The Medallion

Notre Dame Academy 1073 Main Street Hingham, MA 02043 January 2010 The Disaster in Haiti By Sara Corben ‘10 TOP FIVE most On January 12, an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.0 hit Haiti, its epicenter just southwest obscure winter of the capital, Port-au-Prince. It was followed by 12 aftershocks of a magnitude of at least 5.0, and was declared the worst earthquake in the region in over 200 years. The earthquake devastated olympic sports the already suffering country. As many as 200,000 people have died and thousands more are displaced from their homes, with no choice but to sleep outside in camps or the streets. For days, rescuers searched desperately through the rubble, saving the lives of hundreds of buried survivors. However, many are still missing. On January 22, the United Nations declared that the emergency phase of the relief effort was coming to an end, and on January 23, the Haitian government officially called off the search for survivors. The effects of the earthquake only add to the towering pile of problems already faced by the country. Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, already suffered from poverty, extensive deforestation, soil erosion and inadequate supplies of drinkable water before the earthquake struck. Deforestation and over-farming has left most of Haiti barren, and the difficulty of farming has driven up food prices. Eighty percent of the population lives below the poverty Biathlon combines cross country line, and 54% of the population lives in abject poverty. Two-thirds of the people living in Haiti skiing with target shooting rely on agriculture, and the effects of the earthquake, when added to the effects of deforestation, will leave millions without livelihoods. see page 4 The “Scott” Heard Around the World By Molly Gorman ‘11

On January 19, 2010 an ecstatic declared victoriously, “I am nobody’s senator except yours!” after coming out on top with 52% of the votes against his Democratic adversary In curling each take turns sliding Martha Coakley. Both candidates vied to fill what was once Senator Edward M. Kennedy’s seat in 42-pound polished granite stones down a sheet of ice towards a the Senate. His underdog win is being called “the Scott heard around the world” and bull’s-eye “the biggest upset in political history”. At last, the Democratic Party no longer has a super-majority position in the Senate. As Brown’s champions celebrated his victory, the losing party sulked blaming the unexpected defeat on voter frustration, Coakley’s weak campaign, and the newly elected Senator’s vivacity and energy that got him votes from a large and diverse fan base. His enthusiasm and standpoints on core issues such as health care, lower taxes, supporting the military, and reducing government spending resonate with most voters who he believes, have been ignored for too long.

With Brown’s election, two critical issues have been challenged due to the new balance in the Senate. The passing of the Health Care Reform Bill and the alleged monumental issue of Short Track Speed Skating is held on an oval ice track addressing climate change with a Senate bill are up in the air. Brown opposes the cap-and-trade program that would cut down on carbon emissions that liberal thinkers and environmentalists alike prize. He disagrees with the health care legislation currently under consideration in Congress. In his opinion, the healthcare bill that is being voted on will lower the quality of healthcare, increase taxes, debt and something America does not need right now, added government spending. By thinking pragmatically about these hot button issues, Brown is considering the younger generations that will be burdened with an unfathomable amount of federal debt when our time comes to join the workforce and become taxpayers.

Brown’s forward thinking and his position as the “Senator of the people” has invigorated Unlike luge, skeleton sleds are the country and revitalized our democracy. His confident smile, strong convictions, and passion ridden face first. for politics not only won him a seat as a Massachusetts Senator, but with his brimming political diplomacy and ambition, one can only hope we will see him play a big role in the 2012 election.

