mcdonoghwriters-blog

[mcdonoghwriters-blog]

A Second Home for Swimmers

McDonogh’s pool in all its glory. The 25 yard pool in the back and the 20 yard pool in the front with the movable bulkhead dividing the two pools is not just a home for the few but a home for the many.

By: Zachary Smith

As you walk through the double silver doors leading you on to the McDonogh pool deck, you get a strong whiff of chlorine, hear hands and feet hitting the water, and swimmers laughing as they roll and stretch their muscles to get them ready for the upcoming training.

“It's kind of a place where I can come and just forget everything else, like when im at the pool it’s just about swimming and my teammates and what I’m doing in the moment not school or anything else.”said Kelsey Cashman, a McDonogh swimmer ‘20’ [and student].

The McDonogh pool wasn’t always the Olympic sized beauty that it is today. In fact, before it was renovated in 2005, it was a basic six lane pool; serious swimmers would have to travel to a different pool in order to get their training in.

Coach Danny Russell who coaches the McDonogh women's swim team said, “There was a major renovation around 2005 where they had a 5 to 6 lane 25 yard pool.”

Practices with the old pool had ups and downs as training in a pool with only fie or six lanes is challenging. With the amount of swimmers on both the girl and boys teams having a small pool didn’t help them with space to practice. Also having a pool outside didn’t help the swimmers either. After every practice the team would have to make a run for the locker rooms and be sure to have brought out their towels and coats so they would not get sick. Between having limited space to practice and a chance of getting sick after every practice, the aquatic center was a tough place to be.

Coach Scott Ward who is the head swim coach here at McDonogh said, “It was tough teaching and coaching due to poor air and water quality, lack of space for our classes and teams.”

With the pool area struggling due to poor air quality and being far from the locker rooms, it was time for an upgrade. Construction of the pool was scheduled to take one whole year and end on November 17th, 2006. Coach Ward was able to supervise and attend each of the construction meetings, he also had a huge say in what the pool was going to look like.

“I was fortunate to be able to attend all weekly construction meetings with the architect and general contractor”. said Coach Ward.

Coach Ward was proud of how the pool turned out, he said there were a few things he’d wish he could change but really it's amazing.

“The best thing about this pool is the increased size has allowed us to expand our McD programs such as PE classes, MS and US water safety plus JV and Varsity swimming.” said Coach Ward, as he walks over to grab a pack of fruit snacks cause he didn’t get a chance to eat lunch  because he was so busy coaching practice.

But it's not only Coach Ward that's noticing how amazing the new pool is, students began to notice the beauty of the pool.

“ I like just how beautiful the pool is, said Cashman. “McDonogh has probably one of the best pool in the entire league. Its so big and there is so much space, and the water is so nice.”

The renovations allowed for more swimmers in the pool at once, more meets hosted by McDonogh, and it eventually drew more people to the pool [to swim or just to watch].  This new pool also came with a shallow end for classes and a deep end for our McDonogh water polo team. With the students now seeing the new pool in all its glory, they start to want to be apart of it.

“The pool has definitely attracted a lot more girls to the swim team, it's a lot bigger team then Freshman year and it seems like at the past few meets there has been a lot more cheering and involvement.” said Cashman.

With more people attracted to the  pool and joining the swim team, its all hands on deck. Meaning the coaches have more swimmers to take care of while the actual swimmers have to be in the water practicing everyday after school. The pool starts to become a second home for the swimmers and coaches, it becomes a happy place away from the world.

Grant Kay, a club swimmer for McDonogh said, “Its a vacation from your life because when you’re at school and have to think about school but then you go to practice you don’t have to think, all it is is swimming with your closest friends.”

These vacations at the pool not only help clear the mind from school work and other extracurricular activities. But at the same time it helps people get connected and closer with each other.

“Not only have our membership numbers grown but our energy to strive for greater heights has also risen each year.” said Coach Ward, as he hungrily throws another fruit snack gummy into his mouth.

With the team still growing, it's nice to be able to connect so quickly and easily. The setting of the pool allows them to build strong bonds that they all share.

“Coming into Mcdonogh I didn't know anybody except for the swimmers so the pool has kinda  made me really close friends with all the swimmers I feel like and I wouldn’t necessary have made connections with a lot of them outside of swimming”, said Cashman.

With great connections and friends comes a strong community. A strong community is key to safe places, even for swimmers outside of McDonogh.

“I don't go to school here so it helps me get connected with not only McDonogh kids but with public school kids too… you can kinda meet people, swim with your friends, and it makes it a pretty safe place to be.”, said Kay

The McDonogh pool isn’t only affecting students here at McDonogh but students in other schools. They find it not only a safe place to be with friends but a cool place to swim and race against their friends.They appreciate the camaraderie of the competitive environment here at McDonogh.

Heading to his car after a long tiring day of practice, “I like competition and doing it at McDonogh is a pretty amazing place to do it at, and i’m so lucky for that.” said Kay.

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Incarceration That Led to a Transformation

Antoine Payne, the founding pastor of Grace Beyond the Walls Church, and founding executive of Philemon Ministry

By Kellen Meagher

Rough. This is the word that comes to mind as one walks down Oliver Street in East Baltimore. Boarded up houses are on each side of the street, but along the way, a ray of light sticks out: Grace Beyond the Walls, a church, is the saving grace in this neighborhood.

This church was originally founded out of and in direct partnership by Philemon Ministry, which is dedicated to improving formerly incarcerated people’s lives.

Philemon’s mission is to “bring men home for good,” a practice which involves not only staying out of prison, something only 33% of formerly incarcerated men are able to do, but also requiring them to perform intensive service. The belief at Philemon is, “if a man is not serving, he is a man who is not living.”

At the heart of both Grace Beyond the Walls Church and Philemon Ministry is Antoine Payne, the founding pastor, and founding executive respectively. Although he’d never say it, Payne is essentially the foundation of the entire enterprise.

To know Payne, one must know his past. The person he was is a far cry from the man Bruce Fisher, a member of Philemon Ministry called “the most caring, warm, and transparent guy I’ve met in my entire life.”

When Payne was 17, he was full of promise, graduating a year ahead of his class and, as he said, “with a lot of potential, a lot of promise.”

21 days after graduation, however, he found himself in a world of trouble - incarcerated for an ugly incident - what he described as a “crime of passion” over parental/visitation rights.

In a fit of rage, Payne took a 9mm pistol and shot his girlfriend, the mother of his child, nine times; similarly, he shot her mother four times. 13 total shots were fired, but through what described as “the grace of God,” Payne said both survived.

Shortly afterward, he found himself charged with second degree attempted murder and common law assault. Everyone in Payne’s life who once rooted for him, had in an instant, given up on him, as he faced down a 30-year sentence at the ripe age of 17.

“It broke me,” said Payne talking about his imprisonment at multiple facilities including Western Correctional Institution in Hagerstown for 12 years, as well as other institutions around Maryland.

“The reality [would] later hit me, and I cried out to God for mercy,” said Payne. “But still, I would spend the next fourteen years of my life in prison.”

He described those fourteen years as, “the most challenging yet most formative years of my life,” and akin to a “grinding stone, chipping away at my character.”

Still, he said that while prison was a terrible place it was the place where he found what God was calling him to do with this life

Upon his own release from prison was inspired to begin a ministry to help formerly incarcerated men find a better life.

“I witnessed thousands come into prison with astronomical sentences and I knew that’s not what we were made for,” said Payne

The process Payne went through in prison was grueling; however, he would not be the person he is today without that experience. The personal progress he has made is an invaluable part of his life today.

Payne said, “I obviously would want to get rid of the pain and suffering I caused, but if I could change anything, I’d be afraid to lose everything.”

The position he’s in now is one of great honor. Payne has taken the devastation that he caused, through his crime, as well as that of the 14 years he spent incarcerated, as an opportunity to make a huge impact on men’s lives by showing them that they - like him - deserve a second chance at life upon release from prison.

His role at Philemon and Grace Beyond the Walls demonstrates the type of man he his - one who is constantly learning from his past and, in turn, sacrificing time to fulfill God’s calling. These are characteristics that were honed during his time in prison.

“When I first met Antoine, he was a meek person, something that was very rare in the institution,” said Brother Lee, a longtime friend of Payne’s in prison. “There was just something about him that was different, he would make himself expendable to anyone and everyone.”

In his work with Philemon Ministry, Payne has challenging conversations with ex-convicts about their past as well as their future goals, organizes service opportunities for them to give back to their community, and is involved in helping them find gainful employment.

“His tenacity, his drive, I get worn out myself, and I don’t even do half of what he does,” said Bruce in admiration.

In addition to his work within Philemon Ministry, Payne has also branched out to churches outside of  East Baltimore in order to spread his message of forgiveness and mercy. In doing so, he is also able to speak to a range of communities in the suburban Baltimore area regarding difficult topics such as race relations. These conversations enrich communities that might not have witnessed violence and poverty first hand - plights that led Payne to his years in prison.

