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ST. TERESA’S ACADEMY KANSAS CITY, MO VOLUME 86 ISSUE 3
Where does the stigma surrounding all-girls education come from? Students explore their experiences with stereotypes surrounding all-girls schools, narrowing in on STA in particular. page 16
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the DART|December 10, 2021
LETTER FROM THE EDITORS
Dear Reader, Hello and welcome to the Dart Issue 3, holiday edition. We are so happy to have you! The most striking change within STA the past few months has been the mask mandate ending. Read Lina Kilgore’s story about masking at STA on page 4, as well as Sydney Waldron’s story about the Fine Arts Booster and their efforts to raise money for the arts department on page 5. Lin Chiun-Pei is STA’s Mandarin teacher, and she teaches virtually from Taiwan. Read Megan Turley’s Star Spotlight interview about her on pages 6-7. Lauren Brackney went vegan for an entire week and discovered the challenge of avoiding all meat and dairy products. To read more about her experience, turn to page 10 (you might even find some vegan recipes and restaurants to try). If you are anything like us, you are hyped for the holiday
season. To get in the spirit of Christmas, read Tierney Flavin’s review of Hallmark Holiday Movies and Kaylee Lary’s review of the best Holiday candles, both on page 11. STA’s diversity shines through in every aspect of the school, including in the religious traditions of its students. To learn about different holiday celebrations and traditions, flip to Mara Callahan’s story on page 21. If you need gift ideas for your friends this holiday season, look no further than Katie Massman’s gift guide on pages 28-29. If you are looking for something other than holiday content, no worries — this issue has much more to offer! Flip to page 12 to learn about the STA students who take language classes at Rockhurst University, written by Annie McShane.
Page 14 features a colorful story by Ellie Buttell about hair dye, particularly STA’s policy about having natural hair colors. Don’t forget about the sporty stars! Pages 24-25 feature the dance team, written by Miriam Parsa. Remember “anything but a backpack day” a few weeks ago? Kathryn Hart photographed the best of the “backpacks” on page 30. On a more serious note, this cycle’s centerspread is about the stereotypes that STA students face. Written by Caroline Hinkebein and Tierney Flavin, the story explores the impct these stereotypes can have on students. Happy holidays and happy reading!
Sophia Rall Becca Speier Sydney Waldron
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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news feature: Mask Mandate Lifted news feature: DECA & FAB star spotlight: Chiun-Pei bits & pieces review: Vegan Takeover reviews: Hallmark Movies & Scents for the Holidays feature: Studying Abroad? feature: A Call for Change centerspread: Miss Represented feature: Untraditional Traditions perspectives: Trash the Plastic & My Decades Delusion sports: Dancing with the Stars community: Trying Treats on Troost humans of STA: Mr. C, Dr. Taracido & Ms. Taber last look: 2021 Gift Guide Anything but a Backpack Photo Essay Cover design by Becca Speier | Editor-in-Chief
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the DART|December 10, 2021
L FTED Mask mandate
NEWS FEATURE
With the holidays and flu season beginning, along with the new Omicron variant, STA administration plans to carefully monitor future mask policies. Story and photos by Lina Kilgore | Writer
Bolch poses maskless in the hallway Nov 11. She has only known STA with masks and Covid-19
As a result, the STA community is anticipating the possibility of increasing Covid-19 cases. STA president Siabhan MayWashington acknowledges this ongoing concern. “We will continue to monitor the conditions, the environmental city conditions, and take a pulse of what's happening with our community,” MayWashington said.
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We will continue to monitor the conditions, the environmental city conditions, and take a pulse of what's happening with our community Siabhan May-Washington
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s the holidays approach and flu season begins, the STA community may be questioning if masks will stay off on campus. Health concerns regarding the double impact of both Covid-19 and flu have been a prevalent issue since Nov 4, when the mask mandate expired at STA. Sophomore Maddie Bolch expressed her initial concern of a rise in sickness returning when the option to not wear a mask became available. “I was surprised,” Bolch said. “I didn’t think [administration] would lift it. I figured they would just continue it throughout winter.” Often correlated with winter, flu is coming back as a universal health concern. The flu was almost nonexistent while society was shut down last year; therefore, health officials are worried that the return of this infectious disease paired with Covid-19 will cause a roaring strain on hospitals in the upcoming months and may be possibly intensified by the omicron variant, which was first detected in the United States on Dec 1.
situation arises. “If we do see a high percentage of our population sick after the holidays, sick with flu season, we will institute whatever mitigating measures we need to,” MayWashington said. “If that requires us to mask up again for a temporary window of time, we will do all that we need to to keep our community safe.” Regardless of the worry regarding the flu and winter season, many students have found the option to not wear masks a refreshing and exciting change from the last two years of wearing them almost everywhere. “I think it's nice, because you get to see everybody's faces and analyze them more,” Bolch said. “And I think it's just nice to have the choice.” As we move into the second year of this pandemic, health concerns are still a relevant issue that are foremost on the minds of students and administrators. “We work together to come up with a plan case by case in light of CDC and Kansas City Health Department recommendations,” May-Washington said. B
Despite the constant monitoring of Covid-19 and flu cases, some students are still concerned about the overall wellbeing of many students and family members connected to STA. Senior Iris Roddy specifically worries about healthSophomore Maddie compromised students. Bolch poses with “I think our motto is love the a mask in the dear neighbor,” Roddy said. “Yet hallway Nov 11. Students are we're not protecting the most asked to always vulnerable among us. We have have masks in hand just in compromised students. We case. have students who have family members who either until now haven’t gotten the vaccine, they're too young, or they're immunocompromised.” This poses the new question as to the result of a potentially harsh winter. Safety measures have been prepared by administration in case such a
DECA: doing
the DART|designed by Tierney Flavin
good for STA
DECA is a business-centered extra-curricular that combines personal finance and business entrepreneurship. Story and photos by Lauren Ford | Graphics Editor
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TA has numerous extracurricular organizations and a new one has recently been added, DECA. It helps to educate young women in personal finances, stocks, credit and entrepreneurship. DECA also includes various activities and service programs as well. Taught by STA’s new personal finance teacher, Nicole Smith, DECA is an extra curricular that is similar to Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) but with the addition of personal finance. Smith said, “DECA is also a business club similar to FBLA; the emphasis on DECA is more along the lines of entrepreneurship and personal finance. They hold competitions like FBLA, but a little differently. So it’s just another option for women that want to get involved.” DECA allows young women to gain the skills they would need to succeed in a business-related field and be able to manage their finances. The DECA competitions include various tasks that allow a student to prove themselves in fields of business and finances. “We have a couple of weekly case studies and they’ve worked really well; they go nicely with my lessons, and we’ve just had one on credit. So [DECA students participate in] case studies, stock market analysis and a couple other exterior games,” Smith said. Similar to FBLA's "STAR Cups," DECA provides hot breakfast on certain mornings and the students in DECA get to run these breakfasts so they can develop a better understanding of operating businesses. Typically Chick-fil-A breakfast sandwiches are sold in
Fine Arts Booster
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The Fine Arts Boosters, or FAB, helps to raise money for STA’s art programs. Student led FAB was stopped in 2020 because of the pandemic, but is now back in 2021. Story by Sydney Waldron | Editor-in-Chief
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ophomore Megan Mayer started the Fine Arts Booster during the second week of the 2021-2022 school year. Mayer started it because of her belief in the importance of the theater department. “I think the Fine Arts Boosters are important to spread the arts, '' Mayer said. “Which are important and need more money to continue to bring people together and to continue to be a fun-loving space to express yourself.” Junior Tessa Stevenson advertises Some of Mayer’s specific goals for the club are to raise a Chick-fil-a sandwich outside of money for a new sound system for the theater. Mayer M&A Nov. 18. The sandwiches are and the club plan to do this with a number of different provided by DECA and help to raise money. fundraisers. “Some of the ways we fundraise for STA's fine arts is we either Goppert or M&A. had a cabaret November 12 at 7 pm,” Mayer said.“We also “We have hot breakfast, at least have candy cane grams being sold in early December and a once a week,” Smith said. “And it’s penny war right after Spring break.” the same thing [as FBLA] because our The Disney Cabaret was an event hosted at STA where students get a chance to operate a some STA students sing Disney songs, while others came small business.” to watch. Mayer held this event because she believed that DECA also participates in service it would be fun for everyone involved, while also making opportunities that include STA money for the fine arts department. students outside of the extracurricular. “I did start the Disney Cabaret and I started it because “We are collecting cans for an I figured ‘who doesn't love Disney and who doesn't love organization that cashes the cans to music,’ so I wanted to find something everyone would love to buy Christmas presents for children come see,” Mayer said. “The money we receive will be evenly in third-world countries. And then the distributed to all the fine arts at STA.” other [project] is in collaboration with Senior Lily Brown participated in the Disney Cabaret and advisories. It's a former family from sang "Poor Unfortunate Souls" from “The Little Mermaid,” STA and we are going to adopt a child and also sang a duet that was "Sweet Child" also from “The and get gifts for that child,” Smith Little Mermaid.” Brown was initially nervous but her friends’ said. motivation helped her. DECA plans on continuing the “I was kinda nervous because I personally think it's easier can service project once a quarter. to perform as a different character in a show, for example, For the upcoming can project, rather than as yourself singing in basically a talent show,” DECA members will be posted in Brown said. “My friends had a lot of faith in me which gave The Commons to collect students’ me more confidence and I also just convinced myself that it donations. was only one show and it's mostly practice for the future.” While DECA is relatively new, it’s Brown says that she would be open to doing something an opportunity for STA students to similar because of the friends she made and the fun she had. become acclimated with finances and “I would 100% do something similar because I got closer business similar to the opportunities to a lot of underclassmen; I feel like I made them more FBLA provides, but with some confident in themselves while developing a relationship with different facets and experience in real- them,” Brown said. It is also fun just to do something on the life money situations. Students who side that doesn't take a lot of work and effort, but something are interested in learning more about that opens up your mind to new hobbies!” B DECA should contact Smith in G107.B
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the DART|December 10, 2021
Lin Chiun Pei 林君霈
Lin Chiun Pei is STA’s Mandarin teacher and she has recently moved back to her hometown of Taipei, Taiwan. She teaches classes completely online to students thousands of miles away every day while also juggling taking care of her daughter and managing her own personal life. Story by Megan Turley | Social Media Team Photos courtesy of Lin Chiun Pei
Lin and her daughter Nov 8. Her daughter is in second grade.
