There was once a great tradition that students could look forward to as the finale of each school year–Field Day. But for the past two years, Field Day has not happened, leaving three-quarters of us uninformed of what we are missing. It’s time we find out.
The spirited teacher Mr. Hess first organized Field Day in 2012 after a senior passed away. Seeing the student’s peers struggle to process their grief, the idea of having a day of pure fun and relaxation-–one big “recess” for the students–-was introduced to bring some joy back to the community. It became so popular that the tradition took on a life of its own, becoming known as HessFest, Hesstival, or Hesstopalooza.
A typical Field Day was like the afternoons of SEP on steroids. Following the year’s final all-school mass, there was free lunch, an 85 yard long inflatable obstacle course, wiffle ball, spikeball, a 3 on 3 basketball tournament, ultimate frisbee and half court knockout. For the less sports-inclined, the Hesstival offered Mario Kart and a trivia tournament. There were also games just to be goofy: teacher dunk tanks and battle of the bands. Extreme corn hole held acclaim as people tossed bags from the third floor of each building to boards set up on the ground below. A favorite of some alumni was Trench Warfare, where 70 guys per class got in a group like a legion and water balloons were fired at them by the opposing class’ group. If you got hit, you were out. The last team with a man standing won. Finally, the day always ended with the Senior vs. Faculty basketball game and a Tug of War.
Field Day was the last big opportunity to earn points in the annual class competition. Yes, there used to be that too. The class competition went on all year, where your class got points based on how many good deeds members of that class did all year. “M4Os” (Men4Others) were like anti-JUGs–- “caught doing good”-–and earned your whole class a pat on the back. Points could also be earned for winning the Gladiator Games, Chariot Races, contributing the most to the food drive, or winning the Friday Music Contests. Whichever class had the most points at the end of the year won nothing but bragging rights, but it made people care about things that go on all year long.
Only this year’s seniors got to experience the fine tradition of Field Day. Dr. Fior confirmed that it is not in the school calendar for this year. “It came out of tragedy but became something great” in Mr. Hess’s words. The students have lost a lot over the last two years and I think I think the time is right for a Hesstivus for the rest of us.
From November 6th to 8th, the Ignatian Solidarity Network held the annual Ignatian Family Teach-In in Washington, D.C. For 24 years, the event has honored the memory and mission of the Jesuits and their companions who were martyred in El Salvador in 1989 by people trained by the former United States Army School of the Americas. Over the three days, Jesuit and Catholic schools and organizations from across the nation gathered in the Capitol to learn about, reflect on, and advocate for issues of social justice. Here are five highlights from the weekend:
Photo Credit: Ignatian Solidarity Network
1. Fr. Bryan Massingale
On Saturday, the first keynote speaker of the Teach-In professor of theological and social ethics at Fordham University Fr. Bryan Massingale spoke on racial healing and reconciliation posing the question, “What does it mean to be agents of reconciliation and conversion in a world that is broken and needs deep, deep healing?”
Fr. Massingale’s remarks received an overwhelmingly positive reaction from the attendees matched only by his own enthusiasm and spirit. His speech was resolute in its message that “Racial privilege didn’t just happen. It was created by social policies. Having privilege doesn’t make you a bad person. It’s the rules of the game. Now we see the cost of that game and we have to change the rules,” and it was uplifting. “I look out now and see almost 1500 examples of hope,” he said.
Photo Credit: Ignatians for Peace and Justice
2. Environmental Speakers and Activists
There were several environmental speakers and activists present at the Teach-In including Keya Chatterjee, executive director of the U.S. Climate Action Network; Sharon Lavigne, founder of RISE St. James; and Paul Campion, an environmental activist who was recently part of a hunger strike.
In her speech to the Teach-In, Keya Chatterjee decisively addressed the reality of the climate crisis detailing both the threat itself and the obstacles for solutions. For years, she said, this had been a problem that people refused to act upon saying, “The problem wasn’t that people who had power didn’t know that we were putting humanity at risk. The problem was that they did know that it required sacrifice [to act]. They had to give up their wealthy donors and they were not willing to do it.”
