THE SPARTAN SPEAR

The Spartan Spear : December 18, 2020

It's a Freshman Christmas!

December 18, 2020 By Amoline Foerstler '21

Freshman Kellie Schroffner paints an ornament at the freshman Christmas event. Photo by Toni Cooper

Throughout the past few weeks, seniors in the Christian Leadership Class have begun hosting a series of events in an effort to bring the class of 2024 together. On the first Thursday and Friday of December, CLC students kicked off the first of many events geared toward the freshman class with a sequence of “freshman conversations” — a long held tradition to help the freshmen get acclimated to high school.
This year, as one might guess, they were held on Zoom during the freshman theology classes. The one-on-one conversations are designed to give the freshmen an opportunity to interact with each other and ask the upperclassmen, who have been in their shoes, questions they have about life at Marist.
Last Wednesday and this Wednesday, CLC students continued their freshman-focused events with their “Two days of Christmas” gatherings complete with food, icebreakers, and cookie and ornament decorating. The events, designed to get the freshmen on campus for some personal interaction, spanned an hour and were filled with fun activities and lots of Christmas music.
The need for freshman interaction has been much needed and long awaited. “I wanted to participate in these events because I haven’t been able to get to know my classmates very much this year. I figured I should take advantage of any chance I could,” freshman Lexie Heckle said.
Many of the CLC students remember how important these events were to them when they were freshmen. “I wanted to plan and take part in these events because this is a hard year for freshmen. I felt like doing this event would give them opportunities to meet more of their classmates as well as have fun and see what the Marist community is about,” senior leader Jordan Lee said.
CLC students are not the only ones to put on freshman gatherings; freshman teachers have also noticed a need for freshmen to connect. On Tuesday, theology teacher David Haggard moderated 15 minute conversations over Zoom intended to help students continue forming connections.
Yesterday, freshman history teacher Tripp Nelson continued these conversations. "What is really driving this is the fact that our freshmen have not had the opportunity to get to know one another as well as our previous classes because of all the covid restrictions,” Nelson said.

Spartan News Network: A Nuxoll Christmas

December 18, 2020 By Sam Svingen '21 and Ben Morehouse '21

SNN Christmas Special: This week We have an exclusive Christmas Edition interview with Marist history teacher, train enthusiast, and lifetime Celebrator of Christmas Jon Nuxoll.

December 18, 2020 By Amelia Watts '22

Avery Isuani ’24
Avery says that if she could live anywhere in the world it would be in Argentina, as she has family ties there and seemingly, it would be like a home away from home. Avery’s favorite season is autumn for its colors. Avery would like to become a pediatrician because she likes being around kids and helping them.

Asher Pellegrini ’24
After hearing quite a bit about how fun it is from other members of the team, Asher is starting out his career at Marist Spartan with a new sport: cross country. So far he says it’s been super fun! He is excited for the upcoming winter break — it’s no wonder since snowy days are his favorite! Comparing Instagram and Snapchat, Asher argues that while Snapchat is better for communicating with friends, Instagram is naturally more preferable since Instagram users are able to follow not just their buddies, but sports teams and celebrities as well. His favorite candy is either M&Ms or any chocolate.

Martina Susec ’24
If Martina could live anywhere in the world she would choose Croatia because the scenery is beautiful and people are so generous and because she has family there. If a billionaire gave her a credit card and asked her to buy them a Snickers bar and something for herself, Martina admits that while she might be tempted to go “all out,” she’d probably just stick with grabbing a bag of Sour Patch Kids. If she could meet a famous person she would meet Donald Glover (aka Childish Gambino) who plays her favorite character Troy in her favorite TV show “Community” or she might choose President Obama because he’s pretty “chill.” If Martina could bring back an extinct animal, she would choose the giant sloth because “that would be awesome” and her worst fear is being locked in a car submerged in a deep body of water.

