Freshman Issue

St. Pius/Leo 22

St. James Seton 20

St. Robert Bellarmine 17

Other 16

Mary Our Queen 15

St. Vincent de Paul 12

St. Wenceslaus 11

St. Margaret Mary 8

Our Lady of Lords 7

St. Bernards 6

Beveridge 4

Blessed Sacrament 4

Christ the King 4

King Science Center 4

Millard Central Middle 4

Holy Cross 3

Morton 3

Nathan Hale 3

Fort Calhoun 2

Kiewit Middle 2

Millard North Middle 2

St. Columbkille 2

St. Phillip Neri 2

St. Stephen Martyr 2

Westgate Middle 2

On behalf of the student body, I would like to welcome you to Marian High School as our classmates, friends, and most of all, our little sisters. Over the next four years of your life, you will become part of our Marian community. This is much more than a place to learn, but an enviroment of caring friends, fun times, and a place where you can be accepted as YOU. A place in which we, and you too, should take great pride in. Learn to enjoy and absorb these four years, because before you know it, they will pass you by. So make new friends, meet new people, and join new clubs, this change is a wonderful oppurtunity for you. The memories that you make now, are the ones that you will cherish for life. Just remember, Marian is always here to guide you. Best of luck to all of you!

The Marian Publications Staff is also here for you. Don't feel intimidated to voice your questions, concerns, or comments throughout the year. We love to get your feedback.

Dear Class of 2004,

I would like to extend to each of you a very warm welcome to Marian! I hope this is the first day of about 700 future days you will spend with us. May each day be filled with new experiences, new acquaintances, new friends, and a wonderful new understanding of how special you are to God, your family, and us. Give it all you've got! You will find that a Marian education will give you the opportunity to exercise your intellect and your heart. Be the best learner you can be by meeting your responsibilities. Become a kind and caring person by practicing this art each and every day. Good luck and God Bless You.

Miss Elizabeth Kish Principal

Ether haven (e-ther-hay-ven) The schoolUs largest computer lab, located on the first floor across from the bookstore. Monitored by Mr. Semler.

Field Day (feeld-dae) Unity building activity within a class by a competion between all classes. Preparation lasts one week, known as Field Week. This includes decoration of halls, creation of costumes, judgesU booklets and mascot. Also, preparation for the demonstration and cheerleaders occurs.

Gnimocemoh (gi-knee-moe-key-moe) Parody homecoming week in the fall. There is a student/faculty football game and theme days throughout the week. On Friday there is a dance in which guests dress up like goofs and donUt need dates. The name and royalty are the usual words, but spelled backwards.

Pipeline (piep-lien) Small computer lab on the third floor.

Quad (qwad) Also known as the Student Center, it is a room outside the cafeteria. This is a prime study hall location and where seniors eat lunch.

Surprise Day (sup-rise dae) A mystery fun day planned by Student Board, usually in February. One half day of no classes, no tests and no homework.

TARS (tarz) Students that help build and maintain the computer system at Marian. They are officially computer whizzes and are willing to assist with computer problems. They rock!

Walk-A-Thon (wok-uh-thon) Fundraiser where classes bet who can make the most money. Pledges are collected, then the whole school goes on an invigorating 10K walk.

Adjusting to high school can be a pretty big deal. You are faced with new surroundings, new faces, and a whole new academic environment. Freshman year, one way to make this big adjustment is to use your guidance counselor as a resource. Some grade schools have counselors on staff, but to many others, having a school counselor is a new experience. At Marian, your last name determines your counselor.

Students with last names beginning with letters A-G have Miss Kathy Morrison; H-N have Mrs. Laura Gelecki and O-Z have Miss Kathy Janata. You will keep that counselor for your entire Marian career. This will help your counselor to truly get to know you - your interests, your aspirations, your college goals - the whole YOU. One thing your counselors do in August is organize Study Skills sessions.

