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THE SENTINEL Marist High School Volume 55, Issue 3 4200 West 115th Street, Chicago, Il 60655 DECEMBER 14, 2018 Blue Marists carry out ministry in war-torn Syria Georgia Lattas the appropriate documents before coming to the U.S. While in Syria, Hallak senior reporter practiced dentistry for several years. Currently, Hallak works as a dental The Marist Brothers’ service and aid assistant until he can receive his license to to the Syrian people dates back to 1904 practice in the U.S. when four Brothers arrived in Aleppo to “Coming to the U.S. was a great run a school for Armenian Catholics in decision,” Hallak said. “We are lucky to Telal Street. Since then, the Brothers built have known someone living here. It was Champagnat College in 1932, becoming not easy leaving my country, but the safety nationalized in 1967. of my family is of the upmost importance. In 1976, the group Champagnat-Jabal The destruction we’ve witnessed and was formed, and they began educating the devastation the war has caused is through the Marist tradition by scouting unbelievable.” in the poorer neighborhoods. For over Hallak explains that the Aleppins lived 100 years, the Marist Brothers have aided without water or electrical power because the people of Syria, and the 2012 crisis is the pumping stations and power plants no exception. were in rebel-controlled areas. Mortar In July 2012, armed groups affiliated to shells and gas canisters filled with nails Al Nosra, a branch of Al Qaida, invaded were launched by the rebels every day the Eastern and Southern neighborhoods and killed dozens of people. of Aleppo, causing the displacement of Hallak does not want his family to 500,000 people. Refugees fled to Western forget the great memories they have Aleppo, which was under control of the shared in Aleppo, however. Syrian government. “Before the crisis hit, Syria was very Aleppo was eventually divided into peaceful and growing economically,” photo courtesy of Joseph Hallak two: the Eastern neighborhood, with Hallak said. “We love to play basketball, 250,000 people living under rebel control, and Samaki Walker, a onetime N.B.A. Joseph Hallak, his wife Carla, daughter Lea and son Karam moved and Western Aleppo, with 1.5 million champion with the Los Angeles Lakers, to New Jersey from Syria in 2016 after rebel forces invaded Aleppo people living under government control. played two seasons for Aleppo’s Al Jalaa in 2012. The Hallaks shared their experiences at the faculty retreat Joseph Hallak and his family witnessed Sporting Club, winning championships on Nov. 5. the harsh reality of the war and came to in 2008 and 2011. I never want these the United States in 2016. memories to fade. The rebels will never Christian and Muslim families,” Hallak continue to pray for peace as they watch Hallak and his wife, Carla, grew up in take away any of the good memories said. “That is my favorite thing about the their city crumble. Syria and got married in 1998. The couple we’ve shared in our country.” Blue Marists. They help everyone, no “When you watch it on television, it’s welcomed their son Karam in 2000 and Shortly after the war began, the Blue matter what their religious affiliation is.” easy to skip to another channel and just their daughter Lea in 2003. Before the Marists began helping the people of Syria. The transition to the U.S. was difficult forget it,” Hallak said. “But when you’ve crisis hit, Hallak describes Aleppo as a Brothers dressed in blue sweatshirts for the Hallaks, but they have found ways witnessed it in real life, it’s a completely nice place to live, surrounded by family would come and provide aid to those in of incorporating Syrian traditions, such different experience.” and friends. need, offering shelter, clothes, hygiene as cooking Middle Eastern food and “I don’t know why humans kill,” Hallak The family moved to New Jersey in products and basic necessities. attending an Armenian Catholic church. said. “In my opinion, they are not rebels, October 2016. Hallak’s sister-in-law is an “The Blue Marist program expanded Hallak and his family watch the war they are terrorists. I don’t wish war upon American citizen, and the family obtained its scope to help hundreds of displaced unfold on American television and they my worst enemy.” 