In This ISSUE
4-5 Photo Essay: We Heart KC
6-7 News: L.A. Faces Long Road to Recovery and AI’s Impact on our Environment
8-9 Star Spotlight: Stars on Ice
10-11 Features: The Language of Flowers and Healthy Habits
12-13 Reviews: Taking a Swig and Local Chocolate Love
14-16 Centerspread: Dating Through the Decades
17 Editorial: Right on Target
18 Sports: Nothing but Net
19 Calendar: Black History Month @ STA
20 Columns: A Photoshop Phenomenon: Put Down the Editing Apps and “The Bear” is the Best
21 Columns: Preserving the Past: My Newfound Fascination with Going to Museums
22-23 Last Look: 2025 Bingo Card
On the DNO
Wrestling Practice Photo Gallery by Jo Marshall
Swim Senior Night Photo Gallery by Molly Sonnenberg
Dear Reader, LOVER
There’s no getting over you, Dart readers, because we’ve got a fresh new issue signed, sealed and delivered: we’re yours! On pages 4 and 5, Jo provides you with the pictures of the KC Parade of Hearts; isn’t she lovely?
At last, on page 6, Rebecca tells us about the rise of AI and its relation to the environment, and on page 7, Anna covers recovery from the LA fires.
We can’t help falling in love with Isa’s star spotlight on hockey players and figure skaters on pages 8 and 9. When it’s cold outside, Marcella’s got the month of May with her story about flower arrangements on page 10. L is for the way you look and feel in 2025, with the help of Cassie’s story on healthy habits on page 11.
There’s ain’t no mountain high enough keeping us from chocolates, so Maya’s got us covered on some of KC’s best chocolates on page 12.
How deep is your love for Swig? Lily’s got you on the best flavors on page 13.
And I wonder, who’s loving you? On pages 14 to 16, Wynnie and Chloe have all the details on love throughout the years, and on page 17 Stella provides the staff’s opinion on this topic.
Love grows where CYO goes with Molly’s story on the basketball craze on page 18.
This magic moment, and all the ones to come, are on page 19 with Kennedi and Savannah’s Black History Month’s calendar and a special alumnae story by Julia.
We’ll fly you to pages 20 and 21, and let you read among the stars about Jo, Stella and Isa’s columns on photo editing, “The Bear”, and museums.
After all the pages disappear from view, you will only have eyes for Lauren’s bingo card on page 22 and 23! We’ve had the time of our lives, and that’s all for this issue. But don’t worry, baby, we’ll meet again! Happy reading!
BY JO MARSHALL
WE
ART
Parade of concluded, iconicpiecesof inthehomes heartsofmany Citians. Featured on this arethose local to STA. of Hearts is nonprofitthatbrings mostunique experiences, celebratingour diversityand unitingour communities.
KC
The DART | Photo Essay | designed by Jo Marshall
L.A. Faces Long Road to Recovery
Story by Anna Salinardi | Staff Writer
On January 7th, a series of destructive wildfires broke out across Los Angeles. The fires, fueled by dry conditions, high winds and very warm temperatures, caused havoc in the L.A. area, forcing thousands of people to evacuate their homes.
There have been 337 fires; at press time, the damage totaled 57,637 acres burned, 16,255 structures destroyed and 29 fatalities. As of now, there are no active fires currently burning.
The environmental aspect of the fires has affected both people and wildlife. Air quality around the surrounding areas impacted has significantly worsened. The smoke of the fires has released toxins into the air, which are harmful to both residents of the region and the firefighters trying to put fires out. Habitats of many different animals have been engulfed in the flames, displacing large amounts of wild creatures. Significant amounts of trees and plants have been destroyed as well.
The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) worked tirelessly to combat the flames and contain them throughout LA. Due to the challenges of the winds and difficult terrain, efforts to stop the fires were ongoing for weeks. California has declared a state of emergency to assist the firefighters and recovery efforts. So far, there has been a total of 51,818 emergency responses involved in the firefighting efforts.
There are several different websites providing information on ways to donate or help in any way for the victims and their families. Across California, many locals have set up shelters and created drives for clothes, shoes, toys and first aid kits. The Grammys, held on February 2nd, raised $7 million, the money going directly towards relief for those impacted by the wildfires. Below is a QR code that lists where you can donate to help the victims of these fires. b
337 fires
57,637 acres burned 16,255 structures
A reporter works in front of a home burned by the Eaton fire in Altadena, California, on Jan. 9. (Zoë Meyers/AFP/Getty Images/TNS)
In this long exposure photo, a helicopter surveys the scene during the Lilac fire in unincorporated San Diego County, California on Jan. 21. (Josh Edelson/AFP/Getty Images/TNS)
A firefighter grabs more hose lines to keep the flames from jumping to nearby homes on Vinedo Avenue as the wind-whipped Eaton fire destroys 1,000 acres on Jan. 7. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times/TNS)
A firefighter monitors the spread of the Auto Fire in Oxnard, North West of Los Angeles, California, on Jan. 13. (Etienne Laurent/AFP/Getty Images/TNS)
AI’s Impact on our Environment
Since the rise of artifical intelligence, its drawbacks and advantages regarding the environment have come to light.
Story by Rebecca McGannon | Editor-in-Chief
Since the release of ChatGPT in 2022, people have begun using artificial intelligence for almost anything in their day-to-day lives. From budgeting to essay outlines to grocery lists, AI has reached the everyday population. When most people use AI, they type in their question or prompt and watch as the response spills out in seconds. However, what most AI users don’t see is the effects of these endless prompts and questions on the environment.
The biggest culprit when it comes to AI’s damage to the environment tends to be the electronic waste coming from the data centers that house AI. According to the United Nation’s Environment Programme (UNEP), the number of data centers has surged from 500,000 to nearly 8 million since 2012.
