LeJournal Domestic Violence The culture of abuse that has affected millions. Page 14-17
A PUBLICATION OF NOTRE DAME de SION
10631 WORNALL ROAD, KANSAS CITY, MO 64114
VOLUME 34 ISSUE 2 OCTOBER 2014
INSIDE THE ISSUE news
4 Decline in Pregnancy Rates
sports
10 Cheer Competes for the First Time in Five Years
New Apple Releases
Managing Cross Country
Food for Thought
11 Cross Country Goes to Disney World
5 ISIS National Merit Scholars
Locker Room Remodel
editorials/opinion
12 Audrey Calovich
6 Staff Editorial
cover story
Domestic Violence
The crime has affected countless people and it is not as far away from home as many assume.
No Spanking Policy
7 ISIS Air Strikes 8 New Feminist Ideas From Emma Watson
18 Inna and Isabella Lightner
Sisters discuss how mother’s role in politics shaped their lives
Is it beneficial?
20 Jiho Lee & Suhyun Park
Freshmen reveal experiences of having family across the world
9 GPAs not Grades Altered Freshman Student Council
ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Meghan Kearney
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27 Halloween
28 Photo Essay Spirit Week
Cover Photo
By: Sarah Harris
SION
What was your favorite part of Spirit Week?
MEMBER
EDITORIAL EDITOR Sydney Daniels
Junior Sam McDonough’s favorite affordable makeup products
Paul Kramschuster, theology
Missouri Interscholastic Press Association National Scholastic Press Association International Quill and Scroll Journalism Educators of Metropolitan Kansas City
NEWS EDITOR Ellie Schwartz
App Review
Students rate the new application “Checky”
HUMANS OF
Le Journal is the official student publication of Notre Dame de Sion High School 10631 Wornall Road Kansas City, Missouri 64114
WEBSITE MANAGING EDITOR Chioma Okuagu
Read a movie review of “The Best of Me” and a television review of “Red Band Society”
Director of Visual Arts inspires students and changes lives
LeJournal 2014-2015
PRINT MANAGING EDITOR Mary B. Freeman
Media Reviews
22 Jennifer Campbell
Is it a Popularity Contest?
CO-EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Sarah Harris Ellie Stingley
Chez Elle Creperie
DIY Costumes #tbt Halloween Edition
features
Implementing Block Schedule on Half Days
24 Restaurant Reviews
26 Fashion
14 Domestic Violence
Children’s Mercy
a&e
Definitely the superheroes.
SPORTS EDITOR Madison Heide FEATURE EDITOR Anna Schroer PHOTO AND SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR Sydney Manning LAYOUT EDITOR Georgia Evans REPORTERS Chloe Barrett Alex D’Alesio Selena Hunter Anna Ciani Sophie Nedelco
Rachel Ergovich Natalie Sopyla Laney Ulowetz Sara Watkins Aubrey Makar
Mary Beth Ferber, junior What was your favorite part of Spirit Week?
The Minute to Win It games during Maisons.
Sarah Hogan, freshman What was your favorite part of Spirit Week?
Total Frat Monday.
For full interview go to lejournallive.com
THE EDITORS’ INK BY SARAH HARRIS AND ELLIE STINGLEY CO-EDITORS-IN-CHIEF
H
appy Halloween! We can’t believe it either, but first quarter is over and mid-quarter is approaching. Dig out your leggings and Ugg boots because winter is on the rise. But for now the leaves are still changing and there is one holiday left before the turkey is served: Halloween. If you are anything like us, the candy is the only thing you like about the holiday. Snickers. Twix. Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. Hersheys. These are the reasons we claim you are never too old to trick-or-treat. But mostly just treat. You better believe we have done our research and know exactly which houses hand out king-size candy bars. Another less frightening aspect of Halloween is dressing up in costumes. Although the oversized pumpkin outfit with little holes for arms may not fit anymore, there is still hope for a great costume. The days of being Cinderella are over and a more mature attire is welcome, but showing up to school as the sexy cat, nurse or bunny isn’t the best idea. For cheap and appropriate costume ideas, check out page 27 with some do-it-yourself projects. As for the scary part of Halloween, we tend to shy away. Haunted houses? No thank you. We’d rather not feel the need to sleep with our lights on tonight. Horror movies? You have got to be kidding. Insidious and Shutter Island aren’t our cup of tea. For people like us, try a movie without haunting music like “Best of Me” based on the romantic novel by Nicholas Sparks (page 25).
Yes, haunted houses and horrifying movies are scary, but real-life terrors are lurking. Domestic violence is a terrifying problem that unfortunately many people endure everyday. Whether it is celebrities or people in our immediate community, the abuse cannot be ignored. Gender, race and socioeconomic status can’t shield a person from being impacted by domestic violence. Your neighbor, cousin, mom or celebrity crush could be a victim. We aren’t trying to scare the community, but the problem is real and growing; we can’t afford to ignore it. For more on the issue turn to pages 14-17. In addition to the problems at home, international problems seem dominant in recent news. One in particular poses a threat to our country. Four letters. One group. One mission to kill all who oppose them. ISIS. Originating in Syria, the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria has expanded to other parts of the globe. See page 5 for more on ISIS. On the bright side, the world is not all bad. There are good people doing great things, which should also be recognized. People such as Media Specialist and Siren adviser Jennifer Campbell who use their unique passions to inspire those around them (see page 22). Although Halloween is here and the school year is a fourth of the way over, don’t look too far ahead. Yes, it is too early to ask your winter formal date. Take one day at a time because one day you won’t be at Sion anymore and you don’t want to miss the memories. Sayonara Sion, Sellie
Photo of the Issue Senior Natalie Caruso portrays Counselor and Accommodations Coordinator Nancy Stevens in the Senior Class’ Food For Thought skit on Oct. 16. The school gathered in the gym to watch class skits about the newly reinstated competiton to gather cans for Redemptorist Social Services. Each grade preformed skits, but the seniors performed a traditonal skit that featured the portayal of teachers and faculty. (Photo by Laney Ulowetz)
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3
BY THE NUMBERS
DECLINE IN TEEN PREGNANCY 274,641 TEEN BIRTHS IN 2013
COMPARED TO
614,000 TEEN BIRTHS IN 2010
SINCE 2008 15% DECLINE ABORTION RATE SINCE 1988
66% DECLINE CURRENT RATE 27 OUT OF 1,000
TRENDING //
IN BRIEF
TRENDING
NEWS
ROYALS// The Kansas City Royals are playing in the World Series for the first time in over 29 years. EBOLA// Panic ensued among U.S. citizens after four cases were diagnosed stateside. The disease has taken over 5,000 lives in Africa.
IPHONE 6 & IOS8// The iPhone 6 launched from Apple on Sept.19 and has a variety of new features including iOS8. MALALA YOUSAFZAI// Malala Yousafzai wins the Nobel Peace Prize at age 17 for her work towards female education in Pakistan.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT// Stuco hopes to raise 20 tons of food for Redemptorist Social Services using the reinstated class competition.
HER MAJESTY’S THEATRE The Fine Arts Department students celebrated their talents at Her Majesty’s Theatre with this year’s theme “Through the Looking Glass.” Between performances by the Symphonie de Sion, Petit Chœur de Sion, the Grand Chœur de Sion and the Début de Théatre, the audience was able to play croquet, life-size chess and participate in a cake walk.
COMPARED TO
RATE IN 2010
NOW THEN
57 OUT OF 1,000 FALL FESTIVAL
GIRLS 15 - 19 57% DECLINE INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE CDC, TEEN HELP AND GUTTMACHER INSTITUTE.
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The annual Fall Festival Sept. 27 gathered children and students of all ages to join in the fun to raise funds for the eighth graders’ Washington, D.C. trip with a net profit of about $10,000. With the help of Seniors Rose Puthumana and Madeline Browne, the event constituted another year of success according to Director of Development Stephanie Volk. For the full stories go to lejournallive.com
APPLE UPDATES BY ELLIE SCHWARTZ NEWS EDITOR
When the Apple customer asks, the Apple customer receives. With bigger screens, better apps and specialized features, Apple caters to customers’ complaints and wishes with the unveiling of iOS 8 and its accompanying iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. iOS 8’s new app adds a microphone and shortcut keyboard to the Messages app, allowing for quicker texting. Sharing across devices is easier, and users can organize photos in more practical ways. “The format of my new phone is my favorite part about it,” senior Tasha Wyche said. “It’s thinner and very open, and you have more accessibility to text.” The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus drastically advance screen and camera resolutions while embracing thinner designs. A new camera flash and sensor system make upgrading worthwhile for advanced photographers. For those using their iPhones to stay healthy, the new Health app records users’ sleep habits, heart rate, and calories burned. Information can be shared with doctors automatically or when indicated, allowing for effortless updates, according to the Apple website. For heavy users, Apple significantly enhances energy efficiency, battery life, and practicality of use for payment with the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus. “It has definitely lived up to my expectations,” Wyche said. For the full story go to lejournallive.com
FOOD FOR THOUGHT BY CHLOE BARRETT REPORTER
As hundreds of brightly colored cans fill the South Six, it’s easy to get swept away in the reinstated competition, forgetting that each can is not a weight value but a donation. During Food for Thought, the community donates food with conscious acknowledgement for its purpose. That purpose is to raise cans and other food items that will be given to families in need through Redemptorist’s food assistance program. Last year, Sion raised 18 tons. This year’s goal is 20 tons, according to Student Council sponsor Jennifer Brown-Howerton. To raise awareness around the school, Student Council hopes to plan service trips to Redemptorist where students can learn about issues such as health problems or lack of money faced by those who benefit from Food for Thought. The drive began Oct. 16 after the Stuco campout and lasts until Nov. 13, giving students five weeks to collect 20 tons worth of cans. Stuco has made the decision to bring back the competition, hoping to provide more motivation to donate. Two years ago with a competition, Sion raised 28 tons. While 28 tons might be a stretch, Stuco is confident that the students can reach the 20 ton goal, especially now that the competition has added an incentive. Students are encouraged to go “canning” this Halloween and ask for cans rather than candy as they go door to door.