the DART|designed by Megan Turley
STAR SPOTLIGHT
What made you want to continue to work at STA? The reason I want to stay here … is I found the people here really nice. And I have to say Mrs. McCormick and also people in my department. They are very supportive. As you know, I have been teaching online for two years, unlike all the other teachers who can do face-to-face, and they have a lot more obligations and [duties] in school and I don’t. It’s all because they support me. I found in my teaching career, I don’t get that kind of support everywhere. What do you like most about teaching Mandarin? Because this is the language that I [have] been speaking for my whole life. So I have the confidence to use the language. And I have taught this language for 16-17 years. So I have the experience, and I was majoring in Chinese literature and bilingual education [in college]. So this is my professional field.
Lin holds an oragami rabbit she made with her Mandarin classes Nov 8. The rabbits were made in celebration for the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival.
How has this move impacted your personal life? I think, mentally, I think it’s actually made me really happy because I’ve been wanting to spend time with my original family, which is my parents. I feel like I’ve been away from home, which I still consider home, even though I don’t live there anymore. And for those important Chinese holidays, like Chinese New Year and the Moon Festival, you’re supposed to spend time with your family, and I couldn’t because I’m always far away from them. So this move actually fulfilled my dream. I have been wanting to spend time with my parents and wanting to celebrate those holidays with them and I want to spend time with them when they are still healthy.
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I had great neighbors and students, and I miss seeing you guys face to face. Lin Chiun Pei
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What was the transition like moving from America to Taiwan? I have my work in the US and my life, [my] family life in Taiwan with 13 hours difference. That’s a big change for me because I’m trying to spend time with my family, and try to get my work done and still try to teach my students. I’m awake most of the time [and] I don’t get much sleep.
What does your day-to-day schedule look like? I teach from about 10:15 p.m. which is your first class and sometimes I have students during LEAD time so I will start [teaching] as early as 9:30 p.m. and teach until around midnight or 1:00 a.m.. Then, I will work like grading papers and do lesson plans until 3 a.m. or 4 a.m. then I’ll go to sleep for twothree hours maybe; then wake up around or before 7:00 a.m. and get my daughter dressed, and put lotion and medicine on her and eat a little breakfast. Then, around 9:00 a.m. I’ll go back to sleep if I don’t have any other obligations. Do you feel you’re still able to connect with students? I think I’m able to---I’m trying to---I should say, I try very hard to connect with all of my students. But you know, there are always people. You have to find the right channel to connect with each other. And sometimes it takes a long time. It doesn’t necessarily mean that you can find that channel in one or two years. If you can’t, at least you tried. So I always try my best, so I don’t feel regret that I didn’t do my best.
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What’s been your greatest challenge teaching online? Well, there are a lot of challenges, and I think first of all you have to keep students interested in you, because we’re so far away from each other. I know it’s very easy for a student to switch to a different website or they might be looking at Instagram when I’m actually talking. So I have to actually keep everybody’s focus on me. I have to use different strategies like talking in a different tone of voice or like acting, actually. Now I’m not really teaching, it’s more like I’m acting.
Do you miss anything in America? I do miss the people in America, a lot of my friends have actually become kind of like my family.I knew a stay-at-home mom. She lives in Phoenix and I haven’t seen her very regularly since I moved to Kansas City. But still [I] had contact because the timezone is the same. So we called each other, but now it’s hard to talk to her and I had great neighbors and students, and I miss seeing you guys face to face. B
Learn Mandarin with Lin Laoshi (Teacher Lin)
你好 nǐ hǎo
Hello; Hi
再见 zài jiàn
Goodbye
你怎么样？ How are you? nǐ zěn me yàng
我挺好的
I’m really wǒ tǐng hǎo good 请 qǐng
Please
谢谢 xiè xie
Thank you
the DART|December 10, 2021
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BITS & PIECES
MY LIFE SUCKS!
MY LIFE ROCKS!
“My life sucks because I just had my second hip surgery in less than a year, and am missing my final club
“My life rocks because Taylor Swift re-released her old album and there was a bunch of new songs, including my favorite, ‘Nothing New.’”
season.” Senior Sophie Harlan
Senior Iris Kline
What is your favorite Christmas Tradition?
Holiday Crossword
Graphics by Lauren Ford | Graphics Editor
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the DART|designed by Sydney Waldron
Coming Up
DART STAFF music picks
A&E
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Jan 8.
“FuzzyBrain” by Dayglow
Jan. 7
“I saw Dayglow perform this song last month with my friends and now it reminds me of how grateful I am to have them.”
Admissions Family meeting
Parents In Prayer
Jan. 10 Winter clothing drive
Lauren Brackney | Design Editor
“Frankenstein” by Claire Rosinkrankz “I’m reading ‘Frankenstein’ in AP Lit, which is how I found this song but it tells a great message about a girl searching for perfection in a lover, which is obviously impossible to achieve so she has to ‘build her own Frankenstein’ or ‘lover’.”
Jan. 7
Board Meeting
Jan. 5
Jan. 12 STA Bridge Windmoor
Karios Retreat
Caroline Hinkebein | Sports Editor
“Tearz” by Wu-Tang Clan
It’s just got such a fun and funky beat it truly encapsulates the 90s. It’s a little bit aggressive but it always puts me in an upbeat mood!
Megan Turley | Staff Writer
the Reading Nook Story and graphic by Anna Stout | Staff writer
crossword questions Across
1. A winter month that includes holidays such as Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and Boxing Day. 3. A strip of fabric work around the neck to keep you warm. 4. A form of precipitation that is very common in the winter. 5. A knitted sweater that fastens down the front.
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2. A place where you might purchase an evergreen tree for your holiday festivities. 7. Rudolph the nosed reindeer.
Scan For Answers or go to
dartnewsonline.
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or this winter issue of the Dart, sophomore and junior English teacher Samantha Kilgore has shared her favorite book “My Ántonia” by Willa Cather. “‘My Ántonia’ by Willa Cather. It’s my favorite book because it talks a-bout immigrants, the past and I think it’s relatable,” Kilgore said. “Also, it was an older teacher that taught it to me, Dr. Open, and he was like a grandfatherly figure, and I just loved learning it from him. I really liked the way he taught it.” Kilgore goes on to say how she relates to the story because her grandfather was an immigrant. The book is about a boy named Jim Burden and a girl who becomes his immigrant neighbor, Ántonia. The story is based in rural Nebraska and walks you through the hardships of friendship with Jim and Ántonia. My Ántonia “I like it because it’s about immigrants and my Willa Cather granddad was an immigrant,” Kilgore said. Kilgore has a love for this book because of the numerous ways she relates to it. She loves the entirety of the book, and has loved it since graduate school with English Professor Open. “I think it’s relatable because it talks about people being human and relationships, and it’s very realistic about how hard it is to get through life.” Kilgore said.
the DART|December 10, 2021
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REVIEWS
the
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egan takeover
Veganism has become more mainstream, but has it become more accessible? I try going vegan for one week to find out.