Chatterjee went on to say, “We don’t even see the extent of how bad it is because we ignore what is happening in the rest of the world.” In her address, she directly called out Sen. Joe Manchin, Sen. Krysten Simena, and President Joe Biden for a lack of sufficient action saying “we cannot compromise with the physics of the atmosphere.” Her words on the extent of the problem were unequivocal and harrowing. “Humans will survive,” she said, “We will exist as a species, but will we save humanity? Will we be able to save what makes us human?”
Sharon Lavigne, a breakout session speaker, never expected to be involved in activism, but when a multinational $9.4 billion company, Formosa Plastics, began plans to build a plant in her neighborhood which is in a highly polluted area of Louisiana known as Cancer Alley, she felt called to act. “I started this fight because of God. God chose me. The work that I’m doing is to save my community,” she said.
The pollution from the industries there causes higher rates of miscarriages, has potential negative impacts on the brain, and exacerbates other health problems from cancer to asthma. “In St. James, they release one million pounds of toxic air pollution a year,” Lavigne says, “Money is more important to them than our lives.” The factory was also going to be on the burial sites of enslaved ancestors of current community members and nearby a predominantly black school and church. Lavigne was told she was crazy for taking on the immensely powerful company, but through her faith she found the courage and determination to do it anyway.
Photo Credit: Ignatian Solidarity Network
On the last day, Paul Campion spoke to a large group from the Teach-In at a Public Witness outside of the U.S. Capitol Building sharing his personal story and his commitment to environmental justice. “They’re more afraid of us because we’re not afraid of them,” he said echoing the words of climate martyr Berta Cáceres. In her speech, Chatterjee also referenced Campion and other people who went on hunger strike for the planet, and shared their words, “We will live full and beautiful lives. We know what is at stake. We choose to fight together.”
Photo Credit: Ignatians for Peace and Justice
3. Ending Title 42 Vigil
On Sunday evening, outside of the White House in Lafayette Square, a vigil was held for attendees of the Teach-In to pray for an end to Title 42, a policy of the Biden Administration which reporter Jack Herrera called in a Business Insider piece, “the most radically anti-asylum policy in more than 70 years.” The policy is being used to reject all those seeking asylum in the United States regardless of how dire the situations they are fleeing are. With the slow, reflective guitar music of Francisco Herrera, those gathered held candles, raised up the stories and pictures of asylum seekers, and sang for them and their families.
Photo Credit: Ignatians for Peace and Justice
4. Dr. Richardson-Phillips
Saint Ignatius High School’s Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Dr. Richardson-Phillips also addressed the Teach-In. As one of the Ignatian Network Speakers, she gave a speech titled, “Yes, Lord!” in which she talked about what it meant to be called by God. “Do you know when you are being called?” she said, “I don’t mean when your cell phone is vibrating, but when your heart and spirit are being invited. Know that you are here for a reason. God is grooming you to heal a broken world. You are here to create relationships, to create a support system. You are not here by accident.”
Photo Credit: Ignatian Solidarity Network
5. Fr. Greg Boyle, S.J.
The founder of Homeboy Industries, Fr. Greg Boyle gave the final keynote of the Teach-In in which he spoke of the importance of kinship and his experience as the leader of the largest gang-intervention program in the world. A key theme of his speech was inclusion. He said, “Everyone believes in second chances, but the world rarely gives them. Everyone believes in a God that is inclusive, but we fail to include others,” and that “We are about kinship, about connection. There is an end goal for our margins. We want to expand the circle until it includes everyone.”
To get involved with Ignatians for Peace and Justice at Saint Ignatius High School, come to Campus Ministry on Mondays during the Formation Period or email Mr. Pacetti apacetti@ignatius.edu.