So Many Clubs

December 18, 2020 By Talon Larson '22

Last year, Speech and Debate moderator, Steve Barth, takes a selfie with members of the team. Photo by Steve Barth

Last week’s Club Fair looked a little different than in years past. Instead of making boards to advertise to students in the halls, Student Council moderator Beth Wirth and members of ASB hosted a Club Fair by asking club moderators to make videos which could be viewed via Schoology.
Below are some basic descriptions of the clubs students can participate in this year.
Speech and Debate Club is run by Steve Barth. Depending on what you’re interested in, there are 14 different events to participate in. If you are interested in joining you can check out the team website at www.maristdebate.weebly.com where they’ve linked helpful how-to videos and email coach Barth at sbarth@marisths.net -- be sure to include your name, graduation year, and parents’ name and email.
JAM, or Justice Action at Marist, is a new club this year dedicated to students interested in making their voices heard at Marist and in the greater Eugene/Springfield community. Their goal is to spread awareness about the issues of minorities and the marginalised in our community in order to create change. The Club meets on Spartan Days from 1:30-2:30 p.m. over Zoom. Email sophomore Alexandra Chavez at chavez90n@marisths.net for more information.
Pétanque Club is a French sport that you can play on Wednesdays from 2-3 p.m. on the Marist pétanque court next to the track. In pétanque, players stand and take turns tossing a ball at a smaller ball to see who can get the closest in each round.. The competition is won when a player reaches thirteen points. Email Mr. Baker at rbaker@marisths.org if you are interested.
Chess Club is not having usual meetings nor league matches. Several Marist students are participating in online matches with students from other schools. These matches are open to anyone that is interested. Email Mr. Nuxoll at jnuxoll@marisths.org if you are interested in joining.
Spanish will meet Wednesdays on Zoom and you can email Dr. Mombell at nmombell@marisths.org if you have questions or want to join. Model United Nations has also begun meeting this year and if you are interested, you can email Mr. Nuxoll or contact Senior Cate Carson. Marist For Life is taking a break until the pandemic is over.

December 18, 2020 By Giselle Gibeau '24

CROSS COUNTRY

This week one of our Spotlight Sports is Cross Country, and we hear from head coach Luke Puskedra. We discussed challenges with the COVID restrictions and their goals for optional practices for a season that won’t begin until Apr. 5.

We also interviewed sophomore Jennifer Tsai and Luke Shah as our Spotlight Athletes to hear players perspectives on how cross country practices have been going.

New head cross country coach Luke Puskedra helps coach at a meet last fall. Photo by Toni Cooper

Junior Jennifer Tsai competes at the state cross country meet last fall. Photo by JJ Anderson ‘20

Q: What have your workouts been focusing on improving?
Puskedra: ‘’Creating a positive atmosphere, working hard and having fun. Some of the workouts are challenging but our job is to teach the student-athletes that they are able to achieve a lot more than they think they can.’’
Q: How close to in-game situations are you able to practice while social distancing?
Puskedra:‘’We are able to do individual time trials while adhering to social distancing protocols. Time trials and hard workouts are not able to replace the feeling of competition, but the students have been very patient during this time. I am very proud of how they have handled all the uncertainties with positive attitudes.’’
Q: When should full practices begin?
Puskedra:‘’On Feb. 22 with meets starting on Mar.1. We are having voluntary practices now: Wednesdays for cross country and Fridays for track and field both at Marist from 3:30-5 pm. We are also having optional strength and conditioning on Mondays and Thursdays from 3:30-4:15pm at Marist.’’
Q: What will the numbers look like this year?
Puskedra:‘’We will continue to invite everybody at all levels. Our potential racing plans seem to change daily, there hasn’t been any definite plans on what racing will look like this year.’’
Q: Do you think that social distancing has an affect on team comradery?
Puskedra:‘’Social distancing has been tough but the student-athletes are very mature to know that it is necessary. Normally, a lot of team comradery is built through high fives etc. but the students have done a good job of replacing this with words of encouragement to adhere to social distancing protocols.’’

