Private company to coordinate third trip to Rwanda scheduled for summer 2013

Anna McCloskey and Megan Pohle
May 15, 2013
Filed under News

When junior high theology teacher Ms. Susie Hinnendael and former history teacher Mr. James Cave started teaching the Genocide and Social Justice class, they placed a lot of focus on the Rwandan genocide of 1994, when an ethnic clash resulted in the deaths approximately a million civilians. Soon after... Read more »

Theology teacher Zach Zeckser leaves BSM for principal position

Anna McCloskey, Staff Writer
May 13, 2013
Filed under News Briefs

At the end of this school year, Mr. Zach Zeckser will depart from the BSM community to become the principal of St. Mark’s Catholic School in St. Paul. As Servant Leadership Coordinator, Campus Minister, head of Red Knight Volunteer Corps, Students for Human Life, and Student Leadership Forum, and Theology... Read more »

Junior admitted to prestigious theater summer program

Michelle Sauer and Anna McCloskey
May 6, 2013
Filed under Student Life

While some students will spend the summer on mission trips, traveling or working at their summer jobs, Benilde-St. Margaret’s junior Danny Faber will spend his free months in New York City studying musical theater at New York University’s New Studio Summer Music Theater program. The program, hosted... Read more »

Student organization Red Knights for H2OPE combines engineering with social justice

Anna McCloskey, Staff Writer
April 24, 2013
Filed under News

This Wednesday, BSM’s common basket collection will benefit Red Knights for H2OPE, a new organization within BSM to promote the school’s principles of social justice and innovation. These principles show through in the addition of this new program to the extracurricular selection. The program’s... Read more »

North Suburban Conference to be disbanded after departure of two more schools

Andrew Birkeland, Anna McCloskey, and Will Jarvis
April 12, 2013
Filed under Editor's Picks, News, Top Stories

Earlier this year, it was announced that the North Suburban Conference (NSC) would lose three schools to the Mississippi-8 Conference––Chisago Lakes, North Branch, and St. Francis. This past month, two more schools––Robbinsdale-Cooper and St. Louis Park––made public their decision to part... Read more »

Speech team wins section, sends nine to State

Anna McCloskey, Staff Writer
March 15, 2013
Filed under News Briefs, Videos

For the fourth consecutive year, BSM's Speech team took home the section 6AA first place trophy Thursday night. The win comes against many larger schools, though the Red Knights held their own. With finalists in all thirteen categories, nine will continue on to the State level competition. "The team... Read more »

When dieting becomes dangerous

Anna McCloskey, Jackie Lawyer, and Natalie Chevalier
March 11, 2013
Filed under Features, Top Stories

Though there are many ways to diet, the most popular methods among teens are unhealthy and harmful for the human body and development. “I think that it’s kind of ridiculous to diet in high school; it can be bad for you,” said junior Jackson Guettler. Fad diets are tactics especially popular among... Read more »

Juniors and seniors hear of WWII experiences from veteran

Anna McCloskey, Staff Writer
February 27, 2013
Filed under News Briefs

In an exciting and captivating event, Benilde-St. Margaret’s hosted guest speaker Herb Suerth to learn of his experiences in the European theater of World War II. The event was held in the theater on Monday, February 25, with juniors attending during first hour and seniors during second hour. Suerth... Read more »

Schools leaving NSC leads to trouble for the conference

Anna McCloskey, Andrew Birkeland, and Will Jarvis
February 22, 2013
Filed under News, Top Stories

At the conclusion of the 2012-2013 school year, the North Suburban Conference will lose three of its member schools to the Mississippi Eight Conference. Chisago Lakes High School, North Branch High School, and St. Francis High School will each depart the conference, beginning their time in their new... Read more »

WWII veteran to speak to juniors and seniors next week

Anna McCloskey, Staff Writer
February 15, 2013
Filed under News

In the hopes of forming a new tradition, Benilde-St. Margaret’s will host Herbert Suerth, a World War II veteran, to speak to juniors and seniors on Feb. 25. Suerth was a member of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division. “Originally, it would be just a junior thing,... Read more »

Right to Work laws defy Catholic Social Teaching

Anna McCloskey, Staff Writer
February 14, 2013
Filed under Opinions

By gift of Catholic Social Teaching, every person has a duty and a privilege to work to sustain and protect humanity. In working, according to the principle of Dignity and Rights of Workers, all people are entitled to fair and just wages, safe conditions, productive work, benefits, and the right to unionize.... Read more »

School remains in session throughout heavy winter snowfall

Anna McCloskey, Staff Writer
February 11, 2013
Filed under News

No student currently attending Benilde-St. Margaret’s has ever experienced a snow day during their years here. In fact, it has been nearly eleven years since a snow day was granted to students and faculty, often resulting in disappointment when there are large snowfalls. “We tend to not cancel school... Read more »

