Voices Ringing Blog /

As we prepare to celebrate the most important day on the church calendar, our World Languages faculty and students reflect on some of their favorite Easter memories and traditions from around the world.

Granada, Spain

I have wonderful memories of Semana Santa (Holy Week) in Granada, Spain.  It is amazing to watch the locals pour their hearts into every detail to make this time meaningful and memorable.  As my students watch the processions, they quickly realize the importance of this Holy Week celebration and the traditions and values that have been around for centuries.

There are large crowds, especially on Holy Thursday and Good Friday along the procession route.  As the floats with Jesus or Mary pass by, the crowd is silent out of respect.  In Granada, there are 33 cofradias or brotherhoods represented.  They plan all year for the one day their brotherhood is represented. Their float represents a scene from the Easter story. If it rains, you can hear the people from that church weeping as they are only given one day to show their efforts, hard work, and faithfulness.

The floats are not on a mechanical device - they are carried by men.  It is extremely important for them to move in unison and be similar in height as there are typically hundreds of lighted candles on the float.  One of the most memorable moments for me in Granada was when my students and I witnessed a float that was too high to exit a cathedral, so all the men had to fall to their knees at the same time so the float didn’t fall, and crawl out of the church until the float was through the door.  Next they all had to rise together and continue to walk for miles around the city! We were all in tears, and we spoke of that experience for years!

Click here to visit a website with a great explanation of Semana Santa in Granada.

-Mrs. Beth Branum

Costa Rica

Spending Easter in Spanish-speaking countries with our students is a blessing. Being able to show them the cultural differences in Catholicism in different places is an honor. I have spent practically every Easter working at Carroll with our students until quarantine this past year. Not only attending Mass, but all the little details of travel are some of my fondest memories working with our students. Our travel coordinator, Beth Branum, always prepares Easter baskets that we travel with and set up to surprise the students on Easter Sunday. It’s the little details and memories that make these trips so memorable! 

The most recent trip with the kids to Costa Rica in 2017 reminded me that the students experience more than the typical Holy Week celebrations and traditions while we have them abroad. They saw God and truly experienced His work in so many places, both in the interactions with the people of Costa Rica and in their stewardship and fellowship together while abroad. During that particular trip, students participated in a community celebration while sharing a meal in the countryside, they witnessed a beautiful procession outside a local parish in the city. I look forward to spending many more Easter celebrations with students abroad in Spanish-speaking countries.

-Mrs. Tara Ashworth

Vatican City

The air is filled with the joy of all who can fit into Piazza di San Pietro and the sweet smell of the trillions of flowers that surround the Pope’s outdoor altar. A moment of silence ensues as all recall the previous week, whether it be Good Friday in the Colosseum, the remembrance of the Last Supper, or the joyful proclamation of Palm Sunday. Everyone seems to hold their breath as they glance between the small white speck and the mega-screen projecting the face of the Holy Father. The mass is the same as every other Easter Mass celebrated by the Church around the world, painting a beautiful picture of the universality of the Church (despite any sort of language barrier). After Mass and the Papal blessing, all disperse with a smile on their faces knowing the importance of the Risen Christ and ready to sit back and enjoy the traditional lamb, Colomba di Pasqua, and every other delicious Italian food. Buona Pasqua!

-Tony Gabriele '21

France

Easter on the mainland of France is celebrated in a very similar way as it is here in the United States -- with colored eggs. However, instead of chocolate bunnies, you would find chocolate bells in the grocery stores before Easter. Why? Traditionally, Catholicism holds the view that church bells ring every day of the year to invite Christians to attend the Mass, except at Easter where they do not ring between Good Friday and Easter Sunday in order to commemorate the death of Christ and his resurrection. 

Myth in France has it that at this time the bells, with wings attached, flew to Rome to be blessed by the Pope over these two days. Coming home they would randomly drop treats for the joy of children. The bells fly back Saturday night. Sunday morning is the opening of “la chasse aux oeufs” in France, also known as the Easter egg hunt.

Somebody in the family will shout, “les cloches sont passées”, meaning the bells have passed, and the children run outside to hunt for their chocolate eggs.

Usually, families gather for Easter and have a traditional meal of roasted lamb together.

-Mrs. Anita Mischuk

Oaxaca, Mexico

My family goes to St. Mary's church, and Mass is usually longer than normal. Our celebrations at home are very different from Mexico. In Oaxaca, where my family is from, there is a live representation of Jesus' passion and death, and on Domingo de Resurrección (Jesus' resurrection) there is a Mass at midnight that usually lasts for 2 or 3 hours.  When the lights go off at the front of the church, there is a closed curtain that opens at midnight with an image of a resurrected Jesus. In Oaxaca, they don't eat meat during Holy Week, so the street tacos are vegetable tacos.  My family did adopt the Easter eggs and bunny traditions over time.  In Oaxaca, they throw eggs at each other.