The Progression of ISIS Nov. 6, 2013
ISIS operates in Syria
(Photo by MCT Campus)
5
MEET THE . . .
National Merit Semifinalists & Commended Seniors
Dykeman 1 Alexandra “There have been schools that I haven’t even looked at that have offered me scholarship money.”
Feb. 1, 2014
Al Queda cuts ties with ISIS This is the seal of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. (Photo by Wikimedia Commons)
Fisher 2 Sophie
June 18, 2014
“It’s nice since it’s a national test. It shows that you are up to par with the national standard.”
ISIS attacks largest Iraqi oil refinery located in Baiji, Iraq.
(Photo by Wikimedia Commons)
3 Mary Mertes
June 18, 2014
Iraq requests U.S. military assistance. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Martin Dempsey informs Congress of Iraq’s formal request for U.S. air support to combat the insurgency. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and Dempsey brief congress.
“My grades freshman year weren’t fantastic since I had mono, so [it] shows that my freshman year really was a fluke — it wasn’t just me slacking off.”
(Photo by Wikimedia Commons)
4 Lena Kincaid
June 25, 2014
ISIS attacks Iraq’s largest air force base, Balad Air Force Base, to acquire Russian-made transport helicopters, surveillance planes, and a fleet of pickup trucks fitted with heavy machine guns.
“I didn’t really expect to win any recognition, so I was very surprised. I think that people don’t realize how beneficial the PSAT could be.”
(Photo by Wikimedia Commons)
Jacquie 5 ISIS on the Move, Ready to Kill Whalen The militant terrorist group prominent in the Middle East presses in on the Turkish border pillaging everything in its path. BY ANNA SCHROER FEATURES EDITOR
Six thousand miles away, villages in Syria and Iraq flee in the presence of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria militants. They flee the decapitations, the killings and the terrorists. The extremist Sunni Muslim terrorist group, termed internationally as ISIS, makes their way at
an alarming pace to the Turkish border. Refugees flee in their presence wishing for death by suicide, instead of living in brutal terrorist occupation according to a New York Post interview. In response to the growing threat of a terror attack on western nations and the distinct differences in human rights ethics, the United States and allies have instituted a series of air raids. In attempts to destroy ISIS, the U.S. has spent over $1 billion in resources and funds, according to CNN, on air missions bombing key buildings storing ISIS resources. This military response has not yet deterred the growing group. Refugees flee everyday. Missiles fall around them. ISIS is on the move, and ready to kill.
“I think this will make my application stand apart from other people who have the same GPA and grades as me.”
Recognized by National Achievement Scholarship Program
Sydney Daniels “Because it’s a national competition, it’s a great way to compare yourself to other students all throughout the country.”
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OPINION
The Immunity of Celebrity Status THIS EDITORIAL REPRESENTS THE VIEW OF THE LE JOURNAL STAFF. SEVENTEEN OUT OF 21 VOTED IN SUPPORT OF THIS VIEW. In this day in age it seems too often that celebrities are above the law. The video has gone viral. And it’s not a video of Miley Cyrus twerking for the millionth time. This is a security tape from a New Jersey casino showing former Baltimore Raven Ray Rice hitting his thenfiancé in an elevator, knocking her unconscious. Rice is then shown dragging the woman’s limp body out of the elevator doors. He was arrested and released on bail shortly after the incident. The National Football League originally suspended Rice for only two games on July 24, five months after the incident, according to CNN. Does that mean two games and the success of the Baltimore Ravens are equivalent to the safety and respect of Rice’s wife? Apparently it does. Since this is supposedly the first and only
1.
time Rice has abused his wife, some speculate that his punishment should not resemble that given to second or third-time offenders. Several people say that Rice’s punishment exceeds the appropriate level. However, according to criminaldefenselawyer. com, third-degree aggravated assault, the charge made against Rice, is typically punished with a prison sentence lasting anywhere from three to five years and a fine up to $15,000. Obviously, Rice’s penalty is much less than this. Between the slow and insufficient manner by which the NFL punished Rice and the legal penalty he received, Rice’s celebrity status seems to have protected him from a harsher consequence. Unfortunately, this is not the first time in which a punishment has been stalled or lessened simply to avoid hindering the offender’s career. We all remember the infamous pictures of Rihanna’s bruised face after her then boyfriend and R & B star Chris Brown, beat her in Feb. 2009. According to a 2013 CNN report, Brown was arrested, but was released on a $50,000 bail. This did not prevent him
2.
from using violence against Rihanna again in June 2009, according to CNN. A similar case of which many people are not even aware of spotlights soccer star Hope Solo. According to the Washington Post, Solo has been accused of two counts of misdemeanor domestic violence against her nephew and half-sister that allegedly took place in the summer of 2013. The trial is not until November and Solo has not been punished or suspended in any way by the U.S. Women’s National Team. Is it because she is yet another celebrity who simply “made a mistake”? Is it because she is female, and people assume that the violence coming from a female is not inadmissible? Either way, Solo is just as deserving of a sufficient punishment as Rice and anyone else committing such a crime, famous or otherwise. Whether the offender in the security tape makes millions of dollars each year and signs autographs or whether they work a common day job, the punishment for the act still must stand firmly. Regardless of who commits the crime, the act should not be taken lightly.
3.
(All photos from MCT campus)
1.Two years post violence, Chris Brown and Rihanna cuddle with each other. He has been relatively unscathed by the law after his domestic violence episodes. 2.Former Baltimore Ravens player Ray Rice and wife Janay make statements regarding his violence charges. 3.Olympian Hope Solo appears in court on domestic violence charges.
Discipline Discretion Spanking children should not be considered child abuse. BY MARY B FREEMAN MANAGING EDITOR
It isn’t the devastation of being put in time-out. It isn’t having to go to bed without a precious dessert after dinner. It is the spanking. On the backside or over a parent’s knee, spanking is something that is feared by children. It is something that puts fear of consequences for wrong actions into the eyes of small, disobedient children, which is why it must be allowed to stay. Today parenting styles are being questioned left and right, and spanking is at the forefront of the discussion. According to www.childrensmercy. org, Children’s Mercy Hospital now practices a nospanking policy. Some argue that it is child abuse, others say that it is harmless and builds character. According to a study done by Marjorie Gunnoe, a professor at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, teenagers who had been punished corporally from ages 7 to 11 were found to be more successful at school. Teenagers
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who had been spanked up to age six showed less sexual activity and higher or comparable academic success and ambition. Those that argue against spanking refer to studies that have been conducted showing that teenagers who were spanked as children show more violence and rage in school. However, Diana Baumrind, a psychologist who opposes spanking, performed a study in 2001 and discovered that mild to moderate corporal punishment causes no lasting harm. There is a difference between appropriate corporal punishment and child abuse. Parents looking out for their child’s best interest must know this line. Today, parents are allowed to deliver “reasonable chastisement” as a disciplinary measure. Spanking must not leave a mark or a bruise. These limits are stated in the 2004 Children Act. In the real world harsh and painful consequences are given for wrong actions. In a way, people are “spanked” for poor decisions daily. Therefore, it is imperative that children learn to be tough in the face of adversity, and understand that mistakes can come with serious consequences. Every child is different, and therefore requires a different style of punishment. It is the responsibility
of a parent to decide whether spanking is beneficial to his or her child and act accordingly. The government should not force parents to raise their child a certain way as long as the way they are being raised is safe for the child. Spanking is not child abuse. A light smack that leaves no mark does not constitute as harming a child. Do not soften the future leaders of tomorrow by coddling them today. If a child is in need of a disciplinary spanking, parents should not be ashamed to deliver.
Were You Spanked? Yes
79%
No
21%
Is this child abuse?
