Community Update

CJ's St. Luke Grads Honor Beloved Teacher
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Twenty former St. Luke students, now Eagles, attended a special Mass at their alma mater May 15 to pay homage to legendary staff member Fran Bruns, who retired this spring.

“When I received the invitation from St. Luke principal Leslie Vondrell I knew our students would be grateful for the opportunity to attend.” said Dan Meixner, CJ President.

After leaving from CJ Tuesday morning, the St. Luke grads arrived early to greet and thank Ms. Bruns, their junior high reading and language arts teacher, for all of the lessons she taught inside and outside the classroom.

At the celebration, Terry Schneider, pastor at St. Luke Parish, asked every person who had been taught by Ms. Bruns to stand and recognize her. At the end of Mass, CJ students presented her with gifts of appreciation, while friends and family gathered to give one final farewell.

Fran, who served the students at St. Luke for more than 30 years, will be fondly remembered by many for her effective teaching techniques. She always believed the two greatest tools in the classroom were a piece of chalk and a chalk board.

Memories

Nicholas Dalton, CJ class of 2014

“Her English and language arts courses were phenomenal," said Dalton, who attended the morning celebration with fellow CJ and St. Luke classmates. "They really prepared me for my English classes at CJ. I know I would not have received such good grades here without her influence.

“She was a great teacher. I would not have missed a Mass in her honor for the world.”

Keiley Ayers, CJ class of 2014

“Ms. Bruns really influenced us through her teaching style. The first day of school with her was my favorite memory. She gave us this great speech about ownership in the classroom. That really stuck with me," recounted the CJ sophomore.

“Ms. Bruns taught us how to be prepared for high school. She taught us more than just what was required through the basics. She really wanted us to succeed.

"It’s hard to picture St. Luke without Ms. Bruns," Ayers said. "She worked so hard all of these years and deserved this honor.”

Tournament Time for CJ Track Teams
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Support CJ men’s and women’s track, the final feature teams of the 2011-12 school year, as they begin their quest for a state championship at the two-day Division II district tournament hosted at UD’s Welcome Stadium (directions).

The action begins Thursday, May 17 (4 p.m. field events, 5 p.m. track events) and continues Saturday, May 19 (2 p.m. field events, 3:30 p.m. track events). Admission is $6 each day. View the complete district schedule >

Both programs bring highly impressive resumes into the postseason, highlighted over the past four years by the group success of the four-time GGCL champion and two-time OATCCC indoor champion women’s team, and a 2011 individual men’s state champion.  CJ men’s and women’s track teams are led by head coach Jerry Puckett, the two-time GGCL coach of the year.

Five senior members of the CJ track program have signed National Letters of Intent to continue their athletic careers in college.  Standout runners Cierra Brown and Camille Dickens will compete against one another in the Big Ten next season, Brown at Purdue and Dickens at Ohio State. Men’s teammates Darnell Dunson (Mount St. Joseph), Mitchell Jones (Yale), and Darian Reynolds (Ashland) have chosen to play football.

In addition, 12 members of the women’s track team were named to the first or second team All-GGCL, and nine members of the men’s team earned first or second team All-GCL honors. Congratulations Eagles and good luck the rest of the way!

GGCL All Stars

Coach of the Year:  Jerry Puckett

Runner of the Year:  Cierra Brown

First Team

  • Cierra Brown (100m high hurdles) (300 IM hurdles)
  • Alexandria Coleman (200m dash) (400m dash)
  • Camille Dickens (long jump)
  • Devanae Mitchell (100m dash)
  • Natalie Prince (pole vault)
  • Helen Wittman (3200m run)
  • Erin Bailey, Cierra Brown, Alexandria Coleman, Camille Dickens (400m relay)
  • Erin Bailey, Cierra Brown, Alexandria Coleman, Devanae Mitchell (800m relay)

Second Team

  • Camille Dickens (100m high hurdles)
  • Tia Jones (shot put) (discus)
  • Devanae Mitchell (200m dash) (long jump)
  • Erin Warfield (pole vault)
  • Alexandria Coleman, Addi Helms, Kathryn Marshall, Emily Shira (1600m relay)
  • Addi Helms, Kathryn Marshall, Emily Shira, Helen Wittman (3200m relay)

 

GCL All Stars

Co-Athlete of the Year:  Antwan Persons

First Team

  • Antwan Persons (100m dash) (long jump)
  • Namron Bush, Darnell Dunson, Brandon Payne, Antwan Persons (800m relay)

Second Team

  • Cin'Quan Haney (high jump)
  • Connor Hickey (3200m run)
  • Mitchell Jones (discus)
  • Kyle McKinney (long jump)
  • Darnell Dunson, Wesley Lumpkin, Brandon Payne, Antwan Persons (400m relay)
Club Teams Compete on Campus & in Water
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Ever been to a CJ men’s or women’s lacrosse game on campus at Blue Green Field? Or watched the Eagles’ crew teams race on the water? Now is the time to see and support these spring feature teams before the season expires!

