the
dart
ST. TERESA’S ACADEMY KANSAS CITY, MO VOLUME 81 ISSUE 2
not Making friends in highschool can be a struggle for some. St. Teresa’s students reflect on the good vs. bad factors when belonging to a friend group. page 16
?
2|
the DART|October 29, 2021
LETTER FROM THE EDITORS
Dear reader,
T
he leaves in the quad have turned, skirts have been switched out for sweatpants and STA has finally turned the heat on, meaning one thing — fall has arrived! This autumn edition of the Dart features a spine-chilling crossword puzzle on p. 8 and Charlotte Malone reviews horror movies reviews on p. 11. If you need some last-minute costume ideas, look no further than the Halloween LookBook on p. 28-29 by Lauren Ford.
If you are spooked out by all the Halloween scares, no worries — this issue has lots more to offer! Flip to p.12-13 to learn more about the “comeback of concerts,” written by Anna Massman, while Megan Turley spotlights the Help Desk on p. 14-15. Centerspread, written by Sydney Waldron and Kyra Fieger, is all about friends and cliques. Read to discover the unique challenges and benefits that stem from making friends in an all-girls environment.
If you need music suggestions, flip to p. 22-23. Annie McShane will convince you to listen to some T-Swift, and Lily Sage will persuade you that she has the best music taste in the world. Don’t forget to check out DNO for galleries of the golf and volleyball senior night and the dance team performance at Rockhurst.
Love,
Sophia Rall Becca Speier Sydney Waldron
the DART|designed by Lina Kilgore
TABLE OF CONTENTS
04
10
24
04 05 06 08 10 11 12 14 16 21 22 24 26 27 28 30
|3
News Feature: Standardized Testing News Feature: TBC & Powerlifting Club Star Spotlight: Amelia Arrieta Bits & Pieces Review: Fall Drinks Review: Horror Movies Feature: Concert Comeback Feature: Tech Desk Troopers Centerspread: Healthy Relationships Feature: Student Jobs Perspectives: Taylor Swift & Music Taste Sports: Sport’s Physology and Burnouts Community: Rita Hall Cloud Humans of STA: Georgia Kerrigan, Teresa Elfrink and Ella Rogers Last Look: Halloween Costumes Los Angeles Photo Essay Cover design by Taylor Hayes | writer
4|
fl t o on
ip to
D
What’s yo
e s t x
e n e th
NEWS FEATURE
. n o cti the DART|October 29, 2021
Find
ur act sc
Standardized x.
Stress
ft
e 5 minutes l
ore? n.
ectio s g n i d a e r in the
STA students take the PSAT, SAT and ACT tests to measure their preparedness for college — something many students are feeling anxious about. bStory by Tierney Flavin | Social Media Team
preparatory classes and extra ACT/SAT tutoring has helped to mitigate some of her stress, but she is still noticing some “The pressure being put on us to complete all of these questions in a certain amount of time is so stressful,” Danker said. “Also, [these are] tests that everybody takes and so I don’t think it’s necessarily fair for everybody’s knowledge and skills to be scored on a standardized test that only a certain amount of people do really well on.”
“
The pressure being put on us to complete all of these questions in a certain amount of time is so stressful. Junior Emery Danker
“
O
ur school is so academically “ challenging and competitive that we tend to compare each other’s grades or scores,” Senior Ellie Bolch said. “I’ve seen a lot of stress in my peers surrounding these tests. I usually see it when they talk about programs or the schools they want to get into or the scholarships they want to receive.” Standardized tests such as the PSAT, SAT and ACT are right around the corner for STA students. These tests measure a student’s knowledge and preparedness for college. The Preliminary SAT (PSAT) and SAT are measured on a 1600-point scale - the math and English sections respectively scored out of 800 points. The ACT is a composite score from 1-36 based on a student’s performance in each section (math, English, reading and science). Oftentimes these tests determine scholarships and opportunities for college. This, alongside time limits and being numerically compared to peers, is assumed to cause anxiety in students. According to a study from the National Bureau of Economic Research, students have 15% more of the stress hormone, cortisol, in their systems the period before a standardized test than a day without any high-stakes testing. Junior Emery Danker says that the
Danker says that the preparatory classes and extra ACT/SAT tutoring has helped to mitigate some of her stress. Bolch believes that schools becoming test-optional is also beneficial to students, allowing them to highlight their personal strengths. This past year many colleges have turned to test-optional admissions due to COVID-19, which caused a struggle for testing spots, accessing test prep and limited access to classroom resources. This year, around 1600 schools have sustained their test-optional policy A sophomore bubbles in her answers on a practice SAT scantron Oct. 22. Many students take extra classes to prepare for their tests, “It’s nice to know what kind of questions will be on the test and get some practice in beforehand.” Junior Emery Danker said. photo by Tierney Flavin
according to college counselor Debi Hudson. While maintaining its benefits, Hudson notes a decrease in acceptance rates likely caused by optional score submission policies. “With test-optional, there has been a significant increase in applications at many highly selective institutions,” Hudson said. “For example - Tulane University’s admittance rate went from 13 percent to 9 percent and Boston College’s went from 27 percent to 19 percent. With the application increases, it’s not possible to predict what will happen.” However, students are feeling positive about this change in the application process. “There’s just like all of the stigma that’s around [these tests],” Danker said. “[The idea] that you have to get this perfect score to be able to succeed in life is just totally false. So many people have so many other talents that you can’t show in a test that only has one possible answer to each question.” Senior Lucy Wade is also in favor of testoptional applications. “If you can’t afford test prep and all of the test books and practice tests, that sets you back a lot in how you’re going to [score],” Wade said. “It really differentiates itself socioeconomically.” While colleges like the University of Georgia and Florida State University are resuming their mandatory score submission policies, many other colleges have remained test-optional for the 2022 application year. “I think they’ve realized that these tests are meaning less and less of a student’s ability and even overall knowledge,” Danker said. “So a lot of colleges are going to keep that forever now. It makes me really happy that colleges are wanting to learn more about students’ strengths in other categories whether that’s sports or drama or whatever that you can’t necessarily learn from a standardized test.” B
the DART|designed by Sophia Rall
Lights. Camera. TBC.
|5
Teresa Broadcasting Company’s daily news broadcasts have offered an opportunity for students to offer news to the school, as well as to explore the world of live-streaming.
C
heery, instrumental music and a countdown on the screen are interrupted by 2 students saying, on screen “Good Morning STA!” Teresa Broadcasting Company’s daily live news broadcasts have become a routine during advisory time, but this was not always the case. TBC is a new introduction this school year. TBC began in the 2020-2021 school year as daily news videos. However, more students were interested in live news broadcasting, so the class was created to produce daily live telecasts. Assistant athletic director Katherine Williams and information technology coach Sage Garretson run the TBC program, which is filmed in the former Black Box Theater. The process for writing scripts begins the day before and concludes with the live broadcast during advisory time.
Story and Graphics by Sophia Rall | Editor-in-Chief
“Normally, we get who the script writers are at the beginning of the week and then you first have to make sure you have the anchors’ names down,” freshman Madeline Knox said. “Then after that, you check the lunch and write down what it is. Then, we have a Google request form so that people can request to do announcements. Then, we look at sports and who won... Then, the next thing that we do is if we have anything else to add, like an interview. Then, the last thing we add is the joke.” Although anchors are the public face of TBC, students also participate by writing scripts and running the technology. Tech entails inserting pop ups on the broadcast, as well as operating the cameras. Senior Victoria Andrews anchored Aug. 30 to Sept. 3. Although Andrews enjoys operating the technology, she likes anchoring
best and is considering pursuing a career in broadcast. “I like being in front of the camera,” Andrews said. “I think that it is so much fun and I’ve always wanted to do it since I was little. This is something I do want to possibly major in in college.” Junior Maggie Reintjes is also considering broadcast as a career path, in particular Sports Broadcasting and Film. Although TBC has helped her learn more about broadcasting, it has also allowed her to be more aware of events in the STA community. “[Before joining TBC] I had never been to a STA softball game, and on Thursday [Oct. 7] I attended the first-ever Black reunion at STA,” Reintjes said. “I think I would have never heard of these things and so it definitely does make me more involved in the STA community.” B
Raising the Bar
The new powerlifting extracurricular at STA is helping students embrace their strength.
