Marian High School
 
Donate to Marian High School
Marian Logo

English

“The love of learning,
the sequestered
nooks, and all the sweet
serenity of books.”
--Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Reading great literature is the cornerstone of a Marian education.  It is the single-minded goal of the Marian English Department to provide a plethora of opportunities for Marian students to engage actively with classical and contemporary works of literature, including writings from American, British and world authors.

"The best book is a collaboration between author and reader."--Barbara Tuchman

Students and teachers develop a common vocabulary for discourse; experience writing and revising in our computer laboratories; strengthen their language, speech, listening, study and research skills; and engage in the formation of  "a philosophical habit of mind" (John Henry Cardinal Newman).

"The book to read is not the one which thinks for you but the one which makes you think."--James McCash

Underlying all English course offerings is the Marian commitment to Christian Catholic social ethics. The department promotes awareness, understanding and appreciation of world cultures and the skills necessary for life-long learning in an increasingly complex and specialized future.  Therefore, Marian English courses enhance student understanding of social, cultural and geographical differences and emphasize language as a powerful tool for thinking, learning and communicating.  Marian students are continually preparing to communicate as informed, thinking, ethical individuals.

"Language exerts hidden power, like the moon on the tides."--Rita Mae Brown

Marian’s school-wide writing program supports and enhances the English Department's college preparatory writing curriculum.

All students take four years of literature and composition.  In addition, they may elect to take a four-year program in competitive speech or a two-year program in journalism.

The English Department has been commended five times by the National Council of Teachers of English for excellence in its instructional program. Both the elective speech and journalism programs have won state and national recognition and awards.

The English teachers teach in their areas of expertise and have more than 132 years of combined teaching experience.  Eighty-six percent have earned master's degrees.

 
Awards and Recognition

National English Honor Society
Congratulations to the 2010-11 Officers of the Marcella Chapter of the National English Honor Society.
Class of 2011
Abbey Furlow
Carla Gibbs
Kyra Lindholm
Morgan Lofgren
Annie McClure
Erin O'Brien


State Journalism Awards
Marian is the 2010 A2 State Journalism Champion.  This is the third state title in five year.  The CHAMPIONSHIP team truly consists of all members of the Yearbook and Newspaper staff! The following are individual accomplishments from senior journalism students:
Advertising -  Stephanie Sojka - 1st Place
Newspaper Layout - Jacqueline Alvine - 1st Place
Photo Illustration - Courtney Sehn - 1st Place
Editorial Writing - Stephanie Sojka - 1st Place
Sports Feature Writing - Stephanie Sojka - 1st Place
Editorial Cartooning - Ann Brudney - 1st Place
In-Depth Newspaper Coverage - Katerina Marcotte, Laura Bolamperti, Hannah Mergen, Andrea Alonso, Jacqueline Alvine, Jordann Wilson - 1st Place
Entertainment Review Writing - Stephanie Sojka - 1st Place
Headline Writing - Noelle Mapes - 1st Place
Information Graphic - Shannon McGill - 1st Place

Journalism Competition at the University of Nebraska—Omaha
Congratulations to Marian’s Journalism students who place in several categories at the UNO School of Communication High School Media Competition.
Best Newspaper - The Network - 1st Place
Best News Story - Monica Bosiljevac - 1st Place
Best Sports Story - Stephanie Sojka - 1st Place
Best Column - Stephanie Sojka and Grace Theisen - 1st Place
Best Advertising - Stephanie Sojka - 1st Place

Published Poets
Congratulations to freshman Kinsey Brown, sophomore Kalani Fortina and junior Allison Dethlefs, who will have poems published in the Spring Edition of Creative Communication. For more information on this great opportunity to showcase student creativity, visit www.poeticpower.com.

Kinsey's poem is entitled "Life Worth Living"
Kalani's poem is entitled "Seasons"
Allison's poem is entitled "In Bloom"

Official State Banners for Journalism and Speech
The Marian English Department is pleased to announce that official state banners for the NSAA sanctioned activities of Speech and Journalism have been installed and unveiled in the cafeteria above the display cases. The programs have enjoyed great success over Marian's history and the points from their District and State competitions always contribute to the school's overall Championship status.