Sophomore Jennifer Tsai
Q: How have masks affected your playing?
Jennifer: ‘’It’s been hard to practice with masks especially since running is heavily focused on breathing, but I think it is worth it if it means I am protecting my teammates.’’
Q: What are some of the team’s goals this year?
Jennifer: ‘If we get to compete, I would want to win state again this would be the third year and that would be really special.’’

Sophomore Luke Shah competes in a cross country meet last year. Photo by Toni Cooper

Sophomore Luke Shah
Q: How have masks affected your playing?
Luke: ‘At first, wearing masks was a struggle. Running requires a constant flow of fresh air and masks are designed to limit that. Wearing a mask makes running significantly harder overtime. However, our team adapted and we are grateful for the opportunity to practice. Running with masks is better than not running at all. I think wearing masks shows the resilience of our team and has made us all better runners.’’
Q: What are some of the team’s goals this year?
Luke: “Our goal has always been to compete with the best in the state; however with unique circumstances of this unprecedented year we would just like the opportunity to compete. A chance to compete would mean a lot to our team, it would give us a sense of normalcy that we haven’t had in so long.’’
Q: If you could give one message to your teammates, what would it be?
Luke: “I would tell my teammates to stay strong and to not let up our focus eventually things will return back to normal and when they do we will be stronger than before.’’

December 18, 2020 By Paige Doerr'23

BASKETBALL

This week one of our Spotlight Coaches was head boys and girls basketball coach Adam Reeser and Bart Pollard. We discussed challenges with the COVID restrictions and their goals for optional pre-season practices for a season that won’t begin until April 5.

Coach Bart Pollard talks strategy with his players before a home game. Photo by Toni Cooper

Coach Bart Pallard
Q: What have your workouts been focusing on improving?
Pollard: “Strength, mostly.”
Q: How game-like are you able to practice while social distancing?
Pollard: “Not game-like at all. Basketball is considered a full-contact sport by the state. And players are prohibited from contact, so basketball isn’t able to be played.”
Q: How many teams will there be this year?
Pollard: “Each year we field a Varsity, Junior Varsity, and Freshman team. I expect that to stay the same this year.”
Q: Do you think that social distancing has an affect on team comradery?
Pollard: “It has been extremely difficult since players aren’t able to play the sport they really enjoy. But, many team members have been continuing to do some workouts to stay connected and social.”

Coach Britton Reeser helps his players get excited for the upcoming game. Photo by Mo Cavinee ‘21

Coach Britton Reeser
Q: What have your workouts been focusing on improving?
Reeser: “ Because of social distancing and the requirement to wear masks inside, we have tried to focus on shooting technique while consequently getting a lot of shots up. Shooting was an issue for us last year, and the coaching staff feels that if our percentages can increase we will give ourselves a better chance to be successful.”
Q: How game-like are you able to practice while social distancing?
Reeser: “There is very little that is game-like to what we are doing in our workouts. We try to stress going game speed in the drills, but it does get a bit stale when none of the players can be within six feet of each other.”
Q: How many teams will there be this year?
Reeser: “The plan is to only have two teams this year. We lack the numbers in the senior and freshman classes to be able to field three teams.
Q: Do you think that social distancing has an affect on team comradery?
Reeser: “I can’t imagine our team comradery being any better than we it is. Just from watching how quickly our three transfer players were accepted socially into the team made it clear to me that this is an exceptional group when it comes to team comradery. The girls genuinely seem to like each other and enjoy our time together even when a practice is demanding physically.”

We interviewed senior Luke Eagan and junior Malia Williams as our Spotlight Athletes to hear players perspectives on how basketball practices have been going.

Senior Luke Eagan shoots a three-pointer in a playoff victory against La Grande last year. Photo by Amanda Jewett ‘20

Senior Luke Eagan
Q: How have masks affected your playing?
Eagan: “So far during our workouts, the masks haven’t been that big of an issue. They don’t bother me outside, only occasionally in the weight room during a tough set.”
Q: What are some of the team’s goals this year?
Eagan: “Our team's goals are the same as they were last year. We were the top seed headed into the tournament last year with the goal of winning it all before it got cancelled. Because of this cancellation I think we’re hungry to finish our unfinished business from last year.”
Q: If you could give one message to your teammates, what would it be?
Eagan: “Obviously this year isn’t what we expected, but I just hope we can stay disciplined and focused throughout. I would just stress to my teammates to take our unfortunate situation and turn it into a positive that we can look back on in the future.”