P
“
Story by Caroline Hinkebein | Sports Editor
owerlifting is very fun and really a confidence booster to become stronger,” senior Sanai Kintchen said. Coach Caityln Kogge is the administrative director of the powerlifting extracurricular. Kogge helped start powerlifting as an extracurricular to offer students a chance to try powerlifting without committing to it fully as a school or club sport. In this inaugural year of powerlifting at STA, athletes decide for themselves if they want to compete or just lift and get familiar with the requirements. The first meet athletes have the opportunity to participate in is in December in St. Louis. If they attend that competition, they are then eligible to go to nationals in March in Chicago. Powerlifting consists of three main lifts: the squat, bench and deadlift. When athletes go to a competition, first they have weigh-ins to
Graphics by Sophia Rall | Editor-in-Chief
decide which weight class they will compete in. Then, each athlete goes through every lift three times. “You’d start with a warm-up weight that you know you can get but is still challenging and then you go for your PR, or whatever your max is and then if you hit that you would go for a new record,” Kogge said. Powerlifting helps build strength that will help with other sports that athletes participate in, as well as open new doors for them in the future. “It’s important because they’re now offering college scholarships,” Kogge said. STA is now the first all-girls school in Missouri to offer powerlifting. “It’s really empowering to see that we have so many athletes that were interested in competing in something that when I was in high school would’ve thought was a boys’ club,” Kogge said.
Kintchen says her favorite part about the club is her coaches. “They are both very strong women and they both come from different walks of life so it is cool to learn from them,” Kintchen said. Despite the mental challenges that come with powerlifting, Kintchen believes it is worth trying out. “Everyday is not going to be your best day lifting and you just have to push through,” Kintchen said. Kintchen is excited to compete this year and be a part of a historical first for STA and she says that anyone who has an interest should join and try powerlifting for themselves. B
read the entire story at
[QR CODE] dartnewsonline.com
6|
the DART|October 29, 2021
STAR SPOTLIGHT
Amelia Arrieta In her first year running on the cross country team, Ameila Arrieta has already made STA history by breaking the school record. Story and Photos by Lauren Brackney | Design Editor
Coach Karen Moran hands senior Amelia Arrieta a plaque for Hy-Vee’s Athlete of the week Sept. 29 as the cross country team cheers for her accomplishment. The ceremony was filmed along with an interview for Channel 41 News.
the DART|designed by Charlotte Malone
What made you decide to join cross country? I think really Lilly Hupke and Sydney Swan. They were like the biggest motivators to push me to do cross country, and some of the other seniors too from last year, Meredith O’Donnell and Katie Riffle, were like ‘Oh you should definitely go out, you’d be great.’ What kind of events did you do on track? In track I started out with the sprinters actually. At the first meet I ran the 800 meter and the 4 by 800 and then I went up to the mile and then at state I ran the mile and the 4 by 800. What was going through your head when you were going from JV to varsity? I wasn’t expecting to make varsity. Boland sent out the entries on a Thursday night and we were racing that Saturday morning and I looked through it at first, not seeing my name and I was like ‘Man, I didn’t make it’ but then I looked through it again and I was like, ‘Wait, my name’s right there. I’m racing in the 800’ and it just went from there.
leaning on a table and then Gracie Jacobs crossed the finish line and I fell on the floor next to her. I had to go back to the medical tent because they said I was dehydrated and that was why my head hurt so much, but [my teammates] said I broke 18 minutes and I was like ‘oh wow.’ I think I’ve made a lot of friends this way. This is the first way I have felt really happy in a long time. Like I didn’t feel this happy running track.
“
There’s so many amazing people on this team it’s unbelievable.
Do you see yourself having a future in running or do you have any goals? A few college coaches have reached out to me already, so I am thinking of running in college, especially since it will help me financially. I think it would be nice since I just started cross country. I would like to continue that a little bit longer.
What was your first cross country meet like? Well, we had the two mile and I was, as I say, ‘Cool as a cucumber’ because I was like ‘This doesn’t really matter, it’s just two miles.’ And then for the first 5k, it was the Tim Nixon meet, and it was raining so there was even less pressure and Coach Moran was like, ‘Oh no one is going to run that fast anyway’ so I went out there and I was like, ‘Okay I’ll just Senior Amelia Arrieta warms run and see what happens.’ What are some of your accomplishments with cross country this year? I broke the school record. I guess twice. I broke the original record and then in this last race I didn’t beat my record, but I broke the original record [the former STA record for a 5k race was held by Ann Campbell with a time of 18:14 set in 2014]. What did it feel like when you broke the record? I honestly didn’t believe it. I crossed that finish line and I was almost passing out. I was
|7
Do you have any pre-meet rituals or superstitions? Oh, don’t get me started; it starts weeks in advance. So, a few days before, I start drinking my Nuun and put it in my water. I started drinking Pedialyte as recommended by Swan. I love this one, Mixed Berry. I do like to have salmon before and I remember when we went to Gans Creek we got salmon at the restaurant there and it was so good. But usually we [According to Milesplit, after the Gans Creek have pasta parties and it’s a good substitute. Invitational Meet Sept. 25, “Amelia Arrieta ran The morning-of I eat a Kind energy bar and a the fastest time in Missouri since 2015.”] banana. I also write a Bible verse on my hand; it’s from Isaiah chapter 40 verse 31. It says How has cross country changed your something like ‘They that hope in the Lord will experience at STA? How has it changed renew their strength. They will soar on eagles you? wings, they will run and not grow weary, walk It has changed my legs, they are sore and not grow faint.’ constantly. Mentally, this is the happiest I’ve been and I think it’s just that support system, What does the quote mean to you? you feel like you have more people to rely on Obviously the ‘run and not grow weary’ part and people you can support that will support stands out to me, but it’s like you can’t feel you at the same time. tired. You’re not going to feel tired, you won’t feel tired. And I tell myself that before I race, that’s my favorite thing to tell myself like, What makes you happy ‘She’s gassed, she’s gassed you’re not tired, running cross country? she’s tired.’ I tell my teammates that too like, ‘you’re not tired she’s tired. You’re not tired.’ The people, really.
“
What sports have you done at STA throughout your whole highschool experience? I played basketball freshman and sophomore year, but I was cut junior year, so then I went out for track and field and they said I should probably try out for cross country so then I did that senior year.
up with a four lap, one mile jog on the track before a workout Oct. 7. Arrieta’s first time running a mile was during the 2021 track season which she would later run at state.
What was it like winning Hyvee athlete of the week? I remember the night [Coach] Moran emailed me, I couldn’t sleep. I was wondering what it would be like and how I was making the whole team stay after school on Thursday, which was supposed to be our day off. I’m glad that my team was there to support me; I really appreciate them. What do you run for? What motivates you? My team. A landmark moment for me was at the Gans Creek Meet. They had these huge signs at every mile mark that showed the individual stance and then the team stance. I remember at the 4k mark it showed that St. Teresa’s was up by two points and I was in the lead. The team behind us, Rock Bridge, their number one girl was behind me, or at least I thought. I thought I really had to kick then so I could win for our team because if I came in second, then she would get the points and we would get second. I just kept thinking, ‘I’ve got to do this for my team.’B
read the entire story at dartnewsonline.com
the DART|October 29, 2021
8|
BITS & PIECES
MY LIFE SUCKS! “I asked my mom to get me a bacon egg and cheese from Bagel and Bagel, but she only got me egg and cheese.” - Sophomore Francie McCray
MY LIFE ROCKS! “I got to go to the Pitbull concert! They played ‘Hotel Room Service’ and it was really fun because it brought back a lot of memories!” - Junior Poppy Difranco
our favorite ty y pe ’s n e e c w a o n t dy? a Hall
spine-chilling Fall Crossword crossword Fall Crossword
of
Wh
10/5/21, 11:09 PM
58%
fruity / sour
42%
chocolate *out of 115 responses
To participate in next issue’s poll, go to dartnewsonline.com to cast your vote. Graphic by Kathryn Hart | Web Editor Across
Down
the DART|designed by Miriam Parsa
DART STAFF
spooooky music picks “Rumours” by Fleetwood Mac
“The whole album is super easy to sing along to, and I listen to Fleetwood Mac almost every day.” Sophia Rall | Editor-in-Chief
“25” by Adele
“I always used to listen to this album in the car with my mom when I was younger. I love the balance of sad and happy love songs, and her songwriting is really something special!” Tierney Flavin | Social Media Team
“folklore” by Taylor Swift
“I really love the advanced lyricism in ‘folklore’ and how much emotion the lyrics have. All of the songs tell a story.”