The Speech banner lists District Championships in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007, District Runner-Up in: 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1991 and 2008 and State Runner -Up in 2007.
 
The Journalism banner lists State Championships in 2006, 2007 and 2008 and State Runner-Up in 2003, 2005 and 2009.

Congratulations to all past students who had a role in securing those championship honors.  Also, thanks to a generous anonymous donor who made these banners happen to celebrate the accomplishments of the speech and journalism students over the years.



Marian English Teacher Receives Recognition from the University of Nebraska -- Omaha School of Communication
Congratulations to English teacher and Journalism advisor Marsha Kalkowski who will be recognized with the Alumni Community Service Award at the University of Nebraska -- Omaha's School of Communication 55th Annual Awards Banquet on April 29. Marsha is being recognized for the many ways she goes above and beyond her job to assist Marian students and the community.


Marian English Department and Senior Student Receive Honors from the National Council of Teachers in English
Marian High School senior, Claire Townley, receives the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) 2009 Award for Superior Performance in Writing.  

The Achievement Awards in Writing is a school-based writing program established in 1957 to encourage high school students in their writing and to recognize publicly some of the best student writers in the nation.  Claire is one of 544 students, out of more than 1700 entries, who were recognized for her writing achievements. 

As a result, Marian's English Department was recognized for its excellence in its instructional program. 
 

National English Honor Society 
 National English Honor Society Inducts New Members 
On February 24, Marian’s National English Honor Society inducted 27 juniors in the Marcella Chapter, the only in the state of Nebraska. This chapter was established in the spring of 2009. It is named in honor of Sr. Marcella Sitzmann, a Servant of Mary, English teacher and the first principal of Marian High School.

During the induction ceremony, the teachers of Marian’s English Department were granted honorary membership into NEHS in recognition of their commitment to literature and the language arts.

The NEHS national motto, “Gelast sceal mid are,” is Old English, and means “duty goes with honor.” This represents the calling to which Marian’s Marcella Chapter responds:  the responsibility of sharing the best of language and literature with others. As a result, the Chapter adopts a school, with which it can share its love for literature and English. 

Marian’s NEHS Chapter will partner with the Madonna School in 2010-2011.

To become a member of NEHS, a Marian student must hold a 4.0 GPA in five semesters of required English courses.



National English Honor Society 2009-2010 Officers
Left to right: Cassidy Lemkau '10, Lisa Gehring '10, Kaitlyn Griffith '10, Shelby James '10, and Melanie McCormick '10

 
English and Service

Marian High School National English Honor Society Fulfills Annual Service Project 

What better activity is there on a chilly fall day than to curl up with a good book.  On October 15, the kindergartners and first graders at St. Bernard Catholic Grade School did just that, with the help of a few Marian girls.  Click here for the full story.


 
Course Offerings
Honors Composition & Literature
Composition & Literature
Honors American Literature & Composition
American Literature & Composition
Honors/AP English Literature and Composition
English Literature and Composition
Honors/AP English Language and Composition
World Literature & Composition
Honors Journalism II
Journalism I
Novice Competitive Speaking
Honors Varsity Competitive Speaking
 
English Department
Amy Bauman, Connie Cavel, Jennifer Christen, Marsha Kalkowski, Regina Lehnhoff, Megan Piernicky and Susie Sisson (department chair)
 
Marian English Department sponsored sites
Writing Resources
 
Writing Contests 

Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Audio/Pen Essay Contests
The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) provides nearly $3.2 million in scholarships and incentives to high school and junior high school students across the nation.

Voice of Democracy Audio Essay: Deadline is November 1, 2010.

Patriots Pen Essay Contest: Deadline is November 1, 2010.

For more information, visit the VFW Website at www.vfw.org.
 
2010 Ayn Rand Novel, Atlas Shrugged, Essay Contest
for college/university student and high school seniors
deadline:  September 17, 2010
for more information visit: www.aynrandnovels.com/contests