775 RedHawks responded to our December survey about their Journalists win national awards Christmas preferences and beliefs...here are the results: RedHawk journalists winning awards for writing at the JEA/ NSPA national high school journalism convention in Chicago on Nov. 2 included (L to R) Georgia Lattas in feature writing, Gina Musso in news writing, Kaitlyn Klein in review writing and Cece Gibbons in editorial writing. This was the second consecutive national honor for Lattas, Musso and Gibbons, who took awards last spring at the convention in San Francisco. PAGE TWO NEWS DECEMBER 14, 2018 Big changes next year for area Catholic football teams Cecelia Gibbons The creation of the new league will also benefit freshman and JV teams junior reporter who have faced scheduling troubles in 2019 RedHawk Football Schedule School principals from both the the past. Now, schools will be able to Chicago Catholic League and the East play teams with similar participation (weeks 1-2 TBA) Suburban Catholic Conference decided numbers. that the two programs will merge The announcement of the merger has together to form one giant league for the drawn a positive reaction from both WEEK THREE: v. Notre Dame 9/13/19 2019 football season. coaches and players. To determine where each school “I think the ESCC and CCL merger WEEK FOUR: v. Br. Rice 9/20/19 will be placed in the new division, a is great for both conferences,” junior committee of athletic directors created wide receiver AJ Markett said. “It’s WEEK FIVE: v. Fenwick 9/27/19 a formula which is based off of the definitely something that a lot of people school’s male enrollment, football have wanted to happen for a long time.” WEEK SIX: v. Mt. Carmel 10/4/19 participation numbers and success The conference will be made up of during the 2017 and 2018 football the 14 teams from the CCL including WEEK SEVEN: v. Nazareth 10/11/19 season. Brother Rice, Mt. Carmel, Providence, WEEK EIGHT: v. St. Patrick 10/18/19 “The ESCC-CCL football conference St. Lawrence, St. Rita, St. Ignatius will be comprised of 24 schools grouped and Loyola Academy. Some of the 10 WEEK NINE: v. Loyola 10/25/19 into six divisions of four teams,” ESCC teams consist of Benet, Marian RedHawk Athletic Director Eric Catholic, St. Viator, Nazareth, Joliet Simpson said. “Based on the formula, Catholic and Notre Dame. Marist’s football program ranked first “It’s going to be cool to play against The new conference will change the The RedHawks will face Mt. Carmel among all 24 schools.” teams that have guys that we’ve all RedHawk tradition of playing rival and Loyola Academy as well as #1 The formula dictates which schools known growing up,” Markett said. Brother Rice at the beginning of each seeds Notre Dame, Fenwick, Nazareth Marist will primarily face in the 2019 “Every game is going to be huge.” season. and St. Patrick who come from the and 2020 seasons. After two years, Head coach Ron Dawczak feels “There won’t be the big opener other five divisions. the same formula will be used and the playing rival neighborhood schools playing Brother Rice,” Dawczak said. “Our kids will have to be ready to league will realign in 2021. such as St. Rita and Mt. Carmel will be “Playing them in week one is something play a tough schedule,” Dawczak said. “I am extremely excited about the a positive for the team. our kids have always looked forward to, “Every week we will find ourselves new football conference,” Simpson “Chicago loves its football, and but now we will play them later in the facing some really good competition.” said. “We felt strongly that the formula [being able to play those schools] on a year.” The players are looking forward to it. used to determine the football schedules regular basis is something I know our The new merger means the “I wish it would have occurred a year would lead to increased parity players, coaches and alums are very RedHawks will face competitive teams or two sooner,” Markett said. “I imagine throughout the divisions and overall excited about,” Dawczak said. “It’s they rarely have had the opportunity to all of the younger guys are excited to be schedules.” exciting for the community.” play in the past. a part of this new conference.” Only one week to go before Christmas break! Enjoy your 16 days off, RedHawks! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! PAGE THREE opinions DECEMBER 14, 2018 Keep it real and remember others in 2019 Fill hearts, not stockings Emma Brown managing editor Jenna Fessler senior columnist 2018 was an eventful year, filled Let’s be honest: Who wants to stop binge Another realistic, attainable resolution with ups and downs for sports teams, eating junk food while binge watching entire is to aim to help the environment. Christmas is just around the corner. It is groups and individuals. Christmas seasons of “Friends” on Netflix? Make an effort to recycle more. Stop now acceptable to listen to holiday music, is upon us, but many people seem Instead of telling yourself to join a gym throwing cans and plastic bottles in the which means that the highly overrated to forget the other important winter and then feeling like a failure for not going, trash, especially here at school.