13%
Yes
87%
No
Is it effective? Yes
69%
No
31%
(From a sample of 140 students)
OPINION
TURKEY - Hasaka
- Irbil
- Mount Sinjar - Aleppo
- Raqqa
-Amerli - Deir al-Zour
SYRIA
- Abu Kamal
- Haditha
IRAQ
- Baghdad
Opposition air-strike locations ISIS controlled territories Territory ISIS wants (Map by Anna Schroer)
ISIS, Coming to a Town Near You Extremist terror group known internationally as ISIS is not deterred by American air raids. What will we do in response next? BY ANNA SCHROER FEATURES EDITOR
United States planes flying overhead reverberate sonic booms. The targeted oil refineries crumble under the effects of the dropping bombs. This does nothing. We underestimated. The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, or ISIS, is not deterred. They knew this was going to happen. They were planning. This is why we need to intervene. In the past months as the new school year started and the last of the summer rays died down, we Americans started to hear about the growing threat from ISIS. For many in the states the threat wasn’t real. People don’t like admitting that the problems happening 6,000 miles away can affect us. That is until someone is beheaded. Now, after weeks of the news plastering horror stories of the Sunni Islamic extremists slaughtering civilians on their barbarous trek to gain territory across the Middle East, we are just starting to see the full reign of terror ISIS is prepared to dish out. Let’s flashback to a year ago. Towns and villages in Syria remain mostly ungoverned. In the wake of civil war violence growing in the past two years, an underground network begins to gain power. That power is ISIS. The terror group quickly began to gain followers and funds, so much so that today their net worth is over $2 billion and growing, according to the Guardian Online. In the past five months this fast moving
organization has gained enough territory to equate to the size of the entire United Kingdom. This is a scary feat as Al Qaeda never had this amount of territory, this number of followers, this exuberant amount of funds nor these kind of military tactics. If we thought Al Qaeda and the Taliban were the worst terrorist groups, we have seen nothing yet. In a September “60 Minutes” interview on CBS, President Barack Obama made the comment that the United States underestimated the rise of the ISIS. This statement was made after the United States had already spent roughly one billion dollars on military missions against the growing threat according to the Washington Post. The question much of the American public has is whether or not the air raids against ISIS are an ethical choice, and whether it’s best we get involved in the first place. The issue with asking Americans what they want to be done is that most of us don’t know. To be frank, much of the information we get as average people is skewed in our own minds. We either can’t get over the fact that Barack Obama is our president and won’t accept that whatever he does is in the best interest of the nation, or we are comparing this new terrorist group to what has been going on in the Middle East since 9/11. The fact is this issue is something entirely new and needs to be dealt with fast and effectively. Unless you sit down every night and watch the news, or you follow ISIS progression, you wouldn’t know that they are more of a threat than anyone could have ever thought. If you don’t believe this just go to your computer and type in ISIS. When you get to that point you will probably notice that all of the related articles are either about their
progression, or the refugees fleeing their countries in attempts to get away from the group. You may also see the number of western converters who are deferring from their own nations to join the terrorist group. Or if you are not quite sure of their barbaric practices then just look to the articles about them beheading people, both from their own territory and abroad. Throughout the western world, in places like the United States, the United Kingdom, France and Australia, youth have been lured in by ISIS joining their ranks. This is what makes this group particularly alarming, the fact that people are willing to join, people not even from Syria or Iraq. In an interview with CNN, ISIS member and fighter Abu Omar said, “ISIS relies heavily on foreign members, including Westerners, to carry out its mission. There are a lot of youth who are joining, 14 and 15 years old.” They have also gained followers worldwide due to their extensive use of social media depicting their mutilating practices, attracting followers and private donors. So while the United States is spending millions of dollars per day in attempts to curb the movement of ISIS air raids, it may not be the most effective means. This terrorist group is something to look out for. “Our military is the best in the history of the world. And when trouble comes up anywhere in the world, they don’t call Beijing. They don’t call Moscow. They call us.” This is not the last we will hear of ISIS or ISIL or the Islamic State of Syria and Iraq or whichever name you prefer. This terrorist group is ruthless and ready to kill.
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OPINION
Block Scheduling?
Emma Watson, Harry Potter star and appointed Goodwill Ambassador by UN Women, gave a powerful speech on Sept. 20 regarding feminism to launch the HeForShe campaign. Watson is pictured here at the 2014 Academy Awards. (Photo by MCT Campus)
Temporary Sion/Storm schedules offer a welcomed extension for instruction time. BY ANNA CIANI REPORTER
Scrambling to scribble down those last few lines of notes that the teacher is going to hold students accountable for, while trying in vain to retain a vast amount of information in under 50 minutes, the bell rings and desks scramble as everyone gathers their belongings. Swamped with seven classes worth of homework due the very next day, backpacks drag and the students make their way to their homes. This is a familiar routine for every student. But if an extended class schedule was implemented, it would not only increase the time students have to absorb the information, it would also open a window for different teaching methods, ultimately benefiting students and teachers alike. There has been a lot of buzz surrounding the possibility of adjusting the current schedule. According to Registrar Elizabeth Middleton all of the modified block trials are experimental. There is no set plan to adjust the current schedule. As of now, the block days are periodically scattered throughout the year to help balance the schedule.But if these became a routine occurrence, students would have breaks from their usual schedule, which would be useful for increased time for learning. Overall block schedules can be a benefit, heavily depending on the particular class. For instance on test and lab days the extended class period would be extremely beneficial. If different teaching styles were being used, teachers could use the time to widely increase learning. The positives outweigh the negatives ten-fold by creating an environment that is more conducive to the amount and quality of material that Sion students are expected to understand.
Students on Scheduling “I like [block scheduling] but I don’t think we should have it everyday. It would be nice to have it every other week so we don’t have to be in every class five times a week,” junior Anna Demetree said. “I had block schedule at my old school so I’m used to it. I like it because it kinda gives us a little more down time. I don’t like it because the classes are so long. I think if we had snack breaks it would be better,” sophomore Darby Hurlbert said. “I like block scheduling because you only have to do the homework of four classes on one night, instead of all seven. I dislike the long hours though because it’s hard to be in a class I don’t like for 75 minutes,” sophomore Anna Cosner said
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Feminism: Seeking Equality for Both Women and Men Actress Emma Watson’s speech at United Nations headquarters starts discussion about true feminism. BY SELENA HUNTER REPORTER
Applause fills the room as Emma Watson takes the podium. She is ready to address a crowd of United Nations Ambassadors and guests at the HeForShe Campaign event. The subject at hand is feminism. She discusses how today’s society has morphed the meaning of feminism into man-hating. Because of this, feminism has become unpopular in our society. Watson encourages people to quit manhating and remember what the word feminism actually means. In her speech she encourages men and women to stand up for this cause. “No country can yet say they have achieved gender equality,” Watson said in her speech. I agree with Watson wholeheartedly. Feminism today is too focused on putting down men instead of advocating for gender equality. Women are degrading men who want to express their feelings instead of telling them that it’s okay to cry sometimes. If a man is into fashion or likes to do ballet, he’s considered gay. Young women in places like Africa and Asia are restrained from getting their education. Girls don’t want to be considered “manly” for playing sports like basketball or football. “When at 14, I started being sexualized by certain elements of the press. When at 15, my girlfriends started dropping out of their sports
teams because they didn’t want to appear ‘muscly.’ When at 18, my male friends were unable to express their feelings,” Watson said. It’s history repeating itself, but the roles are reversed. We want to get to a place in the world where men and women are equal, but we won’t accomplish things with just women on our side. “We want to try and galvanize as many men and boys as possible to be advocates for gender equality. And we don’t just want to talk about it, but make sure it’s tangible,” Watson said. I have noticed that people always say that they are going to do something, but it never happens. What good does that do? Let’s all stop talking about it and actually work on making a change. We need to join in harmony as men and women so that girls in Africa can get their education, and girls aren’t criticized for wanting to play football. So men aren’t criticized for wanting to try ballet and for expressing their feelings. Instead of wanting a change, we must demand a change. We need to stop focusing on the word feminism and start focusing on the meaning. Watson said, “It is not the word that is important, but the idea and the ambition behind it.” So what are we going to do as a community at Sion? Going to an all-girls’ school that celebrates education for women, I almost feel obligated to do something. What can we do? We could start with making this issue known. We can be a voice for the women all around the world whose countries aren’t as equal as ours. It’s time to step up to the plate. It’s time to stop talking about making a change, and actually make one.
OPINION
GPA CHANGES GRATIFY Grading scale and GPA changes, both made after extensive conversation with colleges, should be accepted.
BY ALEX D’ALESIO REPORTER
H
storically, Sion has never weighted freshman and sophomore level honors courses. This has simply been a tolerated stipulation. However, the 2014-2015 school year epitomizes the beginning of an era of change - change that, while sometimes frustrating, should be graciously accepted. New uniforms. New athletic complex. New weight room. Finally, an updated grading scale and weighting system. Misunderstanding of these latter two changes continues to obstruct students’ ability to wholly embrace and appreciate the new modifications. Everyone has heard the adage that if you give someone an inch, they’ll take a mile. So, why not alter all grades beginning from freshman year? When initially scrutinizing this
issue, it seems that grades beginning freshman year should be amended. However, grades that corresponded with the previous grading scale should not be altered. The altering of these grades would ultimately be detrimental to a student’s record, as it would appear “sketchy” on students’ transcripts. “If Sion decided to change letter grades after they were earned, the colleges would not see the grade in the context in which it was earned,” Associate Head of School for Curriculum and Instruction Steven Turner said. These decisions were made in students’ best interest and with research to back it. Director of College Counseling Erin Stein had extensive conversations with various colleges and universities. These institutions included the University of Notre Dame, Northwestern University, Saint Louis University, University of Kansas, University of Missouri, Texas Christian University, and Washington University. Students need to recognize the good intention exercised when making these choices and honor the decision not to alter past grades. On a more positive note, the decision to weight freshman and sophomore level honors courses
was also made on the basis that the administration received constructive feedback from these aforementioned conversations with colleges. Ultimately, this was a very beneficial decision that needed to be made. Under the stipulations of the previous weighting system, freshmen and sophomores who should have been rewarded for the additional rigor in their courses were ranked according to the same standards as those who took less challenging courses. The new and improved weighting system employs a lens that recognizes the more challenging nature of freshman and sophomore honors courses and allows for somewhat of a cushion in awarding weight, which affects GPAs. In juxtaposition with the decision not to retroactively change letter grades, the reason that GPA could be adjusted was due to the difference in nature between the two. “Teachers award grades [based on individual assessment], while honors weighting is part of a GPA calculation, which is not based on individual assessment,” Turner said. Regardless of whether the changes were made or not, Sion has continued to graduate well prepared, successful students. Therefore, the
changes may not have been necessary at all. Turner prefaced that the primary reason the changes were made was to present a clearer depiction of students within the context of the Sion’s challenging curriculum. With that being said, students have no reason to rely on two minor changes to define their success. Instead, they should allow Sion’s rigorous and challenging curriculum to do the brunt of the talking.