John Schmidt, head pastor at Central Presbyterian Church, who Payne worked under as a resident pastor said, “Antoine gave us the opportunity to have conversations we never would’ve had.”

Humility is a constant theme that surrounds Payne. He is down to earth, and although he is very accomplished, he would never present himself as better than you/someone else. To those he’s in contact with, he's a really great mentor and friend.

“He’s been able to counsel me through my engagement to my high school sweetheart at age 57, it’s our third time going at it,” said his friend Fisher,  laughing at the thought, “He’s also the guy I want to officiate our wedding.”

The compliments of his character are everywhere and reflect the mercy that Payne tries to show others as he lives his life in a way to redeem the actions he took as a young man.

Brother Raymond Lee described him as “someone who gives themselves up for the sake of others,” in more detail he said, “Toine was not the type of guy to shelter himself, and I’ve never known him to quit on anything or anybody.”

While many of the people Payne comes into contact with heap praise on him, he’d never say it himself.

“It is critically important that the world knows my life is the way that it is because of the people around me, I don’t stand on the hill or mountain alone,” said Payne.

In his work with the Philemon Ministry in a part of Baltimore that many would be scared to visit, Payne sees the best in people. The most important lesson he learned from his crime as a young man and the one that still guides him today is the fact that people make mistakes but can rise again with the grace of God and by investing in friendships and partnerships that make the world a better place.

“We are all prone to fail,” said Payne, who urges to, “never look down on people who fail, because the capability is in all of us. Be gracious, be merciful, because it could very well be me tomorrow.”

[mcdonoghwriters-blog]

Sellers ‘Superset’ a Staple for Mcdonogh Athletes

By Dominic Solis

Hard sprints on the treadmill, the weight room heating up, athletes sweating and blood pumping all to reach their goal of being the strongest and fastest athlete they can possibly be. If you pass by the weight room on the McDonogh campus you may notice coach Andrew Sellers leading a sports team through this type of  high-intensity workout. However, McDonogh isn’t where Sellers found his love for working out.

Sellers grew up in Perry Hall, Maryland where he started pursuing his passion for sports.

He had an older brother that encouraged him to start at a young age. Sellers said, “In youth, I tried it all but as I got older I started to just focus just on the football, wrestling, and lacrosse.” He started training heavily for these sports in the seventh and eighth grade.

Sellers continued playing these sports at Archbishop Curley, a Private high school in baltimore Maryland. Sellers said, “Each one of the sports had a different thing you love about it and each one had their highs and lows.” Learning different skills from each sports, Sellers decided to focus on his lacrosse career at Salisbury University.

At Salisbury, Sellers was very successful on the lacrosse field. He had a really good team with twelve all-Americans, including himself. Sellers team went on to compete for three national championships, winning two of them. Along with these accomplishments, Sellers got the honor of winning the defensive player of the year award after his senior year which is the highest honor to a defensive lacrosse player in college.

After college, Sellers went on to play Professional Lacrosse for the Bayhawks, where he became good friends with Sam Ford, son of Darren Ford the is Head of the Middle School at McDonogh. Sellers said, “I reached out to Darren for an interview and it seemed to be a perfect fit.”

Sellers is currently a middle school PE teacher, a three-sport coach and one of the main contributors for the strength and conditioning program for many teams at McDonogh. Outside of McDonogh, Sellers continues playing professional lacrosse for Ohio Machine during the spring and summer time.

Having the knowledge of playing a sport at such a high level gives Sellers the personal factor towards the young athletes that other coaches may not have. Using what he has learned over the years not only does he make the workouts for the athletes but joins them for the grind.

Sellers said, “I love working out with the kids because I can show them how to use proper form on the lifts and also I set the pace so they can really push themselves to their limit.” This gives the athletes motivation to keep pushing through the high pace workout.

Evan Long, class of ‘19 and starting varsity goalie for the lacrosse team at McDonogh said, “If you don’t know how to do something Sellers will show you and he is really good at knowing how much weight is good for you depending on your goals. Also, he is very approachable if you have a question which is a very important quality of a coach.”

Sellers workouts are high pace and high-intensity workouts, shooting for 45 minutes to 1 hour in the gym where everyone is constantly moving and keeping their heart rate up. Even though they are lifting, going from one lift to the next at a rapid speed gives a hardcore cardio workout as well. Evan Long also said that “Sellers is really good at pushing you to the limit.”

He said that his main goal is to “benefit the coaches by taking their kids and molding them into bigger, faster and stronger athletes but the most important aspect is to help teach the kids to live a healthier lifestyle.”

Having multiple jobs on the McDonogh campus makes it possible for Sellers to reach out to the athletes starting on varsity teams now and the kids that are the future of McDonogh Athletics Program. While having a smile on his face, Sellers reaches out to the kids who want to accomplish goals and guides them through an unforgettable experience. Joining the kids in any activity whether it’s a quick game of dodgeball or running on the treadmill.

Sellers said that he, “loves getting new kids in there, cranking some music and have a good time”

Coach Andrew Sellers showing his middle school wrestlers how to set up a single leg takedown.(McDonogh Wrestling Room in the RL)

[mcdonoghwriters-blog]

McDonogh Wrestling Rises From the Basement to National Power

By: Kyle Whitaker

Junior Captain Dom Solis shakes his opponent's hand before his match in a Dual Meet.

McDonogh Wrestling rises from the ashes to National Power

By: Kyle Whitaker

Back in 1992, the McDonogh Wrestling Room was nothing but a closet in the basement of the school’s first athletic building. It was tucked away in a place one could only find if they went looking for it. During this time in the cellar, no one had any idea that the program would soon move into the limelight for good.

The McDonogh Wrestling program rose up from the basement and now has a state of the art wrestling room right at the center of the Rollins Luetkemeyer Athletic Center. In the fall of 1993 when Coaches Pete Welch and Joe Bakewell took over the program, they had a goal to build a successful program that would allow student-athletes to thrive in a competitive environment. 25 years later, the program boasts 5 MIAA titles, numerous state titles, and more than 15 All Americans.

“Our program is built on trying to do things right day in and day out… but knowing that if we work hard and stick to the principles of commitment, accountability, team [work], and strong work ethic, success is gonna come,” said Pete Welch, the McDonogh Varsity Wrestling head coach.

No stone was left unturned in the efforts to build a powerhouse program. The coaches of the program emphasize the importance of laying a strong foundation to their wrestlers first. Not only did they instill the skills of wrestling into their foundation, but they also stressed creating a supportive team atmosphere.

“We knew [in order] to be successful, we had to create a culture that could be reproduced day in and day out. Everyone in the program wants to see their brothers succeed and that’s when you know you have something special. It’s truly a family feel.” said Joe Bakewell, Welch’s Associate Head Coach. “What makes the program so successful is that the core values are not only upheld by the coaches but by the athletes as well.”

When athletes hold other athletes accountable it creates a strong and sustainable program, and that was a big focus of the coaching staff when they took over.

“It is truly a program effort trickling down from the best players on varsity to a guy on JV just starting to try out the sport for the first time,” said Bakewell, who is also the sophomore class dean at McDonogh.

In addition to supporting teammates and passing that culture down, Coaches Welch and Bakewell also tolerate nothing less than good sportsmanship. Dominic Solis ‘20, a captain this winter season, takes these demands to heart upon every meet.   

“Ever since day 1, Coach Welch and Bakewell taught me how to win with class and lose with class, win like a gentleman and lose like a gentleman,” said Solis, who hopes to wrestle at the Division One level in college. “After my first match, [they] taught me how to stay calm and stay in the moment.”

With or without the title of ‘Captain,’ boys on the team who demonstrate the values and principles expected by Coaches Welch and Bakewell also serve as leaders on the team. Guys who can lead are at a premium; it’s tough to focus on one's own individual needs and worry about the guy next to him as well.

“We’ve got a lot of guys showing leadership right now,” said Bakewell.“ [Dom] as well as some other guys have really stepped up.”

In spite of their recent success, neither coach wants to become complacent. The team was second in the MIAA and in the state last year. Though they are enjoying more success than most programs, both coaches believe the team can accomplish more - this attitude defines the McDonogh wrestling program.

“We’re not where we wanna be right now but we think these guys can definitely help get us there”, said Welch, keeping a positive attitude; who is known as the ‘good cop’ of the team to Bakewell, who is known as the ‘bad cop’.

Welch’s positive attitude and Bakewell’s enforcement of discipline carry over from their wrestling programs in college. They were both captains for their teams;  Welch graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill and Bakewell from McDaniel College. They both know what it takes to lead a team and be role models. They know how to elevate a program not only when players show vast improvements physically, but also when players improve mentally.

“I’m extremely lucky to compete for our coaching staff,” said Solis. “From the moment I came, I knew all of our coaches would be resources for me to use to achieve my goals.”