For about four days, starting Tues., Aug. 22, you will experience a Study Skills session during part of your study hall. Each session will be instructed by one of the counselors, Mrs. Gelecki, Miss Morrison, Miss Janata or Assistant Principal, Mrs. Kathy Tompkins. Some of the topics covered are:

How to take notes

How to effectively read text books

How to use your assignment notebook

How to study

How to take tests

During these sessions, you will be shown where the main office is, where your counselors can be found, and where the Math tutor room is located. Mrs. Gelecki said that the opportunity of having Study Skills sessions is very beneficial to freshman. "I think it helps them understand our expectations. It helps them be prepared for what they will encounter in their classes," she said.

Miss Morrison agrees. "Even though it might be review for some students, it's a good way to start off the year. Those who continue to use their study skills at Marian will be very successful," she said.

It's very important to know what to expect and what is expected of you as you enter into the whole new world of high school. Study Skills will help you get started on the right foot and your counselors will help those feet continue in the right direction!

10. Always walk on the right side of the hallway. The right side of the hallway is you should be walking during passing periods. If ever you catch yourself strolling on that left side, whether it be that youUve forgotten the rule, or that you just want a change of pace, be aware that you will probably get a holler from an upperclassman.

9.Walking the stairs is an art to be mastered. Always open the right door when entering exiting stairwells or hallways. This falls under that whole left-side-is-the-devil motif. Just stay on the right side and youUll be fine. Under no circumstances may you stop in the stairwell or dire consequences will follow. (Okay, so that is a little melodramatic.) Also, use the middle staircase sparingly. It has a tendency to get really clogged.

8. Beauty is often mocked. I know itUs a change of pace but applying make-up and shaving legs is definitely reserved for the weekends. Once you get to be a senior, you will have built up an immunity and only resort to shaving for formal dances.

7. Never ever walk by or near Mr. Michael Sporcic with a shirt untucked. Mr. Sporcic, the guy who looks like Mr. Wilson from Dennis the Menace, is the king of points. He's proud of it and he has no mercy for ANYONE. Avoid an untucked shirt, sloppy skirt, anything but white T-shirts under your uniform shirt, boxers hanging out of your skirt, and leaving your ankle indecently naked.

6. Avoid anything with an odor in Mrs. Smith's classroom. LotionI SoapI PerfumeI If she catches them, these things WILL be confiscated. I know, I know. For a classroom that almost always reeks of something that smells a little less than fragrant (in fact, just plain stinky) why canUt we have a little salvation with some lotion? Because she says so. That's why.

5. "I didnUt remember" just doesn't work. Welcome to High School. I know youUre in High School, you know youUre in High School, and believe it or not, your teachers know youUre in High School. This means ignorance is no longer bliss. If you miss something because you didnUt listen to announcements or utilize your assignment notebook there will be no pity for you here.

4. DonUt forget- "Furnish (your) Home (with) General Electric" With the crazy schedule at Marian, youUre bound to goof up a couple of times. Friday's the worst. There's absolutely no rhyme or reason to the way block order goes. F H G E. Just remember. "Furnish (your) Home (with) General Electric" or something to that effect.

3.Computer Etiquette Whether youUre computer illiterate or a total hacker, there are some things that you all need to know. You all have server space, a place thatUs completely yours located in the server of every computer in the building. Your server space becomes your life. You will be given a password. Don't forget it, don't reveal it, and donUt accidentally leave it open! Also, freshmen seem to get e-mail fever. Remember, chain letters are the devil. Don't save them, don't send them, and for heavenUs sake, donUt believe them. They clog the system.

2. Study. I know this sounds like the same thing that everyone else is telling you right now, but seriously, here me out. School comes naturally to some; others have to work a little more. Some students excel in some subjects but need some extra work in others. (Blah, blah, blah- I know.) Anyway, the point is, youUll know by the end of your first year which type of student you are. But even if youUre one of those rare girls who barely needs to crack a book, I'd really recommend it. Study habits mean a lot in college and that senior year comes up faster than you think.

1.Have Fun!

For the most part, you probably wonUt think much about this little survival tip. However, during the rough times, like when you have 9 points by November, your Honors Biology grade is a strange letter youUve never seen before, or finals are coming up and you canUt even remember what Comp. & Lit. stands for, just relax. Take a deep breath, make light of the situation if at all possible and remember that it will all pass. In a month or two this dilemma will just be a distant memory. Welcome to Marian.

