PAC AWARDS & RELAY FOR LIFE!

Last Friday was an exciting night for me. The annual Performing Arts Company Awards were held at 7:00pm in the auditorium. It was a dress up occasion, attended by the members of PAC this year, their friends, and families. It was hosted by Mrs. Carolan, Mr. and Mrs. Addison, Mrs. Eger, and the 2008 Executive Board. Awards were given to members of the Fall Play and Spring Musical such as Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Featured Performance, Best Performance, Outstanding Chorus Member, Outstanding Ensemble Member, and Best New Member! It was very exciting. I got an Outstanding Ensemble Member award for my performance in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat! I was really happy. Also, the International Thespian Society Awards were given out. UCPAC is Thespian Troup #3673. Thespians are inducted into the society each year based on a point system. If you take dance, singing, or acting lessons…if you see professional shows…if you perform in shows…if you do forensics…if you do tech crew… all of these things come into play and can induct you into the society. Stars and Honor Bars are awarded based on how many hours of service you have done. 1 Star is equivalent to 20 points, or 200 hours. 2 Stars is 300 hours, 3 Stars is 400 hours, and 4 Stars is 500 hours. One Honor Bar is equivalent to 600+ hours. However, with the dedication of many of today’s young actors and actresses, more awards had to be given. On Friday I received a Double Honor Bar Award!! I received one Honor Bar freshman year, but I wasn’t yet eligible for another one because I hadn’t racked up enough points. Besides all of that excitement…PAC Awards is always the time when the shows for next year are announced!! For the fall play we will be doing Incorruptible and for the Spring Musical we will be doing Into the Woods. Mrs. Carolan informed us that everyone has to start working very hard because Into the Woods is the most difficult show that she has ever attempted!! “OH GREAT,” I said to myself! Haha!

After PAC Awards, me and a lot of the other kids headed over to Scotch Plains/Fanwood High School for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. Union Catholic SMAC helped students sign up for the event, and UC was one of the biggest groups there! Everyone who wanted to go had to raise $100. We all had matching T-shirts that said “UC Love” on them, and the name “Chris” with a heart around it. This was in remembrance of Chris O’Bara, a student of ours who died from cancer in the beginning of his junior year last year. I also drew hearts with the names of those close to me who have died from cancer. This was my first time attending the Relay, and I am so happy I did. In case you don’t know the whole point of the Relay for Life, there are a number of teams there, and someone from your team should be walking the entire time, from 7pm to 7am. It was really fun to spend time with kids from school and to meet other people, and it was also very emotional. At the luminaria ceremony, everyone who was there gathered in the gym. One of the women who was running it got up and said, “I want all those who have lost their children to cancer to please stand.” A few people stood up. Then she said, “those who have lost their mother or father….those who have lost their grandmother, or grandfather… a sister, or a brother….a dear friend.” More and more people stood up until the whole gym was standing. She then said, “Our goal is that one day, all of us can sit together.” Then, the presentation of the names of all of those who have survived cancer graced two big screens, and then the list of names of all of those who have died was shown. Songs like “Seasons of Love,” “Blackbird,” and “You’ll be in my Heart” played. I was crying hysterically… it was so sad. And yet, it was so powerful because everyone comforted one another. We were all there together for a purpose – to fight cancer and remember all those affected by it. Afterwards, everyone there took one lap around the school in silence together. I’ll never forget that night… and I hope that I will be able to go to it every year from now on.

My class’s academic awards are tonight, and I take my AP English Language & Composition Exam tomorrow. Wish me luck!! I’ll talk to you soon J

Junior Prom!

Well, here I am! I find myself back in school after an amazing night at my Junior Prom, a fun day with my friends on Saturday, and my first AP Exam out of the way!

It was great to have both Thursday and Friday off last week. It gave me time to relax and prepare for the prom! I got my nails done on Thursday and my hair done on Friday. When I woke up in the morning on Friday I was SOOO happy and excited. (for once I actually enjoyed getting out of bed and getting started on my day!) I was out and about... running from the tanning salon to the hair salon, and then picking up my date's boutonniere. It was fun to find out that three of my friends from school were getting their hair done at the same place and time as me! We were all excited and talked about where we were headed to next.