Gabe Montgomery '21, Christian Kidwell '21, Dylan Hardin '21, and Nick Syx '21 with Mrs. Ann (Calderone) Bertke '88

These boys are willing to take care of recycling when no one else will. They never complain, and they often take care of the whole building, instead of just the third floor. Gabe, Dylan, Christian, and Nick have done this with a smile and are even willing to do it while it is snowing and freezing out. They always leave the floors neat and make sure that new bags are in place to make it easier for whoever may do it next (although usually they are the ones that do it the next time as well).

Julia Quinn '21, Charity House, with Mrs. Linda Edwards

Julia has been such a reliable yearbook worker for all four of her years at Carroll.  Her creativity is refreshing, and her leadership skills as this year’s editor have been so helpful to all the club members.  I appreciate Julia’s contributions, and she has a great smile!

-Mrs. Linda Edwards

What activities do you participate in?

I am part of the swim team, band, yearbook editor, Harry Potter Club, and a Captain for Charity House.

What is your favorite part of being a student at Carroll?

My favorite part about being a student at Carroll is all the students, teachers, and families that make up such a great community.

What should school “do” for you?

Schools should be a second home. Everyone should feel welcomed and loved because we are family.

What’s a lesson you learned when you overcame a difficult obstacle?

I have learned to adapt, be flexible, and make the most out of a bad situation. Through this, I now appreciate everyday we have together because it can easily be taken away.

What’s your biggest dream in life?

My dream in life is to find a career that I love and travel to experience different cultures.

How do you like spending your free time?

In my free time I enjoy hammocking, going to Dunkin´ Donuts, and making and watching TikToks with my friends.

Eight Carroll High School students' original pieces of art earned 11 awards in the first round of judgement in the 2021 Scholastic Art Awards.  Seniors Kevin Brun, Victoria Fowler, and Gretel Helm earned one Gold Key Award each, qualifying their pieces to the next round of the competition for a chance to have their works displayed in New York this spring at the National Scholastic Art Awards Exhibition.

Victoria Fowler '21: Otto (Paper Collage, Gold Key), Perched (Paper Collage, Honorable Mention), X Amount of Miles (Ink and Colored Pencil, Honorable Mention)

Delaney Conger '21: Bleeding Out (Marker, Silver Key), A Shattering Mind (Colored Pencil, Honorable Mention)

Kevin Brun '21: Portrait in Quarantine (Graphite, Colored Pencil, Gold Key)

Samantha Yates '23: Swimming in a Sea of Memories (Chalk Pastel, Silver Key)

Emma Williams '23: Self Portrait (Chalk Pastel, Honorable Mention)

Maya Merland '22: Lush (Acrylic Paint, Embroidery/Thread, Silver Key)

Gretel Helm '21: Upward (Acrylic Paint, Gold Key)

Sam Wittmann '22: Surface of Tension (Colored Pencil, Ink, Honorable Mention)

Sarah Ruetschle '21, Gonzaga House, with Mrs. Katie Baker

Sarah is amazing all around, but she has been especially great this year. I have her in two classes, and she is always willing to help out wherever she is needed. She jumps in to help the lower level Latin students and volunteers for tutoring even though she has completed all her required hours already. She checks in with me every day at the end of the day to see if she can help me with anything. As an academic team captain, she pretty much runs our practices and keeps everyone on task and organized. I would be lost without Sarah! 

-Mrs. Katie Baker

What activities do you participate in?

National Honor Society, Latin Honor Society, Academic Team, Latin Club, Harry Potter Club, Swimming

What is your favorite part of being a student at Carroll?

My favorite part of being a student at Carroll is the relationships I have formed with other students and teachers and what I have learned from them. 

What should school “do” for you?

School should provide a good education and welcoming community environment that prepares you for a successful and productive future.

What’s a lesson you learned when you overcame a difficult obstacle?

I've learned how to adapt and be flexible in all situations and to persevere even when things get difficult.

What’s your biggest dream in life?

My biggest dream in life is to be financially and socially successful and be content with my life.

How do you like spending your free time?

I like to spend my free time reading.

Skylynn Pierce '21, Baltimore House, with Mr. Ben Swick

Skylynn has a way of connecting with her peers, especially those who are considered vulnerable and “different”.  She relates to them in a way that is friendly, kind, and genuine, and students feel like they have a friend in Skylynn because they know she really cares.  She truly exemplifies what it means to be a Carroll Patriot.