To add to this already strong coaching staff, Bakewell and Welch have recruited two younger coaches to help leave the best legacy they possibly can. These younger coaches are extremely tuned in to what’s going on in today’s world for many wrestlers.

“From Coach Travis [Holmes] encouraging me to pick up wrestling my sophomore year, to [coach] Bakewell and Welch teaching me how to grow up and be a man, I knew the entire staff had my best interest at heart and didn’t just care about my success athletically, but wanted to help me become a better person as well,” said P.J. Mustipher, a former All American wrestler at McDonogh and a current defensive lineman at Pennsylvania State University. 

“The biggest difference for us that separates us from rival programs [like a Mount St. Joe] is that our coaches are in-house. Our coaches are here [at McDonogh], [and] if a wrestler of ours has a problem before 3:00, we [will] know about it before 3:00 and [be able to] help them,” said Welch.

At times there can be a disconnect between the older Welch and Bakewell simply because of the age gap, however, the two younger coaches on the staff help bridge that gap and make sure all of the wrestlers and coaches are on the same page.

“One thing I love about having two younger coaches is that they still are in wrestling mode, they understand what it’s like to be out on the mat because they’ve done it recently, even though coach Bakewell and Welch wrestled at a high level, it’s nice to have someone who’s wrestled in the last couple decades,” said Solis with a joking smile.

Travis Holmes has helped Dominic a lot throughout his wrestling career. Holmes also wrestled at McDonogh and hopes his legacy can be two-fold as someone who was a superb wrestler here but also came back to coach and guide young athletes through the same process that he once went through.

“I enjoy my role taking students brand new to wrestling and teaching them from scratch, how to wrestle. Being a wrestling coach is one of my favorite jobs at McDonogh because I have the opportunity to coach wrestlers who won national titles and wrestlers who are searching for their first ever win,” said Holmes.

Welch and Bakewell have certainly garnered many awards and accomplishments since their humble beginnings in the basement of McDonogh’s athletic center, none bigger, however than the impacts that they’ve made on the lives of hundreds of young men who have come through their great program.

“They pushed me every day and I credit a lot of my success in life to them, and I wouldn’t be where I am without them”, a teammate of Mustipher’s, Deandree Tackett said “throughout all my years at McDonogh, no other group gave me a sense of family like the wrestling team, I am very thankful for the bonds I made on that team.”

[mcdonoghwriters-blog]

Innovative Learning by J.P. Ward III

Fader Innovation Center, the newest building on campus and the home of the SEED class 

Last spring, McDonogh student Scott Cole ‘20 sat in an assembly anticipating what elective he would take. He waited patiently as three teachers walk up on stage and pitch a new, innovative course that grabs Scott's attention. The class was called, Social Entrepreneurship, Engineering, and Design, or in other words ‘SEED.’

“The class was different,” said Cole, who is a junior at McDonogh School in Baltimore Maryland. “That is what made me want to take it.”

The idea of the class came about when three teachers, Ned Courtemanche, Match Zimmerman, and Steve Eno, realized that all three of their different classes could be combined into one.

“Mr. Courtemanche, Mr. Eno, and I had been teaching classes that all complemented each other really nicely,” said Mr. Zimmerman, one of the three teachers. “We kept looking for opportunities to collaborate and work together with our own individual classes, so we just combined them.”

SEED is a class driven by progressive thinking, and the teachers of this class are dedicated to providing their students with life ready skills that will allow them to succeed later on in their lives.

“The class is project based, working in small teams, competing against each other,” said Courtemanche. “We are trying to teach kids how to hunt; showing you the skills needed to survive out in the real world, where you are going to be working in small teams and where there is a lot of uncertainty.”

For students, they are supposed to be in control of their own learning experience and guide themselves. Failure is not only embraced, but it is celebrated as an opportunity to learn from their mistakes and test new ideas.

“The students are the ones driving the experience, driving their education,” said Eno. “We want them to be focused on building skills and developing the innovation instinct.”

For teachers, the job is to facilitate and allow students to be in control of their learning. They do this by promoting teamwork and positivity into their teaching.

“A team might completely crash and burn, and in sports or in a history class that might be considered a giant failure,” said Courtemanche. “What we want to stress is that failure is accepted and that you need to learn from that failure.”

While this idea was new and innovative, the teachers still faced some struggles.

“A struggle has been trying to get people to understand that it's a different way of doing things, said Courtemanche. “But it is backed by a ton of research.”

This new age and progressive style of education is very non-traditional and different, especially in the United States. But this different style will allow students to have a more diversified learning experience and give them skills that they may not pick up in a regular classroom.

“If nothing else, we want it to be a different kind of offering and learning experience,” said Courtemanche.

Another struggle, for the teachers, has been figuring out how to best organize the class in a way that makes sense.

“The challenges emerged in you have sixty kids in a class and three teachers in a class, said Zimmerman, “so in order to figure out what that looked like we had to adapt and come up with new approaches to our teaching style on a daily basis.”

Because this class does not require grading, the teachers also had to come up with ways to assess their students.

“Students need to be able to do a couple of things,” said Courtemanche. “They are engaged and are able to improve on those live ready skills and instincts.”

Despite the challenges, the creation of this class was welcomed with open arms by the McDonogh Community. There were many positive responses coming from teachers and students alike.

“The SEED program is an incredible opportunity for students to explore business, engineering, and design in real-world, applied, collaborative environments,” said Merritt Livermore, Head of the upper school at McDonogh. “I look forward to working with them in the near future to engineer solutions facing our community.”

Currently, the class is embarking on a range of projects in the brand new Fader Innovation Center, a state of the art building on campus devoted to engineering and robotics, precisely the kind of work being promoted by Eno, Zimmerman and Courtemanche. Currently, students are working on a project that involves using coffee to enhance the relationships between students and their teachers.  

“Our goal is for students to innovate,” said Eno. “We want them to go from idea to a market, feasible solution.”

This progressive style of both teaching and learning is becoming increasingly more popular around the world, because of its effectiveness and its life-ready component. While it has many benefits, it is still a relatively new idea that not a lot of people are doing. That is why Mr. Courtemanche, Mr. Zimmerman, and Mr. Eno brought this idea into the McDonogh community; to give students a diversified learning experience and to prepare them for the real world.

“So few high school students in the world have this kind of opportunity,” said Courtemanche.” “To be in a class that is more real world and progressive and shows you the kind of skills that make you life-ready is beneficial to everyone taking the class.”

[mcdonoghwriters-blog]

More Than Just A Trip

By Matt Ingerman

Students study in Italy for a trip abroad

Jan Kunkel, a math teacher at McDonogh school, patiently sits at her desk.  She works hard on outlining her seventh trip abroad to Italy, going through the different cities: Lido, Venice, Florence, Pisa, Milan, and Rome.  

Kunkel sharply picks the best tourist spots, restaurants, hotels, and more.  But, most importantly, Kunkel is planning a trip that will give McDonogh students the opportunity of a lifetime in the spring of 2019. The spring break trip to Italy is more than just visiting another country, it will prepare students in many different aspects.

“From going abroad, [students] will learn how to navigate their way through obstacles and get through at the other end and be stronger,” said Kunkel.

Thirty-seven students will partake in this adventure to Italy and will experience many new lessons they have never learned before.  Kunkel believes that this trip will give students the opportunity to learn how to persevere.

“Students will learn from this trip how to persevere,” Kunkel said, “For example, a student will understand that if you do not do well on a test, then it is possible to bounce back and rebound even stronger than before.”

Susan Tanury, the manager of performance venues at McDonogh, has been on the Italy spring break trip twice.  Tanury also believes that this trip will push students to see items they have never seen before.

“It exposes students to a totally new culture,” Tanury said.

Seeing a new culture will push many students far out of their comfort zone.  Tanury understands that most students have never traveled alone before.  She believes this is a skill necessary for many to learn before they venture off into the real world.  

“Students are going to have to learn how to navigate an airport and buses all by themselves.” Tannery said, “Many of these students have never traveled by themselves before.”

Pete Walton ‘20, recently went on a trip abroad to Spain, with McDonogh.  In the spring of 2019, Walton plans to attend his second trip abroad, this time to Italy.

“After going abroad, I am more confident than I was before, going in and meeting new people was something I have never done before,” Walton said.

Kunkel also believes that meeting new people is an important aspect of the trip.  By the end of the trip, Kunkel hopes that students will be able to communicate with Italians, in Italian.

“It goes back to confidence, if you can learn some Italian it will give you the confidence to try even more new things,” Kunkel said.

Tyler Hertzberg 20’, also hopes to learn some Italian this spring break trip. Hertzberg is, especially excited, for the trip because he has never traveled to a place with a different culture than America’s Hertzberg hopes to become more knowledgeable about the fascinating Italian culture.