Ladies and gentlemen, (mostly gentlemen), the Saint Ignatius Harlequins have done it again. Their production of Arsenic and Old Lace, to which students could gain admission to for a measly five dollars, was well worth the price of admission, and an entertaining showing through and through. The set of the Brewster home shattered expectations, both literally and figuratively. The set was simply smashing, a two story home created on our very own Hummer Theater, though the integrity of the glass may have been in question when one window pane was broken live on stage, thankfully without any injuries. The comedy was exemplary, leaving me with quite a few hearty chortles. Oh, and I would be remiss to not mention the performances! The actors sold the jokes with their zeal and energy, with sophomore Tommy Bilczo as the raucous Teddy Brewster seeming a fan favorite. Great thanks to everyone, both on and off the stage, for putting on such a wonderful performance.
Look at ’em go!
I am aware that hearing me eulogize the performance may have filled many of you with regret at not having been able to make it to see the show for yourself. Fortunately for you, the Saint Ignatius Harlequins will, this coming March, be putting on a production of the famed musical Godspell for your very own viewing pleasure. Maybe, however, Arsenic and Old Lace has inspired you. You wish to go beyond a mere audience member; you want to become… more. Then, my friend, turn your mind’s eye to the stage once more and heed my words. Auditions for Godspell take place November 29th through December 1st. For those less predisposed to the big stage, the tech crew always desires fresh blood. Anyone who may be interested in auditioning for the show or joining tech crew is encouraged to find more information at https://www.ignatius.edu/drama. Break a leg, Saint Ignatius.
The student section at Ignatius football games is one of the most exciting points of the week and one’s high school career. However, at the Cat’s most recent game against Medina, one student couldn’t bask in that trademark excitement.
Few rules dictate the student section, but there are some that are essential: follow the theme and be loud. If you can’t abide, section leaders have the right to remove your access. A week ago at the game against Stow, that right was exercised.
One student, who has now become the topic of discussion, was officially kicked out of the student section, barred access by the leaders of the student section. Here is the story of what happened and how the student-in-exile and his peers have responded.
The rising action of the event occurred during the week leading up to the football game on Friday, November 5, when the football team was set to play Stow. As the Gold theme was announced for the student section, one particular student emphasized his grievances with the decree.
While this student has demonstrated his outrage with past themes, things took a turn for the worse in his latest escapade. As a result, student section leaders unanimously decided to officially ban the student who wished to remain anonymous from the student section.
Confronting his ban, the student said “Many people had protested the Gold theme picked for the Stow game, and I decided to bring the complaints of the people to those who undemocratically selected the theme. If anything I was not a dissenter but a representative of the people.” The student went on to later emphasize that “The theme makes people not happy.”
Meanwhile, the student section leaders contend that their decision was justified and made for the benefit of others. One particular frontman explains that he “combined [his] critical thinking skills along with [his] ALICE training and removed the threat.” Moreover, he stresses that “We cannot be having any negative brain waves in the student sections” and that “complaints won’t be tolerated.”
On a similar note, another leader reveals that “The particular fan that was banned broke the barriers between being discontent with the theme and being outright unsupportive of his classmates on the football team.” Justifying the choice of the Gold theme, this individual highlights that he “routinely confer[s] with [his] classmates and fellow leaders to get a perspective on what the best theme would be.” Thus, he explains further that “This particular individual expressed his unsupportive comments, which led to my decision to ban this individual.” When asked for his final thoughts on the theme, this student leader had one concluding thought: “It’s about the team not the theme.”
While this particular individual will not be attending any more football games this year, it is apparent that one must either support the team and the theme or risk being kicked out of the student section.
‘But in those days, after that suffering,
the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light,
and the stars will be falling from heaven,
and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.
Then they will see “the Son of Man coming in clouds” with great power and glory. Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.
‘From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
‘But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
Mark 13:24-32
When the days seem to blend together from our repetitive daily routines, it is very easy to forget the importance of our faith. Especially when we have a lot of activities during the day, we may even put God on the back burner. Like every relationship, it takes work to have a relationship with God. We must spend time with God through prayer, church, or gratitude for the world around us.