-Mr. Ben Swick

What activities do you participate in?

I participate in cross country, track, cheerleading, drama club, and Media 4 Carroll.

What is your favorite part of being a student at Carroll?

I love being involved in such a loving community to help make a difference.

What should school “do” for you?

School should provide a strong education system and safe environment for us students.

What’s a lesson you learned when you overcame a difficult obstacle?

The lesson I've learned is that the sun will always come up in the morning, so the hard obstacle will be overpowered by the good.

What’s your biggest dream in life?

My biggest dream is to become a pediatrician and give back to those who helped get me get there.

How do you like spending your free time?

 I like hanging out with my friends or watching Criminal Minds or NCIS.

In November of 2019, the music staff and design team began planning the Marching Patriots’ 2020 production, totally unaware of the global crisis that would occur months later and the impact it would have on our marching band season.

Even though this year was vastly different than I had hoped, we were still able to accomplish much and be proud of what we were able to do. 

-Frankie Kosir '21

 

We decided on the title Alone.  The idea was based on some inspiring source music by Sergei Rachmaninoff and Eric Carmen.  Our vision was to produce a competition show that would feature several soloists and use theatrical staging to isolate individuals from the rest of the group.

Fast-forward to March 13th, 2020 and this concept became quite ironic.

Would we be allowed to compete?  Would it be possible to get the students together for rehearsals?  What motivates the students to perform at their highest level?  The unknowns were overwhelming for students and staff alike, but collectively we stayed optimistic. 

"It was a great opportunity to enjoy time with people I care about while doing something I love,” Josie Rose '21 said.

Once July rolled around, it was clear that we would not be traveling, competing, or rehearsing in the same fashion that we traditionally had, but one thing became clear: the students were ready and willing to work.  As a staff, we had numerous conversations about our goals for the students.  Safety was our first priority.  Secondly, we agreed that every day together was a blessing and that we would do everything in our power to make the experience fun and memorable for the students.  The kids recognized that their efforts yielded rewards in different ways, through personal growth, appreciation of a creative outlet, and development of interpersonal relationships.

“The 2020 season was a much-needed break from isolation," Drum Major Audrey Kneer '21 said.  "It was different with no competitions to look forward to, but it meant that we were honing our skills for our own growth.  I’m grateful for the opportunity we had.”

The season pressed on without a competitive outlet, but the band and guard members gave it their all.  We were fortunate to have several unique performance opportunities for families and friends of the students.  Most importantly, the students pushed each other to perform every day to their fullest potential.  Despite being “Alone” throughout much of this school year, we are reminded of this inspiring quote by legendary football coach, Vince Lombardi:

“Individual commitment to a group effort: this is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.”

Kya Kopans' 21, Gonzaga House, with Mr. Franz

Kya has excelled as the Gonzaga House Communication Captain by finding creative ways to share information on the House’s social media accounts.  She also volunteered to design the Spirit Week flyers and is one of the students who has taken a major leadership role in planning the Homecoming movie night.

-Mr. Michael Franz

What activities do you participate in?

I am part of Soccer Cheer, Spanish Honor Society, Spanish Club, and I am the Communications Captain for Gonzaga.

What is your favorite part of being a student at Carroll?

My favorite part about going to Carroll is how much spirit and love everyone has for the school.

What should school “do” for you?

School should be a place where you prepare for the real world and learn things that you will take with you for the rest of your life.

What’s a lesson you learned when you overcame a difficult obstacle?

As long as you keep a positive attitude, you can get through everything.  Eventually, things get better no matter how long it takes.

What’s your biggest dream in life?

My biggest dream in life is to have a job I love and to travel the world.

How do you like spending your free time?

I like spending my free time painting or hanging out with my friends.

Paula Hernandez '21, Baltimore House with Mrs. Branum

Paula is the academic captain for the Baltimore House.  She organized Google Meet tutoring in 7 academic areas for the Baltimore on Tuesday during academic time.  The family room faculty was notified, and she executed her plan beautifully!  I appreciate her time and effort to help our Baltimore students! 

-Mrs. Beth Branum

What activities do you participate in?

I play lacrosse and participate in the Carroll Drama Club and Pats' Spirit Club.

What is your favorite part of being a student at Carroll?

Being able to meet different types of people!

What should school “do” for you?

Support my dream to become a dentist!

What’s a lesson you learned when you overcame a difficult obstacle?

When things don't go according to plan, do not freak out, but adapt to the situation.

What’s your biggest dream in life?

To have my own roofing business and become a dentist.

How do you like spending your free time?

I enjoy listening to Criminal Minds while I read a book.