By the time I had finished all of my preparations and grabbed a quick bite to eat, it was time to get dressed and do my makeup! A few family members and friends came over the house to see me before I left for the pre-prom festivities :-)

My parents drove me to my friend Christina's house, where we took pictures with a few of our friends. Then we headed to Gina's, where the limo picked us up! It was so fun to take pictures and see everyone dressed up... ever since I was younger I dreamed of the day when I would be one of the older girls, all dressed up and with a boyfriend for a date!

When our limo arrived at the Berkely Plaza, we were greeted by Mr. Luciano, Mr. Reagan, Ms. Piasecki, and Mr. McCoid. Angelo and I got our pictures taken, and then I got to mingle and take pictures with more people! The room was decorated beautifully, and the food buffet was really good. When the night was over, no one wanted to leave!

Even though the weather was pretty bad, I went down the shore with my friends for a little while. It was great to celebrate our prom together and just enjoy each other's company. As I look back, I couldn't have asked for a better time.

Yesterday I took my AP Government and Politics Exam. It was from about 8 to 11. I'm just glad to get that over...phew! Afterwards some of my friends and I went out to Qdoba to celebrate Cinco de Mayo! :-)

I have some more things coming up... the PAC Awards are on Friday night, as well as the Relay for Life at Scotch Plains/Fanwood High School! The UC Smac (Student Movement Against Cancer) helps to organize students to sign up and go. I'll tell you more about it in my next blog! As for next week, the Juniors and Seniors have their Academic Awards Ceremony on Tuesday night. My last AP Exam (English Language) is on Wednesday, and the Senior Prom is next Thursday! It's never a dull moment here at UC.

Hope you're enjoying this beautiful weather as much as I am! I'll be talking to you soon.

Alot to Look Forward To... (PROM!)

As exciting as it is to think about college, there is still alot to look forward to here at UC!

The Junior Prom is now only 14 DAYS AWAY!!! It’s on Friday, May 2nd at the Berkeley Plaza in Berkeley Heights. Plans are already set for pre-prom activities! We’ve rented our limo, and we’ve decided whose house we’ll start the night off at for pictures. My friend, Jenna, created a facebook page for all of the girls to post pictures of our dresses, since we’re trying to avoid having the same dress as someone else!! I thought that was such a good idea.

Everyone is really excited for prom and so happy that it's almost here... BUT, that means that AP Exams are that much closer too! The exams are the two weeks after prom. Alot of people stress out about them, but the good thing to know is that after they're over, we don't have to worry about studying for them anymore!

I've had a fun week this week... On Wednesday night I went to the SMAC Quarters for Cancer Dinner, followed by the Mr. UC Pageant!! It was a blast, as always. Then on Thursday I went with my spanish teacher, Senora McHugh, and the 3Accelerated and 4AP classes to see a cultural Spanish show and then to a Spanish restaurant. And finally, tonight, I get to work the Class of '12 LOCK-IN!!!!

I'm looking forward to a beautiful weekend. I love this weather! I think when I get home I'll work on my tan for prom =) Talk to you soon!

The Final Stretch

Wow, I can’t believe that I started my last marking period of junior year last week! Usually I would say that the year has flown by, once again… but I actually think that the year went by at a normal pace for me. I guess that’s due to all of the different things that have been going on in my personal life. I’ve had to deal with a lot this year… from losing closer friendships to gaining new ones… from experiencing peer pressure to being at war with my mom! All of it has really taken a toll on me, and at times I didn’t think summer could come sooner. But I can’t let all of the drama get to me, because when I look back at high school, I don’t want that to be the biggest part. There's so many more great times to remember! It's great to know that at school, you can always have someone to talk to. Whether it be a guidance counselor, upper classmen, or favorite teacher -- someone is always there! Through all of my experiences, I’ve learned a lot about high school, life, and myself. I guess that's why they say that high school is one of the greatest times of your life!! It's a roller coaster ride, but every minute of it is worth it, because you gain soooo sooo much.

One of the things that I've recently learned is that I really need to get a move on thinking about what I want to do with my future. I really have to focus on my grades... even though its the last marking period, I can't slack off!!!! UC held a College Information Night a couple of weeks ago, and I went with my mom. An admissions representative from Rider was there and explained all about the college application process, and about what colleges look for from high school students. It was really helpful, and it made me want to start searching for the perfect college! Shortly after that, I had a meeting with my parents and my guidance counselor, which gave me a list of colleges that would be fitting for what I want to do. I'm leaning towards studying Musical Theatre as a minor, and possibly Broadcast Journalism/Communications for a major. Those are all my thoughts for now. I’ll be trying to blog more often now, so keep posted for more!!