Remaining Schedule

Men’s Lacrosse

 
Time Date Team Location
6:30 pm Thurs., May 10 vs. Fairfield (JV) CJ
Noon Sat., May 12 vs. CHCA CJ
6 pm Mon., May 14 vs. Dayton Lacrosse Club CJ

Women’s Lacrosse

 
Time Date Team Location
7:30 pm Thu., May 10 vs. Centerville Centerville
2 pm Sat., May 12 vs. CHCA CJ
6 pm Tue., May 15 vs. Seven Hills CJ
6:30 pm Thurs., May 17 vs. Fairfield CJ

Varsity Rowing

 
Date Event Location
Sat., May 19 Midwest Junior Rowing Championships Harsha Lake
Sun., May 20 Midwest Junior Rowing Championships Harsha Lake
Fri., June 8 US Rowing Youth Championships Harsha Lake
Sat., June 9 US Rowing Youth Championships Harsha Lake
Sun., June 10 US Rowing Youth Championships Melton Hill Lake, TN
Tues., June 12 US Rowing Youth Championships Melton Hill Lake, TN

May Brings More Signings for Eagle Athletes
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During the month of May, seven Chaminade Julienne seniors signed National Letters of Intent to continue their careers as student-athletes at the collegiate level.

According to Scott Pierce, athletic director, a total of 18 students – or about 10 percent of the senior class – have signed or committed to play eight different sports with NCAA-affiliated schools.

“For at least one of every 10 students in the class to use athletics as a springboard for the next chapter in their lives speaks to the vitality of the department and the impact athletics has on the students’ lives,” Pierce said.

Eight student-athletes have agreed to play football, including dual-sport athlete Sam Spees who will also play baseball; John Staley, Raytea Long and Emily Michael have all agreed to play basketball on the NCAA Division I level; Camille Dickens will run track in the Big Ten against longtime teammate Cierra Brown; Sean Miller and Schaudon Herd will play men’s and women’s soccer at Tiffin University and Findlay University respectively; Maggie Switzer will row at Mercyhurst University; Andy Bole will play tennis at Grand Valley State University, and Diann Bonner will golf at Thomas More College.

Pierce believes the breadth of sports represented is a testament to the school’s vastly talented students and a positive reflection on those CJ coaches who have helped Eagles pursue their athletic careers at the next level.

“Our kids are unbelievable, and our coaches fuel the passion that our players have through much dedication and encouragement,” Pierce said.

May Signings

• On May 4, defensive tackle and National Achievement Scholarship recipient Mitchell Jones signed with Yale University, where he’ll study chemical engineering; two-year varsity starter Zachary Zavakos signed to play wide receiver at Bluffton University, where he’ll double major in biology and chemistry; and three-year varsity player Jacob Porter signed with Muskingum University to play linebacker. The spring signees (pictured above) join teammates Darian Reynolds, Marco Gresham and Nick Flannery who each signed in February.

“I am very proud of these young men for their success at CJ and their continued efforts at playing the game of football,” said first year CJ head football coach Marcus Colvin. “All three of the universities getting these student-athletes will find that they are young men that have high character and dedication to their sport.”

• On May 9, future Ohio State Buckeye Camille Dickens became the second CJ track athlete to sign with an NCAA Division I Big Ten school. In her four years with the varsity program, the senior has been part of four consecutive GGCL championship teams, competed on two indoor state track championship teams, and placed in three events in the outdoor state championships as a junior.

• Finally on Monday, May 14, seniors Darnell Dunson, Sam Spees and Andy Bole each signed with respective colleges during an after-school ceremony in the library.

Dunson will play defensive back with the Lions of the College of Mount St. Joseph, where he’ll receive a partial academic scholarship and study Environmental Science. Darnell, who is also an Eagles four-year varsity track athlete, was named to the first team All-GCL last spring as a member of the Eagles 800 meter relay foursome.

