THE SPARTAN SPEAR

News from the Spartan Spear Staff: October 30, 2020

Happy Halloween from the Spartan Spear Staff!

I Remember Halloween

October 30, 2020 By Ella Dugan '22

Halloween was my most favored holiday growing up. My younger self was extremely passionate about Halloween. I would decide my costume as if it were a life or death situation and I always fought off the jacket my mom tried to get me to wear over my costume when it got cold.
My older sister and I would go over to my aunt’s house to go trick-or-treating with our cousins. We always had a competition to see how much candy each of us could collect.
As soon as we set out for the night we were filled with adrenaline, each of us trying to get the neighbors to sneak us an extra piece of candy or if we were lucky a handful of our favorites. Mine was Almond Joy’s.
Once we were home the winner would be able to take one piece of candy from each participant's pile of hard-earned sweets. Everyone wanted first place since the winner usually took the biggest piece of candy from every pile.
Although this year is different we can still have an exciting Halloween.
This Halloween while getting spooky and keeping the evil spirits away, we need to scare COVID away. Wearing a mask and sanitizing will be key during this candy giving-and-taking holiday.
Although trick-or-treating is tempting, try some alternatives for this spooky day, like carving pumpkins at home or a horror movie night with the family. If you’re really wanting an adventure try going to an outdoor, socially-distanced, haunted corn maze or a pumpkin patch. To show off your costume try Facetiming a friend or wearing it during a Zoom call.
And if you have little ones in your life, you can give them a taste of old school trick-or-treating by pretending to answer the door for them with a big bowl of candy. Just save the Almond Joy’s for me.

In preparation for Halloween, candy waits for possible trick-or-treaters. Photo by Madeline Mahalak '21

Photo by Drew Pickrel '23

Halloween Scavenger Hunt

October 30,2020

The student council decided it was time to celebrate Halloween with a fun activity. About 50-60 kids showed up this afternoon for a Halloween Scavenger Hunt and left with hands full of candy passed out by Marist staff from all over the campus. A raffle for gift cards was held after all clues had been found.

Students race to the baseball field after solving the previous riddle. Photo by Toni Cooper

Spartan News Network: What's Happening In Athletics with Bart Pollard

October 30, 2020 By Sam Svingen '21 and Ben Morehouse '21

This week on Spartan News Network, watch an exclusive interview with Marist Interim Athletic Director Bart Pollard about sports during Covid-19.

Kicking Off The Retreat Season

October 30, 2020 By Ben Morehouse '21

The Marist Retreat Team officially started off the 2020-21 retreat season last weekend as they gathered for the annual Formation Retreat both in person and on Zoom to prepare to lead retreats for the juniors, sophomores and freshmen in this unusual year for Marist retreats.
According to Dr. Rick Martin, the Director of Campus Ministry and Formation, the goals of the retreat were to build the team, build skills for retreat leadership, build spiritual life personally and as a community and, unique to this year, to explore remote and limited in-person practices.
While previous year’s Formation Retreats would have started with a bus ride to Camp Tapawingo, this retreat began with students socially distanced in the gym. The 30 juniors and seniors broke into five small groups with one or two staff members, and spent a couple hours doing icebreakers in their small groups.
Throughout the weekend there were many breaks to allow for the participants and leaders to travel home for Zoom meetings or to travel to school back to school for in-person activities and of course time to eat.
The Zoom meetings were used for more personal conversations. They were used to get to know each other, which was easier without the required mask wearing in person, to reflect on how COVID-19 is affecting them, and to share their testimonies or “personal faith journeys.”
“Zoom worked much better than expected, and resulted in engagement and a successful retreat experience,” Dr. Martin said.
On Saturday evening they gathered for an in-person prayer service within small groups. “The prayer circle drew our small group closer together and I think it gave us all a lot of peace and comfort,” senior Laina Chavez said.
There was also time for individual prayer. On Sunday morning, each student took a half-hour walk to give them time to focus on their environment and to just breathe. Fr. Theo Lange celebrated Mass for the team before they enjoyed a pizza feast and spent the rest of their time socializing.
“The Formation Retreat taught us that retreats can take place meaningfully even in remote or hybrid mode. Knowing this, we will work hard to prepare excellent retreats to take place in January and February,” Dr. Martin said.

