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H iss H ue 3 H 13 October 2011
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the dart
As STA works to reduce the mounds of paper in recycling bins, the Dart evaluates the school’s progress, because…
it’s not easy being
GREEN Photo by ERIN SELLERS
2 | news | dartnewsonline.com | the dart | October 13, 2011
DART
people and policies
Administration monitors online use of trademarks
Eric Thomas............................................................advisor Katie Hyde................................................editor-in-chief print Hannnah Wolf.....................managing editor of print Allison Fitts....................................................copy editor Mary O’Leary................................................news editor Lucia Maschler........................................opinion editor Katie McCombs..............................................a&e editor Kate Rohr........................................centerspread editor Lane Maguire............................sports & health editor Christina Barton.....................................features editor Rowan O’Brien-Williams....................lifestyles editor Sara Meurer.........................................in the mix editor Emily McCann........................................last look editor Caitlin Fletcher...............................................staff writer Sara-Jessica Dilks...........................................staff writer Lauren Langdon............................................staff writer Adrianna Ohmes...........................................staff writer Mickey Redlingshafer..................................staff writer photography Celia O’Flaherty..........................................photo editor Sarah Godfrey................................staff photographer Rosie Hutchison............................staff photographer Meghan Lewis................................staff photographer Shaeffer Smith...............................staff photographer web Cara McClain........................managing editor of web Chelsea Birchmier........................................copy editor Nikki Rodriguez.....................multimedia web editor Erin Sellers..................................................photo poster Emily Bresette......................................daily web editor Emily Wemhoff....................................daily web editor Abby Uche............................................daily web editor Natalie Fitts........................social media & circulation Emma Wheatley.......................................videographer Anna Leach................................................videographer Katie Parkinson................................standing features policies ownership and sponsership The Dart is created by the student newspaper staff and is published by general operating funds of St. Teresa’s Academy, a Catholic institution sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. The Dart will not publish opinions that contradict the teachings and beliefs of the Catholic Church, whether on a diocesan or worldwide level. editorial policy The Dart is subject to prior review by the St. Teresa’s Academy administration in circumstances that concern student safety and illegal behavior by students. Otherwise, the policies above will guide the Dart. The Dart intends to be a public forum for voices regardless of diverse ages, sexes, races, cultures, religions or beliefs. Signed columns reflect the opinions of the individual, not necessarily the newspaper staff or the school community. letters policy The Dart encourages letters to the editor. Letters can be sent in the following ways: in person to Eric Thomas in D204; by mail to St. Teresa’s Academy, attn: Eric Thomas, 5600 Main Street, Kansas City, MO 64113; or by email to ethomas@stteresasacademy.org. Letters should be limited to 250 words. The Dart staff reserves the right to edit or shorten letters for publication. photo illustrations Photo illustrations are conceptual photos that combine the limitless possibility of the drawing with the realism of the photograph. They are not intended to be documentary photos of real moments. corrections policy The Dart will print corrections as soon as possible after the error is discovered.
dartnewsonline.com
checkin’ up H Principal for academic affairs Barbara McCormick poses for a photo Oct. 11. McCormick said that the administration is not looking for violations of the acceptable use policy, but are merely social media users as well. photo illustration by SARAH GODFREY
Administration addresses student use of STA trademarks in Twitter account, class Facebook groups by SARA MUERER smuerer@dartnewsonline.com After two incidents this year involving what the administration calls a student “misuse” of social media, principal for academic affairs Barbara McCormick said that STA students were misunderstanding their social media rights. The STA administration has requested that students remove STA trademarks from social media networks such as Twitter and Facebook because it violates a school policy. At the same time, the administration was also concerned about how some social media content represented STA. McCormick said students have misused trademarks of STA through Facebook groups and Twitter accounts. One example of this is the Twitter account named “stagirlproblems.” The account was created by an anonymous STA student to express the “problems” that STA girls face. According to McCormick, the school’s logos, names, “Stars,” “STA” and “St. Teresa’s Academy” all qualify as trademarks of the school. The Dart made several attempts to identify who created the “stagirlproblems” account, but none of the students interviewed admitted to creating the account. The administration asked over the intercom for the student to delete the account because it used a trademark of STA—the school logo—as its profile picture. The administration became aware of the account several weeks ago and asked for it to be removed because it was not representing STA in a positive way, according to McCormick. “[Administration] was concerned of the purpose [of the account] and the fact that it was using a trademark of STA,” McCormick said. “People looking for St. Teresa’s Academy on the Internet are going to pull that up in a search, and that’s the reputation we are presenting to the public.” Social media lawyer and graduate of UCLA Law School Michelle Sherman said in an interview with
the Dart that this is legal in private schools. “It is definitely legal for private schools to ask that things through social media that do not represent the school in a positive light be removed,” Sherman said. Some STA students who are now aware of this are angry that the administration has this power. Junior Adelle Smith, who tweeted at “stagirlproblems” before the account was removed, does not think administration should have this right. “Administration shouldn’t be allowed to get involved [with what students do on Twitter and Facebook],” Smith said. “What we do on Twitter and Facebook isn’t a direct representation of the school and the administration shouldn’t get involved with it.” However, Sherman believes that the school has a right to be involved. “They don’t want their logo on a Facebook or Twitter account because it reflects upon the school and it is how that school is viewed,” Sherman said. “The school is entitled to say no.” According to McCormick, the STA administration is not particularly searching for these violations; they are aware of them because they are users of social media themselves. This is how administration became aware of “stagirlproblems.” “I personally use [social networking sites], and I have a Twitter,” McCormick said. “It’s not that [administration] is looking for it, but it comes to our attention when we are out there using it ourselves.” Smith does not believe that administration should be allowed to do this. “If the administration is on Twitter looking at who we’re following and what we’re saying, I don’t think that’s okay,” Smith said. According to the STA Acceptable Use Policy, a document outlining student digital rights and responsibilities, communications on the Internet reflect on STA and must not damage the school’s reputation. “[Administration] is trying to assure that the organization’s public image is not tarnished by things published on the Internet,” McCormick said. “You can’t use trademarks of STA without prior approval because those things belong to STA.”
A similar instance of this “misuse,” according to the administration, is when class officers created Facebook groups for each grade level using STA trademarks without permission from the administration. These groups are created to make announcements, ask homework questions and communicate among class members. Most of these groups, including the senior class of 2012, used multiple STA trademarks according to McCormick. “I have to be a member [of these Facebook groups] if they are using a trademark of STA,” McCormick said. These groups used the STA logo as their profile picture, as well as the name “STA” in the title. According to McCormick, administration communicated with class officers from each grade to clarify that using these trademarks is not allowed unless administration is a member of the group. Soon after, the trademarks were removed from the groups. McCormick believes that these misunderstandings are a recent problem because social media is becoming more popular within the STA community. “It’s a recent problem because I think students are getting more actively involved in social media for other purposes,” McCormick said. H
October 13, 2011 | the dart | dartnewsonline.com | news | 3
Economics class starts business
open wide H Seniors Alex Mediavilla, left, and McLaren O’Rear share a smoothie Oct. 6. Teacher Craig Whitney’s economics class created a small business called Smoothie Queen which sells homemade smoothies during lunch and activity. photo by Sara-Jessica Dilks
secret ingredient H Junior Margoth Mackey pours ingredients into a blender to make a smoothie for a customer. photo by Sarah Godfrey
crowd pleaser H Senior Miranda Green takes smoothie orders from an awaiting crowd of students. photo by Sarah Godfrey
Economics class sells smoothies in the Commons to better understand how to start small businesses
businesses in 60 different countries with loans all contributed money and will be reimbursed the as a little as $25. exact amount they paid. “As a group we are putting in our start up cash “The students decided which charities they wanted to give the profits to,” Whitney said. “We and going out to get our ingredients in shifts,” discussed a number Mackey said. of options but they The class had to wanted to help other receive administration women first and foreapproval to sell the most.” smoothies; however, by HANNAH WOLF They will continue they did not need to have a license from the to sell the smoothies 1. Berry Banana Blast every Tuesday and health department. 2. The Classic Thursday. Each 16 “[The health de3. STARberry oz. smoothie costs $3 partment] thought of 4. Caramel Coffee Delight and an average of four the smoothie sales as 5. Burrberry more of a school wide different flavors will 6. Coolest Smoothie in the World be made during each bake sale type thing,” 7. Morning Sunrise sale. Depending on Whitney said. “If we 8. Berry Berry Delicious how the sales go, the were selling more to class may or may not the general public then source: economics class we would have needed continue selling the smoothies throughout [a license].” the year. If the smoothies “[The main thing I want the students to take raise a profit, the money will go towards two away from selling the smoothies] is a rudimentary charities, Women’s Safe Home and Kiva. Women’s Safe Home is an organization in Kansas City understanding of the process on how to start a small business,” Whitney said. for battered women. Junior economic student The first day of sales was a success according to Kelly Jenks suggested Women’s Safe Home as an Mackey, with the class making a profit of $50. option because her mother Maria Jenks volun“ [The first day] was way busier than I exteers there. Kiva is a microfinancing firm that pected,” Mackey said. “ It was kinda a zoo in the helps women in poor countries start their own kitchen.” H businesses. It is currently helping people start
by MARY O’LEARY moleary@dartnewsonline.com Last Tuesday, Mr. Craig Whitney’s economic class began selling smoothies in the Commons during lunch and activity. Whitney wanted to bring some entrepreneurship to the class this year. “[Selling smoothies] is basically learning economics hands on,” senior economic student Meka Kelly said. “Economics is business, money, management, etc. and we are essentially creating our own business and learning about time management, employees, money management, marketing and business proposals.” The idea to sell smoothies was thought of as a group through class discussions and brainstorming ideas. The class rested on a company name of “Smoothie Queen.” “Mr. Whitney started out saying a coffee bar, but then as a group we started throwing out other food ideas and one thing led to another,” junior economic student Margoth Mackey said. “We ended up with a smoothie bar instead of a coffee bar.” The class, made up of juniors and seniors, made the smoothies in the kitchen located in the Commons and distributed them over the counter next to Jo Jo’s. Whitney and the 11 students in the class
production line H Junior Kelly Jenks pours a freshly blended smoothie for a customer during the lunch hour rush. photo by Sara-Jessica Dilks
SMOOTHIE FLAVORS
Math teacher pregnant
Math teacher Jeanella Clark recently announced her pregnancy to students. This will be Clark’s second child, and is due March 3. Clark does not yet know the gender of the baby, but believes that it will be a boy. Students in all of Clark’s math classes participated in a vote tallied on her whiteboard guessing what the gender of the baby would be. If the baby is a girl Clark will use the name Savannah Hope, which her daughter Valerie Clark chose. However, if the baby is a boy, Clark will use the name she and her husband Stacy Clark have picked out: Emmet Logan. Until Clark finds out the gender of her child Oct. 21, Valerie will use the nickname she has picked out for her sibling: “Boobadoo.” Due to her pregnancy, Clark will be unable to finish out her second semester classes. Clark does not plan to return as a full time teacher but hopes that she will be able to remain part of the STA community by part-time teaching. Clark does not know who will take over her classes once she goes on maternity leave, but says that she would like it to be someone with a similar teaching style as herself. Clark has talked with principal for academic affairs Barbara McCormick and hopes that they can arrange for her replacement to observe her classes before taking over. “I just want to make sure that whoever [McCormick] hires is comfortable in the classroom,” Clark said.