Spees will play baseball and football at Centre College in Danville, Ky. The two-sport standout was a four-year varsity starter at shortstop and the 2012 GCL baseball co-Athlete of the Year. He also led the Eagles football program to the 2011 Division IV regional finals at quarterback and punter, for which he received All-GCL, All-Area and third team All-State honors.

Bole will play tennis at Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Mich. In 2010, Bole became the first Eagles men’s tennis player to represent CJ at the state tournament in 20 years. He earned first team All-GCL honors in each of his four seasons on varsity and was named GCL Ahtlete of the Year as a senior.

• Diann Bonner, a member of the Eagles 2011 state championship golf team, has verbally committed to play golf at Thomas More College in Crestview Hills, Ky. near Cincinnati. She earned first team All-GGCL honors for her play as a senior during the fall season.

Want to see more photos of your favorite signee? All of this year’s signing ceremony photos are now posted on our Facebook page!

Celebrating Milestones in Catholic Education
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Several CJ faculty and staff members were recognized for their career service and achievements Tuesday, May 1 at the Archdiocese of Cincinnati's Miami Valley Catholic Schools Teacher Recognition Banquet.

The annual banquet recognizes educators for their dedication to Catholic schools, the Catholic Church, and those students and families who choose Catholic education. Dr. Jim Rigg, superintendent of schools, welcomed honorees while Rev. Joseph R. Binzer, auxiliary bishop of Cincinnati, read the invocation.

“Thank you for your commitment and all of your sacrifices. The role of a teacher in Catholic education has never been more important,” wrote Binzer in an open letter to those teachers in attendance.

Among those recognized for their vocation to Catholic education were:

Angela Hammerly, math teacher, who celebrates her fifth year in Catholic education, all of which have come at CJ. Hammerly started at CJ in 2006 and has served as a temporary and long-term substitute as well as a part-time teacher. Angela’s daughter Jillian will attend CJ as a freshman in the fall.

Debi Schutt, performing arts department chair, who celebrates her tenth year in Catholic education, all of which have come at CJ. Schutt has been instrumental in the revitalization of the Performing Arts programs at CJ, and also helps administer the school band program for 5th-8th grade students at Holy Angels School.

Ellen Downer and Kelli Kinnear who both celebrate their twentieth year in Catholic education. Both have spent all 20 years at CJ; Downer as a teacher in the social studies department, where she currently serves as chair, and Kinnear in the office of ministry and service, where she currently serves as director.

Downer has taught freshman World Cultures in addition to American Studies, Child Psych and Sociology since 1992, and has also served as the faculty representative to the Co-Educators parents’ group in that time. Both her daughter Martha and son John graduated from CJ in the 1980’s

Kinnear has long played a key role in overseeing the school’s outstanding service program and also previously served as moderator of the Key Club. She is currently a member of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati’s Catholic Identity/Faith Formation Task Force, which is part of the “Lighting the Way” vision planning process.

Joe Staley ‘72, social studies teacher, who celebrates his thirtieth year in Catholic education. Staley, has worked in education since 1978 but began his career at CJ as the men's varsity basketball head coach for the 1985-86 season, becoming a teacher a year later. In 27 seasons, he has compiled the most wins in program history with a 351-272 record, and has coached 12 players who have gone on to play at NCAA Division I colleges.

Finally, Ann Meyers ’76, math teacher, was one of five area teachers to be recognized for earning the designation of Master Teacher by the Ohio Department of Education. A master teacher demonstrates excellence inside and outside of the classroom through consistent leadership and focused collaboration to maximize student learning.

Meyers has served her alma mater for 31 years as a teacher and coach. She also holds her Ohio Resident Educator Mentor’s license.

 

Not pictured: Angela Hammerly

Powderpuff Games Score for Charity
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Girls from neighboring Catholic high schools Chaminade Julienne, Carroll and Alter will team up on the gridiron to score for a local charity Saturday, May 12 during the Touchdown for Tots Powderpuff Football Tournament.

Games have been relocated to Carroll High School's practice football field (directions) and the gate opens at 11 a.m. for spectators. Admission costs $2 per person (players and coaches included) and concessions will be available. All proceeds benefit the Children’s Medical Center of Dayton.