Marist Junior Named Boy Scout of the Year

October 30, 2020 By Paige Doerr '23 and Amelia Watts '22

Junior Duncan Yozzo at his Eagle Scout ceremony in January.

Junior Duncan Yozzo, Eagle Scout of troop 282, has been awarded the highly regarded honor of Scout of the Year in the Greenwood district of the Oregon Trail Council last month for his demonstration of leadership, passion for community service, service to God and Country, as well as adherence to the Scout Law and Scout Oath.
Yozzo, who has been associated with Boy Scouts of America for nearly ten years, is extremely honored to be selected for such a prestigious award.
“Once I learned that it [Boy Scouts] was all about exploring the outdoors, building things, and everything under the sun, I realized I had found something that could change my life.”
Yozzo's favorite memory of Boy Scouts was when his troop went backpacking for the weekend in 18 inches of snowfall, after estimations of “a light dusting” was predicted.

Seniors by for a quick photo shoot last Wednesday

Backpacking Bear Hunt

October 30, 2020 By Ezra O’Connell '22

Picture of the gorgeous view from the bottom of the South Sister. Photo by Madeline Mahalak '21

The savage cold and the withering heat: extremes in the Oregon weather that can be easily avoided by planning your backpacking trips in the fall. In the summer, you are left to plan your hike to stay near water sources and in the winter, wearing the appropriate gear is often your largest worry. So, I was lucky enough to indulge in the prime time for such an activity; fall in the Pacific Northwest.
My dad and I left early in the morning and arrived at our trailhead with more than enough time to reach our camp site. We would be hiking into the backcountry of the Waldo Lake Nation Forest. Our plan was to hike down the North Fork of the Willamette river, then to cut off-trail and cross the river in a wide marshy section of the forest. From that point we would hike back up the river paralleling the trail that we left. Hoping to make it to the base of a large burn on the east side of Moolack Mountain, that lingered above us, by nightfall. Up until that point all went as planned.
Once we reached our initial intended camp site, we determined that the area we had penetrated into would not work for what we had wanted. The brush was extremely thick, the creek that we planned on camping by was so choked with overgrowth and downed logs we never saw it … although only standing a few feet away from where it supposedly ran.
At this point we had two options: trek back or cross the river. We decided to try our luck at crossing the river. Afterall, the trail from whence we came lay only a few hundred yards on the other side. Pushing through the willows and weeds we found a small muddy spot on the bank where we could actually reach the water. I got into my skivvies and waded into the icy water, and knee deep mud, to see how deep the river was. The quagmire that I stood on dropped off abruptly within several feet. Realizing the precarious situation that my father and I were in, I reconsidered my decision. However, my dad reminded me I was already in up to my knees.
Together we piled our stuff on the bank, my father stripped down and we began ferrying our guns and packs across the river. After five trips across we successfully transferred our gear. Standing neck deep in the middle of that cold river was one of the few times I saw the sky on that trip, in a way it was refreshing to be out from under the thick canopy of trees.
Once on the other side we pulled on our boots and moved our stuff down a small elk path to a large bedding area we found in the bushes. From here we dried off, got the rest of our clothes on and trekked back down the trail that we were on only hours ago. Just before nightfall we found a decent campsite down the trail, and after a few hours of hunting and bushwacking the next morning, we made it back to our starting point.
You can never run out of trail once you get into backpacking, each trip is a new experience, whether you are hunting or just going out on the weekends. And really, there is no better way to get to know a person by spending a couple of days out in the woods with them. The biggest thing to take away from any extended amount of time in the woods is to learn to make decisions and stick with them. Whether that means crossing the river or hiking an extra mile, what matters the most is that you make the decision, without wasting time, and follow through with it.

News from the Spartan Spear Staff: October 16, 2020

Meet Marist's New President

October 16, 2020 By Talon Larson '22

Marist president David Welch.

Arriving on campus in July, the new Marist president David Welch formally joined the Marist staff and community following the retirement of former president Suzanne Graf last June. Enjoy reading the Spartan Spear’s Q and A with President Welch and learn about his path to Marist, his duties as the new president, and his hobbies.

