Dart Issue 4, Vol. 88, Feb. 9 2024

February 9, 2024

The

DART St. Teresa’s Academy Kansas City, MO Volume 88

vs

The 2023 Word of the Year was rizz. The Dart looks into how this term has come into play within the past year.

Issue 4

The DART | February 9, 2024

In This Issue 4-5 Photo Essay: Stars in the Snow 6 News: Battle in the Beauty Aisle 7 News: Attendance 8-9 Star Spotlight: Annie Severns 10-11 Feature: Third Spaces 12 Reviews: Romance Novels 13 Reviews: Oscar Predictions

14-15 Feature: Rizz Over Romance 16-17 Columns: Stella Baska, Anna Stout and Molly Sonnenberg 18-19 Sports: Dancers Join Dive 20 Feature: Water Bottle Trends 21 Community: Tribute to Mike Foster and Jojo 22-23 Last Look: 2024 Trend Predictions

On the DN

Record Player Column by Anna Massman

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Catholic Schools Week and Black History Celebration Gallery by Jasmine Cervantes

Evelyn Hofer Exhibit Gallery by Stella Baska

Basketball Senior Night Gallery

by Lina Kilgore

The DART | Letter from the Editors | designed by Katelyn Buckley

Dear Reader,

You’ve heard it before: Roses are red, Violets are blue. . .

We’ve produced this Dart with love and care--hope you feel it, too!

From the snow-filled bliss of January, photographed by Rebecca McGannon on pages 4-5, to the news of decreasing attendance rates and adolescent shopping habits covered by Chloe Denk and Katelyn Buckley on 6-7, we hope you enjoy the contents of this, our fourth issue of the school year.

Read on to hear from Cassie Hallier about sophomore Annie Severns’s podcast in this issue’s Star Spotlight!

Does the stress of all your commitments feel like too much sometimes? On pages 10-11, Sarah Schwaller and Olivia Cooper look into third spaces, their importance in our lives and some of these special spots held by STA students and staff.

Reviews, Reviews, wherefore art thou Reviews? Look no further than pages 12-13, where your Editors-in-Chief cover romance novels and Academy Award nominations.

To love or to rizz? That is the question covered by Wynnie Sprague and Lauren Rando on pages 14-15. They look into 2023’s Merriam-Webster word of the year and its societal implications.

The next pages over, read all about our staff’s favorites: from Anna Stout’s love of shopping, to Molly Sonnenberg’s love of Powerlife and Stella Baska’s love of the Heartland (Stella!), our staffers are nothing if not passionate!

Next, jump head-first into dancers turned divers from Lina Kilgore on 18-19, and even though this is the season of pink and red, don’t forget the Green Out game tonight!

Water bottle trends, a tribute to Mr. Foster and Jojo, fashion trend predictions--these are noble pursuits and found on pages 20-23. But poetry (student journalism), beauty, romance, love--these are what we stay alive for.

To us, this issue is perfect.

It has bewitched us, body and soul.

Readers, enjoy!

Love (Actually),

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The DART | Photo Essay | February 9, 2024

STARS In

When temperatures dip below Photos by Rebecca McGannon

Juniors Addie Reardon and Lucy Filing prepare to throw snowballs at each other.

Juniors Anna Christianson and Kate Molle jump with excitement about the recent snow.

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Reardon laughs while playing in the snow.

The DART | Photo Essay | designed by Rebecca McGannon

The SN W

zero, students enjoy the snow.

| Staff Writer

Snow surrounds the STA seal on a cold January day.

Reardon and Filiing pose in the sun while enjoying the snow in the quad.

Christianson soaks up the sun on a cold, blustery day.

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The DART | News | February 9, 2024

Batt e in the

Beauty Ais e Social media is struck with a new trend of tweens.

I

n a surprising new trend, young girls are seen storming Sephora with perfectly plucked eyebrows and chiseled cheekbones to rummage through the supply for any brand or product they have seen on social media platforms. Everyone can furrow their brows at the videos they see of this and scroll past them, but why do 10-year-olds want to grow up so quickly?

This recent social media trend has sparked a fierce debate among observers about its implications. Whether it is merely based on self-expression or a surge in consumerism is hotly debated.

Anti-aging serums and retinol creams have young girls on their tiptoes trying to reach the products they saw their favorite TikToker use. Sephora employees are left

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Story by Katelyn Buckley | Opinion Editor with destroyed displays and contaminated sample products.

This recent influx of pre-teens in Sephora aisles has been anything but pleasant for some employees.

“These 10-year-olds at Sephora are out of control,” Natalia Herrera said in an interview with People Magazine.

“But what is crazier is that the parents aren’t parenting,” Herrera said, expressing her concern for the young shoppers, remembering instances where certain behavior shocked her.

“Long story short, after minutes and minutes of arguing, this little girl ended up spending $500 at Sephora instead of almost $900 and the mom was okay with that,” Herrera said.

On the contrary, parents are defending some of the kids, saying that they are merely expressing themselves.

“My daughter and her friends all love Sephora, they love makeup and they always

want to go. I happened to just take them that day,” parent Stefanie Eddie said in an interview with People Magazine. “I had no idea what the drama was with Sephora. It was just a coincidence that I posted that video.”

Sephora, and other comparable beauty outlets, have yet to issue any statements regarding the tween beauty gurus.

However, as the battle in the beauty aisle rages on, stores will probably need to adapt to this up-and-coming generation of consumers. B

Tardy The DART | designed by Chloe Denk

Troubles?

Rates of chronic absenteeism have skyrocketed nation-wide post-COVID-19, and STA is not immune: The Dart investigates.

F

ootsteps echo a little more loudly, the lunch room seems slightly more vacant and classrooms have more empty seats. The school halls may have seemed just a little emptier since the quarantine of 2020, and it’s no coincidence.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, schools’ attendance levels have dropped nationwide, leading to widespread “chronic absenteeism,” defined by www.whitehouse. gov as stuwdents missing at least 10 percent of school days.