$10 million in scholarships was earned by the class of 2014 as a whole
49% of 2014 seniors had
a GPA between 3.5 3.99
22% of 2014 seniors had
a GPA of 4.0 or above
Information from Director of College Counseling Erin Stein
Are the Freshmen Elections a Popularity Contest? Elections may be based on popularity as some vote for their friends. BY LANEY ULOWETZ REPORTER
She stands at the podium. Hands shaking. Palms sweaty. Everyone’s eyes are on her. The pressure rises to her head as she take a deep breathe. Her eyes quickly skim her paper and then she opens her mouth to begin. There’s no going back now. Freshmen elections. The drama. The stress. Scrambling to make posters and hang them along the freshmen hallway. Scribbling down names on the sign up sheets last minute. At one point or another, just about every freshman can admit to considering running for office. Whether they go through with it or not is another story.
So why would someone run for office to begin with? It sounds like a bunch of extra work, public speaking and after school commitments that most Sion students don’t have time for. The answer is simple. Community.
Girls want to get involved with the school and don’t do a sport, what better way than student council? Not only will freshmen be able to meet new people and be a part of something, but they’ll be able to take on a leadership role. (Drawing by junior Elizabeth Arroyo)
Many freshmen acknowledge the fact that the positives of Student Council outweigh the negatives. However, the fear of rejection makes the final decision for many. A pattern has become apparent that if you have a lot of friends, you’ll have a lot of votes. So many girls hesitantly back out afraid that they don’t know enough people to win. “This is about student government. It shouldn’t be about who’s cool or who’s not,” freshman Anna Tomka said. Girls who could be the best fit to lead their class either don’t run for office or don’t win because everyone votes for their best friend. Can we change this? Probably not. Freshmen just don’t know each other well enough yet to do anything about it. All we can do is continue to encourage all freshmen to run for Student Council if they are passionate about the issues. LE JOURNAL ISSUE 2
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CHEERING season wrap-up placed 4th at the State competition
field hockey golf
qualified for sectionals at District meet on Oct. 25
varsity ended the season with a 7-7-11 record
placed 6th at the State competition
made it to District semi-finals, lost to Belton.
Placing for the first time ever, Cheer wins fourth place at State competition in Columbia, Missouri. Knees bent, hands cupped, voices ready to yell loud, the cheer team was ready. With smiles and pony tails high, the Sion letters plastered across their chest in bright purple and white, they continued to gear up for their state competition Sunday Oct. 5 in Columbia, Missouri. Not only was the team excited to take on some of the most competitive cheer teams in the state, but this is the first time that the team has competed since 2008. “The girls want it more than ever. They are amazing and want to compete,” Cheer Coach Lisa Lauck
tennis volleyball
made it to District semi-finals, lost to Lees’ Summit West.
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The Cheer team preformed their state routine for the first time for students and faculty at the fall sports pep-rally on Aug. 29. (Photo by Sydney Manning.)
said. “They have grown so much.” Along with changes to practices, geared more toward competition, and the experience of traveling with the team to different cities, the team has also earned a sense of teamwork that is unlike any year in the past. Returning from State, happier than ever, the team pulled into the Sion parking lot late Sunday night with tired eyes and a fourth place trophy to show for their hard work. “The teamwork aspect of competing is the most important part for them I think, being able to
succeed at something and know they did it all together and as a team,” Lauck said. Freshman Lauren Ismert described her experience at State as overwhelming because there were so many people there. But once they were there for a while she described the competition as really fun and a great way to bond with her team members. Now, back to their regular practice and game schedule, the cheer team is moving onto the next goal of the team. Next stop: Nationals.
Behind the Scenes: Managing the Team Covering the ups, the downs and the hills in between isn’t easy.
placed 3rd at the State competition
ISSUE 2
Their Way to State BY SARA WATKINS REPORTER
softball
cross counrty
cheer
Sports
SPORTS
BY SYDNEY MANNING PHOTO EDITOR
M
y Saturday mornings are filled with freshly cut grass, clipboards and guns. Most high school students spend this time sleeping in, but not me. I’ve gotten up at 5 a.m. on Saturdays to drive to a random park in Liberty, Missouri. I’ve gone out to lunch without shoes because they were too wet from standing in the rain. I’ve eaten more party platter subs from Mr. Goodcents than I can count. I am the manager of the Sion Cross Country Team, and my life is insanity. The summer before my
freshman year, my older sister, Mackenzie, a runner, signed me up for the job without my knowledge. And I’ve kept it ever since. When I first started managing, I didn’t think much of it, but once I experienced my first meet I knew this wasn’t going to be easy. Most people aren’t even sure what I do as manager, so here’s a quick lowdown: go to meet, pass out number bibs to each runner, attach chips to spikes, make sure everyone is here, go to starting line, collect anything the runner’s brought there, start timer when the gun is shot, take things back to tent, go straight to finish line, wait for 20 minutes, get times for each runner as they cross the finish line, write on clipboard, wait until everyone finishes, go back to tent, show Midd the times, eat bagel. Repeat for each race. Managing cross country is one of the best things I’ve done during my high school career. I really couldn’t imagine my life without this team. Whenever anyone asks me why I still manage, I usually tell them so I can leave school early and eat sandwiches, but there is a whole lot more too it (those sandwiches are dank, though). Basically, I’m part of the team without really being on the team. I go to the meets, spend time with the team, help Midd with anything thats needs to be done. I’m
with the runners all the time and I love it. I have gained such an amazing relationship with each of the girls that I wouldn’t trade for anything. It’s not always easy, but it is something I look forward to. Though it has it’s ups, managing this team can be a pain in the butt sometimes. First off, I’m with runners ALL THE TIME. From school to meets to home and weekends, there is always a runner nearby, usually my sister. Yes, I understand you just ran a 5K. I was there. No need to remind me. It happened 10 minutes ago. I know you ran today, and that’s awesome, but please do not come home, lay on the couch and whimper until someone makes you an omelette (my sister was a pro at this). Oddly enough, this was more entertaining than anything. I am not a runner, so I will never really know what exactly goes through their brains, but it was so fun to experience secondhand what they go through. It can be fun and it can be hard, but I don’t think I could have had a better high school athletic experience. This job is critical to the sport, but often overlooked. But everytime I hear Molly McCarthy yell “momager” from across the course, I know I’m exactly where I need to be.
SPORTS
Weight Room Waits No Longer Assistant Athletic Director revamps the weight room to encourage fitness. BY LANEY ULOWETZ REPORTER
An empty space. Unused and underappreciated. Clunky machines line the walls, their functions unknown. Bags thrown in. The door closes, not to be open again till the end of the day. This is the weight room. Assistant Athletic Director Kate Pilgreen is on a mission to create a place where students can work out and take care of their bodies. The bland, crowded space’s future looks bright as Pilgreen’s plans start to take shape. Pilgreen has taken on the project, and the appeal of the machines is one of her main focuses. She wants to bring in new machines that girls will want to use and also benefit from, such as a sled and TRX machine. “I think that girls are somewhat intimidated by the machines and I
think that they give a certain look that we, as girls, don’t necessarily like big bulky muscles,” Pilgreen said. Pilgreen has the funds she needs from the Athletic Department and Booster Club to start the project. However, the time frame is not set in stone. She hopes to have the weight room done and ready for use when students come back from Christmas Break. “I think it’s important for girls to know that it’s okay to work out and be strong, and you can be fit and do all these things. You don’t have to get these big muscles and be a bodybuilder,” Pilgreen said. Pilgreen’s ultimate goal is to instill a program that reaches a variety of girls along with the athletes who need to train and stay fit during the off season. Having an improved weight room that girls want to use will not only keep students fit, but also help the sports teams compete at a more competitive level with other area schools. “The weight room at Sion is
Assistant Althetic Director Kate Pilgreen wants Sion girls to utilize the new weight room as they learn the importance of fitness. (Photo by Laney Ulowetz)
very adequate for our athletes, but it’s got to be more female-friendly and we’ve got to get the right machines,” Athletic Director Dennis Conaghan said. Pilgreen plans on creating an open schedule sign up with opportunities over the summer and before and after school. She is taking
the project one piece at a time, but wants girls to know what’s coming and that they should be ready and eager to sign up. “Know that it’s cool to be fit. Know that it’s cool to take care of your body. Know that it’s cool to be strong. And then come workout. That’s it,” Pilgreen said. “Just show up.”
Dreams Run True at Disney
Varsity Cross Country won first place out of 35 teams at the Disney Classic Invitational. (Photo submitted by Meghan Kearney)
Varsity Cross Country participated in the Disney Classic Invitational. BY MADISON HEIDE SPORTS EDITOR
Deep breath in, deep breath out. As the beating sun cascaded to the ground, the girls toed the freshly painted white starting line, purple uniforms shining. The crack of the starting gun sounded and the girls took off, passing palm trees scattered throughout the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex as they made their way to the front of the runners.