Q: What did you do before Marist?

A: “For the past 22 years I have worked in the field of Advancement in higher education. I have been involved with fundraising at all levels starting at the University of Washington, then the University of North Carolina, then Georgetown University and most recently I was at the University of Oregon as their Executive Director of Development at the College of Arts & Sciences.”

Q: How did you come across Marist and what made you want to work here?

A: “I was actually approached by a friend and board member at Marist after Mass earlier this year and talked about the possibility of working at Marist after it was announced that Suzanne Graf was retiring. Although I had never thought about leading a Catholic school, as the discussions continued, I realized how close I was to Catholic schools and the impact they made on me in my life. I am a Catholic school kid who went through K-12 in Mobile, Alabama and then received my college degree at Marquette University in Michigan. My parents taught in the Catholic high school I attended and my sister now teaches history at St. Michael’s in Fairhope, Alabama. So, as you can see, Catholic education is close to me and my family.”

Q: As president, what do you do?

A: “Well, I am still figuring that out, but I think the role demands someone who is passionate about the mission of the school and also can support the needs of the students, faculty and staff. The president needs to be able to understand the past, present, and potential future of the school and then work to create a vision that enables the school to succeed. More specifically, the president partners with the principal in the running of the school and is primarily responsible for the financial aspects of the school including fundraising, enrollment and outreach into the community.”

Q: What do you like about Marist and is there anything you would like to change?

A: “I am impressed by the culture and the dedication of our faculty and staff to the kids and our mission. I also like having the Catholic faith infused in the day to day work life through prayer and knowing that we are doing God’s work. The main thing that I want to change is the large swings in enrollment that Marist has endured over the last 25 years. I hope to bring some stability to the number of students we admit and ensure that every child at Marist has a similar experience.”

Q: What made you want to work at high school?

A: “I have been working on college campuses my entire career and I am attracted to the opportunity to work more closely with teenagers and be closer to the impact that I can make in my job. I also am enjoying working more locally - to be making a difference here in Eugene and getting to know this community even better.”

Q: What are your hobbies?

A: “I enjoy the work I do and the time I get to spend with my family. I enjoy cooking, music and the arts and also being outdoors - whether it’s hiking, running or just enjoying the view. The Pacific Northwest and Willamette Valley offer so many options and I look forward to continuing to find such beautiful expressions of nature around us.”

ATTENTION SENIORS! Senior Portraits are coming! If you've been wondering ... Lifetouch will be at Marist on Oct. 28 to take ALL of senior photos for the yearbook! Sign up will be arriving soon on Schoology. Times will be available between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. (p.s. This is mandatory for all seniors - contact Toni Cooper with any conflicts.)

First Mass of the Year

The Return of Some Normalcy and Hope for More to Come

October 16, 2020 By Ryann Kokkeler '21

The traditional first Mass of the year took place this Wednesday, and it looked a little different than years past.
This year’s Mass of the Holy Spirit was held in the Academic Resource Center and shared with the community on Zoom. Just a few students and staff were present in person.
They may not have been in Mass attire, but everyone present sported masks per school and state protocol. Prior to entry, each person took a contact tracing survey and had their temperatures checked.
And unlike a “normal” first Mass of the year, the Mass was celebrated in the ARC rather than in the gym. And instead of being scrunched close with friends and classmates, they sat in seats placed 6 feet apart. Rather than having the traditional Ministry of Greeting the participants were simply welcomed with an introduction by Principal Baker and Marist’s new president David Welch.
“It felt strange, there wasn’t the comradery of everyone coming together as a school. I wish that we were able to have more people. Mass is such a big part of Marist, and it unites us all. I just hope we can have normal Masses at some point this year, but at least we get to have them at all! It’s better than nothing,” student body president Mo Cavinee said.
But while the Mass may have felt very different this year, the Student Council and staff worked to keep one important tradition the same. A letter from last year's graduating class was read by Cavinee to the new freshmen class at the end of Mass.

(The complete letter is included below.)

Senior Student Body President Mo Cavinee reads a letter from the Class of 2020 to the new freshmen class at a Mass last Wednesday in the ARC. Most participants joined through Zoom.

A limited number of people - both students and staff - attend last Wednesday's Mass in the ARC.