Did you know? - Scott Brown has been in the National Guard for thirty years, earning the rank of lieutenant colonel. - His oldest daughter, Ayla Brown, was an contestant in 2006 and made it to the top 16 finalists until being booted. - Ayla Brown currently plays for the College women’s basketball team. - Brown’s wife Gail Huff was a model in her younger years, starring in a local music video in 1985. The large hill ski jumping competition has appeared at every Olympic Winter Games since 1924 2 BLA BLA BLA Exero 01, 5555 Welcoming in the new year 2 WALES - At the first toll of midnight, the back door is opened and then New Year’s Traditions Around shut to release the old year and lock out all of its bad luck. Then at the twelfth stroke of the clock, the front door is opened and the New Year is the World welcomed with all of its luck. By Maeve Luken ‘11 SICILY - An old Sicilian tradition says good luck will come to those who UNITED STATES - The kiss shared at the stroke of midnight in the eat lasagna on New Year’s Day, but woe if you dine on macaroni, for any United States is derived from masked balls that have been common other noodle will bring bad luck. throughout history. As tradition has it, the masks symbolize evil spirits SPAIN - In Spain, when the clock strikes midnight, the Spanish eat 12 from the old year and the kiss is the purification into the new year. grapes, one with every toll, to bring good luck for the 12 months ahead. HAITI - In Haiti, New Year’s Day is a sign of the year to come. Haitians PERU - The Peruvian New Year’s custom is a spin on the Spanish wear new clothing and exchange gifts in the hope that it will bode well tradition of eating 12 grapes at the turn of the year. But in Peru, a 13th for the new year. grape must be eaten to assure good luck. CHINA - For the Chinese New Year, every front door is adorned with a GREECE - A special New Year’s bread is baked with a coin buried in the fresh coat of red paint, red being a symbol of good luck and happiness. dough. The first slice is for the Christ child, the second for the father of Although the whole family prepares a feast for the New Year, all knives the household and the third slice is for the house. If the third slice holds are put away for 24 hours to keep anyone from cutting themselves, the coin, spring will come early that year. which is thought to cut the family’s good luck for the next year. JAPAN - The Japanese decorate their homes in tribute to lucky gods. One AUSTRIA - The suckling pig is the symbol for good luck for the new tradition, kadomatsu, consists of a pine branch symbolizing longevity, year. It’s served on a table decorated with tiny edible pigs. Dessert often a bamboo stalk symbolizing prosperity, and a plum blossom showing consists of green peppermint ice cream in the shape of a four-leaf clover. nobility. Realistic New Year’s Resolutions By Julianne McShane ‘13 Go to the gym every day. Do better in school. Loose weight. Make varsity in the fall. Do one nice thing for someone every day. Sound familiar? These are some of the most popular New Year’s Resolutions, thought up by most people on December 31st and all too often forgotten by January 15th. We vow to accomplish our individual goals, whatever they may be, by the end of the year. For the first couple of weeks of January, we proudly check off each task that has been accomplished. But soon, these inspiring lists are forgotten, and have fallen behind their place on the fridge and into a dusty corner until next year. The million-dollar question is: how do we keep up our New Year’s Resolutions from January 1st until December 31st? Some of the top ten most popular New Year’s Resolutions are to get fit, loose weight, get organized, learn something new, help others, get out of debt, and to spend more time with family. Let’s face it, filling up a list with these items, and actuallyaccomplishing them, by the end of the year is no small task. It requires determination and dedication on a daily basis, like possibly getting up at 5 a.m. every day to go for a two mile run. But when that frigid 20 degree morning comes in February, that run isn’t going to be too appealing, is it? The secret to success when it comes to resolutions is setting realistic goals for yourself; ones that are actually manageable and can be done all year without too much trouble on your part. While gathering research for this article, I turned to Google to get some statistics on resolutions from past years. Most headlines staring at me off of the computer screen were pretty discouraging, such as “Will you keep your New Year’s Resolutions? Most people won’t” and even “New Year’s Resolutions doomed to failure, say psychologists.” A more encouraging site showed a study that was recently done in England, and results showed that people who told their friends about their resolutions, broke their goals up into smaller steps, and rewarded themselves along the way had a 50% chance of success, while most others only had an average success rate of 35%. Those who succeeded shared that they made a plan and stuck to it and had great success that way. So if you’re planning on keeping a resolution all year long, breaking it up into smaller steps along the way will help you to keep it for the next twelve months. Participants in the study agreed that if you want to attack the whole plan at once, you are doomed to fail. No matter what your New Year’s Resolutions are for the year, remember to work hard, reward yourself along the way, and stay positive. Now that’s a resolution you can keep until December 31st-and beyond.