Sophomore Malia Williams dribbles the ball up the court in a home game against Elmira last year. Photo by Mo Cavinee ‘21

Junior Malia Williams
Q: How have masks affected your playing?
Williams: “It makes it harder to breathe, but it is bearable and it is worth it to get to be able to play.”
Q: What are some of the team’s goals this year?
Williams: “The team's goal is to win league and to move on to the playoffs together.
Q: If you could give one message to your teammates, what would it be?
Williams: “I would tell my teammates that even though we may not be able to be in the Marist gym, to continue to work on fundamentals on your own, as well as getting stronger.”

The Spartan Spear: November 20, 2020

Freeze! New Coronavirus Restrictions in Place

A Marist hallway sits empty, waiting for a safe return to in-person learning. Photo by Taylor Willett ’21

November 20, 2020 By Ryann Kokkeler '21

As you may have heard this week, Governor Kate Brown issued a two-week statewide freeze on gathering in order to prevent further spread of the disease that has exploded across the nation since the start of fall. These are the harshest COVID restrictions since the stay at home order last March.
Beginning Nov. 18 and hopefully ending Dec. 2, gyms and dine-in restaurants will be closed, customers and staff in places of business will be limited, faith based gatherings are limited to 25 people indoor and 50 outdoor, people who can are being asked to work at home and all gatherings (indoor and outdoor) are limited to no more than six people from no more than two households.
Sadly, this will all take place over Thanksgiving so many families will be spending the holidays apart from their loved ones.
“Everything feels pretty different because my mom and I decided that it would be best not to visit any of my grandparents this year, and that's normally who we spend the holiday with. Which, I understand it’s for the best, but it still feels upsetting; everyone just seems pretty separated and I don’t like it,” junior Jada Unruh said.
Until the freeze is over, all Marist staff and students who travel out of state are asked not to return to campus activities for a period of two weeks from the day of return for the safety of the community—just as all Oregonians are being asked to do.
Another hard part of this freeze is how it is affecting high school athletics. Many student athletes feel as if they are living through March all over again. All indoor athletic workouts, training, and practices have been put on hold for the next two weeks.
Senior football player KC Kimble said “I’m upset that we aren’t allowed to get stronger for such a physical sport. I know the team wants to get better and become stronger, but this two week freeze is going to make it really hard to stay in shape. I just hope that these two weeks don’t turn into two months because if it does our season might be in jeopardy.”
The freeze also sets back many local schools further from resuming in-person learning; Marist being one of them. In order for in-person learning to return, the County Case Rate must be less than 50 cases per 100,000 people over a 14 day period, and the Test Positivity Rate must be less than 5.0% over a 14 day period. As of now Lane County is at 133.6 cases with a 6.7% positivity rate, very far from our target.
Until we reach that target, Marist will remain in remote learning with students only allowed on campus for select events including community-building activities, academic cohorts and in-person office hours.
In a letter to Marist staff, students and families last week before the freeze, Principal Baker wrote, “Based on both sets of metrics and the timeline outlined above, at this time it does not appear that Marist will be able to return to campus prior to the end of the semester.” But even if all students can’t be back at school at one time, Marist students are still benefiting from the ability to participate in small on-campus cohorts for academic and community activities.
Staff and teachers are still working hard to give the most “normal” year possible while also prioritizing safety. An example of this is Dr. Rick Martin’s Christian Leadership Class that is remaining hopeful and still planning ways to engage the freshman class who have yet to spend more than two hours on campus as a group.
“I think that doing something to help the freshmen, that’s able to be in person, will create some feelings of normalcy for both them and us as the coordinators,” senior Grace Konrady said.