According to the website, “In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, one study found that the number of public school students who are chronically absent…has nearly doubled, from about 15 percent in the 2018-2019 school year to around 30 percent in 20212022.”

The Edweek website estimates that data puts the number of chronically absent students in the 2021-2022 school year at close to 14.7 million, as opposed to www.attendanceworks.org’s estimate of 8 million chronically absent students preCOVID-19.

Chronic absenteeism threatens to have serious long-term consequences for students, such as difficulty learning to read and low test scores.

According to the White House, “Research shows that school absences take a toll on grades and performance on standardized tests. Beyond test scores, irregular attendance can be a

Story and Photos by Chloe Denk | Design Editor predictor of high school drop-out, which has been linked to poor labor market prospects, diminished health and increased involvement in the criminal justice system.”

STA has not been immune to these dropped attendance levels post-COVID-19; according to principal for student affairs Liz Baker, there has been a significant difference.

“The trends that we see at St. Teresa’s are trends such as coming to school late, leaving during lunch or during a free…and leaving school early,” Baker said. “We had those kinds of absences preCOVID, but not to the extent that we have now. I would say [we have seen] probably a 10 percent gain.”

Baker attributes the changes in attendance to a struggle to overcome the isolation of COVID-19 and a focus on mental health.

“Typically pre-COVID, kids would leave for lunch for a birthday party…or students would leave for appointments,” Baker said. “Now we’re seeing students leave for lunch because they need a break, or they need time to go home, get themselves together and come back.”

According to a website that analyzes trends in education, “Nearly half of all students surveyed in the 2022-23 school year reported that depression, stress or anxiety makes it hard for them to do their best in school. This proportion had increased steadily over the course of the pandemic, from 39 percent in spring 2020 to 48 percent in 2022-23.”

Baker says STA has sought to combat rising mental health issues by supporting students through multiple avenues.

“We need to be able to support each other in our mental health,” Baker said. “As a school we advocate for ‘Get here and you’ll be okay.’ We want people to feel like we’ve got the support they need. We have worked on the Achievement Center…we’ve hired a Math Hub person to support kids. We want kids to feel like they’ve got the support they

need to be academically and mentally successful.”

Baker believes that getting to school can help provide students with tools to support their wellbeing. She fears that continued low attendance rates will impact students’ social skills in the long term.

“It’s soft skills more than anything,” Baker said. “Do you know how to line up? Do you know how to be quiet when somebody else is talking? Do you have active listening skills? Can you talk to somebody instead of text them? Those are skills that are taught in schools, in herd environments…

It’s a different generation, and I think they’re going to demand different things, and we just have to be adaptable.”

On the whole, Baker conveys the importance of attendance through STA’s core values.

“I don’t want people to be isolated,” Baker said. “And I think that the more that we can put ourselves out there and be present for each other, you know, humanity needs each other.

Loving the dear neighbor means you’ve got to connect with the dear neighbor, too. And I think those connections are huge. STA is not just academics: it’s community and culture.

And if you miss that, you’re missing out on your best high school life you could have, so be here.” B

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The DART | Star Spotlight | February 9, 2024

STAR SPOTLIGHT:

Annie Severns

Story by Cassie Hallier | Staff Writer

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What teenage girl hasn’t considered starting a podcast? Sophomore Annie Severns and her cousin Audrey Squires followed through on this idea, and they say it’s one of the best decisions they’ve ever made.

The DART | designed by Cassie Hallier

What is your podcast called and what is it about?

“It is called ‘Purple Feet and Banana,’ which are our nicknames for each other. I call my cousin Purple Feet and she calls me Banana. We basically just talk about our lives or whatever is relevant in the world at the time. It’s kind of loosey-goosey, but it’s really fun.”

What does the recording of an episode typically look like?

“We have microphones. I think they’re like the Blue Yeti ones, but I’m not totally sure; Audrey does all that. We hook the microphones up to her old iPad, and just talk. We used to make a bunch of talking points, things like ‘make sure you say this, this and this.’ We always made sure it wasn’t scripted because you can tell. That just feels unnatural and weird.”

Severns and co-host Audrey Squires laugh as they cross the street. photo courtesy of Squires Snapshots.

Scan this code to give “Purple Feet and Banana” a listen!

What inspired you to start your podcast?

What has been the most rewarding part of having a podcast?

“I like to listen back on it. Even if I’m just folding laundry it makes me laugh. I think we’re really funny, and we have such a good time doing it. It makes me happy to listen and think about all the fun we have making it.”

“Well, we just really wanted to. We love to listen to podcasts together; we have true crime podcasts that we listen to. We decided it would be fun if we started one of our own. One night at a sleepover we just made an episode, and put it on Spotify. We told our friends about it, and then we just went from there.”

Out of all the episodes you’ve recorded, which has been your favorite?

“Probably, ‘Weird Things About the U.S.’ It was with one of Audrey’s exchange students. She was a Spanish exchange student, and I love that one. Getting to hear about the U.S. from a new perspective was super cool.”

Severns frolics in a field with her cousin. photo courtesy of Squires Snapshots.

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An assortment of third spaces in KC...

The DART | Feature | February 9, 2024

photos by Jasmine Cervantes

THIRD THIRD

These unique physical spaces of work and home environments. spaces’ mean to them and their Story by Olivia Cooper | Web and Lifestyles Editor

I A park bench sits by a frozen pond Jan. 30.

An “Open” sign shines on the door of P.S. Coffee Jan. 30.

Two chairs rest empty, facing one another outside of a local business Jan. 30.

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n the years during and since COVID-19, there have been reports of an increase in closures of businesses that support common interests, places that provide a space to be outside of work (or school) and home. Known as a “third space,” the dramatic decrease in in-person places to socialize has only resulted in an uptick in the internet being considered a third space. In connection with this, rates of depression and anxiety have skyrocketed, but STA students and staff have managed to find their own third spaces.

