21st Century Slavery

Slavery In Mauritania

       Paladins, the world today is so full of knowledge and efficiency, yet injustices that take place every day are often ignored. Reading this article will give you insight on an issue that you may not be aware of. In a world that is becoming more and more social and electronic, celebrities and pop culture seem to take precedence in our minds. Slavery is an issue that many people consider obsolete today. However, in the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, that is most definitely not the case.                                                     

      The Islamic Republic of Mauritania is a largely desert nation in West Africa. Slavery has existed in Mauritania for hundreds of years. It is deeply rooted within society across the country. The descendants of Africans abducted into slavery now live in Mauritania as haratin. They still serve the "Moors" (whites), or bidhan, as slaves. All cases of slavery in Mauritania involve people whose ancestors were enslaved before them. This slavery is considered an "inheritance."  They are owned and controlled by their masters, and are treated as if they are property. If they do not listen to their masters, they are threatened and abused.

      This slavery does not only exist for women. Men and children are also kept as slaves. The job of the men is usually to herd cattle and work on their master's farmland. The women carry out an exorbitant amount of domestic chores. Girls start work for their masters at a very young age and throughout their lives continue to undertake all domestic duties, including fetching water and firewood, cooking, doing the laundry, caring for the children of their master, and moving the tents. They are first to get up in the morning and last to go to sleep. They are rarely allowed to leave the home of their master and are often subjected to violence and sexual assault. Their master also will get to decide whom they marry and at what age they marry. When they have children, they instantly become the property of their masters and the cycle continues, with many of the children serving the master for their entire lives or being passed onto their relatives to serve as "gifts."

      You may be wondering why the slaves do notsimply stand up for themselves or run away. This is due to various reasons. They are brainwashed from a young age into believing that if they disobey their masters, they will not go to paradise. In reality, Islam does not allow a Muslim to enslave another Muslim. Also, the slaves are fed, sheltered, and clothed by their masters. It is very difficult to run away because so much of the land is desert.

      Every single person has a voice. So, it is up to us to use our voices and speak out against this horror. It's time to raise awareness and do everything we can to get the United States more involved. With the help of our country, the slaves in Mauritania can get the justice they deserve. We must fight to get the government of Mauritania to enforce an antislavery law. Thank you for your time.

                                                                          

Varsity Football Wins 54-7!!!!

Justin Pedrick, PC's art and photography teacher, finds the beauty of PC's garden through the lens.

I used to visit and revisit it a dozen times a day, and stand in deep contemplation over my vegetable progeny with a love that nobody could share or conceive of who had never taken part in the process of creation.  It was one of the most bewitching sights in the world to observe a hill of beans thrusting aside the soil, or a rose of early peas just peeping forth sufficiently to trace a line of delicate green.  ~Nathaniel Hawthorne, Mosses from and Old Manse

"Everything has its beauty, but not everyone see it." ~Confucius

It pleases me to take amateur photographs of my garden, and it pleases my garden to make my photographs look professional.  ~Robert Brault

There can be no other occupation like gardening in which, if you were to creep up behind someone at their work, you would find them smiling.  ~Mirabel Osler

"God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good." (Genesis 1:31)

The best place to seek God is in a garden.  You can dig for him there. 
~George Bernard Shaw

"In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind." (Job 12:10)

Bridges Outreachis Expanding Its Reach with a New Stop and Needs Your Help

In October 2012, PC's Campus Ministry Student Organization - Bridges Outreach - is expanding its ministry to include Newark, NJ.  For the past 13 years, Bridges has gone into New York City to bring food, clothing, coats, blankets, and toiletries to the homeless in need in the Battery Park and Center Street areas.  This year, PC will also be going to the Union Station area in Newark help those homeless there.

As we begin our 14th year here at PC, we continue to work with Bridges Outreach, Inc. which is located in Summit, NJ (Bridges Outreach) which for more than a quarter century has worked with the some of the most vulnerable members.  Bridges will begin its year with outreach runs on September 25, Oct 9 and 23, and November 5.  The Outreach Run on November 5 will be the schools first time assisting those in Newark.

