Mount St. Mary
Catholic High School

Vol. 1 / Issue 3

Luke 2:8-14

“We are here preaching the gospel of presence … People may call you a failure, but you’re not. People may call you a rebel, but you’re not — you’re a human being.”
― Sister Rosemary Nyirumbe

The mount cages the cougars
josh cleary

     South Oklahoma City showed off some high-intensity basketball Tuesday night in Mount St Mary's matchup against North Rock Creek.
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Main Takeaways

     1. Hustle, Hustle, Hustle.
     Mount St Mary and North Rock Creek both showed off great effort and pride as they played. Every loose ball was a fight, players diving, jumping and making any and every attempt possible to get an extra possession. Mount St Mary won the turnover battle and used that to their advantage, pushing in transition and getting layups or free trips to the free-throw line.

     2. Diante Palmer - 2023
     Palmer looked calm, cool, and collected in only his third game of varsity high school basketball. Dominating on both sides with 10 points and 13 rebounds, Palmer showed off his athleticism. Using his agility to elevate over his opponent and bring down rebounds as well as powering his way to the basket and getting fouled, Palmer shows plenty of potential as a freshman. Now averaging double-double, it will be interesting to see how Coach Jackson and Co. look to use him in the future.

​     3. Carsten Logan - 2021
Acting as a floor general for Mount St Mary, Logan's ball control, defensive awareness and vocal leadership are invaluable to his team. Leading all players with four steals, Logan sets the tone for his team on the defensive end, allowing for the offense to start pushing in transition.

Basketball headed for tournament ​
hunter gum

      The Mount St Mary Lady Rockets started off their season with a 49-26 win over Little Axe and a close 37-35 victory over Harrah, both at home. 
     Throughout the first half versus Little Axe the game was close but during the second half, the Rockets took control and started to score possession after possession. However, their victory over Harrah didn’t come easy. Throughout the game, both teams took turns with the lead and this went on until the final seconds when junior Kaitlyn Pivniska scored a game-winning layup to take a two-point lead and help secure the win. 
     “I feel confident that we will keep winning and playing hard like we have been. We have some areas to improve on but other than that we work really well together and will continue to do so.” -Kaitlyn Pivinksa after the Mounts 2-0 start.
     The boys started off their first week of the season with a 99-40 victory over Little Axe and close 50-51 lost against Harrah.
     The Rockets were dominating Little Axe all game and the score shows. Junior Luke Harstad and senior John Paul Krug they both took over and led the team in scoring. However, their game against Harrah was a close, hard-fought battle against a solid Harrah team. The score was close all game long but Harrah was able to get some good stops and eventually sealing the game with 10 seconds left.
     “Just gotta keep moving play as a team. We’re young and inexperienced, rather get the loss now than in March.” -Luke Harstad after the loss against Harrah.
     The boys and girls will finish off the remainder of their semester playing in the Harrah Tournament. The girls will take on Moore for their first game and the boys will play Star-Spencer.

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In the spotlight:
sadie harris
Raphael Dunlap

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Click on the picture for the full interview.

​     Sadie Harris, a senior at The Mount, was born and raised in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. She attended Rosary Catholic school from preschool at 3 years old to 8th grade. Sadie started playing volleyball in 5th grade and started playing competitively in 7th. She just finished her senior year volleyball season, and has been a varsity player all four years. Sadie was influenced to come to MSM by her mother, who was an alumnus of the class of 94, and has a brother in 7th grade looking to come to The Mount. 

     What is your passion?
     “My passion is volleyball, because I really enjoy going out on the court with all of my teammates, just playing every point as best as we can, and being able to cheer after those big points.”

     For what are you most grateful today?
     “I am most grateful to be able to come to the mount today, to see all of my friends, and to be able to put in the work.”
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​     What would you like to be remembered by.
     “I would like to be remembered by being positive, just being the person that people can come to, and be able to cheer them on.”