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Story and Graphics by Lauren Brackney | Design Editor
he vegan lifestyle excludes all products of animal origin like dairy products, meat, seafood, honey, eggs and leathers. About two years ago, I slowly switched to oat and almond milk alternatives and recently I switched to plant-based butters. These changes were easy and didn’t really affect my daily life. Going full vegan would encourage me to rethink my diet, and before I started, it seemed nearly impossible to keep up. I started my week with very little prep and for the first day, I felt like I was walking on eggshells, overly cautious of everything I ate. I examined every ingredient just to double check that I wouldn’t mistakenly consume an animal product. Luckily my morning coffee was the same as always, vanilla syrup and oat milk. Lunch was more difficult; I didn’t know that many vegan options so I resorted to the basic veggies and fruit. The first challenge arose when I approached the bake sale at lunch and was forced to walk away empty handed because all of the cookies and cupcakes either contained dairy or eggs. I was beginning to experience one of the most prevalent issues vegans face, according to vegetariantimes.com, which is the lack of accessibility of vegan products. I decided that I did not want to live off of fruit and vegetables alone for the week. Before I went to the store, I consulted several vegan blogs and Pinterest posts and found advice and a plethora of vegan recipes. At the store, I bought dairy-less cheeses and yogurt alternatives and meat substitutes that I wanted to try throughout the week. Prior to this, I assumed that being vegan was pricey but most items hardly differed in price. Generally, the dairyfree alternatives were more expensive than the milk-based item itself. A half gallon of oat milk cost $3.49 whereas the half gallon of 2% milk only cost $1.89. Most of the meat alternatives cost even less than their counterparts. Ground beef was $6.79 per pound but the ground pea-protein was only $5.99 per pound. I also couldn’t find an alternative for everything like I was hoping to find, like sour cream. I assume that some stores will have better alternatives than others and that might reflect a higher price change. Overall though, I didn’t really notice that much of a difference, other than spending more time having to read through ingredient lists for each product. The first recipe I tried was vegan tacos. This was my first time cooking with a meat sub but it was super easy to cook with and held the seasoning well. By the time the tacos were assembled, they looked and tasted exactly like tacos that I had made in the past. I made them the same way that I normally would but substituted in plant-based meat and
milkless cheddar cheese. My favorite meal I made myself was pesto pasta. I added roasted tomatoes, spinach and vegan parmesan cheese on top. I have made this recipe before so I was glad that I could still cook in a way I was familiar with. I don’t usually cook with meat when I am just cooking for myself because I don’t like touching raw meat. I think it is a lot easier to take out meat from a recipe and replace it with either an alternative like mushrooms or simply no meat. I only technically ate at one restaurant even though I went to two. Chipotle had a lot of vegan options like salad bowls or veggies. I tried their sofritas, a spicy tofu mix, for the protein in my bowl and it was surprisingly good. Other than once again having to sacrifice sour cream and cheese, my order was just as good as it always is, if not better, and I will definitely be ordering sofritas again. Chick-Fil-A did not work out as smoothly and left me empty-handed. I will be going back once this week is over to try their new peppermint chip shake. By the end of the week, I was ready for the challenge to be over. I can see myself keeping up a part of this diet regularly but I don’t think I could be a full blown vegan at this point in my life. Cooking for myself was easy but it was super difficult to access vegan foods when I was away from home or not the one preparing the meal. If casual veganism were an option, I would be the first to sign up.B
Vegan Approved Restaurants in KC
V Mud Pie Vegan Bakery &
Coffeehouse V Pirate’s Bone Burgers V Gigi’s Vegan Cafe Ruby Jean’s Juicery Lulu’s Noodle Shop BIBIBOP V Vegan
Vegan options
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olidays H
Whether you are looking for a feel-good movie to watch with your family or a comedy to binge while wrapping presents, these Hallmark movies may be the perfect fit for you! Story by Tierney Flavin | Social Media Team
allmark movies are famous (infamous) for their predictable plotlines, fate-bound endings and Santa Claus cameos. Leading up to this year’s holiday season, I decided to sit down and watch a few to give my Letterboxd-certified opinion. I started off by browsing Amazon Prime’s Hallmark section, trying to avoid going downstairs to share the TV with my mom. I stumbled upon “A Christmas Detour.” This movie feature Candace Cameron, also known as DJ Tanner from “Full House.” I went in with fairly low expectations and was surprised by how much I enjoyed watching it. It’s a story of opposites, destiny and coincidence. Paige, played by Cameron, is a firm believer in soulmates. She is on her way to meet her fiance’s family for an important dinner, two days before Christmas of course. Out of nowhere, a storm leaves her stranded with a pessimistic married couple and a single man, Dylan, who doesn’t believe in love. Through many frustrating cancellations, Paige comes to a tough
realization about her destiny. Considering the bad acting and cheesy plot twist, I would give this cute comedy four stars! The next night, I decided to watch one of Hallmark’s new “Countdown to Christmas” movies: “Gingerbread Miracle.” This is a story of two old friends, Maya and Alex, trying to sell Alex’s uncle’s old bakery. Legend has it at the bakery that if a cookie was made specially for you, a wish will be granted. Alex had wished upon a cookie in high school: that his crush would like him back. Now, the bad acting and camerawork in this movie was comparably harder to overlook, so I’d have to give “Gingerbread Miracle” three stars! If you are looking for a light and endearing movie to watch in preparation for this holiday season, I would definitely recommend either of these movies. As long as you are not anticipating a well directed, well performed, critically-acclaimed film with diverse actors, these movies could be the perfect holiday movie for you! B
Smells like Christmas A
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Scents are an important factor for the feel of Christmas. You need to find what candles might suit you best and I am here to help!
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Story by Kaylee Lary | Photo Editor Graphics by Lauren Brackney | Design Editor
t’s that time of year when the smell of Christmas is everywhere! Houses are brightly lit and have decorations everywhere, but there is one important factor you can’t forget: what are the best scents for your home? I started my search at Yankee Candle. When I first walked in I was disappointed by the lack of Christmas decor. The first candle I found was the Tree Farm Festival; this scent had me walking through a nursery with evergreen trees all around me. I have to give this a 4/5. If you love Christmas sweets then the Christmas Cookie candle is for you. It smells like sugar cookies fresh out of the oven but it’s not too strong. It adds the perfect amount of that sweet holiday feel to any room. I have to give this candle a 2/5 because of how the smell of cookies is captured. I give this store an overall 3/5 for its lack of decorations but amazing candles. The second store was Bath and Body Works. When I walked in, there was Christmas everywhere: music, decorations and the scents.
When I entered the strong scents hit me. The first candle I chose was Merry and Bright, which is a crushed candy cane scented candle.This scent has that fresh minty smell that only comes from peppermint. The scent of this candle almost overflows your nostrils; I have to give it a 2/5. The second candle I chose was Warm Cookie.This candle had a very artificial scent to it. I would give this candle a 1/5. As a whole I would give the store a 2/5. They have amazing visual attraction but the scents are just too strong. The third and final store was the local Corner Candle Shop in Brookside. This shop is close to the STA campus and is always festively decorated. The first candle I chose was Baby It’s Cold Outside. This candle is spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and citrus. This smell gives a warming sense after coming inside from the bitter cold. This is definitely a 4/5. The next candle I picked was Santa I Know Him! which is described as a mix of spruce and Santa’s cologne. This candle is a 4/5 for its perfect representation of Santa and the image
of Christmas. I give this store a 5/5 for its unique names, amazing scents, and festive decorations! It’s that time of year to get festive and what a better way than to have the smells surrounding your home! I Hope I helped you to find the best scents for your holidays! B
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the DART|December 10, 2021
Studying
FEATURE
Three STA students share about their experiences taking college-level foregin language classes at Rockhurst University. TA offers up numerous higher education options — such as honors and AP classes — to help its students succeed in the classroom. Among these opportunities is the chance to venture off campus to enroll in collegelevel language classes that can help them earn college credits for their future. According to Education Week, only 25% of high school students were taking foreign language classes as of 2017. The percentage decreases amid students taking a language class at a college level. STA students, however, have many choices of language classes to take at school, and have the opportunity to take college level language courses at Rockhurst University. STA students who attended Académie Lafayette for grade school have been taking French classes since they were in kindergarten. Junior Sylvie Boughner, an Académie Lafayette graduate, thought that taking a college language class would be the perfect opportunity for her. “I thought it would help me with my college transcripts and then I would just be able to continue my French learning and just keep advancing,” Boughner said. Senior Claire Fanning ended up in her college Spanish class by accident. Although Fanning has been taking Spanish classes daily since seventh grade, she didn’t realize that the class she signed up for was an actual college course. “I honestly didn’t know that it was going to be off campus when I signed up, but I figured it would be fun to go off campus for the class, and I just was continuing on the track I had been on for Spanish,” Fanning said. While Fanning was excited to take the class because of the change in schedule consequential to leaving campus, she also found that it could complicate her day-today life at STA.
“It makes things very different because it’s like a block class on Mondays and Wednesdays for an hour and 15 minutes, so Mondays and Wednesdays are definitely a little more tiring for me,” Fanning said. Boughner agrees that the off-campus aspect of the class has really affected her schedule. She feels as though the class causes her to miss out on some of STA’s fun activities during the day.