This space looks different for everyone. Some people enjoy going to gyms or visiting a local coffee shop. For junior Ella Janssen, this place for her is the walking trails in her neighborhood.

“Over this past summer I started taking walks every evening,” Janssen said. “I just kind of found places that I really enjoyed like wooded areas and I just started walking around there.”

While walking Janssen has expanded her growing interest in photography and now she has enjoyed bringing friends with her on excursions.

“I do go on walks with some of my friends at points because we’ll all go down to the creek and kind of just climb around on the trees and just hang out,” Janssen said. “And it’s always been really fun to just go on walks outside and see what I can find because I really enjoy photography.

So I’ll go out and take photos of nature and things I see.”

In the growing age of social media, Janssen feels teens need to find a place outside of the internet.

“I feel like it can be very harmful,” Janssen said. “I have used TikTok for a very long time, since I was really young. I only recently deleted it and it helped me realize how harmful it can be and how I’ve improved since not having that as my third space.”

Overall, Janssen’s views of having such a space are positive. She believes that it is crucial for students to be able to have a place to go that allows them to decompress after a stressful day. “I think it’s pretty important to have a place that you can go to that’s not your home or your work so that we can kind of have that place for yourself and be able to take care of yourself,” Janssen said.

Similarly, STA counselors Mary Gajewski and Amanda Johnson also support these third spaces in the community. However, they have been able to see how some students, especially those who have more introverted temperaments, have migrated from primarily face-to-face conversations to an online community.

“There wasn’t that opportunity for people who struggled in those areas to find a sense of community that was comfortable for them,” Gajewski said. “I think now the internet and online chats or online gaming or all of these things that kids can do via the Internet offers a sense of protection from maybe some sense of judgment.”

The DART | designed by Tierney Flavin

SPACES SPACES

allow for a separation from the pressures STA students explore what these ‘third overall well-being.

and Sarah Schwaller | Opinion Editor

Although beneficial to some, both Gajewski and Johnson agree that there can be detrimental effects to this change to an online third space. When students who are socially fulfilled by in-person interactions in a third space turn to the Internet for this social interaction, that is when the Internet can become problematic, as humans are generally wired for this connection in person.

“For some, online chatting can form a sort of false sense of friendship and social networking,” Gajewski said. “And so it tends to lead towards some anxiety and depression because it’s just so removed and it’s not meeting that need.”

However, both counselors have observed that the E-Sports team is a wonderful intersection of online and face-to-face interactions. Their competition is online, as is their objective, but with a common goal, they can connect with each other.

“The group is connecting as a team; with a common purpose they are coming together, so that is sort of a nice, healthy compromise of how to use that online space,” Gajewski said.

There are many places that exist as an in-person third space outside of school organizations. Math teacher Kim Sirridge has found her third space at her church choir. She joined the group eight years ago and has been going back ever since. The process of choosing her third space was fairly simple: she had been involved in choir throughout high school and college and wanted a place where she could continue this interest.

Sirridge mentioned how her demographic changes throughout the week; she spends most of her time at work with a younger generation— her students—but her church choir has provided her with a great range of ages who have offered her so much.

“My choir was my biggest support network when I was a foster parent last year,” Sirridge said. “I have a lot of parent friends that I normally wouldn’t meet because I didn’t have kids prior, including people who offered me help and advice and services that I couldn’t have found anywhere else that I wasn’t expecting to find through my choir, so it was great that I found close friends.”

She goes to choir about three times a week and enjoys many facets of it.

“I go there not only to socialize, but also [for the] music, which I love,” Sirridge said. “But I also get that sort of performance high that you can only get through going to a performance group like theater or if you’re on a sports team, that feeling of achievement that you get performing.”

Sirridge also explains that as people get older, it can be harder to find that third space that also provides meaningful social interaction.

“I didn’t have this [choir] eight years ago and I knew I was missing something,’ Sirridge said. “And I was like, ‘How do adults meet people?’ In college, you still have your activities, and you have your friends, but you get out of college, and you’re on your own. You have to meet people in some way. And I just thought, I love to sing, and I didn’t know where to sing, because I’m not professional quality and I’m not going to sing with the Kansas City Choral; I’m not at that level. But I thought, honestly, when you’re an adult, it’s kind of church choirs that are left. I just found one that had a really good program and they just sucked me right in. And I met so many great people.”

Overall, STA students and teachers agree that third spaces are important to have in one’s life. They provide people with community, positive social interaction and they can provide relief from a stressful day. Third spaces, they agree, are a necessary part of their weeks. B

“A third space is a familiar public spot where you regularly connect with others known and unknown, over a shared interest.”

11.

Screen to Page The DART | Reviews | February 9, 2024

As The Dart’s resident rom-com expert, I’m here to tell you what romance book to read based on your favorite rom-com movie genre.

Story by Annie McShane | Editor-in-Chief

A

s many of you loyal readers may remember from last year’s list of rom-com recommendations, I am somewhat of a rom-com connoisseur. But I am more than just a romance movie lover: I am also a romance novel aficionado. So, in the spirit of love and literacy, I am here to offer you some romance books to read based on your favorite romance movie genre.

Weddings

Let us begin at the ultimate place of romance: weddings. This category is for lovers of movies like “The Wedding Date,” “The Proposal” or the newly released “Anyone But You.” For my wedding-themed book rec, I give you “The Summer of Broken Rules.” This novel tells the story of Meredith Fox, who is recovering from the recent death of her sister.

She is about to spend a week at Martha’s

Vineyard for her cousin’s big white wedding when her boyfriend unexpectedly dumps her, leaving her without a plus one. In the spirit of her late sister and to help distract herself from her break-up, Meredith becomes determined to win her family’s annual assassins tournament that is taking place during the wedding week. But when Meredith realizes that her target is the cute groomsman that she was really hitting it off with, she has to make a choice between the game and her heart. This novel is chock-full with family fun, teamwork

Secrets & Lies Next should we move on to the bane of romance, secrets and lies?