STA plans trip to Italy
This summer, English teacher Kelly Fast and journalism teacher Eric Thomas will lead a STA alumnae trip to Italy. According to Fast, all STA alumnae and friends of STA are invited as well as spouses and parents of graduates. Fast views the spectrum of ages present on the trip as a positive aspect. “I’m excited because everyone is connected to STA and it’s a great opportunity for graduates of different ages to be able to connect and talk to each other,” Fast said. “They all have the common interest of a trip and all of the people interested seem like minded in what they want to experience.” According to Fast, so far about twenty people have shown interest in the trip. “[Twenty people] is a really good sized group,” Fast said. “Too many more people would be too cumbersome and too difficult for everyone to get around. The group is small enough so it’s a personalized trip for the people going.” Fast said the group will visit Florence, Rome and Sienna and take part in cultural and artistic experiences. Depending on how this year’s trip goes, the Italy trip may become an annual event.
National Merit students
The senior class has four students nominated as National Merit semi-finalists and four National Merit commended students. The semi-finalists, Kate Needham, Erin Sellers, Paige Wendland and Grace Crowe, scored in the top half of one percent of all people who took the PSAT in the nation last fall. Cara McClain, Christina Barton, Liz Wiens and Hannah Otto scored in the top five percent, becoming National Merit Commended students. According to Wendland, she was hoping for this recognition. “I knew what [score] I had gotten the year before and I was assuming my score wouldn’t go down so I was hoping [to become a finalist],” Wendland said. Needham remembers September when the semi-finalists were announced. “[I] found out in late August but it couldn’t be announced until September 14 ,” Needham said. “It was also my birthday, so it was a good day.” Complied by Abby Uche, Rowan O’Brien-Williams and Mickey Redlingshafer
4 | features | dartnewsonline.com | the dart | October 13, 2011
be alright Every little thing gonna
Freshman Katie Hanson starts high school at STA after battling cancer with support of family, community
by CHRISTINA BARTON cbarton@dartnewsonline.com
A beaded journey
A string of beads 6 feet long sits on the table, representing freshman Katie Hanson’s past year. The journey begins with letter beads spelling “Katie.” The string then becomes a mix of cat beads for CT scans, bumpy brown beads for biopsies, moons for anesthesia, green and purple beads for clinic visits, sun beads for radiation treatments and many others. For Hanson, each bead symbolizes a part of her story, a part of the battle she faced last year. But each bead is also a reminder of her strength, the strength she needed to win the battle she started last September.
All hell broke loose
When Hanson began school as an eighth grader at St. Peter’s School, nothing seemed different. But to her friend Reycia Lawerence, there was something unusual about her left eye. Concerned, Hanson asked her homeroom teacher Diana Youngblood, who
BEADED JOURNEY Hanson created a timeline of her battle with cancer using beads.
agreed that her eye did not look right. After an ophthalmologist appointment failed to provide answers to her proptosis, the forward dislocation of the eye, Hanson went to Children’s Mercy Hospital to have an MRI. The doctors could see a mass behind her eye, but her braces were distorting the images, so Hanson had her braces removed that day. Although the doctors did not yet know anything definitive about the mass, Hanson began to assume the worst. “It’s really scary to think about this mass,” Hanson explained. “It’s like your mind immediately goes to cancer. I tried to reassure my mom and myself, but I think by then, I kind of already knew there was something.” The next day, Hanson returned for a second MRI, where doctors confirmed there was a tumor covering her entire sinus cavity. The following day, she underwent a biopsy, a surgery to remove cells or tissues for examination, at the University of
Sept. 1, 2010 Katie undergoes her first biopsy, which confirms the tumor is Oct. 13, 2010 cancerous. Katie undergoes her Aug. 31, 2010 first surgery to remove Katie undergoes her second MRI and is the tumor. admitted to Children’s Mercy Hospital.
Kansas Medical Center with Dr. Terance Tsue and Dr. Daniel Chelius. Although the biopsy determined the tumor was cancerous, the doctors were unable to identify it right away. As part of a St. Jude’s research study, parts of Hanson’s tumor from the biopsy were sent to doctors across the nation. It was a doctor in St. Louis who determined Hanson had hemangiopericytoma, a soft-tissue sarcoma. Sarcomas are uncommon and develop from soft tissues like fat, muscle, nerves, fibrous tissues, blood vessels or deep skin tissues. Yet Hanson did not let the cancer diagnosis faze her. She began singing “don’t you worry about a thing ‘cause every little thing gonna be alright” from Bob Marley’s song “Three Little Birds” when her oncologist Dr. Michelle Manalang told her. “I needed to be strong for [my parents],” Hanson explained. “I needed to show them that we were going to get through this.” Hanson’s parents, Phil and Nancy, both believed Katie’s initial strength helped them get through the Nov. 29, 2010 Katie begins her first of six rounds of chemotherapy sessions.
initial shock of the diagnosis. Phil thought he would have to help Katie not be scared about the diagnosis, but Katie had another idea. “Just a moment before I was thinking how can I help [Katie] not be scared and she was thinking how can I help Mom and Dad not be scared,” Phil said in an email. And so Hanson began her long journey through many tests, surgeries, chemotherapy and radiation that would consume her eighth grade year.
A new normal
Surgery was planned for Oct. 13, 2010, but due to the tumor’s location, doctors would not know how the tumor would be removed until the surgery began. There was a chance Katie would lose vision in her left eye, that the doctors would have to remove the roof of her mouth or that the surgeons would have to cut her head open, take out her brain and set it aside and attack the tumor from above. The doctors were able to remove 98 percent of the tumor through her
Dec. 14, 2010 On the day of her school’s Christmas program, Katie’s hair begins falling out. Dec. 25, 2010 Katie spends part of Christmas day in the hospital finishing chemotherapy.
Dec. 27, 2010 Katie begins her first of 30 rounds of radiation.
