Voices Ringing
Carroll High School Blog
Six things to be thankful for in the midst of a pandemic
Twenty-five years from now, what will be the most important memory of our students' high school years? For many, I’m guessing that "surviving a 100-year pandemic" will be one of the most significant.
The coronavirus pandemic has already affected all of us in varying ways and to differing degrees. Aside from the obvious cancellations, postponements, and shifts to online and/or remote learning, this once in a lifetime event has had ripple effects on many different aspects of our lives — mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. It’s at times like this that we discover what really matters in life.
The Thanksgiving season has always been a reminder to me that no matter what challenges I am facing in my life, there are always things that I can find to be grateful for. In every challenge (including coronavirus), there is always a silver lining that we may not clearly see until it is in the rear-view-mirror of our life. It is often in gratitude that we find the much-needed perspective on what is most important in life. As St. Paul says Colossians 3:15, “let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful."
In this spirit, I share six things that I am grateful for, and challenge you to find some of your own!
Family
During this pandemic, I have been reminded just how important my family is and how much I need them! We spent much of the lockdown in the spring playing games, sharing bonfires, and enjoying the great outdoors together. I know that when everything else is stripped away, the one constant in my life is a family who loves and cares for one another. I hope your experience of family is the same.
Friends
I have appreciated the friends I have that have made an extra effort to connect with me, whether by phone, a Zoom meeting, or a walk in the park. While communicating with friends online is important — hopefully you’ve begun to cherish even more the time you get to spend with people face-to-face!
The Body of Christ
During the pandemic, even churches were shut down for awhile! Like many other Catholics, my family participated in ‘online’ mass for several months until our parish began in-person masses again at the end of May. While we enjoyed some great homilies in the online masses, I really missed the Eucharist and fellow members of the body of Christ sitting next to me in the pews. For the body of Christ in its different forms, I am grateful!
Technology
The amazing technology we have access to has enabled us to continue online instruction and communicate with relatives in hospitals and nursing facilities. People who know me well know that I have never been a ‘first adopter’ of technology. However, I am very grateful for the connections it has enabled me to have with my loved ones. How about you?
Nature
This summer, my family and I participated in the MetroParks Challenge which introduced us to hiking, biking, and kayaking trails throughout our beautiful Dayton area MetroParks. The beauty of God’s creation has a healing power to it. It encourages recreation, reflection, and prayer. For God’s gift of nature, I’m eternally grateful!
Medical Science
The pandemic has shined an important light on medical and emergency professionals who heroically serve others each day and who exercise the ministry of healing and comfort to those who are sick. I can say the same about the scientists who are amazingly on the cusp of a vaccine in less than a year from the time COVID-19 first appeared. It is a reminder of how much good humans can do when they use their God-given gifts for a purpose beyond themselves. For this, I’m grateful. Hopefully this awareness will inspire many of you to consider a calling to one of these fields.
While we all share a hope that things will be back to ‘normal’ very soon, I pray that this shared experience we’ve all had will help us to grow in the virtues of faith, hope, love, and gratitude!
Meet Sarah (Sidell) Seagraves '09
As a small business owner, Sarah (Sidell) Seagraves '09 knows the challenges her clients have faced throughout the coronavirus pandemic. Her bookkeeping service, 67b Bookkeeping, has been a crucial element in helping her customers keep their doors open.
What are your job responsibilities and duties?
I own 67b Bookkeeping business, and I specialize in helping entrepreneurs in the marketing and creative industries learn, figure out, and manage their business finances. Day-to-day, I’m working with companies to either manage their books for them, or I do consulting and teach entrepreneurs how to keep their books and finances organized so that they can better understand their financial position.
How did you assist your small businesses clients with the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) application process during the coronavirus pandemic?
When the coronavirus happened, and all of the PPP (information) came out, I have had to learn it as quickly as it happens and be super flexible because it’s Congress, and things are going to change.
It was so beneficial that I had clients set up and ready to go with all of their financial information organized and ready. All of my clients that I had been working with prior to the pandemic received PPP loans.
What does it mean to you as a small business owner to be able to provide this service and help people keep their livelihoods?
It’s incredibly important to me! When you shop at a small store, or you order from a small, mom-and-pop shop or local business, that is supporting their livelihoods, and that can affect whether or not they can buy groceries at the end of the week.
I love Target and Starbucks as much as the next girl, but I have renewed my energy of going to the small, local coffee shop and buying as much as I can from smaller, local, family-owned businesses because now, being a small business owner myself, I understand how critical one or two sales can be to someone.
What are the lessons you learned at Carroll High School that are helping you give back to Dayton entrepreneurs?
Often, entrepreneurs may not have been given the resources or lessons on what you can do to help your neighbor like we did at Carroll. Being in an environment where Catholic Social Teaching was so instilled and part of every day at Carroll definitely has impacted my business.
I’ve given presentations to the Dayton Entrepreneurs Center’s Fast Track program for Dayton entrepreneurs on the basics of bookkeeping, how to manage your finances and keep records, and use all of that data and information to really analyze your business. So, being able to give my time and really help local Dayton entrepreneurs figure out how to manage their business is awesome.
