November 2022

LeJOURNAL

what’s inside

Sophomores Ava Lynn, Maddie Patt and Lauren Haggerty put their hands together, preparing for their final match in the Storm Stomp tournament Oct. 28. “[Storm Stomp] was fun because I got to spend a lot of time with my friends and it was a good bonding experience. And I got to raise money for a really good cause,” Patt said.

PARSONS

editors’ ink student space

Hey everyone! We hope you all loved our first issue of the year, and we are so excited to bring you this second issue! This issue is a perfect match for the cool fall weather setting in, so grab your favorite blanket, curl up by the fireplace and get ready to read!

In this second issue, you’ll get up-to-date on the world of sports! Turn to pages 4-5 to get a recap on all fall sports, as well as a special feature on junior Hannah Lange ’s perfectlypitched softball game. Then, check out the Kansas City Current’s stadium groundbreaking, which made history for women’s sports around the world (pg. 6-7).

Read about some unique programming and service opportunities for students in the

Global Impacts Microschool (pg. 10-11). Then check out freshman Brook Stewart ’s annual service project, Brooklyn’s Backpack Drive, which collects money and school supplies for those in need (pg. 24-25).

Learn about Apple’s contributions to consumerism culture and marketing in America (pg.22), then get the scoop on the effects of caffeine on teenagers’ mental and physical health (pg. 23). Finally, catch up on fall fashion and vintage Halloween movies on pages 26-27. We have worked incredibly hard on our second issue of the year, and we’re so excited to share it with you all! We hope that you love this issue as much as we do. See you on the other side!

Cheers, Sophie & Zahra

charlotte zender

[My business] is called Baked By Charlotte. My first-ever paid baking job, I was in fifth grade. I had always done baking before that though, because it’s a family thing. My mom, dad and grandma had always done it so I was raised around it, and I enjoyed it so much that I wanted to do it for fun and make money off of it. [I love] the creativity you can have with it, and how it’s very calming. Sometimes I just put music on and I can just bake for hours. My favorite thing to make is probably cakes. They do take up the most time, but I think, since they’re long, it makes it more relaxing. Plus you can decorate them and get really creative. Tasting the things I make, especially if it’s something new, and getting good feedback on it is super rewarding. And if the presentation looks good, then that always makes me a lot happier.

Use your camera phone to visit lejournallive.com!

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fallin’ into sports

As fall sports come to an end, here are some of the highlights of the season.

BY GENESIS MARTINEZ PORRAS REPORTER

While working on improving times in order to beat larger teams, the cross country team spent the season running longer and more difficult routes.

volleyballcross country pitching prodigy

Junior Hannah Lange pitched Sion’s first ever no-hitter game Sept. 23 against Lincoln College Preparatory Academy.

Lange found out about the perfect pitching at the end of the game when her coach told her in the huddle.

“To be honest, I had no idea that I threw a no-hitter,” Lange said. “It’s kind of rare to be able to pitch one.”

Lange has played softball for 11 years, five of those years dedicated to pitching. She has been working with her dad, known as Coach Brett to the Sion softball team since the beginning of her softball career.

“I’ve been playing with our head coach, Coach Madi, for almost five years. I sort of brought her to Sion,” Lange said. “It’s nice having a softball comfort person. I remember things she says in my brain while I’m pitching.”

She has been learning from people she trusts and growing in her skills.

“We try to run twice a day and run seven to eight miles,” senior Megan Kelley said.

Despite more frequent and rigorous practices, it is more difficult to place in meets when up against larger teams, since the larger teams have more opportunities to earn points with more runners competing. There were seven varsity runners and two JV runners this year.

“Cross country is a pretty small team, so it can be a little bit hard when we’re in bigger meets,” sophomore Mary Schumm said.

Many runners focus on breaking their personal records, and have significantly improved their times from last year. Schumm ran 25 seconds faster in race than she did last year. In addition, Ava Wickenhauser, Faith Carlson, Zoey Chambers and Lauren Smith ran their fastest times this season.

Cross country finished 12 out of 36 at the Rim Rock meet, and got second place at the Ray-Pec Invitational

Volleyball’s season culminated with seven wins and 20 losses as they worked to develop their foundations.

“Every game that we do win it’s really good volleyball, and it’s really competitive, and everyone plays really well,” senior Kori Franklin said. “Everyone’s stepping up to take on new positions every single game.”

The underclassmen have worked to progress their skills, running drills repetitively and lifting weights.

“The underclassmen are playing really well. I can tell that they’re working really hard and trying to get better. You can see the improvement from the tryouts to now,” Franklin said. “There was a moment where the underclassmen were more scared, and now they’re playing and having fun and being very competitive.”

The seniors give positive feedback to the underclassmen, in order to increase their confidence and to encourage them to better their skill sets. The freshmen themselves noticed these changes, and have continued their effort, the underclassmen have also applied their skills to working as a new team.

“Since the beginning, we have definitely improved some, though there’s always room for improvement,” freshman Addison McNeive said.

in a league of her own

While holding up the trophy for a tournament June 24, 2018, now junior Hannah Lange stands on the field at 12 years old. “This was actually the first tournament we had ever won and we were so ecstatic,” Lange said.

Lange is a left-handed pitcher, so when she’s not on the mound she plays first base.

PHOTO SUBMISSION I HANNAH LANGE

finishing strong

Near the end of the season, seniors Lauren Smith and Megan Kelley take pictures at senior night with the underclassmen. “I thought I was going to be emotional because I tend to be very sentimental about this sort of tradition. I felt sad but also that it’s time to ‘pass on the torch’ to the juniors on the team.” Kelley said.

PHOTO SUBMISSION I LAUREN SMITH

serves up

While preparing to serve the ball, sophomore Francie Keithline completes her serving ritual. “It helps me calm my nerves and reset before I serve. I do have a routine: I hit the ball down once catch it spin it in my hand and hit it in my hand before I serve,” Keithline said.

PHOTO I LYDIA MEIER

golf field hockey tennis

Golf ended their season with a new personal best record set for the team. Sophomores Brookelyn McCown and Ava Hoehn also placed within the top 15 individual players at districts and advanced to the state tournament.

“It was a very special experience because it was our first time going to state,” McCown said. “We played in a huge tournament with really good competition against girls who are college commits.”

This year the team faced the challenge of having a reduced number of practices. Because they often have to miss school to compete in day-long tournaments, their coach chose to cancel several practices so the players would have time to make up their missed work.

“When we miss school we would have lots of homework to catch up on,” junior Trista Tidrow said. “So we would have to miss practices, which sucked because we obviously have to practice often to get better and win.”

The team has grown larger since last season, adding many new freshman golfers. This increase in size had given the team more opportunities for players to earn higher placements, contributing to higher team rankings overall.