October 13, 2011 | the dart | dartnewsonline.com | features | 5
LIST OF HEALTH TERMS compiled by CHRISTINA BARTON • biopsy: a procedure where a sample of tissue is taken from the body in order to examine it more closely • feeding tube: a tube inserted into the abdominal wall with a connection outside of the body to insert liquid nutrition • fever neutropenia: a fever caused by abnormally low levels of certain white blood cells in the body • MRI: Magnetic Resonance Imagining; a test that uses a magnetic field and radio wave energy pulses to make pictures of organs and structures inside the body • sarcoma: a cancer that develops from soft tissues like fat, muscle, nerves, fibrous tissues, blood vessels or deep skin tissues source: WebMD string beads H Katie Hanson shows off her beaded journey. Katie added a bead for every part of her cancer treatment. photo by CELIA O’FLAHERTY
you make me smile H Freshman Katie Hanson and her father, Phil Hanson, smile at each other while hanging out in the backyard of their Brookside home on Sept. 11. Katie and Phil discuss Katie’s journey the past year. photo by CELIA O’FLAHERTY
nose, leaving her vision, mouth and head in tact. According to Nancy, the tumor, 8 and ½ cm in diameter, had completely filled Katie’s sinus cavity and was growing out, pushing the eye forward and continued to grow and would have eventually also rubbing against the bone in front of the brain. Had the tumor gone undetected, it would have eventually reached her brain. Because the tumor was slow growing and therefore had probably been growing for a while, it permanently moved Katie’s bone in her sinus cavity to the side. More than a month after surgery, Katie began her chemotherapy at Children’s Mercy Hospital. Katie would undergo six rounds of chemotherapy, each lasting about four days. Because one of the two chemotherapies was to be given continuously for four days, Katie stayed in the hospital Wednesday through Saturday every three weeks. After two rounds of chemotherapy, Katie also began radiation therapy at the Kansas City Cancer Center at Shawnee Mission Medical Center. Katie would undergo radiation 30 times, going five days a week for each round. St. Peter’s classmate Sydney Hunter, now a freshman at STA, noticed a difference in Katie during radiation. “She would be tired,” Hunter explained. “She would never eat anything. She would never be in the lunchroom. But during lunch, she would go get help [on school work].”
had the support of St. Peter’s Church and school community. Before her surgery, Katie’s eighth grade class got her an iPod and filled it with music. Her class also made her a book of good luck wishes. Later during her treatment, Katie’s class held a prayer service in her honor and her classmates wore blue ribbons for her. Nancy said the experience made them learn a lot about the people around them. “It was amazing the people who came out of the woodwork to help us out,” Nancy said. Phil said the prayers, concerns and encouragement greatly helped. “So many people helped us out by providing meals, cleaning our house, sending Katie cards or gifts to encourage her like her Livestrong jacket,” Phil said. “It really was uplifting.” To keep people updated on Katie’s treatment status, Nancy created a CaringBridge page for Katie that family, friends and parish members were able to view. CaringBridge is a website where people can share their journey through an illness with their friends and family. Since starting the page last September, the page has had over 12,000 views, Nancy has written 100 journal entries and Katie’s guestbook has over 800 notes of well wishes.
A community comes together
Because of her treatment schedule, Katie and her parents would often be gone from their home. Her dad Phil stayed with her at the hospital at night and her mom stayed with her during the day. According to Katie, her cat Sunny knew there was something wrong. When Katie would be home, Sunny would sleep with her instead of Phil and Nancy, which she usually did. “Sunny just knew something was up,” Katie said. “She just knew I was sick, so she slept with me when I came back [from staying in the hospital].” Katie’s older brothers were also worried about her. Because they were already a close family, Katie’s oldest brother Mark, 23, often visited her in the hospital and kept up to date on all of her treatment and tests. Katie’s other brother John, 20, did not always see everything going on because he was away at Emporia State University, which Nancy said, was hard on him. In addition to the support of her family, Katie
Feb. 9, 2011 Katie undergoes her last radiation treatment.
Fighting the battle
Because of her chemotherapy and clinic schedule, which she had to go to every Monday and then every Wednesday, Katie would often miss school. However, according to Nancy, Katie tried really hard to go to school because she knew it was important. Katie also said she did not want to get behind or miss much. When she was in the hospital, Katie said she liked having her friends come and tell her what was going on so she was kept up to date. Hunter visited her while she underwent chemotherapy multiple times. “We talked about what was going on at school,” Hunter said. “She really wanted to stay on top of what was going on.” Her chemotherapy caused some changes physically as well. Katie’s hair began falling out in clumps on the day of the school Christmas program, shortly after her first chemotherapy round. Instead of worrying about her hair, she had it buzzed off that night and let the rest fall out on its own. “The next time I went in for chemo, I kind of matched everyone because everyone is bald except the nurses,” Katie said. In addition to losing her hair, the chemotherapy also caused mouth sores. However, according to Katie
Feb. 17, 2011 Katie has her first feeding tube installed.
it was the radiation killing her taste buds that was the biggest problem. She lost 20 pounds and was forced to drink Ensure Nutrition shakes, but reached a point where she was throwing up the shakes and not eating. “I tried really hard, but I just didn’t want to do it because they were disgusting,” Katie explained. “One night, when I was going to bed, I said to my mom ‘I think I need to get a feeding tube.’” Katie got a feeding tube the next day, and after that one failed, she got a second one a week later, which she would have through the rest of her treatment.
A year later
After undergoing treatment her entire eighth grade year, Katie finally began on the path of life without cancer in May. Finishing chemotherapy April 16, having her feeding tube removed May 17 and undergoing follow up tests and doctors appointments, Katie was completely clean of cancer. Although Katie is cancer free, she will have to undergo an MRI every three months for two years but will eventually only have to undergo an MRI annually. Today, Katie has 20/20 vision, her hair is growing back and she has regained her taste buds. To Katie, it is still weird to think she had cancer, but it did change her world view in some ways. After the past year, Katie is now thinking about going into pediatric oncology so she can help other children with cancer. Katie also believed the experience taught her a lot about herself. “It makes you realize how strong you actually are and how strong willed you are,” Katie explained. “I think one of the things I was really strong about was I knew I had to do it and it will hurt, but I will get through this.” Although Nancy says the family lost a year of their lives because cancer took over, they survived it because Katie was really tough throughout the journey. Although she underwent much during the past year, Nancy said Katie never whined or complained. “She did not spend time saying ‘why did this happen to me,’” Nancy said. “She was very brave about it from the biopsy on. It was all about getting through it and that was kind of what we did.” Labor day weekend, Nancy and Katie heard “Three Little Birds” on the radio, realizing it had been a year since they found out Katie had cancer. As “don’t worry about a thing” played, they realized Katie had been right. Every little thing gonna be alright. H
Feb. 25, 2011 After the first feeding tube fails, Katie has a second tube installed.
March 12, 2011 Katie celebrates her 14th birthday.
you make me smile H Above, Nancy Hanson, Katie’s mom, points out Katie’s tumor in her sinus cavity prior to surgery. Below, Nancy points out where the tumor used to be after doctors removed the tumor. photos by CELIA O’FLAHERTY
April 22, 2011 Katie goes to the hospital on Good Friday due to a fever neutropenia.
April 24, 2011 Katie returns home from the hospital on Easter.
6 | main ed | dartnewsonline.com | the dart | October 13, 2011
STA goes green to protect our future by Katie Parkinson
Reduce, reuse, recycle. We’ve all heard it lasts longer. STA isn’t spending nearly a year working on the Chapel of St. Joseph just to install before. We’ve seen it on the countless SAGA posters taped to the hallway walls, heard it on the the prettiest bricks; STA’s making the building strong enough to last the next 200 years. announcements during Global Awareness Week Sixty years from now, as we all begin to and listened as the construction workers drilled geothermal wells for the Windmoor Center. We send our own granddaughters to STA, they will still be using these new amenities because STA get that it’s something important, and probably something we should exercise ourselves. But had invested in its future way back in 2012. Go ahead and complain during your literature test why? about the sound the machines are making as While adding the Windmoor Center and the new track and field to our campus, administrathey drill geothermal wells into the quad. But your granddaughter will sure be thankful STA tion has made a conscious effort to go green. Now went to this extent to preserve the chapel when STA isn’t just doing this to get their name in a magazine or to save a it becomes the new favorite building on few dollars on an electric bill. And the new campus. And sure, it The staff editorial represents the may be annoying that high-tech equipment views of the Dart editorial board one of your teachisn’t just for show. Rather, STA has its ers puts their notes online rather than eyes set on the future. 7 out of 7 editors voted in support in handouts. But 50 Administration isn’t of this editorial years from now when spending so much the world decides to money on the track surface just because it stop making paper, STA students will have an advantage over all the looks good, but because it schools around us who aren’t as technologically advanced. Yes, we should all be more than thankful that the administration here has made several efforts for the school to “go green.” But it can’t stop there
RIGHT ON
TARGET Each issue, the Dart asks three people their opinions of the issue discussed in the main editorial. Here’s what they said: compiled by KATIE McCOMBS
though. Our student body has way more potential to make a difference than administration singlehandedly leading a revolution. As students, it is equally our responsibility to participate in this whole movement. It may not seem like a lot when you recycle that one Spanish handout, but imagine if all 562 of us recycled one piece of paper for every 169 days of school. That’s 94,978 pieces of paper, which is the equivalent of 11.5 trees, according to conservatree.org. Just because the girl sitting next to you in class isn’t recycling doesn’t mean you shouldn’t; it means you should tell her to yourself. A little effort on everyone’s part makes a huge difference. This “green” movement must be studentsupported. It doesn’t matter if you aren’t an ecofriendly person or not. You don’t have to go buy a hybrid car or supply your house with electricity from solar panels. Just support STA’s goal. Acknowledge the hard work the administration has put into the new renovations on campus. Make little adjustments in your daily life—like using a lunch box instead of a brown bag—and you’ll make your own contribution. If all 562 of us do something small, it becomes something extremely big. You aren’t compelled to do this because you’re living on this world and you need to prevent global warming. You’re compelled to do this because you’re a girl from the Academy and you need to protect our school. H
REASONS TO RECYCLE Along with administration’s efforts, students can be more green during the school day by HANNAH WOLF 1. Use a reusable water bottle and lunch bag. You can even coordinate colors with your waterbottle, backpack and netty case or find cute, unique patterned lunch bags. 2. Recycle old worksheets and tests. Especially the ones you want to erase from your memory forever. 3. Don’t print out handouts from Moodle if you don’t have to. Especially those 20 page long history notes. 4. Recycle any pop cans or bottles you buy from the vending machine. There are recycling bins all over campus to be used at your disposal. 5. Type your notes on the netbook rather than writing in a notebook or on loose-leaf. The netty is your friend, so use it.