In the Gospel reading, Mark 13:24-32, God tells about the end of times. Oftentimes in life, we may find ourselves believing that we are invincible. “God and the end of times can wait for my sports practice or studying for a huge test” may be common rationale for high schoolers. The truth is we are not invincible. Our time on earth is limited. Each of us has had a birth and each of us will have a death. With that being said, there is no need to feel sad! Mark 13:24-32 is actually a story of great news. When the end of time comes and the death of the earth as we know it, God “will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds.” God, through the teaching of his son Jesus Christ, reveals that his people will be saved! Our time is not infinite; but, if we are devoted to God, in death we shall find a rebirth through the Lord.
I believe God makes it a point to talk about the end of time to remind us that the only truly promised thing in life is salvation through the Lord. God understands we are imperfect. We get lost and mix up our priorities. This is the reason we have Scripture in the first place. He gives us truth in the form of Scripture to use as a roadmap. A roadmap to use when we get lost. Or when our vision starts to blur.
In the context of this Scripture passage, our blurred vision is that we have so much time that God can wait. That statement is false. Whatever person or thing we put at the center of our lives, all of our actions flow from that. A life done chasing riches, popularity, or other worldly attractions will lead to a life of regret and unfulfillment. Only through God do we find meaning and are able to be born again, into a new life.
We are all busy – whether it be academics, sports, or other activities, our time is being pulled by multiple commitments. So what can we do to keep our relationship with God strong? The small and little things we do add up. Prayer is one of the easiest and effective ways to keep a relationship with God. We can pray whenever, before meals, before bed or in the morning, and even when we are stressed at school, or maybe after a fun night spent with friends. There is never a bad time to pray. Second, go to mass. How do we know the people in our lives? Simple, we spend time with them. Choose to spend time with God. Third, my favorite way to connect with my faith is to practice gratitude. As members of the Saint Ignatius community, no matter your situation, we all have many blessings. In my moment writing this reflection, I am grateful to have the opportunity to share my thoughts on the Gospel with all of you reading this. I am grateful for the artists’ music I am currently listening to and I pray for them. I am grateful for this crazy gift of life. Recognize at least one thing everyday to which you are grateful for. Luckily for all of us, that should be an easy task. Over time, you will start to be more content and happy with your own life. Be kind to one another and make sure to take care of yourself today Saint Ignatius. God Bless.
It was a great experience getting to know some of these excellent teachers, tutors, and counselors, and if you see any of these adults at school, say hello and introduce yourself. Now on with the introductions:
Mr. Andrew Fuchs
Mr. Andrew Fuchs enters the Mathematics Department this year, and he teaches both Algebra I and Honors Algebra II. Mr. Fuchs also contributes his talents to the gridiron, aiding the freshman football team as a defensive backs coach. In 2007, he received an undergraduate degree at Kenyon College, located in Gambier, Ohio, just about a 2-hour drive from Saint Ignatius. Interestingly enough, he played football there with his fellow faculty member and history teacher Mr. Cicetti. He gained a degree in law from The Ohio State University in 2010, and recently got his Master of Education in Mathematics from the University of Minnesota in 2021. In the past, Mr. Fuchs instructed at Mayo High School in Rochester, Minnesota, before making his way back to the Buckeye State in 2020. He currently resides in Shaker Heights with his wife Margaret and his 2-year-old son, Henry. A fun fact about Mr. Fuchs is that he is a licensed attorney as well as a teacher in the state of Ohio.
Mrs. Marybeth Heyka
Another new addition to the Mathematics Department is Mrs. Marybeth Heyka. She teaches Honors Algebra I and Geometry. Mrs. Heyka received her higher education in southern Ohio at the University of Dayton. Her past teaching experiences include just across town in Cleveland Heights at Beaumont School, and she has even taught in the Lone Star State, at Cedar Park High School in Cedar Park, Texas. Mrs. Heyka has connections with Saint Ignatius, with 3 brothers graduating as Wildcats. She has 3 children and is a huge fan of Cleveland sports.