Bridges could use your help.  We will be holding a Sweater/Sweatshirt/Toiletries Drive from November 17-21, 2012.  Please consider donating sweaters and sweatshirts or various toiletries items (bar soap, travel sized shampoos, deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and trial size hand creams) to this outreach.  Items can be brought to students religion classes or dropped off in the bins outside of the lobby office during these dates. Items may be dropped off any day until Monday from 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM.  Paramus Catholic is located at 425 Paramus Road in Paramus, NJ directly across from the Bergen Community College jug-handle.  For information contact Joseph Wilson, Vice President for Mission and Ministry at (201) 445-4466, ext. 116 or jwilson@paramus-catholic.org. 

The New Social Justice Club and School Supplies

This year, the new Social Justice Club, is collecting school supplies for two inner city Catholic schools who can use some assistance.  The students who founded the club with their moderator, Mr. Heald, saw the need to reach out to the wider community in a different way this year.  These supplies will be collected until Monday, September 17 when they will be brought to the schools by members of the group.  The schools are located in Newark and Paterson. The items that are needed:

• Backpack
• Pens and Pencils
• One subject spiral note books
• Markers
• Crayons
• Colored Pencils
• Sharpeners
• Index Cards
• Rulers
• Glue Sticks

Help to make a difference in the lives of some grammar school children who can really use a helping hand up.  In a world where we often see so much wrong,  so much hurt, so much greed, and so much poverty, PC students can really make a difference in the lives of so many children and families.

You too can help PC in this drive.  Drop school supplies off in the bins outside of the lobby office any day until Monday from 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM.  Paramus Catholic is located at 425 Paramus Road in Paramus, NJ directly across from the Bergen Community College jug-handle.  For information contact Joseph Wilson, Vice President for Mission and Ministry at (201) 445-4466, ext. 116 or jwilson@paramus-catholic.org.

Paramus Catholic defeats Delbarton!

Farm to School Garden project flourishes at PC!

Mr. Mulligan of Paramus Catholic High School and several students maintain PC's Farm to School Garden Project the garden throughout the summer. Dedicated students have been helping all summer to harvest and care for the garden.     

      There are over three hundred various plants and herbs which have been planted. A fence and sprinkling system have been installed. 

 The garden has yielded various types of tomatoes, eggplants, hot peppers, cucumbers, red onions, cabbage, and summer squash. 

Welcome Class of 2016

      On Saturday, June 23, PC will celebrate the Class of 2016 with a welcome barbecue for its incoming Freshmen and their families. It is a wonderful opportunity for incoming students and their families to meet with PC faculty, staff, administration, and fellow PC students.

Teen Arts Festival 2012

Class of 2012 HOORAH!!!!!!

                                                                     by: Emily Clark '13
       Seniors are practically done with school. All they need now is their diplomas. They made it through their fourth and final year here at Paramus Catholic. They took their midterms and  are now preparing for the annual class trip, which  will be at Six Flags Great Adventure.
       They have many other exciting events to look forward to as well. On June 1, 2012,  they will be having graduation practice at the IZOD Center .They will graduate there on June 4, 2012,  at 6:30pm. Another event that will be occurring soon is the Baccalaureate Mass on June 3, 2012. Following the mass the Class of 2012 will have a luncheon and receive awards that they have earned during the school year. The final planned event at PC  will  be the Luau. It is there that they will get once last time to spend time with friends and teachers whom they have bonded with over the course of their time at Paramus Catholic.
       These are some of the last opportunities for seniors to spend time together before they graduate and head off to college. We are all extremely proud of each and everyone of them the best.
      Congrats to the Class of 2012.

Welcoming the Class of 2016

     by Janessa Andiorio '13

     The school year is coming to a close for current P.C. students, but it is just beginning to welcome future freshmen. On June 23, 2012, the traditional Freshman Picnic will be taking place at P.C. from 12:30pm to 3pm. Moving into high school is a huge step up from grammar school and no one knows that better than P.C. The Freshmen Picnic helps the students and their parents transition by sponsoring a barbecue for incoming freshmen. It is there way the class of 2016 will begin to meet each other and begin to create what may very well be lifelong bonds. P.C. welcomes its new family for a fun day of free food, the chance to make new friends, listen to current student experiences, and learn what P.C. has to offer you.

Farm to School Garden!

   

                                        by: Samantha Gartner 

     Mr. Mulligan and a few of his students have completed the New Jersey Farm to School Garden.