1. This is a definite must have. It will soon feel like note cards are growing out of your fingers and a small organizer like this is perfect for the zillions of cards you will be making.

2. It is a good idea to have many of these handy little writing utensils on hand.

3. Though you will soon have your very own server space, a disk is a nice reassurance that your work is where you want it to be.

4. Paper works great as a straight edge, but one of these works even better.

5. An organizer is important for your health. One of these can save you from many nervous breakdowns and lower your blood pressure too.

6. Gum can save you from the temptation of talking during announcements, not to mention the mere fact of staying awake during class.

7. Ripping works . . . but a perfect cut with these looks much prettier.

8. This mathematical tool is a necessity for all of your math classes, unless of course youUre a big fan of counting on your fingers.

9. When your stomach talks louder than your mouth, this comes in real handy.

10. Mooching is bad. Having your own money is a plus.

11. Everybody needs chapstick!

12. Meet your new best friends. These handy dandy vibrant colors will not only capture your eye, but also keep your books colorful and radiant all year long.

13. You may be buff, but without one of these, you're hopeless.

14. Well, uhIthese are pretty self exclamatory.

15. Not only are these great for writing notes, but you can also make beautiful temporary tattoos.

16. Unless you like stapling loose leaf a whole lot, IUd say that notebooks are a must if you want to keep your sanity.

17. Apologize to the rain forest, note cards are a sacred learning device in this school.

18. What can I say, your not cool unless youUve got the Gelly Rollers.

19. Folders, not only are they fun to shop for, but they are great to save your papers from the past.

20. You can make many friends in the cold and bitter months of winter, if you walk into the building with a box of 2-ply, gentle touch, aloe vera Kleenex.

Erin Stratta arrived at Hutchison School in Memphis, Tennessee freshman year ready to conquer the south. However, she quickly found that the south was not easily conquered. Erin knew absolutely NO-ONE, and making friends was a little more difficult than she originally thought. But before long she started soccer and found a group of people she could relate to. She also joined some of her soccer buddies taking Jazz and Tap Dancing classes just for kicks. While leaping around in black leotards with pink tights isnUt her idea of a grand ole time, Erin made a group of friends she could call her own.

Jessie SmithUs entire body was rumbling with both nervousness and excitement. She surveyed the scene: hundreds of nameless faces seemed to be peering from every direction, all bearing similar uneasy grins. Glancing to her right, she saw the four girls from her public middle school awkwardly staring at the floor. To solve her problem, Jessie became a classic "clubber," and joined clubs that she heard about on the morning announcements. This proved to be a surefire way of not only bonding with classmates, but gaining a sense of Marian as well. Through speech team, drama club, tennis and spirit club, Jessie was able to learn more about her surroundings while meeting girls of all ages.

Freshman year is as exciting as it is scary, but most of all, itUs what one makes of it. ItUs a time to discover yourself, but also discover many new friends. One of the best ways to get your freshman year started off smoothly is by getting involved in clubs, organizations, or sports. There is no better way to meet different people in your class, not to mention the rest of your school. Marian offers a wide variety of extra-curricular activities, and there is sure to be one right for you. Everything from student government to environment clubs is offered. If youUre more athletically inclined, you just MIGHT have heard about our five state championships last year. Even if you donUt exactly have the Mia Hamm thing down, reserve soccer is a blast, as are most other sports at Marian.

Keep in mind, you're not alone in this process. NO freshman knows everyone, but the more people you get to know, the more enjoyable your years at Marian will be. Find some things you like to do, whether its art or acting, volunteering or speech, and get involved in them. And guess what? YouUll meet people that share the same interests as you. What a great foundation for a new friendship! OK, so maybe Shimone from Spanish REALLY scares you, but who knew she loved art, too! Go out on a limb, even if you donUt stick with a certain club, youUll still have the experience and can match some names to those faces.

So dig up your leotard, and get your clubbin groove on. Be outgoing and you are sure to have a year to remember.

Clubs You Can Join!

Spanish Club

French Club

Latin Club

Recruitment Team

Spirit Club

Ursa Minor

Ecosystem

Drama Club

Service Sites

Science Club