This subgenre is for fans of movies that hold the aspect of deception, like in “You’ve Got Mail,” “While You Were Sleeping” and “She’s All That.” My book choice to match these movies is “Tweet Cute.” If you think the name is cheesy, just you wait. The two main

Now, I’m going to bring the cheery romance mood down a bit. My next category is bittersweet endings. This is the perfect category for anyone looking for a good cry and fans of “500 Days of Summer,” “La La Land” and “Me Before You.” My bittersweet book recommendation is “Normal People.”

For this list, I tried my best to steer clear of books that have movie or TV adaptations, but there is really no

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and collaboration that will please fans of “The Proposal,” “The Wedding Date” and “Anyone But You.” Plus, it is brimming with Taylor Swift references, which gives it an automatic five stars in my book.

protagonists, Pepper and Jack (see, I told you it got cheesier) are enemies at school. Pepper is the top-of-the-class brainiac who dreams of attending Columbia and Jack is the class clown.

They each run the Twitter account for their families’ respective restaurants which, coincidentally, are each other’s biggest competition. The two teens start feuding on Twitter, but little do they know they are also falling

for each other on an anonymous messaging app that Jack created. It’s basically the exact plot of “You’ve Got Mail” but with less books and more cheese. A quick and funny read, “Tweet Cute” will definitely entertain readers who love some good-old deception.

Bittersweet Endings

ending that is more bittersweet than “Normal People.” This novel tells the story of Marianne and Connell, two Irish teenagers who are classmates but not friends. Connell is a popular jock and Marianne is a quiet loner, but the unlikely pair get together unbeknownst to Connell’s friends. The story follows the two of them through the end of

Although a good cry is sometimes what I need, I’m always going to prefer a happy ending. So, to brighten things up, my fourth and final category is abroad! These are the movies where the American girl goes to Europe on a quest, whether that’s helping an old woman find her true love like in “Letters to Juliet,” proposing to her boyfriend like in “Leap Year” or reconnecting with her father like in “What a Girl Wants.” Somewhere along the

high school and into their adult lives as their relationship faces various trials and tribulations. Like “500 Days of Summer,” “La La Land” and “Me Before You,” the novel shows readers that no matter how hard we might be rooting for a couple, sometimes love is out of our control.

Going Abroad

journey, the protagonist always ends up falling for one of the locals. My book recommendation for this genre is “Love and Olives.” This aptly named novel tells the story of Olive (Liv) who is visiting her absent father in Greece and helping him make a documentary about his search for the Lost City of Atlantis, which he believes to be underneath the island of Santorini. Once a faithful believer in the city, Liv lost

interest after her dad left when she was eight. But, after reconnecting with him and spending time with his handsome teenage apprentice Theo, Liv starts to feel the spirit of the adventure again. With a driving plot, loveable characters and a beautiful setting, this book is one that will definitely satisfy your love of European rom-coms. B

Sniffing Out Snubs The DART | designed by Annie McShane

I watched 33 movies in 2023. Two of my top five were snubbed for Academy Award nominations. As a layman film connoisseur I look forward to the Oscars every year, but I know that these movies deserve their time in the spotlight.

Story by Tierney Flavin | Editor-in-Chief

O

n Jan. 5, my life was permanently altered by a film that transcended the likes of any movie I had ever seen. And I watch a lot of films. I chose to go with my good friend to see “The Iron Claw” in theaters simply because of Jeremy Allen White. From “Shameless” to “The Bear,” we believe in White’s potential as an actor, so we bought tickets for “The Iron Claw.”

From the trailer, it was seemingly a simple wrestling bio-pic. But the acting and cinematography of this heart-wrenching tale of brotherhood and loyalty and the hustle far exceeded my expectations. I was devastated throughout the final half of the movie, even more so as I began to reflect on the entire runtime. I watched over 30 movies in 2023, and “The Iron Claw” had to be the best overall film of the year. I can see the scenes so vividly and re-imagine the emotions that I felt in the theater.

As I watched the live unveiling of the Academy Award Nominations, I expected nothing short of a “Best Actor” Nomination for Zac Efron’s glass-ceiling-shattering performance as Kevin Von Erich, as well as a number of other nominations for “The Iron Claw.” Perhaps “Best Cinematography” or “Best Production Design” or “Best Supporting Actor” for White or Harris Dickinson—both of whom shared equally tear-jerkingly vulnerable performances.

I took to the Oscar Entry Rules to assure myself that the greatest movie of the year’s December release had not pushed its eligibility to the 2025 Oscars. I was floored.

Zero nominations had come in for “The Iron Claw.”

Throughout my years as a cinephile, I’ve been privy to many an Oscar snub.

Typically, though, these snubs come during the Academy Award show (we may look to Leonardo DiCaprio’s many unsuccessful “Best Actor” nominations). However, never has a snub impacted me so significantly.

Everyone in my life who saw this movie adored every aspect of its creation.

The nomination spots were essentially all filled by five movies dubbed by the Board as the only films worth the recognition.

“Oppenheimer,” “The Killers of the Flower Moon,” “Poor Things” and “Barbie” were great—don’t get me wrong. That is no excuse for an underrepresentation of many other great films of 2023.

Also notable was the lack of acknowledgement for Sophia Coppola’s “Priscilla,” which featured a beautiful soundtrack that was closed by America’s Sweetheart Dolly Parton. Cailee Spaeny won the “Best Actress” title at the Venice Film Festival and a nomination at the Golden Globes for her role as Priscilla Presley; yet, nothing from the Oscars. For me, “Priscilla”

was a top five-movie of 2023. It moved me.

Much more so than after last year’s eight nomination-earning film “Elvis.”

2023 was a fantastic year for film.

