The Dart Issue 3, December 09, 2022

DaRt

in the Spirit

St. Teresa’s Academy Kansas City, MO Volume 87

o f Giving

With the CANstruction drive ending in November, questions about service and how to maximize its impact to the “dear neighbor” are examined. Read the story on pages 18-20.

dart staff

Advisor

Dianne Hirner

Editors-In-Chief

Charlotte Malone

Kaylee Lary Mara Callahan

Opinion Editors

Ellie Buttell

Anna Massman

Design Editors

Anna Stout

Annie McShane

Copy Editor

Annie McShane Photography Editor

Anna Cucar Sports and News Editor

Lina Kilgore Social Media

Ellie McManamy

Dianne Haake Web Editor Chloe Denk

Ownership and Sponsorship

Features Editors

Tierney Flavin

Caroline Hinkebein

Lifestyles Editors

Megan Turley

Kyra Feiger

Staff Members

Olivia Cooper

Isabel Glover Jasmine Cervantes

Maya Tule Sarah Schwaller

Katelyn Buckley

editorial policies

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Hey There, little Elves-

Christmas break is right around the corner and The Dart staff looks forward to sharing our December issue with you in celebration of the end of first semester!

We’re kick-starting our Christmas Issue on page 5 with a heartwarming photo essay by our do-it-all Design/Copy editor Annie McShane. Annie documents her adorable dog, Phoebe as she experiences her first Christmas. We think Phoebe makes a doggone perfect photo essay subject!

Flipping over to our news story on pages 6 and 7, Katelyn Buckley details the history of Interim week here at STA. The unique experience taking place the first week of January is right around the corner and offers students the perfect opportunity to start off the New Year in good spirits.

The holiday season is nothing if not filled with good food and drink: hot chocolate, pumpkin pie, mashed potatoes—what more could you ask for? Senior Lauren Chesnut has been keeping busy this season by filling holiday orders for her very own Chestnut’s Kitchen. Read more about this delicious endeavor on pages 10 and 11.

As a brief recess from all things holidays, Mara Callahan offers up an honest review over the docu-drama “She Said” on page 12. The movie came out in late November and is a harrowing retelling of two female New York Times reporters’ investigation into the sick world of the Weinstein scandal. On a much lighter note, Sarah Schwaller takes us on a trip down Candy Cane Lane in her Christmas Experiences review on page 13.

The recent Midterm elections have sparked up conversations about voting in the STA community. The extraordinary Caroline Hinkebein sits down with a few seniors who spent their first time in the polls this November to ask them about why voting matters; read more in a wonderful feature on pages 14-15.

Have we mentioned yet that the holidays are here? Christmas is all over KC right now. Flip to pages 16 and 17 to read about the places that are a must-see this year.

This was the second year STA took on CANstruction, which is a fun take on collecting canned food for food shelters over the winter season.

On pages 18-20, Kyra Fieger,Tierney Flavin and Chloe Denk get up close and personal with service in this cycle’s Centerspread. Since this is the season of giving, our writers decided to do a deep dive into what motivates students to care for the “dear neighbor.”

The stress of finals is arguably incomparable to the stress of college applications. Ellie McManamy interviews the college counseling department in a feature found on page 22 and gets the lowdown on what it takes to walk students through the college admissions process.

Is there anything that gets you in the holiday spirit more than cozying up with a cup of hot cocoa and a great Christmas film? Mara Callahan doesn’t think so and details her love for all things animation in her column found on page 24. Katelyn Buckley shares her passion for The 1975 in a music-central column on page 25.

Intramurals have come back and taken STA by storm. Coach Caitlyn Kogge shares her thoughts on why she brought back this fun activity time event. Read more on page 26.

If you venture to the quad by Donnelly you might notice a new heart-shaped garden. This space has been created in honor of our beloved Liesel Anderson. Read more on page 29.

To finish off this cycle, Anna Massman has constructed the perfect Christmas cookbook! Pages 30 and 31 are your guide to yummy treats for the holidays.

We love our readers and want to ask you a few questions about your reading habits and content of The Dart. Please scan this QR code and complete the form. Your input will be a great holiday gift as we move into planning for 2023. Thank you! Happy holidays!

Your Editors-in-Chief,

the DART | Letter from the Editors | designed by Kaylee Lary

Cover Design by Annie McShane | Copy & Design Editor & Anna Stout | Design Editor

Christmas Phoebe’s First

My dog Phoebe was born on Dec. 30, 2021, so this year, she is celebrating Christmas for the first time.

Photos by Annie McShane | Copy and Design Editor

Phoebe sits near stockings and a decorated fireplace as she awaits Santa coming down the chimney Nov. 25.

Nov. 26. She was so excited to decorate the

Phoebe wears her Santa hat and holds

tree for the first time.

by Annie McShane

Phoebe chews her Santa hat and sits with a sign that says “Joy” Nov. 25. She is very excited to chew the wrapping paper on the presents she will get Christmas morning.

Phoebe wears reindeer ears and daydreams about Santa and his reindeer Nov. 25.

tinsel

Christmas

Opening new doors with Interim Week

At STA, Interim Week is the perfect time for students, alumnae and teachers to get involved in many different activities that they are interested in. From a service trip to Tijuana to earning a CPR certification, STA students have many opportunities to explore areas of interest with the people of the community.

Although Interim Week is a recent addition to STA, students being able to learn about topics of interest isn’t new. In the 1980’s, “Mini-Week” was a time for students to do this. They could learn about knitting, business and law and auto mechanics. Opportunities for students to explore areas of interest have always been a part of STA.

Behind all of these classes and trips available for the Interim Week coming next month, director of experiential learning Kelly Finn is working to make sure the experience is enjoyable for everyone involved. “This is a time to spread wings and open minds,” Finn said.

Giving students opportunities to try something new is very important to Finn. “I want students to be open to new experiences and try something outside their comfort zones,” Finn said. “If a student didn’t get enrolled in a class they requested, I want them to go in with a positive attitude.”

Kelly

These courses also allow student and staff leaders a space to focus on their interests with other STA students, an important aspect of Interim Week.

“We love giving class facilitators, whether students, faculty or staff members the freedom to explore a personal passion,” Finn said.

Teachers play a big part in this process. English instructor Samantha Kilgore is teaching students how to run a political campaign.

“I want students to understand by the end of this, that if you are interested [in politics] you can do it. You can really do anything you want,” Kilgore said. Kilgore is also involving Morgan Said, an alumna of STA who works with Mayor Quinton Lucas. Using the resources available, students are able to see how a true political campaign runs.

Even if one is not interested in political campaigns, Kilgore believes one can still learn valuable lessons from the interim course.

“It’ll also be about the opportunities and how to sell yourself; it’s not just about politics, it’s about anything, any campaign, anything you want it to be,” Kilgore said.

Along with teachers, alumnae and parents leading classes, some students get involved in leadership roles during Interim Week. Junior Anna Rizzo is leading her own class on exploring career paths related to medicine.

“My main goal for this class is to have the students that are interested in medical school and the medical fields be able to talk to many different professionals to see what it takes to be in the field and what may interest them,” Rizzo said.

Interim Week is a time for STA students to explore areas of interest and learn new things.

Interim Week aligns with our goal to create holistic experiences for students. We value real-life learning, and most of our classes take students off-campus to apply knowledge in new ways.

Finn

Story by Katelyn Buckley | Staff Member Photos by Lilly Reynolds-Andrews | Staff Member

Junior Anna Rizzo plans her Interim Week class.