“All I know, right now, about the Italians is that they like pasta and that’s about it.  That is the main reason I am excited about this trip, to learn more about a culture that I know very little about it,” Hertzberg said.

Hertzberg is very interested in traveling abroad and he is excited to expand his knowledge of the world. From a student’s perspective, this trip is important to many because it gives them the opportunity to experience cities and people they have never seen before.

“This trip to Italy is such a great opportunity,” Hertzberg said, “You never get to see the whole world in your everyday life, which is why I feel that it is important to learn more about different cultures.”

From the beaches of Lido to the city of Rome, Italy’s culture is like no other.

“I am excited about seeing Italy as a whole and its beauty,” said Walton.

The main beauty of Italy might not be found in the cities and canals.  The beauty of Italy is on every block. The artwork.

“There is just a new level of appreciation for the art in Italy, everywhere you walk there’s a new piece of artwork.  You don’t get to see that in the United States,” said Tanury.

Kunkel, as the leader of the trip, has a ton of responsibility on her hands.  But, with the tremendous amount of pressure of getting students to and from a foreign country safely, comes major benefits as well.  

“I learn a new thing and meet a new person every time I take the trip,” said Kunkel.

Kunkel said that she has formed relationships with the many people on her numerous trips to Italy.

“One time I was in Italy, back when students could buy wine on these trips, and I met this merchant and asked him why they don’t make their own wine? And that was 16 years ago, now they make their own and send me a case once in a while.”

Kunkel still talks to this local merchant today.

“Whenever he is in the states, he always invites me to his dinner parties, I haven’t been able to attend one yet, but it shows the connections you can make with people from different countries.”

Kunkel calls this a “world opportunity’ or “networking” in a different country.  Kunkel believes that one of the key aspects of going abroad is to be able to meet and network with new people that could help you in your future.

“One of my former students is in Florence right now studying abroad, and she has met so many different people,” Kunkel said.

Walton ‘20, on his trip to Spain, was able to connect with families and different people.

“One of the ways I was able to improve my Spanish was by talking to new people.  I was able to talk to some really interesting people that I hope to someday be able to reach out to if I go back,” Walton said.

Hertzberg ‘20 also hopes to meet many new people on his trip this spring.

“Maybe I can teach some people in Italy about American culture and they can teach me some Italian culture,” Hertzberg said.

Kunkel stresses the importance of relationships. But, she also hopes to connect a group of McDonogh students that are maybe not friends just yet.

“Every year, I always want to take my phone out and video everyone on the first day versus the last. They are always so much visibly closer to each other on the last day.  It’s probably my favorite part about the whole trip,” Kunkel said.

[mcdonoghwriters-blog]

Changing the Game Itself

By: Grace Roden

Comfortably sitting back in a recliner chair, sipping on a Jack and Coke Icee, and eating a margarita pizza, all while being engaged by the newest action movie is part of the master plan of local theatres hoping to compete with the endless stream of online and cable content by redefining and reinvigorating the big screen experience for customers.

“The movies themselves are now just an element of the movie-going experience”, said Jason Baker, general manager of Bow Tie Cinemas Annapolis 11, a local theater that is embracing innovation seen in movie theaters nationally. “Now that we offer new items like kitchen food, reclining chairs, and alcoholic drinks there is a certain level of luxury now associated with going out and seeing a movie.”

In the digital world where free content is more accessible than ever, movie theatres are trying to figure out how they can compete with cheaper and more readily available movies. Changing the experience of what “a night out at the movies” is how theatres like Bow Tie Cinemas Annapolis 11 are planning to stay afloat.

“Going out, leaving my house, all to see a movie makes it more of an activity now,” said Anna, a Bow Tie Cinemas customer. Her husband, Cam, added, “Yeah and when I come out in public I have to put on pants you know? It is hard to beat the comfortability of your house”

In an age of Netflix, HBO, Hulu, and many more subscription movie services, access to free movies is easier than ever. The appeal of watching something for free, in the comfortability of one’s own home, is making it difficult for movie theatres to compete and attract customers.  

“There has definitely been a difference in the number of people, in general, coming to movies since Netflix became popular,” said a four-year employee of Bow Tie Cinemas, Donovan Boyce.

The steep price of admission is repelling many moviegoers, especially when a ticket to one movie costs as much or more than a monthly subscription to a movie service.  The current average price of a movie ticket is $8.97, while a monthly subscription to a service like Netflix is $7.99.

“It's hard to drag him out,” Anna said pointing to Cam. Cam, rolling his eyes, said, “Well yeah, the prices here are insane. Coming here isn’t an everyday thing that's for sure.”

Significant others paying on dates, parents paying for kids, and average moviegoers paying for themselves are often taken back at the prices.

“Honestly depends on how good the movie was, sometimes it is worth the two hours and nine dollars and sometimes it isn't,” said Cam.

Chasing the newest movies, going out on a rainy day, or attending the first date are situations that are keeping the cinema industry alive, but is that going to last?

“There are a lot of repeat customers who now have a dinner and movie ritual. They love the new gourmet menu and lounge chairs”, said Boyce. “Seeing familiar faces is something I have noticed a lot lately. I guess while some people will stay at home on the couch watching Netflix certain people come here a lot.”

Creating an experience that is worth paying for, and coming back time and again for is what Bow Tie Cinemas is working towards.

“I would say that we are trying to reinvent what it means to go see a movie,” says Baker, “The prices are pretty high, but I honestly believe that coming here is worth every penny, especially now that we have all the cool new features”

In recent months, Bow Tie Cinemas has renovated its movie theatres to turn them into a luxurious experience. The installation of a bar and kitchen is the newest gourmet feature as well as a complete renovation of the theatres themselves, including the addition of reclining chairs for a more relaxing movie experience.

“The renovation was a bit of a risk.” Baker, the general manager said. “It was an expensive investment that really could have gone either way. We really hoped that people would love a bar and restaurant in the theatre, and thank god they did.”

“I think the reason we keep coming back is these mozzarella sticks,” Anna said as she laughed and took a bite. “And now with a glass of wine I can finally tolerate her constant need to chat during in the middle of the movie,” said Cam.

Bow Tie Cinemas is adapting to the competitive world of the movie experience, rather than succumbing to defeat. Figuring out how to make money, while still maintaining an affordable experience is their goal. And the way they got there just may be in a transition from the venerable movie theatre favorite of solely buttered popcorn to the more modern tastes of a trendy IPA and buffalo fried cauliflower.

“The competition with services like Netflix is intense,” said Baker, “But instead of trying to beat them we have completely changed the game itself.”

     An example of the food, drinks, and chairs at Annapolis Mall 11 Theatre

[mcdonoghwriters-blog]

Part-time PT, Full-time Mom

Lindsay Kehring is not only a part-time physical therapist but also a mother of three kids working to be the best at both. “I originally wanted to be in sports medicine, but with the hours, it is hard to have a family,” said Kehring about why she chose the profession of Physical Therapy.

By: Kate Henry

In her day job, Lindsay Kehring walks her patients through their exercises and pushes them towards gaining more strength and getting better each day they come in for physical therapy treatment.

Since Kehring works part-time, she is able to be a mom as well and run her kids around to sporting events, talk to her husband, Glenn, and play games with  Josie (2), Mathew (10), and Brenden (13). For Kehring, the opportunity to go back to work part time has been a saving grace both personally and professionally.

“It is a good profession because you can work part-time in order to spend a lot of time with your family,” said Kehring about working as a physical therapist while juggling the ever-present duties of being a full-time mom of young kids.

Kehring works a part-time job as a Physical Therapist to help rehabilitate older men and women who have musculoskeletal dysfunctions, which are injuries or pain in areas such as the joints, ligaments, muscles, nerves, tendons, and supporting structures for limbs.

“Usually patients are there for two-to-three months which is when I help them get from their dysfunctional state back to their functional state,” said Kehring.

Kehring pushes her patients to do one more rep of an exercise than they think they can do, teaching them they have to push themselves in order to get better. Her loving personality is a key to her success.

“Lindsay’s compassion for people helps her do a great job of not only understanding the patient’s physical pain but also understanding the person as a whole,” said Glenn.

Kehring really gets to know her patients by talking about their daily lives; she wants to know them in order to be able to fully treat them for their pain. The patients who have other problems going on in their lives tend to put less effort into their exercises.

“The majority of them don’t do their exercises but I try and send them home with printouts of the exercises,” said Kehring. She considers it to be her job to give them “a sense of progress but also to empower them to do the work to get themselves back to functional.”

Most of Kehring’s patients are over the age of 60, move slower, and can do less physical activity than they would like, so they come to see Kehring for help with pain and range of mobility.

“Physical therapists can get people out of pain, give them more motion and strength, and give them better function,” said Kristin Henry, a neighbor and fellow physical therapist of Kehrings. “PT’s can do a lot with returning somebody to their job and their hobbies.”