“Last year we only had like six girls. This year we have 13 and a lot of freshmen came out,” Tidrow said. “Our scores this year have been better than they’ve been in a while.”

Field hockey finished with a record of two wins, five losses and one tie, while focusing on finding positive aspects wherever possible.

“The coaches make it fun to play,” junior Ellie Henson said. “They keep the players having fun and enjoying ourselves while on the field.”

Each coach brings a different aspect to the team dynamic.

“Hugh makes it funny while Gwyn brings us good strategy,” junior Jane Lehman said.

They also help the players maintain their skills, and keep them training focusing on what they must know to play a good competitive game against their opponent.

“Our coaches have some great drills in practice and help us work on the basics until we have them down,” cocaptain junior Grace Kiewiet said. “They keep a pretty orderly practice that keeps us working and helps us improve.”

The players stayed optimistic throughout the season and practiced hard for their games, hoping to improve their scores.

“I believe that our team will pull through for the next couple of games,” Henson said.

Tennis ended their season with a record of eight wins and seven losses, and several members placed highly at the district tournament. In the singles competition, freshman Anna McGeeney placed first and sophomore Kate Spenceri placed second.

Junior Lauren Murphy and sophomore Elizabeth Vance also placed first in the doubles division. As a whole, the team also placed third place at the state level.

“The best part of competing and winning in districts was the new possibilities, as last year we didn’t go past districts. It felt really good to win district doubles with Elizabeth because we have worked so hard for that,” Murphy said. “It is something you can never really expect because tennis is full of unpredictable ups and downs.”

Throughout the season, the team was able to strengthen their bonds with one another, creating an emotional endof-season experience.

“It was really sentimental because all the freshmen and the sophomores really looked up to the seniors,” junior Sarah Lillis said. “Everyone on the team is so sweet, and the team is just so close.”

swinging pretty

Freshmen Naya Narciso, Janice Palmer and junior Trista Tidrow strike a pose at a golf tournament Aug. 31. “It’s really nice when there’s a breeze outside because we’re all in a better mood and tend to play better. even when we play badly our moods are elevated because of the weather,” Tidrow said.

PHOTO I SALLY MORROW

one last tournament

Senior Anna Golian hits the ball down the field while playing in one of her last tournaments Oct. 8. “My favorite memory was definitely our second game of the tournament. We played under the prettiest sunset I have ever seen and the whole game felt so surreal,” Golian said.

PHOTO I ANNIE STEVENS

serving up a storm

Seniors Aleigh Mckelvey and Paige Castillo, pose with their posters Sept. 19 while celebrating their senior night. “l was having all of my teammates, friends, parents, and coaches there to support me. The season couldn’t have been as fun or possible without them,” Castillo said.

PHOTO I LAUREN SMITH

HISTORY IS CURRENT

Kansas City’s professional women’s soccer team, the Current, broke ground on the building site for their new stadium Thursday, Oct. 6 at Berkley Riverfront Park. The ceremony included speeches from the National Women’s Soccer League Commissioner Jessica Berman; Mayor Quinton Lucas; and team co-owners Chris and Angie Long

Just over a year after founding the Current and bringing women’s professional soccer back to Kansas City after FCKC’s move to Utah in 2017, the Longs announced the construction of the historic facility, the very first stadium in the world to be built specifically for a women’s professional sports team - right here in town.

“I’m just so honored. I look at this groundbreaking behind us, and this is one of the proudest days of my life. Sports history is undoubtedly being made today,” Chris Long said in his speech. “Owning your own facilities for women’s sports is somehow still a new and novel approach. That’s about to change.”

The ceremony officially marked the beginning of stadium construction on the east end of Berkley Riverfront Park, headed by construction partners Generator Studio, Monarch Build and JE Dunn. The $117 million project, created by an allwomen’s design team, is expected to be finished by 2024 and open in time for the team’s fourth season in the NWSL.

“In just a few short years, this ownership group has demonstrated outstanding leadership and a clear commitment to operating as a player-first organization that delivers an outstanding product both on and off the pitch,” Berman said in

COMMUNITY PROGRESS

BY ZAHRA PARSONS PRINT CO EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

her speech. “This facility marks the next step, a great step in the future of the Current.”

The team’s home matches during their inaugural season took place at Legends Field, which doubled as a baseball stadium for Kansas City’s minor league team, the Monarchs. This year, they played at Children’s Mercy Park, the facility for Kansas City’s male professional soccer team, Sporting KC. The Riverfront stadium, which will seat around 11,500 people, will be purpose-built for the Current.

“Honestly it’s just super cool to see everyone celebrating women’s sports right now,” defender Izzy Rodriguez said. “This event is awesome and our ownership is putting a lot of time into the team.”

Alongside the ownership team, the players each put a shovel into the turf mound, symbolizing not only the groundbreaking itself, but also the club’s direct commitment to the welfare and treatment of the players. They hope to serve as an inspiration for women’s professional sports franchises globally.

“Right at this very moment, we are part of history. Forever. History for Kansas City, as we build the first downtown professional sports stadium. History for women’s sports, as Kansas City Current’s stadium becomes the first stadium that will lead the way for others to follow,” Angie Long said in her speech. “This stadium is for Kansas City, the best sports town in the world. This stadium is for our world-class female athletes, and an investment in every female athlete in the world.”

LOOKING AHEAD

The KC Current ownership team and players commemorated the building of their new stadium, the first in the world to be built for a women’s professional sports team, with a groundbreaking ceremony at the site of the construction.

KC Current co-owner Chris Long gives a speech about the importance of faciities purpose-built for women’s professional teams.

PHOTO | ZAHRA PARSONS

Mayor Quinton Lucas discusses the importance of the development for Kansas City as a whole.

PHOTO | ZAHRA PARSONS

DIG IT!

LEAN ON ME

Kansas City Current co-owners Angie Long and Brittany Mahomes and NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman prepare to stick shovels into the ground to symbolize the stadium groundbreaking.

PHOTO | ZAHRA PARSONS

Defender Kristen Edmonds and goalkeeper AD Franch pose for a photo in front of the symbolic turf mound. “It’s amazing, obviously being the first female team in the world to have their own stadium is something super special and we’re lucky to have it here in KC,” Edmonds said.

PHOTO | ZAHRA PARSONS

Destroyers of Silence

Drumline has been a Sion staple for nine years. This is what it takes to be drumline muscian.

BY ARLETH GUEVARA EDITORIALS EDITOR

Bleachers are packed with students waiting expectantly for the start of the pep assembly. The emcee shouts out an introduction, and the gym doors burst open.

The crowd jumps to their feet and cheers as drumline marches onto the court. The boom and bangs of various drum instruments clash with metal cymbals to echo through the full gymnasium. Drumline weaves forward and backward as they establish different formations. After a specific tune, drum major and senior Makaila Traylor points her drumsticks at the crowd, waiting for the enthusiastic reply of “SION, STORM!”