Rizzo’s class offers activities that students may not be able to get in an average science class.

“I want [students] to get hands-on experience with dissection and suturing to get real-life experience into the medical field,” Rizzo said. Students in this class will be able to go to the UMKC medical school to get a real-life look into the world of medicine.

Rizzo’s class prioritizes learning about and immersing oneself into medical culture to see if it is an interest.

“I am super excited for my classmates and I to be able to learn more about medical careers, and learn more about themselves and their possible future in the process,” Rizzo said.

A common theme of these different classes is that they are about finding out what is of personal interest.

“I want students to be open to new experiences and try something outside of their comfort zone,” Finn said. “All of our classes are designed to get students moving, thinking and creating in new ways.” B

STA students work in the Makerspace during the 2022 Interim Week. photo courtesy of Trisha Baska of SNAP! photography and Kelly Finn

STA students learn how to knit during last years Interim Week. photo courtesy of Trisha Baska of SNAP! Phototgraphy and Kelly Finn

Tell Me Something Good

In light of the holiday season, students from each grade shared their favorite holiday memory.

Senior

Story by Dianne Haake | Social Media Team

Junior

I remember when I got my very first dollhouse at 7 years old. I came downstairs and saw this giant house that was taller than me next to the tree. It even came with a full set of furniture. I was so excited that I almost forgot to wake up my mother. Sadly we don’t have the dollhouse any more, but some of the furniture has stuck around for my younger sisters to use.

Sophomore

When I was 8 or 9 years old, my dad bought me a brand-new pink Barbie bike. I remember going out to the back yard and seeing it covered in sparkly glitter ribbons and I was so excited I think I cried.

Freshman

Amari Crawford WinkelerAmelia

Naomi Bier

I think the most significant Christmas memory I have is peeling the sweet potatoes like I do every holiday and slicing off a good portion of my pointer finger and bleeding all over the potatoes.

Every year, my grade school would hold a Christmas fair where kids would go and buy presents for their family. One year, I got my brother a Mavericks piggy bank because he loves hockey. When it came time to open presents, he gave me the one he bought me and I opened it up to see that he got me the same thing.

KitchenChestnut’s

Senior Lauren Chestnut has opened her own cooking business, Chestnut’s Kitchen. Keep reading to find out about her inspirations and food items. Story and Photos by

Why did you start Chestnut’s Kitchen?

“I just really picked up cooking over the pandemic and I wanted money and the more and more I cooked, the more comfortable I got and the better I got and so it kind of turned into a passion and an art. And then I said, this is what I want to do forever because I saw other people’s reactions and seeing how it made them feel, I want to do that for a lot more people.”

Where do you see Chestnut’s Kitchen going in the future?

“Eventually I want to turn Chestnut’s Kitchen into a restaurant that will also help out my community.”

Does anyone help you cook and prepare the meals?

“Sometimes, when I do my pop-ups it’s usually me doing all the cooking but I have my friends that help prepare the items I need and plate the food and stuff like that. And my mom plays a big role too.”

What is your favorite thing to make and how do you prepare it?

“Seafood mac is my favorite and everything is homemade. Nothing is out of a box; I make it all myself. I shred my own cheese and all. I make sure to do everything homemade.”

How have you felt about your past pop-ups?

“Pretty good. It made me happy seeing people always show up and support me.”

Is there a background of cooking in your family that inspired you?

“My mom, she cooks a lot. Also me being my dad’s caregiver growing up; it’s a big role, which includes cooking for my family.

I picked up cooking by watching my mom so a lot of the cooking and stuff I do is inspired by my mom, which she learned from her mom. But then I do what my mom did and make it my own.”

What do you want Chestnut’s Kitchen to mean in the future?

“I want it to feel like a safe place where people can come get food, no matter if you have the money or not, just come to have somewhere to relax and enjoy yourself in a very friendly and family environment so that people feel loved.”

How has Chestnut’s Kitchen changed your perspective and how you interact with people?

“I tried to make it just be extra fun with everybody because you know, you never know if that person one day will be one of your biggest customers, one of your big supporters, so just always treat everyone with love and compassion.”

Has your perspective of the food industry changed?

“Yeah. It has.Sometimes we go to restaurants and we see stressed out staff and stuff like that...You see how when you’re going there to eat, and behind the scenes how it’s different. So I definitely give them more compassion. And when a restaurant staff has a stressful day, have more compassion for that.”

Can you expand more on how being your dad’s caregiver influenced your passion for cooking?

“Yeah, My dad died in the summer of 2020. So, right in the middle of the pandemic and it was a lot of at home time, and my mom was still working full time. So one of my things to do was to make sure that my dad always ate, and I didn’t want to eat the same thing every night because I can’t go out to eat. So I started to make stuff up, or try recipes I never tried and I actually found love in it. And so one of the ways I can connect and remember my grandmother and my dad is through my cooking so when I try to cook I’m always reminded of how big of an impact like those little things were to my dad and how I could keep that going.” B

Maya Tule | Staff Member

What’ s Cooking?

Sarah Schwaller

Chestnut’s December menu.

It’s ironic how a movie surrounding such an intense subject matter could have the dullest dialogue imaginable, but that’s exactly what happens in “She Said.”

The drama, based on the true story of The New York Times female reporters investigating an onslaught of Hollywood sexual assault allegations says nothing the world didn’t already know. Watching “She Said” feels like the buzzerbeater attempt that falls just short of the rim—it has the potential to be a phenomenal film yet lacks the necessary “movie magic” to carry it out.

From a journalistic standpoint, the movie is a 10/10: scenes of fast-paced typing on keyboards mixed in with classic “off the record” conversations make for a news reporter’s dream. If you’re part of the roughly 8% of Americans employed as a journalist, this movie is perfect for you; however, if you do not fit the niche target audience, save $12 and treat yourself to an extra peppermint mocha.

The film follows an array of different storylines, a tactic with immense potential that is let down by its choppy transitions and seemingly random dialogue cuts. Carey Mulligan and Zoe Kazan star as a dynamic female journalistic duo, Megan Twohey and Jodi Kantor. Mulligan’s

Nothing Says New

docu-drama,

Story and Graphics by Mara Callahan l Editor-In-Chief

performance carries the movie: strong and rehearsed, she presents the audience with a heartwarming introduction to a feminist reporter suffering from postpartum depression in a world full of perverts and predators. Her counterpart, played by Kazan, is less memorable; whether due to the script or the performance, something feels off about the character who spends an unnecessary amount of screen time running her fingers through perfectly styled hair. The extricating factor of the film is the gorgeous visuals and incredible cinematography. We get flash cuts from present-day reporting to past encounters of women with Harvey Weinstein: younger actresses with frightened looks on their faces or images of an ominous hotel lobby with a spine-chilling voice-over leaves the audience feeling like they need to go home and take a shower. The climax of the film centers on Kazan’s character meeting with a source in dimly lit restaurants reminiscent of a mafia commission; dark red hues and oak tables lend a musty feeling of uncertainty, adding to the mystery of the film.

If there is one thing “She Said” tells the world, it’s that the film industry needs to find a new way to present journalistic stories in media. The expansive dialogue and in-depth interviews are boring to watch, something “All the President’s Men” and “Spotlight” already told us. Conversely, the feminist aspect of the movie offers up a new viewpoint for the audience: every man in the film—minus the heroic editor of The Times—is full of misogynistic responses that would make any female viewer feel uncomfortable. Interestingly enough, this is offput by the random amount of scenes Mulligan’s character spends eating: a wrap, a muffin, an iced caramel latte. Honestly, if the director had put as much time into creating the right cinematic mood as they did into picking out aesthetic foods for the characters to eat, the movie would have exceeded all my expectations. B

The intense

“She Said” has all the potential to be an outstanding film but lacks the dialogue to carry it out.

