Tom Parran ’13 discovers the joys of raising poultry in suburan neighborhood.

by Chris Koehler ’13

When most Saint Ignatius students get a craving for some scrambled eggs and bacon, they crack open the refrigerator and open a foam carton bought from the grocery store. When current junior Tom Parran gets this craving, he open up the chicken coop in his backyard, hoping that his chickens were kind enough to lay him some breakfast overnight.

That’s right. Tom Parran, who on the surface seems like a regular Ignatius student, raises chickens in his backyard. And he doesn’t live out in the open country—he lives in suburban Shaker Heights, just a twenty minute drive from downtown Cleveland.  According to Parran, it all started during the spring of 2011. He had read somewhere that it was legal to raise chickens in Shaker Heights, and he and his parents made an agreement that he would take care of them. “They thought I was crazy at first,” said the junior, “but as long as they wouldn’t be taking care of them they didn’t care.”
Before purchasing the chicks, Tom would have a lot of work to do to make his back yard able to accommodate the new members of the family. “My sister is an engineer. She designed the chicken coop.” After a trip to Home Depot and some good ol’ fashioned elbow grease, Parran had the coop ready for chicks after about a month’s worth of work.

Tom’s parents bought the chicks from a hatchery near Youngstown. As babies the five chickens were given names. Unfortunately, Tom’s Labrador puppies got into the chicken coop and killed one, so now four remain.  The chicks had names and a home, and all the Parrans expected in return were eggs. Tom says it took a while for them to begin laying eggs, and that they just started laying “about three weeks ago.” Now, Tom has a free breakfast whenever he’s craving an omelette or scrambled eggs. “[The eggs] actually have a very rich taste,” Tom claims. “They’re definitely better than any eggs I’ve ever gotten from the store.”

But would he ever consider eating his chickens? “They only lay for twenty months or so, so they won’t be of much use after that.” Parran added, “My brother and I are planning on having a Fourth of July party next summer. Barbecue chicken will be on the menu.”

By TYLER DELGADO ’15

In honor of Saint Ignatius High School’s 125th anniversary, we thought we’d find something in the school that most of the student body had seen, but never knew why it was there or what the purpose of it was.

If you have a class on the third floor of Loyola Hall, then you’ve probably seen the two small statues sitting in front of the front window reading “Labora” and “Ora.” Like most engravings you’ll find on campus, the words etched into the two statues are in Latin. Labora is translated from Latin as”

By ZACHARY WOZNAK ’12
Eye Managing Editor

The posters have become inescapable. All around the school, large, glossy signs celebrating Saint Ignatius High School’s 49 National Merit Scholars have taken up the coveted wall space usually reserved for pieces of printer paper advertising cornhole tournaments and Notre Dame tailgates.
Despite the high profile campaign, many members of the Ignatius community are still confused about what it means to be a National Merit Scholar.

This year’s program began last fall with the administration of the PSAT to the Class of 2012. While the students had been notified of their scores by early December, their status as scholars wasn’t released until this past September. Students from Saint Ignatius High School performed exceptionally: 20 seniors scored 214 points or higher (on a scale of 240 points) to be named Semifinalists. Twenty-nine more students scored between 202 and 213 to be named Commended Students. The 49 students honored were more than the number from all other area Catholic schools combined.

The next step for the semifinalists will be the final round in which they compete to be named one of approximately 15,000 National Merit Finalists. Students will not be notified until February of their finalist status, but if current standings are any indicator, the Wildcats should be met with continued success.

Books on display in the library celebrating this year’s English Week

by Patrick E. Gallagher ’04

I just wanted to take a moment to alert you of the books on display in the library celebrating this year’s English Week.  As a department we have compiled a list of books that have “changed our perspective” in some way.  The display is our way of communicating to the students a lifelong commitment to being “open to growth”.  For those of you who find it difficult to make it over to the library please find the attached book list and commentaries from members of the English department.

A Changed Perspective: A Sampling of Books that Made us Rethink the World

As teachers of the humanities, we are inherently lovers of art, ideas, and literature as a means of coming to an understanding of the world in which we live.  For thousands of years human beings have strived to ascertain a true understanding of our reality here  and beyond.  This sampling of texts from your teachers, colleagues, and friends in the English Department represents the books that made us reevaluate the ways in which we viewed the world.

______________________________________________________________________________

Washington: The Indispensable Man“