It’s hard to imagine Sion without its drumline, but in reality drumline has only been around for nine years. Music Director Elizabeth Mulkey began the program in the fall of 2013 with the intention of giving students the opportunity to move and play without needing any prior knowledge of reading music or playing an instrument before joining. It was also the perfect opportunity to break barriers since drumline is male-dominated across the world.

“I wanted to give students something they could try that would get them active in music and be a lot of fun. I mean how many all-girl school drumlines do you see? None. Males dominate it,” Mulkey said. “I kind of thought it just seemed like a great Sion thing to do, and I’ve always loved percussion. It’s always been a love and passion for me so I thought it was a good fit.”

New drumline members are taught not only how to play the instrument, but also all of the drum cadences, also known as the drum music. Each cadence also comes with a set routine.

While most formations are reused each year, the drum major also composes her own routines to specific cadences

for current and future events. Two years ago, former drum major Sharon Kramschuster ‘21 created two routines as drum major.

“The first time we all played Sharon’s cadence, one of the hardest cadences we have currently, we had to play it for the big assembly towards the end of last year and we just couldn’t figure it out,” Traylor said. “Then when we figured it out that was really cool.”

A week before school starts, drumline participates in its annual workshop. This year it was held at Rockhurst and co-taught by Mulkey and Rockhurst percussion instructor Austin Barnes . Drumline is a fall semester class but its events take place year-round. Therefore, during the spring semester, drumline students meet Thursday and Friday mornings in order to prepare for any upcoming events.

“[Drumline] ended up being one of my favorite activities,” bass drummer and junior Kosi Okuagu said. “My mind shuts off and it just becomes about the music and the beats.”

One of the drumline’s yearly performances is a combined event with Rockhurst and Bishop Miege. The performance destination alternates annually between the three schools. This year’s performance took place at Bishop Miege for the Miege vs. Rockhurst football game. Next year Sion is scheduled to host the combined drumlines.

“My favorite memory was last year when we performed with Miege and Rockhurst at the Rockhurst vs. Miege game,” cymbalist and sophomore Denali Sanchez-Bencomo said. “It was interesting seeing how different the drum lines are even though we play the same songs”

Last year, a drumline-dedicated award was added to the fine arts category of the award ceremony. The award, named the Krammy Grammy, is given to the student in drumline who acts as a positive leader, serves and helps when asked and is always ready and prepared. The first recipient of this award and its namesake was alum Sharon Kramschuster.

“People don’t realize how much work drumline is. It’s a lot of fun but it’s hard. It’s a hard discipline,” Mulkey said. “It’s physically exhausting on your backs, it’s very challenging and if you notice, we have to have everything memorized, so these girls work really hard and do a really great job.”

going

global

The Global Impacts Microschool left a lasting impact on its students and the community during first quarter.

BY COPY EDITOR CLAIRE BOMA

The Global Impacts Microschool is one of Sion’s newest experiential courses, and it combines AP English, ethics and global health credits.

The experiential curriculum engages students and gives them the agency to take control of their education by connecting students to unique community projects and trips in order to gain real-world experience.

“Being able to apply concepts in and out of the classroom allows me to better understand not only the concepts, but also the importance and value of the things that we are learning,” sophomore Ella Satterwhite said. “It also makes the class more engaging to use a variety of learning styles.”

Curriculum is based on Sion’s Portrait of a Graduate as well as United Nation Sustainable Development Goals (or SDGs). SDGs are goals the U.N. hopes to achieve in order to eradicate poverty and promote sustainability by the year 2030. Each unit in the class focuses on a different SDG.

“I looked forward to the class every morning,” junior Suzanne Sade said. “We immediately dove into our topics for the year, and while the work was hard and it required focus and effort, I enjoyed doing it.”

The first SDG covered was “quality education.” Students discussed what quality education meant and how the idea of ‘quality’ differed around the world. They also discussed how COVID-19 affected education for both students and teachers.

“I enjoyed learning about education and how it varies in different parts of the world. Viewing topics through a global scale revealed to me that much of what we consider normal is anything but in other parts of the globe,” Satterwhite said. “I was also shocked by how much work went into preparing a single engaging lesson.”

For their unit project, they taught an English lesson to eighth graders at Sion’s lower school. Students were given a topic they needed to cover but had to create their own lesson plans.

“I realized how hard teaching can be,” junior Lucy Wittek said. “Props to our amazing teachers for sure.”

In their next unit, “good health and well-being,” students discussed what it meant to be healthy and how the idea of health differed around the world. They also learned about healthcare disparities.

Microschool students became certified ambassadors for Days for Girls, an organization dedicated to providing quality health education around the world. This certification allows them to teach health classes through this organization in any country.

“I really enjoyed learning about healthcare initiatives, as well as just learning more about the inequities of healthcare, such as those surrounding periods,” Satterwhite said.

The class also partnered with Giving Hope & Help, a local nonprofit that provides sanitary products to those in need, for their October Deep Dive session. The students planned, fundraised and packaged bags with assorted period products. They also sent emails to senators about Senate Bill 1118, a bill that, if passed, would require free sanitary

products in public and charter school bathrooms.

“I was on the fundraising team, and I learned that raising any significant amount of money is a lot of work,” Satterwhite said. “Between having possible partners not responding to emails and the schedule conflicts that we had to manage within our own school, it was a true test of management, coordination and professionalism to raise any money at all.”

The final units of the quarter centered around “decent work and economic growth” and “responsible consumption and production.” Students learned about climate change and discussed ethics and sustainability in livestock and agriculture and economics.

“I learned very alarming statistics about the future,” junior Ginger Griffiths said. “People need to realize what is happening around them so that we actually create change.”

The class field tripped to Urbivore, a sustainable and off-the-grid farm located within Kansas City that grows food and flowers; raises chickens, geese and pigs; filters water and runs a composting business. The farm provides food for thousands of people in the Kansas City area while promoting community and sustainability.

“I loved interacting with all of the animals, especially petting the pigs, and experiencing a new type of lifestyle that I had previously been unexposed to,” Wittek said.

The students got a tour of the farm with the owner, Brooke Salvaggio, and her son. Salvaggio explained to the students how their family adapted to a sustainable lifestyle by lowering their expectations for comfort.

“I really enjoyed visiting, as that lifestyle was incredibly fascinating to me,” Satterwhite said. “Watching the owner’s son run around the farm, eating apples he picked off of the tree made me question the things I take for granted and what luxuries in life we truly need or even want.”

The microschool will wrap up learning about SDGs by the end of first semester, and when they return from winter break they’ll each begin conducting a research project. These projects will expand upon the smaller scale lessons and trips completed in the first semester.

