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Seniors Skip School for Spiritual Sabbatical
Charlotte Catholic seniors traveled to Camp Thunderbird for the annual senior retreat on November 10. Originally, this retreat was two days, and students would stay overnight bunking together in the camp’s cabins. However, this year the retreat lasted only one day, and the following day was an excused absence. Since COVID-19, the retreat has been only a day long, with the plan of returning to two days this year. For an overnight trip, the school required more volunteer chape
Annie Duncan


Mr. Conrad Continues Career at Holy Trinity Middle School
After two decades of service at Charlotte Catholic High School, Mr. Conrad has come full circle. He returned to Holy Trinity Catholic Middle School, not as a student this time, but as its new principal. A proud graduate of Holy Trinity’s first-ever class, Mr. Conrad’s homecoming marks a new chapter for the school and for a leader deeply rooted in its mission. Mr. Conrad’s move from high school to middle school leadership brought an unexpected jolt of energy to the school. “I
Erik Vazquez-Kew


What Neighborhood Houses the Best Treats?
Don’t knock on it ‘till you try it. When Halloween rolls around in Charlotte, kids and parents strategize for the ultimate candy haul. While costumes and spooky decorations set the mood, the real prize of the holiday is finding neighborhoods that hand out the best treats. From full-size candy bars to Halloween-themed goodie bags, some areas truly amaze trick-or-treaters. Most residents participate in community-wide events and use apps like Nextdoor’s Treat Map to signal thei
Erik Vazquez-Kew


Seniors Surprise with Successful Costumes
With Halloween right around the corner, Charlotte Catholic students are getting ready to dress up and celebrate for the occasion. Every year, the senior class exclusively wears costumes during the school-day, bringing the holiday’s excitement to the classroom. For school halloween costumes, most seniors dress in pairs or groups, all in colorful unison. This year, Kylie Martin, Coco Bork, Jill Boyle, Abigail Ayres and Annie Duncan are dressing as characters from the movie Tro
Annie Duncan


Families Deck the Halls for Halloween
As Halloween approaches, Charlotte Catholic families have begun to accessorize their houses with festive decorations. According to the National Retail Federation, 78% of shoppers are expected to buy Halloween decorations this year, which reflects an upward trend in the popularity of decorating for the holiday. Additionally, the projected amount of money people will spend on decorations this year is $4.2 billion, which is a $1.6 billion increase from the previous record set i
Farris Carinci


What Do Students Deem the Best Candy?
As Halloween approaches, families in the Charlotte Catholic community prepare for trick-or-treaters by stocking up on candy. Most students view candy as a symbol of Halloween because the sweet treats are so important to the holiday. The confectionary industry anticipates record highs in spending on Halloween-related items, according to Forbes. In the United States, Americans are expected to shell out upwards of $3.9 billion on candy alone, an 11% increase from last year’s $
Jack Efthimiou


Everyone Kneads to Try PopUp Bagels
Students at Charlotte Catholic have been raving about PopUp Bagels, the new bagel place in the Ballantyne Bowl. Growing from an at-home bagel shop for friends and neighbors to a well-known restaurant and retail chain, PopUp Bagels has become the new obsession in Charlotte. PopUp Bagels started during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 as a side project for Adam Goldberg, a popular restauranteur, to run out of his own kitchen in Westport, Connecticut. Goldberg’s bagels started as

Katie Parks


SOTM: Striker Scores Athlete of the Week
Every week since the mid-1980s, the Charlotte Observer recognizes outstanding high school talent by choosing an Athlete of the Week. For the week of September 18th, Charlotte Catholic junior Rex Bumgarner was selected for the prestigious award. Rex has quickly made an impact on Charlotte Catholic soccer. He started as a striker on the varsity soccer team and became varsity captain in just his first year. In addition to his high school accomplishments, Rex is a starter and ca
Gray Farrar


Simpson’s Seasonal Success: Patch Procures Pristine Pumpkins
Pumpkin season is in full swing, and for Charlotte locals, that can only mean one thing: Simpson’s Pumpkin Patch is back on the mound at Carmel Commons shopping center. Throughout October, right off Pineville-Matthews Road, this beloved roadside stand offers a variety of seasonal fixtures like pumpkins, flowers, corn, and gourds. They have become a staple of fall decorating for generations. Simpson’s has been a fixture in Charlotte since the 1950s, with the stand across from
Erik Vazquez-Kew


