By Nick Person, 12th grade
Memorable moments this year range from the senior ring Mass in August to the baseball team’s journey to the State Championship in May. We hope all the moments in between will stay with us forever. I asked some of the seniors what their most memorable moments were from this year.
“Beating the undefeatedmFontainebleau football team at Fontainebleau. It was memorable because it was our first win, and it was a big upset.”—Justin Clark
“Probably getting the senior ring at Ring Mass was my most favorite moment.”—Joe Yuratich
“Beating Jesuit in baseball, by a walk-off in the last inning. It was memorable because it was my last time playing them.”– Zack Cunningham
“I gotta’ say it is between Coach Batt’s class and Ms. Lyons class. Both classes have a relaxed atmosphere and they’re just good teachers.”—Zachary Myrick
“The win against Jesuit, because that was my last time playing them. And it has always been a good rivalry, between two good teams.”—Blake Toscano
May 17 2012 | Posted in
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Zachary Stoufflet, 11th grade
Holy Cross Senior Dexter Bass is known around campus as a top-notch wrestler, but this is not his only passion in life. When I met up with Bass in his Webmaster class, he was focused on his Web Mastering project which he had been working on for a month.
Bass is a captain of the wrestling team, along with Frank Jurisich, Nick Michael and Taj Smith. While typing on his computer, stated “The responsibilities you have in wrestling come at a high risk. You can either teach that young wrestler
something wrong, or you can show him how to become a champion.” Bass has been
wrestling since his freshman year. During his career, the team has won two state
titles and Bass has captured one individual state title. He has put countless
hours of hard work on the mat. “I don’t think it was just the [self] confidence
that made me strive to be great, but all the support from my team, coaches, and
parents.”
Most of the support Dexter gets is from Mr. DesOrmeaux, the head coach of the Wrestling team. Dexter said that Mr. DesOrmeaux expects his wrestlers to work hard to attain goals, but is relaxed and loves to joke at practice. One of the exercises he does is Olympic Lifts which includes the power squat, jerks, and snatches. Dexter not only has to work out a lot, but has a weight plan scheduled for every day. This means less carbs, more fruits and vegetables, and protein. Explaining his approach to the sport, he said “I am serious at some points during matches. I like to jump the
whistle to let the opponent know I am there, but after that I feel less rushed
and more relaxed.”
Dexter’s good grades have not only kept him on the wrestling team, but have also helped him get into a good college. He will be attending Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa. When he is not busy with school and wrestling, Dexter plays Call of Duty and hangs out with his friends.
May 17 2012 | Posted in
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By Dwyane Darensburg, 12th grade
Although senioritis is kicking in and I’m excited about college, I can’t say that I’m looking forward to leaving Holy Cross. I started here in the seventh grade and the school has grown to be my second home. I’ve had my ups and downs, but my affection for the institution has been consistent. As I’ve matured over the years, my views towards education and life in general have changed because of my experiences that I’ve had here. In a word, Holy Cross changed my life.
Let’s be honest guys, school gets boring and repetitive at times. I’ve had days where I would wake up and wish that I could play hooky. But on those days, the minute I stepped foot into the Huddle and the joking with my bros began, my outlook on the day changed. I have friends that attend other Catholic high schools and they often say they wish that they had as much fun as I have at Holy Cross. They brag about how miserable their school is while I brag about the funny things that go down here on a daily basis.
Through academic courses, I came to realize that Holy Cross is much more than just a place to learn facts and figures. I went from being an anti-social seventh grader to a senior who’s tight with my entire senior class, as well as some underclassmen that I’ve met along the way. Brotherhood plays a major factor at Holy Cross. Coach Adrian Jackson made a good point this year in religion class that I’ve been reflecting on: “Just think about it guys, you spend more time at Holy Cross than you spend at home with your own family.” This stuck with me because it’s entirely true. Yes, you love your family more than anything, but when you let Holy Cross in your heart and take in what this school has to offer, you develop relationships with students and faculty that can’t easily be broken. These relationships eventually grow into loving these people like family.