Following their recent jump to 4A, the cross country team had to prepare to compete with the top level of competition. When scheduling difficulties left them without an out of town meet, Head Coach Reynold Middleton turned to the girls and let them attempt to find a meet that would offer quality competition, take place during the weekend of October 10th, and would be fairly inexpensive. Seniors Molly McCarthy and Julie Steilen were the ones to initially come up with the idea to travel to Disney, stumbling upon the Disney Classic Invitational almost immediately in their search for meets.
Middleton was dubious, but the meet guaranteed a high level of quality competition, with over 200 high school varsity teams from all over the country in attendance. And the girls promised to pay their own airfare. They also continually reminded him that the dance team goes to Orlando, Florida every year for nationals. Soon Middleton began to view the meet as a serious possibility. “He called us in for a meeting, and had a page of notes all about the Disney Classic, and after that it all just started coming together. Once he started considering it, we were surprised it was a real thing,” Steilen said. And it was. They traveled to Orlando, Florida and competed in the Jasmine Division of the Disney Classic Invitational. All divisions ran the same course and overall 5,000 athletes ran. Because they were unfamiliar with the competition and the course was flatter than the girls were used to, they were unsure where they would place overall. Before the meet, Middleton told the girls, “We could be the worst team here, we could be the best team here.
Let’s just go out there and compete like we’re the best and try to win this thing.” While other teams struggled on the hills, Sion was prepared, a factor in their overall finish. When they were called to the podium for awards which were only given out to top three teams, they assumed they had won third place. “After they called third place, we were confused why we were up there and when they called second,” Steilen said, “we were even more confused. They called first place and it was us. We were ecstatic.” They had beaten 35 teams and over 150 competitors . “The difference was the other teams had one or two really good athletes while our team was consistently strong,” sophomore Ally Koehler said. The cross country team not only won the race, but gained more from the experience. A day in the Magic Kingdom further established the team and made for an unforgettable experience. “I was not only excited to run, but to experience Disney for the first time,” senior Meghan Kearney said. LE JOURNAL ISSUE 2
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Dancing Queen Junior Audrey Calovich finds the balance between dance and school while working to recover from a knee injury.
A
BY RACHEL ERGOVICH REPORTER
s you walk into the crimson brick building tucked behind Union Station, quotes about dancing are plastered on the walls. The sound of classical piano echoes throughout the building while boys and girls of all ages walk around in leotards and pointe shoes. This is the Bolender Center, home of the Kansas City Ballet. While it might seem like a foreign environment for most people who enter, for junior Audrey Calovich this building is a second home. Calovich first started dancing when she was three years old after her mother enrolled her in the Kansas City Ballet School. After many long days and nights, what first started out as an obligation quickly became a passion. There are many negatives that accompany the rigor of ballet, like a limit to her social life and lack of time, but Calovich said that the positives, such as new friends and performance opportunities, outweigh the negatives. “The way you feel when you’re moving with music is a passion you can’t match,” Calovich said. Calovich also said that the best part of dancing for the Kansas City Ballet are the friends and the opportunities dancing has offered. She gets to travel every summer because of dance. Last summer she went to Tampa Bay, Florida, and the summer before she spent a month in Taos, New Mexico to take classes from Next Generation Ballet at the Patel Conservatory and the Jillana School. For Calovich the worst part of dancing is the limit it puts on social life and sleep. Calovich has to miss most school events and had to quit swimming because of her ballet schedule. She gets limited sleep because she comes home after nine p.m. every night, and then usually spends around four hours on homework. In addition to the Kansas City Ballet Calovich also dances for the Kansas City Youth Ballet which adds 8 ½ hours to her dance week. Youth Ballet is “way more competitive” and dancers have to audition for the ensemble. There are also two extra performances a year, and the dancers are often required to
perform at different events around Kansas City. “People think ballet is just spinning around in a tutu, but it’s harder than most sports, and you have to make it look easy for the audience,” Calovich said. The biggest obstacle that Calovich has had to overcome this past year was her knee injury. Last year Calovich was kneeling down during a rehearsal for the Kansas City Ballet’s production of Don Quixote when her kneecap popped out of place and then back in. According to Calovich, it happened because she had too much weight on her front leg. Her teacher turned off the music and stopped rehearsal because the pop “sounded like a car shifting gears.” Since Calovich had never broken a bone before, she had no comparison to the pain, but she said that it was the worst pain she had ever felt. Some of her other classmates grabbed some ice and ibuprofen for her while she waited for her mom to arrive. Once her mom picked her up from class, they went to Children’s Mercy to get X-rays for her knee. At first doctors thought that there was a fracture, but the X-rays confirmed that her kneecap simply popped out of place. Calovich was placed in an immobilizer for six weeks and had to use crutches for the first three weeks. For two months all Calovich could do was quietly watch class and take notes. Calovich missed two months and is still trying to get back into shape, one year later. She is still going to physical therapy on a regular basis and is focusing on strengthening her muscles around her knee. Calovich had to stay after class and take extra classes in order to make up for her missed time. “Even if you miss a day it sets you back. Two days is hard. Two months is almost impossible to come back from,” Calovich said. Calovich is getting back into shape. Her outlook on ballet is positive and she hopes to minor in dance when she goes to college. Dance is a major influence in her life, and because of her dedication to dance, she might not be able to go to dances and mixers or a basketball game against St. Teresa’s. But she’s learned to accept that.
“People think ballet is just spinning around in a tutu, but it’s harder than most sports, and you have to make it look easy for the audience.” -junior Audrey Calovich
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Junior Audrey Calovich stands in a turned out passĂŠ in between rehearsals at the Bolender Center in downtown Kansas City. (Photo by Rachel Ergovich)
Audrey Calovich danced in her first ballet performance when she was three years old at the Kansas City Ballet School’s Johnson County Campus in Prairie Village, Kansas. She still devotes a majority of her time to the Kansas City Ballet, and dances for several hours every day. She is shown above in her dance classes at Kansas City Ballet in Prairie Village, Kansas. (Photos submitted by Audrey Calovich)
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Culture of
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Abuse T he footage from the security camera was grainy and soundless. Day after day, night after night, it sat perched in a corner of the Revel Casino elevator in Atlantic City, New Jersey, capturing the daily monotony of the patrons’ lives. The video captured the morning of Feb. 15, however, was far from routine. The identity of former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice and his then-fiancé, Janay Palmer, were difficult to make out in the dim orange hued lighting of the elevator. Yet there was no mistaking the punch Rice threw that knocked her unconscious. That same video later features Rice dragging Palmer’s limp body out of the elevator. Had this been any ordinary case, charges would have been filed and the video released to the public. In Rice’s case however, the incident slipped quickly under the radar. Seven months later, on Sept. 8, the news broke out. Word of the massive scandal spread, and public outrage ensued. The task of doling out the punishment fell to National Football League commissioner Roger Goodell. Rice’s actions, which would normally constitute 3 to 5 years in prison, were merely penalized with a two-game suspension by Goodell. Suddenly, similar cases were brought to light one after the other. First it was Adrian Peterson of the Minnesota Vikings, then Greg Hardy of the Carolina Panthers and Jonathan Dwyer of the Arizona Cardinals; the list goes on. Spurred by the public’s growing outrage, the Baltimore Ravens terminated Rice’s contract. The truth is that incidents like these are nothing new. They can happen anywhere, to anyone, and can go almost unnoticed. Sometimes it takes a media scandal for people to finally open their eyes to what goes on right in front of them. Whether it’s the 2009 case of pop stars Chris Brown and Rihanna, or the 2014 case of Rice, celebrities inundate the news. But there are people who endure the pain and suffering caused by domestic violence everyday. Nationally, about 84 percent of victims are psychologically abused by their partners. Half are physically abused and one third are sexually coerced, according to the National Domestic Violence Hotline operator Bree, who is legally unable to give her last name. “Most abuse starts emotionally, psychologically and/or verbally and then builds from there,” Bree said. “Physical abuse can start with an argument but then it will escalate. It may take days. It may take months. But it always starts off with an argument.” A local high school student, Kesha Wright*, started dating a boy in 8th grade. He was one year older than her. Everything was fine until he cheated, but she took him back anyway. She thought she loved him. He always made it seem like it was her fault. She would get mad at him but he would say “Oh I’m just kidding.” But it wasn’t funny after the first time, Wright said. “In the summer we got into a fight because he hooked up with another girl, [and] he hit me in my face,” Wright said. “He and his friends thought it was funny. I was more scared than anything else.” Trust your instincts the first time you feel there’s no respect, according to Monica Phinney, an educator in Safehome shelter’s education and prevention departments. Don’t decide where boundaries are and then keep moving the bar and accepting more and more things. It’s difficult to continue to stay
STUDENT SURVEY: (358 students) Are you a victim of domestic violence?
3.3% 96.6%
yes no
Do you know someone that is a victim?