Letter to the Freshman (From the Class of 2020 to the Class of 2024)

To the Class of 2024,
What’s up fellow freshmen?? A big hug and hello from the Class of 2020. You made it to high school! Congrats! We are so excited for you to get to hop on this four-year, wild ride that Marist has to offer. We would LOVE to be in your shoes right now — we are so jealous! You have years full of screaming your lungs out under the Friday night lights, busting out some groovy moves at school dances, wheezing through laughing attacks over the most random things, stress bonding over homework assignments, forming new friendships that make your days brighter, refreshing your souls on retreats and finding yourself in the world. But we don’t get to come back and do that, so it’s on you, class of 2024, you’ve got to live it for us!
Campus can seem big and scary when you first step on — Nelson’s terms, Haggard’s annotations, finding who your friends are, and now with Corona, online school? That’s a lot to take in! You’ve got it though. And just to give you an extra boost, we got together and created you a guide to survive the ropes of Marist Catholic ‘College Preparatory’ High School.
So buckle up and listen good to this clichē, high school guide to a fantastic four years:
First and foremost, we want to let you know some super helpful words that guided us through our time at Marist and made it so memorable: “The more you put in, the more you get out.” These words apply to every aspect of life at Marist, from retreats and academics to sports and friends. The spirit of these words of wisdom encourage you to get involved in all aspects of life at Marist because that is the only way you’ll experience the rewards of being a part of the Marist family. We encourage you to get involved with your school, be courageous with others, be authentic to yourself and be excited for opportunity.
Now for some more tips and fancy tricks: SLEEP and self care! School can be overwhelming, especially when you add sports, homework, Netflix, social media *cough cough tik tok,* friends, jobs, transportation and more! So love yourself! Sleep whenever you can. Sleep is a beautiful thing. Grab a scone from the cafeteria — they are absolutely amazing, especially when they are warm.
Smile through your mask, or over Zoom. Say hello. Offer high fives (corona approved) to those you don’t know that well — there are so many friendships that will be formed that begin with just a simple greeting and some kindness.
Don’t break your iPads, it's quite the hassle to get new ones. Make sure you backup everything on Google Drive, this can be quite handy if you do happen to crack an iPad. Make a Class of 2024 Quizlet group! Share your study sets! This is so helpful when finals roll around! Take good notes during the units — the more work you do during the beginning of the semester, the less you will have to study for tests — which is awesome.
We say this next point as complete and utter hypocrites, but we hope you’ll break the cycle of the typical high school student: DON’T PROCRASTINATE! High school really isn’t all that bad when you prioritize your studies. Get a planner. Find the thing that helps you stay organized! Put your head down and focus when you need to! Reach out to your friends and classmates to coordinate study sessions or even ask your parents —they’re pretty cool.
Don’t give up hope! Yes, sometimes things can get a bit rough. You might have a couple tests in a day, a sports event, stuff at home and much more, but remember every single person here wants to help you in your success! If you are struggling, talk to your teachers! They are people too. And when you actually have conversations with them, they have kind of funny senses of humor and a surprising amount of love for you! Become friends with your teachers. We are dying to come back at Christmas Break and say hello to them!
At the same time, don’t just do school! Teachers, cover your ears, but Class of 2024, skip an assignment every once and awhile! Go hang out with your friends instead of studying for that test for hours on end. Do something crazy! Live! So many of us look back on our experience, and realize that we didn’t do this until our later years. High school is about balance, the fun you have and the memories you make. So put yourself out there, as scary as it sounds. It will be more scary when your senior year comes around and you look around and see that the people you have grown to love so much are going to be across the world in college. Soak up every single second. It may seem painfully slow at first, but it goes by so quickly in the end.
Don’t be afraid of clicks! Yes, there may be some clicks coming in as freshman — people finding comfort in friends they already know — but those will fade. Be inclusive! By the time senior year rolls around, you’ll be kicking yourself that you didn’t become friends with everyone before, because guys ... you are all so amazing.
Don’t get angry! Sometimes high school can have drama, but don’t get too caught up in it! Be patient and focus on the fun.
Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. It is okay to make mistakes! You don’t have to be perfect, just be you! Be curious! Challenge what you see. Debate with the teachers. Find the truth!
GO ON ALL OF YOUR RETREATS! They are not lame. They are places where you get to bond with your class and grow spiritually. (BTW, it is okay if you’re not religious, don’t be scared that this is a Catholic school — everyone is super nice about all that!) You’ll get the coolest Insta posts and will find some of the deepest connections to the school and each other.
Like we said at the beginning, get involved. Throw yourself at every opportunity that comes your way: clubs, sports, trips, and have fun with them! They usually come with free gear, so hit that up! However, it is important to not get too overwhelmed with extracurricular activities trying to boost your college resume (which you do not have to worry about right now), Take it easy. Don’t get too stressed. You are more than grades. You are more than your sports, your clubs, your classes. You are enough! Just roll with it, and have an absolute blast with your Marist family. It might not feel like it right now, but trust us, the people around you are your Marist family, and that is one of the coolest feelings in the world.
Whew, you made it to your last and final tips! Thanks for listening to us go on and on about Marist — we could talk to you about it forever but we want you to experience it firsthand.
So, as cheesy as it sounds, live with no regrets! Enjoy the successes that you reach — you deserve that! Going into high school with a pandemic-wrought environment can be daunting, but keep your head up, your goals focused, and never let your self-confidence falter in anything you do! You are capable and you are loved! Good luck!
We are sending all of our love and prayers to you, the class of 2024!
With all the warm wishes in the world,
The Class of 2020