Getting my senior ring was probably one of the best nights of my life. I’m not exaggerating. It was more than just a ceremony to me, more than getting a piece of metal. Putting that ring on my finger for the first time confirmed that I had made it through everything that was thrown at me. It was a high point and nothing could bring me down. I felt that way for a long period of time. It motivated me to focus on my grades and strengthen my family life.
I’m done talking about myself. Now it’s time for a little advice for those of you who still have time left.
First, don’t be the guy that waits until the end of senior year to realize what you have, and that it’s been right in front of you all along. In other words, don’t let the old saying “You never know what you have until it’s gone,” apply to your life. Don’t assume this is just a school, and trust me, you’ll get more out of your time here.
On that same note, get involved. Join teams, clubs, and just show up to everything possible: football games to drama productions. You have to put something into this school to get something back in return.
Next, expand your social circle. There’s nothing wrong with getting out of your usual element and talking to people you wouldn’t usually talk to. Middle school cliques tend to fade away and you begin to open up to people that you thought were “different.”
That’s pretty much all I have to say. For all my Holy Cross brothers that get to stay, good luck and much love.
May 16 2012 | Posted in
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By Austin Doyle, 11th grade
With the end of the year quickly approaching, the junior class is excited about next year. It’s the year we’ve all been looking forward to since we first stepped on campus. I asked a few juniors what they are most looking forward to about senior year.
“What I’m looking forward to the most is kicking Jesuit’s tail!”
–Alex Boudreaux
“I can’t wait to be communications president as well as going to Disney!”
–Logan Field
“I’m looking forward to hopefully working Slam ‘N Jam.”
–Nicholas Rouchon
May 10 2012 | Posted in
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By Nicholas Gale, 12th Grade
The three most popular and famous card games are Magic: the Gathering, Pokémon, and Yu-Gi-Oh. Each game play mechanics are quite different. Because they are so popular, other games have a hard time winning fans as many serious players have already dedicated their time to another card game. But a new game, Cardfight Vanquard, has grown quite popular among Yu-Gi-Oh players. The game just started hitting retail stores like Wal-Mart, but has been a hit in Japan and Singapore for years now. Cardfight Vanguard incorporates game mechanics from each of the three aforementioned games and even has the artwork done by the Yu-Gi-Oh card artists. Here’s what you need to know to get started.
Deck Construction:
Each player needs a 50 card deck exactly. The deck must have exactly 16
“trigger” units. There are four trigger units: critical, heal, draw, and stand.
You do not have to have all four triggers, and since more than one card can be
a specific trigger unit, you can run more than four of that trigger (say two
different cards are critical units, now you can run 8 total critical units).
The only rule is that you can only have four heal units. And in a 50 card deck,
they rarely show up.
Starting the Game:
Each player has a starter unit, this unit is known as the Vanguard starter and it must have a grade number 0 in order to be a starter. The starter can be separated from the deck (like in a different color sleeve) but does count for the 50 cards. Each player draws five cards, if certain cards in hand do not suit the players needs, they can “mulligan” those cards back into the deck, shuffle, and draw the same amount of cards they put back in. Which player goes first is decided by a dice roll and there is no choice, whoever wins the roll goes first. For more information on how to play, see
below.
Conclusion:
If you are interested in playing cards, I recommend Cardfight Vanguard. And now is a good time as it’s so new. Players will be ready for new packs. The game can last from five minutes to a half hour. And all of the different kinds of decks share very similar effects, so each deck is so similar that you don’t have to worry about liking a deck type that doesn’t perform well competitively.
More on how to play:
At the beginning of each turn, the player draws one card. The player then enters
into the “ride” phase—the player may “ride up” the vanguard to the next grade
(so a grade 0 vanguard may be overridden by a grade 1 vanguard). Then you may
play up to five “rear guards” that must be either the same grade as the
vanguard or lower. You can play as many rear guards each turn as possible, but
only the front row (two rear guards and the vanguard) can attack.