Physical therapists work really hard on getting people better and motivating them. But when Kehring is not around to see her patients because she is with her kids at home, her physical therapy assistant (PTA), Stephanie Bechtel, helps the patients with their exercises.

“She helps her patients with their chronic pain and gives them a better quality of life,” said Bechtel about Kehring’s care for her patients. “She is very resourceful and super intelligent.”

Bechtel looks up to Kehring and how Kehring is able to balance her work with her kids’ lives. Bechtel recently returned to work from taking maternity leave after her son was born this past summer and has now decided to switch from full-time work to part-time.

“Being a PT is a flexible job because you can schedule what works best for your family,” said Kehring.

Part-time jobs have many benefits for mothers because it allows them to spend time with their kids and be there for many aspects of their lives. It is a good balance between work and family.

“If I worked full time, it would take away from my kids”, said Kehring, holding her daughter, Josie, who is eager for playtime with her mom. “Someone has to sacrifice.”

It is all worth it to Kehring to make that sacrifice. As she sits down to help her son with his homework, a big smile comes across her face.

“My mom works hard running me and my siblings around, and with my baby sister, Josie, my mom has to work even harder now to keep us happy,” said Kehring’s son Brenden.

Working a part-time job allows Kehring to be there for her family but also keep up with the job she loves with an ability to put the needed work and effort into it.

“I think she chose physical therapy because it is a medical profession with hands-on treatment and you can make a difference in someone’s life, but also because of how the schedules can be more flexible than a more demanding medical profession,” said Henry.

Though Physical Therapy has many benefits like flexibility with schedules and the ability to see the change you make in your patient’s lives, one drawback can be the matter of salary.

“One drawback about PT is that at a certain point, you can’t get a huge salary raise because there aren’t many places or specialties you can advance into,” said Kehring.

Kehring seems to think that the tradeoff is well worth it to spend the time with her kids. Most PT’s with families also agree, like Bechtel and Henry, all of whom share Kehring’s belief that family comes first. 

“I went part-time so I could spend as much time with my son as possible,” said Bechtel.

[mcdonoghwriters-blog]

Andy Golden “Worm Doctor”, Researching To Better Lives

Andy Golden is a Senior Investigator at the National Institute of Health. “I have always been interested in Science, but it was the research that is behind that science that really fascinated me.”

By: Pippa Byrne

Ever since he had heart surgery at the age of five, Dr. Andy Golden has always taken interest in science. 

“I was fascinated that it works, but more interested in how research played a part into these big surgeries and problems,” said Golden, who studied at Muhlenberg College and noted that “Genetics class in college was my favorite class; after this class, I knew what I wanted to do.”

Golden went on to work for the National Institute of Health, working specifically with the genetics of Nematodes. His work work today focuses on finding cell mutations in order to try and find cures or changes to mutations to better the conditions of the nematodes in hopes that this work can work towards being used with humans.

In Golden’s lab, he works as a Senior Investigator. “I oversee five other people in a lab, I mentor them and guide them for the research that they do and when there is the time I also do some research,” said Golden, who is still embracing his love for researching.

The research done in Golden’s lab is done on Caenorhabditis Elegans, a small and microscopic worm. The investigators in Golden’s lab each work on personal projects as they research ways to cure troubling human illnesses.

“I spend the day working on my project, which entails using molecular and cellular biology to study an ultra-rare disease called NGLY1 Deficiency,” said Carina Graham, a postdoctoral fellow in Golden’s lab.

“We research to understand what the gene does in a simple animal in order to suggest what it might do to a person. In hopes to develop a therapy for these diseases,”  said Golden, who discusses his goals in the lab with passion, “Even if it just alleviates symptoms, this is still improving life quality.”

Golden is a mentor figure to the investigators in his lab. He works with the investigators in the lab and is there to answer and ask questions. He also sets up meetings in groups and individually to check in on the work being done.

“Andy is my mentor and thus I am consistently learning from him,” said Peter Kropp, an investigator in Golden’s lab. “He has many skills and expertise that I do not, so he helps to  make sure that I have the resources and skills that I need to do my work.”

At this point in his career, Golden is available to help and guide the other investigators through their work, without having to worry about doing research of his own.

“I was doing a lot of the work at first and research was being produced by me until the lab started getting bigger and it was more time consuming to advise,” said   Golden, who used to be a big part of the researching within the lab until he really committed to mentoring the others.

Even with less physical work being done, Golden still holds his importance within the lab as a Senior Investigator, which is a higher title that emphasizes his time spent working with the government.

“He is the Principal Investigator meaning that everything that happens and all of the work that we do falls into his vision of the research questions that he wants to ask.” said Peter Kropp. “Andy is the fundamentally most important person in our lab. He is the Principal Investigator meaning that everything that happens and all of the work that we do falls into his vision of the research questions that he wants to ask,”

Golden also works hard to keep his lab working together when stuck. With his help, the team can stay on track.

“Science is frustrating,” said by Golden, with a sigh, “We have to troubleshoot and figure out why it is not working, sometimes there are months where someone's work isn’t going anywhere.”

“He also is key in helping us all maintain a high level of camaraderie and makes sure we all feel part of a team,” said Isabella Zafra Martinez, another postdoctoral fellow.

The work Golden does can be applied to many different rare diseases, as there are 7,000 rare diseases that are caused by one single gene. For example, a former McDonogh teacher, Mr. Bastos, was diagnosed with a rare jaw cancer. that Golding’s lab researched.

“Because there was research done on simpler animals, they were able to know a lot about the gene mutation and doctors could make therapy to inhibit the bad gene,” said  Golden, “this research helped apply to Bastos.”

As Nematodes only have 959 cells compared to a humans trillions, this makes the research on every single gene possible at a quicker rate along with having a three-day generation rate.

“The animal is transparent, so you can see all the cells,” said Golden, “ which allows you to see which cells are not functioning well and then you can determine the consequence of that mutation,”

This information is vital as the cell mutation shown in the worms could give insight information as to what the mutation would do to a human due to the fact that Nematodes share half of humans genes.

“The mentoring stays the same yet science is always moving forward and that’s what makes it exciting every day. We are always moving forward” said Golden,who even after all these years of research, has excitement in his eyes when discussing his work.

[mcdonoghwriters-blog]

A Modern Twist on an Ancient Tradition

Unlike many American Catholic masses, the people of the congregation enjoy standing up and singing along with the band, “I love that everyone knows the songs and joins in,” said Keady Lally.

By: Kayla Abernathy

Every Sunday morning at the Church of the Nativity in Timonium, people young and old, common churchgoers and people that may have never been to Mass before, begin to fill up the pews of the auditorium styled sanctuary

Shortly after taking their seats, the altar lights go on, smoke rises, and the band begins to play. Everyone in the congregation gets up on their feet and begins to sing along with the contemporary music of the band, comprised of two guitarists, a drummer, a keyboardist, and several strong vocalists.

Unlike most Catholic churches in the United States, Nativity has decided to take a different path when it comes to conventional church music; the music, in short, is a defining aspect of mass, and the overall experience at Nativity.

“I've always had a vision that we combine traditional and contemporary music together in a single service and that we do it in a kind of progressive way,” said Father White, the pastor who is constantly working to grow his congregation in numbers, faith and enthusiasm.

A common stereotype of many Catholic churches in the United States is that the music is dull and the people don’t sing along. At Nativity, however, contemporary music is used to enhance the worship experience for everyone, and it is also focused on drawing the attention and attraction of the very people the church is most seeking to attract - those who may not even consider themselves as church-going people.

“We are interested in reaching the unchurched, people who are not used to church or don’t even like church and to bring them into the experience of the worship,” said White, who has been the pastor of Nativity since 2000.

White said he still believes that people should get the full Catholic experience while at church, and yes, this includes prayers, music, and hymns that may be more traditional. However, he doesn’t think that starting with the more traditional Catholic model of worship off the bat can really draw worshipers - whether Cradle Catholics who attend Mass every week or those who may be up in the air about religion.

“Rather than hit them with the full church experience as soon as they walk in the door we kind of make it a little light and vibrant and engaging and easier to step into,” said White of the musical approach, as well as the tightly scripted organization of Mass at Nativity. “Then we transition into a more solemn and sacred, perhaps more ancient type of worship.”

White said he thinks that there is something special about honoring tradition. Without tradition, he said, you lose sight of who you are and where you have come from. So, even though most of the music is contemporary, when it comes to the traditional chants in Latin during the middle of mass, there is no question in his mind about whether to keep them or not.

“I think that it’s important to keep tradition. It’s good for the soul. It’s good for the community. It’s good for the society. It’s good for the family,” said White. “Tradition is just a noble thing and a great virtue.”

This combination of both traditional and new music is known to White and his associates as Dynamic Orthodoxy. By this, they mean the dynamic nature of the new music, while at the same time staying true to the orthodoxy of a church that is over 2,000 years old.