2009 in Review By Maggie Powers ‘12 January 15 – U.S. Airways plane lands in the Hudson August 5 – American journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee are released January 20 – President Obama is inaugurated from North Korea February 6 – Nadya Suleman (“octomom”) appears on the Today show August 8 – Justice Sonia Sotomayor is sworn in February 17 – Pet chimpanzee attacks a woman in leaving her September 13 – Kayne West takes the microphone from Taylor Swift at in critical condition the VMAs February 27 – The Snuggie appears on the Ellen DeGerneres Show October 2 – David Letterman admits on his show to having affairs with March 20 – Twilight movie comes to DVD co-workers April 11 – Susan Boyle sings “I Dreamed a Dream” on Britain’s Got Talent October 15 – “Balloon Boy” hoax occurs April 13 – First case of Swine Flu is reported October 26 – Taylor Swift releases Fearless: Platinum Edition June 1 – GM files for bankruptcy November 18 – New Moon movie comes to theaters June 25 – Michael Jackson dies November 24 – Lady Gaga releases Fame Monster June 25 – Farrah Fawcett dies November 25 – The Salahi couple crashes the State Dinner at the White June 28 – Billy Mays dies House August 3 – announces she will be leaving American Idol December 18 – Jon and Kate Gosselin’s divorce is finalized Exero 01, 5555 BLA BLA BLA 3 Around NDA 3 The Apple Tree By Allison McIntyre ‘11

“The Apple Tree” opens in the paradise, Garden of Eden, where God

has just created the first humans. The pesky chatterbox, Eve, is resolute in her frenzied attempts to impress sulky introvert Adam. Eve rushes to Adam to flout her new hat, but anxiously removes it when Adam hates it. When the snake (Portrayed as a crafty mastermind by the ever flawless Corrine Manning) persuades Eve to eat fruit from the Tree of Knowledge, Eve agrees not for her own benefit, but again to delight Adam with her worldliness. Bryanna Maher’s angelic, airy voice and lively adoration for every creature in Eden was very impressive. Each note Bryanna sang conveyed Eve’s eagerness to embrace all of Creation. I also enjoyed Brian Perrault’s thoughtful and well- acted reflection at the end of the act: “Wherever there is Eve, there is Eden.”

The next part ,“The Lady or the Tiger?”, is a musical adaptation of Frank R. Stockton’s short story of the same title. Narrated by a gold NDA artists proudly displayed their work in an art show that was up clad vixen (Molly Gibbons) with a tremendous voice, this act was a riddle in the main lobby during the weekend of the musical. about Princess Barbara’s (Abigail Jackman) clandestine relationship with Captain Sanjar (Dustin Kenyon). Talented freshman, Abigail, got jazzy in the song “I’ve Got What You Want” which added even more sprit to the story. Dustin’s strong vocals complimented Abby’s sky-high voice well; as did his anguished portrayal of a doomed prisoner to Abigail’s portrayal of a conflicted princess. Also, a pat on the back is due to the ensemble for their unbelievable coordination in the song, “Which Door?” wherein they raised their right hands while singing (in harmony) about their left. Campy as it was, this act was salvaged by the giftedness of its performers.

In the last act, we observe a dusty, weary chimney sweep, Ella, (Lauren Burke) transform into a stunning movie star, Passionella. Rocking a pair of white leather go-go boots, Lauren flounced across the stage in perfect imitation of a sensational Hollywood diva. Lauren starred last year in NDA’s production of “Thoroughly Modern Millie” , and this outstanding performance proves she can play any character. Between Lauren’s thrilling power ballads and Jake Plummer’s smooth voice as Flip, this act was a great success.

I feel like unless I was guaranteed this exceptional NDA cast and crew, I would NEVER see “The Apple Tree” again. This play exemplified how skilled NDA’s theater group really is: they can take a terrible, dreadful play and make it extraordinary. NDA girls The Girl in the and their Green Kilt fathers By Emily Smith‘13 dancing at the Father Daughter dear Girl in the Dance. Green Kilt, Report cards are coming out soon! I’m freaking out because I have been having trouble in science lately. I have been improving, but the end of term 2 came so fast that A Successful Cookie Campaign I feel like I haven’t had any time to bring up my grade! Help! By Caroline Kenneally ‘13 Science help NDA students held an emergency “Cookie Campaign” bake sale to take action against the tragedy in Haiti. Senior Celeste Chen championed this effort and did an amazing job organizing it. Over the recent Martin Luther King Jr. holiday Dear science help, weekend, students were busy baking not only cookies but cupcakes, bars and You might not be able to bring up your grade because the brownies. On January 21 and 22, during both lunches, several students staffed term has closed. But it’s the end of a a table to sell the baked goods to their fellow students. Over 60 students semester, so you have a fresh start to do better in the course that you have participated in the sale. In addition, the student body showed great support and been having trouble in! If you have improved, I’m sure that you will do enthusiasm. We proudly raised $3,500. The funds have been donated to the better this term and this semester! Sisters of Notre Dame in Haiti, Catholic Relief Services and Partners in Health. The Girl in the Green Kilt 4 BLA BLA BLA Exero 01, 5555 Eye-openers 4 Combating Climate Change By Kristen Kennedy ‘10

