What’s recently happened?
The Marquette Catholic High School Lady Blazers have smashed into the new basketball season. So far, the Lady Blazers have played nine intense, high-scoring games, and they have come out on top eight out of nine times. One of their recent games took place on December 2 against the Mishawaka High School Cavemen. The Lady Blazers blew the Cavemen away, the final score coming to 60-21. Their 8-1 record makes for a promising, exciting season to come.
The Lady Blazers are not the only ones showing promise this season, however. After coming back from a week-long Thanksgiving break, the Blazer boys started their season playing against the Bethany Christian High School Bruins. After a long four quarters, the Blazers left the Bruins in the dust, beating them 51-41.
Along with the start of the basketball seasons, the Marquette Quiz Bowl season has also begun, the first matches having taken place on November 28. While the team did not reign victorious in these matches, they put up a good fight and have made way for a certainly entertaining and nail-biting season.
This past weekend, several Marquette students have returned from the Annual Marquette Awaken retreat. This retreat is designed to help teenagers heal their spirits and minds with the help of other students.
What’s coming up?
On December 7, Marquette will host its annual Christmas concert. This concert will have an extensive list of student performers showcasing their vocal and instrumental talents. Students have been working all semester with Chorus Teacher Amy Crane, preparing for this showcase. Tickets to see this concert are $5, and the concert will begin at 7 p.m.
Following the Christmas Concert, on December 9, the Marquette National Honor Society (NHS) will be hosting its second annual Cocoa and Canvas. NHS will be demonstrating how to paint a scenic holiday painting while guests enjoy hot cocoa. While this is taking place, there will also be NHS members hosting a bake sale full of delicious, home-baked treats. This event offers entertainment and fun for all. Doors will open at 6 p.m.
Christmas break is also fast approaching at Marquette. After four days of grueling finals, Marquette students will be released to celebrate the holidays on Wednesday, December 20. They will return to classes on Wednesday, January 3, to begin the new semester.
Staff spotlight:
JonLee Hall is an English teacher at Marquette. She has been teaching for over thirty years. Before coming to teach at Marquette, she spent many years teaching at a Catholic high school in Chicago, and she has also taught college courses in writing and literature.
Hall has always had a deep and profound love for literature. She recalls weekly trips to the library with her mother and sister having been an important part of her childhood.
“I always loved the idea of helping someone become a lover of literature and of the written word. I believe that once you learn to read, you gain so much knowledge that projects into every aspect of your life,” Hall said.
Before wanting to be a teacher, however, Hall had wanted to be a dancer.
“I thought I would go to New York City and be a Radio City Rockette,” Hall said.
Despite choosing teaching as a career, Hall still takes joy in dancing.
Hall is also a world traveler. She has taken several trips to Europe, having visited France and England multiple times. During these trips, she developed a love for England, specifically Oxford.
“I think that my heart is in Oxford, and I plan to go back again someday,” Hall said.
During her travels, Hall followed the footsteps of some of her favorite English authors, such as Lewis Carroll and Percy Shelley. She also recalls the emotional experience of walking through the American Cemetery in Normandy.
“The only sound was of the water of the English Channel and the bells of the cemetery. It was one of the most moving experiences of my life,” Hall said.
Despite all of her travels and her love for England, Hall’s favorite place to be is here, with her students.
“I feel as if I belong here. I think that it is my privilege to teach my students, who are so wonderful. I am blessed truly each day that I spend with my students,” Hall said.
Hall believes that the best thing that you can do in life is pursue your passion. She thinks that it is important to always do what you love.
“It is so much more satisfying to be able to enjoy going to work than to be stuck doing something you dread each and every day,” Hall said.
Student spotlight:
Ava Dobre is a senior on the Marquette Lady Blazers basketball team.
Dobre has been playing basketball since she was in first grade. Basketball was a skill that her father passed down to her. For her, it is a family sport.
“Basketball is something that my family loves, and we all enjoy watching and playing,” Dobre said.
Basketball is not Dobre’s only talent, however. She has also been modeling since she was in third grade. After graduating from Marquette she hopes to continue modeling as well as testing her skills at fashion design. While continuing to work in the fashion industry, she also plans to study psychology.
Dobre encourages younger students to always be true to themselves and not care what others think.
“Just be yourself, from the beginning. Time flies, try everything. You’ll morph into the person you want to become,” Dobre said.