Moving Into the Holidays

November 20, 2020 By Talon Larson '22

As we move into the holiday season, families may need to alter holiday traditions due to the new COVID-19 restrictions put out by governor Kate Brown last Friday.
The Governor’s freeze began on Wed., Nov. 18, and will span two weeks, ending on Dec. 2. It consists of new restrictions such as no eat-in dining at restaurants --only take-out, all indoor gyms will be closed and stores will have to limit their customer capacity to 75% and Oregonians who travel out of state are urged quarantine two weeks when they return.
In accordance with these new guidelines, families will potentially have to change how they celebrate upcoming holidays. Thanksgiving is typically a time for big gatherings with lots of food, but this year, people will have to get creative and find different ways to come together -- it will definitely be be different than any other in recent history but hopefully we will still be able to find ways to spend time with loved ones and partake in at least some holiday traditions. This might be the year to make some new ones as well.

Spartan News Network: General Update

November 20, 2020 By Sam Svingen '21 and Ben Morehouse '21

Enjoy this Spartan News Network exclusive interview with Marist’s French teacher and pétanque guru Ryan Baker. Stick around until the end to see highlights from the closely contested pétanque match between Baker and your corresposndent, senior Sam Svingen.

November 20, 2020 By Paige Doerr '23

FOOTBALL

This week one of our Spotlight Coaches was Head Football Coach Frank Geske. We discussed challenges with the COVID restrictions and his thoughts on football practices so far in anticipation of a late February season.

Q: Without games each week, what have practices been focused on?
Geske: “Strength, quickness, agility, power, cutting and speed endurance have been the focus in the weight room. We have spent the vast majority of our time in that area.”

Q: How close to in-game situations are you able to practice while social distancing?
Geske: “The obvious answer … because there is no blocking or tackling means that there is no correlation to games. However, you can work on eyes, feet, hips and hands and make it as close to a game as you can by emphasizing reading of routes and blocks for the defense. Offensively the same thing applies which is footwork to an imaginary point of attack. And all the passing games have been worked on extensively along with the kicking game.”

Q: How many teams will there be?
Geske: “We have a very good turn out but we will still have just two teams. This is caused by the natural break between the old and young guys.”

Q: Do you think that social distancing is having an effect on team comradery?
Geske: “There is no doubt that has been the biggest drawback for the guys and all of the coaches.”

Head football coach Frank Geske talks strategy with juniors Jacob MacPherson and Toraja Ames. Photo by Tori Letourneau ’21

We also interviewed Senior Player Hagen Stephenson as our Spotlight Athlete to hear a player’s perspective on how football practices have been going.

Q: How have masks affected your playing?
Hagan: “They haven’t affected my playing much. It gets annoying at times because you have to keep pulling it around your nose and mouth. But it is nice when it is cold outside because it keeps your face warm.”

Q: What are some of the team's goals this year?
Hagan: “I would say that the team goals haven’t changed even though a lot is out of our hands right now. The team's goals would be to win every game and continue to build stronger relationships with each other.”

Q: If you could give one message to your teammates, what would it be?
Hagan: “One message I would give to my teammates is to always work hard because hard work can carry you far not only in sports but in life as well. Talent can only carry you so far and work ethic conquers it all.”

Senior Hagan Stephenson jogs across the field during football practice. Photo by Tori Letourneau ’21

Volleyball

November 20, 2020 By Giselle Gibeau '24

This week one of our Spotlight Coaches, was Head Volleyball Coach Shari Pimental. We discussed challenges with the COVID restrictions and her goals for her optional pre-season practices for a season that won’t begin until
Feb. 22.

Q: What have your workouts been focusing on improving?
Pimental: “Weight room workouts have been focusing on getting players stronger; however, they have also been a great time for players to be together.’’

Q: How game-like are you able to practice while social distancing?
Pimental: “I would say this summer was tougher because we could only practice and do drills while in their same cohort and could not cross paths with others; we could only play short-sided games and not six-on-six. With the most recent change we can now play volleyball, which has been exciting. We still must maintain social distancing, wear masks and wipe down equipment; however, it allows us to move more into teaching the game, not just skills.’’