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It’s created a lot of inconveniences because I know a lot of times we have pep rallies when we’re at Rockhurst, or there was a club fair and we had to miss it Sylvie Boughner
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Story by Annie McShane | Copy Editor Graphics by Kaylee Lary | Photo Editor
“It’s created a lot of inconveniences because I know a lot of times we have pep rallies when we’re at Rockhurst, or there was a club fair and we had to miss it,” Boughner said. Senior Lorraine Frueh, however, was surprised by how unaffected her schedule was by her college course. “Honestly, the only difficult thing about it is that I have to use another site to check my grades, because we use Powerschool but they use Canvas,” Frueh said. However, there are still some occasional changes in Frueh’s day-to-day life at STA because of her college class. “I had one time that I had to leave during the day because I had to go watch Junior Aliya Watne exits the M&A Building after checking out with Receptionist Allison Wilson Nov. 4. Students in her French class leave campus after period 1 and return after lunch. photo by Sophia Rall
a movie with my French class, but they didn’t account for the fact that we were in high school,” Frueh said. As a high school student taking a class at a college, Fanning sometimes feels uncomfortable around the university students. “It feels like everyone’s staring at you if you don’t change out of your uniform,” Fanning said. For Frueh, however, the people are the best part of the class. After a year of taking the course online, she was excited to meet her college classmates and found that she really likes them. “A lot of the people who I was online with last year took [the class] again, so it was nice
the DART|designed by Kaylee Lary
Abroad? to finally meet them in person,” Frueh said. Although she enjoys the company of her peers in the classroom, there is a downside for Frueh — the lack of challenge in the work. Like Boughner, Frueh is a graduate of Académie Lafayette, meaning she is near fluent in French. The college students in her class, however, are not. “I find the coursework to be a little bit understimulating,” Frueh said.”It’s a lot of worksheets and I was like ‘I thought this was a college class.’” Fanning, however, finds the workload of her class to be extremely heavy. As a nonfluent Spanish speaker in a class full of mostly-fluent peers and a fluent teacher, she finds herself struggling to keep up. “It feels like I’m racking my brain trying
to put the words together in the right format,” Fanning said. “It’s probably going to end up being one of the worst grades I’ve ever gotten, but it’s also a harder class.” While Fanning experiences high amounts of stress from this class, Boughner doesn’t feel the same way. She finds the change in her schedule to be the most difficult aspect. “I think just the days, just because I don’t have a free period, are a little stressful, but the class itself doesn’t bring any stress,” Boughner said. Although Frueh and Fanning are both dropping the class next semester, they both feel that there are very positive things about their respective college classes. Frueh finds that taking college courses
What’s it like at
will benefit her in the long run, and she would recommend it to younger students who will have the opportunity. “I want to minor in French, and this is the easiest way to get the credits.” Frueh said. “You only need about 12 credits to minor in a language and I’m getting nine right now, so it gives me a big head start.” While Fanning has found her college Spanish class to be extremely difficult, she feels that the overall experience has benefited her. “It’s definitely the hardest class I’ve ever taken, but it definitely gave me a better understanding of how people who speak languages other than English have trouble, because I’m in this class and everyone seems fluent and I’m just like, ‘Oh my gosh how do I say this?'” Fanning said.B
ockhurs t University?
Alternative coverage designed by Sophia Rall | Editor-in-Chief
classes meet Twice a week The drive takes appr
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60 students take french 20 students take spanish
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the DART|December 10, 2021
FEATURE
A Call for Change
St. Teresa’s currently does not allow students to have unnaturally colored hair. Through discussions with students, the policy may be changing in the future. Story by Ellie Buttell | Opinion Editor Photos by Taylor Hayes | Writer
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TA's current hair dye policy states that students may not have hair of an unnatural color. In the last year, students’ desire to change this rule has increased. Juniors Alex Ward and Ava Martinez have worked with STA principal for student affairs Elizabeth Baker to establish a change in the current rules. When students approach administration with a desire for change, Baker is open to listening. “I’ve created a system so that we can all have good conversations about it,” Baker said. Baker says she is willing to work with students as long as the process is respectful and works with everyone involved. “The first step is to propose [and] what I'm asking for in that proposal is research,”
Senior Emily McMurray poses with bright orange hair. McMurray has also dyed her hair multiple colors in the past. photo courtesy of Emily McMurray
Baker said. Through thorough research, students must identify why a certain policy change is important to themselves and their community . After committee meetings and discussions, the proposal will be sent to the board — and from there a decision is made. “There are always those conversations where we ask, ‘what is it that we need for a strong academic program while still honoring and respecting students,’” Baker said. Baker believes that a balanced form of reform and change is healthy and necessary. “I'm not scared of change, but it's just a matter of doing it in a systematic way so that everybody knows what the system is, and everybody is okay with that system.”
Junior Alex Ward dyed their hair with pink roots this summer. This was one of many looks Ward dyed their hair to. photo courtesy of Alex Ward
Baker said. Last year, Martinez, Ward and senior Rebecca Hoff approached Baker regarding the hair dye policy. The students believe the rule should be altered in order to allow for further self expression with the current policy. “There's also an aspect where [school hair dye policy] says it’s not in the tradition of the Catholic school uniform, and I don't agree with that,” Martinez said. “The uniform has evolved as the years go on, and this is just another aspect of it that needs to evolve with the time.“ They first approached Baker last May and have had multiple meetings since. “I told Dr. Baker that I thought it was a silly policy, and she said that students were more than welcome to propose a change to a rule they're unhappy with,” Ward said. The students have been receiving updates since. When seeking change, theology teacher Jennifer Greene advises students to look beyond the limits of a policy and really question why the policy might be in place. “There are channels for having a discussion. Kids should be meeting with administration and having a conversation about it and looking at it rather than just
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saying, ‘This is dumb,’ or ‘This is stupid,’” Greene said. Greene believes that class representatives should be the ones helping to approach administration.
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“We are really lucky to have a really good administration here, they are really willing to hear us out on things,” Martinez said. “So if we're willing to put in the time and work with them to help understanding on both sides, then it’s easier to get a conversation going.”B
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That is why our student government exists. Your class representatives should be those ones that foster the conversation. Jennifer Green
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Baker believes with the diversity of upbringings and personalities, change throughout STA is inevitable. She says, however, change isn’t a bad thing — but it must be done in a way that benefits everyone involved. “The whole point of the handbook is it is a document that came from the nuns, and we are using it now to say ‘this is how we all live together,’” Baker said. Baker believes that one of the most important aspects to change is the community among the school population. Martinez and Ward agree that through their work towards causing a change, that goal has been kept consistent.
Freshman Victoria Mitchell takes a selfie with a split-dye. There are tutorials on how to split dye your hair on YouTube. photo courtesy of Victoria Mitchell
Junior Samantha Lif poses for a selfie. She dyed her hair pink over this last summer. photo courtesy of Samantha Lif
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT HAIR DYE? STA students voice their opinions about the hair dye policy and hair colors.