Strides were made in many genres and respect for women in cinema has increased dramatically. Many—if not all—nominated movies for this year’s Academy Awards are incredibly deserving. Great filmmakers and actors have made their way into the public eye and have been acknowledged by the Review Board. That does not, however, authorize the neglect of some of the greatest instances of acting and cinematography and scoring like we saw in “The Iron Claw” and “Priscilla.”

As is the way of life, the nominations are out of my hands. But as last year’s STA Cinema Club winner of the most correctly guessed Oscar awards, I know the game well. If “The Iron Claw” couldn’t be a winner, at least I can. On that note, here are my predictions for the biggest categories: Best Picture: “Oppenheimer” (I’ll admit bias here; I loved this movie) Best Actor: Cillian Murphy, “Oppenheimer” Best Actress: Lily Gladstone, “Killers of the Flower Moon” Best Supporting Actor: Mark Ruffalo, “Poor Things” Best Supporting Actress: Emily Blunt, “Oppenheimer”B

THE I R O N C L AW

13.

The DART | Feature | February 9, 2024

RIZZ OVER

Romance

The 2023 Word of the Year was rizz. The Dart looks into how this term has come into play within the past year.

Story by Wynnie Sprague | Staff Writer and Lauren Rando | Staff Writer

A

re you from Tennessee? Cause you’re the only ten I see.”

If you’re a teenage girl, you’ve probably heard a line similar to this more than once. These pickup lines can happen very frequently and they are the boys’ way of “rizzing you up.”

According to Merriam Webster, rizz, the word of the year for 2023, is short for charisma, and defined as romantic appeal or charm. In other words, it is how good one is at flirting, typically associated with a W or an L. W means that you have good rizz and L means that you are not very good/failed at rizzing someone up.

Social media has played a significant role in rizz because people often look up others they find attractive, and then if they see

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them in person, they will do their best to rizz FaceTiming you to spending time together, them up. when it’s really not.”

“I think [rizz] makes dating almost a Over the past few years, dating has competition of who can ‘pull’ more people faded into what is now the talking stage. and takes the relationship part out of the The beginning of a relationship can be relationship,” one STA student said.

“Rizz” has also changed what types of people are in relationships. Typically, a person who is more reserved or shy is not going to be outgoing and try to flirt with the guy she likes, especially if the guy is outgoing and more confident.

“I think the idea of rizz has standardized what people find attractive, which might lead to only certain kinds of people entering into relationships,” another student said. “I think it has also promoted very outgoing people getting into relationships, while more timid people may not.”

Guys are using their charm and personality over their physical appearance to attract who they are interested in. Their “attractive personalities” are catching girls off guard because girls were not expecting this to happen.

“I have definitely been surprised by how attractive I can find a guy that I would never usually talk to after having a conversation with him,” one student said. “I feel like people have less of a type now that girls are being rizzed up by guys they would have never thought twice about before.”

Juniors Emma Garcia, Logan Lewellen and In today’s society, it can seem like Madeline Sallee all gasp in surprise over Piper trying to rizz someone up is more Bednarczyk’s Snapchat conversation. important than actually getting into a relationship. Social media has impacted compromised because it is mostly texting how people view dating and what dating or Snapchatting each other, and eventually actually means in today’s light. they start hanging out.

“I think rizz is interesting since it’s “I definitely think the talking stage is only short for ‘charisma’ and honestly, a a thing because of technology,” one student lot of guys aren’t very charismatic,” a said. “When our parents were growing up, or Junior Piper Bednarczyk shows junior student said.

“Guys are lazier at flirting even 10 years ago, dating was a bigger deal.

Logan Lewellen her Snapchat text and dating in this period of social media You would have to call the person and ask she received from her crush, saying because they equate texting you and them on a date, and you would have to tell “WYLL”.

The DART | designed by Lauren Rando their parents where you are going and what time you would be home. Now, parents can just track their kids on apps like Life360.”

Going on an actual date is more rare than it used to be. Today’s couples would rather sit in a basement and watch a movie or drive around in each other’s cars. The “old-school” type of dating is definitely becoming harder to find.

“I know a lot of people take many months to go on a date,” another student said. “To me, I think you should go on a date to see if you like that person. You do not have to decide that you like that person before you go on a date with them and it is okay to not want anything after going on a date. I just think the in-person meeting is really important and it has been lost with social media. People think it is embarrassing to ask a girl on a date, but I think realistically once you’re out of high school and into the real world, talking to someone over Snapchat doesn’t really get you anywhere.”

Since the talking stage is mostly over text or Snapchat, people are becoming attached to their phones. It is more of a pressure to respond to the person they like, which can cause hours of screen time a day.

“It is kind of stressful to have that attachment if I have to text that person back, or oh, I am not going to respond to them and I am going to leave them on delivered,” a student said. “Sometimes I think it is weird if I respond too fast. I think if you like a person you should not have to play so many games with them to like you back, but I think that’s just how it works now.”

With people’s schedules getting busier, it is harder to make time and/or plans to see their significant other. It can be especially difficult with STA being an all-girls school.

“It is hard to see my boyfriend because we are both very busy with school and sports, and when we are at home a lot of times we are tired,” a student said. “We text and FaceTime

each other on the days where we can’t see each other face-to-face.”

Social media can also lead to the loss of valuable social skills, which makes it harder to form meaningful connections. There can definitely be a disconnect between the person you text and the one that you see in person.

“I feel like there have definitely been situations where I am talking to a guy and texting him everyday, but then when I actually see him in person he seems different,” a student said. “I think people use their social media to seem more outgoing and social, but in reality sometimes they can be really shy.”

On all platforms of social media, there are influencer couples that make their relationship seem perfect. This can cause feelings of jealousy and insecurity for others.

“I always see couples who only post the good parts about their relationship, and they never show their flaws,” a student said. “I just have to remember that these people’s jobs are making money from their relationships, so they only post what their viewers want to see.