A Sweet Success: Candyland Homecoming
Charlotte Catholic held its annual homecoming dance on Saturday, October 11. This year’s Candy Land theme brought funny, candy-inspired decorations to the school gym. The PTO and members of the student council helped organize and decorate the event. Tickets were $30, and teachers checked students in at the entrance before they entered the gym. Once students left, they could not come back inside. The dance ran from 8 to 10 p.m. and had a strong turnout, with an estimate
Gianna Renaldi


Class Representatives Return
Charlotte Catholic students selected three representatives from each grade this month during Student Council elections. The school eliminated several officer roles from previous years to refocus the student body. Administration reduced the council’s size to ensure each position is meaningful and representatives can better serve their classmates. They explained that in the previous structure some roles did not contribute. Dean of Students Sarah Danser said, “We just felt lik
Gianna Renaldi


Charlotte Catholic Community Comes Together on Club Day
In the midst of all the back to school commotion, Club Day at Charlotte Catholic has come around again. On Wednesday, September 17th, club leaders lined the hallways with their stands and sign-up sheets, eager to gain new club members. Campus ministry has to approve of all clubs before they become official, so student organizers spend time prior to club day carefully planning their presentations. The co-founders of the Golden Hearts club, sophomores Chloe Loiko and Carter
Alexis Rand


SOTM: Hoffman to the Hokies
While other teenagers who hope to commit to NCAA Division 1 athletic programs must wait until fall of their junior year, senior Alex...
Annie Duncan


Today’s Freshmen, Tomorrow’s Philosophers
As the 2025-2026 school year kicked off, Charlotte Catholic added several new courses to the curriculum and extended the freshman course...
Farris Carinci


SOTM: Smith Shadows Special Surgeons
This past summer, senior Caroline Smith impressed her friends and family by taking her interest in medicine to the next level. At...
Annie Duncan


Christmas’ Cougar Campaign
This past weekend, on March 29th 2025, Charlotte Catholic accepted a new addition to the Cougar family—a real Cougar. It all began when...

Thomas Mees


Happiness on a Stick
On March 12th 2025, Charlotte Catholic students and their parents received an email detailing the upcoming change in cafeteria services...

Meara O'Farrell


Mr. Smith and His New Drive
It is with great sadness that Charlotte Catholic announces that Mr Smith, the Senior AP literature teacher has decided to resign starting...

Virginia Gaston


A Rewarding Retreat
Every year the students of Charlotte Catholic venture forth on a retreat with their respective grades. The retreat offers a way for...

Sydney Toebben


Spirits Will Be Raised with a Grande
Charlotte Catholic has recently announced the new addition of a Starbucks franchise in the cafeteria. The spirit store will be removed...

Sofia Fusco
Roommate Roulette
As seniors finalize college decisions, classrooms are filled with chatter about all things housing. As seniors scroll through the various...

Meara O'Farrell
Seasonal Allergies Bring Spring Sniffles
March is supposed to be a sign of new life and the renewal of sunny days, but for people with seasonal allergies it marks three more...

Cate Kellgren
Roommate Roulette
As seniors finalize college decisions, classrooms are filled with chatter about all things housing. As seniors scroll through the various...

Meara O'Farrell
SOTM: Sara Steps Up and Stands Out
As a top-ranked Irish dancer in North America and a top student academically at Charlotte Catholic, Sara Divittorio excels in all she...

Ann Douglas O'Brien
Seniors Bond Over Breakfasts
On February 28, CCHS held its first senior breakfast, a new event in which the school provides the seniors with food before school...

Mary Pat Kolenik


Valentine’s Day Around the World
Valentine’s Day, an exciting holiday where couples exchange gifts of love and appreciation and spend quality time together, is in a few...

Sydney Toebben


Tik Tok’s Time is Running Out
Tik Tok, a popular social media app, was banned in the United States on January 18th only to return to users' phones 24 hours later....