The back row is meant for boosting the front row (adding the monsters attack to the other’s attack power). To declare an attack, the player must turn the card sideways “tap” the card and tell which of the opponent’s monsters they are attacking. The vanguard is the obvious target, but the front row rear guards can also be attacked (if a rear guard is defeated, it goes to the graveyard. If the vanguard is damaged, the player receives a damage counter). The attacking player does a “drive check” when attacking with the vanguard only, to drive check the attacking player reveals the top card of their deck. If there is a trigger unit they may apply that
special condition, (draw trigger lets you draw an extra card; stand triggers
allow a guard that has already attacked to attack again; heal triggers allow
you to heal one damage counter if you have equal or more damage than your
opponent; critical triggers give an extra damage to your opponent), the
triggers also allow a plus 5000 boost to any guard of your choice.
The defending player on the other hand may attempt to stop an attack. Each monster (except for grade 3) has a shield number on their side. Playing these adds that number to the strength of the monster being attacked. If the boost is higher than the attack of the attacking monster, the attack is prevented.
By Nicholas Gale, 12th Grade
On a Saturday afternoon in March at the Crescent City Corvette Club’s Legends Open Car Show in Harvey, I had the opportunity to sit down with my grandfather, Van Gale, and talk to him about his life as a boarder student at Holy Cross during the 1950s. A Holy Cross graduate of the class of 1958, he shared his stories, opinions on how education has changed over the years, and what he thinks about our new campus.
NG: What was life like for the average high school teenager during the 50s? Was it a much more simple time for a teenager, or was it harder?
VG: Gasoline was 25 cents a gallon. If you wanna know what life was like see the movie Grease. There was plenty music in the 50s, especially in New Orleans. There was much more freedom then, and nowhere near the amount of crime and disrespect that is seen in schools today, children respected their parents a lot more.
NG: Who was your favorite Brother or teacher at Holy Cross? What did you like about him?
VG: Brother Melchior is the one I remember the most. His fair discipline (wouldn’t take advantage of you). He also had a very humorous side to him. We all loved him because he taught us so much.
NG: What were the Brothers like? Were they more social and outgoing with the boarders?
VG: The main word to that answer is discipline. There was more discipline in an outward form, such as the paddle, than there is today. You were always respectful to the Brothers. The lay personnel they had back then were easy going, but the Brothers were strict, the reason why a lot of boys were sent to Holy Cross. The Brothers were more disciplined than today’s teachers and when I was there, were very strict and corporal punishment (you better straighten up for them). There was definitely much more discipline and respect given to the Brothers.
NG: The teaching methods have drastically changed over the years, what was the curriculum like and how did the Brothers teach?
VG: Being a boarder at Holy Cross, there was such a thing as study hall. School ended around 2:45 and there was free time until 5. After study hall, there was dinner at 6, and then from 6:30 to 7 was another free period, then study hall 7:30 to 8:30, then lights out at 9:30.
NG: What was the schedule like then? Was it four classes or was it every class every day?
VG: Every class every day, if you sang in the glee club or played in the band you had that class before the first class. Every day was read, write, and arithmetic.
NG: What was your best subject? What subject did you have trouble with?
VG: I hated it and I hate it to this day: reading. Your grandmother used to read a book for me (such as Huckleberry Finn), and outline the chapters, then I’d read the outline. I never had a favorite subject, the arts were more interesting to me than science. I didn’t like English, Spelling, Mathematics, but I did like music appreciation. I lived for the weekends.
NG: With the technology revolution advancing the way students are taught, do you think that the school issued laptops are better for education or a distraction?
VG: Everybody today has computers in school, you have much more channels of education that we didn’t have. We used to have to go to the library to look up the encyclopedia, now it’s easy to get information by today’s standards.
