf Theatre to see the production Leveling Up! The Steppenwolf ensemble – which consists of college friends Jeff Perry, Terry Kinney, and Gary Sinise – first began performing in the mid-1970s in the basement of a Highland Park church. Thirty-six years later, the Steppenwolf ensemble has grown to forty-three members, including: actors, directors, and playwrights. Three of their greatest productions – Balm in Gilead, The Grapes of Wrath, and August: Osage County – have earned the theatre the National Medal of Arts and 12 Tony Awards! The theatre is now legendary, and they continue to do phenomenal work!

Leveling Up is written by Deborah Zoe Laufer, and the play is directed by Hallie Gordon. The actors are Carolyn Braver (Jeannie), Jerry MacKinnon (Chuck), Clancy McCartney (Ian), and JJ Phillips (Zander). The play is about four friends trying to figure out what they want to do with their lives in the midst of distracting video games that provide an escape from the real world. During the course of the play, the idea of true reality vs. video games reality becomes more evident and important. Ian got a job with the National Security Agency (NSA) to fly an unmanned aerial vehicle, known as a "drone", for warfare. The NSA has sparked controversy around the costs and morals of drone warfare because they were once used for surveillance purposes, but now they pose a major threat to certain areas around the world. Ian takes this job without thinking much about it; to him it's just another video game. Jeannie and Zander are both in a relationship, but Jeannie and Chuck use a video game to express their feelings for each other. Their relationship demonstrates how video games can also bring out a different side of people.

From a teenager’s perspective, the play was very relatable. Even though some students don't play video games, other activities and technology offer a pleasant escape from the real world. Some of us don't even know what we want to do with our lives! So I asked some students how the play impacted and related to them:

"I think the actors' transition into being an adult."  - Sairis (Freshman)

"I'm personally a big gamer, so the part that impacted me the most was reality vs gaming. I used to get so involved in gaming that it took control of me. You have to level up in the real world instead of a game. Don't let video games control you or who you are."  - Kiara (Freshman)

"I think it was a really good play because it was very relatable. Because I play video games a lot. The part when Ian kept getting frustrated was very relatable, because that's how I feel when I play."  - Jayda (Freshman)

"The play is relatable because I am a gamer, and it shows how video games can impact your life."  - Gabrielle (Freshman)

The whole point of the play was to educate and inspire us, and it did just that! I give the show five stars, and I can't wait to see another one!

-Alisa