Jeanette :)

A Much Needed Update!!

Wow, I haven’t blogged in almost a month! Sorry to keep you waiting - I’ve just been so busy these days! Here I’ll talk about the Spring Musical, Course Selections, Forensics, and Spring Break! It’s rather long, but I hope you read to the end!

Just Amazing…Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, that is! After months upon months of rehearsals, it was finally our time to shine. You could feel the excitement in the air as we all started to arrive at school on opening night. The anticipation of opening night is a feeling you just can’t describe – nervousness, anxiousness, excitement – you name it! Will we pull it off? Will the audience like it? Will everything go as planned? These are all things that run through my mind. But as soon as I set foot onstage, those worries fade away, because being on stage performing is something that I absolutely love! Anyone who had the chance to see the show was treated to an AMAZING performance. I am so proud of all of my fellow cast members and the tech crew who worked tirelessly over the past months. And I am most thankful to Mrs. Carolan, Mrs. Eger, Mr. Addison, and Mr. Rothweiler for all of their support and encouragement in making this show the success that it is. I really hope you got to see the show, and I hope you enjoyed watching it as much as I enjoyed performing in it!

Well, we’ve already been advised to choose our courses for next year. I’m a little behind on that – I’ve just been so busy that I haven’t had the time to sit down with my guidance counselor, or even my mom, to discuss what classes I should take in senior year! It’s hard to believe that I should even be thinking about that right now, but my last year of high school really is just around the corner!! Advice that we’ve been given from Mrs. McCoid, one of our vice principals, is not to choose “easy” classes next year. Colleges want to see that we’re still challenging ourselves, even in our last year. I applied to be in the Yearbook class, and I just found out that I got in, so I was happy about that. Yearbook will be one of my non “core” classes, but I’m sure I’ll have fun putting together the yearbook for my senior year! Other academic classes that I know I will definitely be taking next year are Christian Life, English 4AP, and Analysis Honors (math). That’s 4 down…I need to choose 3 more!

The Forensics “season” ended for some on Saturday with our sixth and last league competition. It was held here at UC, so I was really comfortable and hoped it would help my performance. I guess it did, because Chris and I placed 3rd! A few other team members also placed. Because of our standings throughout the year (2nd, 2nd, 5th, and 3rd), we were able to rack up enough points to send us to Nationals – in Appleton, Wisconsin!!!! I am SO excited. The senior boys debate team (James Trollo and Keith Zuchowski) also made it to Nationals, as well as 2 sophomore girls who compete in Declamation (Ally D’Aluisio and Arielle Gonzales). They’ll be held on Memorial Day Weekend – Don’t worry, I’ll tell you all about it! As a team, Union Catholic received 4th place for both Saturday’s competition (which had 18 schools competing), and 4th for our performance over the year. We’re just continuing the tradition of excellence here at UC!

If you’re reading my blog, I assume you must be reading the other blogs posted by Mrs. Thornton, Mr. Luciano, and the sophomore and freshmen bloggers. I couldn’t help but notice the sophomore’s recent blog about relationships. First of all, I give him a lot of credit for talking about something so personal. But it’s true. High school is a place where you really begin to form relationships that could potentially last a lifetime. I think because Union Catholic is such a close community, it really helps the students to develop great relationships with a variety of different people, from seniors to freshmen, and counselors to coaches! I know that I’ve met some incredible people here at UC. We’ve shared so many fun times together and we’ve become very close. We share good times and bad. We are friends that care about one another, but there are also times when we don’t always agree on things. And that’s the tough part. When we don’t agree, it’s inevitable that someone’s feelings are going to get hurt along the way. But the important thing is to try to be understanding of each other’s feelings. My mom says it’s all a part of being a teenager!

Well, with all of that said, I am SO ready for a (much needed) Spring Break!!!! I plan to take some time for myself and hang out with my friends. Luckily, I only got some work for one subject, AP Government and Politics. We’re a little behind schedule, and we have to fit everything in before we take the AP Test in May. That’s the good thing about taking an AP class – the tests are earlier, so you don’t have to come in to take a final in June! Anyway, I hope you all have a blessed Easter, and enjoy your vacation as much as I hope to enjoy mine. I’ll talk to you later!
Jeanette J

Harvard and More!!!