NG: Holy Cross has changed so much since you attended. Do you think that Holy Cross has kept the same message of brotherhood it had then?
VG: In today’s world, discipline does not exist. I was strict on my kids because the Brothers were strict on me, I can remember one of the Brothers telling me when I called about my son, “Mr. Gale we are not running a disciplinary institution, we are running an educational institution. And if your son doesn’t wanna learn, there is a line a mile long waiting outside to get in here.” You don’t have discipline, sacrifice, and work ethic pounded into your head today like it was in the 50s.
NG: Did you play any sports?
VG: I played every sport they had–basketball, football, baseball, track, wrestling, but I was never any good at any of them, never lettered. Only reason I did it is because when the team left to go play a game, I had a reason to leave. The only thing I was any good at was Glee club. I had the solos at Christmas and other performances.
NG: Being a graduate of the old campus, is there anything you think the new campus is lacking?
VG: No, I can’t think of anything, there’s so many new things that the new campus has that the old one lacked, especially air conditioning. The only thing I think that it lacks is the mighty Mississippi River in your back yard and the levee that Brother Melchior made us run up and down on.
May 7 2012 | Posted in
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By Zachary Stoufflet, 11th grade
At a 163-year-old school, traditions are going to be an important part of almost everything it does. As I talked to Headmaster Mr. Charles DiGange in the comfort of his own office, our conversation covered the school’s beginning, its Katrina-related destruction, and its rebirth.
“Traditions are the life and breath of this school,” said Mr. DiGange. “These traditions we have here on this campus carry on year after year.” Though Katrina ended some traditions of the old campus, many important traditions were carried on to the new campus and new ones have been created.
Possibly the most prominent tradition is the Alma Mater that students and faculty sing after events such as pep rallies, Masses, and sporting events. According to the book Boys to Men, which chronicles the history of Holy Cross, the Alma Mater was introduced in 1945. Mr. Greco, 8th grade Religion teacher, explained that records of the Alma Mater were destroyed during Hurricane Katrina.
We recite the Holy Cross Man every morning. It is our school’s official creed and was written by Brother Fisher in the 1940s, but we started saying it every day in homeroom in 2008.
A highly visible and important tradition that has survived is the 100-year-old Gazebo. It was originally a street car stop on the old campus and is now an important landmark of our new campus. The Gazebo was damaged by the storm and needed some touch-up work.
The victory bell is rung after a significant win. To get the honor to spin the victory bell you must be a senior, but all other participants in state competitions may touch the bell. The bell hangs in the same place of the administration building as it did on the old campus.
The Holy Cross vs. Jesuit football game has always been a highlight of the football season and dates back to 1922. The game is very popular around the state of Louisiana and it is one of top ten rivalries games in the country.
The student section has always been a vital part of athletic events. The student section in the student center was recently renamed “The Tiger Den.”
A new senior class tradition is the “Be Everything” events. The “Be Everything” events are planned events that all seniors attend. They are meant to draw the senior class together and also show support for teams and organizations. This was started by the class of 2011.
Another new tradition deals with the design of the campus and the existence of the fountain in the center of the front court yard. A new senior privilege was created when we moved into the new buildings—only seniors can walk through the court yard. One tradition that was brought over from the old campus was another senior privilege that only seniors can walk on the HC logo in the High School building.
A subtle gesture that seems to be gaining popularity on campus is the pounding of the chest during the “Pray for us” conclusion of morning prayers. Its origins are uncertain.
Some traditions last longer than others, but as Mr. DiGange said, traditions will always be part of this school’s campus life.
May 7 2012 | Posted in
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By Nicholas Person, 12th Grade
On a Thursday morning in March, the mood in Mr. Eric Ferry’s sophomore religion class seemed to be calm, respectful, and open for discussion. In a class packed with 27 rowdy sophomores ready for the day to be over already, Mr. Ferry managed to hold their attention. Not many people could do this with what looks like such ease. This skill is just one of the many reasons that Mr. Ferry has earned the status among students and coworkers as simply, The Man.