Christ mas

Experiences

Everywhere you look in Kansas City, it’s a wonderland with so many things to do!

Story by Sarah Schwaller l Staff Member

AA AAA

We will begin with a Kansas City classic, Candy Cane Lane. This light display has been around for 52 years, and it attracts many Kansas City residents. I personally love Candy Cane Lane, and I have gone to it for as long as I have lived here. It was a special treat when I was young, and I remember my siblings and I begging my parents to take us over to see it during the holidays. Every house on the street, even through change of ownership, participates in the festivities, each house displaying vibrant and timeless decorations. Since it brings me great memories and never fails to impress, I am giving Candy Cane Lane 5/5 stars.

AA AAA

After this, I went to Deanna Rose, where there is a light show displayed on the facade of the barn. This one was not as popular as Candy Cane Lane, though this most likely had to do with the time at which I saw the show, which combines classic Christmas songs and detailed lights to create a fun and energetic atmosphere. A large part of this energy was the result of the music; it was perfect to sing along to. I especially enjoyed one of the segments of the light show that was “Frozen” themed. The song “Let It Go” played, accompanied by a clip of the film. With this, I would highly recommend the show and give it 5/5 stars.

AA AAB

For the next light event, I went to the Alta Sciences Light Show in Overland Park. This light show has recently gained popularity, and when I was there, every parking space was filled with excited viewers in their cars. For the best viewing, I would recommend heading over to the Emmanuel Baptist Church across the street, as its elevated parking lot provides a wonderful vantage point. I also love this light show for its grand scale and variety of decorations. It is an elaborate production with many elements, though I feel it was less so than previous years. The production’s run time is about 10 minutes, so it is a quick and easy attraction to visit! All in all, I would rate this show 4/5 stars.

Candy Cane Lane Light Show at Alta Science Deanna Rose Light Show

AA AAA

To end my holiday destination extravaganza, I visited the Crown Center Mayor’s Christmas Tree, as well as the ice skating rink. These attractions are very popular within the Kansas City community, along with visitors to the area. Its prime location in Crown Center draws many to the timeless attraction. I personally love this event, as it has such great energy and excitement in the air. All things considered, I rate this experience 5/5 stars.

Crown Center Mayor’s Christmas Tree

Making Voices Heard

Story by Caroline HInkebein | Features Editor and Photos by Kaylee Lary | Editor-In-Chief

On November 8th, millions of voters lined up at their local polls to cast a ballot and participate in American democracy. Many first-time voters who had recently turned 18 got the opportunity to take part in this fundamental right for the first time, including select seniors at STA.

Election day fell on a block schedule day at STA and senior Claire Coates voted before arriving at school, using her senior privileges that allow 12th-graders to come to school late if they have a first period free. As she walked up to her polling location, there were signs all around advertising candidates and ballot issues, as well as people outside handing out flyers and asking voters to vote one way or another.

“I went in my uniform and some guy said ‘are you a first time voter?’ and I said yeah and then he yelled it to everyone and everybody clapped,” Coates said.

It’s no wonder that first-time voters get celebrated: only 27% of young people (those aged 18-29) turned out this year—yet still the highest turnout for a midterm in 30 years, according to National Public Radio (NPR). Government teacher Robert Flynn recognizes this lack of participation from younger generations and emphasizes his view that informed young voters are necessary for policy advancement.

“It's especially important because my impression is that St. Teresa's students are more aware than the average voter and we need more informed voters; we need that participation,” Flynn said. “It's so disappointing when election after election, youth voter turnout is really low. It doesn't really seem to move the needle as much as it could. Old people turn out and vote; that's why candidates or the representatives pick up phone calls from senior citizens and they listen to AARP and they protect Medicare and Social Security. There's not that responsiveness to things that are important to young people because young people tend not to vote. Imagine how different the world could be, America at least could be, if [young people] had that kind of voting power. How much more seriously they'd be taken.”

Before the election, Flynn introduced conversations in his government classes surrounding certain ballot issues. He also offered voter guides unaffiliated with any party to new STA voters to help them research candidates and issues. Coates appreciated this guidance along with her own research that aided her in casting an informed vote on every issue.

“I got a voters’ guide from Mr. Flynn; I looked at the amendments and annotated them to try to understand where I stood,” Coates

said. “I googled the people because I didn't really understand who any of them were. I put it all in my notes app so that I knew what I wanted to vote for.”

Coates noticed the encouragement of older generations

to get young people to vote.

“All of the people inside [the polls] were all older people working and they seemed really excited that a young person was voting,” Coates said. “Older people are worried about where the country is going so they're excited to see that younger people care about the country.”

For Coates, voting means participating in something bigger than herself.

“I was honestly really excited to vote because I always talk about it,” Coates said. “I've been involved in politics, I've had opinions on politics and I could speak them but I couldn't vote on anything; I couldn't actually make that much of a difference so it was really exciting. I felt excited that I could finally vote.”

Turning 18 and getting the opportunity to tangibly make an impact and feel how her vote affects government is crucial to Coates.

“Voting means being able to put my opinions into words and actually try and make a difference with what I believe,” Coates said.

Aside from encouraging young people to vote, Flynn supports people of all ages going out to the polls and wishes more Americans would see voting as the privilege it is.

“It's our chance to have a say,” Flynn said. “Most people who've come to this country came from places where it wasn't so great for them for one reason or another. Could have been poverty, religious discrimination; we've got Central Americans coming here because their lives are in danger from street gangs, there's just a whole host of reasons that bring people here. We have an opportunity to say how things are and that is really valuable. I wish more people saw it as the privilege that it is. Last election there was 50% turnout

Senior Gabriella Bailey recreates an election poll Nov 17.

Participating in democracy for the first time with a tangible vote after turning 18 is an American privilege.

nationally. That means anything could have gone another way, perhaps should have been decided a different way. Yet 50% of people didn't vote for whatever reason.”

Flynn’s mission has always been to help every person eligible to cast a vote that counts.

“I don't really care how people vote, I do very deeply care that they do, that we pay attention; it's really not that much to ask to go cast a ballot,” Flynn said.

Coates believes a central reason people don’t vote is the belief that their vote doesn’t matter.

“It's easy to believe that what you're voting on and what you're doing isn't actually going to make a difference, especially being that we're younger,” Coates said “It's important for people to participate to understand that change is possible.”

came in while I was the check-in person and asked if they could film her checking in and voting,” Zinn said. “I said to tell her to come to my station when she comes. So the newscaster guy is like ‘okay, I got you.’ So she came in at 10:00 and I had been checking in for about three hours, so I was in a daze. I ask her for her name and ID and I scan her license and it was expired. I say ‘your license is expired, what's your name?’ and then she says ‘Amanda Adkins’ and I'm like, ‘wait what?’ I look up and the camera is on me. So then she pulls out her temporary license, she got it renewed but she hadn't gotten it yet, but it was just funny. I checked in someone that was running for that election so it was cool.”

Flynn finds what the four student volunteers have done to be inspirational.