I do not think anyone wants to see the bad parts and the imperfections.” B

Rizz noun slang :romantic appeal or charm Rizz verb :rizz; rizzing; rizzes

What is your relationship status?

18% 58%

Not in a relationship Talking

24%

Dating / in a relationship Results based off of survey answers from 34 STA students

Math teacher Lisa Anielak’s thoughts on dating now vs. then Q: How did you and your husband meet?

A: “I had just moved to Kansas City and got a job. My high school friend came to visit me and it was Christmas break, so she wanted to see some of her friends in KC. And one of her friends that I met that night was my now husband.”

Q: How did you start dating?

A: “Well, since I met him over Christmas break, I sent him a Christmas card after I met him because I worked at Hallmark.

After that, he invited me to a law school dance during the spring semester after Christmas. That was kind of our first date.”

Q: How did you communicate while you were dating?

A: “At the time, he was in law school at Mizzou, and I was working for Hallmark in Kansas City. So, we would just call each other because we did not even have email at the time, which sounds crazy now.”

Q: How do you think dating today is different from when you and your husband were dating?

A: “I think it is definitely harder because of social media. I think now everyone already has a preconception about you before you go out. Also, TV shows and social media make relationships seem like a perfect fairytale, which in reality is not always glamorous.”

15.

the DART | Columns | Febuary 9, 2024

of a

Shopaholic I am a self-diagnosed fashion addict and that addiction has only progressed through the years.

T

Column by Anna Stout | Co-Design Editor

hrough generations, the Stouts have been historically addicted to shopping. Black Friday is essentially my family’s Christmas, and each year on Thanksgiving I have begged and begged to attend the iconic event. Fortunately, this year I was allowed attendance and to put it simply, it was chaos with my aunt aggressively pulling hundreds of items from every shelf and rack, while my mom patiently waited in line, each willing to spend the year’s savings on various pieces. It was completely unlike anything I have ever experienced and honestly left me speechless.

I can confidently say I have inherited 100% of these genes. Since I could walk, my birthday presents from various family members included a shopping trip: always during the spring, on The Plaza, and with multitudes of shopping bags on my tiny five-year-old arms. As a child, I looked forward to this day all year long, dreaming about items I would pull from the kids section of H&M. While this tradition has changed and faded over the years, the shopping addiction has not.

To be honest, I think the only three things I spend my money on are food, gas and clothes — an insane amount of them. I save up every penny of my babysitting and lifeguarding money each year with the same goal: maintain enough money to keep my love of fashion going. I think that every member of The Dart staff and each of my friends would say I have stuck to that goal.

I’m not sure if any readers have paid attention to what content of stories I typically write, but it almost always has to do with fashion.

In fact, my first job on staff was to make a Teresian look book with

all of the dresses, shoes, and every other item someone might wear for the special day. I’ve written three or four columns, all having a similar theme of fashion. Ultimately, I think it’s safe to say that I’m an addict.

Every free moment I get, I’m shopping. I have Nordstrom, Free People and Revolve open on my computer at all times, with well over 20 items in my carts. I imagine my teachers hate me due to the constant flipping from the Free People website to my Onenote page. During a free period, It is nearly impossible to study because my brain is filled with thoughts of skirts, tops and shoes.

As far as I’m concerned, no matter the day or time, there is always a reason to shop. Whether that’s for the next season, spring break or you need your spirits boosted, there is never a time not to shop.

Now, that may seem like an unconventional consumerist statement, but let me explain how I shop. I rarely pull the trigger on my online carts; it’s more like window shopping. As I said before, I spend hours on multiple websites, but I only add things to my cart and think about buying them. If I end up purchasing an item, it has probably been in my cart for nearly a month at least, and I have gone through several friends to double check that the items are cute and practical.

Shopping is an essential part of my life, and who I am to my core.

I don’t think It’s a true day in my life unless I open five different shopping websites and scroll for a minimum of one hour. It has always been a prominent part of my being, and holds a special— occasionally (shoppers) remorseful part of my heart. B

Here I Come 16.

I am certain that Kansas City, in the heart of the Midwest, is one of the most fun and exciting cities in the United States.

Column by Stella Baska | Staff Writer

Read over here!

Kansas City,

My

the DART | designed by Anna Stout

In a search for somewhere to stay active, one place stood out from all the rest.

O

ut of breath, dripping in sweat, and barefoot: three states you probably don’t want to be in at 6:30 in the morning. However, for me, these are three signs that I just finished another great Powerlife class. Powerlife is a yoga and workout studio that has multiple locations throughout KC, offering 35-minute, 45-minute and even hour-long classes ranging from beginner-level yoga to high-intensity sculpt and barre classes. The spaces are heated to around 90 degrees, making for a sweaty, hot class. Powerlife has become one of my favorite places to take some time for myself and get active.

However, there wasn’t always Powerlife.

My search for a hobby to pick up began my

“

I

Column by Molly Sonnenberg | Staff Writer

sophomore year of high school. I wasn’t doing any sports, and I wanted something to do after school to give me a break from homework and to keep myself active. I tried joining a gym, cycling classes and even going on runs, but none of those stuck with me. The quest for a fun and engaging form of exercise continued.

Then it hit me: Powerlife. I had tried Powerlife for a week freshman year and had mixed feelings about it. Why not try it again?

And so I booked my first class right after school in November of sophomore year, and the rest is history.

Lots of sweat, Celsius, three different yoga mats, and 200+ classes later, Powerlife has become one of my favorite spots to go

just can’t wait to get out of Missouri,” one of my friends says as we talk about our futures. I frown: What is wrong with Missouri?

The ironic thing about this statement was that we were at the Chief’s super bowl parade downtown; Missouri was the place to be.

I have always loved the Midwest. Don’t get me wrong, the mountains and beaches are nice to go on vacation to, but home is where the heart is.

My Midwestern pride may have sprung from my mom taking me and my brother all around the Kansas City area. To kill time, we would go on long drives from Longview Lake to Strawberry Hill.