Assembly speaker fails to connect with over-dramatic approach

Anna McCloskey, Staff Writer
January 29, 2013
Filed under Opinions

During this morning’s performance by Memphis-based singer John Angotti, I couldn’t help but feel underwhelmed as the dramatics played out before my eyes. Laced with clichés, the event was difficult to take seriously, as it did not cater to a student audience. I must acknowledge the effort of... Read more »

Long-time librarian to retire at end of semester

Anna McCloskey, Staff Writer
January 17, 2013
Filed under Featured People, Top Stories

“One score and four years ago, Dan Walker hired me,” said Ms. Lynn Bottge, the longtime librarian of Benilde-St. Margaret’s. Since 1989, the library has been home to Ms. Bottge, a dedicated and hardworking lover of books. In those 24 years, Ms. Bottge has served the school and its students with... Read more »

Social media: a questionable platform for personal posts

Anna McCloskey and Laura Shannon
January 7, 2013
Filed under Editor's Picks, Features, Top Stories

Senior Denis Beaird had thought a lot before pressing share; he had considered the consequences, weighed the pros and cons, and talked to his father and to theology teacher Mr. Zack Zeckser. When Denis Beaird posted a very personal story about his painful childhood on Facebook, it was not an impulse... Read more »

Homerooms stand out in Christmas common basket collection

Anna McCloskey and Adam Bilski
December 21, 2012
Filed under News

Every year, students unite their homerooms, pooling together money and presents for the Christmas common basket project, to help families in need during the holiday season. Students recognize that the Christmas common basket project is a necessity, the giving comes in physical form, but more importantly... Read more »

Recent tragedies show need for stricter gun control laws

Anna McCloskey, Staff Writer
December 20, 2012
Filed under Opinions

Newtown, Connecticut; Aurora, Colorado, and other gun related incidents represent a morbid but imperative call to action. Gun violence in this country has reached a point where we must act, or risk the pressing consequences. The fact is, this issue cannot be ignored any longer. This country cannot go... Read more »

Catholic school reps meet about servant leadership

Anna McCloskey, Staff Writer
December 5, 2012
Filed under News Briefs

In recent years, theology teacher Mr. Zach Zeckser has worked to integrate ideas of servant leadership into Benilde-St. Margaret’s theology department and daily work with the help of the Archdiocese of Minneapolis-St. Paul. His endeavors, as well as those of other Catholic high schools in the area,... Read more »

Debate team takes second at State

Anna McCloskey, Staff Writer
December 5, 2012
Filed under Activities, News Briefs

Overcoming many more sizable schools, Benilde-St. Margaret’s own debate team took home a second place all around finish in the Minnesota Classic Debate State Tournament this past weekend. The tournament, held at South St. Paul High School, was monumental for BSM, who had never before placed so highly... Read more »

Students to wear bow-ties in support of Mr. Le

Anna McCloskey, Staff Writer
November 26, 2012
Filed under News Briefs

To honor and support Mr. Viet Le, a valued member of the Benilde-St. Margaret’s faculty, the math department has organized for students to wear bow-ties on Tuesday, November 27. The event serves to encourage Mr. Le, a devoted math teacher and bow-tie lover, through his recovery after being hospitalized... Read more »

Technology department applies for award from Apple

Anna McCloskey, Staff Writer
November 11, 2012
Filed under News Briefs

This year, the Benilde-St. Margaret’s technology department applied to receive the Apple Distinguished Schools Award, highlighting the school’s use of technology to enhance and transform classroom learning. In the past, Apple has used BSM as an example for other schools, with our one to one program... Read more »

Most recent debate shifts the dynamic of the Presidential race

Anna McCloskey, Staff Writer
October 18, 2012
Filed under Opinions

Tuesday’s Presidential debate marked a distinct difference in format, moderator quality, and topic range from the October 3 debate. More importantly, however, was the profound “role reversal” of the candidates. President Obama managed to take his dismal performance of two weeks ago and make a complete... Read more »

First Presidential debate lackluster for both opponents

Anna McCloskey, Staff Writer
October 6, 2012
Filed under Opinions

Our current president’s performance at Wednesday’s debate failed to impress even me, the diehard liberal and Obama supporter. The whole debate, in fact, from moderator Jim Lehrer to Romney to Obama, left me somewhat less than dazzled. A preliminary criticism is merely a petty complaint from a... Read more »

Voter ID amendment will limit citizens’ rights

Anna McCloskey and Will Jarvis
October 1, 2012
Filed under Opinions

At first glance, the voter ID amendment seems like a no brainer. The government requires identification for plenty of other things – like driving and buying alcohol – so why shouldn’t we have to provide identification to vote? But the flaws do not come to the surface until the amendment is examined... Read more »

Even a restrictive dress code promotes individuality

Anna McCloskey, Staff Writer
September 19, 2012
Filed under Opinions

Culture at BSM would not be the same if we were given uniforms. As a community of individuals, each with a unique style, we must be allowed to wear what we choose. Despite recent changes to the dress code and the resulting uproar, the student body needs to maintain the current dress code rather than... Read more »