This all leads to a spring Deep Dive trip to Kenya, where students will perform real-life work or research in their field of study.

“I’m excited to really lean into the second semester student-led research project and engage in research that I’m very passionate about,” Wittek said.

The curriculum empowers students to seek individual passions and increase confidence in their skills and in themselves. By the end of the year the students will be well equipped to face challenges of the world in their adult lives.

“I was thrown into numerous situations and experiences I never thought I’d have the opportunity to experience, and it set me up for success in the future,” Sade said. “The class itself gave me abilities to approach new experiences and learning opportunities with an open mind and with critical thinking skills.”

PHOTOS | CLAIRE BOMA

When I was a little girl, Fridays at my house were designated movie nights. My sisters and I would park ourselves in front of the living room TV and debate for ages before finally selecting a movie all three of us could agree on. Over the years, our Friday nights were spent watching Troy and Gabriella singing and dancing their hearts out in “High School Musical,” Stella and her bandmates vying to win the Rising Star competition in “Lemonade Mouth” and Dylan being crowned Blossom Queen in “Geek Charming.”

While I wasn’t completely fooled into thinking that my high school experience would consist of elaborate musical numbers being performed between classes, these movies did lead me to grow up believing in their general idyllic narrative: that high school would be the most eventful, memorable and generally spectacular four years of my life.

Hollywood had me convinced that what awaited me once I got to high school was a super hot boyfriend who was a jock but also sensitive, a fairytale prom with seemingly no budget and abundant free time to pursue my hobbies and extracurricular activities with my enormous group of friends.

Then I actually got to high school, and rather than encountering these things, I felt more like Sharpay in “Stick to the Status Quo,” thinking: “This is not what I want, this is not what I planned, and I just gotta say I do not understand.”

The reality is that high school, like most other things, is simply not as glamorous as the media would lead us to believe, and these phony depictions can lead teenagers to feel disillusioned and unsatisfied with their own high school experiences.

However, just because your high school experience doesn’t resemble the ones played out in your favorite shows and movies doesn’t make it any less valid; it just makes it real and likely far more relatable to the everyday teenager than anything that they see onscreen.

Take a look at high school relationships, for example –Hollywood would have you believe that your dating life is one of, if not the most important part of your high school experience. We can all think of several iconic high school movie couples: Troy and Gabriella, Lara Jean and Peter Kavinsky, Sandy and Danny.

While producers might throw in a few obstacles for these pairings to keep the plot interesting, relationship problems in the movies are always quickly resolved with a grand romantic gesture, after which the couples return to their usual states of bliss.

In the real world, high school relationships are much less idealistic. For teenagers, it’s rare to see a relationship last longer than a couple of months. Most teens simply lack the maturity, communication skills and commitment required to make a long term relationship work.

When it comes to teen romance in the 21st century, the dating scene is made up less of relationships and more of ‘situationships’ and ‘talking phases,’ where labels and exclusivity don’t apply, and intentions are unclear.

Contrary to what popular movies and shows may lead you to believe, it’s also completely normal and acceptable not to date at all during your high school years. In fact, 64% of teens reported

that they had never been in a relationship of any kind, according to a poll by the Pew Research Center.

Another area of the high school experience that is falsely represented in the media is the academic portion. In all six seasons of “Gossip Girl,” I never saw a single character study for a final or stress over an essay, and yet, when college admissions rolled around, each one was accepted to the Ivy League institution of their choice.

Even Rory Gilmore, perhaps the most studious protagonist ever to appear on teen television, seemed to have an inordinate amount of time to sit around drinking coffee at Luke’s with Dean/ Jess/Logan, and she had no issue getting into Yale.

The reality for the majority of teens, however, is that academics are the primary focus of their high school years. Between AP classes, standardized testing and college applications, significant time and effort goes into crafting the perfect academic record.

In addition to the standard seven hour school day, the average high school student also spends 2.7 hours on homework per night, according to The Washington Post, so it’s ironic that media portrayals of high school fail to acknowledge the most time consuming area of teenagers’ lives.

Speaking of time, teenagers in the media don’t seem to operate on the same 24-hour timetables that we normal humans are restricted to. I mean seriously, how was Sam able to work full shifts at the diner before her school days even began in “A Cinderella Story”?

For teens who don’t possess Hilary Duff’s time-bending powers, sports practices, music lessons, theater rehearsals and after-school jobs eat up the limited number of free hours high school students possess in a day.

Juggling jobs, extracurriculars and schoolwork leaves real-life high schoolers with limited time to dedicate to their social lives, and forces them to prioritize those commitments over spending time with friends.

While Cady, Regina, Gretchen and Karen have endless hours to wander the mall in “Mean Girls,” most of us don’t have that same luxury. Time management is one of the most necessary skills for high school students to master in preparation for their futures, but it seems that most of the characters in teen shows never have to learn this valuable skill.

Ultimately, the truth is that all high school movies and shows are fictional stories that function to entertain us, not to document teenagers’ real everyday experiences. They’re not realistic, but they’re also not supposed to be - no one wants to attend school for seven hours each day, complete an additional 2.7 hours of homework and then turn on their TV and watch the characters on screen do the exact same thing.

The next time you open Netflix to watch your favorite teen drama, remember that you’re not meant to relate to the actors and their made up storylines.

Even without a picture-perfect relationship, fairytale prom or jam-packed social calendar, you can still have a high school experience that is exciting and memorable. So turn off the TV and go make it a reality.

it’s all a HighlightReel.

The false realities created by social media have caused us to overanalyze every aspect of our lives

BY WEB EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ELLE SIMON AND REPORTER ELLA ALEXANDER

Once upon a time, a scroll through Instagram took less than 5 minutes. The content literally ended, as posts were added in chronological order and there were no algorithm-placed advertisements to fill up the space. Users reached the most recent post and there would be nothing left.

Foodies didn’t exist, people simply ate their meals without taking pictures of it. Half the phones in the world were still flipped open, and the iPod had a wheel on the front instead of a touchscreen. Snapchat didn’t exist yet.

Facebook wasn’t Meta and teenagers still posted popular status updates. It certainly wasn’t all fairies and pixie dust online, but it was different.

Since its development and release in 2010, Instagram has been updated consistently. Up until 2016, posts appeared chronologically and when users scrolled to the

most recent post, content would stop and phones would go back in bags.

“The simple days of harsh filters and carefree posting are behind us,” Refinery29 opinion writer Andie Kent said. “There was a sense of freedom to Instagram in the early 2010s that hinged on a collective agreement that what we posted didn’t matter. That’s a luxury that no longer exists.”

BeReal is the newest social media platform created in order to combat the inauthenticity in social media. “Not another social network” is the app’s tagline.

Although it launched in 2020, BeReal didn’t jump to popularity until this year. There are currently over 73.5 million monthly users, according to Apptopia.

