Mass JCL kicked off the fall season with the annual Catapult Contest, which was held on October 15, at MountGreylockRegional High School. Students spent their Saturday participating in the launching of different sized catapults ranging from smaller marshmallow catapults to large trebuchets. They also participated in other fun and upbeat activities throughout the day. Congratulations to Andy Zhong and Kenneth Yuen for having their trebuchet shoot fourteen feet after last year’s upset.
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| Marie Pierre- Hey Andy (AJ). Hey Kenneth (Special K). First off I want to say congratulations with the catapult. Now, I want to ask, how did you guys build this and did you do it yourselves? Andy- We built this completely from scratch. Mostly, it was just the two of us, but we had some help from our friends at the YMCA. MP- When did you guys start building the catapult and when did you finish? Also, how long did it take? Andy- We started building it in the beginning of August and finished at the end of September. It took us basically two months to complete. MP- Where did you guys find the materials to begin working on the catapult? Andy- For wood, we went to Home Depot. The tools were borrowed from the Y, and screws and bolts were bought from hardware stores. MP- How many hours a day did you work on the catapult? Andy- We worked 2-5 hours a day, everyday, and after school on Fridays until 7pm or later. Kenneth- To stay up real late like that, we would stock up on bottles and bottles of soda and chicken (laughing). MP- How did you guys feel about the catapult gaining negative yardage? Andy- We were kind of disappointed. Kenneth- I downed an entire bottle of Mountain Dew. MP- Kenneth, I know this is your senior year. Do you have any advice for next year’s Engineer? Kenneth- There’s a lot of time and patience that goes into this. MP- How about you Andy, are you considering running for Engineer next year? Andy- Uh oh, trick question did Mrs. Fillion ask you? (laughing), It’s something I’m thinking about, it’s just a lot of work to do. MP- So what were some of the pros and cons of working on this catapult? Kenneth- It was a lot of fun, especially testing it. The only bad thing I have to say is it was raining and it’s a lot of hard work building a catapult. Andy- The best part was making the catapult. The hardest part was putting it together, taking it apart, all of the reloading and unloading is a lot of hard work. MP- Honestly, did you guys ever say to yourself ‘Just forget it, I give up’? Andy- There was a point where I felt like giving up, but we made it and the results were great. MP- Any butterflies? Andy- We were really optimistic! Kenneth- Yeah, we were… until the real thing. MP- Did you guys get any good advice after the first mistake with the catapult going backwards? Kenneth- It’s really funny that you say that because Mr. Fillion, Ms. Fillion’s brother, really helped us a lot and helped us make the catapult go forward the next time. Andy- Mr. Fillion advised us to change the hook and adjust it to make it closer. (Kenneth begins singing “I Still” by the Backstreet Boys) MP- (Laughing) So any last words you guys? Andy- If I run next year I will make the catapult much better Kenneth- (Still singing) “I still need you, I still care about you…” Oh sorry. Basically, next year good luck on the catapult work hard on it. It’s hard work. Andy- I’m really looking forward to building the chariot. Hopefully it will be just as much fun. MP- Thank you guys! |
Let's hear from the others.
Everyone's working hard to build their catapult.
Karen’s Experience
On Saturday, the BLACC went to Mt. Greylock Regional High School for the MassJCL Catapult Contest. It was such an exciting experience. After that, we heard some bad news about Togaman, who lived in Louisiana, and was displaced by Hurricane Katrina. He hadn’t been heard from since September 3rd and wasn’t able to be there. But, there was a storyteller who told us about Roman myths, frogs, and Troy; the details were excellent. Afterwards, the students from many different schools split up and went where they wanted to. Some went to the Clark Art Museum, others went to watch the catapults, and the rest went to watch certamen. I watched certamen first, and then, went to the museum, and finally watched the catapult contest. The catapult contest was so fun. The most hilarious moment was when our catapult went backwards! At the catapult contest, people shot arrows, balls, and even pumpkins. I can’t wait to go on the next trip.
-Karen Bui, gr. 8
DanThuy’s Experience
A JCL experience to me is an experience that I will keep with me forever; not only the events that happen, but also the people I meet. They are the people I have the most fun with, they are the people who I trust, (and) they are my friends. October 15th started out as a dark, cold, and rainy day. When I reached the school at 6:25 am, the bus was nowhere in sight. I joined the dozens of other BLACCers who were waiting in their cars for the bus. When the bus did finally come, I ran in the rain with my catapult onto the bus. While storing my catapult in the overhead compartment of the bus, I caught a glimpse of the other catapults, and was so intimidated by them. They were monster trucks compared to mine (which was much smaller).
I didn’t win, but of course I had fun. I enjoyed listening to stories, helping with the buzzer machines, and building and painting my catapult. Even though it didn’t win, I’m still proud of its paint job. I painted it metallic colors with a sun at the base. I think they should start a catapult-painting category; it would be fun to see all the different entries submitted. I like going to any JCL event because you meet so many different people and have a blast. I understand that some people may not enjoy the JCL, but to me... another event is another happy memory to add to my collection.