A&E
|9
the Reading Nook Have you ever wondered what the STA staff is reading? Every issue, the Dart interviews an STA teacher to see what books they recommend.
Story by Megan Turley | Social Media Editor he book recommendation for this cycle comes from freshman biology and sophomore physical science teacher Mary Montag. The book of Montag’s choice is titled “The Boys in the Boat” and follows the University of Washington’s rowing team and their path to compete in the 1936 Olympics. “To get to the Olympics, the boys from University of Washington must compete against the well established and elite teams from established eastern universities,” Montag said. “‘Boys in the Boat’ is one of those stories that is so well written that even though you know how it ends, it is still gripping until the last page.” “Boys in the Boat” has reminded Montag to focus on the important things in life and to not get hung up on the things that don’t matter, things that won’t push your life towards the positive. Its also prompted her to remember the persistence and ingenuity of humans. “Joe Rantz, the main character, rows because he really has no other choice,” Montag said “he has no family and rowing is the way he stays in school and builds a better life for himself. As Joe says, ‘It takes energy to get angry, I can’t waste my energy and still get ahead.’” B
T
Annie McShane | Copy Editor
across 2. a popular flavor and scent in the fall season 5. an attraction that many people visit during Halloween season for scares 6. a fall treat that is sold at fairs and sometimes covered in nuts down 1. a round orange object with ridges 3. a holiday celebrated annually on October 31 4. something that haunts and is often portrayed as a white sheet Find the answers to this issue’s crossword by scanning the QR code or go to dartnewsonline.com.
mark your calendars!
OCT 31 halloween
NOV 3-6 freaky friday
NOV 1 late start
NOV 22 can-struction build day
the DART|October 29, 2021
10|
REVIEWS
C ffee
is the cure for fall
As a self-proclaimed coffee connoisseur, when I get the opportunity to spend at least a hundred dollars on coffee within a week, I’ll take it. Drinking a month’s worth of coffee in a week was worth it to find the long awaited answer to the question: what KC coffee shop has the best fall menu? Story by Miriam Parsa | Social Media Team
AAABB
Starbucks
M
y mission began with a classic: Starbucks. The hot pumpkin spice latte’s reputation precedes it and I would rate it a solid 9/10. It’s very sweet, but not to the extent where you feel like you’re going to be sick if you drink it in the morning. On the other hand, the iced apple crisp macchiato was, in a word, confusing. Part of me understands what their goal was but I was disappointed by the final product, a 4/10. It tastes like a caramel apple lollipop gone wrong. After that displeasure, I moved into the infamous pumpkin cream cold brew… last year it was my all time favorite, but I was surprised when I tasted it, and was not feeling it anymore, a 5/10 (maybe a 6 if I’m in a different mood). Those who enjoy bitter coffee with hints of sweetness will definitely love this drink. Finally, the pumpkin frappuccino is dessert in a cup! Delicious, a 9/10, but not as coffee — that goes against my morals.
Graphics by Sydney Waldon | Editor-in-Chief
ABBBB
Hattie’s
The next stop was Hattie’s. After a string of inconveniences throughout the drive there, I could sense this wasn’t going to be a great day for coffee. I immediately burnt my tongue on the pumpkin spice latte, an extremely bitter beverage and a 4/10. However, the cinnamon roll latte was sweet in a very simple way. Unfortunately though, I liked the foam more than I liked the drink, a 5/10. The apple cider latte was the most confusing thing I have ever ordered. It tasted like apple cider, but worse. It was almost like there wasn’t even espresso in my drink, 4/10 for taste, 2/10 if you’re hoping for coffee! Overall, Hattie’s fall drinks were disappointing. At every red light on the drive home I hoped they would taste better, but each sip was met with a grimace.
AAAAB
Roasterie
The Roasterie was next on the agenda! I started off strong with the classic iced spiced pumpkin latte. It was so unique compared to all other pumpkin spice lattes I’ve had so far. The spice overpowered all other ingredients providing for an enjoyable and fall filled beverage, an 8/10. I don’t have much to say about the iced golden ginger latte other than it bored me, a 6/10. I was confused immediately after the first sip of the iced coconut caramel mocha, a 5/10. After going back and forth on whether or not I liked it, I decided that the coconut was my issue. Since when is coconut a fall flavor? Is the Roasterie lying to me? The iced chai-der tasted exactly like Halloween, a 7/10. Chai tea and apple cider mixed together is certainly not coffee, but it was on the fall menu so it counts! All together, the Roasterie fall menu is something you will for sure want to take a trip to try, very creative and very well executed! B
the DART|designed by Sydney Waldron
Oh, the Horror!
|11
Horror is always in high demand around Halloween. I went ahead and watched a handful of scary flicks to point you in the best direction for your frights. Story and graphics by Charlotee Malone | Features Editor Graphics by Sydney Waldron | Editor-in-Chief and Taylor Hayes| Staff writer
I
f you are anything like me, you believe that the best part of Halloween is watching horror movies and TV shows. Mind games, scares and crazy killers will always hold a special place in my heart, especially during fall. Every year, my dad and I get together to find the scariest cinema known to man. For this spooky season, I decided to watch two horror movies and one spooky TV show to give you fellow horror junkies something scary to binge this Halloween. The first movie of my scary marathon was “Us” (2019). This movie follows the Wilson family on their summer vacation, which takes a deadly twist when a group of doppelgängers show up in their driveway, ready to attack. This film had me on the edge of my seat and felt way too real to me. My favorite part about this movie was how real it felt. I felt like the world could go into an apocalyptic state the next week and my doppelgänger would arise from the sewers to come kill me. I loved how well the characters were played, especially how actors were able to play their original character and their twin. There was such a contrast and it took talent. My overall rating was 4.5/5 stars, specifically because of the major plot twist. This movie was so well written, and I will definitely be watching it again.