“There is still much we don’t know about the environmental impact of AI but some of the data we do have is concerning,” said Golestan (Sally) Radwan, the Chief Digital Officer of the UNEP. “We need to make sure the net effect of AI on the planet is positive before we deploy the technology at scale.”
UNEP also highlights the energy increase in this new technology.
“A request made through ChatGPT, an AIbased virtual assistant, consumes 10 times the electricity of a Google search, according to the International Energy Agency,” UNEP said.
In addition to electrical waste, there is also concern for the large amount of water the data centers that house AI are consuming.
“Globally, AI-related infrastructure may soon consume six times more water than Denmark, a country of 6 million, according to one estimate,” UNEP said. “That is a problem when a quarter of humanity already lacks access to clean water and sanitation.”
through its energy consumption and emissions but also can be part of the solution to climate change, like the Spherical Dyffusion Model from UC San Diego and Allen Institute for AI.
“Take the Spherical Dyffusion Model out of UC San Diego and the Allen Institute for AI, for example--this technology can run 100-year climate simulations at 25 hour intervals, which would take most other models weeks to process,” Garretson said. “All while it significantly lowers the computational load. It works as a probabilistic emulator for existing climate models, offering better accuracy than traditional methods.”
Large companies are following suit as some of the biggest buyers of renewable energy are companies like Google and Microsoft. For example, in 2020 Google announced that by 2030, they plan for all of their data centers to be completely run by renewable energy sources like solar and wind. One competitor of Open AI called DeepMind, which prioritizes research through artificial intelligence, has also been making strides in environmental conservation.
The topic of AI’s effects on the environment also brings up the issue of the materials used to develop AI technology. For example, an AI microchip uses rare elements that tend to be mined in unethical and environmentally destructive ways.
UNEP urges governments to introduce legislation to reduce the negative environmental impact of AI. “Governments are racing to develop national AI strategies but rarely do they take the environment and sustainability into account,” UNEP said. “The lack of environmental guardrails is no less dangerous than the lack of other AIrelated safeguards.”
While there are great concerns on the damage AI can have on the environment, this new technology also brings to light many new opportunities to help and advocate for our earth.
Sage Garretson, STA’s own information technology expert and self-proclaimed eco activist, offers his insight and recognizes the positive and negative effects AI has on the environment.
“People have suggested that AI is a double-edged sword,” Garretson said. “It can cause significant environmental harm
“In fact, in 2016, Google’s DeepMind AI was able to significantly reduce the energy used for cooling in their data centers by up to 40%,” Garretson said. “They achieved this by using machine learning to analyze data from thousands of sensors and optimize the cooling centers for maximum efficiency. This resulted in a 15% reduction in overall energy consumption in those data centers, which is a considerable improvement.”
Garretson highlights that since these companies are private, information regarding their energy consumption and emissions is not public, causing many people to be in the dark about the implications of AI.
“We need transparency from AI companies regarding their energy usage and accountability,” Garretson said. “Experts argue that if companies provide data on energy consumption, people can make informed decisions about their AI usage, instead of psyching yourself out about them.”
However, reducing AI’s negative environment isn’t something only the big corporations need to be cognizant of. AI users can also be aware of their daily AI usage. Garretson warns users not to waste AI use on frivolous tasks.
“Users need to realize that they don’t need to rely on generative AI for non-essential things; people should not use ChatGPT as a calculator,” Garretson said. “Like you really don’t need it . Not only is it bad at arithmetic, it’s literally not made to do math, but it’s also orders of magnitude, more energy and a crazy amount of water for something that does not need water.”
One aspect of AI to be cognizant of, as a user, is which kind of AI models are utilized.
“Some AI models, like Large Language Models, are very energy intensive but may not directly contribute to solving climate change,” Garretson said. “Some models utilize Mixture-of-Experts architecture, so they activate only a small fraction of their parameters at a given time, which significantly reduces the computational cost and makes them more efficient.” b
Stars on Ice
JuniorsHaverty,MaryMeyers andLottieDubaposefora picture.
smileYoungHavertyandteammates forapicture.
With winter winding down, two STA students, Ashlyn and Suzie, share their experiences with their respective winter sports.
Story by Isa Glover | News and Sports Editor
Ashlyn Haverty, Junior
When did you start ice skating?
“I think when I was like eight or ten.”
How did you start ice skating?
YoungHavertyandfamilypose forapicture.
“I go to Carriage Club, and they don’t have a golf course, so it’s a big attraction that everyone does ice skating in the winter. And I’m not a big golfer, so I wanted to do ice skating.”
What is your favorite thing about ice skating?
“My favorite thing is just knowing how to ice skate because if I go with my friends, it’s fun to know how to ice skate well, and do tricks. I also love doing the dances and then our big show at the end of the season.”
What are the challenges of ice skating?
“I think a big challenge is mental blocks when it comes to ice skating because you’re always supposed to learn new tricks and but it’s definitely really scary to fall on your butt on the ice. I think a challenge is really just overcoming your fear because you have to fall a lot in
Are there any accomplishments you have in ice
“The show that I’ve done every year in late February, and it’s where you basically have choreographed a dance for a few months, and then everyone goes together and shows the numbers. I usually do two numbers. One with my grade level, and then one called theater, and it’s the
Do you plan to continue ice skating collegiately?
“I don’t think so. I’ll probably just do it until my senior
Suzie Honan, Junior
When did you start ice hockey?
“When I was eight.”
How did you start ice hockey?
“I go to Carriage Club too, and they have a hockey team. When I was seven, I was watching the high school practice, and I asked my mom if I could start ice hockey.”
What is your favorite thing about ice hockey?
“ I like the people I’ve met through ice hockey and working so hard to achieve something.”
What are the challenges of ice hockey?
“For me, it’s finding a team because it’s Kansas City, so there’s not really any girls teams.”