There has been a lot of talk lately about Global Climate Change in the media. The problem with this topic is that many believe it is an issue that only expensive reforms and costly changes can fix. The truth of the matter is that if everyone were to cut down a little it would add up a lot. A person’s carbon footprint is not only connected to driving, it connects to energy usage as well. By reducing wasteful usage, it is easy to decrease a carbon footprint without suffering any drastic changes. There are many different tactics to reduce wastefulness. For example, unplugging small appliances, cell phone chargers, or a lamp when they are not in use drastically reduces the amount of electricity used annually. Also, turning the heat down one or two degrees throughout the winter will also reduce the amount of energy used in a year; this will contribute to reducing the carbon footprint as well. Some basic changes that can be made with regards to driving are by carpooling whenever possible, doing multiple errands in one outing to reduce travel time and gas usage, and driving five miles per hour slower than normal. The later example will also save you money if you normally drive five miles over the speed limit, because it could potentially save you from getting a speeding ticket! Another basic way to conserve energy is by turning off the sink when brushing your teeth, taking a ten minute shower instead of a fifteen minute one, and running the dishwasher only when it is full. After making these small changes to your lifestyle they will start to become parts of your daily routine. If each person’s family in this school followed these simple guidelines, then there would be a significant decrease in the carbon footprint of the South Shore.Take on the challenge of combating Global Climate Change; it is our future, after all.

nights and a life filled with regret if I refused to help the Franks…This was not the The Story of Miep Gies kind of life I was looking forward to…” By Caroline Kenneally ‘13 On August 4, 1944, the Franks were arrested by the Gestapo after they were betrayed and their hiding place revealed. Miep unsuccessfully attempted to bribe the authorities to release the family, and Anne and her older sister, Margot, were I’m sure you’ve heard of Anne Frank, but have you ever heard of Miep Gies? shipped off to Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. During WWII, Miep Gies courageously worked with a team of 4 other helpers Miep retrieved Anne’s diary from the annex in hopes that someday she could return to conceal Anne Frank and her family in their secret annex. She discovered and it to her. Years later, Miep said that she found pages “scattered all across the floor”. preserved Anne’s diary after the Frank family’s arrest. Miep died on January Unfortunately, Anne perished at Bergen-Belsen at age 15, along with Margot, age 11th, 2010 at age 100. 18. Without reading it, Miep returned the diary to Otto Frank when he returned to Amsterdam from his time in the concentration camp, Auschwitz, with the words, Miep, a Roman Catholic, was born in Vienna. She was transported to the “This is the legacy of your daughter, Anne”. Netherlands in December 1920 to escape the food shortages prevailing in Austria after World War I. In Amsterdam, Miep worked for Otto Frank as Otto published Anne’s diary in 1947. Since the original publication, the classic has secretary of his pectin company and became a good friend of the family. When been translated into more than 65 languages and is one of the best read books of all the Nazis rose to power, she agreed to hide the family in a secret annex of their time. office building. The annex was hidden by a large bookcase to keep the family safe. Miep risked her life to keep the Frank family safe and has received many awards for her outstanding courage. For the rest of her life, Miep answered letters from The Franks and four other people stayed in the annex for two years. Miep readers of Anne’s diary. Each year, on August 4, the day of the Frank’s arrest, she risked her own safety by smuggling food, provisions and news from outside would remain shut up in her home away from the outside to commemorate the to the inhabitants of the annex. She also helped Anne by bringing her paper to friends whom she lost. Miep shrugged off references to her heroism by saying, keep her diary going. Miep never regretted risking her life. She would say, “I’m “People should never think that you have to be a very special person to help those just a common person, I simply had no choice. I could foresee a many sleepless who need you.” Haiti [continued from page 1]