“I’ll post the most awful, rancid pictures,” senior Caroline Dold said. “That’s in the interest of what this [BeReal] is about.”

creating change

Sion students share what they would change about social media.

JanicePalmer_26 “I would change filters, period. Just filters in general so that they were never a thing so that you’re almost forced to be authentic in that way.”

5 min 2 likes Reply Send

PennyGuezuraga_24 “I would change the unrealistic beauty filters. ”

3d 5 likes Reply Send

BrookeSobba_26 “I would change the toxicity of it and how everyone is always comparing themselves to each other. ”

3d 1 likes Reply Send

BridgetBendorf_25 “I would make it less fake and more authentic because so many people post so that they can look cool for others but aren’t very honest about what they post”

3d 8 likes Reply Send

ChloeWelch_23 “I would change how it feels like you need to have everything look perfect at all times.”

4d 7 likes Reply Send

AnnaGillespie_24 “I would change the need people feel to only show the best parts of their life and pressure to make it look perfect. ”

3d 3 likes Reply Send

MaeveGlennon_25 “I would change the unrealistic beauty filters. ”

3d 5 likes Reply Send

PaigeCastillo_23 “l would change how fake people are. Especially Instagram, because it doesn’t really show the real you. It’s easy to hide behind. ”

4d 7 likes Reply Send

BeReal was intentionally designed to showcase the reality of life. Every day within a random twominute window all users receive a notification saying “it’s time to be real.” When users open the app they are prompted to post two pictures using both the front and back cameras simultaneously. There is no editing, no filters and no photoshop, making it “real.”

“What I like about BeReal is that you can see the ‘real’ aspects of life and what people do in their day to day life that you don’t really see on any other platform,” junior Anna Gillespie said. “I also think it’s fun when BeReal goes off and everyone gets to be in each other’s posts.”

Although there is a specific two-minute designation for taking a BeReal, many users choose to post late in order to show the highlight of their day. 78.6% of 75 students polled who use BeReal said they choose to post late if they have something exciting happening later in the day.

BeReal claims to be “not another social network,” however when users post only the peak experience of their day or refuse to post when they aren’t looking their best, it creates the same environment as Instagram.

Instagram is known for perfectly edited photos that lead to aesthetic posts and feeds. 68.3% of the 145 students polled reported feeling pressured to make their social media accounts aesthetically pleasing. There are endless ways to achieve an “aesthetic” feed: Lightroom editing, VSCO filters or the most controversial software, Photoshop.

According to the University of Pennsylvania’s Lancaster General Health, “The ability to easily whiten teeth, airbrush body parts and hide imperfections can create false illusions.”

90% of young women and those who identify as nonbinary use filters or edit their cosmetic appearance before posting a photo on social media, the City University London found in March

stressed out

2021. Photoshop allows for users to erase the not so pretty parts of their life. The acne, wrinkles and messy room, gone. Photoshop users have the ability to change the appearance of what their reality looks like all with the slide of a few different bars.

“I think filters can be harmful because creators make them and they make them specific, like long eyelashes, big lips and a perfect nose,” freshman Janice Palmer said. “I think that can be harmful because you put it on and you’re like ‘oh my nose isn’t this straight or my eyelashes aren’t that long.’”

Renowned British photographer Rankin displayed just how powerful photo editing can be when it comes to young women. For a piece in 2019, titled “Selfie Harm,” Rankin asked 15 British teenagers to take five minutes and edit their photos until they saw the images perfect enough to post on social media. The “social media ready” photos pictured the girls with slimmer faces, narrower noses, less freckles and larger eyes and lips.

“I found it disturbing how big even the small changes are,” Rankin said in an interview with Insider. “People are mimicking their idols, and all for social media likes.”

Who are these idols? Influencers. There is no better example of the prime users of photo editing software than influencers. Influencers’ posts pervade our daily social media feeds and explore pages. They seem to have everything that one could ever dream of: the “perfect” body, clear skin, a big luxury home, lavish trips and money that seems to just keep on coming.

“This kind of constant highlight that we get from other people’s lives serves as a bar that we tend to set for ourselves,” former Sion employee and certified health and wellness coach Sarah Johnson said. “It can cause us to look at someone else’s life and think maybe there’s one thing going on in their life and that’s not particularly true or misrepresented in some capacity.”

As these facades become ingrained in our minds, they change our perception of ourselves and our life. Social media is not where we can boost our self-esteem; more often

than not, it’s the factor that tears it down. Unrealistic expectations are set for our lives through what influencers portray through their platforms, leading to extensive selfcomparison and insecurity about the way we live.

From body dysmorphia to FOMO, social media has opened the doors for broader comparison of ourselves to others. According to the Child Mind Institute, “These days, however, the impossible standards are set much closer to home, not by celebrities and models but by classmates and friends.”

Comparison of ourselves to our peers through the realm of social media is much easier as their realities are more closely aligned with our own. Users will scroll through their feeds and see their peers at concerts or incredible vacations and experience feelings of being left out, jealousy and feeling inadequate. It can be a vicious cycle that does not lead to positive outcomes, but rather lowered self-esteem and altered views of what life should look like.

“We’re kind of in a hamster wheel and we become the consumers of our life,” Johnson said. “And so when you think about what you’re looking at on social media, that’s information and ideas and perceptions that you are consuming, and that will shape your behavior and your mental health.”

77.2% of the 145 students polled reported feeling their self confidence was negatively impacted by social media. Platforms like Instagram and TikTok feed teens content that can be destructive to their self-esteem and therefore change the way that they feel about themselves. Whether this be talent based, body dysmorphia, anxiety or other self-confidence issues, seeing what others are doing on social media does not help combat these feelings of selfdoubt.

“I feel like sometimes people just find something random to do to make their lives look like they’re having fun even when they may not be,” freshman Rekha Ross said. “Your life isn’t all about likes or reactions or followers. It’s just about living in the moment.”

laundry dayssponsorships still asleepsmell the roses

BRITISH INVASION

BY LAUREN SMITH MANAGING EDITOR

God save the Queen. Queen Elizabeth II died at the age of 96 in her home in Scotland Sept. 8. She was the longest reigning monarch in the history of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth, serving for 70 years alongside 15 prime ministers. Though in recent decades the monarchy has become less politically relevant, it remains immensely popular in media and pop culture.

Following her death, the United Kingdom entered a ten day mourning period, which included a four day vigil at Westminster Hall. This is the lying-in-state period, which allows the general public to pay their respects to her majesty.

Millions stood in line for many hours, including several notable figures like soccer star David Beckham. Some stood for almost a day to show their affection and appreciation at the visitation. The mourning period concluded Monday, Sept. 19 with a full day of funeral proceedings.