Where do you play/practice ice hockey?
“I go to Carriage Club and practice with a guy’s team there. On weekends when I’m not traveling I play in games with them.”
Are there any accomplishments you have with ice hockey
“Yesterday we won a tournament in Denver.”
Do you plan to continue ice hockey collegiately?
“ I hope to but there’s not a lot of schools that have ice skating, so it depends what I want to study.”
What is your favorite memory from ice hockey?
“This summer I did a hockey camp in Canada and was there for two and a half weeks. I met so many people, and it was a good experience. I think it helped me grow a lot.” B
game.celebrateafteravictorious
The Language of Flowers
Read along to explore the important history of bouquets and learn how every flower and color has its own unique
Story by Marcella Buckley | Staff Writer
Flowers have captured the imagination of all, inspiring us with their colors, symbolism and history. In the Middle Ages, flowers were used to ward off evil spirits and since then, flowers have been used for celebrations, weddings, funerals or just because.
According to multiple online sources, the history of bouquets has a long timeline, starting with the Ancient Egyptians, the Greeks and the Roman Empire. These communities often used flowers for religious traditions, and would base their flower decision off their beliefs. The Greek community used flowers to decorate for ceremonies or as props for storytelling and exchanged their flowers as a sign to show affection and gratitude towards each other. In the Victorian Era, people used flowers to express their unspoken feelings towards each other. They gave flowers to their partners, family and friends.
Over time, the different colors of flowers have grown to symbolize their own meanings and significance. We all know a red rose can mean love and passion, but did you know an orange lily can mean hatred, according to The Extension and Outreach website of Iowa State University?
The meanings of flower colors have evolved from cultural traditions, symbolism and human emotions.
For example, yellow is associated with joy and blue with sadness.
But some of these meanings are a little more complex than we think! According to Petal Talk, the official website of 1-800 flowers.com, the color of flowers can have various meanings:
Red: love, passion, respect, desire, courage
Yellow: joy, happiness, friendship
Pink: love, happiness, gentleness, femininity
Orange: boldness, excitement, enthusiasm
White: purity, innocence
Blue: tranquility, peace, relaxation
Purple: success, royalty, admiration
Lavender: grace, elegance, youth
Green: rebirth, renewal, good health, good fortune, youthfulness
Now that you know what the colors of flowers symbolize, you might be wondering if there is also meaning associated with the types of flowers you could use when making a friend a birthday bouquet. Here are some ideas:
Iris: faith, hope, friendship
Ivy: friendship, affection, loyalty
Daisy: innocence, loyalty, love, purity
Dandelion: faithfulness, happiness
White Rose: beauty, girlhood
White Carnation: sweet, pure love
Lavender: admiration, solitude
And finally, with Valentine's Day coming tomorrow, here are some ideas for making a bouquet full of love and passion:
Carnation: pure love, innocence
Red Rose: love, I love you
Orange Blossom: eternal love, marriage
Orchid: love, beautiful lady
Red Rose: pure, lovely
Red Tulip: declaration of love
Jonquil: affection, desire, sympathy b
From
Healthy Habits
Sunday resets to
morning workout classes, small steps can have big results in bettering your mind and body.
Story by Cassie Hallier | Design Editor
On average, it takes 66 days for a new habit to stick—66 days of consistency, productivity and effort. While this number may seem daunting to someone attempting to incorporate a new routine into their life, the benefits that these 66 days can bring are endless. Healthy habits are critical to building both the mind and body's wellness.
At their core, every person knows that a healthy lifestyle can benefit them, but just like anything else, starting is difficult. While it might be easy to go to the grocery store and pile your cart with fruits and proteins, what happens later when you aren’t feeling like cooking and the Raising Cane's drive through looks a lot more tempting? When it comes to forming new habits, consistency and willpower are key.
"Eating balanced meals while also treating myself benefits my day to day life in many ways," junior Julia Newman said. It's important to note that eating "healthy" doesn't just mean cutting out foods that are viewed as bad. Diet is all about balance, find what works for you and stick to it!
Remember it is always okay to start small. "Drink plenty of water, get a good amount of rest, and love yourself," said English teacher Matt Hicks. Starting with small habits that are easily incorporated into your day leaves plenty of room for growth and success.
Healthy habits extend beyond dietary choices. It is just as important to stay active.
Whether it be a workout class, an afternoon walk or a weekly sports practice, keeping your body moving can do wonders for mental and physical healthy.
"My favorite way to keep my body active is going to PowerLife Fitness," Newman said. PowerLife is a fitness studio with five locations throughout the Kansas City area: Corinth, Town Center, Lee's Summit, South Plaza and Power & Light. They offer a broad variety of classes, including sculpt, barre and hot yoga.
Newman is not the only one who makes PowerLife a core part of their mindful routine. The studio is a favorite throughout the STA community. "I love PowerLife because it is the perfect mix of strength and meditation and it is a good reset," said junior Lucy Schibig.
Allowing yourself time to reset is one of the best things you can do for your mind and body. While it is often fulfilling to have a jam-packed schedule, alone time is essential. It allows you to break free from social pressures and let yourself just be.
The term "Sunday reset," popularized on TikTok, has helped many teens and adults alike learn to value their alone time. This trend encourages people to use Sunday as an opportunity to do laundry, cook a favorite meal, take an "everything" shower and go to bed early, taking time to do the basic tasks that are often pushed aside or forgotten during the hustle and bustle of the week.
This trend is endorsed by more than just your favorite influencers. Dr. Cheryl Groskopf, a therapist, shared the science behind it in an interview with Verywell Mind. "When you take time to relax, plan, and practice being in the moment, it signals to your brain's amygdala that it's safe to relax," said Groskopf.