How could the STA community become more “green”? “STA students could make more of an effort to stop using paper bags for their lunches. Instead, we could all use reusable lunch boxes.” Lindsay Cook senior
“If the rest of the campus could conserve more energy, like by turning your lights off when your not in your room, those little things really add up.” Mary Rietbrock science teacher
Cook
“Girls should bring reusable water bottles to school instead of plastic water bottles. Instead of disposing [plastic water bottles], recycle them.” Julia Hammond sophomore
Rietbrock
Hammond
October 13, 2011 | the dart | dartnewsonline.com | opinion | 7
by NATALIE FITTS nfitts@dartnewsonline.com When does driving become fun? Because in my six months of permitted driving, I haven’t experienced any of it (I do like the fact that I get to honk the horn at my discretion, but other than that, driving sucks). I thought when I got my permit in March, I would want to drive all the time. However, it’s the exact opposite. When my mom asks, “Do you want to drive?” she might as well be asking, “Do you want to voluntarily put yourself in utter agony?” Because that’s all I hear. On days when my mind fails me and I decide to take the wheel for some unknown reason, my hatred for driving always increases. Maybe I hate driving because I can’t do anything else at the same time. Car rides are usually my time to get some beauty rest, read a few tweets and maybe catch up on the latest Facebook happenings Obviously, these are the most productive moments of my day and without them, it’s hard to feel like I’ve completed an entire day’s work. Maybe I hate driving because these things called “other drivers” just get in the way. Most of them don’t even know the laws of traffic. Don’t get to a stop sign first and then wave me on, acting like you are doing me some huge favor. Also, those people who weave in and out of traffic at high velocities always give me heart attacks. As if I need something else to worry about when I can’t even remember exactly how to work the blinker. If other people would just stop driving and/or disobeying traffic laws when I need to go somewhere, that would be great. Please, just do it for the good of mankind. Maybe I hate driving because of turns, stoplights, stop signs and anything else that forces me to change what I’m doing. Honestly, if I could just constantly drive in a straight line at 30 miles per hour, I’d be a great driver. Maybe I hate driving because I don’t like any extra sources of stress. My mom is awesome 99.9999 percent of the time, but when you get her in the passenger seat, it is a totally different story. I try telling her that holding onto the door handle with all her might and pressing her imaginary brake will not help anyone in case of an accident. My driving is not that frightening anyway, but she doesn’t believe me. Driving just makes things so much more stressful. Maybe I’ll just wait to start driving until someone invents a car that drives itself. Could someone possibly create that within the next six months and sell it at a reasonable price for me? Thanks, that would be great. H
The Final Say Beginner driving is too stressful for my daily life to handle.
Praise band encourages participation
by CELIA O’FLAHERTY coflaherty@dartnewsonline.com It’s that moment when freshman Hillary Talken belts out the words to a song. It’s when junior Cricket Martin rocks out on the drums, when you are expecting to just sing another verse of “Sacred Silence.” It’s when every student holds thumbs-up and “L” signs in the air while singing “Yes, Lord.” It’s Praise Band. Early last year, music teacher Michelle McIntire organized a small group of musicians called “Praise Band” that performs at each mass. Since then, the group of five singers has multiplied into a 22-strong student band, complete with a keyboardist, drummer, guitarist, violinist and many singers. Not only has this band grown in membership, but it has also increased student participation during mass. Now, Praise Band
is one of the things I look forward to most at sign up for Praise Band. It’s not only a chance to meet other girls with your same interests, mass. Every time senior Mackenzie Jones sings but it is a chance to get students really excited her heart out or beautifully plays the violin during one of the songs, I can’t help but smile. for mass, which is not always easy. And students like me, who cannot join: And, there is always someone who says, “Wow, sing at mass—do the she’s really good.” hand signs for “Yes All I have to say is, Lord” and encourage way to go girls. I am guessing it’s not easy others to follow I am so proud to watch those girls, your example—it singing in front of the especially the ones who have stuck makes everything entire school, not to much more fun and mention trying to get with it for the past year, and I can’t interactive at mass. them to sing along. wait to see what they come up with You have guts, let Finally, show those next. Praise Band girls alone a lot of talent. your appreciation. And let’s not Celia O’Flaherty I know I’m not the forget McIntire. You senior only student who wouldn’t believe how much time and effort was surprised by the amazing talent I saw at our first mass. I am so she and the girls put into this. I remember proud to watch those girls, especially the ones coming to school in the summer, a few weeks who have stuck with it for the past year, and I before the start of the year, and hearing them can’t wait to see what they come up with next. practice for the prayer service that was on the first day of school. Every week when I look at Praise Bands rocks, it is as simple as that. H the “Lunch/Activity Schedule” on Moodle, I see a Praise Band practice. All in all, if I had the talent, I would be The Final Say running over to the music room to sign myself STA girls should participate more up right now. But unfortunately, I have no in both praise band and mass. musical talent whatsoever. So I encourage you, aspiring musicians, to
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Please, mom, do not make me drive again
Tumblr inspires new addiction
What is your favorite social media site?
by CHRISTINA BARTON cbarton@dartnewsonline.com I am in love with Tumblr. What started as a simple Google search led to my new obsession. Labor Day weekend I was searching an actress from a television show when her Tumblr page came up as one of the many results. Curious, I clicked on it and began exploring. Her Tumblr page was filled with lots of random things, but all stuff that said a lot about her personality and character. That is what Tumblr is all about. Tumblr is essentially a social media site, but it promotes more freedom and creativity than Facebook or Twitter. You create a page and you can easily post anything you’d like on it. Tumblr is about showing others what interests you and also exploring what other people are interested in, whether that is art, film, photography, music, poetry, etc. After discovering Tumblr, I quickly made my own page and joined the Tumblr world. I picked a clever name for my page, rubdabuddha (my page picture explains this name) then chose a theme and began posting. After a few weeks, I have discovered many great things about Tumblr. Here are a few: 1. You can find a page about anything from architecture to photography to random people like me who just like to post random things. One of my favorite pages is architecture, a page that showcases amazing architecture from around the world. Another cool page I discovered is Black and White, which has incredible black and white photos. And of course I like the page that
The Dart surveyed 410 student and asked what their favorite social media site is. Here are the results: Facebook: 218 Tumblr: 91 Twitter: 74 Other: 27 compiled by Lucia Maschler & Sara-Jessica Dilks
got me started on Tumblr, honeyyyimhome. 2. You can post as many inspirational quotes as you want without getting on everyone’s nerves. I have posted six in a matter of a week, from Gandhi to John Lennon to Kurt Cobain. 3. Like Twitter, you can follow certain pages and like the newsfeed on Facebook, their posts will show up on one page called the “dashboard.” 4. It is never ending entertainment. You click on one page and soon you have seen 20 different pages. 5. It’s inspiring. Whether it is a picture, a quote, a video or a selection of music, everything makes you think. 6. You only have to look at things you like because you choose who to follow. And you can easily unfollow someone if their posts become annoying. 7. When you get bored with your page theme
or decide you want to change your page name (I’ve done it three time in less than a week), you can do so without creating a new page. While Tumblr might just be the next social media “craze,” its concept as a artsy blog site will make it last Whether you love photography, architecture, music or random quotes, Tumblr is great place to express your interests and share them with others. Check it out, and you may have a new favorite social media site. H
The Final Say Students should consider Tumblr as a new way to use social media.