Support our senior Eagles as they face off against Alter at 11:30 a.m. before taking on Carroll at 2:10 p.m. The Patriots and Knights play each other beginning at 12:50 p.m.

Touchdown for Tots is CJ’s third annual charity powderpuff football event, hosted each spring since 2010 by members of Student Council. The 2011-2012 school year marks the first time all three area Catholic high schools will participate together. In the previous two years, CJ and Alter have combined to help raise more than $500 for charity.

Donate and/or Volunteer

CJ Student Council members appreciate donations of baked goods and beverages (bottled water, soda, sports drinks, etc.) to sell at the concession stand, and are also looking for volunteers to referee and announce the games. Anyone interested in helping with the tournament should contact Angela Ruffolo, teacher and Student Council moderator, at aruffolo@cjeagles.org.

Let’s Hear It; Sound Off with Eagle Spirit!

Use the hashtag #TouchdownForTots to show your school spirit on Twitter!

 

PHOTO: Players scramble for a loose ball during the traditional Juniors vs. Seniors powderpuff football game April 19 hosted on CJ's Washington Street practice field. The "Senioritas" (wearing orange) defeated the class of 2013 12-4 in a friendly, back-and-forth titanic struggle.

Service Awards Recognize Impact for Change
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For the sixth consecutive spring, Chaminade Julienne students, faculty and staff gathered together to celebrate the impact of their service and charity on the local and global community at the annual Service Awards assembly Wednesday, May 2.

“This is a day of celebration and recognition of accomplishment for change that each of us can make in our world,” said Kelli Kinnear, director of ministry and service. A total of 10,386 volunteer hours, over and above religion curriculum requirements, was recorded by members of the CJ community during the 2011-12 school year.

That result, said Kinnear, equals what would be a contribution of nearly a quarter of a million dollars to the local, national and international economy. According to an April 2012 report by the Independent Sector – a non-partisan association for American non-profits, foundations and corporate giving programs – today’s value of one hour of service is equivalent to $21.74.

“The Service Awards assembly is an intentional way for us to gather to witness Christ’s mission lived out through our actions and through our sprit of loving generosity towards others,” Kinnear said.

CJ community members were joined at the morning presentation by ‘Little Sibs’ from Ruskin Elementary and Immaculate Conception. The youngsters were recognized on stage with their high school mentors, or ‘Bigs’, and enjoyed a picnic lunch with the junior and senior participants in the courtyard following the assembly.

The Little Sibs Program is an example of the many service opportunities organized for CJ students by the office of ministry and service. Among this year’s charitable activities included three mission trips to national and international locations; an urban plunge experience in Cincinnati’s poverty-ridden Over-the-Rhine neighborhood; and weekly R.E.A.C.H. (Recreating Earth as Christ Hopes) site visits to The Dayton Food Bank.

“A total of 102 CJ freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors volunteered between 25 and 99 service hours beyond their class requirements, with 24 others putting in 100 hours or more,” Kinnear said.

Students individually recognized for their outstanding efforts included senior Christine Meadors, who contributed 636 hours in four years at CJ; senior Emily Casey, who was bestowed with the Youth Service Award by the Dayton LaSertoma Club; and scholarship recipients Elizabeth Terzian and Logan Cobbs (pictured below). For their demonstrated servant leadership qualities, the junior and sophomore were respectively awarded the Sister Ruth Ann Bange, SNDdeN, Service Award and the George Early Scholarship.

“We honor our students to enlighten and inspire. Recognition helps them see the grace of servant leadership and encourages them to heed God’s call to continually serve in the future,” Kinnear said.

Service by the Numbers at CJ

  • 10,386 hours volunteered beyond religion service requirements, valued at $225,792.

  • $2,900 collected for victims of human trafficking as part of the year-long Senior Justice Project.

  • 2,000 non-perishable items and more than $3,100 raised as a result of the annual Hunger and Homeless Awareness Week outreach in November.

  • 231 potential lives saved by 77 pints of blood donated by nearly 90 CJ students, faculty and staff at the annual CJ Blood Drive in February.

  • 140 CJ students along with 15 faculty and staff members volunteered during Join Hands Miami Valley, contributing about 35 hours of service to 10 nonprofit organizations at 14 area locations this October.

  • 12 thousand pounds of items donated by members of the CJ community during the Goodwill Drive to Victory hosted by WHIO-TV in October.