If you don’t know who Mr. Ferry is, just look for the best dressed man on campus. On any given day you can find him wearing a pressed button-down shirt, a stylish tie, and usually a coat or even a suit.“I feel like you have to dress for success,” Mr. Ferry explained. “The more professional I look, the more professional I’ll be in the classroom. Second, I feel I should practice what I preach in regards to personal appearance, and to be a good role model.”
Back in the sophomore religion class, one of the five classes he teaches, a student asks a question that some teachers would just respond with a simple answer. However, Mr. Ferry likes to answer, explain, and give examples until thorough understanding is reached, no matter how long that may take. He also adds in personal experiences form his life, which shows how much he cares about education and that he is willing to open up to students. “I feel my students see me as a real person. It allows them to have a model for decisions that they might be faced with or the answers that they need. I want them to see that what I tell them about life is true.”
When I asked him why he likes teaching so much he said, “I love being around young people. More importantly, going home at night, the feeling like I made a difference or helped, even if it’s just one student, is something that words can’t describe.” When I asked if he had always wanted to be a teacher growing up, he responded, “No, I did not see myself teaching when I was growing up. When I was 24, I got the calling that I needed to teach. I realized that I wasn’t happy in life in regards to my professional life, and when I was trying to decide what to do, God kept putting the word ‘teach’ in my mind. I sent résumés out and 24 hours later, I had a job. That made me realize God put me here to teach. Fifteen years later, here I am.”
I had the opportunity to have Mr. Ferry as a teacher twice in the same year for Religion and Business. I learned a lot in both of those classes. His teaching style is popular among students. He is relaxed, but stern when he needs to be. He isn’t afraid to open up to a bunch of people that don’t know him too well, and he respects the students. “I feel to gain respect you have to give respect. Students are people too, and God says that we should respect all people.”
Between classes, and often a long time after they are over, Mr. Ferry wears the hat as Student Activities Director. He explained the position. “I’m responsible for all clubs and any extracurricular activities on campus such as pep rallies, dances, Slam N Jam, Intramurals, the senior parade, Boys To Men, Blood Drives, Homecoming, just to name a few. Thank God I have awesome moderators and support. I definitely couldn’t do it without their help.” These are just a few of the events that keep him busy. “Next year I hope to double the amount of activities that we had this year.” In short, Mr. Ferry is one of the main people at Holy Cross who makes it as fun as it is.
On top of being a teacher and Student Activities Director, Mr. Ferry also has seven kids of his own. To most people this would probably be way too much, but Mr. Ferry doesn’t back down from a challenge. “First and foremost, I’m a husband and a father. It’s hard to find a balance, but it just takes a little more planning and foresight. I don’t want to take away time from my family, but at the same time I want to be able to dedicate time to my students. It’s just a juggling act, trying to keep all the balls in the air. I want to the best teacher I can be, and at the same time, also the best husband and father I can be. And if I try, I can find that balance.”
Staying true to his New Orleans roots, Mr. Ferry is also a huge Saints fan. During the Saints’ season you can see him every Friday and on game days wearing black and gold attire to show his support. He has Saints memorabilia all around his classrooms and office. “I have always been a Saint’s fan. I love New Orleans and I feel the Saints really kept us together as a city after Katrina. If it wasn’t for the Saints I don’t know where this city would be psychologically or even financially. I feel the Saints give us that mental boost that we all need. No matter if you’re young or old, male or female, black or white, the Saints make us all one family.”
Just imagine if Mr. Ferry never came to Holy Cross. Would we have intramurals? Did you go to the Pajama Jam this year? That was Mr. Ferry who fought to bring it back. He believes in making school enjoyable. “I want to make this school [a place] where kids want to be, so I’m all for adding any future activities. The bigger the better.” Next time you see Mr. Ferry just stop and thank him for all he has done for this school since he has been here.