For readers interested in starting a business in the Dayton area, what other resources are available?
There are definitely resources for people that want to start a business, are thinking about branching out on their own, are expanding on a hobby, or want to have a good, solid foundation and education (for bookkeeping). There are resources from the Dayton Entrepreneurs Center, Launch Dayton, the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce, and other organizations.
Most of these resources are free or very inexpensive, and they have programs that are built and were created to help the Dayton Community to grow and to give back.
Business owners and those interested in learning how to manage their books can contact Sarah to book a discovery call and get a personalized quote at 67b Bookkeeping.
Marching safely through a pandemic
In November of 2019, the music staff and design team began planning the Marching Patriots’ 2020 production, totally unaware of the global crisis that would occur months later and the impact it would have on our marching band season.
Even though this year was vastly different than I had hoped, we were still able to accomplish much and be proud of what we were able to do.
-Frankie Kosir '21
We decided on the title Alone. The idea was based on some inspiring source music by Sergei Rachmaninoff and Eric Carmen. Our vision was to produce a competition show that would feature several soloists and use theatrical staging to isolate individuals from the rest of the group.
Fast-forward to March 13th, 2020 and this concept became quite ironic.
Would we be allowed to compete? Would it be possible to get the students together for rehearsals? What motivates the students to perform at their highest level? The unknowns were overwhelming for students and staff alike, but collectively we stayed optimistic.
"It was a great opportunity to enjoy time with people I care about while doing something I love,” Josie Rose '21 said.
Once July rolled around, it was clear that we would not be traveling, competing, or rehearsing in the same fashion that we traditionally had, but one thing became clear: the students were ready and willing to work. As a staff, we had numerous conversations about our goals for the students. Safety was our first priority. Secondly, we agreed that every day together was a blessing and that we would do everything in our power to make the experience fun and memorable for the students. The kids recognized that their efforts yielded rewards in different ways, through personal growth, appreciation of a creative outlet, and development of interpersonal relationships.
“The 2020 season was a much-needed break from isolation," Drum Major Audrey Kneer '21 said. "It was different with no competitions to look forward to, but it meant that we were honing our skills for our own growth. I’m grateful for the opportunity we had.”
The season pressed on without a competitive outlet, but the band and guard members gave it their all. We were fortunate to have several unique performance opportunities for families and friends of the students. Most importantly, the students pushed each other to perform every day to their fullest potential. Despite being “Alone” throughout much of this school year, we are reminded of this inspiring quote by legendary football coach, Vince Lombardi:
“Individual commitment to a group effort: this is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.”
Student of the Week: Charlotte Ruble '22
Charlotte Ruble '22, Trinity House, with Mrs. Ann (Calderone) Bertke '88
Charlotte has taken freshmen who are having a hard time adjusting to high school under her wing. She spends family room time helping with homework, schedules, and everything else that high school entails.-Mrs. Ann (Calderone) Bertke '88
What is your favorite part of being a student at Carroll?
My favorite things about Carroll High School are the teachers and community.
What should school “do” for you?
School should give you new opportunities to grow and should help you learn new material for your future.
What’s a lesson you learned when you overcame a difficult obstacle?
Adversity helps you be stronger and focus on what is important.
What’s your biggest dream in life?
My biggest dream is to become a better version of myself and to help others.
How do you like spending your free time?
I like spending my free time with my family, friends, and my two dogs.
Savings and business lessons for teens during the coronavirus pandemic
Our last day in school last year was Friday, the 13th of March. In my Personal Finance classes, we had recently learned about the value of saving for unexpected events. I teach the students that a good amount of money to save for emergencies is three to six months of annual expenses. That seemed like an unachievable goal for most of us, up to half of our annual income. How would we save that? How long would it take? Why would we ever need that much money for an emergency?
As we continued through the months to the end of the school year, we all realized that this was not a one month and done event. This was going to take a while. We would not be able to start economic recovery until the pandemic slowed down and allowed us to go back to work and find financial stability again.
The lesson of saving for unexpected events became all too real, even more than I would ever want them to experience. I teach my students that under normal circumstances it can take as much as three to six months to replace a career job that will provide the income to allow us to continue to live in the ways we are accustomed. They understood that, but for someone else.
This was a life lesson that I’m betting will change their generation as they manage their own future wealth. They had the unfortunate opportunity to witness the struggle so many Americans have experienced; but, true to fashion, our young people will take this lesson and learn from it. They will value financial stability that will allow them to provide for themselves and their families. This is the generation that will be prepared!
Student of the Week: John Sears '22
John Sears '22, St. Mary's House, with Ms. Lesiak
John is a math student of mine this year and also part of my Family Room. I have noticed that academically he is excelling greatly! In years past, he has told me he has struggled with time management. This year, he is doing a wonderful job in all of his classes, especially maintaining a good grade in his first ever Advanced Placement class. Also, John is one of kindest students I have ever met. He is a true gentleman, and I am blessed to have him as part of my Family Room.-Ms. Lesiak
What is your favorite part of being a student at Carroll?
