NORTHWEST PASSAGES VOLUME XLVI Northwest Catholic, 29 Wampanoag Drive, West Hartford, Connecticut 06117 February 2009 70 Students Inaugurated into NWC Chapter of National Honor Society By Keelan Ledwidge applications are then reviewed by Once all components of the and the four student officers of the service, character, and leadership, Mrs. Juda, the moderator of the application process are completed, NHS. This year, President Jess Di addressed the inductees, What do Cal Ripken, Jr., Katie Aquinas Chapter of the NHS at each student is accepted into the Francesco served as the Mistress congratulating the students on their Couric, Jon Voight, Troy Aikman, Northwest. of Ceremonies as the seventy achievement and encouraging them U.S. Senator Bill Bradley, and That’s when the hard work new members were inducted. to continue to live up to the honor Meryl Streep all have in common begins. “I am so thrilled to be able to be bestowed upon them. besides being famous? They are all As part of their consideration a part of this tremendous event Afterwards, all seventy new members of the prestigious for admission, students are for the inductees,” said Di inductees were called to the stage to National Honor Society. In required to have completed Francesco. “It really is an honor receive a certificate along with a December 2008, an astounding volunteer work in some capacity to be inducted into the NHS, flower for each student’s supportive seventy Northwest Catholic within surrounding communities and being able to experience it parents. students added their names every semester. with the new members is really The night’s keynote speech was alongside these venerable celebrities “The service requirement is the exciting. I am so happy for all delivered by Athletic Director when they were inducted into the other half to the requirement of them and so proud of all their Joshua Reese, who commended the NHS’s Aquinas Chapter at for induction,” said Mrs. Juda. hard work!” NHS’s newest members for their Northwest. “After we examine each Di Franceso and the other three accomplishment and encouraged At the start of every school year, student’s record and character, officers of the Aquinas Chapter, them not to stop there. juniors and seniors who have we get to see them put their Vice President Sean Murphy, “It was very inspiring,” said maintained a grade-point average commitment into action by Secretary Maura Graham, and Principal Margaret Williamson. of at least 3.33 are considered for serving the community.” Treasurer Lauren Kent, planned “He certainly shares my induction into the NHS. But as Whether it is spending time with and organized the event. enthusiasm about the new inductees important as academic elderly home residents or “The officers worked dutifully and what they have been able to accomplishment is, it is only one of pitching in at the local Catholic to put the program together,” accomplish. We hope there is even the qualifications necessary for Worker House that delivers said Mrs. Juda. “They’re doing more to come from them!” entry into the esteemed National food and assistance to the needy an exceptional job coordinating Only time will tell whether Honor Society. in the Hartford area, National and managing responsibilities of Northwest students will one day From its inception in 1921, the Honor Society members go out the NHS.” join the A-list of the future, though prestigious institution has also of their normal comfort zones The December 18th ceremony one thing is certain: Through their required its members to embody the to experience the true meaning Madelyn Filomeno commenced with an opening hard work and selfless efforts, three other “pillars” of the NHS: of service. Once a student is Junior Mary Frailey receives her prayer service in which each Northwest National Honor Society leadership, service, and character. inducted into the National certificate and carnation from inductee entered the Rice students have made a truly That is why applicants are asked to Honor Society, they must President Mr. Matthew Fitzsimons. Auditorium holding a candle. admirable step toward becoming detail their history of continually fulfill fifteen hours Afterwards, all four NHS tomorrow’s leaders. extracurricular involvement and of community service each semester society through an induction officers, each representing one of see list of inductees on page 10 past community work. These to remain a member of NHS. ceremony organized by Mrs. Juda the four pillars: scholarship, NWC Students and Community Support Blood Drive Juniors Become Upperclassmen By Rosa Park one’s diet to follow prior to the system, regularly switching By Bridget Daly special. The entire class joined donation. The volunteers are members into different positions together for this retreat and began For the first time in Northwest encouraged to consume breakfast according to hour intervals. The The Junior Investiture Assembly building the relationship of the history, students held an additional and slake themselves with water executive board of the Student has a spiritual meaning that goes class as a whole. The guest speaker blood drive in the fall, promoting a three days before the donation; Council, Tori Mansolillo, Pat beyond simply calling each junior at the retreat explained the new tradition to hold two blood moreover, they must consume iron- Kearney, Bobby Scalise, and Jim by name during the ceremony. importance of prayer for teenagers drives, one in the fall Fellinger, especially Junior Investiture welcomes the undergoing pivotal changes in their and another in the helped the blood junior class into the elite club of lives. He shared his volunteer spring. Such a change drive work by upperclassmen at Northwest. It is a experiences in third-world countries was purely student- organizing these major milestone that is a to inspire juniors to help people all motivated, with Maddie jobs. These memorable event for all students over the world. He showed that it Filomeno and Caitlin individuals not only late into their life. Many past does not matter how small your Kearns volunteering to poured out all their graduates still wear the cross given actions may be, but what a big hold the blood drive efforts during the to them as a symbol of their faith. difference one’s small actions can near the holidays, an drive but also prior Junior Investiture began twenty make in the world. At the retreat, important time of the to the event. Signs years ago in 1988 when Mrs. the class grew by doing fun year for the Red Cross. for the blood drive Patricia Juda, previous moderator spiritual exercises that opened our In fact, the were posted up of the junior class, thought that the minds to prayer in new ways. organization around the school as ring ceremony excluded those The retreat was a growing proclaimed Northwest well as on Edline, a students who could not afford it. experience that the junior class will Catholic the best source of online Mrs. Juda decided to create an always share. Gretchen Kelly, a school to hold a blood Mrs. Montoney connection for inclusive ceremony in which the junior, shared that she loved the drive, thus proving the The Blood Drive mascot visits a classroom to increase parents, teachers, whole class could participate. This openness of the retreat and she event a success. “I support for the drive, held on November 12 in the Stosuy and students. In idea was the root of the Junior said, “Everyone was so comfortable think the kids made the addition, the Investiture, one of the highlights of about speaking about experiences difference,” said Mr. Woodford, the rich foods a week prior to the event unforgettable giant blood drop a student’s career at Northwest. and the class accepted them with an moderator of the blood drive and in order to donate blood with a costume also increased the student Junior Investiture symbolizes open heart and an open mind.” the Student Council, “The students maximized state of health. body’s awareness of the drive, everything that Northwest stands were the ones who wanted to put on However, once a donor arrives at flashing the crimson velvety fabric for. continued on page 3 a drive in the school.” the blood drive, the volunteer must as it walked around the halls and The Junior Investiture is not only a On November 12th, sixty pints of also be processed by the nurse as a mingled in the cafeteria. However, day where the juniors get to come blood were collected in the Stosuy final test regarding the eligibility of the student body was not the only to school dressed up, but they also Gym; out of those, fifty were the donor—taking one’s blood targeted participants for the blood come to the school with a greater INSIDE This Issue... useable. New volunteers as well as sample by pricking the finger with a drive; the public outside of understanding. There is a reason regular donors comprised of needle. If the volunteer passes the Northwest Catholic was also that the ceremony is held in Dance and Christmas parents, students, teachers, staff test, the blood will be drawn for encouraged to join in the November. Junior Investiture is not Show...Pg. 4 workers, and coaches all approximately six to fifteen community event by the radio as right at the beginning of the year participated in the event. Such a minutes. The donor is then asked to well as church bulletins promoting because the junior class first needs Northwest Implements New large body of donors represented a rest and eat food in order to the Red Cross. The Red Cross is to accept the responsibility that community with the united desire to recuperate from the blood loss.