Ms. Natalie Partin
The third member to join the ever-expanding Mathematics Department is Ms. Natalie Partin. She teaches Honors Geometry and Algebra II. She received her degree in Integrated Mathematics from Kent State University. Her prior experience was student teaching at Bay Village High School. Ms. Partin has a French Bulldog named Kane, and she is the only member of her family without red hair.
Mr. Zach Tocchi
The final new constituent of the second floor of the Main Building is Mr. Zach Tocchi. Once again, Mr. Tocchi joins the Math Department. Mr. Tocchi offers Algebra I, Algebra II, and the math elective Java I. Mr. Tocchi went to Revere High School in Richfield and went on to attend the University of Akron. Prior to his employment at Saint Ignatius, he was a teacher at Archbishop Hoban High School in Akron for 9 years! I’m sure he was watching the blocked kick-turned TD with great interest. A fun fact about Mr. Tocchi is that on Twitter, he is followed by both The Ellen Show and even President Obama!
Mr. Doug Hayes
Joining the School Counseling Department in 2021 is Mr. Doug Hayes. He assists students through support of academics and emotional aid. He graduated from Holy Name High School in Parma Heights in 2008. He obtained both his undergraduate and graduate degrees from fellow Jesuit institution John Carroll University, in the years 2012 and 2015. Following his education, he returned to his alma mater Holy Name and was a counselor there from 2015 to 2021. A fascinating point is that Mr. Hayes has over 25,001 pets, including a dog and over 25,000 honeybees! He is quoted as saying he’s “working hard to remember all of their names.”
Mr. Kevin Mackey
As the Walton Center has transitioned to the Harold C. Schott Library, it has added multiple members to its cohort. First off is Mr. Kevin Mackey. His official title is an intervention specialist. He has three degrees, including a Master of Arts in Rhetoric and Composition from Carnegie Mellon University, and a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education and Special Education from Lesley University. He has experience at Citizens Leadership Academy, where he held a similar position. He also was an intervention specialist at Cleveland Central Catholic for two years. Recently, Mr. Mackey ran a half marathon at the Rocky River Reservation.
Ms. Dolores Bielecki
Once again another addition to the Walton Center, Mrs. Dolores Bielecki also holds the title of intervention specialist. Although she has been on campus since 2016, this is her first year as a full-time faculty member. She received an education degree and a business finance degree from Baldwin Wallace University. Her former places of employment include The Telephone Company for ten years, a draftswoman, and a foreman. She taught social studies at Strongsville for 25 years. Her connection through Ignatius is her sons, both graduates from the classes of ‘97 and 2000. She notes that “teaching is a joy” and she is an avid international traveler of the world.
Ms. Cat Geletka
The final addition to the 2021 faculty at Saint Ignatius is Ms. Cat Geletka. She too works within the Walton Center, providing aid as an academic coach. She attended Elyria Catholic for High School and moved onto John Carroll University, where she received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology, and then Ashland Theological Seminary, in which she obtained her MA in Clinical Counseling & Pastoral Counseling. In her past positions, she has “always centered her path around student advocacy and worked in capacities that supported adolescents inside and outside the classroom.” Her past positions and locations of employment include:
Behavioral Specialist, Jesuit Volunteer Corp/Liverpool, UK
Youth Advocate, Moriah House/West Side Catholic Center (right down the street)
Director of Residence Life, Ashland University
Assistant Director of Residence Life: The Ohio State University
Senior Program Director, Residential Program and Staff Development: Boys Hope Girls Hope (non-profit working with teens and families intensively)
Her graduate program was non-traditional in the fact that it was 114 credits (typical is between 36-60)! It focused on three different lanes of counseling of others, including a pastoral side featuring God, a secular side, and a clinical side. The student-nicknamed “Coach G” is quoted as saying, “Learning to be a clinical counselor that creates space for God has been one of the greatest challenges and gifts of my academic and personal life.” In her graduate program, she worked with people ranging in age from 3 to 82. Ms. Geletka is very excited about being with teens and being here at Saint Ignatius.