Community 5K Benefits Trafficking Victims
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Runners of all ages and skill levels are invited to join the CJ community as economic students host a 5k Run/Walk for the Voiceless. The race will start at 10:30 a.m. on campus at the practice field.

Registration begins at 10 a.m. the day of the race and costs $8. Cost for participants pre-registering by Thursday, May 3 is $5. All proceeds collected from this charity race will be donated to Saving Our Adolescents from Prostitution (S.O.A.P.), an organization that uses resources to help stop human trafficking and helps to get kids off the streets.

Participants will receive a wristband with registration and free food will be provided!

Results!

Thanks to all who participated. More than 65 registered participants ran or walked in the race. Congratulations to the top male student finisher Sam Mullins '12 and the top female student finisher Beth Stumpf '15!

Enjoy Music and a Meal at CJ May 3
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Whether you'd like to learn more about the performing arts program or just want to catch up with friends one last time before summer break, you are invited to enjoy a great evening of music here on campus Thursday, May 3! Don't miss out on this terrific opportunity to share in closing the 2011-12 school year with fellow CJ parents and families.

Attend the free concert, rain or shine, at 7 p.m. or arrive early and make it dinner and a show. Reservations for the 6 p.m. box-lunch style meal are still being taken, but please send us your RSVP's ASAP! Dinner order forms and payment must be submitted to CJ by Monday, April 30.

Both Regular Meals ($7) and Deluxe Meals ($10) are available for order, and patrons who come for dinner will have a seat at a table for the concert.

Thank you for your support of all our Eagle musicians!

 

View photos in the Picnic with the Pops album on CJ's Facebook page >

Eagles Vollyball Vying for Support
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The Eagles feature team of the week, men’s volleyball, takes on Carroll at home in their highlighted game this Thursday, May 3. The first serve will be struck at 6 p.m., so come out and cheer CJ to victory!

What You’ll Want to Know

 

Students get in free!

Admission to home volleyball games is free for students and only $3 for adults.

Sending off the seniors

With only two home games remaining, help the Eagles say farewell to the seven senior members of the men’s volleyball program this Thursday night against Carroll and again on Thursday, May 10 when CJ celebrates Senior Night against Fenwick.

Parking May Be Limited

Arrive early to find a parking spaces near the gymnasium entrance. The Picnic with the Pops event is also Thursday evening, and Lot C will be closed to accommodate the free concert (stop by after the game!). View the campus map for more parking options.

Remaining Schedule

Only five regular season games remain on the schedule before the Division II Ohio High School Boys Volleyball Association tournament begins. The 2012 championships will be hosted at Moeller High School on Saturday and Sunday, May 26-27.

Thursday, May 3 vs. Carroll, 6 p.m.

Friday, May 4 at Lakota East, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, May 8 at Moeller, 6 p.m.

Wednesday, May 9  at Fairfield, 7 p.m.

Thursday, May 10 vs. Fenwick, 6 p.m.

Catch the Eagles at Fifth Third Field
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Support the feature team of the week, varsity baseball, this Friday, April 27 as they battle GCL North rival Fenwick in the first of two regular season games the Eagles will play at beautiful Fifth Third Field, the home of the Dayton Dragons. Admission is free.

Take the whole family out to the ballpark for evenings of CJ baseball beginning at 4:30 p.m. Friday, and again Monday, April 30 for Senior NIght starting at 6 p.m. Concessions will be available for all your peanut and Cracker Jack needs, so come out and root, root, root for the home team in the blue and green!

Catcher Thomas WIttmann, one of nine varsity seniors, said he looks forward to "playing on the big stage" at what is considered to be one of the best regarded Class A minor league baseball stadiums in America.

The high school games played at Fifth Third Field are part of a series showcasing teams from southwestern Ohio, which has been hosted by the Cincinnati Reds' affiliate each of the last seven years. The Eagles (6-12, 4-8 GCL), one of 20 participating teams in 2012, will take the field against the Falcons (9-10, 5-7 GCL) Friday followed by a 7:30 p.m. game featuring high schools Vandalia-Butler and Northmont.

"Our team is a lot better than our record shows," Wittmann said. "We've got a lot of talent, and I think we can make a great run finishing up our remaining GCL schedule and into the playoffs."

The team has seven regular season contests remaining before the start of the Division II tournament. The games at Fifth Third Field will round out league play for the Eagles, as CJ faces Carroll on Monday.