After spending plenty of time dwelling on the fact that my evil twin is stalking me in the sewers, I decided to watch a movie that is still making me question my sanity. “Shutter Island” (2010) features two detectives, Teddy and his partner Chuck, on their investigation of a missing woman from Ashecliffe Hospital Insane Asylum, located on Shutter Island. While dealing with visions of his dead wife, Teddy struggles to cope with his loss as well as unwind
the mysteries holding the hospital together. This one was less Halloween themed, but it did contain plenty of horror. If you are a fan of psychological thrillers, I definitely recommend you watch. This film played with my perception of reality and still had me wondering what was real. I give this movie 5/5 stars. To end my marathon, I watched “American Horror Story” (2011), seasons one and two. What I love most about this show is how they manage to keep the same actors through every season but the theme and tone of the new season is
twistedness that makes it a really great work of film. I enjoyed watching the living people interact with the spirit world so nonchalantly. Season two, Asylum, was good, but definitely not as good as season one. To me, it seemed like a less exciting version of “Shutter Island” and did not wow me. The writers could have found a more captivating angle and definitely could have played with the sanity of the characters more. The whole aspect of bringing aliens into the plot also seemed very off topic and distracting. I believe the show deserves 4/5 stars, but hopefully that will go up as I continue watching more seasons. I hope that this short list of scary films will give you an extra fright on Halloween night. I know I will be binge-watching all of the horror content I can find, especially season three of AHS. Wishing you all a happy completely Halloween and tons of scares! B different. Season one, “Murder House,” was my favorite out of the two. It “Great Britsh Bake off had plenty Review” by Mara Callahan of sick dartnewsonline.com
Want More Reviews? Check out DNO
12|
FEATURE
the DART|October29, 2021
A concert
COMEBACK As the world reenters normalcy, the question of concerts coming back takes the stage. Singers around the globe are selling out theaters and arenas, trying to keep up with the growing demand for live performances. Story by Anna Massman | Outreach Editor
S
ince March 2020, thousands of events have been canceled or rescheduled due to COVID-19: the Olympics, the Met Gala and different festivals and parades all over the globe. But to the large demographic of teenage citizens in the world, one type of event has been missed the most — concerts. Millions of teenagers had bought, or were planning to buy tickets for concerts in 2020, and had to face a harsh reality of their favorite artists canceling or postponing their tours. Sophomore Piper Chaney had plans to go to the Harry Styles concert last year, and remembers when he announced the delay of his tour. “When I thought he was going to cancel the whole thing, I was so sad, you know?” Chaney said. “But then, when it was just rescheduled, I got super excited because it honestly just meant more time to plan and get more hype for it.” The hype-up teenagers give to concerts can be attributed to not only the event itself, but the sequence of events that lead up to it. The rush of excitement when buying tickets, the build of anticipation as the day arrives and finally, getting ready to leave for the big night are all part of the fun. For concert-goers who bought tickets for a 2020 tour however, the buildup was longer than they had anticipated. According to students, one of the most poignant losses to teenagers was the postponement of Harry Styles’ “Love on Tour.” Scheduled to begin shortly after the release of his album, “Fine Line,” in
Photos by Lily Sage | Opinion Editor
April 2020, it soon became apparent that of Arlie, an indie-rock band based in the tour wouldn’t be happening in the near Nashville. They were originally set to open future. for Dayglow during his tour this year, but Sophomore Claire Lystad attended the they had to cancel due to the outbreak of Harry Styles concert in September, but COVID variants. Claire Lystad, however, will remembers her feelings upon receiving still be attending the Dayglow performance news that it may be canceled. at the Truman this Saturday. “Concerts are always thrilling to attend with your friends,” Lystad said. “But I have been a Harry stan since July 23, 2010, when it all began with One Direction, so I was pretty devastated when I thought I wouldn’t be able to go.” However, the rescheduled U.S. tour has been as much of a success as it had originally been anticipated. Although other countries lost their chance to see the English performer, the additional waiting just built up the anticipation for American fans. Lystad described the concert as a “rebirth” experience she will never forget. “It was just surreal, like, definitely one of the highlights of my life. I just love Harry and being there was amazing.” Well-known artists aren’t Sophomore Claire Lystad poses with junior Addy Batz the only ones who’ve had to change plans. Lystad’s cousin, outside of the Harry Styles concert Sept. 15. Styles performed in St. Louis, MO. photo courtesy of Claire Carson Lystad, is a member Lystad
the DART|designed by Anna Massman
Harry Styles looks out to the crowd at his St. Louis concert Sept. 15. Many students traveled to St. Louis in order to see him in concert. Photo courtesy of Claire Lystad
“It’s disappointing [Arlie] won’t be there, but my friends and I are still huge fans of Dayglow, so I’m really excited to see him,” Lystad said. Yet another artist has visited Missouri this month, known as Mr. Worldwide. Pitbull had a show at Starlight Oct. 6 with Iggy as his opener, and STA students did not miss out on it. Chaney attended the concert with her friends, and said having the concert closer to
|13
Thousands of people in the crowd put their hands up after being prompted to by Pitbull Oct. 6. Pitbull performed at Starlight Theater, an outdoor concert venue. photo by Lily Sage
home than the Harry Styles performance made it even more exciting than she expected. “Even though I love concerts in general, my favorite part of the whole night was at the end, when all the STA sophomores were together and Pitbull was playing his most mainstream
music,” Chaney said. Sophomore Francie McCray also attended the concert and said it reminded her of how fundamental concerts are for teenagers. “I think concerts are a great way to bring people together,” McCray said.“When it happens that [people] all have this one love for one certain person, It just really bonds people to a spiritual level that I just love.” B
t to bring to your a h W next concert: All the necessities for you need to get you ready for your next concert and keep you and fellow concertgoers safe. Alternative coverage by Lauren Brackney | Design Editor COVID Vaccination Record T ER CONCE NC R CO CKET TICK T I T t onaedmi ET t one only en p o g esate.sm.ope n gat 70 :0p0 p .m. 7:0 17 F seeaatt s F17
i adm nly o
proof of vaccination [if required by venue]
waterbottle
tickets
bag or purse
face masks portable charger
jacket or rain coat [perfect for outdoor concerts]
14|
the DART|October 29, 2021
Troubleshooting T*e*c*h FEATURE
The technology desk is flooded with people needing to get issues fixed. From laptops not turning on to pen tips needing replacing, the Help Desk has all of it covered. Story by Megan Turley | Social Media Team Photo by Ellie Buttel | Opinion Editor Alternative Coverage by Anna Massman | Outreach Editor Graphic By Anna Stout | Writer
Senior Archana Smerdon helps fellow senior Grace Quinn from the other side of the help desk Oct 7. Students can volunteer their time to become a help desk worker.
the DART|designed by Anna Stout
W
hen network and systems administrator Jeff Zimmerman, affectionately called JZ by students and staff, walks through the door on any given weekday morning, he has an hour tops to ready himself for the day before walking out of his office to a congregation of students and faculty awaiting quick technology guidance, fixes and replacements. Soon, information technology coach Sage Garretson and I.T. director Matt Stewart join Zimmerman to complete the trio that keeps STA running during the day-to-day. According to Zimmerman, mornings are usually his busiest time of the week because it’s one of the most convenient times for people to get any bugs squared away before the day officially begins. “As the day gets started, everyone gets busy and there always seems to be a lot going on after school,” Zimmerman said. “This is also when everyone typically discovers if they have forgotten something they need throughout the day.” Garretson makes a similar observation. He believes that Monday mornings and the days after a break or the weekend are the busiest times for the Help Desk. “When there’s a lot of time away from campus, technology is bound to break,” Garretson said. Along with the chaos of the mornings, the rest of the day brings along challenges
for Zimmerman and Garretson. At least one of them can usually be found walking a student through a computer issue or mentoring whatever student is working the Help Desk during that period. Zimmerman reports that the biggest challenge he faces when working is not being able to completely fix people’s problems or not being able to figure out a timely
solution for their difficulties. “It is incredibly unacceptable if students can’t use their devices and I’m unable to resolve it within a few minutes...I get very frustrated with myself,” Zimmerman said. Alongside helping STA conduct its day-to-day activities, both Zimmerman and Garretson teach classes: Computer
|15
Diagnostics and Troubleshooting, and Broadcasting and Production respectively. According to Zimmerman, one of his biggest personal successes at STA occurred the day he walked into a classroom as a teacher for the first time. “For many reasons, that was a large step for me. While I still have anxiety, it does get less and less every week,” Zimmerman said. Garretson shared a similar sentiment about his new class this year. He stated that seeing students take pride in their work and creating their own ideas is more than rewarding for him. “I enjoy helping to empower the students to take the lead and help their peers and their teachers,” Garretson said. “Knowing how to fix technological issues is just as important as knowing how to use it. Seeing young people work together on a common goal, such as TBC, is truly encouraging.” B dell
I.T. HELPDESK
16|
CENTERSPREAD
NOT the DART|October 29, 2021
Making friends in high school can be a struggle for some. STA students reflect on the good vs. bad factors when belonging to a friend group. Story by Kyra Fieger | Lifestyles Editor & Sydney Waldron | Editor-in-Chief Graphics by Becca Speier | Editor-in-Chief & Taylor Hayes | Writer
the DART|designed by Becca Speier
O
n the first day of school, upperclassmen congregate in clusters in their respective parking lots. Walking to their first class, they tag along with a group. When lunch rolls around, the lunchroom is divided into long, rectangular tables with ample space for students to spread out with their peers. A common theme unites each experience of the day at STA — cliques and friendships. Coming into high school, junior Alaina Durone knew a total of a total of seven people at STA. This led Durone to feel a sense of uncertainty when faced with the daunting task of finding a freshmen friend group. “Freshman year when we all first came to STA people would cling onto their grade school friends,” Durone said. “Everyone was so friendly but being in a friend group is different from being friendly.” Others being friendly was a comfort for Durone, but still not knowing many people from around her area was a major setback. “Making friends at STA is extremely easy if you just want school friends,” Durone said.”But starting freshman year knowing very few people, it took a while for me to start getting invited to stuff by people I didn’t grow up with. But after the first few months everyone started branching out more.” A few aspects of STA that helped Durone make friends were her classes and her advisory. While she did not become best friends with every single person she met, these smaller groups lead her to a friend group. “One of the girls in my advisory invited me to sit with her at lunch and her friends from her grade school and that is how I made most of my friends freshman year,” Durone said. Durone advises freshmen, and anyone at STA, to remain open and accepting of new faces. She believes that there are many friendships waiting for students if they are only willing to put themselves out there. “Some advice I would like to give to the freshmen is to always branch out and talk to people in your classes, talk to the people who sit around you or are going to the same class as you,” Durone said. “If you put an effort into a friendship with