It can seem daunting at first: how do you take an entire day of free time and dedicate it solely to self-care? The answer, the same as beginning any healthy habit: start simple. Start an hour timer and place your phone across the room, then begin to do whatever you feel needs to be done. Your Sunday reset is yours, and you should use the time to do that which feels most important. When the timer goes off, give yourself a break and go about your normal Sunday tasks.
Put your phone down, go for a run, make that protein-packed recipe you saved last night, meditate. You control your lifestyle and with dedication can become the best version of yourself. It doesn't have to be extreme; better your mind and body by listening to them both, and by doing what is most beneficial to you. Happy healthy living! b
Taking a
The new soda drive-through restaurant “Swig” has been the talk of the town with the excitement of the new location opening in Misson, Kansas, but is it really worth the hype?
Story by Lily Remer | Staff Writer
The soda restaurant is owned by Nicole Tanner, a mother of five, who was inspired by her early childhood of drinking Coke from her grandparents’ refrigerator. The restaurant serving “dirty sodas” is the company’s main attraction, aside from its very affordable prices.
RASPBERRY DREAM 4/5
The first soda I chose was “Raspberry Dream,” a dirty soda made with Dr Pepper, raspberry puree and coconut cream. Going into this drink, I knew that I wasn’t the biggest fan of dirty sodas or cream sodas, so I had very low expectations, but it turned out to be quite the contrary! I really enjoyed how each ingredient made a bold statement and how well they blended together. The mix of coconut with the raspberry really complimented the cherry and licorice taste in the Dr Pepper. Overall, this drink definitely left a positive impression on me and I would without a doubt come back for this beverage.
SHARK ATTACK 3/5
Taking a different route, the next soda I chose was more of a refreshing, tropical vibe called “Shark Attack.” This soda was made up with Sprite, lemonade, blue raspberry puree, and topped off with a little gummy shark. This drink left a chilling impression, with the blue color resembling ocean waters that went down swimmingly when I drank it. I really enjoyed the refreshing feeling I felt after drinking this soda, but it unquestionably qualifies as a summer drink. I don’t think I would re-order this drink just because it’s very sugary for my liking. There was a lack of lemonade when I tried it but overall is a pretty decent beverage.
RIPTIDE 5/5
I finished up with a “Riptide.” This drink has Sprite, cranberry, raspberry puree and a fresh lime. This soda definitely has been my new obsession and it is a great alternative for refreshers. The cranberry and raspberry puree really complimented the lemon-lime Sprite. The fruity flavor, with a hint of the sour and tart lime overall, made a tasty explosion. This is now my new go-to and my favorite of all the sodas I’ve tried at Swig.
I believe without a doubt that Swig is a great alternative for getting a variety of drinks that don’t have coffee in them. I also believe that being a student in high school and usually paying for $6-8 for refreshers, this is a good substitute if you are wanting to save money with Swig’s reasonable prices. I think that Swig is great and I’m excited to continue going there! B
Local Chocolate Love
Chocolates are a staple around this Valentine’s season. I tried some of the best chocolate around town so you don’t have to. Keep reading to see what chocolates you should get your friends and family this holiday season!
Story by Maya Tule | Photo Editor
Out of all the great chocolates I have tried, Annedore’s is by far my favorite. This was my first time trying these chocolates, and I purchased a classic eight-piece box, which surpassed my expectations. The flavors of them all were rich and the ganache inside each was so smooth and flavorful. I will rate these a five out of five, and would definitely return to try some new flavors as they had so many more products in store!
Andre’s was on the pricey side but still an amazing place to get some good food and delicious chocolate. I overall gave this classic 12-piece box of chocolates a four out of five. They have quite the array of flavors but for me, the texture of some of the chocolates were not pleasing.
This box of 12, heart-shaped truffles were adorable and a nice sweet treat for anyone! I will overall rate these chocolates a four out of five because although the truffles were very rich, for me they were almost too rich and artificial, which ruined the flavor for me. I could see myself purchasing these again, but not having more than one or two at a time for how sweet they are.
Russell Stover’s was very affordable and tasteful. This pack of 16 assorted pieces was delicious and my favorite from the had to be the chocolate-covered caramel. The caramel inside just melted in my mouth and chocolate was an amazing creamy flavor. I give this box an overall three out of five.B
It used to be simple. Girl meets boy. They go out to dinner. Introduce each other to their parents. Get married, start a family, live happy ever after. Nowadays, however, things are just a tad more complicated.
Mary Ann Cappo (Cartella, ‘78) and her husband of 42 years are the epitome of a classic love story.
“I was a sophomore at St. Teresa’s, and my now-husband was a sophomore at Rockhurst,” Cappo said. “We met at one of my friend’s 16th birthday parties.”
“Nobody likes to talk on the phone,” Cappo said. “Everybody likes to email and text…I think that kind of The DART | Centerspread | February 13, 2025
“It wasn’t anything that we really said,” Cappo said. “We both knew that we wanted to get married [and] have children.”
Cappo’s high school love story isn’t completely unique: six other Rockhurst-STA couples in her class went on to get married. She discussed how high-school sweethearts have become less common.
“If our kids were dating somebody and brought [them] home, in our world, that could be a potential spouse,” Cappo said. “Of course, that didn’t happen [for] our kids.
[Our] two boys were in their 30s when they got married.”
Cappo also commented on modern communication in dating.
The Dart examines how changing culture and emerging technology have impacted dating and relationships.
Story by Chloe Denk | Editor-in-Chief and Wynnie Sprague | Opinions Editor
From there, the couple began to see each other among friends.
“We would kind of hang out in groups,” Cappo said. “He had a friend group. I had a friend group…
There would be people who were dating and other people who were singles…we would just hang out.”
In May of 1976, Cappo’s now-husband called her to set up their first official date: the Rockhurst carnival. After attending Rockhurst homecoming together the following October, the pair solidified their relationship.