In the immediate wake of the natural disaster, millions of people from all over the world responded to the country’s needs. Although foreign governments, international aid organizations, and individuals did what they could to aid the suffering country, the Haitians are still desperately in need of supplies and donations. Supplies, medical care, and sanitation are the biggest priorities at this time, but the distribution of aid has been delayed and many are suffering without adequate food or medical care. Individuals can help by contributing the one of the many aid organizations aimed at Haiti. Individual monetary contributions can be sent through websites for the Red Cross or Mercy Corps, among others. Individuals wishing to make an immediate contribution can also text HAITI to “90999” and a donation of $10 will be sent to the Red Cross, charged to your cell phone bill. (Ask your parents first!) The students and teachers at NDA have already shown their support for Haiti by contributing to the Cookie Campaign last week, which raised over $3,500. Aid is still needed in Haiti, though, and any contribution, big or small, will help the country rise out of the rubble of this natural disaster. Exero 01, 5555 BLA BLA BLA 5 Sports 5

Ski Team Starts Season Strong By Maggie Powers ‘12

The Notre Dame Academy ski team has been off to an excellent start this year! The girls have competed in five races so far and have won all of them. In addition to a new head coach, Bob Dresser, the ski team have many incoming freshman (and one transfer) with prior racing experience who have been great additions to the team. The team is making their sizable lead over Hingham, their closest competition, look easy.

In addition to one of the best teams in the league, NDA has the best cheering section! The JV girls go to every single race to cheer on their teammates. Not only are they there, but they make themselves known with their cowbells and cheers. As junior Jordan McSherry put, “I have never finished a race and not have so people come running down the mountain to tell me how great I did. It is the coolest feeling!”

Hopefully the ski team can continue their winning streak and send as many racers as possible to MIAA States. Come support the team every Wednesday night at seven at Blue Hills, in Milton!

The Final Defeat By Emily Kaczynski ‘11

On January 10, 2010, the New England Patriots suffered a hard loss against the Baltimore Ravens. This loss broke the winning streak of home playoff games from 1996 to 2007. Unfortunately, the Patriots were beat 33-14 in the first playoff game at where the Patriots have never lost a playoff game before. Our football team sent Wes Welker on the field for the opening coin toss, for he took part in a season-ending knee injury a week earlier in Houston. Then, just six minutes into the game the Ravens were already taking the lead of 14-0, foreshadowing how the rest of this game would play out. Proving my point, by the end of the first quarter it was already 24-0. Luckily, Julian Edelman, Welker’s replacement, scored on a 6-yard touchdown pass from Tom Brady in the second quarter, and a 1-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter. Edelman proves himself a valuable player, although a rookie throughout this game. On defense the Ravens pressured Brady into multiple mistakes one after another, and not one penalty was called against the Ravens for being too physical. Regarding injures, Brady was playing with several cracked ribs and a broken finger, which affected his accuracy. Not to mention, without Welker, the NFL player with 123 catches, Brady was left without his most reliable receiver. Towards the end of the game, Ray Rice scored on the first offensive play and Brady fumbled the ball on the fourth play when, he was tackled by Terrell Suggs, who recovered it. Five plays afterwards, McClain scored from one yard. Following this, the teams exchanged punts and Brady threw another interception of many after being pressured by Jarret Johnson. Chris Carr caught the ball, and after six plays Rice was able to score again. Overall, the game was a loss for the New England Patriots, but the team put their best effort forth to disregard missing hurt players, broken bones, and lack of confidence that was brought about early on in the game. 6 BLA BLA BLA Exero 01, 5555 Coffee House 6 Book Club Come to the next meeting February 25 for delicious snacks and rivetting discussions! We are reading the #1 National Bestseller A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier, an autobiography of Ishmael Beah, who was forced to fight for the Rebel’s Army in Sierra Leone until the age of sixteen.

Sara Corben ‘10

Kristen Kennedy ‘10

The Medallion Issue 5, January 2010 Editors- Kristen Kennedy ‘10 Sara Corben ‘10 Molly Gorman ‘11 Maeve Luken ‘11

Advisor - Mrs. Pepe

Meetings are Mondays at 2:30 Submit your writing to [email protected]