The day of the Queen’s funeral was declared a public holiday in the UK to allow citizens to line the streets of the procession or be one of the millions to tune into the live broadcast coverage. It was the first funeral of a British Monarch to allow cameras.

The service began with a bell ringing 96 times, once for each year of her life, and was attended by around 2,000 people including princes, princesses, prime ministers and presidents from around the world.

“Here, where Queen Elizabeth was married and crowned, we gather from across the nation, from the Commonwealth and from the nations of the world, to mourn our loss, to remember her long life of selfless service and in sure confidence to commit her to the mercy of God our maker and redeemer,” the dean of Westminster Abbey David Hoyle said to mourners at the service.

After the service, hundreds of thousands of people lined the streets to witness the procession of the hearse around London to the Queen’s former residence at Windsor Castle, where one of her ponies and corgis were among those waiting. The procession concluded at St. George’s Chapel, where she was laid to rest next to her husband Phillip.

Like many Americans, I was heartbroken to hear about the death of former Queen Elizabeth II, but why are Americans so invested in the lives of the British royal family? It is a monarchy from which we won our independence centuries ago, yet remains at the forefront of media and pop culture.

I have always felt a fascination towards the royal family, whether it be Kate Middleton’s $300,000 wedding dress, Meghan Markle’s interview with Oprah Winfrey or bingewatching all four seasons of Netflix’s hit show “The Crown.’’ The show serves as an overly-dramatic depiction of the life of Queen Elizabeth II. The show is more similar to “Downton Abbey” than the reality of her life, which contributes to its success leading fans, like me, to impatiently await the release

The death of Queen Elizabeth II has led many Americans to rethink their obsession and views on the monarchy.

INVASION

of the new season Nov. 9

The royal family represents wealth, glamor and class. They are essentially famous for being famous. Their lives are like entertainment, just like our own favorite family to obsess over here in the states- the Kardashians. In a time of celebrity and drama-obsessed frenzy, we love to indulge in the world of the royal family.

America’s favorite fascination, Meghan Markle, shared this perception of the royal family as celebrities when she began her relationship with Prince Harry. As an American and television actress, she viewed her now in-laws to be like any other celebrity she knew, but underestimated the duties and responsibilities they hold.

The duties that come along with their royal titles led Markle to leave her acting career, as well as stopping posting on social media after her engagement to Harry was announced. As you probably have seen across magazine covers and social media, Meghan and Harry are no longer working members of the royal family and have renounced their titles.

In recent years people have rethought their views on the legitimacy of the monarchy and questioned their roles. Some view the monarchy as unnecessary in a modern society where they hold very little power and solely appear at events to grace the public with their presence.

Events such as Prince William and Princess Kate’s visit to the Caribbean in March of 2021 were met with controversy and led to the Caribbean Islands to rethink their ties with the Monarchy. The intent of their trip was to celebrate the Queen’s 70 years on the throne and to persuade Belize, Jamaica and the Bahamas to keep ties with Britain in light of Barbados’ transition to a republic in November of 2020. This trip was met with protests, and the day before they arrived one hundred Jamaicans signed an open letter calling for the royal family and British government to apologize and pay reparations for subjecting the island to colonial rule and slavery.

Widespread and intense mourning of the Queen has led many to reflect upon and rethink their views on the royal family, and the necessity of the British Monarchy as an institution. Many have expressed sorrow, not towards the Queen’s death, but towards the countries that have fallen victim to British colonialism under the monarchy in centuries previous.

We often obsess over the royal family while failing to remember the tragedies and destruction they caused. We admire the glamor and the fact that the British Monarchy has been around for hundreds of years and how they have continued to prevail in society. But will it continue with the newest monarch?

King Charles III’s coronation is May 6, 2023, and at the age of 73, he will become the oldest person to assume the throne. The future of the crown is unknown and will continue to entertain as this new chapter of the monarchy unfolds. God save the King?

Do you or have you ever watched The Crown?

Responded no Responded yes

145 students responses

How closely do you keep up with the British Royal Family? Rank your interest from 1 (not at all) to 5 (obsessed).

(38.6%)

(34.5%)

(16.6%)

(6.9%) 5(3.4%)

students responses

think that the British Royal Family

Responded maybe

no

I don’t know

yes

responses

Faculty Rivals

BY LILY WILKIN FEATURES EDITOR

Sion faculty members have a fantasy football league, and it can get very competitive.

Rivals Fantasy Foes

How much do high school girls at Sion really know about Fantasy Football? Typically the event is an all-or-nothing sort of digital competition. Either you know every single wide receiver in the NFL, or the only person you’ve ever really heard of is Patrick Mahomes. The same is true, apparently, for some of the school faculty and staff who are currently heading into Week 9 of their own special league.

“I am not the right person to be doing fantasy football, but I did it because I thought it would be fun,” math teacher Kristi Hilgenfeld said.

If you know nothing about fantasy football, the basics can all be found within the ESPN app. Essentially, a fantasy team pulls players from across the league - ideally the best of the best - into one team. So you don’t just have the Chiefs as a whole team.

The point is to Dr. Frankenstein the best team together in a draft and then face off with other teams in your league.

Teams are chosen during the draft, which is the most significant step of the process. Some league members are very strategic when choosing their players. Others, not so much.

“My process when choosing my team was sheer panic, there was no thought process,” athletic director Kate Pilgreen said. “Someone would pick someone I wanted, and I would yell and pick somebody else in sheer anxiety.”

For the Sion High School Faculty League, this is where the friendly competition began. There’s a certain way to choose players during the draft, and if you pick positions in the wrong order, there can be some banter.

“I guess you don’t pick quarterbacks first. Last year was my first year playing fantasy and I picked Patrick Mahomes right off the bat, and I got made fun of,” Pilgreen said. “This year I picked Harrison Butker as my kicker in the seventh round, and I was told that’s way too early in the draft to choose a kicker.”

Creative team names add to the fun of the fantasy football experience. This year’s league features teams like “Rollin’ with the Mahomies” (ironically their team doesn’t have Patrick Mahomes), “The Blondes,” “Philly Special” and “Catching Kelce.” “We drafted Travis Kelce, and years ago he was on a reality show kind of like the bachelor. It was called “Catching Kelce,” and basically women would compete to date him. So our team name is Catching Kelce as a funny nod to the show,” social studies teacher Chris Schreiber said.

Some teams use strict and deliberate methods for picking the players they start each week, looking at things like statistics and consistency. Projections of the amounts of points a player could earn each week are listed on the fantasy app, however, it’s always a bit of a gamble.

“My team is all over the place,” Pilgreen said.

“We have Lamar Jackson and at the beginning of the season he was in complete beast mode. These last few games he’s come back down to earth. You just never know how many points you’ll actually get.”

Fantasy’s point system is based on how a certain player performs in the actual game.

The more yards they run or the better the play, the more points they get you for your fantasy team.