“So you have the dynamic, the new stuff, but then the orthodoxy, what's rooted in our tradition,” said Tom Corcoran, White’s associate, who has been with him every step of the way in revolutionizing the experience of Mass at Nativity. “The music is a great example of what we’re trying to accomplish for the whole church.”

As a member of the Nativity community, Keady Lally, who has been going there since she was seven-years-old has seen many changes occur at Mass. One of the reasons that she and her family still belong to Nativity is because of the excitement and passion the music engenders.

“I have always loved going to Nativity because the style of music keeps me entertained throughout the whole service and I never feel like I’m becoming bored,” said Lally.

The contemporary style of music is very well-liked among many of the people who go to Nativity, however, there were some definite risks in choosing this style of music. When it comes to the older generations of people who have belonged to a traditional Catholic Church their whole lives, this style of music can seem almost wrong. Yet, White was not worried about that.

“Well Catholic means universal, and the church that is the roman catholic church is a universal church so it is present in every community around the world,” said White.

There is no style of music that is specifically Catholic. Although people may assume that the style of music that is found in many Catholic Churches around the country - the organ, the cantor, the well-known hymns - is what is to be expected, but that is not the only style of Catholic music.

White said, “if you went to church in Nigeria this morning, their music is extremely vibrant with the big use of drums and it would not be anything like what we do here yet it speaks to their culture.”

Despite the fact that there is no style of music that is Catholic, Nativity still faces some difficulties with their style of contemporary music generationally.

“That can be a bit tricky because musical tastes are very different in different generations for sure,” said White. “But if it’s well done and done with spirit and enthusiasm then that can cut through a lot of generational differences.”

Music is so important at Nativity. It is said that music is something that truly speaks to the soul. At Nativity, music is used not only to bring in newcomers to the church but to also create positive moods for everyone in their audience.

“Music is everywhere. It can create a mood and that’s what we’re doing out there. Creating certain moods and atmospheres for the congregation,” said Joe Weaver, the director of music at Nativity.

The role of music in churches has a huge impact on the people that go there. At Nativity, the switch from traditional church music to more contemporary was something that changed their congregation forever. Music has opened up many new doors for them as a church and will continue to in the future. The importance of the worship music will only grow from here on.

For Corcoran, the importance of music in building the parish into what he desires it to become - one that is growing and thriving in a time of great challenge for the Catholic Church - is very clear:

“We say it’s the water on which the whole experience sails.”

[mcdonoghwriters-blog]

A Scout’s Eye Guides NFL’s Ravens

By: Izzy Marsh

George Kokinis walks out on the field of M&T Bank Stadium prior to the Baltimore Ravens home game against the Oakland Raiders on Nov. 25. He shakes hands and exchanges greetings with colleagues, while at the same time scoping out the competition on the opposite end of the field.

He can feel the clamoring of sixty-four thousand fans as game time approaches - it is an electric atmosphere. Once the game begins, Kokinis makes his way up to the press box, whispering over the pin drop silence of the room. This is the workday every Sunday from early fall to mid-winter. It is no ordinary job.

“That’s what the great thing about scouting is – it’s never the same thing all the time,”said Kokinis, a professional scout for the Baltimore Ravens. “You’re not doing the same job from January to December. That’s what keeps it fresh. That’s what keeps it challenging, and that’s why it’s fun.”

His work seems endless and ever-changing; he’s never not busy. As each season changes, Kokinis’ work adapts.

“The fall is more of what we call ‘in season scouting’. It’s based on evaluations of players that are available on the street, evaluations of the other 31 teams, and advanced scouting [reports] for the coaching staff,” Kokinis said. “During the winter, it’s free agency period. As we segway into the draft [in the spring], myself and a couple others do some pro and some college scouting – going to college all-star games and evaluat[ing] college prospects.”

Not many people understand the work like this that muscles a successful team for an entire season. Fans and viewers only see the players and coaches that are on the field; however, there are probably more people working behind the scenes and making preparations for game day than there is in just the physical game of football. NFL teams would certainly never reach the success they do without these people working behind the scenes. Each department involved with an NFL team like the Ravens provides its own contributions to the goals and success of the whole organization.

“The goal of scouting is to keep acquiring talent and provid[ing] depth to your team [by] evaluat[ing] and acquir[ing] big, strong, tough, fast, disciplined, [and] chartered players to compete and win Superbowls,” Kokinis said. “Everybody has really talented players that start. The guys that don’t start - if you have depth - can come in when an injury occurs to a starter… then you are going to have continued success.”

Scouts, in particular, have one of the most pivotal and challenging roles in NFL teams. Other than scouting other opponents and writing reports, they feed the future by frequently looking for and picking up valuable players that will uphold the success and culture of the team. This job is neither easy to do nor easy to predict.

“We have meetings to see who is a good fit for us, not only from a talent perspective but also from a culture perspective. Good in the community, a good leader…” said Kokinis. “The hardest parts are the intangibles: Work ethic, intelligence, grit, passion for the game, personality. Some players, when they get into the league, don’t react [well] to either the pressure, the distractions, the money, the free time, the family stress, the fame… That’s the hardest thing to predict.”

Scouting is a challenging job and is certainly not for everyone. Kokinis’ active personality, however, allows him to be at the top of his profession and at the same time love what he does.

“George clearly has a ton of knowledge for football and that is evident in everything that he does,” said Garrett Downing, a colleague and the social media manager/ digital host for the Ravens. “He is a fun person to be around. I think that starts with his knowledge for football and the work that he puts in in that regard. It’s important to be able to have fun when you are at work and he is someone that exemplifies that.”

Not only does Kokinis enjoy his job while simultaneously contributing success to the scouting department and the Ravens roster, but his personality also pushes others to continue doing their best work. Kokinis’ naturally friendly character contributes unity and inspiration to others which drives the success of the entire Ravens organization.

“Being an intern, our offices are removed from the rest of the offices in the building, [but] he always makes sure he stops by and says ‘hello’,” said Megan Boyle, an intern in the Ravens Public Relations department. “He doesn’t have to go out of his way and talk to us and make us feel like we are actually part of the organization and the company. It’s nice to feel like you are part of everything, and he definitely does a great job of going above and beyond for that.”

Kokinis’ friendliness carries over from the workplace to all the people that surround him elsewhere. He always leaves a positive impression on the people he interacts with and represents the Ravens organization well with his enthusiasm and generosity.

Steve Marsh, a long-time friend of Kokinis, said, “What I’ve always liked about George is he always cheers on all the boys with gusto, always leads them well, and gives them good direction.”

Kokinis looks to feed the younger generation with important life lessons by being a leader to them and bringing his kids and their friends around the facility and stadium from time to time. Lessons cannot be learned without experience and a visual.

“I think it’s important to see people at the top of their profession. It’s a good lesson for any young person just to see the dedication, the sacrifice, and the challenges to get better at anything you do and to not be satisfied with mediocrity,” said Kokinis. “To just keep striving, to be knocked down a couple times and be able to fight back. I think that’s an important lesson you can pick up from here.”

The Ravens Organization itself gives insight into what it takes to have success, but the job of scouting has provided Kokinis with life lessons that will always stick with him anywhere he goes.

“This job helps you make decisions, react to situations, deal with adversity, be able to think on your feet, and get along with people,” said Kokinis. “The working environment [helps you] understand that people aren’t the same and that’s ok. When you’re doing anything, it’s really [all about] hard work, good attitude, and having fun which translates to being passionate about what you do when you get older.”

Kokinis is passionate about his job, but there is more than just the work that contributes to his love for what he does.

“My favorite thing about this place, which makes it a special place, there’s just good people here. We have a vision of what this team wants to be and we’re all pulling in that direction, the whole organization,” Kokinis said without hesitation. “It’s about the relationships you build rather than the individual things that you do. The super bowls were just all the work that you did to achieve that goal [together], and we did it twice.”

The Baltimore Ravens are united and could be considered a giant family. Multiple people from multiple departments contribute to and are all necessary for the bigger picture: accomplishing the goals of and impacting the success of the entire organization. There is a lot more labor put in behind the scenes than just the players and coaches that are seen on the field. But, it’s not all about the fame. Kokinis, working behind the scenes, loves what he does and has a fulfillment of his own.

“For scouts, you don’t get to play, you don’t get the game plan, so the excitement of being a scout is how you can impact the team,” Kokinis said. “All the travel, all of the reports, all of the meetings, all of the time away from your family… it’s all worth it when you get players and you’re looking out on Sunday, and you’re seeing a guy that you picked, recommended, or fought for in the draft room, and he’s making plays. That’s the satisfaction.”

On game days, Kokinis, the chief scout for the Baltimore Ravens, doesn’t stay in the same place the whole time. “I think up in the press box, everybody is just so tight [and serious] all the time, and I don’t function that way,” said Kokinis. “For me, it’s not that I’m not focused, I just like to stay loose, think clearly, and be able to react.”