     There are over three hundred various plants and herbs which have been planted. A fence and sprinkling system have been installed. Mr. Mulligan stated that a maintanence schedule is being planned. The sprinkler is usually on for an hour, so the water can reach the roots of the plants.

      With the arrival of summer, the garden should yield various types of tomatoes, eggplants, hot peppers, cucumbers, red onions, cabbage, and summer squash. Thanks to all the volunteers who helped out this past Saturday, May 26. The garden has been planted with a lot of time and effort, PC hopes to have a healthy harvest.

      Any and all volunteers are greatly appreciated. Please, contact Mr. Mulligan for details at jmulligan@paramus-catholic.org or stop by classroom #136.

Exams for 2012

     The Class of 2012 has begun the exam process. Best of luck to all the Seniors!

PC's Published Paladin

                                                                      

                                                                        by: Emily Clark '13 and Samantha Gartner '13

      Graduating Senior Matthew Orso was in Paramus Catholic's library today signing his recently 

published book Bonded at the Seams: Baseball in our Lives. Mathew's new book discusses the sport of baseball through the eyes of a fan.

     When asked what he enjoys about writing Matthew responded, "It is a way of relaxing yourself and 

let's  you express your emotions." We also inquired if he plans on writing more he said,

 "I wrote another book already and one was accepted by the publishing company." The Paramus Catholic is very proud of Mathew's accomplishment. We anxiously await his next book.

Last All School Mass for The Class of 2012

by Yetunde Adebambo '13

   Paramus Catholic's student body, joined together outside in the beautiful May weather to hold a phenomenal Mass that would be the last one our senior class of 2012 would be celebrating with us. Guest speaker 

Monsignor Michael Andreano shared many words of wisdom for the departing class to take with them, as well as for the rest of the PC family. For all of us, under many varying circumstances, we were soon to be ending a chapter of our lives only for another to begin, he proclaimed. Words to the wise. Mass was marvelous and students left inspired. We would love to have Monsignor Andreano return to us for another inspiring Mass ceremony.

Hunger Games

                                          

     To believe the hype or not to that is the question? “The Hunger Games” movie is one of the highest grossing first releases, easily over shadowing the Twilight franchise. “The Hunger Games”, the first book in the trilogy written by Susanne Collins, tells the story of Katniss Everdeen a 16 year old hunter from district twelve living in what used to be North America but is now known as Panem, that fights to the death in an epic battle against 23 other teens all in search of the fortune that’s comes with victory. 

      The books are usually better than the movies and there is no exception here.  The movie leaves out many scenes from the book cutting out the romance between Katniss and Peeta. In this aspect the movie falls short. Another compliant about the movie is that the soundtrack wasn’t present. The songs “Eyes Open” and “Safe and Sound” performed by Taylor Swift are the anthems to the movie and should have been included somewhere. But those are its only short comings. The setting, actors, costumes, and graphics mirror Collin’s vision perfectly. Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson are the perfect Katniss and Peeta despite the criticism received so far. Although Lawrence has been called too “sexy” to play the 16 year old Katniss, the strength that she brings to the character could not be reciprocated by any other young Hollywood actress.

     This movie is not just for those teens who have read the book or have crushes on the actors. The message is a great one and one that can be appreciated by a variety of people young and old.  The message makes the viewer think and any movie that accomplishes that is a great one.  The message is timeless in the sense that it is unbelievably current. “The Hunger Games” is a story about sacrifice, love, humanity, and strength.  With the way the world is now, any country could at anytime become like Panem, districts living in fear under its government. In comparison to Twilight it is not just for girls, it has enough action to hold a male's attention.

      This movie rates 7 out of 10 stars. As a warning the violence and graphics are best suitable for an older audience and parents should take caution when taking children. The story its self makes the movie and it is a fortunate thing that the author maintained influence over the writers.  Go see the movie, “the odds are in your favor”.