going, going,
8 | centerspread | dartnewsonline.com | the dart | October 13, 2011
65,965 sheets of paper printed by STA students at the Donnelly Hall and M&A Building printers between Dec. 16, 2010 and Feb. 17, 2011
STA community weighs in on successes, failures of recent efforts to be environmentally friendly by KATE ROHR krohr@dartnewsonline.com Preserving and protecting the environment has been one of the biggest issues on international, local, political and personal levels in the last ten years. But does STA reflect that growing concern? In other words, just how ‘green’ is STA? According to STA president Nan Bone, protecting the environment is a key part of the Sisters of St. Joseph’s mission. “[The Sisters of St. Joseph] were some of the first environmentalists of Kansas City,” Bone said. “If we talk about their four carisms, what their belief statement is, they are that we should be in right relationships with each other, right
relationships with the dear neighbor, right relationship with God and we should be in right relationship with the environment.” Bone acknowledges that STA should strive to follow the sisters’ belief and mission, but that it is a process to reach environmental goals. “If we have an awareness of what we’re doing, that’s the first step,” Bone said. “Awareness of knowledge of that is part of our mission and vision. And then the second step is doing it.” Bone uses the geothermal wells constructed for the Windmoor Center and Chapel of St. Joseph as an example of how STA is environmentally friendly. According to Bone, instead of installing air
conditioning units like in most buildings in Kansas City, they chose the geothermal wells because they “wanted to stay true to the vision and mission of the sisters by right relationships with the environment.” While the geothermal wells initially cost more than typical air conditioning, in ten years they will pay back almost 50 percent because of the money saved on utilities in the Windmoor Center, according to Bone. The administration is not the only advocate of environmental awareness at STA, however. One of Students Assembled for Global Awareness’s main goals this school year will be to raise awareness for environmental issues, according to senior Kelsey Ceriotti, a SAGA member. “The main plan is to get more people aware about recycling and make more recycling opportunities in the school,” Ceriotti said. SAGA members placed posters with facts about environmental issues and recycling in halls and bathrooms throughout the school. SAGA and the Science Club also place containers specifically meant for plastic water bottles on every floor of the buildings. “I think St. Teresa’s is very green considering we have recycling bins in each of the classrooms as well as in the hallways,” Ceriotti said. “Each time [students] walk in the hallways, if they want to recycle, there’s an opportunity for them to do that.” Science Club moderator Terry Conner believes there are other steps students can take when recycling at STA that would make it more effective. “When I have lunch duty, I see people throwing away their lunch trash, regardless of what they’ve got,” Conner said. “They put everything in the trash can, and it could be separated. It takes time and awareness and conscious thought about it.” According to Conner, other area schools “have very minimal trash,” and believes that STA could do better. “We should have minimal trash and maximum recycling,” Conner said. “We only have one planet and we have to take good care of it.” Another arguable
environmentally friendly addition is the netbooks, according to technology department head Renee Blake. “[They have] conserved paper, because students and a lot more teachers are submitting assignments online,” Blake said. “We’re always going to have printing, but it’s not as much as before.” Blake believes the limit on the number of pages students can print has helped reduced the number of pages printed at STA. “I think students are more conscious of what they’re sending to the printer, they’re not just hitting the print pages,” Blake said. “Especially on websites, I think they’re getting more selective on what they need to print.” Between Dec. 16, 2010 and Feb. 17, 2011, students printed 35,799 pieces of paper in Donnelly Hall and 30,166 pieces of paper in M&A Building, totaling 65,965 pieces of paper between the two printers. Within that same time peirod, six students used all 500 sheets of available prints per bu. Ceriotti and Bone both believe that recycling is an important way for STA students, faculty and staff to protect the environment. “I think that recycling at St. Teresa’s is really important because we need to do it at our school, but we also need to do it at our homes,” Ceriotti said. “If people incorporate it more at school they’ll incorporate it more in their home life. It would make a bigger green area.” Bone already sees affects of STA’s recycling outside of the school environment. “In the last year, we have added recycling containers, next and close to our trash containers over on Westover,” Bone said. “It’s amazing to see how many community members use our recycling. They recycle newspapers, paper and cardboard. My daughter lives in Prairie Village and she comes here and recycles.” Bone also acknowledges that there are changes that could be made around campus to improve, including opportunities to recycle glass and evaluating the number of sheets of paper students should be able to print at school. “I think we can all be better at recycling,” Bone said. “We could make a list of things we could be better at. I hope what we’ve done a good job about is helping our students understand that and if they go out into the world they continue that sense of responsibility toward the environment.” H
GREEN?
October 13, 2011 | the dart | dartnewsonline.com | centerspread9 |9
it’s not easy being green H From left, sophomores Beth Dudley, Meghan DeRuyter and Francesca Shilati recycle various paper products for Science Club Oct. 7. photo by SARAH GODFREY
GAUGING OUR GARBAGE Each object represents five percent of the 120 students the Dart chose to randomly poll about their recycling
BETWEEN DEC. 16, 2010 AND FEB. 17, 2011: • Students printed 35,799 pieces of paper in Donnelly Hall, which is only 13 percent of the maximum amount of printed pages. • Students printed 30,166 pieces of paper in M&A Building, which is only 11 percent of the maximum amount of printed pages • 37 students printed no pages in Donnelly and 34 students printed no pages in M&A. source: Mr. Jeff Zimmerman technology team member
77.5 percent of students use
55.9 percent of students bring
77.5 percent of students re-
disposable water bottles.
their lunch in a plastic or paper bag.
cycle old tests and papers.
22.5 percent of students use
44.1 percent of students bring
disposable water bottles.
their lunch in a lunchbox.
17.6 percent of students throw old tests and papers in the trash. reduce, reuse, recycle H Senior Taylor Migliazzo poses with a poster promoting recycling made by SAGA. photo by SARAH GODFREY
10 | sports | dartnewsonline.com | the dart | October 13, 2011
Track boasts new technology, improved safety
getting the job done H Constuction workers continue to put down turf on the new athletic fields and track. According to STA president Nan Bone, the track, whch is environmentally friendly, will be fully completed by this weekend. photo by SHAEFFER SMITH
The new track, to be completed this weekend, will provide new opprotunites for student athletes by EMILY WEMHOFF ewemhoff@dartnewsonline.com The renovated athletic facilities at STA are scheduled to be completed by Saturday. STA updated the soccer, softball and lacrosse fields and built an eight lane track and javelin pit, starting construction early this summer. According to president Nan Bone and athletic director Mark Hough, the administration felt the track and field is necessary to prevent athletes’ injuries, to be able to host home games on a regulation field and to provide practice facilities comparable with opposing schools’. “We want our women to have the best whole education at St. Teresa’s, not just academics, but also athletics,” Bone said. “We feel the track just completes our beautiful campus. Our athletes will finally be here practicing in our own backyard.” A regulation-size track and field was also a need among many schools close to STA, including UMKC, according to Bone. Bone came to the conclusion that in urban Kansas City, where there is not a lot of space, the two schools could make a smaller footprint and be more environmentally friendly by building only one track. UMKC will rent the facility for practices beginning in the fall of 2011 only during school hours so as not to disturb STA athletes.
Bone, Hough and the STA development department decided to use gold and black Mondotrack, the same running surface used in the last nine Olympics, for the track. According to Mondoworldwide.com, the surface, known for its safety and comfort, has greater shock absorption and a higher energy return. The field features the STA seal in the center, which was put in this month after the whole artificial turf was laid out. The turf on the field has the same characteristics as natural grass, but it will also has the capability to drain when it rains. Netting was put in behind the soccer field on the east and west sides to allow for multiple athletes to be working at once and to block soccer and lacrosse balls from hitting track and field athletes and cars. “This [track] will be one of the best in the city,” Bone said. “We wanted to make sure the opportunity for many of our girls to be practicing at once was available. Someone could be practicing their golf swings in the middle, while others could be running around the track working on their times.” As well as a new field, new batting cages are being built close to the tennis courts. “This will allow multiple batters to hit rather than having to go one at a time in the equipment room,” senior varsity softball player Amanda Florido said. In previous years, the softball team has had to cancel many home games as a result of problems with rain drainage on the field, according to Florido. With the new Mondo sport turf, the field will be rain friendly, and athletes will be able to use it more often. According to Hough, some aspects of the softball field, including a collapsible
POWER
PLAYER
Every issue, the Dart highlights an exceptional athletic achievement accomplished by an STA student by LANE MAGUIRE
outfield fence, can be removed for the soccer and lacrosse seasons. Many STA athletes feel that with the addition of the new track and field, their teams will be able to improve athletically and focus more on their studies. “I think [the track team’s] grades will improve because we won’t waste study time in car rides to practice,” sophomore Clare Mitchell said. “More girls will definitely show up to practice because the new track has easier access.”
Track Trivia:
Here are five things that you may not know about the new track and athletic complex compiled by EMILY WEMHOFF • The track is environmentally friendly and recyclable after its useful life. • In the 2008 Beijing Olympics, five world records were set on a Mondotrack. • The fields have the ability to drain after it rains. • The same bleachers will be used for seating but they will be moved around to fit the space. • The field closest to the chapel will include a javelin pit, used by the UMKC track and field team. source: Mark Hough athletic director
Anna Woolery junior
What: Softball team triple-play against Grain Valley High School When: Sept. 26 at 6:30 pm How: It was early in the game. Grain Valley, now up to bat, had already scored about three runs. They had a runner on both first and second base. The player up to bat hit a hard line-drive to sophomore Grace Bullington on second base. One out. Bullington threw the ball to
keeping track H The new track will be rented out by UMKC students. photo by CELIA O’FLAHERTY Florido agrees that with the new field and batting cages, the softball team will be able to compete at a higher level. At least half of the funds for the track still need to be raised, according to Bone. The track will be paid for through rental opportunities, donations, various fundraisers and corporate sponsorships. According to Bone, one fundraiser available to alumnae or current students in STA sports is the purchasing of a gold star that includes an athlete’s name and graduation year. These will eventually be put on each of the fence posts surrounding the track. Even with a mid-October end date, there will still be more to do after this time, according to Bone. “The city requires us to have a sidewalk around the track, more landscaping will need to be done and the black fence surrounding the whole thing still has to be built,” Bone said. When the track is completed, Bone and Hough plan on having a ribbon-cutting ceremony to commemorate the new track and field. The date for the ceremony is still tentative though, because they do not know if they should wait until the spring when the athletes actually take the new field for the first time. The track should be ready for use around late October. “We are excited to bring so many of our teams back to campus to practice and play in a firstclass facility that they will be proud of,” Hough said. “The new facility will be one of a kind, built specifically for the needs of St. Teresa’s Academy.” H senior Abby Suholoski on first base. Second out. Suholoski then threw the ball to Woolery, covering second base to get the batter out.
