Voices Ringing Blog /

Carroll Science Day has become an early February tradition at Carroll for our students to present their pre-college research in a variety of STEM Fields in a "science fair" setting.  In 2020, 84 students performed independent research in the topics of Behavioral Science and Social Studies, Biochemistry, Botany, Chemistry, Computer Science, Earth and Space Science, Engineering, Environmental Science, Mathematics, Medicine and Health, Microbiology, Physics, and Zoology.

^{Science Day 2020 from Carroll High School on Vimeo.}

Gold, Silver, and Bronze Awards

The top three students in each division based on grade level receive special recognition for their outstanding projects.

Junior/Senior Division

• Kevin Agnew, LED Pacing System for Runners (Engineering): Gold Award
• Josie Rose, Negative Effects of Plastic Leachate on Spirulina major (Environmental Science): Silver Award
• Trinity Raber, The Effect of Various Food Textures on Eisenia foetida Castings (Environmental Science): Bronze Award

Sophomore Division:

• Neve Monigan, Strength and Deflection of Wood in Relation to Thickness (Engineering): Gold Award
• Makenzie Lencke, The Effectiveness of Various Materials on Soundproofing (Physics): Silver Award
• Shannon McIntyre, Canine Identification through Unique Nose Print, Facial, and Iris Print Recognition (Engineering)

Freshman Division:

• Jack Agnew, The Effect of Antenna Length on ADS-B Reception (Engineering): Gold Award
• Nathan Schiffler, The Role of Hemispheric Dominance on the Perception of Optical Illusions (Behavioral and Social Studies), Silver Award
• Caden Bistrik, The Effectiveness of Headgear in Soccer (Medicine and Health), Bronze Award

Moving on to area-wide competitions

36 students earned the opportunity to compete in the next level of competition at Montgomery County Science Day on Saturday, February 29 at the Dayton Convention Center.

Nadia Severt '23, Charity House with Ms. Mary Kate Caserta

Nadia frequently displays leadership qualities in Spanish and English, she is always concerned about her fellow peers who are struggling, and overall she is a cheerful student.

-Ms. Mary Kate Caserta

What activities do you participate in? 

Volleyball, Spanish Club, Student Council

What is your favorite part of being a student at Carroll

Being able to build wonderful relationships with the faculty and my classmates

What should school “do” for you?

School should prepare you for life academically and socially

What's a lesson you learned by overcoming a difficult obstacle?

Family will help you get through anything

What’s your biggest dream in life?

To reach my fullest potential in everything I do.

How do you like spending your free time?

Playing volleyball and spending time with my family and friends

All throughout the week, the Gonzaga House Captains were teaming up with the Mercy House Captains to finish preparations for the upcoming house event, a spin-off of the Match Game since the competition was on Valentine’s Day.  The competition was a success for Gonzaga, not only because we won, but there was overwhelming positive feedback from all houses about the event as well.

Joe Lansangan ‘21 said, “the experience was indubitably extravagant.”  He thought it was cool to see his classmate, Catherine Berent '21, as a participant in the hot seat and Family Room Captain, Amelia Harlow '20, on stage as an MC.

Breaking our two-year streak of not having won a House Event was relieving.  It renewed faith in our house and inspired many to attend Marquee events such as that weekend’s basketball game.  Sam Scheu ‘21 described how she felt after winning the House Competition.  “I thought we were doing pretty well considering our House got many of the right answers.  When Mr. Sableski announced that there was a tie for second, I expected to be one of the Houses that were tied, but to my surprise, we won!  My friends and I were so happy.”

The House Competition wasn’t the only exciting thing that happened last week.  While the snow day on Thursday canceled many of Gonzaga’s Family Room parties, it did not stop some Family Rooms from sharing candy and handing out Valentines.  Meredith Sanders ‘23 expressed her appreciation for her Family Room Captain, Luke Wittmann '20, who hand-wrote kind messages for everyone in Family Room 209.  Overall, it was a great week for our house.

I have often wondered what it would be like to either own and run my own business (basically be my own boss) or what it would be like to invent and develop something.  This semester, students in the Introduction to Business class are getting the opportunity to do both.  I'm challenging my students to become teen entrepreneurs and develop their own teen-based business.  They have also partnered up in a “Shark Tank” type of competition to come up with an invention with their partner to research, develop, produce, and market.

Students start on their entrepreneurial journey by selecting and planning their own teen-based business.  Once the business is chosen, students combine their entrepreneurship and computer application skills to create a professional, comprehensive business plan and supporting marketing materials that promote their business.  In the end, students will possess the skills and know-how to be the next up-and-coming entrepreneur.