Senior Cate Carson Leads Model UN into the New School Year

October 16, 2020 By Amelia Watts '22

This year’s members of Marist’s Model United Nations club, along with moderator Jon Nuxoll, met for the first time in late September via Zoom to plan for the coming year and discuss what country they would like to represent at the 2021 Model United Nations Conference next April. It was decided that Marist will be representing Venezuela next spring. The MUN organizers have yet to decide on an in-person or virtual conference, and are currently working on plans for both possibilities.
Senior Cate Carson was elected by Oregon Model United Nations members from across Oregon, Washington and Idaho as the vice president to the 2021 Secretariat (the governing body) being the first Marist student to serve as a student officer to a MUN conference. Cate is excited for her roll and says she has lots of work to do and meetings to go to but is loving it.
MUN is a student-led simulation of the real United Nations, an international governing body of 193 member states dedicated to world peace and global development. At the Model UN Conference, students act as representatives of their assigned country and implement resolutions to unresolved global issues through debate and collaboration.
Students prepare by researching their country’s political, economic, environmental and foreign policy issues on selected topics and are required to argue in alignment with their county’s real-life policy positions.
Students involved in MUN have a chance to build and exercise their communication and persuasive skills while gaining a strong perspective on policy-making, global issues and international relations. Each student chooses their area of interest and is assigned to a committee.
“MUN is a great club to join if you have an interest in foreign relations, politics, humanitarian issues, or even if you just want to try out a new experience!” Carson said.
Nuxoll urged students who are interested to sign up on the MUN Schoology page or email him at jnuxoll@marisths.org

Senior Cate Carson

Optional Practice for Girls Soccer

Pods of Juniors on Campus to Work on Chemistry Lab

Non-Contact Football Scrimmage

News from the Spartan Spear Staff: October 02, 2020

Covid-Style Freshman Orientation

Freshmen arrive on campus for a socially-distanced welcome

October 2, 2020 By Giselle Gibeau '24

Freshmen enjoy a fun game of balloon toss towards the end of the annual Freshmen Orientation Day. Photo by Tori Letourneau '21

Freshmen write letters to themselves during their Freshmen Orientation. Photo by Tori Letourneau '21

Senior Britten Johnson picks up her yearbook on Senior Picture Day from French teacher Ryan Baker. Photo by Abbie Chambers '21

