Meet some of the new faces in the Farrell faculty for 2023-24 school year!
Another school year is upon us, and there is plenty of new to be had at Farrell. There's a new freshman classes. We now have a new Denino's at the Den. There are new writers for The Lion.
One other noticable thing this school year at Farrell: New faculty. And there are plenty of them!
There are new faces that are joining the familiar in just about every department at Farrell this year. And now is your chance to meet them in this continuing series!
Several of the members of The Lion reached got in touch with these faculty members to hear their thoughts on joining Farrell and what they hope to accomplish.
From everyone at The Lion, we wish these faculty members -- as well as the rest of the Farrell faculty, the Farrell students, and the Farrell leadership team -- an excellent 2023-24 school year!
Pictured Above: Mr. John Carcaterra, '18, teaches Global Studies to freshmen and Religion to sophomores
A 2018 graduate of Monsignor Farrell, Mr. John Carcaterra teaches in two departments. Mr. Carcaterra teaches Global Studies 9, looking to improve students' historical knowledge and appreciation. Additionally, Mr. Carcaterra teaches Religion 10, guiding students into a deeper understanding of the Catholic faith.
Mr. Carcaterra took time out of his busy day to speak with The Lion to discuss what he hopes to accomplish here at Farrell. We thank him for his time!
What do you teach here at Farrell?
I teach both freshman global and sophomore religion.
What is it like to return to Farrell as a teacher?
It is an interesting, yet fun dynamic to be back here as an alumnus teaching. The atmosphere this school brings is an environment like no other. The transition from student to teacher has been nothing but fun.
What got you into teaching?
It's tough to really pinpoint what exactly got me into teaching. Looking back, however, participating in TCM here at Farrell was truly the starting point of what made my interest in teaching grow to help me where I am now. There is a certain feeling that comes with being a teacher that people would not understand unless they are one.
What made you decide to attend Farrell?
When I was choosing a high school, I chose Farrell because something in this building, and something inside me, just made me feel like it was the right move for me and my life. Through all the open houses, shadowing, etc., there was a feeling I had when walking through the building that told me this was the place to be. And looking back, I would not change my decision to another school; it was one of the best decisions I have made.
What are your interests and hobbies?
Outside of school, I am like anyone else; I enjoy going out with my friends and playing and watching sports. I also enjoy camping, as it is one of my biggest hobbies. I was a Boy Scout growing up and now I am a proud Eagle Scout.
Being in the outdoors - hiking, camping, backpacking, using a compass and map to navigate your way around is not only fun, but a skill I feel every young man should have and be equipped with. Whether the students feel it is important or not, the ability to orient a map and guide yourself through trails with only a map and compass (no Google Maps) is a skill they should all have -- or want to learn!
Pictured above: Mr. Carcaterra discusses the Gospel of Luke with his Religion 10 students.
What do you hope to accomplish here?
Here at Farrell, I hope to accomplish a few things for our students.
I want my students to understand it is perfectly okay to not be a 100-average student. When you shoot for perfection, you often let yourself down. School is supposed to be about trial and error; it’s about trying something new, failing, trying again, and succeeding. That’s why we are here; to learn, to fail, to try again, and try until we succeed.
I want my students to grow as a person and as an individual with quality life skills, more than just simply spitting facts out you learned through the four years.
It is far better to have important life skills when walking out of this building than just knowing dates, times, and people.
You need to be able to speak in front of a crowd, you need to be able to communicate with your peers, adults, and coworkers effectively, and you need to be able to have the confidence in yourself to say: 'Until I’m proven I cannot do something, I have the confidence in myself to do anything.'
Finally, I hope to accomplish a sense of 'trying' within my students. What does that mean? Try everything! High school is a very fast four years. It goes by in the blink of an eye.
Leave no regrets! You are better off saying I tried something and didn’t like it, than saying hmm, I wonder what it would be like if I did this, or tried this club. This school experience is all that you make of it, I cannot stress that enough. No one is here holding your hand, you need to take all you can in the palm of your hands and run with it.
Try everything before you leave here. You never know if you will like something until you do it. You may not know you like something until you take that first step. I ask you just take a chance; you’ll never know how far a chance can take you in this life. Step outside your comfort zone and do something you never thought was possible before.