“We beat Ms. Val and Ms. Brown-Howerton by one point the first week, and I like to remind them of it,” Schreiber said. ”And they do not like it.”

“Yeah because they were lucky,” publications instructor Valerie Crook said. “They beat us by less than three points. Since then we’ve basically been competing for the top spots in the league and it goes back and forth. I have to come out on top or I’ll be so upset.”

One of the biggest rivalries going on currently is between the offices in the Grande Salle. When going head-to-head, they never fail to bring up their wins over their office “roommates.”

“I just got beat two weekends ago by my roomie [Mr. Stapf]. He beat me by one point so there’s some trash talk going on before the game, and a lot of it going on after,” assistant athletic director Doug McLagan said.

The trash talk doesn’t end there. The faculty break room is one of the main places for discussion about how your team is doing, and this is where participants catch up on the drama from the weekend.

“We talk a little smack sometimes, around the coffee pot,” assistant principal Jennifer Brown-Howerton said.

But this league doesn’t exist just for the sake of bragging rights. It also helps teachers build connections and form a sense of community.

“You get to interact with someone you maybe don’t get to interact with all that much,” Schreiber said. “Especially because our teams are run by partners. Catching Kelce isn’t just my team, it’s mine and Flippo’s.”

The time spent together and the occasional smack talk strengthens the bond they have with each other.

“It’s great for team building among the teachers,” Pilgreen said. “It’s very high in team building and camaraderie that you feel.”

apple picking

STORY BY MANAGING EDITOR LAUREN SMITH DESIGN BY EDITORIALS EDITOR ARLETH GUEVARA

The familiar chime of an iMessage rings on the latest iPhone model while an Apple Watch vibrates on a wrist. Heads float down halls with AirPods in. Slim Macbook Airs are open on every desk as students face the Apple TV while the teacher AirPlays a lesson. The glowing fruit that runs our lives invades.

Steve Jobs

in 1977 in his garage. The company started unsteadily due to a competitive market and management changes. That all changed when they released the iMac in 1998, which, according to Britannica, lifted Apple’s market share from a record low in December 1997 to 13.5 percent just seven months later.

Apple began to consistently dominate the technology world with their wellknown products and services. They released the iPod in 2001 and downloadable music from iTunes in 2003, which sold over a billion songs by 2006.

In 2007, Apple released its most revolutionary product - the iPhone. Then, the iPad was released in 2010, and iCloud followed the next year, equipped with safe-locked storage for photos, apps, documents, music and more. This tranformed how people used cellular devices, storing all their information across a multitude of devices.

Due to the success and popularity of Apple’s expanding product line, in 2018, Apple became the first company to achieve a net worth in the trillions.

Apple dominates the technology market not only because of the product range and consistent updating, but because of its expert marketing.

This year Apple announced the new iPhone 14 series, as well as the Apple Watch series 8 and the AirPod Pros 2. Seem excessive? It is. Apple thrives on consumerism culture, feeding off the creation of the “next best thing.”

According to Profecta Marketing , in 2018 Apple sat at the top of Forbes’ annual

study for the world’s most valuable brands for the eighth consecutive year.

Apple knows they control the field, and the company uses their intense marketing power to ensure their products are

enhancing our lives to convince us to upgrade our devices, creating products that stop functioning properly after a few years.

In 2017 Apple confirmed that they slow down their devices after a few years, but said it was “to prolong the life of the device” and to help the battery performance. However, in 2020, Apple was fined 27 million dollars by a French antifraud watchdog for not disclosing that the updates could deliberately slow

This information is now listed in the extensive terms and conditions that no one reads, but as long as you press accept then

Controversies around these scenarios are referred to as “Batterygate,” but it hasn’t seemed to sway customers from returning for the latest iPhone.

The company has created an experience that sells more than a product.

Apple’s branding of the apple fruit with the bite, or “byte,” out of it appears everywhere.

According to a Graphic Springs study, Apple’s brand awareness tops all other global tech companies. Their branding is sleek, simple and modern. The design, as well as the brand-name value, contributes to the hefty price tag. For example, the new AirPods Max are listed for $550 - a price Samsung and Google

Apple’s brand power is what keeps us

Why leave a brand we use to easily communicate with all our other Appleloving friends and family through iMessages, FaceTime, iCloud, photo shares

According to a poll of 145 students, 133 own an Apple Product besides their assigned MacBook Air.

Apple uses the idea of improving and

There’s always a new device that will supposedly help you out with just a little bit more storage, longer battery life or a better camera that pairs perfectly with the rest of your Apple products.

So when the time comes to upgrade, why spend over a thousand dollars for the newest iPhone? Because it’s Apple.

Apple dominates the technology field through consumerism culture, marketing and brand power.

bad energy

BY KATE PETERS NEWS & SPORTS EDITOR

Adaily dose of caffeine provides energy throughout the day as well as instantly after consumption, but it also has its side effects.

Personally, I drink sodas almost everyday despite knowing that it has a damaging effect on my body. Caffeine isn’t bad in moderation, but it has detrimental effects if over consumed.

According to kidshealth.org, a teenager should only consume 100 mg of caffeine a day, the equivalent to about 1-2 cups of coffee. A typical Monster Energy Drink has 86 mg of caffeine, but it’s loaded with sugar and sodium. A Celsius Energy Drink has a whopping 200 mg of caffeine, but the drink also contains a mix of essential vitamins and minerals like Biotin, Calcium and B12.

Celsius is advertised as a sports drink, and although it does have added vitamins, students that might drink one Celsius per day are exceeding their caffeine limit. Healthline reports that possible effects of too much caffeine include anxiety, insomnia, muscle breakdown and high blood pressure.

Caffeine triggers a release of adrenaline, which can cause anxiety or panic attacks. The more caffeine consumed, the more distinct the effects will be. For those with caffeine sensitivity, even a mild to moderate dose of caffeine can provoke the onset of these symptoms.

Caffeine is found naturally in plants like cacao and tea leaves, which make everyday items like chocolate and tea drinks. Caffeine’s main purpose is to increase alertness and energy levels.

Overconsumption can lead to significant sleep disruption. Nighttime caffeine consumption can cause restlessness, however, even daytime consumption can disrupt sleep. Depending on the individual, caffeine

can remain in someone’s system from just over an hour to nine hours.

According to an article in Healthline, muscle breakdown disorders such as rhabdomyolysis are a serious medical condition caused by excess consumption of caffeine. Consuming over 250 mg of caffeine per day puts individuals at risk of rhabdomyolysis.

Studies show that caffeine can increase a person’s blood pressure due to stimulation of the nervous system, which can put you at risk of stroke. The risk increases when consumed prior to exercise. Some energy drinks, like Celcius, are advertised to athletes and promote increased performance for sports. However the 200 mg of caffeine per can means that drinkers should think twice before sipping.