Alternative coverage by Anna Stout | Writer
Should STA keep or change the hair dye policy? *out of 125
Change it 90.4%
Kee p 9.6 it %
If you could dye your hair, what color would you dye it? *out of 125
other 20% orange 3.2% green 4%
blue 12%
Red 22.4% Purple 18.4%
hot Pink 20%
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CENTERSPREAD
miss represented Where does the stigma surrounding all-girls education come from? Students explore their experiences with stereotypes surrounding all-girls schools, narrowing in on STA in particular. Story by Caroline Hinkebein l Sports Editor and Tierney Flavin l Staff Writer Photos by Kaylee Lary l Photo Editor Graphics by Mara Callahan l Features Editor Alternative Coverage by Becca Spier l Editor-in-Chief
Proud
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hen Junior Katherine Judge went to her very first high school football game, her eyes were filled with frosh excitement. With a few months of high school under her belt, Judge felt confident as she walked up the tall metal bleachers — that is until someone decided to comment on her shorts. “You’re just trying to get attention,” one boy said. Judge believes these comments had a direct correlation to her attending STA; she believes that, in that moment, she was being stereotyped. According to freshman Janie Gacek, the judgement surrounding all-girls schools stems from ignorance, fueled by the lack of these types of schools in the Kansas City area. Gacek believes that the single-sex nature of these schools may come off as exclusive. “People assume the worst because it’s not that common,” Gacek said. The two most popular responses to a poll sent out to the STA students about the stereotypes surrounding the school were that everyone is LGBTQIA+ or that everyone is boy-crazy. Sion Junior Adaline Huhmann has experienced the “all-LGBTQIA+” stereotype throughout her education. Upon leaving grade school, Huhmann began to tell people about her plan to attend an all-girls school and was shocked by the narrow responses she received. “I went to a public school, so when people heard that I was going to an all-girls school they were like ‘Oh my God so you like girls?’” Huhmann said. “I was like that’s just not the case, that’s not how it is.” STA junior Samatha Molle offers an explanation for the generalizations surrounding students’ sexualities and their choice of attending an all-girls school. “Most people have a choice in where they go to school,” Molle said. “Some people might think that by choosing to go to an allgirls school, that makes you gay because you don’t want to be around boys.” Senior Victoria Andrews has been hearing stereotypes about STA since before her freshman year. Andrews dislikes these stereotypes as she feels that they are untrue and unfair to her peers. “I would say [these stereotypes] have a negative effect, whether you’re part of the LGBTQIA+ community or not,” Andrews said. “A lot of girls here just aren’t into women, and whatever your sexuality is that’s fine, but a lot of people think that when you go here you don’t meet guys, and that’s not true at all.” Opposing the stereotype that students who attend STA are “all gay,” Junior Ella Rogers
has heard that STA students act “flirtatious and boy crazy” outside of school. “I would say that [all-girls schools] are considered a little bit boy crazy,” Rogers said. “Especially since we don’t go to school with boys, people might say we try to seek them outside of school. STA girls hang out with guys outside of school, but we’re not distracted by them in school.” Along with students’ social behavior, Rogers has also heard stereotypes regarding the academic rigor at STA. “Everyone calls St. Teresa’s ‘The Daycare’,” Rogers said. “They assume it’s an easy school academically. The stereotype is that we don’t learn very much but, in reality, we all are working hard to get into college. It’s such a competitive environment so it defies the stereotype in that way.” Judge, who has also been told that her school is a “daycare,” believes
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“I’ve really had to be here and sit through [classes] to realize that these rumors aren’t true at all,” Franklin said. “I think that we are academically one of the best schools in Kansas City.” Emily Franklin
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the DART|December 10, 2021
that students’ social media presence has something to do with the persistence of this stereotype. “With the ‘daycare’ stereotype, I think other schools are only seeing the stuff that we post on our stories.” Judge said. “They see the fun things that we post, but they never actually see that we are learning.” Huhmann has heard that the classes at STA are as easy as “coloring pages.” Rogers concludes that the course selection at STA could in part be feeding into this stereotype, especially when comparing our classes to those of bigger schools. “The truth is that it’s not a daycare,” Rogers said. “We have our course load and we might not have as large of a selection, but we have more quality in classes and the teachers overall care
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more about the curriculum that they teach. STA is harder than it looks.” Senior Emily Franklin reflects on the difficulty of STA’s coursework through all of her classmates’ achievements. “Some girls go off to Ivy Leagues for college; people are striving for the best,” Franklin said. “Our school is just so good, I’ve noticed we have such good college counselors and all of our teachers are phenomenal.” Franklin was troubled by the ignorance of this stereotype during her freshman and sophomore year, seeing her classmates disprove them every day in school. Over the past two years though, Franklin admits that she has been able to ignore the stereotypes. “I’ve really had to be here and sit through [classes] to realize that these rumors aren’t true at all,” Franklin said. “I think that we are academically one of the best schools in Kansas City.” Senior Lily Brown shared the sentiment that she hopes that the people who spread these stereotypes will understand the weight that the phrase ‘We are such a daycare,’ can carry. Brown feels hurt and powerless when it comes to refuting this stereotype. “I feel stupid when somebody calls my school a ‘daycare,’” Brown said. “There’s nothing I can do about it to change their opinion, and that is hard.” Biology teacher and alumna Mary Montag questions the root of the belief that STA’s classes aren’t as difficult as any other school.
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the DART|December 10, 2021
CENTERSPREAD
“I often wonder if people really think that [women] can be 100% as rigorous and as academically minded as we are,” Montag said. “I don’t know why it’s a threat. I don’t know why strong assertive women are perceived as a threat.” The students of STA have also heeded a more bothersome stereotype, Andrews says. The first stereotype she thought of when asked about STA stereotypes was an alternative acronym for STA: “S**t Training Academy.” Judge also heard this name as early as when she was 14 years old. “I heard [this stereotype] when we were deciding where to go to high school in 8th grade,” Judge said. “People going to other schools would say things like ‘Oh you’re going to S**t Training Academy.’” Huhmann used to take offense from stereotypes about herself and her peers. She says that now, she has grown to see it differently. “I kind of take the stereotype like a joke,” Huhmann said. “I feel like the people who assume those things are fools.” Andrews believes that shaming young people is not funny and should not be used as a generalization as it can be harmful. “Whatever someone wants to do with their own body is their own business and I don’t think that should have a negative connotation,” Andrews said. “Or if someone isn’t like that, we’re all grouped together and that isn’t fair.” Judge offers up a possible origin for this stereotype. She associates this stereotype with the depiction of girls wearing private school uniforms in the media. She also points out the continuous use of this stereotype. “They just use the same [names],” Judge said. “They’re not very creative.” Franklin agrees that this term has been passed down. She believes the origin and the continuity of the nickname are connected. “[This stereotype] is rooted in sexism,” Franklin said. “People don’t go into school as freshmen thinking that everyone is a s**t. It gets passed down.”
Montag believes that generalizations can be harmful, and can have a negative impact on the people it targets. “As soon as you start making someone feel less than they should feel, anytime it’s derogatory, anytime it makes someone feel any kind of insecurity, or you’re putting them down, you’re underestimating them; I don’t care for it,” Montag said. Alongside currently teaching at STA, Montag also attended STA in the late 70s through the early 80s and claims some of the stereotypes she faced while at STA have been carried over to present-day students. The most prevalent, she has noticed, is that STA students are “rich and preppy.” “Sometimes you walk through the parking lot and you see very nice cars,” Montag said. “But does every kid have one?” Andrews also recognizes and refutes this
stereotype. “People see how much tuition is and assume that we are all very spoiled and stuck up,” Andrews said. “Some girls are here on scholarships and you really don’t know until you have a conversation and ask.” Brown acknowledges where this stereotype stems from but adds that this type of language can be harmful for those who work hard to attend STA. “You can see people parking in Jeeps or Teslas, we have new buildings, new equipment, nice computers and we dress in uniforms,” Brown said. “It looks like we’re preppy and rich but a lot of people go here off of scholarships. Or, on the other hand, some of my friends have money but they don’t act like it. It’s just what [the school] looks like on the outside.”
the DART|designed by Mara Callahan Although some people, like Huhmann and Montag, believe that stereotypes can begin as a form of humor, in a poll of 72 STA students, 85% feel that the stereotypes surrounding STA can be harmful. Gacek felt that the impact of these stereotypes caused unnecessary wariness when she was coming into high school. “When you first start school after hearing stereotypes, it makes you 100 times more nervous than you need to be; it gets people worried for no reason which can cause a lot of stress,” Gacek said. Andrews believes that the “all-gay” stereotype has a negative effect on anyone at STA, no matter their sexuality. Brown said she is upset hearing people speak negatively about her school and wishes there was a way to stop it. “It’s just frustrating because everybody here knows it’s not true,” Brown said. “It’s so frustrating and I wish I could just be like ‘stop saying that.’” Despite the sometimes negative stereotypes, Rogers is proud to call herself a STA girl. “It gives me a confidence boost to say I go to St. Teresa’s outside of school,” Rogers said. “If you say you go to St. Teresa’s there’s a level of esteem you get with the name.” Andrews agrees, and shares her gratitude to be able to attend STA. “I wake up every morning very grateful that I’m here and alive and fortunate enough to go to this great school.” Montag believes that being labeled as something does not define you. “Being a woman, there’s always going to be stereotypes about us,” Montag said. Senior Ruby Harris believes the way to combat these stereotypes is to talk about them and bring awareness to how they can be harmful. She wants to stop these harmful stereotypes from continuing for another generation by educating her younger brother. “I want him to understand the differences between boys and girls and how girls have it harder in a lot of ways and I want him to realize that,” Harris said. “He’s a freshman so he’s just starting high school and I want him to, if he sees something wrong, to stand up for it and not be quiet in the corner and watching. Just making it more aware to people.” Franklin’s method of combating these stereotypes is to stay true to yourself despite what others say about you. “You’re going to get criticism everywhere you go,” Franklin said. “Outside of high school people are going to criticize you, label you. They’re going to call you names, assume things about you and judge you. You can’t take it to heart, you can’t make it who you are just because they say it.” To Montag, these stereotypes are an easy way out; they are limiting and only look at one side of a situation. Montag believes that women have always been stereotyped. “Any stereotype like that, it’s very convenient, it puts you in a neat tidy little box, but it’s never based on truth,” Montag said. “It’s like, this is true, dismissal. And I don’t know any young woman that I teach or walk these halls with that likes to be dismissed.” These stereotypes, she says, often target teenage girls. She has noticed a tendency to sell them short when it comes to their knowledge. “I sometimes think that people think that about girls’ schools; well they’re all this or they’re all that,” Montag said. “No. They’re young women, deciding who they’re going to be, becoming educated, exploring their goals, receiving the same kind of education women everywhere should be entitled to.” B
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too much TESTOSTERONE?
Stigmas about single-sex education are not limited to those surrounding all-girls education. Rockhurst High School junior Charlie Lundstrom shares that he has heard stereotypes about the all-boys atmosphere of Rockhurst. Alternative Coverage by Mara Callahan l Features Editor
“I’ve heard the stereotype that all kids at Rockhurst are rich from both other students and adults. While many kids at Rockhurst do have wealthy parents, the school helps a majority of students with tuition. The Hurtado Scholars programs pays for the entire tuiton of students whose parents don’t have the means to afford Rockhurst’s education. Our teachers are great and encourage individual excellence and freedom of thought.” - Charlie Lundstrom
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Do the stereotypes that are placed on our school cause student relationships with outside schools to be unhealthy?