Sister Rosemary Nyirumbe: providing Hope
I. Ruiz

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Click on the picture to watch Sister Rosemary's presentation during Academic Period.
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     As part of The Mount’s Guest Speaker Series, Sister Rosemary Nyirumbe came to speak about her Sewing Hope program. She is the director of the Saint Monica Girls’ Tailoring Centre, in Gulu, Uganda. 
     Sister Rosemary and her guest, María Ruiz Scaperlanda, had the opportunity to meet a selected group of students at a small luncheon where Sister Rosemary and the students asked each other questions. She was as curious about our students as they were about her. Then, during Academic Period, she gave a short presentation to a group of interested students and teachers.









       
      A native of Paidha, Uganda, Sister Rosemary began serving the people of her country after joining the Catholic order of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in 1976. As director of St. Monica’s since 2001, she has given hope to more 2,000 young women, many of whom were abducted, raped, tortured and forced to kill their own family members as soldiers in Kony’s army.
     In addition to providing a safe harbor for the former abductees, who are often shunned and persecuted by the people of their own villages, she has given them a way to support themselves through job training in tailoring, catering and other skills. Her catering students are sought out by local businesses including hotels for the work they do.
     The purses are made by knitting together canned soda tops and are popular fashion statements among celebrities. On the table in front of the library, there are two books about her life and a small handmade purse.
     Currently approximately 250 girls and 250 children live at St. Monica’s. Sister Rosemary also oversees a second school in Atiak, Uganda.
     Sister Rosemary Nyirumbe’s inspiring story is told in Sewing Hope, a documentary produced by filmmaker Derek Watson and narrated by Oscar winner Forest Whitaker.
     In 2014, she was selected as one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time Magazine.
     She gives hope for young women scarred by war.

(Supplementary information taken from http://www.prosforafrica.com/sister-rosemary and https://time.com/collection-post/70892/rosemary-nyirumbe-2014-time-100/)

Importance of Family
conner hooper

 
     Family is vital. A group of people related together and living together, create special bonds that are essential throughout life. Having family helps get through all the tough times, including anxiety or stress.  Healthy family bonds and relationships give people a sense of belonging and help keep a balance in life. 
     Having a child is one of the greatest blessings a parent can ask for, through all the ups and downs, having a child brings an insane amount of happiness. “The toughest part from having my first kid was not being able to have a free lifestyle as my husband and I used to have, having to put all of my attention towards my new baby is all that matters now," explained Mrs. Muzny. It is a tough job of course, but no matter what, their children's happiness is what matters and will matter for the rest of their lives.
     “Having twins was the hardest thing I have had to go through in my life so far, I gained over 60 pounds and took over 2 months of recovery after having my kids and it took a lot out of me, but it is something I would never take back in my life,” said Mrs. Wagner. 
     A good relationship with parents is something that can never be beaten because parents are part of daily life, growing up, day by day, and, well, they do know quite a bit. Life can be overwhelming. The importance of family for the parents is also important because at times it can get difficult and overwhelming, so having a family member there for you when you need help is very helpful.
     With Christmas approaching and the holidays ahead, sharing time with family is imperative, since there are not that many days that you get the family together, and to spend time with one another. It is a special time to be thankful and remember how much of our identity and personality is affected by our family. 
     If I may, my family has meant everything to me, I have had a lot of tough issues to go through but no matter what my family seems to always pick me up when I am at my breaking point and to make sure I am happy. Specifically, my Mom always puts a smile on my face and I always make sure to cherish the moments I do have with my family, my mom, and everyone that means something to me. 
     As the holidays approach, always be thankful for those who are around.

What is your passion?
Raphael Dunlap

          Passion is a very strong feeling or belief of something or belief in something. For example, teachers have a passion for teaching, police officers have a passion for protecting others, and priests have a passion for spreading the word of God. In life, there is usually an interest in many things. Certain things are enjoyable and continue to be done to maintain that enjoyment, but just because they are enjoyed does not mean being passionate about it. Being passionate about something does not mean it is something to do for life, it is not a job or a lifestyle. Being passionate about something starts at a young age and continues through life. 