They remained together throughout college, despite attending different universities, and married in 1982, at the age of 22. Cappo claims an understanding of shared life priorities helped define their relationship.
You can know some things about people, but you can’t know everything unless you spend time with them in person.
Mary Ann Cappo “ “ communication is great for the early stages…but there’s no substitute for being in person. You can know some things about people, but you can’t know everything unless you spend time with them in person.”
Mary Beth Andersson (Rice, ‘83) has a much more unconventional tale. Her
love story is straight out of a rom-com, and features a dash of familial interference. Andersson met her Swedish husband on a two-week European trip with the Kansas City Symphony Chorus: he was her bus tour guide.
Then-29-year-old Andersson had taken the trip with her grandmother and mother. The group visited Neuschwanstein Castle, but it began to rain on the walk up.
“[He] took his rain jacket off and gave it to my grandmother,” Andersson said. “She [was] like, ‘Oh, I like that.’”
Later that evening, Andersson wanted to go out in Munich, and her grandmother had a suggestion.
“She goes, ‘Go find that tour guide,’” Andersson
Cappo and her husband pose for a picture in formal attire.
said. “’Here’s his jacket. That’ll be your excuse.’”
Andersson went to find him, but found his room vacant, and returned to her own.
“About a minute later, there’s a knock on the door,” Andersson said. “It’s him. He’s looking for his jacket. [He was] going to the Hofbrauhaus, which is the famous beer garden. I said, ‘Can I go with you?’ He said, ‘Sure.’ So we did.”
Because her now-husband traveled often, Andersson didn’t have a traditional dating experience. The early days of her relationship were characterized by seeing him for short periods of time before he had to return to Europe. They stayed in touch through long-distance calls and writing letters. The couple quickly became serious and were married in November of 1996, 16 months after they met. Andersson
Tumminia attended the University of Kansas, while her husband attended the University of Central Missouri, so they travelled back and forth from Warrensburg to Lawrence throughout college. During this time, technology and social media became much more prevalent in the world.
“Facebook was our biggest social media platform when we first started dating, and we actually first started talking by chatting on Facebook,” Tumminia said.
“Instagram and Snapchat were brand new at the time. Facetime was also new but Carter didn’t have an iPhone until senior year of
attributes their commitment to clarity in expectations.
“We were very mature, I guess,” Andersson said. “We kind of knew what we wanted and knew how to communicate…We had dated and so we knew this [was] a good partner…We knew it was real and we had to make a decision.”
Andersson perceives modern dating practices to have both advantages and disadvantages.
“I think it’s a lot harder,” Andersson said. “I just feel like there’s a lot more stressors in the world today.…I guess there are ways to meet people that are easier…There are dating apps and we didn’t have anything like that. You just had to meet someone.”
She claims being introduced through a common acquaintance was the norm during her dating years.
“The people I dated [I met] because somebody introduced me to them,” Andersson said. “Then you just [went] out to
eat or [went] to a bar, something like that.”
Gillen Tumminia (Gray, 2015) and her husband did meet through common acquaintances, but not in a bar: they were only 14. The pair has been together for ten years and married for the past two.
“We met each other in grade school through mutual friends and were friends on AIM and Facebook,” Tumminia said. “Once we got to high school, (Carter went to Rockhurst and I went to St. Teresa’s), our groups of friends would hang out a lot on the weekends.”
Tumminia notes that it took some time before they started dating.
“We talked for a few months,” Tumminia said. “We saw each other and texted often, but we were pretty shy toward each other for a while. We started ‘officially’ dating in February of 2012, but didn’t actually start hanging out without our other friends for months after that.”
Even though they started dating their freshman year, they did not do many “couple” things until almost two years after.
“We didn’t start going on real ‘dates’ together until probably sophomore or junior year,” Tumminia said.
high school, so we didn’t really use that until college.”
Current STA senior Janie Gacek claims today’s high school relationships similarly feature technology. She
Dating now I feel requires a lot more communication, because there’s a lot more going on now with online and everything.
Janie Gacek “
“ thinks the use of technology in dating has upsides, but also challenges.
“Dating now I feel requires a lot more communication, because there’s a lot more going on now with online and everything,” Gacek said. “A lot of stuff gets miscommunicated…Just so much is perceived differently online through pictures; rumors are so much more easily spread…Because there’s more opportunity for communication, you almost have to work that much harder to make sure you get the right kind of communication.”
Because of these dangers,
Tumminia and her husband pose with their dog on their wedding day.
person before officially dating them. Many students consider the talking stage to be an established step in the formation of a relationship.
Jukebox Jams
40s: i don’t want to set the world on fire
50s: that’s amore
60s: Can’t help falling in love
70s: Close to you
80s: take my breath away
90s: I will always love you
2000s: yellow
2010s: all of me
Gacek thinks it is important to be able to have conversations face-to-face.
“You need to communicate outside of texting, too, because often tone isn’t perceived well over text,” Gacek said. “So just having the maturity to be like, ‘Hey, we should talk about this in person.’”
Gacek’s own relationship began in-person; she and her boyfriend began dating after being part of the same friend group.
“We were friends before we started dating,” Gacek said. “We started to like each other probably for a month before we actually started talking. Then I think we talked for two months, then we started dating.”
Though Gacek and her boyfriend see each other often in a group setting, she thinks it is still important to spent time one-on-one to establish a reliable foundation.
“Making sure there’s quality time for you guys, even though there’s a lot going on,” Gacek said. “Obviously there’s the basis of trust…Someone could always be doing anything and you can choose to freak out about it or you can just trust.”
In order to create more confidence entering a relationship, many high-school students participate in “the talking stage,” which consists of having conversations, usually via Snapchat, with a
“I feel like it goes: hanging out in a group setting, and then if you’re having fun in the group setting, maybe like, ‘Hey, do you want to come over or something?’”