Before the match starts on game days, Kokinis also makes his way to the sidelines in order to watch the Ravens and scout their opponents while warming up.

[mcdonoghwriters-blog]

McDonogh Students Reduce and Reuse

The SEA club at the Club Fair promoting their club and getting people to sign up. The photo was taken by Dave Campbell.

By, Kate Henry and Zach Smith

Among the many clubs on campus that promote social activism, Mimi Goldstein ‘19 and Sophie Rockefeller ‘20 did not see one that addressed an issue dear to their heart:

“I’ve always been conscientious of human’s role in the environment and I saw a gap in student involvement,” said Goldstein, who along with Rockefeller created a new club last year called Students for Environmental Action (SEA), which they hope will bring awareness to the environment.

“We are trying to make new projects on campus to get people involved so they can use that awareness to create greater change in their lives by teaching people that there are ways to become environmentally friendly and teaching them action is necessary,” said Goldstein.

One aspect that the SEA club is trying to bring awareness to is the problem of pollution. They are concerned with how industries produce pollution as a result of consumerism.

Ms. Bind, Language Teacher in the Upper School and a SEA club advisor, said, “American consumers buy a lot of things and they use them for a short period of time and sometimes just throw them out without thinking about how much energy went into producing that clothing. Very often things are not produced in one factory, they are produced in several factories. Like jeans, for example, one factory will do the dying of the cloth and another factory will do the cutting. There's a lot of transportation involved and all that transportation pollutes the environment and uses precious fossil fuels.”

With all the information the club has on environmental pollution, they want to share it with everyone, especially the McDonogh student body. They want everyone to see what they see which is the fact that the environment is hurting because of people’s neglect.

Goldstein said, “We just want everyone to be aware of our impact on the environment and how harmful we can be as people. Everything we do has a huge impact; it is a cascade effect that we aren’t aware of.”

Knowing the attention span of average teenage students, getting them to buy into such a challenging mission will be a tall order.  

“We realized pretty quickly that it is very difficult to get people mobilized behind this cause so this year we are focusing more on uniting the student population and getting people to give their support to us,” said Rockefeller.

The club leaders recognized that student support was dwindling. Goldstein and Rockefeller needed a fun way to present these huge issues in the environment to high schoolers.

“We are going to be reusing clothes and items that people are throwing away,” said Goldstein of a creative and fun solution she and Rockefeller came up with to mobilize the Mcdonogh student community behind their efforts at environmental awareness. 

“We are trying to stop the cycle of consumerism by trading clothes instead of buying and shipping it.” 

To add to that, Rockefeller said, “there is no negative impact on the environment. We are not producing anything new, we are just recycling old materials so it's a really central pillar of SEA club’s ideas.”

Having an Upper School wide item and clothing exchange brings major awareness and support for the SEA club that they have been pining for.

“The thrift exchange is an idea that we thought people would be interested in because it would be a fun and engaging idea to bring to campus and have for the whole upper school,” said Rockefeller. “The main thing is to promote reuse and draw attention to the fact that the clothing industry is really not sustainable and it is harmful to the environment and the people who work in that industry,” 

With the thrift exchange coming up throughout November and December, which shows students the importance of reducing and reusing, they also have ideas about it staying and becoming a yearly thing.

Dr. Jones, an Environmental Science Teacher in the Upper School and an SEA club advisor, said, “I think an idea like that has the potential to be a really cool tradition here if the culture of the school gets involved.”

A SEA club leader, Mimi Goldstein ‘19, is trying to make a change in the environment and get supporters for her and Sophie Rockefeller’s club. The photo was taken by Kate Henry.

[mcdonoghwriters-blog]

D4M Reveals Students’ Inner Voice and Passion

D4M members and spring conference attendees enjoy being able to keep things light and fun even while discussing serious topics.

By: Carsyn Belanger and Isabella Marsh 

Margaux Trexler ‘19 walked onto the Horn Theater Stage during a McDonogh high school assembly a few days before Halloween. Her purpose was harmless; she showed a video just to remind everyone that culture is not a costume and to warn against appropriating culture this halloween.

“As soon as I said the words ‘culture’ and ‘respect,’ the entire audience started buzzing and talking among themselves,” said a frustrated Trexler, who wanted to remind the audience that “Diversity is an all encompassing issue.”

Trexler is a co-leader of a unique group at McDonogh School called D4M, which is short for Diversity for McDonogh; this student-led organization provides a conversational space to those in the community who desire to find their own voice on diversity-related issues. The group promotes awareness of issues ranging from culturally appropriate Halloween costumes to respecting differences among those in the community.

“Getting people [to our] conversations gives [those] people more of a voice and [shows the] representation of the voices that are at McDonogh,” said Lucy Resar ‘19, a member of D4M. “Our main goal is to get people to talk about voices that are underrepresented, talk about bringing to them to the light, and give them more equality in McDonogh and universally.”

Not only does D4M provide an open, safe space for diversity-related conversation, but it allows students to develop into leaders that can help others find their own voices in the future.

“People join D4M because they have a certain identity marker,” said Nicholas Rego, an English teacher and faculty advisor for D4M. “[From there,] we try hard to produce kids who can lead, direct, and be role models. But, it’s also [for] advocacy. [D4M is] training advocacy.”

D4M’s advocates foster discussions that are focused on topics like gender, race, family, sexuality, politics, religion, etc. These are topics that people often brush under the rug; it’s human nature to feel uncomfortable around topics that aren’t agreed upon. D4M pushes students to lean into the discomfort in order to grow.

“I want to make diversity a less taboo word,’ said Trexler. “If I’m going to be honest, I think this tuning out of diversity-related topics comes with a lack of empathy, especially within majority groups who don’t directly experience the effects of discrimination.”

Being in Baltimore, McDonogh students witness social injustice but some don’t really experience or widely understand it. D4M tries to incorporate empathy and education into discussions; it allows a place for people who understand to vent and at the same time provides an opportunity for students who are less aware to listen and try to understand. From there, students can collaborate to help make a change.

“Inequality is an issue that exists nationwide and universally, and I think a lot of that stems from minorities and less represented groups being at the bottom spectrum of social and economic classes,” said Resar. “I think talking about that stuff comes up a lot in D4M, and I think talking about and bringing awareness to those issues is a first step to fixing them.”

Having a space to discuss and understand diversity issues is the important first step into solving larger world problems. D4M helps students find their passion and voice and then helps them teach others to do the same. It provides a space and support system for these sensitive conversations at McDonogh School.

“Giving students a space to speak freely about their opinions, or simply listen to others do so, is so important to me,” said Trexler. “This is the world we are living in, so why not actually talk about it?”

Attendees engage in a more serious conversation about gender identity. 

[mcdonoghwriters-blog]

Diverse group of counselors at McDonogh School provide voice for the voiceless

By: Kyle Whitaker & Dominic Solis

Wellness teacher and confidant, Michelle Kriebel resting her hand on a glass where there are many secrets of students that are stored safe and sound inside. On the table is a lesson where Kriebel provides alcohol awareness.

By: Kyle Whitaker & Dominic Solis

McDonogh School is a place where students are challenged in many facets of life. Whether it’s in the classroom, on the field, or on the stage, students are always competing with one another.

“McDonogh is really academically and athletically rigorous and many times it’s hard to find someone to unload on,” said Macy Blair ‘21.

For Blair, Mr. Michael Green is her person to “unload on”, Green is McDonogh’s newest counselor, joining the faculty last summer. Green’s office has become a go-to spot for kids looking for a friendly face and a wise ear:

“Many students have said that having a confidential space to talk with someone has been very helpful for them. Along with maintaining a confidential environment, the counseling process also allows students to share thoughts and feelings without fear of judgment.” said Green.

The school also has mentors such as Ms. Michelle Kriebel, who may not be counselors per se but are well known for being kind people who kids can turn to with their problems. Students rave about Kriebel’s ability to be honest but also connect with students on a personal level.

“Ever since I took Mrs. Kribel's wellness class freshman year, I knew she was someone I could look to for guidance and trust to keep anything we talked about between us.” said Alison Pitts ‘20.

Although Kriebel is a part-time faculty member at McDonogh, her experience at other schools helps her to relate to many different types of students. This allows her to affect a wider range of students at Mcdonough and she still feels like she could do more.

“You guys know I work here part time, so my role is really different than a lot of folks and I constantly feel pulled in that direction that if I worked here full time, I could really be invested because I’d have an advisory and do some of that other stuff.” said Kriebel.

Although Kriebel is part-time she and Green work closely together to aid students effectively. They see a wide range of problems, some of which are better suited for a counselor and others that can simply be solved by an informal conversation with a friendly face. 

“While I am not the counselor, I have literally taken people from here [with their permission] over to the counselor, and I have a counseling degree but I am not a licensed counselor here practicing in Maryland,” said Kriebel. “I would say that honestly, what a lot of kids just want is someone that can hear them and be with them… in a world that’s super busy with phones and expectations and pressure that’s on them.” 