Hi everyone! I thought I’d fill you in on what I’ve been up to these past few days. Thirteen members of our Forensics Team spent the past weekend in Boston at Harvard University. Students from all over the country were there. The competition was held on Saturday and Sunday, and 3 of our forensicators advanced into Monday's competitions. The Public Forum Debate team of sophomore John Cierpial and junior Angelo Cerimele made it to double-octafinals, which means they came in the top 32! Also, junior Adam Freeman made it to octafinals in JV Lincoln-Douglas Debate, placing in the top 16. Both of these categories had about 300 competitors, so their successes were really awesome. The team was so supportive of one another, and had a lot of fun too. We went out to dinner every night, and got time to shop around Harvard Square. We arrived home from Harvard on Monday night at about 6pm. As much fun and success as we had, we were all pretty eager to get back home and out of the long car ride! I had such a great time, not only with my teammates and coaches, but with actually competing and performing with my partner, Chris.

What else is new? Well, last week the junior class got to go to an assembly called "Making College Count." It was a very informative and realistic session given by a man who got a full scholarship and graduated first in both his business and regular school. He talked to us about narrowing down our college search, the correct way to go about the college admission process, and about seeking financial aid. It got us all thinking seriously about what colleges we want to go to.

On Saturday, I am auditioning for the dance program at The New Jersey Governor's School of the Arts. I was asked by one of my vice principals to send in an application, and I’ve made it to the next step which is to attend an audition this coming Saturday. They only accept 12 students into the program so this would be a great opportunity to me if I’m accepted into the program. I am sooo nervous. I'll be sure to tell you how it goes!

The Annual Freshman Lock-In is coming up!! I hope all of you who are now officially the Union Catholic Class of 2012 are planning to attend! The Lock-In is probably one of the most memorable activities here at UC. You not only get to meet more UC students, but you get to meet your entire high school class! It's such a fun night, filled with games, food, prizes, and more! Don't miss it!

I guess that's all for now. I'll fill you in a little later!

(P.S. - Don't forget that Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is coming up!! Tickets are on sale! The dates are: March 7, 8, 9, 14, and 15!)

OH WHAT A NIGHT!

Last Friday night was the 3rd Annual Accepted Students Dance – and oh, what a night it was! A lot of 8th graders came, and were greeted by many Big Brothers, Big Sisters, and Ambassadors of UC. I’ve been to the two past dances, and I think it’s gotten better and better with each year. More and more 8th graders came and were dancing the night away. I was surprised how fast a lot of them started to dance and make new friends. I talked to a lot of them throughout the night, especially the ones who didn’t know anyone. But by the end of the night, we got pretty much everyone out on the dance floor, making a congo line around the school and dancing to the Cha-Cha Slide and Cotton-Eyed Joe! I thought the night was really successful, and everyone there had a great time – 8th graders, UC students, and UC supervisors alike!

Catholic Schools Week is this week, and today and tomorrow we get two tag days! Today, everyone is wearing UC Apparel, from sweat pants to basketball jerseys. Tomorrow we can wear clothes from colleges. We also get complimentary “breakfast in the wings” in the morning.

The Student Council is selling candy grams for Valentine’s Day. A table is set up in the morning and anyone can buy something for their sweetheart for only a dollar!

We have another Forensics competition coming up this Saturday, with only one more in March! The team is working hard to do their very best and get points for nationals. The annual trip to Harvard is coming up too, on President’s Day weekend. I can’t wait!!

I also just realized how close the Spring Musical is, and the nerves are definitely kicking in! We only have 10 rehearsals until the big Tech Weekend, the weekend before opening night where the cast and crew basically live at school, running the show and working out any last minute problems.

Last Sunday, I got to come to school for “Q & A Sunday,” an Information Session for Accepted Students and their families. I gave a few tours and talked to several parents and kids, answering any questions that they had and telling them all about my life here at UC, just like I do on this blog! I love meeting so many different families, and I think it’s great that there are so many opportunities for you to come visit and learn more about our school. Learning all about UC before you even get here will make your transition into freshman year so much easier and fun!

I’ll be back to let you know more about what’s going on – I can always find something to tell you!! Have a great day!