With 2013 quickly approaching, El Cid decided to count down the top-ten most momentous stories of 2012. From the tragic end of a would-have-been successful football season to the installation of a machine to keep the seagulls away, El Cid covered it all on the Cathedral Catholic campus.

1) Technicality ends football season

The 2012 Dons varsity football season ended in tragedy when a clerical error was discovered, changing the team’s record from 8-2 to 0-10. A Dons entourage, that included about 45 members of the varsity football team, went to court to battle this ruling; unfortunately, the appeal was denied, and the football team’s record of 0-10 was the official record of their 2012 season. STORY

2) Ronan Nelson

On April 7, 2012, a play gone wrong in a rugby game changed junior Ronan Nelson’s life forever. Ronan was tackled, and his C5, C6 and C7 vertebrae were crushed, causing a spinal cord injury. Ronan returned this 2012-2013 school year, and is keeping a very positive outlook despite some unique challenges caused by his injury. STORY

3) MRSA shuts down CCHS campus

In March of the last 2011-2012 school year, the threat of a possible outbreak of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) gave Cathedral Catholic students, faculty, and staff a fright. The school was shut down for four days to allow maintenance personnel to clean the entire school as a precaution.  STORY

4) Teachers attend technology conference, prepare for iPads

On January 21, 2012, Math teacher Ms. Katie Linn and history teachers Mr. Matt Baier and Ms. Melissa Padgett attended the annual Orange County Computer-Using Educators (CUE) Technology Festival 2012. They learned more about how teachers at Cathedral Catholic could integrate the iPads into their classrooms. The attendance of this conference really marked the beginning of the integration of the iPads at Cathedral Catholic.   STORY

5) Administration bans illegal apps from iPads

With iPads officially implemented into the classroom this 2012-2013 school year, students found another way to get in trouble with administration. In November of 2012, students were forced to delete their VPNs as well as Whale Trail and Clash of Clans or face the consequences of having Safari and the camera deleted off their iPads.  STORY

6) Mr. Rickling sets 2012-mile goal to fight cancer, Parkinson’s

At the beginning of 2012, Economic and Statistics teacher Mr. Tom Rickling set a New Year’s resolution to run 2012 miles over the course of 2012. The idea was to raise money for cancer and Parkinson’s disease research, which was inspired by his father, who is suffering from Parkinson’s disease, and his mother who had cancer and is still undergoing some treatment. Mr Rickling received much support from students and staff and reached over his expected goal.  STORY

7) Water polo team shows support for teammate Riley Folk

Sophomore Riley Folk was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia on October 5, 2012. Instead of waiting for his hair to fall out as a result from treatment, Riley decided to shave his head. To show their support for their teammate, the Dons water polo team all shaved their heads as well.  STORY

8) Dons win a 33rd time against Saints in Holy Bowl

The Dons varsity football team did not disappoint at 2012’s Holy Bowl as their victory was a final score of 28-20. This year’s win makes the Dons’ Holy Bowl record 33 wins out of 47 games against Saint Augustine.   STORY

9) Seniors Rally- Lean on Me

In February 2012, the seniors of the 2011-2012 school year outdid themselves when they came together as one and showed their support for each other as they all sang “Lean On Me” by Bill Withers. This show of true unity of the senior class at the 2012 Winter Rally provided the school with a major sense of community and school pride.  STORY

10) Cathedral acquires Bird Expeller noise machines

During the 2011-2012 school year, around 10 Bird Expeller Pros were installed on campus. When the machines are on, the whole campus is filled with a shrill squawking noise that keeps the pesky seagulls away. With the machines, as well as students picking up their trash, the Cathedral Catholic campus can be seagull-free. STORY