I really like the environment that Carroll has managed to create. When I was an 8th grade visitor, all I remember was me saying to all of my friends that I think Carroll is the school that I belong in.
What should school “do” for you?
I think the best thing that the school is doing right now is creating an environment that is all about helping others and creating a family within our community.
What’s a lesson you learned when you overcame a difficult obstacle?
Stay on task and don’t procrastinate because if you do, your grades will really feel it.
What’s your biggest dream in life?
To own my own business and use the money I make to help people in my community.
How do you like spending your free time?
Playing basketball with friends or playing video games.
Preparing the next generation of voters through Social Studies
Voice of America asked a group of citizens to take the test required of immigrants seeking American citizenship. Before the test, 89% of respondents expressed confidence they could pass it; 83% went on to fail. The pass rate of the naturalization candidates?
94%.
We have to do better.
I get reminded every day why social studies makes a difference; results of civics surveys, commentaries on news broadcasts, “man-on-the-street’ style interviews on the late-night comedy shows, interviews with politicians, and yes, the innocent and authentic questions from my very own students. All are good reminders of why social studies makes a difference.
USA Today found that only nine percent of Americans have read The Constitution. All our government students read the Constitution. We have to change that nine percent bit by bit. While only nine percent have read the Constitution, more than two-thirds of Americans complained nevertheless in a Lincoln Park Strategies poll that many American laws are “unconstitutional”. They should join in our classroom studies of the Supreme Court and the arguments that have come before it.
That same VOA poll found that ten percent of college graduates identified judge Judith Sheindlin as a member of the U.S. Supreme Court. Judith Sheindlin is actually syndicated television star “Judge Judy”.
More than 50% of respondents to a 2016 poll attributed the quote “From each according to his ability, to each according to his need” to either President Washington or President Obama. The quote is, of course, from Karl Marx, author of “The Communist Manifesto.”
30% of those polled believed The Bill of Rights does not guarantee trial by jury. It does. 40% believed it does guarantee the right to vote. It doesn’t. 45% did not know The Bill of Rights was the first ten amendments to the Constitution. 80% could not identify James Madison as the composer of The Bill of Rights. 82% did, in fact, identify Michael Jackson as the composer of “Billie Jean.”
I certainly know that Social Studies makes a difference, but it is stuff like this that keeps me up at night. Civil rights, economic policy, our Supreme Court, Congressional and Presidential elections are at the center of our nation’s daily political discussion. I can’t help but feel responsible, as a Social Studies educator, that evidently so many citizens may not be fully prepared for those discussions.
I don’t mean to imply that the evident demise of basic knowledge of American history and civics falls entirely at the feet of teachers. Our sense of the importance of our heritage and our civic duties comes equally from our families and communities as it does from our classrooms. Yet not everyone is so fortunate as to grow up surrounded by adults well-versed in our nation’s history and the laws of our land. I know I wasn’t. It was my teachers who kindled the curiosity and passion for history and the law that I think I bring to my room every day. That kindling of curiosity and passion does fall at the feet of teachers.
Social Studies makes a difference. Despite social studies being named by 40% of high school graduates as their favorite subject, many states, schools and districts in America are reducing Social Studies curriculum. To our credit Carroll has expanded the Social Studies curriculum with the addition of a new course; Advanced Placement Human Geography. Our students can now take an AP Social Studies class every year if they choose. This addition makes Carroll the only Catholic school in the area to offer AP courses to freshmen. Carroll students now have the ability to earn credit for 5 AP social studies courses.
Within our Social Studies department rests all the tools to ensure that our students can understand federal and local government, apply the law to their lives, and analyze historical trends and identify the most significant turning points in history. We challenge our economics students to apply economic principles to contemporary fiscal and monetary issues. In our social science courses we explore the nature of human behaviors.
While it is evident that in our complex world, some Americans may not be fully prepared to understand and engage in the most important discussions of our time, we believe, as Social Studies educators, that we can and must play a critical role in ensuring that this generation of young Americans is better prepared answer the political, social and ethical questions that will face their generation and the generations to follow. We accept that responsibility. We can do better. We must. We owe it to our students and their communities.
WORKS CITED
1 https://www.cnn.com/2017/09/13/politics/poll-constitution/index.html
2 https://www.politico.com/story/2015/04/pew-news-iq-test-results-117421
3 https://www.thedp.com/article/2019/09/penn-upenn-philadelphia-annenberg-public-policy-civic-knowledge
4 https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/education-k-12/reports/2018/02/21/446857/state-civics-education/
5 https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2016/11/ignorance-does-not-lead-to-election-bliss/506894/
6 https://www.forbes.com/sites/nataliewexler/2020/04/24/why-kids-know-even-less-about-history-now-and-why-it-matters/#40ae9e1f6a7a
7 https://woodrow.org/news/national-survey-finds-just-1-in-3-americans-would-pass-citizenship-test/
8 https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2010/06/americans-vs-basic-historical-knowledge/340761/
9 https://nypost.com/2016/01/19/no-america-judge-judy-does-not-sit-on-the-supreme-court/
Congratulations John, I am so proud of you!!