The goal of the simulation is to provide students with hands-on practice in developing the following skills: 

• Computer applications, including word processing, spreadsheets, digital publishing, presentations, database, and website development (optional) 
• Decision-making 
• Creating financial statements 
• Technical writing 
• Research 
• Entrepreneurial skills and concepts 
• Owning and running a business 
• Marketing and promotion 

Students will also develop and refine their Shark Tank inventions.  Near the end of the semester, teams will present their inventions to a panel of their peers who will then decide whether they are willing to invest in a particular invention or company while gaining ownership of a certain percentage of the company.  These skills and experiences will lead our students to become the best future entrepreneurs that they can be!

Image courtesy Gerd Altmann from Pixabay.

Josie Eckhart '22, Trinity House with Mr. Carl Soucek

"Josie is attentive, prepared, and always positive during her classes.  She brings motivating energy to others in the classroom and models professionalism at all times."

-Mr. Carl Soucek

What activities do you participate in? 

Marching Band, Pit Orchestra, and Jazz Band

What is your favorite part of being a student at Carroll

The community.  I love how I always feel like I'm part of something

What should school “do” for you?

School should make everyone feels welcome and safe and help widen our horizons to build strong futures.

What’s your biggest dream in life?

To be in love, happy, and successful with the time I have.  Also, I want to be on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon

How do you like spending your free time?

I play the trumpet, embroider, spend time with friends, and listen to music.

The second semester has begun, and students are buckling down. Winter sports teams are headed into the tournament and are prepared for the seedings.  Looking into the future, Carroll’s St. Pats Fest is coming up soon.  Students are asked to sign up for a shift

in order to fulfill the 80% goal to receive a day off.  Also, each House is putting together a basket for the Silent Auction.  Each basket has a theme which will be announced by House deans.  This month is also full of school dances with Turnabout on February 22, Father-Daughter on February 28, and Mother-Son on February 29.  Finally, it is important to check calendars for the listed upcoming days off in February. 

In Family Rooms, students are busy taking in every moment as time is winding down.  This coming Friday, Houses will participate in the third Quarter House Event, a game show presented by Gonzaga and Mercy Houses.  Also, Charity captains are busy planning events for Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays.  In Room 307, Jackson Stanard '20 has been planning fun events like Pictionary, Hangman, and TikToks!  One of our very own Charity mentors, Mr. Ben Joplin, knows PUBLIC, the band whose song inspired one of the most popular TikTok trends.  The band said if Family Rooms make a TikTok to “Make You Mine,” the best video would be featured on their page.  In Room 307, I asked Morgan Sanko '20 a few questions about starting her final semester of high school.

“Family Room has brought me closer to people who I never thought I would be friends with,” Morgan says.  "We all know each other very well and respect each other.  We have fun and play lots of games just to bond.  I am going to miss our celebrations the most.”

Everyone can see the importance of community that the House System has instilled.  Each student is comfortable with their peers they spend time with every day. There are different purposes for having the House System, but one is definitely to create a family sensation in the school environment for every student. 

Martha Saurine, Campus Ministry Director and Worship Coordinator:

In light of so many challenges the Church is facing in recent years, we thought it would be nice to focus on the gratitude we feel for being Catholic.  The Catholic Church has an amazing grasp on the beauty about what it means to be human.

The Church offers us the gifts of the sacraments, the liturgy, masterpieces of art, sacred music, thousands of years’ worth of stories of those have gone before us in holiness, its stand on the dignity of life and work for justice.  One of the most beautiful things about being Catholic is encouraging the use of our intellect and conscience.  A professor explained it as we are not called to “check our brains at the church doors,” but to use the gifts that God has given to pursue truth.  

Melissa (Balsom) Fisher '83, Service Coordinator

The reason I am grateful for being Catholic is the nourishment I find in the Eucharist.  During the consecration, there is a peacefulness that happens; knowing that God will help to take care of things.  The Eucharist, with the community and reflections on the scripture, energizes us to live the life that God is asking.  The Eucharist reminds us of the sacrifice that Jesus lived and died for all.

The Catholic faith guides and challenges us to be the best version of ourselves that we can be, and Pope Francis is an inspiration of that mission.  One thing I'll always remember about traveling to see him in Philadelphia is 2015 is how many people who were filled with such joy in celebrating their faith.  One quote of his that is a favorite of mine is, “Jesus is our hope. Nothing—not even evil or death—is able to separate us from the saving power of his love.”

Jim Murray, Retreats Coordinator

One particular aspect of my Catholic faith that I treasure is the Community of Saints.  How wonderful it is that we celebrate the memories and models of our ancestors in faith and have their examples to follow; whether it be canonized saints or our very own loved ones.  This enables us to more fully grasp and encounter the broader Church and the connection to Christians across time and place.  We are able to see the activity of Christ’s presence in one another; to see and be a part of the living church.

It also boldly lays before us the responsibility to consider who God calls us to be in our present time and place.  It can be daunting to consider, but we have hope and support in those who have shown us the way.  As St. Oscar Romero says, "Beautiful is the moment in which we understand that we are no more than an instrument of God.”