Q: How many teams will there be this year?
Pimental: “We will be having three teams: Varsity, JV1 and JV2 this year. There has only been one year we did not have three teams in my 28 years of coaching at Marist.’’

Q: Do you think that social distancing has an affect on team comradery?
Pimental: “We develop team comradery in different ways. Some happens naturally just being together. Other areas, like cheering, with social distancing in effect means no high-fiving, but we still have our rituals; they just might look different. Our players have handled all the changes remarkably well and I am super proud of them. They never complain, work hard and have enjoyed being together on campus while playing a sport they love.’’

Head volleyball coach Shari Pimental tosses balls to her players during practice. Photo by Tessa Woodrum ’22

We also interviewed Senior Setter Ellie Christian as one of our Spotlight Athletes to hear a player’s perspective on how volleyball practices have been going.

Q: How have masks affected your playing?
Ellie: “They definitely make it a little more difficult to breathe and communicate with my teammates; you really feel like you have to scream the whole time.’’

Q: What are some of the team’s goals this year?
Ellie: “Some of the goals for this year would be building community, taking this year for what it is, and learning from whatever this year throws at us.’’

Q: If you could give one message to your teammates, what would it be?
Ellie: “A message I would give to my teammates is keep your head up and try and make the most of this year — even if it's not what we had expected.”

Senior Ellie Christian prepares to defend an attack from her teammates on the other side of the net. Photo by Tessa Woodrum ’22

Dia de los Muertos celebrated by Spanish Students

November 20, 2020 By Ezra O'Connell '22

Día de los Muertos, the Mexican celebration of life and death also known as the Day of the Dead, has had an impact over the years on the experience of many students studying Spanish at Marist.
Each year in late October, Spanish students have the chance to learn about this holiday with their classmates and families and participate in cultural traditions such as building altars (ofrendas) to commemorate their ancestors, making the traditional pan de muertos, and creating colorful animal spirit guides (alebrijes).

Below is a reflection by senior Katie Rule on how Día de los Muertos has impacted her experience in Spanish classes at Marist:

Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a Mexican celebration to honor and remember those who have died. On November 1st and 2nd, families decorate altars (ofrendas) with orange flowers (cempasúchil), pictures of loved ones, and sugar skulls (calaveras), and come together to commemorate those who have died. Despite being close to all Saints Day, Día de Los Muertos is its own distinct, and positive, holiday.
On Día de los Muertos, death is honored as part of the natural cycle of life with decorations (papel picado) and traditional foods (including pan de muerto and sweets) that help to accentuate the celebratory nature. Death is not something to regret or fear so much as something to honor.
On these two days, it is believed that the dead are able to cross over into the land of the living. Commonly, food and other offerings are placed on the ofrenda as a gift for visiting spirits. These traditions and beliefs display how the family is an integral part of Latin American culture. Even when dead, a family member is not forgotten by the living, nor do their actions and contributions go unnoticed.
During the past three years, I have contributed to the ofrenda in my Spanish classes at Marist. Each year I remember my grandparents and commemorate them by sharing their photo, baking a cake, or drawing a picture. Contributing to the ofrenda has enriched my learning in Spanish class and has made my academic experience feel personal. Learning about cultural traditions like Día de los Muertos helps me make meaningful connections between what I am learning in class and my own life in tangible and memorable ways.

Senior Sami Hussein displays the “caretea” he made in celebration of Dia de los Muertos. Photo courtesy of Sami Hussein ’21

If you are interested, take a look at this video about how Dia de los Muertos is celebrated simultaneous with the return of the monarch butterfly in Michoacán, Mexico which happens to be the birthplace of Marist attendance officer Fatima Mora Flores.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMs-lCaTKoE&feature=emb_logo

The Spartan Spear: 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

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.

The Spartan Spear: 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

The Spartan Spear: 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 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.