Melanoma Awareness Month

                                                          by Emily Clark '13
    It is May, Melanoma Awareness Month. Melanoma is the most serious type of cancer.  It can occur on any part of skin, for men it typically appears on the chest and back , for women, it is  found mostly on the legs.
     This cancer can form in two distinct ways. One way is due to  exposure to the sun for too long, another way is through artificial tanning which can lead to an excessive amount of ultraviolet(UV) light. Although this cancer can be deadly, if it is discovered early enough, it could mean the chances of recovery are very good.
      This disease affects the lives of many. According to the Huffington Post, many celebrities have been affected by Melanoma or have shown signs of having Melanoma symptoms such as: Ewan McGregor and Anderson Cooper. Due to their notoriety, celebrities raise awareness of the fatal disease. Given that May is the month to bring awareness to this diease many retail stores are helping to raise money, stores such as Claires' for example has joined the fight.  Over 5200 people are  will die from this disease. If you are interested in finding out more about this deadly disease, visit the following websites.
http://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-information/melanoma
http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/SkinCancer-Melanoma/DetailedGuide/melanoma-skin-cancer-what-is-melanoma
http://www.melanoma.com/whatis.html

Author's nephew visits PC's Senior English Class

                                                             by Ashley Spencer '12

   

A lot of interesting things have been happing around PC this month! One of which was meeting Lyle Brooks, the nephew of Allen Ginsberg. Allen Ginsberg a literary pioneer, and Columbia grad is most widely known for his book Howl, as well as his role in the 60s Beat movement, although he had been most influential during the 1970s. The Beat generation is defined by the writers who battled against social conformity and government censorship. Lyle Brooks, his nephew, came in on Thursday May 3, to talk to Ms. Johnston’s and Mr. Schmidig’s senior honors English classes. We had the privilege of being the first people outside of the Ginsberg/Brooks family to see the family photos and home movies. Ms. Johnston and Mr. Brooks first came in contact through Ms. Johnston's blog, Channeling Jackie O, which chronicles her battle with Carcinod cancer.  Mr. Brooks wrote to Ms. Johnston to help his close friend Ashli McCall who was also suffering with the disease.

As senior's we study Ken Kesey's novel One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest. Having Mr. Brooks come in and speak to us was a great resource because it really brought what we were learning about the "Beat Movement" and its pioneers like his uncle, Allen Ginsberg, full circle.  The Ginsberg family emigrated from Russia to the United States and settled in Paterson, NJ. They come from a family of teachers, and poets. Lyle's father Eugene was actually an established poet in his own right. Their family grew up with conflicting family backgrounds. Ginsberg's nephew Lyle notes," with my father being an agnostic/atheist raised by Communists and socialists,  and my mother being the daughter of a long line of deeply religious Christian ministers, In some ways, it parallels my uncle's clash with America in the era that he came to fame with "Howl."

Mr. Brooks took the interview opportunity to clarify some misconceptions about his uncle. In reference to a comment about the term "Hippie", Mr. Brooks says," He wasn't a lazy, empty-headed, stoned, burnt-out flower child, but was highly educated, erudite and motivated.  People who have only a passing familiarity with him are often surprised at how coherent he is in interviews." Mr. Brooks is a lawyer who has had a long career in the New York legal system. He also taught legal writing and process at Hofstra Law School and New York Law School. Outside of the law, his real passion has been working with women suffering from Hyperemesis Gravidarum, a pregnancy-related disease which causes extreme nausea and vomiting, dehydration, and weight loss and can be life-threatening to both the mother and baby if not properly treated. He became involved because his friend Ashli McCall also suffered from hyperemesis and wrote a comprehensive treatment book about it, as well as a children's book.  Through Ashli, Mr. Brooks became involved in other pro-life activities as well.

Having an uncle who was so popular influenced Lyle in conflicting ways." On the one hand, I was very sensitized to the problem of governmental censorship, the value of free speech, and these concerns liberalized my views in certain areas.  On the other hand, I never approved of my uncle's promotion of illegal drug use, and this influenced me to view much of his political philosophy with skepticism.” When asked about what piece of advice his uncle gave that stood out the most, Brooks say's “He never really gave me direct "advice" about anything.  However, I do remember one observation that he made in the course of a conversation that made a lasting impression on me. I don't recall the exact topic, but at one point I opined that somebody had done something "just to satisfy his own ego."  He immediately exclaimed something to the effect of “Of course he did!  That's the only reason anybody does anything, including me, including you!”Mr. Brooks said it made him examine people's motives more closely, and wonder whether even charitable impulses could be rooted in or corrupted by egotism.

     It is this thought process that exemplifies Allen Ginsberg’s real effect on society. He got people thinking he taught people to speak up and question the world around them and their government. The issues present in the 60’s and 70’s are still very much present today. Having Mr. Brooks come in and having the opportunity to interview him for the Paladin Press Newspaper Blog, was a great. Hopefully he will return next year!