“They're heroes; it's awesome, I'm really proud of them,” Flynn said. “They had great experiences and fun stories and I'm really proud that they would want to go do that. The wages that they earned we'll get to donate to the League of Women Voters to expand voting rights. The whole thing is pretty special. Especially given the tie between the League of Women Voters' mission and the fact that it's an all girls institution. Women have only had the right to vote for 102 years, only around 40% of America's history, which is crazy to think about. In the grand scheme, women's involvement in American politics in the government is relatively recent.”

Looking up at the pictures of influential women in American history from the first woman on the Supreme Court, Sandra Day O’Connor, to the first female vice president Kamala Harris, displayed on the wall in his classroom, Flynn reflects on the history of women’s participation in politics.

Flynn believes that because there are many countries where having a say in your own government is not guaranteed, Americans should not take democracy for granted.

“If you don't vote, you don't have a right to complain,” Flynn said. “If you do want a right to complain, vote. If you like to complain, go vote. If you don't, you really don't have the right to complain. You had an opportunity and didn't take it, didn't exercise it. It's power.”

To aid in the voting process, Flynn organized for a group of four seniors to volunteer at the polls on election day. Funds raised were donated to the League of Women’s Voters to fight for voting rights. Senior Greta Zinn was among the volunteers and being too young to vote herself, she saw this as the perfect opportunity to have an impact.

“It's made me more educated about the political scope of our community,” Zinn said. “It's crazy to me that I feel so educated in the classes I've taken, for example government, and I love to learn about it but I'm not even allowed to be a part of this yet. It's weird. I thought it was really interesting and that's why I was glad I got the experience to learn more about the specifics of voting.”

Volunteers were at the polls from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. with the biggest rushes of voters being from 7 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Although it was a long day, Zinn recommends this experience to anyone considering it and would participate herself again in the future.

“It's a great experience to learn about, especially if you're underage and you've never voted before, or even if you have, just to see the background; all the work that these people put in, it's actually really inspiring,” Zinn said. “People do this every single election. There were people who had worked in elections since the 1990s; it's great because it's really important to be involved in our government and that's just one way you can do that.”

The most memorable thing Zinn experienced during her time volunteering involved a political candidate.

“Amanda Atkins was running in Kansas and the news channel

“For those four [students] and how they can get out and exercise their rights, participate, see and experience, I'm really proud of them and it's something they're going to look back on as a great experience and maybe even formative for how they think of the world at large,” Flynn said.

There was one final urgence Flynn wished to leave students with.

“Go register to vote,” Flynn said. “You can do it when you're 17 and a half. Do it now if you're 17 and a half. Today.”B

Senior Claire Coates wears an “I Voted” sticker Nov 17.

KC Christmas Cheer

Story by Anna Cucar | Photo Editor Photos by Lina Kilgore | Sports and News Editor Alternate Coverage By Anna Stout | Design Editor

As we get closer to the holidays, families around Kansas City are starting to prepare for Christmas. From Brookside neighborhood lights to Christmas gift-giving, holiday traditions are here.

On the drive to STA on Ward Parkway, the gleam of Christmas lights illuminate dozens of houses. Each embodies the Christmas spirit. With this drive down Ward Parkway, the Brookside neighborhood lights have became a staple for many Christmas traditions. Though the Brookside neighborhood lights are popular for many families, Kansas City offers many other light shows, including The Plaza lighting ceremony, Deanna Rose Christmas show and Candy Cane Lane.

watch the lights turn on. It’s the best!”

She recounts that this tradition has been a part of her and the Batz families for a long time.

“We’ve done this from the beginning of time,” Lystad said.

As for freshman Emerson Weber, she shares a similar KC light-show tradition.

“[My family] usually bring[s] some blankets gets hot chocolate before [the show]. We like to go to Caribou Coffee,” Weber said.

Many KC family Christmas traditions include gift-giving. Whether that’s a white elephant party, a gift-exchange, or Secret Santa, gift-giving is a popular Christmas tradition. For Weber, her family does things a little differently. She describes her non-traditional gift giving as a fun way to celebrate the true spirit of Christmas.

“We always like to prank each other with our gifts,”

The Brookside Christmas tree stands proudly, reminding the whole neighborhood that Christmas time is officially here.

“On Thanksgiving, every year my family and our neighbors, the Batzs, walk down to The Plaza Lighting Ceremony, ” junior Claire Lystad said. “We hang out, have dessert, and

A brightly decorated house is a beacon of light in the neighborhood encapsulating the Christmas cheer.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, many Christmas traditions have changed. This feature delves into KC traditions that have changed, stayed the same or evolved.

Weber said. “One time, my dad wrapped my sister’s gift in a ton of tape…Then, he wrapped a brick in wrapping paper and gave it to my cousin. She was so excited because it was really heavy, and was wondering what it was. But it was just a brick. ”

For Lystad, gift-giving is more conventional.

“On Christmas morning, my immediate family and I all get together to open gifts. Then, we do a Secret Santa that night with the rest of my family,” Lystad said.

She recounts these Christmas festivities

being a part of her family for a long time.

“The Lystad family Christmas is a big deal,” Lystad said. “These traditions have been going on on my dad’s side of the family for years. He did this with his cousins when he was younger; now we do it with my generation of cousins.”

Christmas gift giving is a meaningful tradition for both Lystad and Weber, even though one could be considered less serious than another.

Though many traditions in the midst of COVID-19 have stayed the same, the pandemic has affected many people’s

holiday celebrations. For freshman Margot Stuckey, Christmas in the year 2020 was unusual for her family. Stuckey says that for years, they had gathered with their close family friends.

“Usually, we have a game night and decorate cookies,” Stuckey said. However, the pandemic changed their plans. “During COVID, my mom got sick. So, we spent the whole Christmas day watching Harry Potter in our pajamas.” Being back to normal is very exciting for Stuckey and her family. For Lystad, the most fundamental part of Christmas is being with family. COVID affected their family very bitterly. Traditionally, her extensive family always gets together, one way or another.

“I have family from Poland, Brazil, Chicago, Kansas City, Ohio, New York, Nashville and D.C. 2020 was the year we couldn’t do anything,” Lystad said. This year, Lystad plans on participating in her KC traditions, as well as her familial ones.

Christmas is a season that is very meaningful to STA students, as well as KC. From funky gift-giving games to lightshows, traditions are all around us. KC supports some of the most heartwarming festivites around the holiday season that will influence generations in this city to come. B

Yellow and blue cans lined the entrances of the Goppert and Windmoor Centers on Nov 21 as students methodically placed each can in its predetermined spot. This fall, STA students built two “Despicable Me” minion structures out of cans donated over a month-long period.

This process followed the rules and regulations of CANstruction, a non-profit organization that serves to address food insecurity by building structures out of cans. Director of STEAM projects and education Mandi Sonnenberg was introduced to the CANstruction organization and decided to use it as a tool to motivate STA students into bringing cans— which are donated to Harvesters at the end of the process.

Last year, STA’s Student Government picked up the project and students collected over 2,100 cans and built two structures: a pie and Christmas lights.

Senior Jillian Poplau, STA Student Government leader, has held a big part in contributing towards CANstruction this year. Poplau, other members of Student Government and CANstruction leadership coordinators seniors Liz Connell, Riley Carlson and Lucy Fanning helped brainstorm incentives, manage money and collect donations for the drive.

“[CANstruction is] Student Government’s sponsored drive for the year; we always do a service project,” Poplau said. “We originally did the winter clothing drive for Morning Glory, [but] this year we’re doing CANstruction again.”

As STA’s CANstruction does not compete against any other schools, Student Government attempted to spark student initiative by pitting building groups against each other.

