Of the many opportunities to get involved here at Cardinal Mooney, one of the lesser known extracurriculars is Astronomy Club. Lead by Dr. Matiussi and Mr. Bernard. Mr. Bernard hosts the morning sessions and Dr. Matiussi in the afternoon.

“The club has gone on for at least 20 years,” said Matiussi. During their sessions they review topics like the different kinds of telescopes, the difference between professional and amateur astronomers, looking into the solar system, and even trying to settle the debate of if we really landed on the moon or not, Dr. Matiussi thinks we did.

Aaniyah Robinson, Jayden Humburt, Zaryia Johnson, Owen Leech, and Kadence Lengyel are some of the members of the club. In 2024 they took a field trip to Austintown park to see a comet through binoculars, and do similar stuff like that on campus with their telescopes.

They use 2 different telescopes. A small portable desktop Seestar Smart Telescope, an incredibly convenient telescope that digitally tracks different celestial objects with an online database. “This telescope is convenient because astronomy is traditionally a late night hobby” says Bernard. This telescope has a solar filter that allows it to be used during daylight hours.

As well as a Celestron telescope, which they have only used to take to austintown park, they have not had the ability to set it up here at school.

On the left is Fotini holding her trophie and National Qualifier certificate.This past weekend at the State Speech and Debate Tournament Cardinal Mooney put up quite the performance. Led by none other than Senior Fotini Pizanias. Fotini advanced to the State Semi-finals round where she placed in the top 10 in Dramatic Interpretation. Prior to the Tournament, Fotini also qualified for the National Speech Tournament coming up June 13th. “I was excited and terrified at the same time, so much...

Youngstown, OH, March 9, 2026 — While most students spend their day in traditional classrooms, others are building real world skills in the school’s woodworking class. The hands on course allows students to design and create projects while learning skills that can be used long after graduation. From measuring and cutting to sanding and assembling, students work through projects that require patience, focus, and attention to detail. The class gives students the opportunity to apply what they...

  If you ask any student about how they’re doing lately, you’ll probably hear the same generic answer “I feel behind”. Behind on jobs, behind on schoolwork, behind on college plans, just behind in life in general. It’s such a common feeling to have these days, but we have to wonder why many of us feel this way. A part of it comes from the amount of pressure we have to succeed before we finish high school. Between sports, jobs, classes, and more. Even when you feel like you’re doing the...

  Since the turn of the century Mrs. Kandray has been a part of the Cardinal Mooney Family. One of her most well known contributions is the yearly Crimson Feather entries. This is the 7th straight year of entries, and this year is projected to be nothing short of perfection. The theme this year is “Perseverance, The Path Forward”.  When asked about why the Crimson Feather is so special, Mrs. Kandray responded saying, “It is a wonderful platform for everyone’s voices to be heard.” She was...

This winter, Cardinal Mooney experienced full-on snow day madness as a series of winter storms and freezing temperatures swept through Youngstown. Temperatures stayed well below freezing throughout the week, with several days bringing heavy snowfall and icy roads that made travel unsafe. Because of these conditions, school was canceled multiple times, giving students an unexpected break and completely disrupting the normal school schedule. Teachers felt the effects of the snow days as well....

Schools talk about preparing students for the future and the “real world”, but one of the most difficult challenges teens deal with right now is taking care of their emotional and mental health. In the middle of dealing with jobs, extracurriculars, academic stress, and life at home, students have to balance all these things. If schools say they want us to be successful, they have to realize that well-being is not something “extra” but that it's the foundation that makes learning possible in...

While sports teams and major school events often take center stage, many student clubs quietly work behind the scenes to build community, develop leadership skills, and create opportunities for students with unique interests. Despite their impact, some clubs at our school remain largely unnoticed.  These lesser-known clubs provide students with chances to explore passions, make friendships, and grow outside of the classroom. From academic groups to service organizations, club members say their...

Cardinal Mooney High School has been a fixture of Catholic education in Youngstown since it opened in 1956. The school was built to meet the growing demand for quality Catholic education on the city’s South Side, and it quickly became known for both academics and community spirit. The school is named after Cardinal Edward Mooney, a Youngstown native who became Archbishop of Detroit. When it first opened, over 600 freshmen and sophomores filled the halls, starting what would become decades of...

Most of us wake up and check our phones before we even get out of bed. Throughout the day, our phones keep buzzing with messages, likes, and random alerts. It might not seem like a big deal, but those little sounds can seriously change our mood. A text from a friend can make us smile right away. Seeing no new notifications can make us feel ignored, even if nothing is actually wrong. We usually do not notice it happening, but our emotions can shift all day long just because of a screen lighting...