“It was pretty awesome, and we just felt all of this air deflate out of the other team,” Woolery said. “It was hysterical,” senior Abby Suholaski said. “We would not have gotten out of that inning without [the Grain Valley batter]. It’s true. She was our savior. We were getting creamed.” “It was a good way to start off the game,” senior Amanda Florido said.
October 13, 2011 | the dart | dartnewsonline.com | health | 11
Students shouldn’t drink Teresian night Dart staffer Emily McCann discusses binge drinking that commonly occurs after dances
by EMILY McCANN emccann@dartnewsonline.com
HEALTHY
HABITS Each issue, the Dart provides suggestions for changes in daily habits to increase the well-being of the mind, body and soul. by MICKEY REDLINGSHAFER
Four weeks ago, I set out to write a story about the Teresian Dance and why STA students shouldn’t drink afterwards. For most girls, I believe the most stressful decision about Teresian after-parties is this: to drink or not to drink? Throughout my writing process of interviewing and researching I slowly began to realize that I could not make your decision for you. It is a question you will have to answer on your own this weekend when you walk down into a friend’s basement and find a few cases of beer staring back at you. The annual Teresian Dance will
MIND Health teacher Stacie O’Rear stresses to her freshmen in health class the dangerous effects underage drinking can have on a teen’s brain. She turns to a quote from the president of the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse Joseph Califano Jr. to explain the effects alcohol has on teenagers. “Alcohol damages the young brain, interferes with mental and social development and interrupts academic progress,” Califano said. “Alcohol is the fatal attraction for many teens, a major factor in the three leading causes of teen death—accidents, homicide and suicide.”
take place this Saturday night in the Goppert Center as a fundraiser for the Teresian yearbook. Students anticipate all the aspects of the dance from pictures, to dinner, to after-parties. However, many of the sophomores, juniors and seniors at the dance will choose to leave as soon as the doors open at 10:30 p.m. to go to after-parties, where according to a random survey of more than 100 STA students, one in three said that they plan to drink alcohol. This drinking occurs largely because Teresian is a night where students gather in large numbers at parties, many unattended by adults. Some students will binge drink, defined by the United States Department of Health and Human Services as consuming five or more drinks on the same occasion. My goal here is simply to guide you through the many reasons STA girls and other teens drink on the nights of dances. It’s hard to be one of the few who choose not to drink. Maybe reading these words will make it easier to say, “No, thanks.” During my research I talked with one anonymous STA student who described her reaction when her friends began drinking at a Teresian after-party. “I always knew people drank, but it was last year [after Teresian] when my group of friends started drinking,” the student said. “I was totally oblivious to it until the Teresian after party. I knew people drank at these things and I had always told myself that it was no big deal, but when I saw my friends doing it, I changed my perspective.” I struggled to find willing sources for this story because almost every person I approached declined to comment, even anonymously. Nobody wants to tarnish their reputation with a confession that she or her friends drank underage. According to STA counselor Amanda Johnson, students drink after dances to relax and have fun. “I think kids drink because they can,” Johnson said. “It’s a release, and we tell them they can’t. It makes them feel older. It’s unfortunate that there are so many pressures for kids and I think this is a way of letting loose and an unhealthy outlet.” STA alumna Lane Livers added that alcohol creates a laid-back environment. “I think that people feel safer at afterparties, so if they don’t normally drink, they may be more inclined to,” Livers said. “I feel like everyone was so laid back because we were all surrounded by close friends in a fun setting. Drinking was just a part of it.” A student’s insecurities could cause her to drink at after-parties as well. Maybe girls feel awkward around their dates. Maybe girls are
uncomfortable in the houses they are in. Maybe girls are worried that they can’t hook up with their date sober. However, alcohol isn’t the solution to these insecurities. It is easy to convince yourself and your group that it cannot be a “successful” dance night without alcohol. But drinking that night will not make you feel more self-assured, more comfortable or more proud the next morning when the effects of the drink have worn off. So before you pick up the red cup Saturday night, think of yourself, your accomplishments, how hard you work. Do what you know is best for your mind, body and soul. From one student to another, please do not drink after Teresian. H
BODY
SOUL
Before you decide to consume alcohol, you should consider the effects it has on your body. According to WebMD, teens who abuse alcohol deal with long term effects to their bodies. Some effects include loss of memory, bone strength, muscle development and general growth. STA varsity tennis coach Lana Krause agrees, but also believes there are other risks. “ I think the first thing that comes to mind with how teenage drinking affects one’s body is the risk of alcohol poisoning,” Krause said. “Underage drinkers don’t have the experience to know how much to drink and can drink too much, too fast. This is a life-threatening condition that may go unrecognized until it is too late.“
Sobriety at Teresian
Scientists share reasons about why teenagers should avoid alcohol, specifically after dances compiled by ANNA LEACH • Don’t drink if you want to remember Teresian: The hippocampus is the part of the brain that stores memory. But because it is still developing in teens, even small amounts of alcohol can erase their best memories of the night. • Drinking changes your judgment: Even your best intentions can go awry when alcohol is involved. Alcohol makes you less inhibited, which can lead to risky behaviors like unprotected sex or drunk driving. Teens are especially vulnerable to alcohol’s effects because their prefontal cortex, which controls decision making, is not mature until the late 20s. • Alcohol increases risk for fights: Studies show teens who drink are more prone to violence. A London study found that nearly one in four young teens who drink say they damaged or destroyed things while drinking. Another report found that seventh graders who drank were twice as violent as their nondrinking peers, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. • Drinking makes you vomit: Alcohol irritates the stomach and increases risk for throwing up on your fancy dress or suit. • Hangovers force you to cancel plans: Too much drinking at Teresian might make you so hungover that you miss other fun events. source: American Association for the Advancement of Science survey done for the Science Inside Alcohol Project
According to WebMD.com, if people begin to drink as teenagers, it can often lead to depression. Binge drinking as a teen can also cause a dependency on alcohol in adulthood. Counselor Ms. Amanda Johnson advises participating in other activities. She believes this helps teens to avoid alcohol, and that is has a positive effect on their mood. “Keep yourself busy whether it’s with family, friends, school or youth group,” Johnson said. “Doing these activities gives you energy, releasing endorphins which will make you happy.”
12 | A&E | dartnewsonline.com | the dart | October 13, 2011
VERY
‘HARRY’
CAST
LIST
Teachers channel inner wizards in annual auction pep rally, posing as character from Harry Potter
compiled by EMILY BRESETTE
Mr. Richard Shrock: Harry Potter Mr. Michael Sanem: Draco Malfoy Ms. Katie Dolan: Lord Voldemort Mr. Craig Whitney: Ron Weasley Ms. Lisa Dibble: Hermione Granger Ms. Michelle McIntire: Professor Snape Ms. Theresa Wallerstedt: Professor McGonagall Ms. Denise Ruschhoff: Professor Quirrell Mr. Pat Sirridge: Albus Dumbeldore Ms. Melissa Axton: Ms. Mary Anne Hoecker Mr. Jack Garvin: Gregory Goyle Ms. Kim Sirridge: Maddy Ismert Ms. Carrie Jacquin: Brie Sandridge Mr. Rafael Ramirez: Dragon Ms. Nan Bone: Ms. Nan Bone
by EMILY BRESETTE ebresette@dartnewsonline.com Standing on the auditorium stage, a group of faculty members rehearses a final time for their performance. Music teacher Michelle McIntire tries hard not to laugh after art teacher Theresa Wallerstedt says her opening lines. McIntire is trying so hard not to laugh that she cannot say her lines. Wallerstedt says McIntire’s lines in an attempt to cover for her. This is the final rehearsal of the annual auction pep rally. Two weeks of rehearsals will come to an end in just 3 hours, when the entire school will finally get to witness their performance. The teachers try to nail their parts and stop only to fix technical problems that range from lighting and microphone issues to forgetting lines and dance moves. The auction pep rally took place last Thursday afternoon. According to Wallerstedt, the faculty has wanted to perform this year’s theme of “Harry Potter”, based off of “A Very Potter Musical”, for years. “We’ve wanted to do [‘Harry]Potter’ for a long time, and now that the movie’s wrapped, it seemed like a good time,” Wallerstedt said. ”Plus the theme of the auction is magic, so it was perfect.” Drama teacher Shana Prentiss, writer and director of this year’s pep rally, said that she and Wallerstedt have come up with the pep rally themes for the last several years. “We talked about ‘Harry Potter’ and I said, ‘Well that’s going to be too obvious of a choice,’” Prentiss said. “That’s when I said, ‘What if we do the musical?’ No one is going to be expecting that.” Prentiss started the script-writing process by taking one day to watch the entire “A Very Potter Musical” series online. “From there, I just picked out songs that I thought would flow with [the plot] and worked with it,” Prentiss said. “And then it took me maybe a couple hours to write [the script].” According to McIntire, one of her favorite parts of the auction pep rally is reading over the script. “It’s always a miracle to me how well Prentiss and Wallerstedt do putting the [pep rally script] together,” McIntire said. “It’s always a lot of fun getting the script and reading it the first time. I love that part.” After writing the script, Prentiss casts the teachers for the pep rally. “We have a group of people who want to do [the pep rally] every year,” Prentiss said. “So casting is usually pretty easy. It’s just sort of thinking about who fits these parts perfectly.” Prentiss said that although there is a group of people who always want to perform in the pep rally, everyone is welcome to participate. “We also get a lot of new people,” Prentiss said. “That’s always a lot of fun. Like Mr. Sanem; I’m so excited for [his part], and Ms. Sirridge is awesome. I look at these people and go, ‘Oh I’m giving you more next year.’ They’re just really good.”