24.3% 75.7%
yes no
Domestic violence has come to a head with the Ray Rice scandal. But in reality, it affects every community. Even our own. STORY AND DESIGN BY SYDNEY DANIELS, MEGHAN KEARNEY AND NATALIE SOPYLA
strong and the bar will eventually break, Phinney said. This tragedy affects everyone. One in four women and one in seven men older than 18 have been victims of severe physical violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime. However, men don’t call into domestic violence hotlines as much because there’s nowhere to put them. Most shelters are only built to take in women and children, and may have only one space for a male with children, according to Bree. “We tell them to keep calling, to keep trying. It’s like a Russian Roulette type thing. You have got to keep trying. Keep calling. Maintain your sense of hope,” Bree said. Domestic violence is the secret darkness that lurks everywhere. Even in the safest communities, no one knows everything that goes on behind closed doors. Luckily, there are methods of escape for those who refuse to continue to live in fear. Rose Brooks, a comprehensive domestic violence agency in Kansas City, offers shelter and provides services to over 15,000 women and children every year, according to Susan Millar, Chief Executive Officer of Rose Brooks. “At Rose Brooks shelter, 50-60 percent of shelter residents at any given time are children,” Dr. Kimberly Randall, Co-Director of Research, Division of Emergency and Urgent Care at Children’s Mercy Hospitals, said. Another local shelter, Safehome, provides similar services for victims of domestic violence. Safehome has 45 beds and houses an average of 50 people a night. But after the Ray Rice incident, hotline calls increased 35 percent nationwide, according to Monica Phinney, an educator in the shelter’s education and prevention departments. “People probably realized they didn’t want to be like Janay [Palmer],” Phinney said. “They were judging her for not leaving him, but they looked back and realized they would soon be her.” Safehome works closely with the local police departments to develop protocol for a Lethality Assessment, a tool that helps police assess the likelihood of a victim being killed. If the victim screens high lethality, the shelter takes them in immediately. Often times, this means many will go without a bed. The situation gets worse and worse, officer Derek Akers of the Kansas City Police Department said. The same addresses pop up all of the time. “If you grow up in an abusive family, there’s an 80 percent chance you’ll grow up to do the same or become a victim yourself,” Akers said. On average, people stay in Safehome for three months. Afterwards, many women move to a transitional living program that allows them to be more independent and offers less expensive housing. There isn’t a strong difference between adult and teenage relationships. Abusive behaviors first take shape around the 16 year mark. Teenagers are more gender neutral, one out of every three boys and girls will be in an abusive relationship as a teen. Kids who bully others at age 12 are seven times more likely to be the abuser in their relationship at 18 or 19 years old, Phinney said. “Physical and emotional violence are affecting boys and girls at the same rate, but the physical violence that comes from a male perpetrator has a higher impact,” Phinney said. “The injuries sustained by females are more likely to interrupt her life whether it be abstaining from school, or seeking treatment. It’s also much, much more common for sexual abuse to come from males.” A lot of teenagers don’t recognize their relationships are abusive because they see so much unhealthy behavior in the media, said Phinney. A support system is needed. The abusers know that if isolation begins early on, they will become the only person the victim can turn to. That support system is vital for survival. “It’s so so common for people to get into dangerous situations because Story continued on page 16
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Story continued from page 15
they think if they are breaking up with someone, it needs to be a private, one-on-one thing,” Phinney said. “You need to have other people around you.” Whether the abuse is mental, physical, or both, it always has lasting effects on those who are targeted. Children exposed to domestic violence are more likely to have behavioral problems, developmental delays, mental illness, physical illness, learning trouble and experience dating violence, according Randall. Another local high school student, Lila Woods* said her father had a bad temper and she never knew what would set him off. “I don’t remember most of my childhood. I’ve blocked it out. My dad was strict, but he could be nice too,” local high school student Lila Woods* said. “He would easily blow up over the smallest things. He liked alcohol. A lot.” Woods had a bag packed with a couple changes of clothes and a stuffed animal. She housed it under the bed just to get away. She was six when she first packed it. Woods kept it for years. She held some resentment for her mom for not doing more. But according to Phinney, her abstaining from leaving may have been a good thing. “The biggest misconception that people have is that leaving is always the best option. Most domestic violence related homicides happen after the person has left,” Phinney said. “So it can be an extremely dangerous situation for them to stay. There needs to be extensive planning in place. So don’t pressure people if they aren’t ready to leave because they probably know it’s not safe for them.” Woods was playing in the basement one day with two friends when she became cognizant of noises upstairs. Her mom called Woods cellphone and demanded that she and her friends go outside and avoid the the upper levels of the home. That was also the last time she spoke to her dad. She has refrained from contact with her father for four years. Now as her childhood has come bubbling back up to the surface, she has advice for all victims of domestic violence. It is never okay to be abused, and everyone should stop it as soon as it starts, Woods said. The leading causes of poor health in adults, both mental and physical, can be a direct result of exposure to domestic violence as a child., according to Randall. However, the negative effects of domestic violence are everlasting and have greater effects on adults who experience it, because children are so resilient. “Part of our job as pediatric health care providers is to help build that resilience in kids and to help enable parents who’ve experienced DV to get the resources they need to provide safety and nurturing for their kids,” Randall said.
One adult affected by domestic violence did not have any resources at hand when she was a child. Local high school teacher Edith Baxter* remembers back to the summer before her junior year of high school. Back to the time when she met the good looking, all-state football athlete. The abuse started off as jealously but eventually turned into verbal and physical abuse. “I thought that since I grew up with chaos and abuse with an alcoholic mother, I just thought it was normal,” Baxter said. Baxter knew she had to escape the relationship. She didn’t want to end up at the same college as him. Because he was an all-state athlete, he had many offers thrown his way to play college football, but he wasn’t going to make any
she hurt herself. “The thing with abusive people is after its over, they are so sorry and say they love you so much. That’s the trap. They can’t live without you. It makes you feel like they do care about you,” Baxter said. Baxter felt helpless. She lied to him about not being able to finish college and said she needed to go home for winter semester. After he broke in and entered her house, Baxter ended things with him. Baxter was eventually convinced to re-enter the relationship. Though he promised he would never hit her again, she still fell into depression. While he did keep that promise, he was still verbally abusive. The relationship turned into marriage four years later. “[I married him] Because my mother kept progressively getting worse and he and his family was all I had. I didn’t want to marry him,” Baxter said. “In fact I knew it was bad. My bridesmaids had to push me up the steps. There isn’t one wedding photo where I was smiling.” In the end, the marriage didn’t last because she met someone who made her finally feel worth something. She was 28 years old. Years later, Baxter found that the reason he acted the way he did was because he loved her so much and was afraid of losing her. “It was combination of alcoholism and low self esteem, and I think that is 99 percent why guys or girls do this because they hate themselves and they want to make you feel that horrible,” she said. Baxter wishes she had available to her the level of education there is today about domestic violence and the availability of counselors with whom to speak. In some ways, the effects of the Ray Rice incident can be considered beneficial. The national attention it gained has helped bring the issue of domestic violence back to the forefront of peoples’ minds. Not only was the nation alerted to the presence of domestic violence, but it also opened peoples’ eyes to the fact that it occurs more often in our own hometown than it does in the media. More importantly, the Rice scandal opened the eyes of many women everywhere to see the truth about their own situations, and realize that they needed to change or escape. It has let women and men around the country know that it is never okay for someone to put their hands on you. Stop the cycle of violence. Tell someone.
“The thing with abusive people is after it’s over, they are so sorry and say they love you so much. That’s the trap.” *Edith Baxter
final decision until he knew where Baxter would be attending. “I knew I was going to Warrensburg, but I lied and told him that I was going to UMKC. I was desperate. I knew that I couldn’t go to college with him. He was already physically abusive and so verbally abusive. He told me that I was so ugly and that no one wanted me and that kind of stuff. I shouldn’t have listened to all of it,” she said. In the end, he found out she was attending Warrensburg and enrolled so they could be together. Baxter described her first semester of college as terrible. “I couldn’t hold my head up if I crossed the campus because he would ask, ‘what are you looking at?’” she said. The boyfriend began drinking excessively which made things worse. One night when Baxter and him were sitting in front of the football players dorm in Baxter’s convertible, he became upset about something and starting beating her head against the dashboard until blood was streaming out of her ear. Bystanders who walked past them never stopped to help or say anything because they were terrified to interfere with the all-star boyfriend. He took her to the emergency room and told the nurses and her grandparents a lie about how
HOTLINES
National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-7233
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Rose Brooks 816-861-6100
*Kesha Wright, Lila Woods and Edith Baxter are psuedonyms of local high school students and a teacher to protect their anonymity.
Safehome 913-262-2868
MOCSA 1-800-392-3738
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I
ISABELLA & INNA BY ALEX D’ALESIO REPORTER
Isabella and Inna Lightner were exposed to the world of politics at an early age when their mother became a state legislator in 1998. Click. Clack. Click. Clack. Patricia Lightner’s black Franco Sarto’s heels confidently strike the ground as she prepares to take the podium. The same sound as when her daughter, junior Isabella Lightner, valiantly struts the Kansas City Fashion Week runway in her beige Steve Maddens. The same sound as when her daughter, sophomore Inna Lightner, gracefully strides into Winter Formal donning her black Michael Antonios. While each of these footsteps reign externally independent of the other, they all embody the same foundational characteristics: a heightened sense of confidence and a genuine passion for pursuing their interests. Since the day Isabella and Inna were born, politics has been an accepted and influential component of their lives. “Bella was a baby in a car seat when I first registered to run for the state legislature in 1998,” Lightner said. “[Politics] has always been a part of her upbringing.” During their mother’s career as vice president of Hong Kong Shang Hai Banking Corporation, an international bank, the girls experienced the unique opportunity of paging for a New Mexico state representative. This entailed running errands and delivering phone messages to state legislators. While Inna was too young to recount the experience, Isabella remembers it as an opportunity that further opened her eyes to the inner workings of politics. “It gave me a better view on how the process of being on the House floor works,” Isabella said. However, being immersed in the political world has not necessarily inspired Isabella to pursue a career in its field. But rather, it has helped her to develop a certain independence and awareness. “It makes me more opinionated in a good way, and it helps me understand what’s happening in the world,” Isabella said. For Inna, the qualities that her mother embodies have impacted her to a greater degree than the actual political developments. Particularly, her mother’s expert communication skills have served as a feature that she strives to emulate. “Watching her speak helps me feel more confident about talking to people,” Inna said. “And, if I have to present something in class, I look to her as a role model.” Truly defining the persona of a role model, Lightner hopes not only to inspire her own daughters but also to impact countless young women around the world. “Being a woman, it is sometimes hard to be taken seriously even if you come with experience,” Lightner said. “There will always be people who criticize you and tell you that you do not have enough experience, but you should never give up the fight. You cannot let that stop you.”