Parking will be available on the streets surrounding the stadium, located at 220 North Patterson Boulevard (directions). For more detailed information regarding directions and parking, visit the Dayton Dragon’s Web site.

Spring Signings for Two Eagle Seniors
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This April, a pair of Chaminade Julienne seniors added an extra exclamation point to what has already been a successful Eagles athletic season as the 2011-12 school year nears a close.

With a little less than one month left until graduation, Maggie Switzer and Emily Michael became the ninth and tenth members of the class of 2012 to sign a National Letter of Intent with NCAA affiliated colleges and universities. The girls join eight fellow student-athletes who also will continue their athletic and academic careers playing sports including basketball, football, soccer, and track and field at eight different schools during the upcoming 2012-13 school year.

Maggie Switzer, Rowing; Mercyhurst University

Maggie Switzer signed her National Letter of Intent Friday, April 20 with the women’s rowing team of Mercyhurst University (formerly known as Mercyhurst College). She will receive partial academic scholarships in addition to athletic grants to join the NCAA Division II Lakers women’s rowing program, and intends to study social work.

Switzer, who is completing her fourth season with the Eagles club crew team this spring, has served as a team co-captain during her junior and senior seasons, and qualified to represent CJ at the 2011 US Rowing Youth National Championships last season.

“I’m really excited to keep rowing in college. The sport is awesome and Mercyhurst’s program has had an amazing record,” Switzer said. The Lakers made consecutive appearances in the NCAA Division II National Championships from 2002 to 2005 and again from 2008 to 2011, winning two titles (2004 and 2010) in those spans according to hurstathletics.com.

“I’ve looked up to rowers who have earned scholarships and continued to be successful in college, and now I have a chance to do the same,” Switzer said.

Since 2005, the CJ crew program has produced more than a dozen scholarship and non-scholarship NCAA women’s athletes who have previously and currently compete for universities and colleges across the nation including Notre Dame, Georgetown, Duquesne, Nova Southeastern, Williams College, St. Joseph’s University, and the University of Dayton.

Switzer becomes the second Eagles rower to sign with Mercyhurst since 2007 graduate Bethany Brun, who earned All-American honors and won an NCAA Division II National Championship during her time on scholarship at the university, located on the coast of Lake Erie in Pennsylvania.

Chaminade Julienne men’s and women’s crew team student-athletes compete as members of the Dayton Boat Club under the direction of coaches Mike and Trish Miles.

Emily Michael, Basketball; St. Bonaventure University

After verbally committing to play basketball at St. Bonaventure University in February, senior Emily Michael made it official Tuesday, April 24 during a signing ceremony after school.

The sought-after three-point specialist will receive a full athletic grant to play guard for the Bonnies, the reigning 2012 Atlantic-10 Conference champions. MIchael intends to study management services at the Franciscan university in western New York.

“I really wanted to attend another Catholic school,” said Michael on choosing St. Bonaventure. She said the combination of the university’s strong, faith-filled academic reputation along with its quality women’s basketball program equally factored in to her decision.

Michael joins five fellow high school seniors who signed to play basketball for the NCAA Division I program, which enters the 2012-13 season coming off its first Sweet-16 appearance in school history under head coach Jim Crowley.

“Emily is a great addition to a class we are already very excited about," Crowley said in a release issued on the school’s Web site, gobonnies.com. "She is a good shooter, has a very solid basketball IQ and knows how to help her team find victories."

Throughout her span as a four-year varsity starter for the Eagles, Michael helped CJ amass a 75-24 record and four consecutive GGCL Grey North titles in those seasons. As a senior, she was named to the first team All-GGCL, the District 15 All-Star team, and set a school record for most 3-point field goals made in a single women’s varsity basketball game, sinking eight against Ponitz in the team’s second round tournament victory.

“I want to thank my family and my coaches for helping me get to where I am today and for supporting me along the way,” Michael said.

CJ Artists, Writers Remember Holocaust
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Ten CJ visual art and writing students were acknowledged for their award-winning entries in the Max May Memorial Holocaust Art and Writing Contest at the Dayton Area Yom Hashoah Observance Thursday, April 19 at the Beth Abraham Synagogue.