ARTIST OF THE
ISSUE
Every issue, the Dart interviews one of STA’s rising artists about her talents and inspirations complied by CHELSEA BIRCHMIER
muggles H Social studies teacher Richard Shrock acts as Harry Potter from “A Very Potter Musical” during the auction pep rally Oct. 6. Every year the teachers write, direct and act out a skit. photo by CELIA O’FLAHERTY According to Wallerstedt, rehearsals for the pep rally were laid back and enjoyable. Cast members could often be found laughing at each other and themselves during rehearsals. For instance, during one practice, when Sanem said his line, “Stupid muggles, I didn’t sell a single ticket,” Prentiss burst out laughing and said, “That’s my favorite line in the whole thing.” The entire room followed suit and had to take a minute to compose themselves. Prentiss said that although some faculty members missed rehearsal because of tutoring or being sick, this was not a problem when it comes to the overall quality of the pep rally. “That’s normal,” Prentiss said. “We’re kind of used to [teachers missing rehearsals], and not having everyone there. But we give ourselves two weeks [to rehearse]. It never seems like it’s going to be enough time, but we somehow always manage to pull it together.” Although McIntire said her one of her favorite parts of the pep rally is reading over the script, she also enjoys spending time with teachers she does not see as often. “I really enjoy the commraderie of it all,” McIntire said. “We don’t have to be in charge all the time. This is the time when those of us who are goofy can be goofy. ” Prentiss agrees with McIntire and says she loves helping with the skit. “I love being a part of [the auction pep rally],” Prentiss said. “It’s hilarious to watch the faculty try and figure all this out. There are certain people that love doing [the skit] every year, but they’re not really actors. But they always manage to pull it off and it’s always so much fun.” H
diva H Social studies teacher Denise Rueschhoff takes a break from rehearsing for the auction pep rally in drama teacher Shana Prentiss’ room Sept. 27. photo by NATALIE FITTS
BAILEY WHITEHEAD sophomore
What type of art are you most interested in? Drawing, graphic design and photography. What art classes have you taken? I’m in advanced drawing right now. I’m also doing an Explorer’s photography class through Hallmark, and I’m going to take digital photography at St. Teresa’s. Do you have any artistic inspirations?
Whitehead
belly laugh H Social studies teacher Pat Sirridge laughs after messing up his line during rehearsal for the auction pep rally Sept. 26. photo by NATALIE FITTS
My parents are both artists, so I’ve been growing up with it. My dad works at Hallmark. He’s a card animator and he also does children’s books. And my mom is a children’s book author and illustrator.
Do you have a favorite artist from STA?
What is you favorite thing to draw?
I want to. I hope to be good enough so I can make a name for myself, but if not, we’ll see. Right now, I’m [interested in] photography. [What I’m interested in] tends to change based on what I know and what I’m learning at the time.
People. I doodle during class a lot and outside school I mainly sketch.
Michaela Knittel just graduated, but I really like her stuff. What kind of environment do you like to draw in? Definitely with music and alone usually. Do you think art will play a role in your future?
October 13, 2011 | the dart | dartnewsonline.com | A&E | 13
THIS, NOT
THAT
Can’t decide where to shop? Stuck on where to snack? Let the Dart help you out with this, not that by EMILY McCANN
Ingredient not the Mixx The Mixx is a restaurant with two locations, one on the Country Club Plaza and one downtown. The Mixx offers salads, soups and a pasta of the day. Ingredient is also located downtown and on the Plaza with another location at 119th street. The prices at Ingredient are much cheaper than the Mixx and their menu offers more variety, from wraps to an entire breakfast menu.
Yogurtini not Peachwave Yogurtini and Peachwave are both self-serve frozen yogurt chains. The general concept is that you serve yourself and pick your own toppings and then are charged per ounce. Yogurtini is located closer to St. Teresa’s, at the Kansas City Public Library, and Peachwave at 95th Street and Mission Road. Yogurtini also gives suggestions for their favorite flavor-topping combination and offers more promotions.
by HANNAH WOLF hwolf@dartnewsonline.com
Kansas City offers several renowned haunted houses for the public. The West Bottoms is home to four major haunted houses: The Edge of Hell, The Beast, The Chambers of Edgar Allen Poe and Macabre Cinema. Worlds of Fun also adds nine haunted houses to its park from September 17 to October 30. STA haunted house veterans senior Rosemary McGraw and junior Ali Lukens weigh in on these local attractions, sharing the scares and thrills of this Halloween tradition.
Worlds of Fun What:10 separate haunted houses Features: Asylum Island, Bloodshed, Carnevil, Club Blood, Corn Stalkers, Fright Zone, London Terror, Lore of the Vampire, McGraw Master McCarthy’s Doll Factory, Outlaws Revenge Tickets: $44.99 regular; $32.99 Friday night “I was a screamster in a haunted house at Worlds of Fun. Sometimes I would have objects like a metal rod or bag of blood and I would dangle it and hit a wall, or just scream at people. I would creep up out of the shadows.” –Rosemary McGraw
The Beast Height: 4 stories Length: 4 miles Duration: 60 - 90 minutes Features: 4 story slide; ¼ acre Werewolf forest Tickets: $23 during the week; $27 on weekend Lukens “The Beast was definitely the scariest to me. The scariest part is the forest, which takes forever to get out of because it’s so dark and there are like a million dead ends. They actually have live snakes and alligators, but thankfully they are in cages.” –Ali Lukens
The Edge of Hell
Chambers of Edgar Allen Poe
Height: 5 stories Length: ¼ mile Duration: 30 - 45 minutes Features: 5 story spiral slide Tickets: $23 during the week; $27 on weekend “The scariest part of the Edge of Hell was definitely the noises and sound effects. A lot of [the Edge of Hell] wasn’t even real people, it was just electronic and really loud. There were also a lot of small crawl spaces that you had to go through and that was scary.” –Ali Lukens
Height: 3 stories Duration: 30 minutes Tickets: $20 “[Chambers of Edgar Allen Poe] isn’t as scary as the other ones because it is basically just like [Poe’s] poems. There were a lot of small spaces and things you had to crawl through that made you feel really claustrophobic. One of the scariest rooms in the chambers was this maze of mirrors that literally took 30 minutes to get out of.” –Ali Lukens
Five Guys not Winsteads Winsteads is a Kansas City landmark famous for their steakburgers and milkshake skyscrapers. Five Guys Burgers and Fries is a chain, with a new franchise located at Ward Parkway Mall. Five Guys doesn’t offer sit-down service but is an alternative to typical fast food, such as Winsteads. They are known for the variety of toppings on their burgers and their different style fries.
Starbucks not Dunkin’ Donuts Between Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts there are more than 13,000 locations worldwide. Dunkin’ Donuts was founded 31 years earlier than Starbucks and locations are starting to pop up in west suburbs of Kansas City. However, Starbucks can be found in every zip code and are focusing on their store experience and customer service. They also have a wider variety of coffee drinks and seasonal beverages.
Pizza 51 not Waldo Pizza Both located within 5 minutes of STA, these restaurants are often go-to places for STA advisories and families. Although Waldo Pizza is a loyal vendor of our school, Pizza 51 offers both full pizzas and large, individual slices. This is more friendly for indecisive families or parties of one that don’t want to pay for a full pizza. In addition, Pizza 51 offers outdoor seating that creates a more laid back environment for pizza eating.
Bo Lings not Panda Express While Panda Express is a national fast food chain, Bo Lings is a Kansas City original sit-down restaurant. Bo Lings offers a broader menu, great service and quality food. Bo Lings is also closer to STA, and their lunch menu works well with planning advisory parties.
14 | lifestyles | dartnewsonline.com | the dart | October 13, 2011
Teresian
how to Student offers advice on upcoming dance about everything from makeup tips to picking up a date by CAITLIN FLETCHER cfletcher@dartnewsonline.com As the Teresian dance approaches, some STA sophomores, juniors and seniors begin to imagine those awkward, embarrassing and unavoidable moments they might encounter. According to junior Grace McCarthy, hair styles, makeup, carpooling confusion and boutonniere botches are all on the minds of most students. To avoid all of these, experienced dance go-ers have helped create a how-to list for the upcoming dance.
How-to hair
STA junior Jackie McGee has heard stories McCarthy about girls going to dances and not liking their hair-do or having their hair fall out of its up-do at the dance. In order to avoid these mishaps, McGee follows a few rules when doing her hair. She believes it is important to keep it simple: she either curls or straightens it, and also uses hairspray and bobby pins. “I wouldn’t do my own up-dos because I don’t trust myself,” McGee said. “I’m not very good with hair.” According to McGee, if an up-do is what a girl wants, then she may want to look into getting it done. “I got mine done last year and I was really happy with it,” McGee said. One last tip: if your hair falls out of your up-do during the dance, do not sweat it. According to McGee, going into the bathroom and putting your hair in a pony tail is a quick fix.