Gacek said. “People usually develop feelings through hanging out, so then it turns into talking. Talking stages now go on for so long because people I feel like are scared. Then, dating.”
Gacek notes that a lot of people who are talking, however, never get to the dating part.
“I feel like it’s rare for people to make it out of the talking stage because people spend too long talking and it just fizzles out,” Gacek said.
A struggle to define relationships is common for many students: Gacek recommends couples have conversations to get on the same page.
“It’s so confusing to be like, ‘Oh, so are we dating?’”
Gacek said. “I feel like so many people use that [as an] excuse to start a conversation…We just laid out what dating means to each other…I was like, ‘Well, do you want it? Are you ready to commit to me?’
And he [was] like, ‘Yeah.’”
Gacek offered parting advice for students engaging in high school relationships.
“Just communicate with each other,”
Gacek said. “There’s no reason to hold on to a grudge. I feel like people get bored and look for the drama…but if something’s wrong, just tell them, because oftentimes it will blow up into a bigger deal than it needs to be.”
Whether it be high school sweethearts or an international relationship turned successful marriage, there are many different ways to find love. Through any relationship, however, some qualities stand the test of time: trust, communication, common priorities and commitment.B
Just communicate with each other. There’s no reason to hold on to a grudge. Janie Gacek “ “
Andersson and her husband smile in front of a waterfall.
Gacek and her boyfriend smile for the camera.
On
Right Target
The Dart staff debates if the dating process has become more complex throughout the decades.
Story by Stella Baska | Features Editor
Imagine it is the 1920s: there is no such thing as an iPhone, lovers write letters to communicate and courtship is still a norm. Over the past 100 years, dating has changed exceedingly, but has it become more complex? The Dart staff evaluated whether the complexities of relationships have increased or decreased through the past generations.
The answer to this question was unanimously “yes.”
However, many opinions varied on why dating is complicated now.
The most obvious change to relationships over the years has been the rise of technology and social media. Social media effects many spheres of a relationship: meeting someone, communication and trust.
Today, many people meet online. Through different platforms like Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok, it is definitely easier to discover different people. However, never encountering your significant other in person can complicate things, possibly leading to disappointment. One member referenced the phrase “wdyl warriors,”
which are typically boys on Snapchat that start conversation with someone through the phrase “what do you like?”
Staffers pointed out that even if a couple meets in person, they will most likely exchange social media handles, rather than their numbers. Communicating through social media and even text instead of in person can make a relationship very perplexing. Tone can be completely misread, lack of timely responses can cause tension and even catfishing situations can arise.
When relationships are so dependent on an online presence, staffers explained the difficulty of defining a relationship. Many said that labels simply don’t exist anymore, which is understandable when there is already an unlimited number of names for a couple: talking stage, situationship, taken, etc.
Some staffers question the role men have in this lack of communication. Because women today have more autonomy and control of relationships then they may have historically had, many feel that sometimes women’s effort is not reciprocated by men.
With all these complications developing
through time, it’s easy to think that the dating process has developed immensely negative complications. However, there are some ways dating has simplified over the course of time.
Having an online presence has giving people a new opportunity to meet. Instead of falling under the pressure of courting someone in one’s community, people can fall in love with someone they have found on their own.
People can also stay in touch with their loved ones easier because technology connects long distance relationships.
Whether relationships are more or less complicated than past generations, staffers agree that people still fall in love, which lasts through the decades. B
NOTHING
hitting the mat but NET
Photos by Jo Marshall | Social Media Editor
STA students of all grades find joy during the winter season by participating in CYO basketball on the weekends.
Story by Molly Sonnenberg | Editor-in-Chief
Savior Pastoral Center is most likely not a high school teenager’s first choice of where they would like to be on a Saturday night at 8:30. However, for those participating in CYO basketball, it might be what they have been looking forward to all day. CYO stands for Catholic Youth Organization, which holds a recreational basketball league for Catholic high schoolers who belong to a parish in the area. The games occur on Saturdays between 8:00 am-8:00 pm, in obscure locations such as Hocker Grove Middle School and Savior Pastoral Center. Many STA students join CYO basketball for fun, seeing it as a “satirical” basketball league to not take too seriously.
However, the league does come with strenuous rules. These rules, if not respected and followed, can result in a players’ or teams’ suspension. Some of the most problematic rules are the no jewelry rule (including permanent), the required undershirts for female players and the requirement that someone over 25 years old must be present on the sidelines at game time.
Freshman Cece Santa joined CYO basketball this year and is in a league with freshman and sophomore teams. The fun and ease of the game is what she looks forward to.
“I think it’s fun because nobody takes it too seriously,” Santa says. “You get to see friends from other grades and it’s almost funny because you are seeing people that you see at school but not normally outside of school.”
From freshmen to seniors, friend groups from all grades enjoy taking part in CYO basketball. Senior Sidney Brooks recalls her favorite part of the week, despite the obscure times and locations of the Saturday games.
Wrestling makes its debut at STA with multiple tournaments and successes for their inaugural season. In the past two tournaments, three of the five varsity members have succeded in placing among the top five.
“I think it’s just something to look forward to every week,” Brooks says. “I know I have something fun to do on Saturday and that I will see my friends and whether we lose or not, it’s fun.” However, Brooks has unfortunately become victim to one of the strict rules of the league. CYO has no exceptions to their jewelry rule, whether it’s permanent or not.
“They made me cut my permanent bracelet off,” Brooks says. “It was my big birthday present freshman year, and I was so mad they made me cut it off. I probably should’ve not played that game, but I cut it off because I was upset at how the referee was acting.”
Despite the oddly strict rules, far locations and not-so-flattering uniforms, STA students from all grades find excitement and fun in the winter CYO basketball season. Whether on the sidelines or balling out, CYO basketball has become a lasting hobby for Catholic students around KC.