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tereotypes ultimately can be found in almost every aspect of life, in terms of both positive and negative. They can affect parts of a person’s life so trivial as what state a person lives in or as significant as someone’s political ideas. Stereotypes spare no expense to those who attend single-sex schools; outsiders have many preconceived ideas about who the students are and what they represent. At STA, the students have been labeled as rich, boy-obsessed people who attend a “daycare” instead of a traditional high school, when in reality these perceptions could not be further from the truth — especially the daycare stereotype. Over 72% of STA students take honors, college and AP classes in order to start preparing for the college application process; the first honors class a student can take at STA is a freshman year math course and the first AP class available is sophomore year world history class. STA starts to prepare its students for standardized testing, such as the ACT, in sophomore year when students take the PACT for the first time.
Of course, there are many traditions in the STA community that allow students to take a break from the academic rigor that is a constant stressor, but this does not mean that the students aren’t learning or doing homework for hours on end every night. It just showcases how the STA administration understands how much pressure the students are constantly under and believes that they deserve a break to have fun with their fellow classmates. As for the boy-crazy stereotype, STA students choose to attend a school where there are no members of the opposite sex. Whether it be for no “distractions,” or the students ultimately feel more comfortable with no boys, it is their choice. Just because the students attend a school with no guys does not mean STA students don’t know how to act around them or need to worship the ground they walk on. Students from Notre Dame de Sion, another all-girl’s school in the Kansas City metro, relate to STA on these issues. Out of 104 responses gathered anonymously from Sion, many students
talked about how they felt relieved that there was no pressure from boys. Some claimed that the boys cause them to feel nervous and insecure, while others claimed that they don’t even notice that there are no males in their classes. In most cases, STA and Sion understand each other and can relate, but some stereotypes have led the two schools to have an unwritten rivalry with each other since they are both all-girl’s schools and “must” compete with each other to prove who is the better school. These self-perpetuating stereotypes can lead to the same attitude year after year, creating a rift in the two schools’ relationship. These preconceived beliefs have existed about all-girls schools for many decades and affect more than just the students here and at Sion. Every and any school can fall victim to the disease that is stereotypes; it is up to the students to invalidate these outside beliefs in order to showcase their school’s true character. B 10/17 staffers agree
right on target Junior Samantha Balling “I feel like our school’s stereotypes definitely have an affect on how we’re perceived to other schools. However, I don’t think our school’s image affects other students’ opinions when it comes to choosing relationships. Personally, I know I’m guilty of judging people initially based on what school they go to, but so often they’re not the stereotype associated with their school. I never choose friends based on where they go to school.”
Freshman Sola Owens “One of the first questions that high schoolers ask each other is what school they go to and saying that you go to STA gives off false information on what type of person that you are. It gives off the idea that going to a private school means that you are fancy or rich when not everyone here is super wealthy. Also, having all girls sometimes makes it seem like there would be so much drama when in reality everyone cares about each other and would help each other out.”
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Untraditional Traditions
With the holiday season approaching and Christmas songs beginning to play on the radio, STA students reflect on the different ways they celebrate the holidays.
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Story by Mara Callahan | Features Editor
appy Christmas-Hanukkah-SolsticeYule-Kwanzaa-Chinese New Year! As the leaves begin to fall and trees grow barren with winter frost, the holiday decorations come out to play. According to Music Machinery, there are over a million different Christmas songs aired on the radio between November and January each year. With the big commercial marketing of Christmas, STA students sophomore Abby Margolin, senior Aisling Catley-Goggin, and senior Roux Grey all agree that other winter holidays get overshadowed. Margolin has been celebrating Hanukkah since before she could talk and loves taking part in her family’s celebrations. The importance of the holiday and its significance in her life leads Margolin to wonder why it’s not as prominent as Christmas. “I feel so left out [when people talk about Christmas],” Margolin said. “Pretty much everyone I’m close to knows I’m Jewish, but all anyone talks about during the winter season is Christmas, Christmas, Christmas. I think Christmas is great; I love the holiday time and I love Christmas music and I love Christmas decorations and I just love it
Graphics by Sophia Rall | Editor-in-Chief
all, but I wish Hanukkah was as prominent as Christmas. I wish all my friends Merry Christmas but they don’t always wish me a Happy Hanukkah. I really appreciate it when people do wish me a Happy Hanukkah. Some of my friends wish me a Happy Hanukkah every single night of Hanukkah, and that makes me feel special or included.” Grey celebrates Christmas with their family but prefers to take part in the Pagan celebration of the winter solstice also known as Yule. The amount of buzz Christmas gets during the winter months causes Grey to share in Margolin’s feeling of being overlooked. “I just kind of miss the fact that there’s so much for Christmas and there’s not a lot for other holidays,” Grey said. “I’ve never really seen decorations, displays, or songs for other holidays. It’s kind of sad when you’re in a very small religion that doesn’t have a lot of art or music or decorations. So you have to have to make your own.” One of Catley-Goggin’s favorite parts about celebrating lesser-known holidays, such as the solstice, is the freedom that comes with the celebration.
“The Solstice is a holiday I celebrate by myself or with friends,” Catley-Goggin said. “We just decided to have a little party where we have a burning of intentions. We could do whatever we wanted. And I think that was so much fun for me because there weren’t any requirements or rules in place for the celebrations. I love having the ability to celebrate the winter season in my own way.” Grey’s choice of winter holiday commemoration primarily stems from their love of nature and the outdoors. Yule, which is a Pagan holiday originally celebrated by Germanic peoples, focuses on rebirth and renewal and is also known as the “Sun’s birthday.” “Celebrating Yule makes me feel more connected to nature,” Grey said. “ I feel like Christianity isn’t nature-oriented enough for me. So celebrating all these Pagan holidays makes me feel more connected to the earth. I normally take a walk on holidays so I can try and focus on the birds around me or the other wildlife. It just feels nice being connected to everything.” B
Symbols of Yule: 1. Yule log: A Yule log can be burned to symbolize rebirth and new life 2. Leaves: Some who celebrate Yule do so by spending time outdoors in appreciation of nature. 3. Sun: Watching the sunrise on Dec. 23 is a common Yule celebration. Symbols of Hanukkah: 4. Gift: Some families give presents each night of Hanukkah. Gelt, which is Yiddish for money, is a traditional gift. 5. Dreidel: Dreidels have four sides, each with a letter written on it. The letters form the phrase, “A Great Miracle Happened Here.” 6. Sufganiyot: Traditional Hanukkah foods include sufganiyot, latkes, beef brisket, kugle and matzo ball soup. 7. Menorah: A Menorah has nine candles, and eight of the candles symbolize the eight nights the Temple lantern burned. The ninth candle, called the Shamash, is used to light the other candles.
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PERSPECTIVES
the DART|December 10, 2021
Tr sh the Pl stic
Sometimes it feels like we can’t get away from plastic in our lives, and maybe we can’t, but there’s still so much we can do to keep it away from the ocean. Story by Anna Massman | Outreach Editor
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few years ago, my family took a trip to Hawaii. One of the highlights of the whole trip was when a Honu Sea Turtle (locals of the islands) started swimming with us. I couldn’t believe how willing it was to get so close to us — they didn’t even see us as a threat. As our tour guide talked to our group later, I learned more about the real threat humans pose to wildlife — plastic. As a busy teenager, plastic sneaks into my life in many forms: granola bars, skincare containers and coffee cups are all common appearances. Although I feel guilty about how much plastic I use, I feel slightly reconciled when I throw my empty container into the recycling bin. As long as it’s recycled, plastic’s okay, right? Wrong. As I’ve now learned, recycling is a very troubled process, filled with many opportunities for a whole truckload of plastics to be contaminated. This is due to people putting unrecyclable or dirty materials into their bin, which isn’t really their fault. There’s always a cloud of uncertainty around recycling, because it varies by state and even by city. What you could throw in the recycling bin here could be a no-go in St.Louis. After seeing COVID-19 boost the whole world’s use of individual packaging and masks, I feel the urgency to solve and spread awareness of this problem now more than ever. Increased takeout, masks and gloves have all worsened our rapidly emerging plastic crisis. There’s so many solutions to plastic pollution, but all of them have to
Graphics by Annie McShane | Copy Editor
be used in conjunction with each other to make any difference. Some of the easiest to remember are the 3 R’s: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. I think the most effective solution to attempt is reducing. There’s so many ways to do this, whether it’s by using paper bags at the grocery store, using reusable water bottles (which are way cuter than plastic ones anyway) or not using plastic straws. There are also so many sustainable clothing brands that don’t use any plastic, or use recycled materials, like Veja and Patagonia. Reducing the demand for plastic is so important because it’s a huge indicator for companies to take initiative. The second R, reuse, is definitely a less mentioned solution than its counterparts. Reusing plastic can take so many forms; for my family, it’s using stray plastic bags to pick up my dog’s poop (which sounds so funny but it works). It could also be using plastic containers in crafts or organization around the house. The last way you can reduce plastic in the environment is, again, through recycling. Recycling plastic takes barely any effort; a quick rinse is typically the only preparation you need. The thing that’s important to remember with this solution is that it’s not always as effective as
the others. It’s more efficient, rather than effective. Due to the issues I mentioned before, educating on what’s allowed in your area can ensure you’re truly helping the environment. Of course, it takes everyone to make a difference. A single person reducing their footprint is much different from millions of people. Ending plastic pollution is a superduper daunting task, and I don’t know if we’ll even figure it out in our lifetime. But don’t we owe it to the turtles to try? B
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My Decades Delirium I’ve become absolutely obsessed with the fashion and music of the 90s, and you should too.