May 7 2012 | Posted in
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Student Body President: Greg Raynal. Greg is a member of the varsity baseball team. He is a Tiger Award recipient from 5th grade all the way through 10th grade and is a finalist for this current school year. Greg is currently serving on Student Council as the Junior Class President. He is also a member of the National Honor Society.
Student Body Vice President: Tucker Herzog. Tucker is a current member of the Varsity Basketball Team and Varsity Football Team. He is also a member of the National Honor Society.
Communications Director: Logan Field. Logan is the captain of the Karate Team, has performed in numerous Holy Cross Drama productions, a Tiger Award recipient, member of the National Honor Society, and a Peer Minister for the 2012-2013 school year.
Events Coordinator: Jordan Showalter. Jordan is a member of the Varsity Football team as a starting defensive tackle since his freshman year. He is also a member of the Varsity Wrestling Team and Track and Field Team. Jordan is a member of the St. Andre’ Service Society, national Honor Society, and math Club. He is also a member of Mu Alpha Theta where he holds the position of Vice President.
Spirit Coordinator: Michael Stiegler. Michael has been a member of the Holy Cross Cheerleading Team and has performed in numerous productions with our Drama Department.
Intramural Coordinator: Thomas Cooke. TJ is a member of the Varsity Basketball Team and will be a member of the 2012-2013 Peer Ministry team.
Director of Christian Initiative: Austin Doyle. Austin is a Holy Cross Representative on T.E.E.N. Cross. He is also a member of our Varsity Wrestling Team. Austin is a past Tiger Award recipient and member of the National Honor Society. Austin is also a member of the National Collegiate Scholars Society. He is member of the 2012-2013 Peer Ministry Team and a USA Intermediate Volunteer Wrestling coach.
Student Council Secretary: William Birdsall. William has been involved with Tiger Band and is one of the section leaders for pit percussions. Will is the secretary for the national Honor Society. He is also a member of the Varsity Tennis Team. He is a also piano player for the Middle School Choir. William is also a member of the 2012-2013 Peer Ministry.
Student Council Historian: George Mandella. George is a member of the Tiger Marching band and jazz band for the past four years. He has been a field captain and assistant drum major. George is a two year member of our Track and Field team. George is a Wrestling letterman and a Tiger Award recipient for 3 years straight. He is also a member of the National Honor Society and St. Andre’ Service Society. George is a Peer Minister for the 2012-2013 school year.
Senior Class President: Dalton Cambre. Dalton has served two years on our Student Council. He was a captain of the Varsity Soccer Team and a member of the National Honor Society. Dalton will be a member of the 2012-2013 Peer Ministry team. Congratulations Dalton.
Apr 27 2012 | Posted in
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Dear Ben,
I don’t do much around campus. I am not in any clubs and I don’t play any sports. I want to make a difference and be a part of something at Holy Cross. How can I do this? Any suggestions for what clubs I can join? Thanks,
Invisible Tiger
Dear Invisible Tiger,
It’s up to you to make friends and have fun. If you want to be an athlete, keep in mind that you need have to want to work hard and practice. I personally have never joined a sport, but if you ask any of the guys that are in football, wrestling, soccer, etc. they always have fun. Plus, all of these sports are great way to get to know your brothers on campus.
If athletics aren’t your thing, then join a club. We have tons of fun and sociable clubs to join. If you like martial arts, try the Karate team. Want more school spirit? Go Blue Circle! Anything that you do around this campus will help define your personality. It shows your interests and shows people your attitude towards your school and yourself.
If you want to start your own club, you’ll need some help. Tell people about your idea and build support. Mr. Ferry is the man to talk to. He has done a great job helping make some clubs at Holy Cross possible. This year, I have seen more school club participation than previous years. Don’t just stick to the ordinary either. We have this new state of the art school; use it to your advantage.
Good Luck,
Ben Piazza, 11th grade
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Mar 16 2012 | Posted in
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