CJ students were among winners selected from various Miami Valley high schools and middle schools who entered the contest across two divisions for grades 5-8 (Div. I) and 9-12 (Div. II). Those recognized for their work at the annual observance included:

ART

WRTING
Jesse Thompson '14
Best in Show
Bridget McCormick '12
1st Place, poetry
Jacoby Cobble '15
1st Place
P.J. Stephens '12
2nd Place, poetry
Patrick Zopff '14
2nd Place
Breonna Pinson '12
2nd Place, prose
Maggie Mochty '14
3rd Place
Sharon Reynolds '12
3rd Place, poetry
Chumani Bowser '15
Honorable Mention
Daniel Barhorst '12
Honorable Mention, prose

The theme of this year’s contest was “Reflections of the Holocaust: Your thoughts on Bullying, Prejudice and Hatred”. The program featured displays of the award-winning artwork in addition to an address by guest speaker Henry Guggenheimer, a Holocaust survivor, and a performance by the University of Dayton World Music Choir.

Bridget McCormick, who took first place in the high school poetry competition, described the experience as “powerful”. She said having studied the Holocaust in her European Authors class helped put the gravity of the evening into perspective.

“I’ve read stories from survivors, but it was cool to hear it in person and feel the emotion,” McCormick said.

According to a March article published in The Dayton Jewish Observer, Guggenheimer escaped Nazi Germany in 1940 as a 12-year-old boy, traveling east with his widowed mother through Europe to Japan before finally arriving in San Francisco. He currently works in Dayton, guiding tours through the Holocaust exhibit at the National Museum of the United States Air Force.

STEMM Idol Speaker Richard Scudder
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Students were invited to the CIL Tuesday, April 24 to learn more about the proliferation of unmanned aerial vehicles and systems, and their growing presence in the Dayton area, during this month’s STEMM Idol presentation.

Guest speaker and CJ parent Richard Scudder, director of the Center for Unmanned Aerial Systems Exploitation at the University of Dayton Research Institute, discussed the importance of the industry and its relevance locally. As the center’s inaugural director, Scudder leads the effort to prepare unmanned aerial vehicles for use both commercially and militarily.

Learn more about Richard Scudder by visiting his page at www.udri.udayton.edu.

What We Learned!

All about unmanned aerial systems

  • Unmanned aircraft have advantages over their manned counterparts. UAVs do can do the "dull, dirty, and dangerous missions" that traditionally operated aircraft cannot. Life support, fire suppression and emergency egress systems are not necessary.

  • Unmanned aerial systems aren't just used by the military! Commercial uses include public safety and emergency management, law enforcement, agriculture and fisheries, forestry, photojournalism, atmospheric sensing, communications relay, search and rescue, disaster relief, civil engineering, and mapping and surveying.

  • Propulsion systems for UAVs may be designed to use gas, heavy fuel (jet fuel or diesel), turbo electric power, hybrid power, or solar electric.

  • Once in the air, an onboard system (generally small enough to fit in a person's hand) receives the vehicle's cues. UAVs are outfitted with a variety of tools to complete specific tasks. These tools include different types of cameras for documentation purposes as well as sensors for various chemical, biological, radioactive, nuclear and explosive applications.

  • Requirements, and a specific need or application, drives the design of an unmanned aerial system. A change to one element of the system, such as replacing one camera with a larger one, causes all elements of the design to change (i.e. size, weight, propulsion, data links, etc.).

 

UAV DYK

Did you know...

  • Depending on the intended use and place of operation, UAVs can be made out of everything from cutting edge materials to wood.

  • Unmanned aircraft rarely need a runway for launching; some small and micro-aircraft are simply thrown like a javelin to launch.

  • Ground control stations can be as small and simple as a video game controller, depending on the complexity of the system.

  • Developers have begun exploring the possibility of installing "noses" on UAVs in order to sense odors!

 

Career Opportunities

Due to the wide and varied application of UAS, many career opportunities exist in the industry including:

• systems engineers • computer and electrical engineers
• aircraft designers • sensor designers
• propulsion experts and chemists • material scientists
• aircraft operators • aircraft maintenance technicians
• imagery analysts • sales and marketing professionals
• insurance professionals • air traffic controllers

 

Getting Hands On

Students who attended the session were challenged to assemble a UAS nicknamed the “miracle in a bag,” also known as an AeroVironment Raven system. Two minutes were about all it took to assemble the aircraft and control system (see the photos below).

Biographical information provided by Richard Scudder and www.udri.udayton.edu.