someone they will put in effort.” Psychology teacher Nic Shump believes the basic human desire to belong plays a major role in the development of high school cliques. “Whether male or female, people in general want to be part of a group,” Shump said. “We just aren’t really meant to be in isolation.” Joining groups feeds the societal need to belong, something that has spanned centuries. Shump believes that there are also unique appeals of groups and cliques to females as a result of the history of humanity. “Sometimes women were segregated from males in early human society and I think that this allows for a different type of bonding,” Shump said. “I think it is also always women who find strength with each other, and that there are a lot of shared experiences that you all are going through and there is a lot that doesn’t have to be said.” As sophomore Chelsea Luna transitioned from a co-ed grade school to an all-girls high school, she was surprised at the strength of female friendships. “I had a lot more girlfriends [at STA] than in grade school
|17
because I always just wanted to hang out with the guys,” Luna said. ”I used to think that if I had a lot more girl friends it would be more drama but that really isn’t the case.” Luna encourages others to see STA in this light, as the environment has changed her outlook on friendships here. “Everyone here isn’t really afraid to be themselves,” Luna said. “I also feel like I am not really afraid to be myself either.” Senior Bella Avery agrees that friend groups can be very comforting but thinks that it can be limiting in terms of meeting new people. Avery feels that just because you’re in a friend group doesn’t necessarily mean that you should be done with making new friends
or putting yourself out there. “I don’t think [the idea of friend groups] is super helpful because it makes you feel safe,” said Avery. “When it comes to finding new people, making new friends or being in a situation where no one is in your clique—it’s hard to branch out.” While Avery initially mostly talked to people in her clique freshman and sophomore year, she has since learned that the confidence to talk to others has as much to do with the confidence of oneself. “I used to be intimated to talk to people outside of my clique but junior and senior year that changed because I just felt more comfortable with myself and didn’t really care what people thought, ”Avery said. “I think that’s kind of the mindset you need to go in anywhere.” Senior Libby Lueck’s experience with friend
18|
the DART|October 29, 2021
CENTERSPREAD
groups at STA have differed from Avery’s. In Lueck’s experience, having a friend group doesn’t affect her relationships with girls in other groups. “For me [being in a friend group] means to always have a set group of people to turn to to hang out,” Lueck said. “I know in other groups they only talk to people in their groups but I still talk to other people.” The biggest issue that Lueck has with friend groups is how the actions of one in the group can define the reputation of other members. “I feel like everyone at STA knows the different friend groups,” Lueck said. “Let’s say someone in my friend group does something that I don’t agree with, you still kind of get the name.” For Lueck it was all about finding the right group of people. Sophomore Dianne Haake is still searching for the right group of people. “I have kind of just been going from group to group trying to find my people,” Haake said. “So far I’m still searching for my group of people.” One way that Haake is trying to do this is by taking advantage of lunch time. Haake uses lunchtime to get to know different people. “As of now I have just been sitting with different groups at lunch talking to them and seeing if I mix well with them” Haake said. STA counselor Amanda Johnson Whitcomb reflects that as a teacher, along with other faculty members, sees friend groups at St. Teresa’s in a different light. “As an adult, our perspective is much different than students who are working to
solidify friendships and navigate personal relationships within the school each day,” Whitcomb said. “I am able to see from an outside perspective, when students are struggling versus when they aren’t.” Every day Whitcomb meets with students at STA who may be having a more difficult time than others to find their true group of friends. “I often see students when they feel excluded or they do not have a sense of belonging,” Whitcomb said.“It can be really challenging for so many young people when building friendships and establishing ‘groups’.” One thing Whitcomb suggests is to diversify one’s activities and try to connect with students at STA who may share common interests. “We have such a wide variety of clubs and extracurriculars at STA,” Whitcomb said. “My hope is that students can find their place in athletics, performing arts, etc. and then establish friendships through commonalities with other students involved in those groups. I would love to see them work toward becoming comfortable around these people without excluding anyone during the process.” Although joining clubs and extracurriculars can help some students, Whitcomb emphasizes that students who may be more introverted and don’t enjoy large social settings are not alone. “I think it’s important to know that so many young people are in the same boat when it comes to friendship,” Whitcomb said. “Their
relationships change after grade school and finding people who you feel comfortable developing a friendship with can take time.” Each student differentiates on how they experience socializing at STA. For some, it is an easy process, while others find it harder to open up to others. “[Certain] people are able to maintain their grade school friends and make new friends through them,” Whitcomb said. “Others feel they are able to make new connections right away and some students need time to get to know someone before they feel comfortable branching out into new friendships: it is an individual and unique process for everyone but no student is alone in this.” Faculty and staff on campus recognize that meeting new people in a high school environment poses many challenges. The Number One Club was founded to help ease this struggle. The Number One Club is an extracurricular that meets once a month and is open to any STA freshman who is the only graduate from their grade school currently attending STA. Whitcomb encourages all students to remember STA’s motto “in this house, all must be loved and all must be held dear.” In following this motto, Whitcomb hopes for an inclusive and welcoming environment. “Don’t be afraid to reach out and make connections when you can,” Whitcomb said. “It’s likely that person may also desire the same sense of belonging you do!” B
the DART|designed by Becca Speier
Ferris Bueller’s
Clueless’
Gossip Girls’
Friendships within highschool have often been portrayed and romanticized in many films. These classic duos depicted push each other to find themselves while maturing throughout the movie. Graphics by Anna Stout | Writer
|19
the DART|October 29, 2021
20|
MAIN ED
Do team sports promote positive relationships?
S
The question of if sports foster positive relationships is a layered complexity that is dependent on each person’s individual experience.
ports have always been an integral American pastime. As sports have evolved for more modern times, they ultimately can affect our relationships. How do we know if team sports cultivate positive or negative relationships? The Dart staff is divided. Team sports can be beneficial in creating connections that might have been impossible otherwise. For example, on a club team who travels, it’s possible to make friends all across the country, or even the world. Many students who’ve played club sports before coming to STA have used those connections while finding friends here. When you’re a part of a team, it’s easier to connect with your teammates because you all share the same interest in a specific sport. It’s made possible to connect with people in different grade levels who you might’ve never had the chance to connect with otherwise. Teammates practice together every day, play games together every weekend, and often have to participate together in a little forced fun with team bonding experiences outside of training. Spending this much time with a group of people often leads to cultivating
positive relationships that can continue even after the conclusion of the sports season. Team sports can bond a group of people together like glue. But there is also a downside to this forced friendship. Competition between players for playing time or the coach’s approval can cause tension. Getting cut, or getting moved up to varsity while your friend is left behind can create conflict in an already existing relationship. A disparity in athletic ability between friends can also become a source of contention, which can cause performance anxiety. Overwhelming expectations from parents — who expect you to get scholarships — coaches, and teammates who want to win can become toxic. Clashing mindsets of people taking the sport super seriously versus those who just want to play it for fun can cause negative impacts on a team’s chemistry. If teammates don’t show up to practice, or seem like they don’t want to be there, this could cause resentment towards that person both inside and outside of the game. The consensus for The Dart staff though, is that whether sports cultivate positive
relationships is highly dependent on the sport in particular. For example, individual sports tend to bring about more positive relationships because athletes don’t have to rely on each other to win, but are still there for each other for mutual support, compared to team sports where it’s impossible to do it alone. If one player performs poorly, it affects and could jeopardize the whole team. Sports that tend to be more objective in regards to “who’s better,” are able to foster more positive relationships than those that are subjective. For example in cross country or track, if someone ran a better time than you, they simply just ran a better time. There’s not much room for debate over that. Contrast this with a sport like soccer, where it’s more of a gray area; it’s not as easy to tell who’s objectively “better,” so arguments and jealousy could be more readily ignited. Team sports can foster both long-lasting friendship and positive connection. On a more negative note however, team sports can also become a toxic environment as well if we’re not careful. Sports and the connections we make through them are an individualistic experience that is different for everyone. B
right on target Senior Saige Wimes “I definitely think [STA sports] foster positive relationships. I think that really starts with the team atmosphere, and each and everyone builds each other up and, at soccer at least, we say what everyone did good that day and the coach tells them too. We just try to build each other up instead of break each other down and always promote positivity. When we’re correcting each other we do it positively and not negatively so it helps us on the field.”