“[G.I.V.E’s] goal is to foster a love of service for the students beyond just the required hours that you need to get done,” Hughes said. “[We want] students to leave STA and continue doing service wherever they end up.” G.I.V.E. works with several organizations in the Kansas City area, such as Lead to Read KC and Operation Breakthrough, and they recently held a dog adoption event.

The organization encourages community outreach and emphasizes the importance of empathy in service through both events organized with the school and opportunities in the Kansas City area provided to members. Hughes seeks to use these to open students’ eyes to the benefits of service.

“I think it really connects you well with people who don’t have the same experiences as you. If you have the resources and the privilege to help someone, you should,” Hughes said.

We CAN Do T ?

Illustrated by STA’s mission of “lov[ing] the dear neighbor without distinction,” service is a key aspect of being a student at STA. Seniors and juniors are required to attain 65 hours of service in order to graduate and within the 35 clubs and 49 extracurriculars at STA, each is allowed one school-sponsored fundraiser per semester.

Several clubs and extracurriculars at STA center solely on providing service to the greater Kansas City community, one of which is G.I.V.E. (Get Involved, Value Everyone). Senior Stella Hughes, president of the extracurricular, plays a key role in organizing service opportunities for students to attend.

Story by Kyra Fieger

Lifestyles Editor, Tierney Flavin Features Editor, Chloe Denk Web Editor

G.I.V.E. also serves for some as an opportunity to build long-term relationships with organizations.

“[I think] reaching out and forming your own personal connections with agencies is super important,” Hughes said. “You can build a community with them, and when you consistently volunteer at one place you can get to know people really well.”

As G.I.V.E.’s volunteers are students, they have many constraints on their time, and may struggle to fit service into their busy schedules. Hughes, as a member of the student body, also has to navigate these obstacles, and offers advice to fellow STA students.

“[Service is] not as much of a consistent thing as I’d like it to be because of how busy I am, but I think whenever you have free time, try and fit something in even if it’s small,” Hughes said.

Other STA organizations support individual charities through fundraisers, drives or bake sales. This semester, 17 club or extracurricular-sanctioned fundraisers in various forms have taken place. There have been fundraisers through Pizza 51 and Culvers, a movie night for FBLA, clothing/hygiene drives and three bake sales.

In a survey of 50 STA students, 88 percent said that bake sales attract student participation and money, while only 12 percent said that drives—like CANstruction—were effective fundraisers.

This year, Sonnenberg and the Student Government noted a decrease in participation. In the same survey of 50 students, half said that they had not donated to CANstruction in any form this year. Sonnenberg attributed it to all of the service projects occurring simultaneously during the second quarter.

With the CANstruction drive drawing to a close in November, The Dart set out to discover more about service at STA.

“I think there’s just a lot of different calls for service going on,” Sonnenberg said. “I know clubs are trying to raise money and I know in the bylaws it says each club could have one fundraising event. Everyone’s just trying to raise money [during this time] and so I think that can cause some saturation.”

Sophomore Madeleine Torrey agreed that there were good intentions behind the drive, but also remarked on a lack of motivation.

“CANstruction is definitely good for the school, [but] I don’t really think that it’s been effective this year. Bringing cans in, especially when you’re in high school, you just forget,” Torrey said.

Torrey suggested that the school explore other, more motivating, drives in place of CANstruction.

“I really don’t feel like people are contributing to [CANstruction] as much because they don’t really think that it’s that important. The winter coat drive I feel like always does better because then people feel like ‘Oh, I have a winter coat.’ But cans you always have to go out and get or you have to bring in money for it. I don’t think that people take it as seriously as the other ones,” Torrey said.

Sonnenberg suggested an alternate solution, focusing instead on shifting the time of the drive.

“Maybe we move CANstruction, so it’s not during the auction…maybe we move it to the spring,” Sonnenberg said.

Sonnenberg also presented solutions related to crowd-sourcing ways to improve the drive.

“I feel like [we need to ask] the students, ‘What’s gonna motivate you? What would be helpful?’” Sonnenberg said.

“

G.I.V.E’s goal is to foster a love of service for the students beyond just the required hours that you need to get done. We want students to leave STA and continue doing service wherever they end up.

Stella Hughes

“

Poplau has also noticed the lack of active participation and enthusiasm with CANstruction during this year’s drive.

“I think people see [buying cans] as kind of a hindrance to have to go out and physically buy the cans and they don’t see that they are getting much in return,” Poplau said. “Incentives do help people participate more, but I don’t think people should only be doing service because they are getting something in return.”

In the student survey, 68 percent marked their required STA service hours as a motivator to serve; students also reported that they were motivated by personal incentive.

Although underclassmen do not have required service hours for STA, Torrey participates in service due to both personal fulfillment and a desire to help those in her community.

“It always makes me feel really good when I’m able to help people and contribute something to people around me,” Torrey said. “Thinking about all the people who have helped me in my life to get to where I am today, I want to be able to help someone else in their life as well.”

Torrey has participated in many service opportunities both inside of STA and in the wider community, but reflected on one she felt passionate about: Noah’s Bandage Project. The project is a drive which collects bandaids to help children who deal with cancer.

“[This project] definitely sticks out to me because it’s not something that you just sign up for,” Torrey said. “It’s something that you put together because you know the people. It gives you an inside view.”

Similarly, Hughes has felt intrinsically motivated to do service inside of STA through G.I.V.E., as well as outside of STA.

“I have been blessed with resources and opportunities that other people my age that live not even five blocks away from me don’t have,” Hughes said. “If I have those resources, and that privilege, then I like to be able to use it to help other people.” B

Seniors Liz Connell and Lucy Fanning place cans on a CANstruction structure. photo by Jasmine Cervantes

Students look at the final CANstruction product in Donnelly. photo courtesy of Mandi Sonnenberg

Why Donate?

Alternate Coverage by Isa Glover Staff Writer

STA students pull cans out of the bins Nov. 22. photo by Jasmine Cervantes.

Senior Riley Carlson, one of CANstruction Leadership Coordinators, helps the students build and organize. photo by Jasmine Cervantes

Senior Connell and freshmen Lydia Anielak build the base of the structure. photo by Jasmine Cervantes

Junior Adelina Lopez places a can on the structure. photo by Jasmines Cervantes

STA students pull cans out of the bins. photo by Jasmine Cervantes

Seniors Riley Carlson and Maley Wenzel pose next the final product in the entrance of Goppert. photo courtesy of Mandi Sonnenberg.

Members of Donnelly advisories help build a Minion from “Dispicable Me.” photo by Jasmine Cervantes

From left, seniors Connell, Fanning, junior Leah Hollins, and freshman Anielak work together. photo by Jasmine Cervantes

Staff Says

Here at STA, students are highly encouraged to take part in service opportunities. We hold service fairs, provide multiple extracurriculars and clubs that support nonprofit organizations, and conduct fundraisers such as CANstruction. As a part of fulfilling the mission to love thy dear neighbor without distinction, STA requires students to complete three phases of service. Each phase offers students a new opportunity to give back and help people in the community. By the end of their senior year, students must complete at least 65 hours to a specific organization. However, does this obligation to achieve a certain amount of service hours overshadow the real reasons why we give back to our community? In other words, is it possible to lose sight of our initial motives, and confuse service as just another task on our agenda?