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Sisters junior Isabella and sophomore Inna Lightner share what it’s like having a mother in politics. (Photo by Mary B. Freeman)
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From 가족 to FAMILY Freshmen Jiho Lee and Suhyun Park reflect on their experience as international students. (Photo by Sophie Nedelco)
Although an ocean away from home, freshmen Jiho Lee and Suhyun Park find a new home in Kansas City with their new host family. BY SOPHIE NEDELCO REPORTER
Beep beep beep. Taxis hurtle down the street in yellow blurs. Bright, neon signs are plastered to the sides of buildings. The smell of East Asian food wafts out of restaurants. Sidewalks crowd, and people file onto subways. It is the summer of 2011. Freshmen Jiho Lee and Suhyun Park are living in separate cities adjacent to Seoul, South Korea. Six thousand five hundred and fifteen miles away, the sun is beating down just as boldly in Kansas City, Missouri. A gentle, midwestern breeze curves its way downtown up the ridges of
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the Kauffman Center and around the Power and Lee’s roommate: Park. Light Building before it travels throughout the “We are the same age, and that’s why we’ve River Market and dissipates over the cool Missouri gotten close,” Park said. river. This city is the home of the girls’ future host The tough decision made by both families to parents, Kim and Claude Ham. send them overseas involved money and distance. In three years, these four would be living The visits that come with every summer vacation together as one remind them of family coming “It’s not just knowing another language. It’s the importance of together from and reunite knowing how to communicate with people.” family doorsteps and them with the -freshman Jiho Lee oceans apart. cozy comforts of But Lee their home like the and Park met each other much sooner than be familiar tastes of favorite foods such as the spicy introduced to their future host family. Deciding zing of tteokbokki. to study abroad in order to better comprehend And this last summer, Lee and Park left the English, Lee boarded a plane that next summer of company and were connected with their host her seventh grade year to come over with a company parents, forming a new family across the globe. that sponsors students to live in dormitories while Kim, who is from South Korea, has lived in the attending school in America. United States for over 20 years. She empathizes
with the girls’ international experience. “The first time I came to the United States, it was kind of scary. Korea is a small country, and the United States is so big,’ Kim said. Lee and Park aren’t the first international students that Kim and Claude have hosted. In the past, the couple has provided a home for three boys, two of which attended Sion grade school. The closeness of the downtowns, the delicious traditional cuisine, all left in Korea. But the foreign adventure has been worth it. Lee and Park are well aware of the opportunities that will arise for them in their future careers because of their English studies. The value of an education that comes from being immersed in American culture is far more treasured than the one a textbook could give them. “It’s not just knowing another language,” Park said, “it’s knowing how to communicate with people.”
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Media Specialist and Siren adviser fuses her love for life, adventure, people, teaching and art to inspire. This is...
(Photo by Sara Watkins)
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JCAM F
BY MARY B. FREEMAN MANAGING EDITOR
irst: a cup of coffee. Rifling through the 24 mugs that are stacked in her cabinet, Librarian Media Specialist and Siren adviser Jennifer Campbell, affectionately known as “JCam” by her students, picks out her favorite black mug, pours herself a cup of dark, life-giving liquid and takes a long gulp, preparing herself for another day. Then, it’s time to get out the door. Campbell grabs her black volleyball backpack full of supplies, hops into her charcoal gray Prius and hits the road. Arriving at Sion, Campbell immediately goes to her gray long desk in the library, sets her things down, puts her lunch in the refrigerator, grabs the paper of the day, and finally returns to her desk and sits down. As a college student, Campbell was never interested in common majors. She wanted something different, classes that would challenge her both mentally and spiritually such as herbal medicine and art, but she didn’t stop the adventure there. In the past, Campbell lived in Seattle, Washington and would hike the same couple trails every day. According to Campbell, it is a miraculous experience to follow the same trail throughout the year and watch the area transform with the seasons. Campbell is a skydiving survivor, an avid camper and hiker, and has always been intent on living life to the fullest. “If something frightens me and it is an irrational fear I make myself combat that fear,” Campbell said. Skydiving was always something that frightened Campbell, and therefore it was on her list of things to do. Roped in by a friend of hers one day, she went. Strapped to a short, stout, smelly man, Campbell jumped from the plane, conquering another fear. Art, however, has never been scary to Campbell. It has always been a passion of hers. To her, art is beautiful, dynamic and pure. It is something she has always excelled and enjoyed, and now she strives to share her love for art and life with students.
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SARA WATKINS REPORTER
“The beauty of art is learning problem solving. You learn how to express. It is a release. And yet when something is a failure you can go back and recreate it,” Campbell said. “Art has that ebb and flow. There is always something you can take away and grow and shift. It’s fluid.” As adviser of the Siren, Campbell gets to embrace her love for art, life and living to the fullest every day along with one of her other passions: teaching. Getting to know her students, laughing with them, creating with them and showing each of them how their creativity can change lives is what Campbell enjoys the most. “Having conversations about life and helping girls grow up [is my favorite part of teaching],” Campbell said. “I really love the idea of teaching life skills and [helping kids] realize that you have to be a complete person. Obviously you need to make money to live, but I’d rather be happy 20 times more than being rich. Live life and be happy.” Failure is not to be feared in art, according to Campbell. This is one of the things she believes and works to teach her students: that failure is alright and a chance to learn, grow and thrive. “She never really judged our artwork,” senior Evie Hauptman said. “She just helped us to get better. She inspired us.” Campbell is not just another librarian that routinely drinks her morning coffee and sits behind the long, gray desk that sticks out of the library wall. According to Senior Katie Kentfield, Campbell has her own cool and adventurous style that inspires her to express herself. “Jcam has inspired me to come out of my box creatively,” Kentfield said. “She has her own cool style and it makes me think that I can have my own cool style. She is just the coolest person.” Campbell enjoys working at Sion not only to teach students the values she believes are important, such as the acceptance of failure and the importance of happiness, but also for the community Sion brings. For her, the kindness of the students and the faculty are what makes her job truly amazing. “My favorite moment of teaching at Sion is not one moment,” Campbell said. “It’s all the moments.”
“She inspired us.” -senior Evie Hauptman
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REVIEWS
#checkyproblems
Three Le Journal staff members weigh in on a new app called Checky and it’s underwhelming performance after a two-week trial.
Today, you’ve checked your phone...
42 times
BY CHLOE BARRETT, CHIOMA OKUAGU, ANNA SCHROER REPORTERS AND FEATURE EDITOR
Chioma Okuagu Within one minute, I received a notification. “Checky has stopped. Please reload to keep tracking,” it said. This was not impressive at all, considering I had full reception and great wifi. There was absolutely no valid excuse for this.
Chloe Barrett It was different than I expected because it doesn’t count how many times you actually check your phone, it counts how many times you unlock it, which I feel like is less useful.
Chioma Okuagu “Checky” went two whole days without counting the number of times I checked my phone.
Anna Schroer After two days of use it literally just stopped working saying that I had to download something to start Checky back up again; a major fail. Chloe Barrett The only thing this app did for me was rapidly use up my already awful battery life and give me unnecessary notifications.
Anna Schroer I don’t know why you would even need it in the first place as most people are aware they use their phone too much, and an app that tells you how many times per day isn’t going to stop your use.
Chioma Okuagu The location feature isn’t very accurate and will say I checked my phone in random places I didn’t visit.
“The Best of Me” Yields An Unexpected Ending Old high school sweethearts reunite in their hometown after spending years apart in “The Best of Me,” featuring Michelle Monaghan and James Marsden. Based on the novel written by Nicholas Sparks, the film premiered Oct. 17. BY AUBREY MAKAR REPORTER
Amanda Collier and Dawson Cole, portrayed by Michelle Monaghan and James Marsden, are summoned back home to hear the will of their recently departed friend. Once they were high school sweethearts, but now the two of them haven’t seen each other in 21 years. As they reminisce over old memories, they both come to realize that they never stopped loving each other. Adapted from Nicholas Spark’s novel, this movie will have you entranced by the story of fate and true love. With the majority of the film taking place in flashbacks, it is captivating how Amanda and Dawson met and eventually were separated for so many years. Amanda, now with a husband and a son, is unsure how they can be together but is still determined to get back to being the girl she was when she
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Main characters Amanda and Dawson sit down to a dinner after a dramatic goodbye to an old friend. (Photo courtesy IMDb) was with Dawson. Dawson was never able to overcome his love for Amanda and has never married or been in a real relationship since they parted. Be prepared for a shock because this film contains many plot twists that spring up throughout the movie. Instead of the ending being clear from watching only the previews, “The Best of Me” will have you dazed at the conclusion. Overall, this movie is about two hours long and will have your attention for most of the time. “The Best of Me” serves as a reminder that fate can bring people back together. Although some parts serve as the usual cliché love story, the movie is still able to capture the mind and is an enjoyable movie.