WORDS
Modeled after Brady Dennis’ original 300 words, this series captures people and moments in 300 words: no more, no less by KATIE HYDE
to see it. McCarthy also suggests if you do not usually wear dark make-up, do not try to change it up. Stay natural, do what you know works well for you, and above all else use something you know will not smear on your face during the dance.
How-to pick up a date
Whether girls get their make up done by a professional, an older sister or do it themselves, they should be cautious when they choose colors. McGee says that dark is fine, just as long as it is not too heavy, otherwise you may run into problems like girls she’s seen in past years. “If you do your make-up too heavy you’ll be sweaty during the dance and your make up will smear,” McGee said. One tip from McCarthy on how to avoid this: use light colors with your make-up. She says that if it smears during the dance, no one will be able
Picking up your date can be the scariest part of the evening, according to McGee. McGee knows what this is like first-hand. When her date last year, Rockhurst High School junior Whit Collins, came to pick her up, her older brother, Mr. Patrick McGee, attempted to scare Collins. “Make sure your brother isn’t around when you get picked up or when you go pick up your date,” McGee said. McGee also suggests that when you pick up your date you bring a friend because it gets rid of the tension and awkwardness of having to be alone with a date. According to McGee, the parents are not there to scare you, but to help make your experience comfortable. According to Jackie’s mother Jill
Somewhere above the Atlantic ocean, aboard a plane amidst a 16-hour flight, seated between her brother and her mom while attempting to sleep, sophomore Annie Keel noticed tears streaming down her cheeks. And her mom’s cheeks. And her brothers’ cheeks. “Why is it me who has to move across the world?” she thought, as her family members uprooted their lives in Kansas City in the middle of Annie’s eighth grade year and traveled the 7,795 miles from their home to what would be their new home for 18 months in Auckland, New Zealand. She thought it would be awful. People told her it would be one of the best experiences of her life, but she didn’t buy it.
Then she exited the plane. She entered her house, five minutes from the beach. She soaked in the beauty, “straight out of ‘Lord of the Rings.’” She ate lunch on the beach nearly every day of summer. She saw sheep “everywhere.” She was swarmed by friends who begged to hear her speak because they loved her accent. She ate meat pies—which are “delicious even though they sound disgusting.” She made friends from all over the world, with whom she still chats daily on Facebook. She picked up phrases like “Oi” and “Let’s go hit up the beach, mate. We’ll have a mean as surf.”
How-to makeup
300
easy, breezy, beautiful H Junior Phyleia Battle gets ready before Bishop Miege High School homecoming Saturday Oct 8. Battle attended the dance with Miege junior Aaron Branch. photo by SCHAEFFER SMITH
McGee, she tried to make her daughter’s date feel as comfortable as possible despite her son’s behavior. When picking up your date remember: McGee bring a friend to help reduce awkwardness, make sure siblings are not around if they plan on embarrassing you in front of your date, and remember parents are not the enemy, they are trying to help.
How-to pin a boutonniere
Last year when McGee was attempting to pin her dates boutonniere she was so nervous she would prick him with the needle she could not put the flower on his jacket herself. McGee, however, believes that this is nothing to be embarrassed about. According to McGee, it’s always easier to ask a mom to do it for you because there is less risk of pinning your date. “She knows what she’s doing and you don’t,” McGee said. H She never wanted to leave. Twelve months later, somewhere above the Atlantic ocean, seated on a plane amidst a 16-hour flight, seated between her brother and her mom while Keel attempting to sleep, Annie noticed the tears streaming down her face. She thought of the friends she was leaving. She thought of the life she was leaving. She thought of the home she was leaving. “Those were the best 18 months of my life,” she thought. H
October 13, 2011 | the dart | dartnewsonline.com | in the mix | 15
CAPTION THIS
THE FIRST
TIME I...
Post a caption for this photo to dartnewsonline.com for your chance to win a Dart t-shirt, and vote for your favorites.
by HANNAH WOLF hwolf@dartnewsonline.com
Scan this QR code with a smartphone to enter a caption.
photo by CELIA O’FLAHERTY
DAYS OF OUR
LIVES
The Dart created a countdown to some of the most anticipated upcoming days of school compiled by SARA MEURER
Exactly 2 days until the Teresian dance.
A speedy 27 days until the fall musical. Only 72 days until the Christmas dance. Only 41 days until Thanksgiving vacation. About 149 days until Spring Break.
Approximately 15 days until the freshman mixer.
And only 227 days until summer.
MY LIFE
MY LIFE
ROCKS SUCKS My aunt is good friends with the people who opened for Taylor Swift, so we got a private concert from him. Then we were standing by this mini stage, and Taylor ended up beginning there so we got to be in the front row for a little. Fryer We met this woman and it ended up being Taylor’s mom. She took us up to the front and we watched the rest of the concert with her mom. Kim Fryer, sophomore compiled by MARY O’LEARY
I was babysitting someone for the first time last Saturday. The dad told me they lived in the yellow house on the corner off of 61st. When I saw the house, I called my dad to tell him I was here. He told me to just walk in. I rang the doorbell Meyers and a man answered holding back his dog; I walked right in and introduced myself. He asked if I needed some help, then my phone rang and the guy I’m really supposed to be babysitting for tells me that I am probably at the wrong house because there are two yellow houses on corners. Anna Meyers, senior
THAT’S WHAT SHE
SAID
The Dart prowled Facebook for the most catchy and intriguing statuses on the social network. STA, “What’s on your mind?” compiled by NATALIE FITTS
THE FIRST TIME I… realized my dog was a girl’s worst friend, he was chewing a whole in one of my pink knock-off-Ugg boots. It was mid-winter of fifth grade, and Scout was only a 6-month-old, 20-pound puppy. He didn’t stay like this for long. This golden retriever now weighs in over 100 pounds, and stands as tall as I do when he’s on two legs. My boot was only the beginning of our tragic relationship and his unhealthy diet. Scout quickly moved on to eating anything I left in the mud room. He swallows socks whole, punches holes in soccer balls, and especially loves chewing on winter garments such as scarves and mittens. I once chased him around the whole block just to get my lacrosse mouthguard back, but it was in two pieces and covered in slobber. We quickly installed an electric fence on the inside of the house to prevent the beast from going upstairs. But I don’t think he has ever felt the shock. He’s still managed to get into my bedroom several times, never leaving without taking something. He once chewed a hole through a padded bra and ripped a hole through a lace shirt with one swat of his giant paw. I actually let Scout sleep in my bed one night, only because it was storming. Stupid idea. He managed to pull the covers off me and eat a hole through my pillow. I’m not sure why, but he has eaten two of my toothbrushes. In the same week. Scout is also a big fan of the kitchen. One night I left a pan of banana muffins out to cool. I returned to see the pan on the ground, licked clean. He once jumped up to the 4-foot counter and ate every Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup in my Easter basket, foil and all. I know dogs aren’t supposed to eat chocolate, but I’m honestly not surprised he didn’t even get sick. Nothing gets to him. I know no teachers believe students who say “my dog ate my homework,” but when I bring in half a piece of paper with math problems covered in slobber, you better believe me. This dog destroys anything and everything. We don’t have any pillows in our TV room because he’s ripped them all to pieces (and ate the stuffing). I can without a doubt say that Scout is a bigger problem than the golden lab in “Marley & Me.” Congratulations, Scout. Golden Globe for a golden retriever. My dog is worse than any sibling. He isn’t an obnoxious brother who eats one of your brownies for your advisory party; he eats the whole pan. He isn’t a little toddler that gets into drawers in the kitchen; he literally eats the wooden drawer. However, my dog is also better than any sibling. I take him on six mile runs without a single complaint (that I can understand). There was one time, though, that I forgot to take his shock collar off. I heard that complaint for the first few blocks before I understood. We’ve grown to know each other’s habits pretty well. When I walk downstairs in the dark, I hear him jump up onto all fours so I don’t step on his tail (again). I can never complain about being home alone; this dog’s got my back. He has a history of attacking mail men and strangers, so I know he’d scare off any bad guys. And I know he’s a big guy, but he has an emotional side. He’s the only man I have cuddled up with and cried to “The Notebook.” Now I know we’ll never be able to go shopping together or bake together. Playing sports is next to impossible with him. We don’t like the same food and don’t watch the same TV shows (he prefers Animal Planet). We’ve never had a sleepover that didn’t involve a fight. This dog cannot be a girl’s best friend. But he comes pretty darn close sometimes. H
16 | last look | dartnewsonline.com | the dart | October 13, 2011
molding a
MASTERPIECE From drawing to ceramics to fibers, STA students express their creativity in various fine art classes. Ms. Lisa Dibble’s Ceramics I students recently created 10 inch vases that could hold water. The students had three to four weeks to complete the project.
1.
2. 1. a pinch of magic H Sophomore Kelly Fletcher perfects a piece of clay artwork in ceramics I class Sept. 28. The class is made up of sophomores, juniors and seniors. 2. work of art H Sophomore Emma Kelley crafts a clay vase during ceramics class. The students’ assignment was to create a clay structure at least 10 inches tall that is able to hold water. 3. creative critiques H Juniors Andie Drummond, left, and Christine Jenkin inspect a ceramic pot during ceramics class. The students worked on their vases for three to four weeks. 4. exact measurement H Junior Andie Drummond smooths out a slab of clay while working on a ceramics project. Drummond has to create a 10 inch vase featuring texture and design. photos by ROSIE HUTCHISON
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