-DanThuy Chu, gr. 9
Anicka’s Experience
On Saturday October 15th, I attended the Catapult contest at Mt. Greylock in Williamston, Massachusetts. This was my second time going to a catapult contest, and although it rained for a while and the sun only came out for a few minutes, I had a blast. I had even more fun this year than I did the year before! From the bus ride to the school, to the bus ride back to BLA, everything about the trip was exciting. It was nice to see some of the people that I had met at the National Convention this summer there as well. This year I made a marshmallow catapult. Although I didn't place, I enjoyed the time that I spent making it with Mr. Fillion, Ms. Fillion’s brother. He also attended the catapult contest. When everyone saw him, they all thought that he looked just like Ms. Fillion. It was hilarious. I had fun looking at the other marshmallow catapults, and learning how to improve mine, so that I could make an even better catapult next year!
One of the funniest things that happened was when our school's catapult actually went backwards, and almost hit a van that was parked nearby outside. We tried it again and it did go forward the next time. Maybe next year we could try to get it to go even further. I also did certamen, and to my surprise, I knew the answers for some of the questions. I didn't buzz in fast enough, but I will keep practicing. In all, I had a fantastic time and I can't wait until next year so that I can make a better catapult and hopefully win!
-Anicka Samuel, gr. 9
Jared’s Experience
The day of the catapult contest had finally arrived. It was so much fun loading the pieces of the large trebuchet onto the bus, while the rain literally soaked us to the bone that morning. Once we arrived, Mrs. Keeley welcomed us and showed her spirit by jumping around and smiling,. I enjoyed the mythological stories of ancient relationships. It was interesting to hear about Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite’s realistic attitudes toward the young and naïve Paris. The storyteller, Mr. Drew Gibson, personalized this tale so that one could relate it to real life experiences. Also, Mr. Gibson made it simple to understand Paris and the three of the greatest Greek goddesses’.
With the wet ground and mud puddles everywhere outside, I was still able to find a way to indulge myself- CERTAMEN: the contest that drives people mad, making them twitch and sweat profusely… ah what a game! My good friend, Jacob Meister, of BLS took care of business (as usual) on the opposing team. My team came in second and yet, I was very proud of them. The trip to Mount Greylock this year left many people with happy memories. Through it all, the MassJCL made a great event out of a dismal day.
-Jared Hicks, gr. 9
Karyn and Sean's Catapult.
Nhu, Audane, and Thuy
Kerri and her catapult.
Maddie with her catapult.
Blacc Skit
Art in the Berkshires
For me, the best part of the Catapult Contest was the Clark Art Museum tour. Our tour guide was Michael, the Director of Education at the Clark Art Museum. He led us in analyzing the art. Although it may sound boring, it was anything but that. Instead of spewing facts at us, he involved us in a discussion with a combination of insight, humor and questions. This approach enhanced the beautiful art.
The first painting we saw was by Renoir. Renoir was in Naples when Pompeii was being excavated. Renoir had read Pliny the Elder’s description of a painting that Alexander the Great had commissioned of his mistress as Venus. He was then inspired to paint this beautiful portrait of his mistress as Venus also.
My favorite painting was The Women of Amphissa. It demonstrated the artist’s mastery of technique and hidden significance. It was full of action, multiple layers, and was a very realistic painting. The Women of Amphissa is actually about two groups of women; one group from Amphissa and the other group from Phocis. While worshipping Bacchus, the women of Phocis danced into Amphissa, and passed out in the square. So, the women of Amphissa, knowing that the men would do horrible things, protected the women of Phocis. Not only is this a beautiful idea, but an even more beautiful painting. I found myself wishing that the tour would have lasted longer. It was thoroughly surprising that in such a small and unknown town, there could be such a wonderful museum.
-James T. Boggie, gr. 10
Clark Art Museum Tour
After a twenty-minute bus ride and some crazy conversations, we arrived at the Clark Art Museum, not too far from Mt. Greylock High School. The rain was still coming down but not as hard as it had been in the morning (I don’t think Mother Nature liked us very much that day). We hung our coats on racks and attentively waited for our tour guide. He quickly arrived, and what caught everyone’s attention first was his authentic British accent. It turned out that wasn’t only a British accent, but also an Irish accent.
Proper introductions were made and then we made our way to the first picture, a painting byRenoir. Not to be rude, but when we settled in around the first picture, all I saw was some “naked chick”. With the right observation skills and 95% of the work coming from Michael, our tour guide, we discovered we were not just looking at some “naked chick”. She was painted on the shores of the Mediterranean and had a ring on her ring finger. Here is where Michael came in. He divulged a theory of his to us, telling us that the woman could have been compared to the Roman goddess of beauty. Not only that, but the ring could have been painted there as a way for the artist to propose to the woman he was drawing. Like I said, 95% of the work was coming from our guide.
Then we moved onto the next painting on the tour by Bouguereau. It featured nymphs and a satyr that was half man and half goat. Several nude women were forcing it into a lake. More observations led us to discover even more women behind bushes in the background of the scene. Once again, Michael had a theory. He told us that these naked women were probably bathing and were being spied upon by the mysterious creature.
We then saw a sculpture, viewed another painting of the women of Amphissa in a town square, and an antique pair of silver sconces that featured engravings of Narcissus and the famous myth of his becoming a flower. Overall, the tour was very informative, awkward at times, but fun. If the same activity is available during next year’s Catapult Contest, I will definitely go again.
-Anthony Mathieu, gr. 10