The seniors at Paramus Catholic High SChool welcomed Mr. Brooks and are grateful for the educational opportunity awarded them. A Paladin "thank you" to Mr. Brooks for taking time out of his schedule to enlighten more fully the English classroom at PC.

               (Pictured above from let o right: Mr. Schmidig, Mr. Brooks, Ms. Johnston)

Praise for MTV's Awkward

                                                                by Ashley Spencer '12

     Last summer MTV launched a new show called AWKWARD. AWKWARD is a scripted comedy that takes a look at the lives of teenagers. The story is told through the eyes of Jenna Hamilton, a 16 girl who has an accident that is mistakenly viewed as a suicide attempt. Season one has been over for nearly a year, and on June 28, AWKWARD is back premiering season two. 

     The show does a lot more than just provide good looking guys and funny punch lines. It actually has a great message. Jenna has a blog, called "that girl daily" in which she writes everything that has happened over the course of her week. The show encourages teens to express themselves in a positive fashion, example, Jenna's blog. Jenna tries to talk to the people in her life as well as her school guidance counselor about her troubles (school, boys, friends, etc ) but sometimes friends, teachers, and  parents, just cannot relate.  The show also  puts a great spin on high school. A lot of incoming students look at shows and base their expectations from the media's interpretation. The show has  it all; the typical mean girl who preys on others because she's insecure, the athlete with a heart of gold, and the protagonist Jenna an average girl trying to figure out who she is and just keep up. 

     Further more the show is refreshing because it is a break from the usual trashy reality TV shows MTV spits out. It balances perfectly  because it is real with out being overly personal. The show has provided blogging as an outlet in a safe way. Tumbler has a page dedicated to the show. So way to go MTV! I encourage you all to take  a break this summer and check out AWKWARD, Thursday, June 28. You must just might love it!

It is THE LAST!

                                                              by Casey Furman '12
      Paramus Catholic Drama Club just put on its last play of the year, Sweet Charity.  There was an impressive turn out.  The PC actors and actresses were well-prepared and obviously enjoying their time on the stage. The PC drama club is one of the largest clubs at Paramus Catholic Hgh School. Year after year, dedicated students and teachers put hundreds of hours into practice. The dedication and commitment is commendable. Seniors are sad to leave, but are doing so with memories of positive experiences and with a deeper understanding  of the art of drama.
                                                            Way to Go Drama Club!

Top Five Box Office Hits

    This has been, so far, a great year for movies.
Movies have always been looked to as an escape from reality.  According to movies.com, the top five biggest movies that are currently in theaters, have earned an income of over
two million dollars in the box office.

5. The Lucky One ($5.3 million at the box office)
   The movie is about a Marine returning from Iraq with a picture of a woman that he never met,
   that kept him alive in battle.  He makes it his mission to find the woman that saved his life. The movie
   is based on the book The Lucky One  by Nicholas Sparks.
   Zac Efron and Taylor Schilling are co-starring in it.

4. The Pirates! Band of Misfits ($5.5 million at the box office)
    This movie is a cartoon comedy of pirates on adventures.  This movie has the vocal talents of
    Hugh Grant and many others.

3. The Hunger Games ($5.5 million at the box office)
    The Hunger Games is based of the series of books written by Suzanne Collins.  The movie is about an
     unknown apocalyptic disaster. Citizens need to fight to stay alive. 

2. Think Like A Man ($8.1 million at the box office)
    The movie is about a group of friends who get together to play basketball and talk about female  
      problems. They all share the problem of committing to a long term relationship.
     The moie stars Jerry Ferrara, Romany Malco, Michael Ealy, and Gary Owen.

1.  Marvel's The Avengers ($207.4 million at the box office)
    The world's greatest superheroes, from the Marvel comic books, have come together to
     avenge the Earth.  The movie stars Robert Downey Jr., Mark Ruffalo, Scarlett Johansson,
    and Samuel L. Jackson.

Class of 2012: Adieu!

                                                      By Yetunde Adebambo '13


     The date of graduation has been announced for Paramus Catholic High School. On June 4th, the class of 2012 will be officially departing. Monday, invitations for the ceremony were handed out to the seniors. Family and friends will be gathering at the Izod center to watch them on their special day, their last day as high school students.