Story by Megan Turley | Social Media Team
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Graphics by Annie McShane | Copy Editor
he 90s: babydoll dresses, crimped waves, grunge eyeliner, and WuTang Clan. I. Am. Obsessed. I have every Tupac album downloaded, half of my Spotify-liked playlist is Outkast songs and my Pinterest account has an entire group of boards dedicated to the decade. And, while my closet is scarce, the few non-uniform pieces I own are very much inspired (or from) the 90s. If you couldn't tell by now, I’m kind of a 90s whiz. The way the music of the time revolutionized the music industry is CRAZY. The rise of hip-hop and rap brought young, creative and fresh voices into the music industry. Never before had Hollywood heard so many stories of growing up in rough neighborhoods and facing constant oppression in such a funky and talented way. The lyrics in songs like ‘Juicy’ and ‘Dear Mama’ by the Notorious B.I.G and Tupac respectively blow my mind and take my breath away every time they pop up while I listen to music (which is all the time). Every time I listen to modern music of any genre I can see the influence of the 90s on modern artists like Jhene Aiko, M.I.A, Janet Jackson and Nas. The fashion of the 90s was so gorgeous and creative. It drew upon the 80s love of denim and mixed it with 70s colorful style to create a fashion Frankenstein of baggy jeans, brightly colored tops and denim jackets. The 90s daring mix of fabrics, textures and colors can be seen in the fashion trends from the 2000s, 2010s, and even from this year. I can see the 90s influence in the recent revival of bomber jackets, oversized street style and sweater
vests (which I’m obsessed with). Even with all of these positive things to look to, I’ve seen lots of people still critique the decade and push it to the back of their minds with the rest of history. I often see people bring up the eye-melting fabric clashes, questionable hairstyles and cringe music videos. And while yes, some of the trends were less than impressive (looking at you, middle-part bowl cuts), what decade doesn’t have embarrassing moments? The culture and style of the 90s is something that I think is unique and honestly beautiful. It brings me a sort of nostalgia for my childhood, even though I was born six years
after it ended. The clothes and styles that were popular during the time give me the confidence to dress how I want in ways I think are cute, and the music just makes me happy. I love analyzing the little details in lyrics and appreciating how music’s progressed through time. The idols and icons of the time inspire me and truly make me appreciative of the life I have. Before I depart, I want to leave you with the lyrics off of one of my favorite Tupac albums “Tomorrow I wake with second wind and strong because of pride. I know I fought with all my heart to keep the dream alive.”B
90s Fashion Guide t s e V r e Sweat
Scrunchie
Bomber jack
et
the DART|December 10, 2021
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SPORTS
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Dancing With the Stars Without separate JV and varsity teams, STA dancers have unique opportunities to form relationships as a singular team.
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Story by Miriam Parsa | Social Media Team
Photos and Graphics by Charlotte Malone | Photo Editor
ou become the people you surround yourself with; the times I grew the most as a dancer were the times I was being challenged by someone who is better than me,” St. Teresa’s dance coach Allison Wilson said. The STA dance team had a trial run of having separate JV and varsity teams beginning in 2017, but in 2020 they reverted back to a single team. “I wanted to make that one team so that they had that opportunity for growth,” Wilson said. “This gives everyone the same chance to work Senior Maggie Armstrong hits her ending pose while giving a fierce hard.” look across the gym with her team Nov. 11. Armstrong has been a Senior Briana Schulte, who joined member of the dance team since her freshman year. STA dance her junior year, agreed. we compete as a team. If one of us “I get a little frustrated, but “Everyone feels a lot more since I have made my fair share human, connected and united and I loses we all do,” Sweeny said. of mistakes, too; I don’t ever think it’s helped,” Shulte said. “Even Senior Macy Cherra also agrees that the sense of community blame them for our team losing,” with looking up to upperclassmen, Sweeny said. “I have never instead of a ‘we’re better than you’ dance creates is important. “Personally when I mess up been blamed either; if someone kind of mentality, it’s more like, or am unprepared I feel horrible makes a mistake we just try to ‘we’re all in this together.’” help them so it won’t happen at Schulte is not alone in feeling the because if one of us messes it up the next performance and then benefits of switching to one team. we all mess up together,” Cherra we can win as a team too. I think Sophomore Lauren Sweeny shares said. When asked how she feels when everyone on the team would this sentiment. someone on her team makes a agree.” “No one really thinks they’re Sharing the same sentiment, better than anyone else, because mistake, Sweeny felt the same.
varsity won 61-45 against Barstow High School Nov. 30
cross country
Amelia Arrieta was named the Missouri Girls: Runner of the Year
dance
powerlifting
team competed in their first competition Dec. 4
december
11
Varsity KC Classic v.s. Mutiple Schools at Liberty High School
december
18
v.s. William Chrisman at Henley Aquatic Center @ 9:15 am (dive) and 1 pm (swim)
Basketball
basketball
swim & dive
Sports Highlights what you missed: Don’t miss out: january
4
C- team, JV and varsity v.s. Sion at STA @ 4pm
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the DART|designed by Charlotte Malone allows the team to form a special bond. “We have a really special team dynamic because we have all gotten to be super close,” Cherra said. “We do a lot of team sleepovers and we are friends outside of the dance team for sure.” Despite being able to have such positive and beneficial relationships with their teammates, not everything about being on the dance team always feels so good. “There’s this stigma within the Dance team coach Allison Wilson explains her dance team that we’re on the corrections to the team during a practice Nov. bottom of the totem pole,” Schulte 11. This is Wilson’s second year coaching. said. “But on the other hand, it’s one Schulte believes in having a sense of courtesy when one of more thing that unites us because her teammates messes up. it’s one more thing that we all “When something like that happens, you think ‘oh, shoot, understand. We’re all in the same come on,’” Schulte said. “But then you also think back to all situation. It makes us work harder, the times that you’ve messed up. And you relate it back to we want to show how cool dance is like, ‘okay, well, they had grace towards me, I need to have and how hard we work.” grace towards them.’ Yes they have messed up but we’re Contrarily, Wilson has no fears all part of the same team. You think back to the time when about how her dancers are viewed. you messed up and you’re like, ‘yeah, you got to have some “To me, I see them as grace.’” hardworking young women who are Schulte thinks the reason for the dance team’s closeness is professionals,” Wilson said. “They not only the one team aspect, but also the fact that dance is come in, they get their work done, the only year-long sport at STA. they execute. They’re talented, “You get to develop those relationships more than you they’re smart, and they’re a great would in just a season; sometimes it takes time,” Schulte representation of STA.” said. Schulte believes another thing Cherra reiterates that the year-long aspect of the sport that makes the dance team special
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is that she doesn’t feel any sense of hierarchy on the team. “The only thing that you really see is seniority,” Schulte said. “That comes out — never in a bad way — because some people have been on the dance team the longest, but there’s not really a dance hierarchy or anything.” Cherra has a more unique perspective, as she has experienced two years on the JV dance team and two on the singular dance team, but she agrees with Schulte. “There isn’t really a sense of hierarchy, but I do feel like people that have been on varsity for four years are great role models and they do a great job of bringing the team together and showing leadership,” Cherra said. Wilson reiterated this point. “Within going from two teams to one, there’s always going to be some growing pains. I felt that our team handled it exceptionally well,” Wilson said. “Everyone rose to the occasion. It’s amazing to see the growth of people who auditioned that year compared to now and I think it’s because they’re being challenged by each other.”B
Athlete of the issue:
Sidney Morris
Story by Charlotte Malone | Photo Editor Photo courtesy of Sidney Morris
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enior Sidney Morris has been swimming since the age of nine. After transferring from Liberty High School to STA second semester of last year, Morris wanted nothing more than to swim for her school. Due to MSHSAA’s strict
recruiting laws, Morris was not given the chance to swim varsity for STA her junior year. “I was ok with that, especially since after talking to the coaches and my mom [we knew] they were probably going to say no, but I still swam,” said Morris. Going into her senior year, Morris, her mom and athletics director Tyler Abney went to MSHSAA’s headquarters in Columbia to apply once again for Morris to have the opportunity to score for STA. After the tedious “trial,” the board unanimously voted yes. “It still doesn’t feel real,” said Morris. “I was really excited when they said yes; I don’t know, it felt like a big weight had been lifted off my shoulders because I’ve been waiting for so long to find out.” The swim team will compete this weekend against Winnetonka at
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the DART|December 10, 2021
COMMUNITY
Trying Treats on
Troost
Troost is an area overlooked by countless STA students, here are some must see spots for fellow foodies! Story, photos and graphics by Lauren Ford | Graphics Editor
E
veryday at 4 p.m., I come home and indulge myself with a longawaited, after-school snack. But I’ve overlooked the opportunities for food right outside STA. Apple Maps shows a short distance of four minutes from STA to Troost Avenue. That’s four minutes and 1.2 miles from a perfect spinach and truffle mushroom omelet, delightful ice cream and to top it all off, a refreshing juice. This past weekend I took the wonderful journey to test out the long-awaited Urban Cafe, High Hopes Ice Cream and Ruby Jean’s Juicery. To start off my experience I visited the flavor-packed corner of 5500 Troost Avenue. Also known as Urban Cafe, this spot featured yummy vegan-friendly breakfast and lunch. I analyzed an impressive menu that ranged from fresh breakfast bites to savory afternoon snacks. After serious contemplation I decided on the truffle mushroom and spinach omelette. Due to early closing I had to leave the bluesy environment and eat the well anticipated meal in my car. Despite only ordering the omelette, the Cafe supplied me with thick cut french fries, two pieces of toast and two sides of salsa and jam for only $13. The omelette was above adequate, to say the least; the eggs were perfectly cooked, and the truffle mushroom and spinach complimented each other quite well. In summary, the Urban Cafe is an amazing addition to my new favorite food spots, and should definitely be added to yours.