A Celebration of Paul Laurence Dunbar
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CJ English and performing arts students were audibly transported back to the Post Civil War Era Wednesday morning as they experienced the work of 19th century poet Paul Laurence Dunbar through music, song and the spoken word.

A special presentation of “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings”: A Celebration of Paul Laurence Dunbar, featuring poet Dr. Herbert W. Martin, soprano Dr. Minnita Daniel-Cox, and collaborative pianist John Benjamin, was performed for select classes April 18 in the auditorium.

The performance—which has appeared at venues including the University of Dayton, Bowling Green State University, and Grace Methodist Church—celebrates the work of the 1870’s Dayton native who is widely considered the country’s first nationally acclaimed African American poet. The January-to-July tour wraps up this summer at the National Convention for the National Association of Negro Musicians in Dallas, Texas.

A poet, author and former longtime University of Dayton English professor and Poet-in-Residence, Dr. Martin (pictured) recited an assortment of 12 Dunbar poems for CJ students, including popular dialect poems  “Accountability” and “An Ante-Bellum Sermon”, as well as more traditional works such as “The Poet and His Song” and “He Had His Dream”.

Dr. Daniel-Cox, who holds degrees from Bowling Green State University and the University of Michigan, performed poems set to music composed by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, H.Leslie Adams, Carrie Jacobs-Bond, and Betty Jackson King, and played live by pianist John Benjamin. Dr. Daniel-Cox and Benjamin both currently serve as Artists-in-Residence at the University of Dayton.

“[Dunbar’s] work often addressed the difficulties encountered by African-Americans and their efforts to achieve equality in America,” according to his biography at www.dunbarsite.org.  Before his death at age 33, Dunbar “produced 12 books of poetry, four books of short stories, a play and five novels.”

On CJ's stage, between recitations of “Discovered” and “A Negro Love Song”, Dr. Martin told students that at their core, Dunbar’s poems “leap over” today’s socially constructed barriers of ethnicity, sex, faith, religion, and the like.

Dr. Martin's captivating portrayals and continued study of Paul Laurence Dunbar (1872-1906) have contributed to earning him four honorary degrees.

 

Learn more about Dr. Herbert W. Martin below or listen to his recitations of Dunbar poems at dunbarsite.org.

Poet Herbert Woodward Martin, via YouTube

Softball Committed to Community Service
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Cheer on the varsity softball team Friday, April 20 at 5 p.m. as they try to secure their third win of the season in the middle of a six-game homestand at Gateway Field (directions). The CJ Spirit Committee has selected to shine the spotlight on the girls this week, rallying support for the Eagles before their featured home game against league opponent McNicholas.

Perhaps even more deserving of praise than being the featured team of the week, however, is the players’ commitment to community service. The time the Eagles put in away from the field of play is what is setting the softball program apart, all the while bringing student-athletes together.

One week into the 2012 season, the girls decided to spend their first off-day—a Saturday—volunteering to help volunteers. On March 31, CJ teammates assisted the Moraine Fire Division in a mock tornado disaster, a drill designed to train members of the city’s new Citizen Emergency Response Team (C.E.R.T.). 

“The C.E.R.T. members are citizens of the City of Moraine who are trained to assist emergency personnel in case of a disaster,” said head coach Dee Bowling. “The girls played ‘victims’ with specific injuries to give the C.E.R.T. graduates a realistic sense of what might happen in case of one of these disasters in the area.”

Bowling, who works as a secretary for the Moraine Fire Department when not coaching the Eagles, said Moraine Fire Chief Tony Trick formally expressed his gratitude for the girls’ participation and enthusiasm in a letter to the school. It wasn’t the first time the softball girls from CJ supplied a hand where help was needed.

Senior Sharon Reynolds said coach Bowling has made it a priority to set time aside, both in-season and during the off-season, to allow teammates an opportunity to give back throughout each of the four years she has been on the team.

“It’s like a bonding experience off the field,” said Reynolds, describing the many softball service projects she has been involved with while at CJ. Most recently, the team volunteered to serve children breakfast at the Moraine Pancakes with Prancer event in December 2011.

“I think it's good to give back to the community. They support us by coming to our games, so this is how we support them,” said Nikki Northern, a three-year varsity starter. The lesson is one of many the junior has taken to heart as a member of the softball team.

“Coach Bowling teaches us things we can use both on the field and in life,” Northern said.

 

View the varsity softball team's remaining 2012 schedule >