Green and Kriebel do a great job of making sure students feel like they matter; however, students still struggle with their role and function in this action packed place that is McDonogh.

 “For a lot of kids that are coming into me… a big issue is the way that they perceive themselves in comparison to others. Whether that is socially, academically or athletically,” said Kriebel. “A lot of these problems trickle down from parents, or at a school like McDonogh where everyone is on high octane, they stem from pressure created by any adult in their life.” 

All in all students at McDonogh feel an array of emotions during their time here, some good and some bad. One thing, however, is for sure: If students need help, Michael Green and Michelle Kriebel will be a resource that’s always available. 

“The best thing a student can do if they have these feelings is to reach out for support,” said Kriebel. “Do not suffer in silence! I’m ready and more than willing to help, my door is always open.”

[mcdonoghwriters-blog]

Collaboration, Care, and Comfort

Ms. Cooper and Ms. Peck assist Juniors, Brynn Evans and Ethan Robinson with their English Essays.

By Grace Roden and Kellen Meagher

Frantic typing, clamoring voices, and rustling papers fill the room. The hustle and bustle is evident. The learning center at McDonogh is a place of work, a place of conversation, but most importantly, it is a place of comfort.

“The hectic nature of the learning center is intimidating at first, but Ms.Cooper and Ms.Peck make embracing that busy culture seem effortless,” said Sophie Roden ‘19.

Ms. Cooper and Ms. Peck, the Upper School Learning Specialists at McDonogh School, are responsible for leveling the academic playing field for students with learning disabilities. Students who have these struggles, impairing their education, oftentimes have an academic life unlike the ones of other students.

“I come in here and they are always here and they just guide you through what you're doing,” said Ethan Robinson ‘20, who described his experiences as a student with a learning disability who has found success through frequent visits to the learning center. “I feel like there is a need to level the playing field for students like me and they do a good job of that.”

Students with learning deficits are often stigmatized. Because their disorder is not physical or tangible, it is difficult for people to grasp the legitimacy of their problems.

“Students who learn differently can be seen sometimes as not effortful,  disorganized [and that they] do this with intent.” said Ms. Peck, who noted that, “You can’t just say, try harder” and expect their problems to be solved.      

Peck continued, saying, “I wouldn't make every kid wear glasses because one kid needed them, nor would I prohibit someone who needed glasses from wearing them because everyone else has perfect eyesight.”

Peck and Cooper give a voice to those who may otherwise be voiceless at Mcdonogh. They provide clarity and guidance to students who otherwise would have no plan of action in navigating their disorder.The assistance they offer is invaluable to Mcdonough Students.

Mr. Burch, a history teacher, said “I don't think that a lot of kids would survive at McDonogh without the Learning center.”

The evolution in learning can be demonstrated through a students’ writing. This is tangible evidence of the work that Ms. Cooper and Ms. Peck do in the McDonogh community.

Ms.McFarland, an English teacher who relies on Peck and Cooper to help her students with essays and comprehension, described the impact the use of the Learning Center has had on her students. She said, “I have seen how the kids grow and change. I feel that students become more and more confident in their ability to write.”

Ms.Cooper and Ms.Peck, “Advocate for students to get the help that they need and to teach them to advocate for themselves.” Sophie Roden ‘19 added, “They were there to help me when I couldn't help myself.”

[mcdonoghwriters-blog]

Rocky Road For Republican Club

By: Gabriel Hidey and Karson Koski

Student leader of the Republican Club, Daniel Kim ‘20 works to encourage fellow students to join the political discourse at Mcdonogh School.

The Republican Club has had no shortage of bumps in the road on it’s way to success. Since it began in 2016, following the election of President Donald Trump, this club has climbed it’s way to be one of the most attended clubs at McDonogh.

The club was founded in 2016 by Joe DeMartin and sponsored by faculty member Bob Mahon, who said, “student leaders did a good job of staying educated and conducting good conversations.”

The club did not have smooth sailing when it first got started, largely because it was not well received among some in the community who did not necessarily disapprove of Republicans but certainly did not approve of President Trump and his unique style.

The current student leader of the Campus Republicans Club, Daniel Kim said, “We received blowback all over McDonogh when the Idea for this club first popped up, [...] I had teachers tell me that it was not a good Idea and emails telling me that it is not even a club.”.

The student leaders who were involved with starting the club may have faced some sour reactions from some members of the community and faculty, but Mahon Mahon, said he received a different reaction from the administration.

“Nobody said no,” said Mahon.

Shortly after the club pushed its way through the backlash it grew to bring in members from all over the political spectrum.

Kim said, “We have people from the Dems club come to our meetings as well.”

Now this club is able to gather and have good conversations without the initial controversy.

Of the first meeting, which drew some 60 students, Mahon said, “ We met together in the Mullen Board Room and it was a peaceful event with good discussion.”

These good discussions are thanks to the student leaders for the Republican Club, Spencer Pett and Kim. They have allowed people from both sides of the aisle to have an open political discourse.

Shane Silverman said that he has experienced this himself, saying, “I am personally a Democrat but I attend the Republican meetings to broaden my perspective, and because I feel that they are too complaint based and not enough discussion.”

Jillian Ansell, a two year member of the Republican Club, said, “The leaders are people that are comfortable sharing their opinions and are good at providing a safe environment for people to voice their political views.”

Pett and Kim are both active in all of the political clubs. They go to Democrat meetings as well.  They keep open minds and always know how to direct a good conversation. They handle thier club with pride and responsibility.

Mahon said,  “I think that the Republican club has accomplished its goal to offer a place for people to voice their opinions on politics. We have people from all over the political spectrum in our club now”

[mcdonoghwriters-blog]

Debate: A Goldmine in the McDonogh Community

Head Debate Coach, Daryl Burch is a devoted, dedicated and accomplished coach and teacher at Mcdonogh School.

As freshman student, Shane Silverman’20, walked on to McDonogh’s campus, he contemplated what clubs and activities to join. Nervous and excited, Silverman anxiously approached Allan building.  Ever since middle school, Silverman believed he never had a voice in his classrooms.  

He never learned the necessary skills to engage in educated discussions. That was all about to change as he found a club and team that would allow his voice to be heard.

“Debate gave me a place to share my ideas where I knew nobody would judge me and my opinions” said Silverman. “I just felt like I did not have the skills to engage in talks with people before debate.”

The debate program at McDonogh is extremely successful, with over six tournament wins and one national title. The team is led by history teacher and nationally known debate coach Daryl Burch.  Burch hopes to continue the team’s success while providing  students with a safe platform to voice all of their opinions.

“Debate is an activity that allows kids to express their opinions on a multiple variety of issues, mostly on politics,” Burch said, who noted that while politics is a sensitive topic to many, debate “Allows people to articulate their frustrations in a way that can garner dialogue and conversation.”

In general, the classroom does not always provide students with a safe space to share their opinion for fear of offending the teacher or fellow students.  Burch believes that debate will show students how to voice their opinions in the classroom.

You have opinions, but the immaturity lies in [students feel like] I don’t know how to express my opinions.” Burch said, “Debate gives you that literature base to harness things that you are feeling and learn how to articulate them. More so than in the classroom.”  

Burch also believes that literature is the primary component required for academic discussions.  Without literature, Burch believes, it is difficult to have an educated conversation.  

“If [students] can couple their personal experience with literature, it makes it a much safer space because they support their experience,” he said.

Another student, Dylan Wang 20’, has been part of the debate team for three years.  From a student’s perspective, Wang enjoys the free flowing environment that debate offers.

“You get to say whatever you want,” said Wang, “You can’t be shut down for what you want to say; nobody will judge you based on your political ideologies.”

Debate provides students with a platform to share their opinions.  Silverman ‘20,  said he not only enjoys that debate lets everyone voice their opinions, but also gives students with all different backgrounds the opportunity to share their points.

“Up until about 10 years ago debate was primarily a white sport, but now people of all different races and background are using a debate to express their opinions and beliefs in a safe space,” said Silverman.

On the outside, debate seems to be a club, but on in the inside it is much more.

“Debate is a sport and you are working as a team to formulate the best opinion possible,” said Silverman.

Sports might not be everyone’s thing, but some people still want the team aspect and dedication that playing sports offers.  Like sports, debate requires the effort and focus of everyone on the team. 

For example, Ryan James ‘17, quit basketball as he never received any playing time on the varsity squad and decided to focus only on debate.

“Debate give students who do not get any playing time on varsity to use their competitive drive,” Burch said “In Ryan James case, a [debate] national championship and a full ride to Emory, I personally think he made the right choice.”

Debate gives a real say to students who have never experienced or learned the academic side of conversations.  Although quiet in the McDonogh community, the debate program gives the students to speak up and share their opinions.

Burch said, “Debate is a goldmine that a lot of people don’t think about.”