     Just a week ago, seniors were stressing. There was a question as to whether or not the Izod center would be able to keep its commitment to PC's graduation date. Plane flights were canceled by relatives. Tuxedo rentals were put on hold by the gentleman, and a few seniors were just simply stressing because of the uncertainty. The date has not changed, and it is set. On June 4th, the Izod Center will be hosting PC's class of 2012 graduation ceremony.

        Plans can finally be put back in motion. Knowing is a great feeling, isn't it, 2012?

52-Year Old Janitor to Graduate from Columbia University

52-Year Old Janitor to Graduate from Columbia University

by Tom Cadmus ‘12

Gac Filipaj, 52, moved from Yugoslavia to New York without knowing a word of English. He will graduate from Columbia University with an honors degree.

He first moved to the United States in 1992 when his country was in a civil war. He started learning English while working full-time as a custodian for Columbia University. Columbia’s policy allows employees to take a certain number of courses per semester. Tuition for full-time commuting students is $43,088 annually.

Aside from the major cost break, Columbia grants no other special privileges for employees.

It took Mr. Filipaj nineteen years to get his degree, taking one or two classes per semester. He also plans to pursue his Master’s and maybe even his Ph.D. He told ABC, “I would say that I have fulfilled half of my dream—going to graduate school would complete it.”

College dean Peter Awn said, “He's one of those people that believe that if you work hard at anything, be that his custodial responsibilities or his academic responsibilities, you can create that sense of accomplishment and value.”

Unfortunately, his father, who died just three weeks ago, will not be able to see his son walk at graduation.

Mr. Filipaj’s story shows that hard work, and perseverance really pay off. That a man came to this country knowing no English, worked as a custodian for nineteen years, and took one or two classes a semester is now graduating from one of the best Ivy League schools in the nation, is truly remarkable.

Gingrich Concedes; Obama/Romney Likely to Meet in November

Gingrich Concedes; Obama/Romney Likely to Meet in November

by Tom Cadmus ‘12

     After continuously refusing to give up, Newt Gingrich has finally given up hopes for the White House. In what was a losing battle to Mitt Romney, Mr. Gingrich thought it would be best to throw his support behind Mr. Romney, figuring Romney has the best chance to beat Obama for his seat in the White House. In a speech after Romney took 5 states, Gingrich said, “It’s pretty clear Governor Romney is going to be the nominee.”

"I think you have to at some point be honest with what's happening in the real world, as opposed to what you'd like to have happened," Gingrich said. "Governor Romney had a very good day yesterday. He got 67 [percent] in one state, and he got 63 in other, 62 in another. Now you have to give him some credit. I mean this guy's worked six years, put together a big machine, and has put together a serious campaign.”

Just because Mr. Gingrich conceded does not mean he still does not think he is the better candidate. He feels it is very important that the party remain unified. In the coming weeks, Newt plans to deliver speeches in support of Mitt Romney.

Ron Paul is the only other Republican candidate left, and as David Letterman put it, 
 "Ron Paul looks like one of your old relatives. The guy that keeps sending you the blank emails."

SKYPE

                                                         By Jake Candelaria '12

           Wednesday, May 9, 2012, Mr. Wilson's  classroom was the site of a real time interactive Skype session between Paramus Catholic students and the Archbishop of Newark, His Excellency John J. Myers. The Archbishop was excited to be able to interact with the students about topics ranging from "When did you realize that God was calling you to become a priest?" to "What is your favorite junk food?" Four years ago, PC was the first school to Skype with the Archbishop in an attempt for him to reach out to young people across the state. The video call lasted an hour, and the Archbishop answered every question  with a smile on his face. Archbishop Myers ended the call with a blessing and wished the PC students and faculty a great remainder of the school year.