If there is one thing Hollywood has repeatedly proven, it is that no property is safe from being dragged kicking and screaming to be butchered live on the big screen. The bad adaptation has been a staple of the movie season for as long as most movie-goers can remember, and will continue to be one for years to come. Among the most recent victims of the slaughterhouse to grace our screens are Disney’s confused attempt at Artemis Fowl (2020) and the woefully uninspired Monster Hunter (2020); To say these and other such films were a disappointment would be lying, as that would imply there were ever expectations for them to begin with.
So, dear reader, imagine my hesitation when I heard that Frank Herbert’s legendary Dune was receiving a film adaptation. “Surely,” I thought to myself, “this is but another project doomed to fail. Dune is far too dense, too difficult to ever properly adapt.” And then, I saw the trailer, and part of me dared to hope. Yet, uncountable letdowns before had wisened me; I knew the dangers of unregulated expectations, and recalled an oft-repeated mantra in those days: “I must not hype. Hype is the mind-killer.” It was with this litany that I walked into the theatre with eyes unclouded.
Paul of House Atreides on the shores of Caladan
So. Having seen the film, it is with an elated heart that I declare that Dune has met and even exceeded all hopes I have had for it. Director Denis Villeneuve, who previously directed critically acclaimed Blade Runner 2049 and Arrival, has delivered a film which is, in this writer’s humble opinion, nothing short of marvelous. If the adaptation machine is the foul slaughterhouse driven by greed, then Villeneuve is the Harvey Washington Wiley come to set things right.
There are few things I could not laud this film for. The film is visually stunning throughout, thanks in no small part to the captivating cinematography and outstanding CGI. The spaceships and set designs feel alien yet familiar, with the Ornithopter being a particular fan favorite. The film possesses an acute sense of scale; one is able to feel the size and power of the ships, and of the creatures beneath the sand. The action is tight, with none of the shaky cam that seems to plague most modern action scenes.
A squad of ornithopters prepare to take off
The weaker willed may balk at the runtime of the film, a hefty two and a half hours, yet I was glued to my seat the entire time, and found myself immediately wanting more as the credits began to roll. Dune (Part 1) is an incomplete adaptation of the first Dune novel, stopping at just past the novel’s halfway point. Although the creation of a Part 2 was uncertain before the film’s release, continued success in box offices globally makes it seem more of a certainty with every passing day.**
Some readers may consider my opinion biased on account of my love for the book, and rightfully so. That is why I, for the sake of science, had two friends who had never so much as heard of Dune accompany me to the film. The results of my experiment were overwhelmingly positive. They both left the theatre supremely impressed, one going so far as to proclaim the film a “resounding success on all fronts.” Before seeing the movie, my fear was that the translation from book to film would make the dense plot too hard to follow and leave non-book readers confused; fortunately, this fear proved to be unfounded, as they were both able to follow the plot closely with minimal confusion.
Behold, the humble Muad’Dib.
That’s not to say I did not have my gripes with the film. The number of details and subplots cut from the book leave me apprehensive about how they will be handled in a prospective part 2 (maybe we’ll one day get an extended edition à la Lord of the Rings), and I’m not entirely happy with how certain things changed during the transition to the big screen (I’m still not wholly convinced of Zendaya as Chani). My biggest complaint, however, is the audio mixing. The music occasionally overpowered the dialogue to the point of unintelligibility, the bass and general volume overwhelming at times. The auditory experience was, as one anonymous movie-goer described it, “a pleasant assault on the senses.” However, whether or not this was the fault of the film or the theatre is impossible for me to discern (though my money is certainly on the theatre).
Having been published in 1965, it’s hard to understate the influence Dune has had on the Sci-Fi genre. From Star Wars to Warhammer 40k, the novel has continued to have a profound effect on media even beyond Sci-Fi to this day. I dearly hope that Dune continues to be a success so that the entirety of the story can make it to the big screen, both for myself, and so that people are able to fully experience this story for themselves. I am looking forward to what Villeneuve and his team will do next.
**Dune Part 2 has been officially greenlit since the time of this article’s writing