B
Freshman Paloma Juarez faces off with her competitor.
STA Seniors Mara Gary, Aubrey Kenton, Caroline Emerson, Jillian Garr, Nina Forbes, Sidney Brooks and Eva Farmer all pose postwin at their Saturday night game on January 25th at Savior Pastoral Center.
Photo courtesy of Sidney Brooks.
Senior Evelyn Brungardt goes head to head with her opponent.
Freshman Paloma Juarez takes down her challenger.
The varsity wrestling team poses for a photo.
BlackMonthHistory @ STA
The month of February is a time to celebrate and recognize African-American figures and history. Read more to see how STA elevates this celebration...
Diversity and Inclusion are serious matters at St. Teresa’s Academy. From the Hispanic Heritage Month to Asian Affinity and Black Student Coalition, representation is evident on campus. This month, we recognize historical African American figures who inspire our communities and daily lives. Let’s see how STA commemorates Black History.
Director of Community and Campus Inclusion Kaliyah Meriwether shares her opinion on why this month is important to recognize.
“Black history is important so that people learn about Black culture and get immersed into various identities,” Meriwether said. “Black culture is a big part of our community, a big part of our music, our food and a lot of things we use in our day to day. I think it’s really important that people learn about other cultures. I want people to see how far we as a Black community have come. It’s great to learn and connect with people.”
Meriwether expands on the significance of the topic.
“It’s important to share those stories because it’s how we relate to each other and how we connect,” she said. “The more we learn about different people, the more we can build friendships, learn about the world and deepen understanding of other people. It’s really important for us to go outside of our own
cultures and explore.”
What can we expect for STA’s events this month? Meriwether has answers for that too.
“We will be doing a Black History Month exploration, which is similar to our Hispanic exploration and others we have done in the past,” she said. “We will have Black-owned businesses come and share their work in the gym at the stations set up, as well as a few food companies, music and we’ll have a performer. It’s all just showing off and showcasing to learn more about what they have to offer and appreciating their skills.”
She emphasizes how Black History Month connects to the mission of STA.
“A big part of our mission is diversity, equity and inclusion,” Meriwether said. “I think Black history is an integral part of connecting our students and making our African American students feel like they are represented on campus. I think it’s just a cool way to highlight the staff that we have, celebrities and people who inspire us.”
Meriwether reveals the goals behind the showcases and activities.
“I just love that students like to get out of the classroom and do other things that aren’t a part their of everyday routine,” Meriwether said. “And just being able to have fun, connect and see everyone at STA come together for something other than Mass or another event.
But it’s cool to us that we have a fun activity that we’re doing together whilst learning about Black history and culture. It’s a fun way for STA to embrace being a community.”
Meriwether discloses what you can do to support the special events this month.
“Just showing up to our events like the fashion show to watch our students represent themselves and their culture,” she said. “Going to these businesses and discovering new things is a really great way to get exposed and educate yourself about others.” B
FebruaryEvents
Black Student Coalition Fashion Show - February 19
Field trip to the Black Archives of Mid-America in Kansas CityFebruary 24, 12:30 p.m.
Black History Month ExpoFebruary 26 19 24 26
STAR Alumna: Sister Sacrifice
Many STA alumnae move on to do great things. Read below about Sister Sacrifice: a religious STA alumna doing good for others.
While it’s rather rare for STA students to join the sisterhood after graduation, it’s even rarer for them to be visited by Pope Francis himself. However, STA alumna AnneMarie Whitehead, now Sister Sacrifice, did both.
Sister Sacrifice graduated from STA in 2010 and joined the Sister Servants of the Lord and the Virgin
of the La Matara (SSVM) in 2019. Currently, Sister Sacrifice works in Vanimo, Papua New Guinea, managing money for her entire group, helping run the primary and secondary schools and teaching first grade.
Pope Francis promised to visit Vanimo in 2019 and followed through last September, on the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed
Virgin Mary. Preparations for the Pope’s visit began months before his arrival, and while there, Pope Francis consecrated Vanimo to Mary, making his time there all the more special to Sister Sacrifice and her fellow sisters. B
Story by Kennedi Fritz | Staff Writer and Savannah Taylor | Staff Writer
Story byJulia Schwaller | Staff Writer
A Photoshop Phenomenon: Put Down the Editing Apps “The Bear
Editing software is becoming easier to use and more accessible, but at what cost?
If you look at a teenage girl’s Instagram page, the pictures are perfect—or at least they look that way. Her skin is smooth, her eyes sparkle and her waist is enviably small. If you open up the comments section, her followers echo the same sentiment:
“You’re so stunning!”
“Literal perfection.”
“I wish I looked like you.”
But the truth is, she doesn’t look like herself. . .she looks like an improved version of herself. Behind the screen, the photo you’re seeing was meticulously edited. Her skin was airbrushed with an app. Her waist was slimmed with a few swipes of her finger. Her eyes and teeth were whitened in three taps.
This is the world we currently live in: a world where editing apps like Facetune and Photoshop make it effortless to entirely alter everything about one’s appearance. This phenomenon blurs the lines between fantasy and reality, and the effects can be incredibly damaging.
According to a 2023 article by Psychology Today, nearly 90% of women under the age of 20 admit to altering their appearance in photos before sharing them online. What once required expensive software and professional skills is now accessible to anyone with a smartphone.
The consequences? A generation of teens trapped in a cycle of unrealistic expectations and self-doubt. When one compares themself to an image of someone that isn’t real, the person that they see in the mirror is no longer enough. The more girls see edited images online, the worse they will feel about themselves, and the more likely they are to start editing their own photos. The cycle is vicious.