For the first time as official Marist students, the class of 2024 was introduced to the Marist campus at Freshman Orientation held last Wednesday from 9-11 a.m.
The freshmen, who had been anxiously waiting to meet new friends and teachers, finally got a chance. After being postponed twice due to local wildfires, the mask-clad students spent the two hours listening, touring, playing games and having their photo taken for their Student I.D. card and the yearbook, all within the midst of a global pandemic.
While sitting 6 feet apart in the Gale Roberts stadium, the new freshman listened to Principal Stacy Baker and Campus Minister Dr. Martin explain what their high school experience may entail -- as in-person school, athletics and activities are up in the air due to COVID restrictions. Many of the students expressed how great and memorable the speeches were.
The 2020-21 Student Council members gave tours of the school and got to see most of the classrooms with their teacher in them. They also wrote letters to there future self that will be opened in four years.
They finished the day with games like Simon Says, water balloon tossing and snacks while many of the staff and freshmen teachers looked on.
     The senior class of 2021 returned to campus after the freshmen were done to have their photos taken by Lifetouch and pick up their 2020 yearbooks.
   This Wednesday, the sophomores and juniors had their first chance to return to campus, reuniting with old friends and staff while picking up their yearbooks and have their Student I.D. photos taken.
   For transfer students, it was not as much about meeting old friends as it was getting a feel for being on campus and meeting new people, even while wearing masks and staying socially-distanced. “I am thrilled to finally be a part of the Marist family,” transfer sophomore Paige Doerr said.
     “I am excited to be at Marist for the next chapter of my life,” added transfer sophomore Kaitlyn Mazur.

MORE 2020 Freshman Orientation Pics

Sophomore, Junior and Senior Picture Days

Spartan News Network: An Interview with Freshmen

The Network's first attempt at interviewing the Class of 2024

October 2, 2020 By Ben Morehouse '21 and Sam Svingen '21

Back in Action

Students return to school … sort of

October 2, 2020 By Amoline Foerstler '21

As the start of the 2020-2021 school year was drawing near, Marist and local school districts such as 4J, Bethel, Junction City, South Lane took different approaches for when to officially begin high school remote learning due to Covid-19 and the devastating wildfires in the area.
Marist was the first in the area to kick off the school year on Sept. 10-11 which consisted of two days of course introductions and getting to know each other through Zoom calls.
The 4J, Bethel, and Junction City school districts were the next to begin, starting remote learning on Monday, Sept. 21. South Lane which includes Cottage Grove High School was the last to begin on Monday, Sept. 28.
The hope is for all schools to get back to the classroom as soon as possible so each district is in charge of watching the state and county metrics put out every week by OHA -as required by Oregon’s Governor Kate Brown. In order to go into hybrid learning (part in-person and part at-home learning) the metrics need to show that 10 people or below per 100,000 are COVID-19 positive.
As of this week, the earliest date Marist students could begin any sort of hybrid learning is Oct. 26 - though things are not looking promising as Oregon COVID-19 cases have been climbing lately in Lane County.
Remote learning for each school looks different in each school so far. At Marist, the average student starts class at 9 a.m., while at Junction City kids start at 8:45 a.m., the 4J schools begin at 8:30 a.m., Willamette begin at 8:15 a.m. and Cottage Grove begins at 8 a.m.
Wednesdays are a work day for most high schools in the area. Marist call these days "Spartan Days" and they are intended for teacher work time and for students to work on assignments asynchronously while teachers are available for help during their office hours both remotely or in-person by appointment. 4J, Bethel, Junction City, and Cottage Grove students check in with teachers on Wednesday mornings and have the rest of the day to work.

Marist Student Named National Merit

Scholarship Semifinalist

Senior Jack Thornton reveals some of his study habits

October 2, 2020 By Ben Morehouse '21

Early this September, senior Jack Thornton was acknowledged as a semifinalist for a National Merit Scholarship because of his success on the PSAT/NMSQT standardized test taken last fall.
     All current Marist seniors took the PSAT/NMSQT in the fall of their junior year along with 1.7 million other American high school juniors, but Thornton was the only Marist student this year to be recognized by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation as among the top 50,000 academically talented high school students to be commended for their performance, and just one of 16,000 students nation wide to be honored as a semifinalist.
     Thornton is now eligible to apply to receive a National Merit Scholarship to help pay for his college education. “I’m deeply honored and humbled, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to be able to apply for the scholarship,” Thornton said.
     Thornton will have to wait until February to see if he is among the 15,000 students chosen as a National Merit Finalist. Of those, about 7,500 of will receive a Merit Scholarship.