Virginia Gaston


Cockroaches and Conversation Hearts
Everyone is familiar with the chubby cherubs and chalky conversation hearts that represent Valentine's day, but February 14th hasn't...

Meara O'Farrell


Time to Rhyme
Charlotte Catholic’s Poetry Club seeks to prove that poetry can be fun for all. The club utilizes fun prompts and a casual, friendly...

Sean Lynds
Meeting the Long-Term Substitutes
With the recent resignation of a couple of Charlotte Catholic faculty members, the administration has turned to two new long-term...

Andrew Shepard
Sisters are Slacking: Signless Sadies
Three weeks before Homecoming, most people would be looking for dates and outfits, but three weeks before CCHS’ Sadie Hawkins Dance, this...

Virginia Gaston
New Year, New Beginnings
Towards the end of every year, thoughts of how to do better in the upcoming year are welcomed by many and ignored by others. Those that...

Sofia Fusco
Stirring up the Snow with Snow Day Superstitions
Weather-control rituals have been a part of human culture for centuries. While these rituals have diminished in significance over time,...

Madi Hertzig


Students Plan X-Mas Getaways
During the holidays, families commonly travel to see loved ones or create special memories around the globe. For students at Charlotte...

Mary Pat Kolenik
The True Meaning of Christmas
Christmas is the annual celebration of Jesus Christ’s birthday. Though the true meaning of the holiday is to remember our Savior, it...

Katie Parks
Cougar Christmas Traditions
The origins of Christmas stem way back to circa 0 CE, the approximate year that Jesus Christ was born. Christmas is a day of celebration...

Andrew Shepard


New White House Christmas Tree An NC Native
Christmas is two weeks away, bringing fun decorations and annual festivities. People decorate by putting up stockings, lights, and most...

Sydney Toebben
Buy Low Sell High: New Club Teaches Students to Beat the Market
With more than 100 clubs, Charlotte Catholic has an afterschool activity for everyone. One of the new clubs this year is the Finance...

Madi Hertzig
SOTM: Marguerite’s Magnifique Crêpes
Junior Marguerite McPhillips is stealing the spotlight with her extraordinary baking skills and bubbly personality. Marguerite is the...

Cate Kellgren
Students Prepare to Embark on Thanksgiving Vacays
In the midst of a demanding first semester, Charlotte Cathol ic students are looking forward to the reprieve offered by the week-long...

Meara O'Farrell
Students Celebrate Unique Thanksgiving Traditions
Thanksgiving, one of America’s most beloved holidays, allows families to gather and make memories while feasting in commemoration of the...

Mary Pat Kolenik


It’s the Journey, Not the Destination
“It’s the journey, not the destination.” These words from my sherpa Jaime echoed through my mind as I began my four-day, three-night trek...

Virginia Gaston


SOTM: Brendan is in his Bag
Scotland’s national instrument, the bagpipes, produces beautiful music but is very difficult to play. A player must learn steady...

Andrew Shepard


Student Costume Survey
Halloween is prime time for pumpkin carving, haunted houses, and costumes! Whether attending a costume party, trick-or-treating, or...

Madi Hertzig


The Votes Are In!
Charlotte Catholic’s Government and Politics classes began the countdown to Election Day by taking a field trip to a local early voting...

Sofia Fusco


CCHS Tries Tasty Treats
CCHS held its second annual Latino Flavor Tasting Table on October 16 during break. The tasting table highlighted the positive impact of...

Mary Pat Kolenik


Cougar Candy Craze
Halloween is here, bringing spooky decorations, creative costumes, and most importantly, candy. Every October, neighbors wait on their...

Sydney Toebben


One Pumpkin Patch to Rule Them All
It’s pumpkin-picking season and, luckily for us, the best patch in town is right across the street. Every year from October 1 to 31, on a...

Thomas Mees


Mrs. Hall Plays Ball
English teacher Mrs. Hall has been a competitive pool player for over a decade and loves it more than ever. She plays both 8 and 9 ball...

Katie Parks


Cougars Rebound in Preparing for New Season
Basketball pre-season is ramping up, and so are the expectations of Charlotte Catholic’s players and coaches. Coach Sergio Asaro, one of...

Andrew Shepard
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