Freshman Megan Adriano
“I think the competitive side of sports can cause jealousy in friendships but I also feel like it can strengthen the bonds between teammates because you are all going through the same thing and you can be there for each other.”
15/22 staffers agree
the DART|designed by Ellie Buttell and Kathryn Hart
STARS at Work
|21
FEATURE
St. Teresa’s students discover the perks and benefits of working with fellow classmates. Story by Annie McShane | Copy Editor
D
espite working long hours this summer, sophomore Nora Turner would describe her job as anything but boring. The first thing that comes to mind when she thinks about her job is all of the new friends that she has made while working, many of those friends being STA students. According to a Wavelength study, working with friends boosts employee satisfaction by 50% and makes employees seven times more likely to engage fully in their job. Turner, along with other STA students, believes that she has benefited greatly from working with her peers. Turner decided to get a job at Woodside Country Club this summer with one of her friends but she was pleasantly surprised by the amount of other STA students she befriended. “I got to meet new friends and meet a lot of different people that I didn’t think I would be friends with,” Turner said. Similar to Turner, sophomore Samantha Sullivan, an employee at Summer Salt Ice Cream, has made many new friends from STA at her job. Sullivan works with four other STA students, and she met all but one of them at work. “I really love the people that I work with,” Sullivan said. World Economic Forum reports that having a close team of co-workers creates a more productive work environment. Senior Sloan Curry, an employee at Mission Chateau Senior Living, fully agrees with this statement. “[Being friends] made us better coworkers and closer co-workers,” Curry said. Curry also believes that working with so many STA students has affected her work experience in a positive way. “I feel like it has kind of made it easier because we can relate that we go to the same school,” Curry said. “It was easier for us to bond and find things that we had in common.”
Photos by Kathryn Hart | Web Editor
Sullivan agrees that going to the same school as her co-workers allowed her to form closer bonds with them. “It’s made it fun to be able to share the experience of going to STA,” Sullivan said. “We can talk about things that happen during the school day or teachers that we have, assemblies that we go to, stuff like that.” Turner shared similar thoughts, saying that working with so many STA students has made her feel more included. “I really feel more part of the community,” Turner said. The bond that these students have created with their friends from work is not limited to while they are working. Curry shared that she talks to her work friends, even the underclassmen, when she sees them at school. Turner also enjoys talking to her work friends at school, although she is sometimes still a little nervous to talk to them. “I say hi every once in a while, not always, when I see them in the halls,” Turner said. Sullivan feels similarly about interacting with the upperclassmen that she knows but she doesn’t feel as intimidated by them at school anymore because she has become so close with them. “I’m more outgoing at school because of the upperclassmen I work with,” Sullivan said. “It has made it fun, because I get to talk to them in the hallways.” Neither Turner nor Sullivan nor Curry had any negative feelings about working with their classmates. All three agreed that working with STA students has made their work experience much more enjoyable. “I think working with people from STA has made me feel more welcomed and connected where I work,” Turner said. “It has overall been a very positive thing.” B
Sophomore Payton Cherra and senior CC McCullough are a part of “Scoop Troop,” a name dubbed by their boss Oct. 8. They have worked together at Summersalt Ice Cream Co. for several months.
Senior Ellie Bealmear scoops frozen fruit as she prepares a smoothie for a Woodside customer Oct. 13. The food can be made gluten free, vegetarian and vegan.
Junior Emily Douglas dishes up soup to serve to the residents at Mission Chateau Oct. 19. She works alongside several STA students from different grades.
October 29, 2021
PERSPECTIVES
Despite her many successes, Taylor Swift receives an overwhelming amount of hate that is extremely undeserved. Story by Annie Mcshane l Copy Editor
F
or as long as I can remember, Taylor Swift has been my role model and favorite artist. I own all of her albums, I’ve spent way too much money on her official merchandise and I have seen her in concert two times. Some may call this borderline obsession, but I think she is worthy of my attention and she is definitely worthy of yours! Through my eyes, Taylor is a renowned, successful singer and songwriter. But through the eyes of some people, she is an untalented, overrated serial dater. While Taylor may not have the most impressive vocal range, as her’s is only the average
human range of about three octaves, she has been able to create chart topping music in multiple genres. From her self-titled debut country album to her first pop album “1989” to the release of her first alternative album “Folklore,” Taylor has clearly not limited herself to one category of music. With such a wide variety of listening options, it is surprising that so many people find her music unlikeable. If you’re not loving country Taylor, there’s always pop Taylor, or my personal favorite, alternative Taylor. Now, I understand if you just don’t like the way Taylor’s music sounds, but you can’t deny her songwriting skills. Taylor actually considers herself a songwriter more than a singer, and I completely understand why. We Swifties, Taylor’s fanbase, have a little inside joke about how you need a dictionary if you want to listen to “Folklore” or “Evermore” because of the amount of complicated words in them. Beyond the impressive diction, Taylor’s songwriting has so much meaning to it. Her lyrics provide so much emotion and passion; as well as lyric parallels that connect her songs and albums with an “invisible string.” Looking past her songwriting skills, many people use the fact that Taylor writes about her past relationships as a reason to dislike her. Yes, Taylor does have a “long list of ex-lovers” and yes, she does write a lot of songs about them, but why do people have a problem with that? She has been shamed for years for writing songs about her breakups and exboyfriends, when most other artists do the same thing. She doesn’t even exclusively write about her exes. Taylor has plenty of
Graphics by Mara Callahan l Features Editor
songs about her family members, like “The Best Day.” Some songs are about stories she made up, like “Betty.” She even has a song called “The Last Great American Dynasty” that is quite literally about her house. If you take a closer look at her discography, it’s easy to see that Taylor’s inspiration comes from more than men from her past. Taylor’s talent is undeniable, and she has an enormous collection of awards to prove it. She has won 11 Grammys and is the first and only female solo artist to win Album of the Year three times. In 2019, she surpassed Michael Jackson’s record and became the most awarded artist in AMA history, and was named Artist of the Decade that same year. She is also highly recognized in other award shows like the ACM Awards, the BBMAs, the BMI Awards and the iHeartRadio Music Awards. Her impressive list of accomplishments proves that she is a talented artist who deserves recognition. Now, I’m not saying that you aren’t allowed to dislike Taylor or her music. But, for those of you who aren’t the biggest Swifties, I want you to think about why you don’t like her. Is it for any of the reasons I have mentioned in this article? If it is, I hope that maybe after reading, your opinion has changed.