This insecurity is compounded by other forms of edited images we’re surrounded by every day in advertising and in our culture. While the images that AI can generate at this point in time may be crude and recognizable, one must wonder what future generations of technology will be able to produce in terms of deceivingly realistic images of people. So, what can we do right now? For starters, put down the editing apps. Resist the urge to “fix” what doesn’t need fixing. Embrace photos that reflect your real, unfiltered self—the one with freckles, flyaways and everything else that makes you uniquely you.
It’s not easy to go against a culture that is obsessed with perfection. But every time we choose authenticity over airbrushing, we get closer to a world where being real is valued more than being perfect.
Because here’s the truth: The version of yourself that you see in the mirror is enough B
If you would have asked me about my most passionate obsessions three months ago, I would never have imagined Jeremy Allen White having a panic attack in a dirty Chicago kitchen being one of them. However, “The Bear,” an original Hulu series about the trials and tribulations of restaurant life, has captured my focus.
Season one of “The Bear” focuses on Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto, who while dealing with the death of his brother, takes on the ownership of his family restaurant. The extremely dysfunctional kitchen longs for a leader, and Carmy, who has trained as a Michelin star chef, is forced into the role.
This plot, while seemingly unrelatable, is extremely applicable to my life. Following a family from the south side of Chicago, familial obligation, despite dysfunctionality, is a main theme. This affinity towards one’s problematic roots is inescapable in life. Like Richie, who is Carmy’s family friend, many people take pride in their complicated history.
The show also focuses on mental health. Not only is Carmy grieving his brother, but he also has extreme performance anxiety about cooking. His anxiety effects the people around him; he pushes those who care about him away. Especially for someone who has worked in a kitchen before, the characters’ anxieties and tensions are easy to identify with.
Over the course of three seasons, Carmy learns how to deal with his anxiety. Multiple relationships are developed, as well. The character development throughout “The Bear” is enlightening.
I quickly picked up that the restaurant symbolized each character: as it faced setbacks, the characters also struggled, and when the restaurant improved, so did the characters.
This development is impeccably performed by an impressive cast. White, Ayo Edebiri and Jamie Lee Curtis are some of the actors that really stand out. Edebiri won an Emmy for her performance as a supporting actress.
When talking about technicality, it is hard to not bring up the cinematography. Every shot is specifically detailed to convey meaning and add to the vibe of the show. Each image of food looks delicious and demonstrates the talent in the show. Even though episode one of season three has hardly any dialogue and is just clips attached to music, I wasn’t bored once.
The soundtrack may attribute to my lack of boredom, though, because it always fits the scene. The music the producers choose is very unique: from recordings of live concerts to punk rock instrumental.
While there are times that the anxiety of this show is almost “unbearable,” I couldn’t think of a more insightful, engaging, and understandable piece of entertainment.B
Story by Jo Marshall | Social Media Editor
Story by Stella Baska | Features Editor
Bear” is the Best
This Hulu series “cooks” in more ways than one.
Pictured at left: Ayo Edebiri as Sydney Adamu and Jeremy Allen White as Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto in Season 3 of “The Bear.” The hit series led the Golden Globe nominations on the TV side with five. (FX/TNS)
Preserving the Past: My Newfound Fascination with Going to Museums
I recently went to the Nelson Atkins Museum and became captivated by the experience of visiting museums.
When I was growing up, every vacation my family would go full tourist mode. Every landmark, main attraction, famous restaurant and museum was on our list to see.
At the time, I dreaded going on tours and listening to boring tour guides give their spiel about the history of the site. That all changed about a month ago when I visited the Nelson Atkins Museum for my European Art and Architecture interim course. With the Nelson being so close and accessible, I had been there many times, but it wasn’t until this past trip that made me realize what I had really been missing out on. Listening and engaging in the history relating to the artifacts filled me with immense knowledge, and it was incredible that these pieces are kept just minutes from STA.
The feeling I get when I go to the museums is an experience in itself. Museums bring calmness, fascination and a sense of community. Museums are both isolated with the quietness but also
Story by Isa Glover | Sports Editor
filled with a shared community of people with similar interests. Going to a museum is an out-of-body feeling where the outside world is forgotten and you are fully engrossed and transformed into the history of the sights.
So why should we care about museums? Museums preserve the past to shape the future and bridge gaps between different cultures and time periods. They allow visitors to explore different traditions, lifestyles and artistic expression to foster cultural appreciation.
Overall, I began to appreciate the museum experience and I realized I had taken for granted the many museums I’ve been to. You don’t have to be a history buff to enjoy going to museums. You just need to have an open mind and intrigue to learn about culture and history. I now want to make visiting a museum an activity I accomplish in every new place I go.B
Bingo, anyone? The Dart staff
Travis Kelce +
Taylor Swift Engagement
Instagram is casualized
2
Live action
Tangled movie remake FREE SPACE
5
BING O CARD
Duke wins the NCAA basketball tournament Silver jewelry over gold
STA basketball wins STAte Bye bye, leopard print
BINGO
makes our 2025 predictions but adds a fun twist.
Kylie Jenner and Timothee Chalamet break up
TikTok actually gets banned
Royals win the World Series
Stranger Things season 5 is a flop
STA wins best school in KC again
Twinks gets a new costume
New Harry Styles Album Y2K makes a comeback
AI crashes
KC gets a WNBA team
FREE SPACE
Record heat this summer
DART STAFF
Advisor
Dianne Hirner
Editors-In-Chief
Chloe Denk
Molly Sonnenberg
Rebecca McGannon
Features Editor
Stella Baska
Design Editors
Cassie Hallier
Lauren Rando
Opinions Editor
Wynnie Sprague
Photography Editor
Maya Tule
Sports/News
Editor Isa Glover
Social Media Editor
Jo Marshall
Staff Writers
Anna Salinardi
Julia Schwaller
Kennedi Fritz
Lily Remer
Marcella Buckley
Savannah Taylor
COVER DESIGN BY Maya Tule | Photography Editor
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