“

The majority of The Dart staff believes that despite the requirement of service during time spent at STA, students are still giving back out of the goodness of their hearts. However, staff members agree that if not for the necessity of service hours, they would likely not devote as much time to their community. Respectively, in many cases it is necessary to give students a push to complete service. By doing so, students are inclined to find out more about themselves and their community–whether it be a new passion, or a valuable life lesson.

Contrary to this belief, some claim that the requirement of service prevents students from fully embracing and immersing themselves in the experience. The entirety of the process can tend to feel more stressful than fulfilling, which can overshadow the real motives behind the service. Since there are so many hours to attain, it can make the process long and tiring. If this is the case, then students become distant from their service; it no longer is an act of love; rather, it is a chore.

At the end of the day, service is what you make of it. You can choose to approach it with frustration, or you can go into it with an optimistic attitude. Oftentimes, it is easy to become engrossed in our own personal matters and forget that there is more to life than our daily routines.

Sometimes, it just takes a little push to step outside of our bubble and learn new things. And in turn, we can experience more than the gratification of just helping others; we will additionally witness inclusivity, diversity, and utmost, love for thy dear neighbor.

Stars Say

Junior Kate Uecker

“Service hours are super overshadowed when they become a requirement because you are doing it to get something, which is not what service is about. Service is about providing for others with no reward for yourself. A solution could be providing students with a lot of opportunities and really emphasizing serving people, but not making it a requirement so the students feel better and get a more satisfying experience because they feel they did it on their own.”

“I think that service opportunities are overshadowed when they are required because it makes students think of it as an assignment rather than an opportunity to help their community. I think we can prevent this by encouraging more service opportunities that are not required and lower the amount of hours required.”

Sophomore

Mara Gary

Col ege Counseling

With the craziness of college decisions just around the corner, STA’s college counseling department helps students through their application processes.

As fall passes by and the stress of college applications increases, around 98% of STA seniors impatiently await an email or letter from their desired schools. In recent years, STA graduates have attended over 60 different colleges and universities in the United States and abroad.

Senior Dianna Lawhead applied to 15 different colleges, all of which are sufficient to her list of requirements. This would not have been possible without the help of STA’s college counseling department.

On the third floor of M&A, counselors Debi Hudson and Abigail Jelavich spend their days assisting juniors and seniors in finding the perfect college through various seminars and private meetings.

“We start with individual appointments in the spring of junior year, and then really hit it hard senior year in terms of individual planning and application support,” Jelavich said. “Along with individually assisting students with the college search, we also run all of the practice standardized tests, do programming tied to scholarships and financial aid, and the last big thing is administering AP exams in May.”

Each day, Hudson and Jelavich increase their knowledge of the colleges and programs students are considering, to better aid seniors with their application and decision-making processes. They do this by visiting schools or speaking with admission offices from across the country.

According to Lawhead, without the help of this department, applying to and deciding on a college would be virtually impossible.

“They did help me to [find] what other schools are similar but also try to find my range of schools,” Lawhead said. “They did a good job with that and helped make sure all the schools on my list [are ones] I am excited about and would be thrilled to go to.”

Recently, college counseling introduced

sophomores and juniors to the world of college applications by holding introductory seminars. In these, Hudson and Jelavich

covered information regarding the ACT and SAT and how to begin the searching process. While reflecting back, Lawhead acknowledged that this proved to help her successfully kickstart the process.

“With college counseling, we were pretty informed going into [the process], so I don’t feel like there was a big piece I was missing starting off,” Lawhead said. “Definitely getting it done early and starting my research was helpful.”

While students have the ability to be proactive, that still does not entirely prevent the inevitable stress of it all. Jelavich says that most often, students struggle with remaining organized.

It is not their best friend’s search, it is not their parent’s search; everybody is on a different path. There is no right or wrong, but everybody’s path is different.

Abigail Jelavich

“It is super important to stay organized because applying to five to eight schools can be eight different sets of requirements,” Jelavich said. “Unlike some other countries where there is one application for every school in the country and it is very streamlined, in the US, college admissions are so decentralized.” Difficulties and roadblocks may occur, but fortunately, STA substantially prepares students for college.

“There’s a lot of components to what makes STA college-prep,” Jelavich said. “One is certainly the curriculum in terms of having advanced pathways with having AP classes and college or dual credit classes. The curriculum and the academic expectations prepare students for college.”

Lawhead can attest to this. “I would definitely consider [STA] a collegepreparatory school,” Lawhead said. “Not only because we have the option to take college courses and get credits in early, but the college counseling department really works over time and knows all of its students. [They] really take the effort to make it as easy of an experience as possible.” Most of all, the college counseling department at STA wants to make certain that students find their new home away from home.

“My biggest piece of advice to seniors is always to remember that the college search is personal to them,” Jelavich said. “It is not their best friend’s search, it is not their parent’s search; everybody is on a different path. There is no right or wrong, but everybody’s path is different.”

With this in mind, it is crucial that students approach the process with an open mind and optimistic attitude. Doing so will alleviate the extra pressure associated with college applications.

“It is what you make it,” Lawhead said. “If you go into it with a positive attitude, then you are going to have a great time.”B

Story by Ellie McManamy | Social Media Team

Double Trouble Double Trouble

Junior twins Lola and Lucy Kramer give their insight on being twins at the same school, and their shared and different experiences.

Story by Ellie Buttell | Opinions Editor

Lucy and Lola Kramer

Lucy Lola

“My favorite thing about being a twin is always having a wingman. Simple things such as running errands, going to school, and going on vacation are so much better when I have my twin there.”

Do you guys get asked often about being twins?

Yes, people ask us about what being a twin is like all the time. They usually asked if we fight a lot or have telepathy. When we are out in public people usually assume we are just creepy best friends because we are always together! No one really thinks we’re twins because we are fraternal. Lucy has red hair and I have blonde hair. When we tell people, they will usually not believe us at first and ask us a few different questions in order to catch us in a lie. “When is your birthday?” they’ll ask and once we answer with “February 3rd” at the exact same time in the same tone, they’ll understand.

Has anyone ever called you by your twin’s name?

Yes, people call us by each other’s names sometimes; it’s usually teachers or coaches, but sometimes even our mom slips up. We’re not quite sure how this happens, seeing as we look completely different, but people often use the excuse that it is because both of our names start with the letter L.

Have you ever tried to pull a prank by switching places?

No, we’ve never switched places because we are fraternal. When we were little, we used to wear matching clothes and try to switch places, but we were brutally humbled.

Can you read each other’s minds?

Yes, we can read each other’s minds. We often play a game we call twin telepathy, where people ask us questions like, “name an animal,” and we have to respond with the same thing. We are so good at this game and usually leave people speechless. We can also be in a room together far away and just give each other a look and know what the other is thinking. We will be at home and randomly start singing the same song at the same part all at the same time. We are pretty in sync.

Do you like going to STA with a twin?

Yes, we like going to school together. A lot of twins do not like to be in school together because they don’t get along, but, while we do fight a lot, we have always gotten along pretty well for the most part. I’d say we argue around one to three times a day, but we always get over it in around 20 minutes. We have always had the same friends, same grades, and most of the same interests.

Our

“My favorite thing about being a twin is having someone my age who goes through all the same experiences with me.”

Young Lola (left) and Lucy (right) pose for a picture in matching hats. photo courtesy of Lola and Lucy Kramer

Lola and Lucy Kramer smile for the camera as they eat dinner. photo courtesy of Lola and Lucy Kramer

The pitter-patter of raindrops on a nearby window sets the scene for a cozy day in. It’s March 2020 and I’m sitting at a makeshift desk, trying to pay attention to my teacher virtually explaining the transmission of electrons but my mind is stuck on the small clock next to my red Hydro Flask. Tick. Tick. Tick. I’m counting down the minutes until I can click the squareshaped “leave meeting” button on the bottom of my computer screen.