There are many beautiful parts of the greater Kansas City region, if you just look.

Another possible origin of my love for our city is my uncle’s enthusiasm for great shows and restaurants in the area. Christmas gifts were always gift cards to the hottest food places or tickets to see a new play or orchestra.

I remember when he took me to “Beautiful: the Carole King Musical” and Eddie V’s on The Plaza. I was only 12 years old at the time, but even then I understood Kansas City’s magic.

Now that I’m older and starting to go on adventures by myself or with friends, I have found a whole new appreciation for Kansas City and the Midwest.

One of the most marvelous things about Kansas City is the amount of coffee shops we have. I could write paragraphs and paragraphs about the coffee/bakery scene here, such as the Roasterie, Mildred’s and Messenger, but this story is about our city

to. It became my third space: a space that isn’t my home, my school, but rather a place where I can take some time for myself and escape all the responsibilities, deadlines and social media: a place where I can put down my phone for 45 minutes, take a deep breath, and come together with my KC community in a 93-degree heated room. I am so grateful to be a part of the Powerlife community and wouldn’t have it any other way! B

and region as a whole.

If you are more of a food person, Kansas City has great food places as well, like Earl’s Premiere, Billie’s Grocery and Slaps BBQ. It is impossible to praise the Kansas City food scene without mentioning barbecue!

I love the museums and art scene in Kansas City as well. The Kansas City Museum, the World War I museum and certain exhibits at Union Station are extremely educational and fun. The Nelson Atkins has great events also, like the Evelyn Hofer Exhibit…(check out the gallery on the DNO!) Sports are a massive part of Kansas City’s identity. With the Chiefs eight-year AFC west winning streak, Travis Kelce dating Taylor Swift and three Super Bowl wins, football has put us on the map. However, the Current’s new stadium, the rumors of the Kauffman Stadium moving downtown, a professional volleyball team set to come in 2025 and World Cup games arriving here in 2026 all contribute to our athletic prominence.

The streetcar extension seals the deal on Kansas City’s growth.

Imagine walking to stop by UMKC after school and maybe going to The River Market for a snack. That is the ultimate dream to me.

Being in the middle of America, Kansas City is often overlooked, even by its own citizens. However, our region has a lot to offer that we should all take advantage of! B

17.

the DART | Sports | Feberary 9, 2024

Diving into the Season Each year Star athletes transition from the dance floor to the pool, participating in both STA dive and dance.

Story by Lina Kilgore | Sports and News Editor

18.

the DART | designed by Jasmine Cervantes

T

he majority of the dive team at STA has one thing in common: dive is not their first nor main sport. In fact, most of these divers can also be found on the STA dance team or even on the gymnastics floor. These dual sport athletes transition seamlessly from the gym floor to water every year, finding joy within both the similarities and differences between dancing and diving.

Junior Molly Kate January quit gymnastics and turned to diving as a new-found interest and recognized how smooth a shift between the two sports really is.

“It felt natural going into it because gymnastics and diving are basically the same thing, so it felt like a good transition, especially after wanting to just quit gymnastics, but keep that passion,” January said.

Senior Abigail Tillmon also felt that joining dive offers a smooth transition from her dance season, considering the closely related skills required in both sports.

“In both dance and dive, pointing your toes and proper body movements are important,” Tillmon said.

Freshman Bridget Ammeen, who also takes part in both dance and dive, additionally testifies to the parallels between the two sports.

“I think they’re similar sports, not all the way but in both sports you have to be somewhat flexible,” Ammeen said.

Despite the undeniable similarities, differences between these sports exhibit the unique experience dive offers to these dual athletes. January specifically found the differences between gymnastics and dive through her positive experience with the team and dive as a sport in general.

“Gymnastics felt toxic to me because it was all about perfection,” January said. “There was a lot of competition and jealousy. Dive is just way more fun and all the girls are so supportive, and it’s just a way better environment.”

Tillmon also recognized a rewarding aspect in dive that was missing from her involvement in dance.

“My favorite thing about dive is that I get to try new things and be adventurous,” Tillmon said.

In recognizing the differences between dive and gymnastics, January finds that the distinctness of dive allows it to be more than just a sport, as it is also a strong community.

“Dive means being in an environment that’s loving and supportive while also being competitive enough to try my best and to push myself to work harder,” January said.

Ameen additionally acknowledges the unity with other students she has gained since joining the dive team.

“I just feel like dive really represents the sisterhood,” Ammeen said.

“It’s so good to meet girls as it creates a bond with them.” B

Molly Kate January looks down before diving into the lap pool; at left, she completes a dive. photos courtesy of KDog.

TONIGHT

Green Out Game Feb. 9 Join the basketball team for a game in memory of Liesel Anderson, class of 2024.

STA vs Pembroke @7:00 pm

19.

the DART | Feature | February 9, 2024

The Sisterhood of the Stanley Cup

Exploring the Evolution of a Water Bottle Trend and Its Influence on Teen Culture and Consumer Behavior.

E

Story by Jo Marshall | Staff Writer

very day, before leaving the house, sophomore Lily Reisch grabs the plastic white handle of her 40 oz Stanley cup and heads to school.

“I fill my cup with cold water from the kitchen tap and add three scoops of ice from my freezer,” Reisch said. “It’s the final step in my morning routine.”

Reisch, along with many other STA students, subscribes to the Stanely cup trend. You can see these brightly colored artifacts cluttering desktops, tucked away in the sides of backpacks and filling every lunch table in The Commons.

According to sophomore and student-athlete Maddie Dwyer, her Stanley cup is the most important item among her practice gear, because of its heat resistance.

“It keeps my ice cold from morning to night and it saves me time before practice since I don’t need to go get new ice from the trainer’s office,” Dwyer said. “Even after a hot cross-country practice, my water is just as cold as it was at 7 am.”