     Mr. Chris Crosbie commented that “Professionally, it is athletics. Being an athletic director allows me an opportunity to watch all our kids compete. Compete in different sports that I know very little about, or just different sports that are approached in different ways, and it's just really unique to watch those kids compete and get to celebrate those successes.”  The head baseball coach and Athletic Director, continued, “In my particular sport which is baseball,. . . if they happen to have the skills or the ability to go on and play at the next level and that is something they have dreamed about something they really want to do, is really cool to watch them achieve that. And to move on to the next chapter of their life and get the opportunity to track that next chapter from afar is pretty cool.” 

     “Outside of education, I am passionate about music. I have an extensive collection of vinyl records and cassette tapes from a variety of different artists, genres, and eras. I listen to music constantly (running, relaxing, driving, walking, cooking, planning, etc.). I am an avid concert-goer and love to explore different local venues,” explained History teacher and assistant baseball coach Huston Wilson, “My favorite artist right now is Big Thief, an indie rock band out of Brooklyn, NY. However, if you've ever walked past my classroom you'll hear an eclectic range of music coming out of my door (The Byrds, Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Frank Ocean, Tyler the Creator, Bon Iver, The Grateful Dead, Clairo, etc.). Music of all kinds continues to provoke my mind, heart, and spirit challenging me to be a better educator, Catholic, friend, significant other, son, and brother.”

     Mr. David Roberts commented, “When I was in kindergarten, my passion was dinosaurs. I was especially interested in how they became extinct. My passion is education. All the topics related to it--instruction, equity, student well-being...basically whatever it is that students and teachers need to succeed.”
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     Being passionate about something does not mean making a career out of it, although it may not hurt. Passionate about music does not mean being a musician, but maybe playing music or listening to different styles and types. If lucky enough to find passion in something and being able to make a career out of it, consider it a blessing.
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THE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS
Conner Hooper


     What does Christmas mean? A recent anonymous poll reveals the meaning of Christmas around The Mount. 
 
     “Only recently have I fully embraced the true meaning of Christmas. Having been away from my family for a while, the greatest present I can receive is being around my loved ones. Christmas provides a time to be around the people we love, as we are hopefully reminded of how much we mean to one another.”

     “Christmas means many things to me! First, it means the birth of Jesus Christ and realizing the importance of his birth. Second, Christmas means family time! We have many fun traditions like putting up decorations, baking cookies, looking at Christmas lights, and spending wonderful time with all our family. It is such a busy and fun time of year! Sometimes it gets a bit crazy, but it wouldn't be the holidays without a little craziness.”  
 
     “Christmas Day is this moment of the flooding realization of what Love is. Christmas means that God loves me so much that he humbled himself so much to be totally dependent on someone so 'beneath' Him. And becomes food (rests in a manager aka an animal feeding container), the Eucharist, to sustain me in the continual Knowledge of His Love. Christmas means the Messiah has come -that we live in a time of rejoicing. Christmas is my hope, my sustenance, my joy. Christ is with us!”

     “For me, Christmas is an opportunity to celebrate the many gifts that Christ has given me. Christmas is a celebration of God, the source of our creation and our salvation, and it's a time when family, friends, and everyone in-between can come together and celebrate that.”

     “Christmas means coming together as a family and celebrating the birth of Christ as well as having fun and spreading love; because the best way to spread Christmas cheer, is singing loud for all to hear!”

      “A time to actually relax and prepare spiritually for the coming of our Lord on Christmas Day. Contrary to how the world treats Christmas with hustle and bustle and gifts. I treat it as a time to reflect and embrace the quiet moments in reflection; in hope that the next year will be filled with more peace than the last.”
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     “Christmas to me means Mass on Christmas Eve, family time and bundling up in front of a nice fireplace.”

     Whatever it may mean to each person individually, know that the staff at The Launchpad wishes our readers a blessed, holy and Merry Christmas!

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