Quarantine and virtual learning drastically increased the amount of time I spent thinking about cliché existential topics that lead to not-so cliché crises over my life’s purpose. The inside cover description of my COVID-19 quarantine reads like an angsty 90s drama: the confused teen struggling to figure out who she is. I spent frantic hours searching for the right college and perfect major to pursue. I became obsessed with leaving behind some kind of legacy.

After the clock stuck at 3:15 pm, I was finally released from the virtual prison that was online school. I moved from my designated “school-central” part of the house to my “afterschool” place of work: my living room. I scrolled through my phone, searching for a way to spend my time. I eventually shuffled into the kitchen with an agenda. I would make myself a hot cup of coffee, grab a handful of trail mix, and become consumed by a brain-numbing movie. The result of this attempt at a mindless night in was a newfound passion for all things animated.

I had never been a Tim Burton fan— the direct result of a premature viewing of “Coraline,” which evoked fear of the dark aesthetic found in many of the filmmaker’s Claymations. My fear, however, vanished after I watched “The Corpse Bride.” It was decidedly the most beautiful film I had seen. I was obsessed with the subtle visual

ANIMATION: A lost art form

Story by

| Editor-in-Chief

elements: the simple butterfly connecting the opening and closing scenes and the gorgeous detail in Emily’s fraying wedding dress. I was consumed with artistic envy for the people behind the animation and storyline of the film. From that moment onward, I was determined to create something of my own, loving the idea that my words or characters could influence someone in the same way my favorite animated films have.

The legacy of animated films has been one of futile importance: many filmmakers regard it as a form of media only enjoyed by children. In the aftermath of the 2022 Oscars, presenters Halle Bailey, Lily James and Naomi Scott—who each starred in live-action remakes of formerly animated Disney films—lit a spark in the debate over whether or not animation should be considered an art form. The presenters, reading off a script written for them by the Academy, claimed that animation was a “formative experience for kids.” Winner of the Best Animated Short, Alberto Mielgo, responded to this comment in his acceptance speech,declaring that “animation is an art that includes every single kind of art you can imagine.”

Art, according to Arena Animation, is a human activity that involves creative or imaginative talent to express beauty, emotions or ideas. It does not need to be what we have been taught to consider fine arts: sculpture, paintings and literature. Art is meant to make you feel something, to move your soul in a way that sparks intrigue or desire. Animation combines various forms of traditional art to create something that can be cherished by those of all ages and genders.B

Animation is often written off as a form of entertainment that can only be enjoyed by children; however, the art of creating an animated film is so intricate that it has the capacity to be valued by people of all ages and genders.

Mara Callahan

Lary

MY LOVE FOR The 1975

The 1975 has become my favorite band and here’s why.

Story by Katelyn Buckley | Staff Writer

The 1975 is a group of guys who have been creating music together since they were 13. Although I haven’t been a fan for that long, it feels like I have. The band first was introduced to me when I saw someone talking about their tattoo that says “Modernity has failed us!” They were talking about how this tattoo was from The 1975’s song “Love It If We Made It.” I looked up the song on Spotify, put in my earphones and listened with open ears. Immediately I fell in love with the song. I added it to all of my playlists and any time I got into a car, that song would play. From my discovery of “Love It If We Made It,” I started listening to more The 1975 songs. I played one of their most popular songs, “Robbers.” I loved it. I then came to the realization that I didn’t just love these two songs individually, I loved The 1975.

I would be wrong in saying that I didn’t have help from one of my friends in catapulting into The 1975. Walking into school after the release of their latest album “Being Funny In A Foreign Language,” I was immediately told that there was something that she needed to show me. I sat down with my friend during our activity period and she immediately put her headphones in my ear. I was told in a muffled voice through the headphones to listen to this song. It was “About You.” Hearing the first verse “I know a place,” I had to stop everything I was doing to take it in. My friend gave me an “I-told-you-so” look when it was finished.

Next up was “Happiness.” This one I listened to in The Commons. The instrumental sounds at the start of this song and its upbeat vibe was so contradictory yet complimentary to “About You.” I finished the last four periods of my day humming the songs and asking my classmates if they had heard it yet.

I decided to listen to the album from start to finish when I got home from school that day. I could barely focus on my math homework, trying to take in the

songs The 1975 had just released. After I listened to the entire album, the only thing I thought was that I was sad it was over. From “Looking for Somebody (To Love),” to “All I Need To Hear,” I knew that “Being Funny In A Foreign Language,” would be one of my favorite albums. Although these songs are so amazing, my favorite was “I’m In Love With You.” This song, in my opinion, matches the typical sound that people are used to hearing from the Manchester band. Between the catchy choruses and borderline comical verses, I knew that this was going to take number one on my ranking of songs on “Being Funny In A Foreign Language.”

After that day, every time I plug my phone into my car, it’s more often than not a 1975 song. When I drive to get coffee with my friends after school, the band’s first self-titled album is usually playing. When I put my headphones in when I get ready, I usually skip the other songs in my playlist until my phone plays a song from The 1975. Ever since I heard “Love It If We Made It,” The 1975 has become a big part of my life. B

Intramurals Are Back!

Lifestyles Editor

With finals looming next week, the stress of imminent due dates weigh heavily on junior Regan Becker’s shoulders; however, for 20 short minutes she forgets all of that. It’s Activity one, and her intramural basketball team is about to play.

Intramural sports are back, and Becker and other students are overjoyed. Keep in mind, this is not the first school year intramural sports have been offered at STA; in fact they were introduced during the 2019-2020 school year.

Coach and STA teacher Caitlyn Kogge is the main organizer of this intramural sports program and she has stated that there were a variety of factors that facilitated its quick end several years ago

“They [intramural sports] existed pre-COVID but they weren’t a thing that we did until COVID,” Kogge said. “We tried them before and getting girls to show up and having enough people to play was spotty. So they ended up discontinuing them.”

The decision to bring back intramural sports was made mainly because of the new schedule, particularly the reinstatement of Activity period.

“We finally had a block of time where we could do them [intramurals], whereas before with our schedule, changing and everything and then all the COVID restrictions, there wasn’t really an opportunity for it,” Kogge said.

Kogge feels that the students’ response to intramurals this year have been mainly positive, especially with the senior class. Kogge found that one of the main reasons for this is because none of the class levels have had the opportunity to experience and participate in intramurals before. As a result, student participation has been high.

“None of the students that are here have had intramurals since they’ve been here,” Kogge said. “So it was like a clean slate and a way for us to structure it in a way that we thought would be effective and kind of set the foundation, like this is the expectation.”qwxqwxqwx

Another reason for the high student participation is

the joy of simply playing a sport for fun, regardless of the outcome. Becker enjoys how participating has made her feel closer to her classmates and she encourages other students to participate as well.

“I would encourage other people to join just because it is so much fun,” Becker said. “I have played sports my whole life and I grew really close with my teammates. It’s nice to have that environment where it’s not insanely cutthroat and you feel like you have to be competing with everyone and winning against everyone.”

Kogge also believes that the ability to play intramural sports has many benefits for the student body.

“We hit a certain point where we don’t have recess in schools anymore, and there’s not a lot of play,” Kogge said. “So it [intramural sports] gives us the opportunity to move our bodies in a meaningful way; otherwise, the only time we’re really doing that is going up and down the stairs. So it gives them [students] that physical outlet that they need.”