designed by Mara Callahan
I have listened to many different playlists made by many different people, and they have helped me to see that no one can top my music taste. Story by Lily Sage l Opinion Editor
O
Graphics by Mara Callahan l Features Editor
ne of my most prized possessions is the pair of AirPods that live rent-free in my backpack. I can be seen putting these earphones in during any free time I have, getting ready to slip into my own world of incredible music. Speaking of incredible music, let’s get one thing straight — my music taste is and always will be superior to anyone else’s. It’s completely useless to even try to argue with me, because I will never back down from this fact. You might be asking yourself, “Does this teenage girl really have the credentials to make such a claim?” Well, I would tell you that music has always been extremely important to me. When I was little, I would always have my mom turn on the radio to see if I could guess the name of the song playing and the person singing it. Eventually, I was able to name almost all of the songs on the radio. Even now, when I hear a song from my childhood, it evokes a memory of my mom and I in the car blasting music. “Umbrella” by Rhianna is a song that comes to mind when I remember these specific moments. This love that I have had for music instilled a desire in me to become a musician in any possible way. I took piano lessons for years, took guitar lessons for one year and joined the ukulele club at my middle school. I eventually decided that my participation in music would begin and end at listening and singing along. I hope all of this answers your question, and if it doesn’t then let me make it extremely clear, I have the credentials to make this claim. Now I’m not saying that your music taste is bad — I’m sure it’s great — I’m just saying mine is better. I say this because almost any song that I listen to has the ability to evoke some kind of emotion out of me or bring back a lost memory. When a song has the ability to do such a thing to a person, I consider it a masterpiece; I consider every playlist of mine to be a masterpiece, and I have a playlist for almost any emotion that a person could
possibly feel. If you’re sad, I’ve got you covered. Feeling like the main character, I’ve got you covered. In love, I’ve got you covered. If you are still not convinced that my music taste is the best, just keep on reading. “Fine Line” by Harry Styles. I listen to this song when I am fighting anxiety or stress because of the massive “we’ll be it’s not Spotify) at Lillian Sage. There you alright” that Harry sings with every fiber of his will see that these are just a few of hundreds being. This song helps me feel less alone and of songs that I consider to be masterpieces. remember that everything will turn out fine. Now if you will excuse me, I will be putting my “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” AirPods in so that I may slip back into my own by Tears for Fears. This is one of my dad’s world of incredible music. favorite songs — one of mine as well — so I basically grew up listening to it. It always brings me such a warm and fuzzy feeling in my chest that I adore. This song takes me back to a memory of my family and I driving 1. around Kansas City late at night and being ? happy and thankful for each other. “ “The Night We Met” by Lord Huron. You ” cannot tell me you have not cried to this song before — I refuse to believe it. The first 30 seconds is the most heartbreaking intro to a song I have ever heard. “The Night We Met” is 2. the first song on my sad playlist that I listen to ? when I am in need of a good cry sesh. “ “Treacherous” by Taylor Swift. If I ever had to decide on my number one favorite song, this would be it. I can’t even explain why; it has always been my favorite Taylor Swift song and it just gives me incredibly good vibes. While the lyrics themselves are 3. ? kind of depressing, the beat compliments ” them and the overall song so well. It’s such “ a soothing song and it helps me feel at ease. “Treacherous” is from Taylor Swift’s fourth studio album “Red”, which happens to be my favorite album of the singer’s (the rerecording of “Red” comes out Nov. 12 just so you all know). I hope that you finally agree that my music taste is immaculate, but if you are still skeptical follow me on Apple Music (I know,
’
”
24|
the DART|October 29, 2021
SPORTS
ATHLETES UNDER
Pressure
Burnouts in sports are all too common in teenagers as a result of heavy expectations placed upon them through external and internal forces. Story by Lina Kilgore | Writer
Graphic by Lauren Brackney | Design Editor
“
T
he higher you get up in sports, the more pressure is put on you, the more is expected of you, and it’s so much harder,” sophomore Ellie Welsh said. Welsh is not alone in noticing the intense expectation placed upon teenagers in sports. According to The Washington Post, by the age of thirteen, 70% of kids in the United States quit sports. The leading reason being it is simply, “not fun anymore.” The decision to stop playing is different for each player; however, it is most commonly related to pressure applied from both external and internal sources. According to the Yellow Brick Program that specializes in teenage mental health, 38% of kids have begun to experience pressure in sports very early at the age of seven. Welsh vividly remembers encountering her first experience with high expectations as early as fifth grade. “I remember in fifth grade I started doing club volleyball,” Welsh said. “I remember going there and being so nervous for my tryout because I knew I had to do well in order to make a team and in order to succeed. Looking back on it, that was so much pressure for a fifth grader.”
Junior Marykate Roder buries her face into her hands after STA loses a point in a volleyball game Sept. 7. The Women’s Sports Foundation describes burnout as “an athlete experiencing overwhelming exhaustion from training and competition, resents or completely loses interest in the game, and experiences lower achievement than previously demonstrated.” photo by Kaylee Lary
Sports Highlights
Don’t miss out:
Golf Team placed 9th at State. Tennis team was named Hy-Vee Team of the week Oct. 24.
Tennis 23.
placed third at State Oct.
november
1
Basketball tryouts begin.
november
november
5
Cross Country State Meet in Columbia, MO.
VOLLEYBALL
performed at the Rockhurst High School Football game halftime Oct. 15.
basketball
Dance team
Corss Country
what you missed:
8
Swim and dive tryouts begin.
the DART|designed by Lauren Brackney
Welsh most notably remembers the pressure that was applied to her when she played club volleyball from fifth to eighth grade. “The club volleyball community in Kansas City is so big,” Welsh said. “There’s so many different elite teams; therefore it’s really hard [to find a suitable team] and it’s also very subjective, because you’re at the will of your coaches, and that can either be a good thing or a bad thing.”
“
Take a step back and realize that there are other aspects of your life that are more important than sports.
“
ELLIE WELSH
Welsh is not alone in feeling intense pressure from sports. Sophomore Lucy Wooden often experiences this insistent demand to do well while running cross country. Although she certainly feels this pressure from outside forces, for her, the pressure is mainly internal. “I put a lot of pressure on myself,” Wooden said. “There’s no direct pressure from other people, but I want to do good for other people and for myself too.”
VARSITY
|25 This intense expectation surrounding sports applied to teenagers can lead to serious mental health problems such as anxiety and depression. STA counselor Amanda Whitcomb has found this to be a common situation for teenagers in sports and even in school. “If we’re to the point where we are creating a space that is not safe for us like, oh my gosh, I’m not good enough, I’m not this enough, I’m not whatever enough, that really takes a toll on our mental health and wellness,” Whitcomb said. Despite certain challenges, important life lessons can also be formed. Through her experience, Welsh has found a new outlook of her life and relationship with sports. “Take a step back and realize that there are other aspects of your life that are more important than sports,” Welsh said. “It’s not your entire life and you have other things that you can put yourself into. How you do [in your sport] is not going to change who you are or what you’re meant to do. Just do it for fun.” Wooden has also found ways to deal with the stress and has discovered positivity in the relationships that can be formed. “If you have a really good support system in your sport, I would talk to other people about it,” Wooden said. “Remember to remind yourself that you are good enough. You are enough. You’re doing amazing and every single day you’re doing amazing.” B
Athlete of the issue:
Annie Hess Story by Sophia Rall | Editor-in-Chief
Sophomore Annie Hess is on the varsity golf team and competed at Districts Oct. 11 and State Oct. 18. At Districts, Hess scored a 96 and earned 16th place. At State, Hess earned 79th place overall, and the team was 9th. Hess’s favorite part of golf is the team atmosphere.“[My favorite part] is just playing with the team,” Hess said. “The girls are so much fun and nice.” B
the DART|October 29, 2021
26|
COMMUNITY
Living History: A Conversation with When alumna Rita Hall Cloud transferred to STA in 1953, she made history as the first African-American student to attend the Academy. Story by Mara Callahan | Feature Editor
S
itting in her hand-painted black pants topped with multicolored lizards and flowers running up and down the fabric, STA alumna Rita Hall Cloud is the definition of spunk. Coming from St. Aloysius high school, Hall transferred to Saint Teresa’s Academy at the beginning of her junior year. A new school, different classes and an official uniform are somewhat predictable changes when moving schools. Walking onto a high school campus in 1953 as an African-American in a sea of white faces, however, is not. “This was a safe place for me to be and learn,” Cloud said. “I had a lovely time at school, the girls were all very nice. It was a very good time in my life. It was a good learning time in my life. It was a very important foundation for me. I think the things and values I learned here were very important.” Though Cloud found comfort at STA, the surrounding Kansas City area was still tainted by pre-civil-rights-era biases. “I started modeling professionally when I was 13, and while I was at STA I decided we should put on a fashion show to make some money,” Cloud said. “One of the girls’ moms had a connection to a bridal shop on The Plaza that we went to to try on dresses. The workers in the shop were pulling out all these dresses and putting them on all the girls, but no one was finding anything for me to wear. I finally asked the lady, ‘What am I going to wear?’ She said, ‘Oh I thought they just sent you along to help these girls dress.’ Cloud still vividly recalls this experience
Photos Compiled by Anna Stout | Staff Writer
and its contrast to how she was received at STA. Looking back on her high school years, Cloud claims the time she spent on campus was irreplaceable, and encourages current students to slow down and learn to appreciate the experiences they’re having at STA. “I enjoyed my years at St. Teresa’s; they’ve been a big influence on my life,” Cloud said. “Even at 84, I think about my time at St. Teresa’s and there are things I reflect on that I’ve learned at school. The stuff you learn here might rub off on you and mean something to you one of these days. Remember that and try to soak it all in.” Upon graduating, Cloud threw herself into the world of teaching. The experiences she
had as a classroom sub influenced Cloud’s belief that school is a place for young children to learn not only arithmetic, but to be exposed to different cultures and ethnicities. Her biggest piece of advice for younger generations is to speak up. “I had a big mouth and I’d get in trouble for it,” Cloud said. “Sometimes you just have to speak up. You’ve got to remember that. When you see something wrong, speak up because it’s the only way to change things. If you’re afraid to say things, things are never going to change. That’s very important to remember. We’ve got to speak up for things. As strong women we’ve certainly got to speak strong. Don’t just see it, be it.”B
Leslie, Joshua and Rita Cloud stand and smile for the camera in front of greenery. Joshua Cloud, Leslie’s son and Rita’s grandson, is an artist and continues his work in California. photo courtesy of Paula Holmquist
the DART|designed by Lily Sage
Humans of STA
HUMANS OF STA
|27
Students from the STA community have special talents that set them apart. This cycle the Dart covered junior Georgia Kerrigan’s baking business, junior Teresa Elfrink’s unique ride to school and junior Ella Roger’s published book. Story and photos compiled by Katie Massman | Multimedia Editor
Junior Ella Rogers What was your inspiration?