REVIEWS
Chez Elle Creperie Est Très Belle West Bottoms crêperie proves itself as the best French café in Kansas City with a charming atmosphere and a variety of menu options. BY GEOGRIA EVANS LAYOUT EDITOR
Strolling up to the dark red brick building, the aroma of the fresh batter sizzling inside became more and more pungent. The sizzle turned the batter into a slim, sweet cake-- otherwise known as a crêpe. Located in the West Bottoms near downtown Kansas City, sits the one and only Chez Elle-- where it may seem like you’re not in Kansas anymore, but in a small cafe on a street corner in Paris. This creperie and coffeehouse does not fail to show Kansas City locals an authentic French experience. Outside the restaurant, small tables are put out to set the street-side cafe French scene. Walking up the stairs past the people-watching tables, the huge black menu behind the counter catches everyone’s eye. The late Sunday morning I walked in, the place was swamped. But the lengthy line wasn’t a rude and impatient crowd. Everyone was on their own agenda and had that certain “Je ne sais quoi” of a polite, everyday French street-walker. And to my pleasant surprise, the aroma was more saturated than the small restaurant.
The only thing more French than the setting is the food, of course. If you are coming in for a crepe, there are many decisions that have to be made. Sweet or Savory? Which type of cheese? What type of fruit? And for some, like myself, how many? Because I have a huge sweet tooth, the number 9, “Au Chocolate” is my personal favorite--and the title speaks for itself. Chocolate mousse is stuffed into a chocolate batter crepe drizzled with rich raspberry and chocolate sauce. And if that doesn’t sound appetizing, I don’t know what does. There are also a variety of savory crepes, and I thought it was only necessary to try one too-for the sake of the review. I tried the number one, the “Chez Elle,” which includes roasted chicken, sauteed mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes, baby spinach, mozzarella, pesto and topped with a marinara sauce. The ingredients could not have tasted any fresher or more delicious than if they were picked right behind the restaurant. And if the crêpes aren’t enough, they also serve both large and small salads, soups and pastries. The only downside to this incredible French cuisinerie are the open hours. So unfortunately, you and your friends can’t go and grab a crepe after school. The 3 p.m. closing during the week is a true killer. But, if you and your boyfriend are looking for a new date-spot with a romantic French flair, Chez Elle is the perfect place for a “rendez-vous.”
Chez Elle’s traditional French exterior offering outdoor seating matches its traditional French cuisine. (Photo by Georgia Evans)
Banding Together, Redefining Illness
(Photo courtesy IMDb)
New FOX show “Red Band Society” creates a fresh outlook on adolescent hospital life. BY SARAH HARRIS CO-EDITOR IN CHIEF
Doctors. Nurses. Illness. Death. All of the previous words are common thoughts that run through our minds at the mention of a hospital. Often people feel bad for the patients, especially children that have to endure such a morbid environment all the time, but that has changed. On Sept. 17, a new comedy-drama television series aired on Fox called “Red Band Society.” The show creates a fresh outlook on hospitals and sick children. The comedy of the situation is amusing without being insensitive and taking away from the severity of the illnesses. The show is narrated in the voice of an adolescent boy named Charlie who is stuck in a coma but able to hear everything around him. This features a third person limited omniscient point of view which lets the viewer see and hear
everything that happens in the hospital through the eyes of Charlie, creating a new perspective on hospital life because it is told from someone who is there. Although some of the comments and narrative are cliché and unoriginal, the show took a risk on the narrator that has paid off. The “society” was created during the first episode when Leo Roth, played by Charlie Rowe, a cancer patient with an amputated leg, befriends newcomer Jordi Palacios (played by Nolan Sotillo) who arrives alone to the hospital with cancer in his leg too. Roth has been at the hospital the longest out of the group and has the place wired. He often sneaks down to the basement with his best friend Dash, who is being treated for Cystic Fibrosis, (played by Astro, known for his appearance on the X Factor) to sneak free food and medical marijuana. The show entices romantics with a love connection between Roth and Ciara Bravo’s character, Emma, who is in the hospital for anorexia. The two had relations in the past and have a lingering affection. A love triangle is formed as Palacios has taken an interest in Emma as well. The show also features a typical “mean girl” named Kara Sounders, played by Zoe Levin, who is unaware of how negatively her friends and the world view her until she ends up in the hospital diagnosed with an irregular heart. Each character wears a red hospital band given to them by Roth after the first episode. The bands represent a connection that has been formed between the main characters. Each band was
given away from a previous surgery or something that Roth had gone through at the hospital. Although the show focuses on the teens in the plot line, there are some adults included. Nurse Jackson, played by Octavia Spencer, is a hard-liner nurse who takes no attitude and gives a lot of it out. She never lets the kids get away with anything, but secretly cares for their well-being. Her character’s story has been slow to unfold, but she brings a new layer to the story. The immediate cast is completed with Dr. Jack McAndrew, played by David Annable. Dr. McAndrew is an attractive doctor that has a mysterious past. He takes on Palacios as a patient and promises to treat him even though he has no parents to sign off on his surgeries and treatment...or so he thought. The show is fresh and fairly new with only three episodes in circulation, but gained a strong following. The reviews are fantastic, but the viewership is steady and not rising at the expected growth rate. Because the show is in a tough slot, Wednesday nights at 8 p.m., competing with Modern Family and other big names, it is in danger of being cancelled. Each episode develops the characters in a slow but engaging way that makes the viewers want to tune in next week. The show is a fresh blend between a comedy and a drama. “Red Band Society” is a show that has captivated the hearts and minds around the country. A hospital isn’t just a place where sick kids go to be depressed. It is a community. A family. A place where the kids feel like they belong. That is what the show brings to life.
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L’oreal True Match Lumi Healthy Luminous
$11
Target
Finishing
Volume Express® The Rocket™ Washable Mascara
Target
$6
Milani Color Statement Lipstick
Touches COMPILED BY RACHEL ERGOVICH AND CHLOE BARRETT REPORTERS
With the budget of a teenager, junior Sam McDonough shares her favorite and most affordable makeup choices. The makeup is available in various colors fitting to different skin types. According to McDonough, the products feel light on the skin and can last all day. (Photos by Rachel Ergovich)
Stila in the Light eyeshadow palette
Sephora
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Walgreens
$5.50
e.l.f. Essential Liquid Eyeliner
$40
Target
$1
Halloween Made Easy BY MADISON HEIDE AND AUBREY MAKAR SPORTS EDITOR AND REPORTER
W
hether you are young or old, Halloween is a time to go out and have fun. Plus, there is a nice bonus of free candy. But the one problem that rests on the minds of people everywhere is the pressure to create that perfect, impeccable costume. Store bought costumes are cheap looking, but not cheap on the wallet. Plus, the
Cereal Killer Materials: -Empty cereal boxes -Plastic knives -Plastic spoons -Black shirt -Black pants -Red paint Model: junior Chandi Marsh
choices that are presented are unoriginal and lack the fabric needed on those cold Halloween nights. But with a little ingenuity, some creativity and 20 minutes of your time, perfect, jaw dropping, cost efficient costumes can be created. (Photos by Madison Heide)
Hershey’s Kiss Materials: -Tin foil (Two rolls) -Paper (One sheet) -Blue marker -Gray/silver shirt -Black pants -Tape (One roll) -Hula Hoop Model: junior Katie Donnelly
Bunch of Grapes Materials: -Purple balloons (Two packages) -Purple shirt -Attach balloons with safety pins -Black leggings -Construction paper made leaf Model: sophomore Toni Mathis
Blast from the past: Halloween Edition
Junior Lia Ehren dressed as a cheetah and posed with her sculpted pumpkin. (Photo submitted by Lia Ehren)
Freshman and Junior Melissa and Abby Hamilton with their family. (Photo submitted by Abby Hamilton)
Junior Elizabeth Arroyo with sister Maria Arroyo, sophomore, dressed as gnomes. (Photo submitted by Elizabeth Arroyo) LE JOURNAL
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Spirit Week Sept. 22 - Sept. 26
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1. Filling her cup with Sunny D, freshman Grace Frame grabs a morning snack during the Student Council breakfast. (Photo by Sara Watkins). 2. Junior Katie Pendergast adds coins to the junior class jar during the class wide Penny War competition. (Photo by Sophie Nedelco). 3. Junior Emma Romano gives her teammate two thumbs up as she balances a lampshade on her head during the Minute to Win It competition. (Photo by Rachel Ergovich). 4. Senior Alexandra Dykeman frantically shakes her head with a pedometer on her head as she competes in the Minute to Win It competition. (Photo by Sydney Daniels) 5. Sophomore Zoe TrouvĂŠ, dressed as the Hulk for
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super hero day, fills a beaker with water during a chemistry experiment. (Photo by Laney Ulowetz). 6. Dressed in vintage 1980s style track suits, juniors Katie Pendergast and Emmie Gragg walk to class. (Photo by Sophie Nedelco). 7. Senior Renae Rogge attemptes to eat an oreo cookie that was placed on her forehead, without using her hands during the Minute to Win It competition. (Photo by Mary B. Freeman)
7.