Spring Concert

by Brenna Holland '12

            Our choirs sang, our dancers danced and our band played until every parent, teacher and friend in the audience went home in awe of the talent we have here at PC. All in all, the spring concert was a complete success and wonderfully put together by our esteemed music director Mr. Sabak. The night culminated in a special honor to the class of 2012, with the distribution of a single, red rose to each senior member of the music program. This bittersweet goodbye did not leave a dry eye in the house. At the end of the night, every attendee went home satisfied and impressed by our dedicated and gifted music students

Quiz Bowl Update

by: Janessa Andiorio '13

        ALERT: Paramus Catholic students have done it again! Warning, the following article contains content that is not suitable for those who cannot handle an overload of victory! Once again, Mr. Fidemi was able to prepare and conquer this year’s MSG Varsity TV competition, “The Challenge.” With his ready army of Paladins, the Quiz Bowl team placed sixth in The Challenge after facing forty-eight other teams from all over New Jersey. Whether it was the whole team or just the varsity members, each student helped lead the Quiz Bowl team to victory this year and brought their A-game; naturally doing what Paladins do best.

        Mr. Fidemi has been running the Quiz Bowl for about twelve years now, and each year he looks forward to versing the competition and seeing how far the team can go. In an interview he informed the Paladin Press that, “The Quiz Bowl team participates in several academic competitions during the school year. Our primary focus the past few years has been the MSG Varsity TV competition, The Challenge. We've also competed in tournaments at Leonia High School, Millburn H.S., Chatham H.S., and many other high schools over the past several years.” The great part about Quiz Bowl is that whether the team wins or loses, they go into every competition with a competitive and positive mind frame and regardless of the outcome leave with the same attitude. On the subject of this year’s toughest competitor, Mr. Fidemi informed the Paladin Press that, “The best competitor in the last few years has been my alma mater, St. Joseph High School of Metuchen. This year Mountain Lakes proved to be a formidable opponent.” One of the Quiz Bowls highlighted moment this year was during this year's 
The Challenge. It was Paramus Catholic verses Ridgewood High School, in the third round match of The Challenge where winning came down to the last question of the contest. The team who answered the question correctly would win the match; suspense filled the air and as soon as the question was asked PC jumped on it and won the match!

        When the Paladin Press got a chance to interview Samantha Lehmbeck, a varsity team member who participated in this year's The Challenge, she clarified what Quiz Bowl was, “Quiz Bowl is like team jeopardy for high school. We have two sections: everyone and our varsity team. Our varsity team participates in MSG Varsity's The Challenge. Everyone in Quiz Bowl can participate in local competitions.” Even though Miss Lehmbeck is on the varsity team, she is not a senior; she is actually a sophomore who joined the Quiz Bowl team this year. Mr. Fidemi welcomes students from all grades to join the club and realizes that it can be a lot of fun. Samantha Lehmbeck remarked, “It [Quiz Bowl] was a lot of fun and had a friendly vibe to it when I first walked in. I honestly thought it would be a lot more formal and rigid in terms of the atmosphere.” When asked what the highlight of Quiz Bowl is, she answered , “The highlight of Quiz Bowl for me is being able to see how much I actually know. Plus you get to actually use those subjects that you NEVER thought that you would use.” Quiz Bowl is done for this year, but anyone who is interested in joining next year should ask Mr. Fidemi for additional information. This year's Quiz Bowl Team did an awesome job in all their competitions and the Paladin Press would just like to say Congratulations and good luck for next year.

Baseball Update

                                                                         By Jake Candelaria '12


      Adversity is no stranger to the PC varsity baseball team. Starting off the season with an 0-7 record through one of the toughest schedules in North Jersey, the Paladins have fought back to bring their record up to 5-11.
      Time is running out on the team's hope for a state tournament bid, which will be judged through games up until Friday, May 11. Although there is mounting pressure on the team to win the next three games to help its state bid, the team has kept a positive outlook on making the state tournament and finishing the season strong.
      Production by key role players has kept the team alive, and the Paladins are beginning to tighten their game up back to the way they played when they hit their four game winning streak. With some great play in the next week, hopefully the Paladins will be chosen to return to the state tournament.

     Students of Mr. Mulligan's environmental science class were seen on Thursday afternoon, after school,  hard at work, getting dirty and communing with Mother Nature. The students, under Mr. Mulligan's guidance, are planning and planting a garden. The garden is being funded by a particular grant.
The grant is sponsored by Njfarmschools.org and Edible Jersey.com. The garden has to be completed in the 2011-2012 school year and submitted for approval by June 1st. The garden must be on a raised bed, and maintained by students. Vegetable's and herbs will be grown in the garden and the produce will be donated to the community. The garden will be an important educational tool for Paramus Catholic.