The second location to check off was High Hopes Ice Cream, an adorable little storefront within walking distance from Urban Cafe. The front of the store is covered in bright, colorful art that was very eye-catching. The menu offers a wide variety of rich creams to spunky sorbets. I rightfully decided on a chocolate two scoop cup mixed with crunchy choco chunks. My dessert was a perfect mix of chocolate flavor and a delightful texture change of the choco chunks. The staff was very kind and welcoming and held amiable conversations with me while I waited for my ice cream. Overall, High Hopes Ice Cream is an inviting location with delightful ice cream. My final destination was Ruby Jean’s Juicery, a healthier alternative to my previous snacks. The menu features an assortment of vegetables and fruits in different combinations. I ordered the drink named “Veg Out,” a blend of multiple vegetables, especially cucumber and beets. I was a bit worried about the beets since they tend to be overpowering and quite earthy, yet this juice tasted more like cucumber with a slight beet aftertaste. Although the juices aren’t necessarily tasty, they are healthy and allow you to drink your greens for the day. If you’re a health nut who enjoys juices, I 100% recommend Ruby Jean’s Juicery. In summary, Troost is a close location
that is overlooked by too many. It offers so many must-see stores and restaurants and I only reviewed three. If you enjoy trying new places, definitely take that four-minute journey and expand your restaurant palate.B
Urban Cafe’s sign hangs above their storefront Nov. 15. They offer vegan and vegetarian options along with smoothies and more.
High Hopes Ice Cream ordering window sits open Nov. 15. The restaurant serves a variety of flavors and toppings and the store is covered in artwork.
the DART|designed by Lauren Ford
HUMANS OF STA
Humans of STA
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Within the STA community students and teachers alike have special talents. This cycle the Dart covered sub Mr. C and his favorite pastimes here at STA, Jorge Taracido about his talent for poetry and Sarah Taber, who shares her advice and memories on traveling abroad. Story and Photos by Kyra Fieger | Lifestyles Editor
Graphics by Lauren Ford | Graphics Editor
Ed Chronister (Mr. C) What is your favorite part about working at STA? “I have subbed at STA for 16 years, but I’ve been a sub for 21 years. When I started subbing at STA I was shocked at the girls. From when they left my room they all would thank me for being their sub. The teachers were also helpful and friendly.”
Jorge Taracido, PhD How do you become inspired when you write?
“Sometimes inspiration just appears in living life. At times I sit by myself at a location where I feel at ease and/or love, such as a coffee house or the Nelson Art gallery. I read and write and produce poetry in those places, my querencias. There I feel in tune with myself. Some other times a song or music moves me and sometimes even the weather. In other words, life in general.”
Sarah Taber What are some suggestions you would give to anyone thinking about traveling outside of the county? “Go! Go now, go tomorrow, go for the rest of your life! It is the best decision I ever made. Study abroad in college to get hooked and then find ways to keep traveling. It might feel expensive, but lots of colleges have financial aid and scholarships for these experiences, so don’t give up on it. And once you’re there, be brave and walk through cities to see them and feel them, to pop in shops and talk to locals. Don’t just do the highlights, like the Mona Lisa and the Eiffel Tower, but try to be in a foreign place for a while.”
the DART|December 10, 2021
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LAST LOOK
STA STUDENT GIFT GUIDE The Dart asked students what they were asking for during the winter holidays. These were the results! Story and Graphics by Katie Massman
Room Decor
Who wants a boring, plain room? Not the Dart staff, that’s for sure! Decorating a room with records, photos, posters or plants is a perfect way to cozy up a space when you’re stuck inside during cold weather.
Jewelry
Simple jewelry pieces are the perfect way to spice up any basic outfit! Check out Urban Outfitters for some colorful beaded necklaces and chunky earrings, or Madewell for some staples such as hoops or studs.
Books
With winter break approching, and the stress of homework and finals behind us, now is the perfect time to get into some good books. Simply search Booktok on Google to find some reccommendations, or download the goodreads app to see what your friends are reading!
the DART|designed by Katie Massman
experiences
67% GIFT OR EXPERIENCE?
gifts
33%
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*out of 94 responses
Yoga Pants
If anyone has stepped foot on campus in the past month, it’s no suprise that these comfy pants made the list. Found at Aerie, Lululemon, Athleta or any other athleisure store, these comfy pants are are a must-have. Special tip: get the flare pant style to channel your inner 90s kid.
In a recent poll, 67% of students said they would rather enjoy experiences, while 33% said they prefer gifts.
Sneakers
You simply cannot go wrong with a solid pair of sneakers. Keep it casual and pair them with sweats, or dress them up with a cute top and jeans. Sites such as Converse, Nike or GOAT are the best bet for solid, patterned, high top, platforms or whatever else your heart desires.
Gift Cards
STARBUCKS
This Christmas list item is a bit self explantary... it is impossible to go wrong with a good old gift card. Whether store-specific or wide-ranging (Amazon) this is an essential for both your own list and whoever you may be shopping for.
December 10, 2021
PHOTO ESSAY
Seniors pose with their “non-backpacks” as they get to dress in a different theme every Friday. Photos by Kathryn Hart | Web Editor
the DART|designed by [staff name]
The 2021-2022
DART STAFF
Advisor | Dianne Hirner
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Editors-in-Chief | Sophia Rall, Rebecca Speier, Sydney Waldron
COPY
WEB
Design Editors
Feature Editor
Web Editor
Lauren Brackney, Lauren Ford
Mara Callahan
Kathryn Hart
Photo Editors
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Multimedia Editor
Kaylee Lary, Charlotte Malone
Lily Sage, Ellie Buttell
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Staff Writers
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Anna Stout, Lina Kilgore, Taylor Hayes
Kyra Fieger
Anna Massman
Copy Editor
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Social Media Team
Caroline Hinkebein, Katie Massman
Miriam Parsa, Tierney Flavin, Megan Turley
Annie McShane
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Ownership and Sponsorship DartNewsOnline and the Dart are created by the student newpaper staff and are maintained and published by general operating funds of St. Teresa’s Academy, a Catholic institution frounded by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. DartNewsOnline and the Dart will not publish opinions that contradict the teachings and beliefs of the Catholic church, whether on a diocesan or world-wide level. Editorial Policy The Staff of DartNewsOnline and the Dart are subject to prior review by the St. Teresa’s Academy administrative team in circumstances that concern Catholic doctrine, student safety or illegal behavior. DartNewsOnline and the Dart will not publish reviews of sudent work or performances. Personal columns reflect the opinions of the writer, not necessarily the staff or school. Letters & Reader Interaction Policy DartNewsOnline and the Dart encourage the community to post comments on the website. Letters to the editors can be sent in the following ways: in person to Dianne Hirner in Goppert room G106; by mail to St. Teresa’s Academy, Attn: Dianne Hirner, 5600 Main Street, Kansas City, MO 64113; by email to dhirner@sttersasacademy.org or to dartpaper@gmail.com. DartNewsOnline and the Dart reserve the right to edit or shorten letters for publication. Comment Policy DartNewsOnline and the Dart encourage readers to comment on all posts. However, DartNewsOnline and the Dart reserve the right to monitor and edit all comments on DartNewsOnline. Comments that disagree with the editorial policy will not be published. Photo Use Policy Photo illustrations are conceptual photos that combine drawing and photography. All photos on the website are free for public use. If a reader is interested in high-quality copies of photos, please email DartNewsOnline at dartpaper@gmail.com. Corrections policy DartNewsOnline and the Dart will publish corrections as soon as possible after the error is discovered.
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ON THE DNO
the DART|December 10, 2021
on the
DNO
My Drive for Dance Column by Charlotte Malone
Advisory Thanksgivings Gallery by Lily Sage
“The French Dispatch” Review by Mara Callahan
Famous Decisions Column by Anna Stout
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