Junior Ella Rogers reads her published book, “Always” Oct. 12. Rogers wrote this book to help young children and their families cope with the loss of a loved one. photo by Katie Massman
“I wrote this book to help young children and their families cope with the loss of a loved one. My dad passed away suddenly when I was six, so I was faced with loss at a young age and consequently learned how to cope. I was the only kid at my elementary school who had experienced the loss of a parent, so at times I felt alone and like I was missing a big part of my childhood by not having my dad with me. I understand now that many young children experience the loss of a loved one, so I wrote my book to tell my story to these other kids and remind them that they are not alone. Throughout the story, I use symbolism and words of advice to illustrate that there is hope for a happy future!"B
Junior Teresa Elfrink Do you ride your bike because of necessity or is it a choice?
“My choice to ride my bike to school started when I found out my sister, who took me to school, was moving. This meant I either had to drive to school myself or ride my bike. I personally don’t like driving and also didn’t want to spend my money to buy a car, so riding a bike was the best option. Now my brother’s old car is an “extra car” so if I am running late or have things to bring that won’t fit in my backpack I will drive that, but I usually bike. I am also doing it for the planet. I want to reduce my carbon footprint and think that biking over driving is a good way to do that!"B
Junior Teresa Elfrink poses next to her bike Oct. 12. Elfrink enjoys biking to school because it helps reduce her carbon footprint. photo courtesy of Teresa Elfrink
Junior Georgia Kerrigan How did you get the idea to start this?
“I was baking a lot over quarantine and I ended up spending hours making a birthday cake for my sister. My mom really liked the cake, and we joked about how I should be getting paid for it. Then, I actually became serious about making it into a business, and started to create my website to work out the logistics of my business."B Junior Georgia Kerrigan holds up a cake she baked. Kerrigan started her cake business during quarantine, when she discovered her passion for baking. photo courtesy of Georgia Kerrigan
28|
the DART|October 29, 2021
LAST LOOK
H A L L OW E E N :
L
kB
The Dart has created three festive Halloween costumes for three different hair colors in celebration of the upcoming holiday
k
Story, photos and graphics by Lauren Ford | Graphics editor
A PEEK INTO THE PAST: HALLOWEEN’S HISTORY
H
“Witch” Character Are You?
alloween is a holiday marked by fall and fear; whether it’s pumpkin overload or a child-consuming witch, it is a widely celebrated festivity. Data shows that more than 180 million Americans took part in Halloween festivities in 2018. Due to the recent COVID-19 epidemic sheltering people in their homes, 2021 Which trait are you more like? will be one of the first semi-normal celebrations of the holiday in two A. Introverted B. Romantic years. C. Confident Costumes are traditionally a staple of the celebration, and they What activity would you rather do? directly correlate to the origins of the holiday. The tradition originally began A. Spend time w/ family with an Ancient Celtic Festival called Samhain. The Celtic people celebrated B. Spend time at the Beach their new year on November 1, a day that signified the end of summer and the C. Hang out w/ Friends beginning of winter. Winter was associated with the dark and human death, and the What is your favorite hobby? Celts believed that the night before the New Year, the boundaries between the living and A. Cooking the dead disappeared. It was believed that on this night the dead walked amongst the living B. Singing so the Celts would create bonfires and dress in costumes to avoid the ghosts recognizing them. C. Beauty In the 8th Century, Pope Gregory III assigned November 1 as All Saints Day. This celebration How would be people describe you? soon evolved to incorporate many traditions from Samhain. And the night before All Saints Day A. Serious B. Sweet was given the name All Hallows Eve, which eventually became the current name Halloween. The C. Sassy tradition of costuming on Halloween night has carried on for 2,000 years. Present day costuming has lost some of that original intention, but is a staple for celebrations and a great time.B If you answered mostly... A: You are most like WANDA from Wandavision/Avengers B: You are most like SANDY from
Grease C: You are most like JACKIE BURKHART from That 70’s Show
the DART|designed by Lauren Ford
WANDA FROM “WANDAVISION”
JACKIE FROM |29 “THAT 70’S SHOW”
SANDY FROM “GREASE”
For our redhead readers, an amazing costume idea could be Wanda from “Wandavision”. This outfit includes kneehigh red boots, hot pink tights and red body suit with a red cape. It also incorporates a headpiece similar to Maleficent’s.
An iconic costume choice could be Sandy from the movie “Grease.” The outfit consists of a black off-theshoulder top a black or gray belt and skin-tight black leather pants with the eye catching red accesories of red heels and a bright red lip.
A 70’s chic look could be achieved by dressing up as the one and only Jackie Burkhart from “That 70’s Show.” This costume consists of flare jeans and a statement t-shirt crop top, with a staple hair blowout and chunky boots.
30|
the DART|October 29, 2021
PHOTO ESSAY
Californians and tourists alike spend their weekends at the beach or in the city. With changing seasons across the country,California manages to stay sunny and bright.
IN THE FALL
Photos by Charlotte Malone | Photo Editor
A Chapman University student skateboards around the school’s campus Oct. 15. The college students were on fall break, though many stayed on campus.
Many Californians walk along Dockweiler Beach Oct. 16. The beach is right next to the Los Angeles International Airport.
Birds flock to a snack hut on Dockweiler Beach Oct. 16. While the snack shop sold food, it also rented out bikes and umbrellas.
Many cars attempt to park next to El Porto Beach Oct. 16. Large groups of people biked along the beach.
the DART|designed by Kaylee Lary
The 2021-2022
DART STAFF
Advisor | Dianne Hirner
|31
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
Opinion Editors
Multimedia Editor
Kaylee Lary, Charlotte Malone
Lily Sage, Ellie Buttell
Katie Massman
Staff Writers
Lifestyles Editor
Outreach Editor
Anna Stout, Lina Kilgore, Taylor Hayes
Kyra Fieger
Anna Massman
Copy Editor
Sports Editors
Social Media Team
Caroline Hinkebein, Katie Massman
Miriam Parsa, Tierney Flavin, Megan Turley
Annie McShane
editorial policies
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.
32|
ON THE DNO
the DART| October 29, 2021
on the
DNO
STA dance team gallery Gallery by Kaylee Lary
Volleyball senior night Gallery by Katie Massman
Check out Dart Sports Run by Katie Massman
Shoes will share your story Story by Kaylee Lary
For updates and more, follow the Dart on social media! @dartnewsonline @dart_sports
@dartnewsonline @dart_sports
/dartnewsonline
@dartnewsonline
@dartpaper
/dartnewsonline
blog corner Girl Talk: Alternative Music
Intro to alt-music out soon Blog by Sydney Waldron | Editor-in-Chief
Coffee Corner
PSL & Cold Fall drink reviews out soon Blog by Sophia Rall | Editor-in-Chief
and MORE
coming soon to dartnewsonline!