In November, a viral TikTok video of a woman whose Stanley cup survived a car fire made national news. For some this came as no surprise, because the cups were originally intended for blue-collar workers. William Stanley Jr., the founder of Stanley, was an inventor.

According to the Stanley 1913 website, “He wanted his coffee hot all day while he was working, and [when creating the cup] was inspired to apply some of his theories learned while developing [induction coils].”

However, the newly gained popularity from TikTok influencers has given Stanley a new identity.

Seemingly overnight, a Stanley was no longer your father’s dirty work cup but your older sister’s favorite accessory. The vibrant colors and patterns captivated the attention of teenage girls looking to spend some extra cash during their next “Target run.” In this instance, “some” means upwards of $50. The high price tag has compelled many to tirelessly search for dupes in fear of missing out on the trend. Many justify the price tag through the presumed benefits that reusable water bottles have for the environment.

Following the hippie movement in the 1970s, the effects of single-use plastic gained attention and the reusable water bottle was born. The first bottle to have the “Stanley cup effect” was the Nalgene water bottle.

2002 STA graduate Michelle Marshall recalls the impact of the Nalgene at school.

“Everyone wanted one,” Marshall said. “Girls would hang them on their backpacks or a carabiner. They were cool and if you had one then so were you.”

As times changed, so did the must-have water

20.

bottle. Following the Nalgene were many others like the Contigo, S’well and Hydroflask.

The emergence of social media added a new piece to the puzzle.

In the late 2010s, Youtube was a hub for rising stars. Popular teenage Youtubers like Emma Chamberlain, Hannah Meloche and Ellie Thumann became the faces of a new aesthetic — the VSCO girl. The key to achieving this aesthetic was owning a specific water bottle: the Hydroflask. This turned the bottle into more of an accessory than anything else.

In the midst of COVID-19 lockdown, many took their boredom to TikTok. Whatever it was, from a get-ready-with-me video to a grandma showing off her favorite recipes, these once-ordinary people became “influencers.” What makes them influencers is right in the name: they’re influential.

Products are “recommended” by these influencers and sales of the products immediately skyrocket. This is called influencer marketing — a way of advertising products to consumers through subtle promotion in videos. The influencers receive these products for free and gain commission through the use of affiliate links. These “recommendations” are a marketing gimmick — the carefully hidden sponsor hashtags keeping fans oblivious.

Many emerging TikTok trends revolve around the beloved Stanley cup. “#WaterTok” is a hashtag on over 85,000 videos of women making “water recipes,” where they fill up their Stanley cups with water, flavored drink powders and crushed ice. Other creators post videos where they match their outfits to their various Stanley cups for a week. These trends further promote consumerism, causing their followers to buy “water recipe” ingredients and more Stanley cups to have colors that match their outfits.

The Stanley cup is a perfect example of the power that the desire to fit in holds over consumers. If an influencer has it, their followers want it. If all of their friends have it, they can’t be the odd one out. After just a few viral videos, the Stanley cup became a necessity for young girls and women alike. B

the DART | Community | designed by Isa Glover

In Loving Memory of Mike Foster and JoJo Palacio As STA mourns the loss of Mike Foster and JoJo Palacio, The Dart pays tribute to their legacy.

Story by Isa Glover | Associate Sports Editor

Mike Foster

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fficer Mike Foster passed away from an illness on Jan. 3. Foster had worked in Campus Security since August 2018.

Foster was born Indianapolis, IN. He attended high school at Waynesville High School in Waynesville, MO. Following graduation, he attended the University of Missouri at Kansas City.

Before his start at STA, he worked with the Kansas City Police Department.

Foster loved watching college sports, going to the movies and listening to music.

Students fondly remember Foster and his kindness.

“Mr. Foster always said ‘hi’ to me in the mornings,” senior Leah Lewis said.

“But my experience with him that stands out to me was when a friend’s car malfunctioned. He was the first one on the scene, he helped to assess the situation and determined what to do and he was the last one to leave when her car got towed.

He stayed the whole time and was so easy to talk to. He was nice and professional and made what could have been a stressful situation a lighthearted break in the day.”

Jojo Palacio

J

o Anna Palacio, known to most as JoJo, passed away in a traffic accident on Dec. 30. Palacio worked as part of the STA Maintenance and Facilities Team since July 2018.

Palacio grew up in Kansas City, KS. She attended Emerson Elementary School, Argentine Middle School and JC Harmon High School.

Palacio loved hanging out with family, having family cookouts and being around her nieces and nephews.

“JoJo was always full of life and laughter,” Operations Manager Gil Mont said. “I loved working with her every day. She made the job fun and interesting.”

Palacio left an impact on those around her.

“She taught me to be myself and enjoy life,” Mont said. “I will always remember her as a loving, caring person. It’s not the same working at STA without her.” B

21.

the DART | Last Look | February 9, 2023

fa shion

With every new year comes new trends and fixations.

Graphics by Ellie McManamy

off-the-shoulder sweaters

long denim skirts

22.

tall black boots

the DART | designed by Ellie McManamy

lookbook

Here are The Dart staff’s trend predictions for 2024!

Social Media Editor

mixing gold & silver pearl jewelry

matching lounge set

maxi dresses

23.

2023-24

the DART | February 9, 2024

DART STAFF Advisor

Opinion Editors

Dianne Hirner

Katelyn Buckley Sarah Schwaller

Editors-In-Chief

Web/Lifestyle Editors Dianne Haake Olivia Cooper

Social Media Editor

Annie McShane Tierney Flavin

Photography Editor Jasmine Cervantes

Ellie McManamy

Features Editor

Associate Photo Editor

Anna Massman

Staff Writers

Maya Tule

Design Editors Anna Stout Chloe Denk

Cassie Hallier Jo Marshall Sports/News Editor Lauren Rando Lina Kilgore Molly Sonnenberg Rebecca McGannon Associate Sports Editor Stella Baska Isa Glover Winnie Sprague

COVER DESIGN BY

Anna Massman | Features Editor

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