Kogge feels that playing an intramural sport can also provide a much-needed mental break for students who find themselves stressed out by school and life.

“It’s a good mental break from just studying and being on the grind all the time,” Kogge said. “It’s nice to be able to shut off that academic part and just allow all of those good hormone neurotransmitters to signal out so it’s good little dopamine and endorphins hit in the middle of the day.”

Becker and Kogge both agree that participating in intramural sports is a great way to get involved at STA, whether it be playing, coaching, or even watching and cheering on your classmates.

“Sports are really a bonding experience I think, just across the board,” Becker said. “It’s a really easy way to grow closer with your friends, and you don’t have to wait for it. It’s not a huge commitment. It’s just something that’s fun and light-hearted.”

The intramural basketball session began on November 4, and the playoff tournament will conclude today. B

Intramurals are back at STA, and according to coach Caitlyn Kogge, they are better than ever.

Story by Olivia Cooper | Staff Member Photos by Megan Turley |

Junior Anne Rinella throws the ball in to her team while juniors Clara Dwyer and Quinn Tracy block her November 22.

Highlights

December 10 3 9

January

SWIM Basketball Basketball

Saturday: varsity competes against Winnetonka 10:45 am @ Gladstone Community Center

Tuesday: varsity competes against Chrisman 7:00 pm @ STA

January December

27 Swim

Monday: JV competes against Bishop Miege 5:30 pm @ STA

Tuesday: varsity swim competes against Lee’s Summit 1:00 pm @ Lee’s Summit Aquatic Center

Athlete of the Issue:

Hallie O’Bryan

Story by Charlotte Malone | Editor-in-Chief

Junior Hallie O’Bryan has been diving since she was eight years old, and is currently a member of the STA dive team.

“I have been swimming competitively since I was five,” O’Bryan said. “When we joined Carrige Club, my parents forced me to join the dive team in addition to their swim team and I ended up loving it.”

With the dive seniors graduating in 2022, and the team lacking any current seniors to fill their place, O’Bryan stands as the oldest member of the dive team.

“I like that I’m able to show the younger girls how everything works, and set an example for them,” O’Bryan said. “I’m able to share my own experiences and challenges and how I got past them.”

When it comes to dive, O’Bryan loves to learn new tricks

“...It’s really satisfying when you put in the work and nail a new dive,” O’Bryan said. “[Our coach] challenges us to learn as many new dives as possible.”

In addition to swim and dive, O’Bryan also does tennis, track and figure skating. B

The Reading Nook

STA English teacher Katie Dolan shares one of her favorite recent reads: “Cloud Cuckoo Land” by Anthony Doerr.

Story and graphics by Isabel Glover | Staff Member

English teacher Katie Dolan shares her favorite recent read: “Cloud Cuckoo Land” by Anthony Doerr. “Cloud Cuckoo Land” is a historical and speculative fiction novel published on September 28, 2021. Dolan read the book this past summer and loved how the author wrote the characters throughout the novel.

““Cloud Cuckoo Land” follows three stories in different time periods. Each character discovers and reads the same book and they figure out how this specific book applies to their lives,” Dolan said.

“It [the book] really explores the value of storytelling, journeys and what it means to fulfill who you truly are by being your best self,” Dolan said. “It’s beautifully written.”

Dolan would recommend “Cloud Cuckoo Land” to STA students.

“The variety of characters help us explore how we deal with those who are different and learn compassion, understanding and the value that everyone has their own story to tell and our pasts influence who we are and what we believe,” Dolan said.

“Cloud Cuckoo Land” focuses on the power of love and the power of forgiveness. B

CLOUD CUCKOO LAND ANTHONY DOERR

Staff Picks: Christmas Songs

With Christmas approaching, The Dart staff share their favorite songs of the season.

Story and graphics by Isabel Glover | Staff Member

ELTON JOHN Step Into Christmas

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Judy Garland

“My favorite Christmas song is ‘Have Youself a Merry Little Christmas’ by Judy Garland,” sophomore Chloe Denk said. “This song reminds me of my Christmas Eve party which is warm, happy and full of family.”

“My favorite Christmas song is ‘Step Into Christmas’ by Elton John,” junior Dianne Haake said. “It is so catchy and upbeat and it really puts me in the Christmas spirit.”

JUSTIN BIEBER Under the Mistletoe

“My favorite Christmas song is ‘Under the Mistletoe’ by Justin Bieber,” sophomore Maya Tule said. “Justin Bieber is the best and his song never fails to get me in the Christmas spirit.”

Growing a Legacy

Liesel Anderson was a member of the class of 2024 and passed away last year from a rare type of cancer, Ewing’s Sarcoma. Her legacy lives on through her best friend, junior Anne Rinella, and Rinella’s efforts to create a memorial in Anderson’s honor on campus.

As you walk towards your morning math class in Donnelly, you may happen to see the newest addition to the STA campus: A small garden with colorful stepping stones and a glass dragonfly fills the space, inviting all who walk past to take a minute of mindfulness.

What is the story behind this space, you might ask? While this may seem like any ordinary sanctuary to members of the STA community, to junior Anne Rinella and her friends it is much more. This garden was recently established as a memorial for former STA student Liesel Anderson.

“Liesel had such a big affect on me,” Rinella said. “She was the most real friend I’ve ever had.” Anderson was a member of the class of 2024, and in June of 2021, she passed away from Ewing’s Sarcoma, a rare type of cancer.

“After the All Souls Day Mass where we honored [Liesel]last year, I felt like everyone had moved on,“ Rinella said. “I didn’t think that she was honored in the way she was meant to. No one knows what to say, not because they don’t care; it's just a really difficult situation. I decided that I needed to do what Liesel would’ve wanted me to do and turn my pain into something that can help people.”

Director of campus operations Becky Flores helped Rinella see the project through to completion and turn the vision into a reality

“I was contacted by Dr. Baker to advise [Rinella] and come up with a location and design,” Flores said. “I wanted to put it [the garden] somewhere we could keep an eye on it and take good care of it. Fortunately, [Rinella] and her friends had raised a nice amount of money and we were able to get the materials to make it happen.”

In the building stages, Rinella wanted to make sure that every aspect was detailed to Anderson’s legacy and character. This led to the addition of handmade stepping stones created by Anderson’s best friends, “the Gorks.”

“Everyone came over to my house and we made build-your-own stepping stones,” Rinella said. “We each got to be as creative as we wanted in making them, and it was a very healing process.” The garden also contains a glass dragonfly, Anderson’s spirit animal, according to her friends and family.

While this place can be used as a healing space for those who knew Anderson, Rinella encourages all members of the STA community to use the garden. “If you're ever having a hard time on campus, going there is always going to make you feel better because it has her energy. Even if you didn’t know Liesel, this is still a really peaceful place,” Rinella said. “It’s a place to go and just sit with nature and art and connect with yourself or whatever you believe in. But for people who did know Liesel, I think this garden is going to become a healing place, it already has been. Her family comes here all the time just to

talk to Liesel or to pray.”

Anderson’s garden will continue to grow and benefit the STA community, leaving behind a legacy of love and comfort. B

Junior Anne Rinella stands with the garden plaque, honoring Liesel Anderson, Nov 28.

Rinella holds a glass dragonfly she bought while in Italy.

Story and photos by Charlotte Malone | Editor in Chief

Story by Anna Massman | Opinions Editor