In addition to muscle harm, caffeine can affect brain development. The human mind is not fully developed until the age of 25, and caffeine has the potential to stunt brain development in teenagers. According to HCF, a health insurance company based in Australia, caffeine can slow the maturing process of a teenager’s brain, due to its effects on focus and sleep.

A person doesn’t have to quit caffeine entirely to avoid these effects on the body, they just have to take in healthy amounts of it. According to MedicalDaily, teenagers should only consume 100 mg of caffeine a day, the equivalent of one cup of coffee, a half a can of Celsius or one can of Monster. If over-consumed, caffeine can and will have adverse effects on the mental and physical health of teenagers.

Energy drink companies target their products towards teens, though caffeine is proven to have negative effects on physical and mental health.

supplying for

success

BY SOPHIE GROMOWSKY PRINT CO EDITOR-IN CHIEF

Hundreds of backpacks cover the ground, decorated in various colors, patterns and states of bedazzlement. Some are emblazoned with minions, Disney princesses and superheroes. They make it impossible to see the hardwood floors.

A narrow path parts the sea of straps, cloth and zippers - just wide enough to allow one person to walk across the room. Arranged across two long gray folding tables are hundreds of spiral-bound notebooks, thousands of folders in every color of the rainbow, packs of Crayola crayons and markers, binders filled with loose-leaf paper, scissors, glue sticks, rulers and more.

Perhaps a school supplies shop exploded, or perhaps this is what freshman Brook Stewart’s dining room looks like every August.

Stewart’s annual service project, Brooklyn’s Backpack Drive, collects school supplies and monetary donations for elementary and high school students in Salvation Army Children’s Shelters across the Kansas City area and the Midwest.

Since its inception, the drive has brought in over 1,350 backpacks full of school supplies.

Stewart started collecting school supplies donations at five-years-old, when she and her mother learned of a drive being held by The Salvation Army. The service project combined two things she loved: shopping for school supplies and helping others.

“I’ve always liked school, and I like shopping for school supplies, and it’s just really unfortunate that some kids don’t get that opportunity or don’t have the tools they need to use that opportunity,” Stewart said. “So I wanted to do a service project, and I’m just doing the best I can to help as many people as I can.”

Freshman Brook Stewart’s annual service project collects backpacks and school supplies for children in need in the Kansas City area.

shop ‘til you drop Stewart and her mother dedicate an entire afternoon to shopping for school supplies at Walmart at the conclusion of the drive. This year they cleared out the entire school supplies section and had to turn to the office supplies section for the rest of their items. “Our most recent year we had ten carts full of supplies,” Stewart said. “Seeing all of the shopping always makes me so happy.”

PHOTO | AMANDA STEWART

phenomenal philanthropist

Stewart was honored with the Association of Fundraising Professionals’ 2021 Spirit of Philanthropy Youth Award. She was nominated for the award by The Salvation Army. “We are incredibly grateful for the work of Brooklyn, her family, and all her supporters,” Alexandra Kuebler said. “Brooklyn proves that kids of all ages can get involved in their community and make a positive impact at any age.”

PHOTO | AMANDA STEWART

Her first year holding the drive, Stewart and her mother set up a lemonade stand in their driveway. They raised enough money to purchase 11 backpacks filled with school supplies.

“We had one of those store-bought big lemonade coolers and some cookies from Target and we told people we were looking for donations to The Salvation Army,” Stewart said. “It’s escalated a lot since then.”

This summer was Stewart’s ninth year holding Brooklyn’s Backpack Drive. She partnered with KindCraft, a nonprofit that organizes service events for kids and families. Together they hosted a backpack-stuffing event where community members brought donations and helped to assemble 76 backpacks full of supplies.

The drive’s end-of-summer collection party was held at Crow’s Coffee in Waldo, where Stewart, her mother and a friend set up a table in front of the coffee shop and collected donations of school supplies and pre-filled backpacks. This year, a total of 322 backpacks were donated.

“It’s definitely grown a lot. We went from 11 backpacks in a year to over 300,” Stewart said. “Really I’m just grateful to everyone who helps out because, oh my gosh, it’s gotten so big.”

Stewart and her mother typically dedicate an entire afternoon to purchasing supplies at Walmart. They count out binders, folders, notebooks and packs of loose-leaf paper in increments of 100. This year they filled up 10 shopping carts and cleared out the entire school supplies section, having to turn to the office supplies section to find the rest of their items.

“It’s a lot of counting and a lot of losing count,” Stewart said. “At the checkout we have to get several Walmart workers to help us. I’m surprised they don’t recognize us coming and call for extra staff.”

They then bring all of the supplies back to their house and set up the assembly line. Over the course of the next several weeks, Stewart’s family and friends come over to help stuff backpacks. When all the backpacks have been assembled, The Salvation Army sends a moving truck to transport them to the children’s shelters.

“[The impact of Brooklyn’s Backpack Drive has been] more profound than we can ever hope to say,” Salvation Army Divisional Executive Director of Development Alexandra Kuebler said. “Our officers and case workers are able to hand over a backpack full of supplies, and you can see the relief on the face of the parent and

teamwork makes the dream work

Stewart and her mother set up the school supplies assembly line in their living room. During the month of August, the stuffed backpacks take over their entire dining room. “We call in a bunch of peoplefamily, friends, family friends, people I’ve never met before but my parents say that I have,” Stewart said. “It’s super exciting that everybody wants to help, and it’s a great cause.”

PHOTO | AMANDA STEWART

the joy writ large for the child. For some, it may be the first new backpack, pencils, pens and other supplies they’ve ever received.”

In November 2021, Stewart was honored with the Spirit of Philanthropy Youth Award by the Association of Fundraising Professionals. The award recognizes service by an individual aged 10-23 who demonstrates outstanding commitment to the community through direct financial support, development of charitable programs, volunteering and leadership in philanthropy.

Stewart was nominated for the award by The Salvation Army for her contributions to their organization through Brooklyn’s Backpack Drive.

“As a parent, you always hope that your children will help where and when they see a need. To see Brook take ownership of the backpack drive, to continue to build awareness in the community and to bring so many people together makes us so proud,” mother Amanda Stewart said. “It is so rewarding to see other people and organizations in our area take notice of her hard work.”

Looking towards the future, Stewart’s goal is to continue growing Brooklyn’s Backpack Drive and to help as many children as possible. She and her mother are currently in the process of applying for official non-profit status, which will allow for donations to the drive to be tax deductible. It will also allow them to establish a Board of Directors, which Stewart will head as Chairperson.

Additionally, Stewart has established a scholarship fund through the drive, which will be offered to students and families in the Kansas City area. She hopes to be able to raise enough funds to offer this scholarship on an annual basis.

“It’s had such an impact on me because it’s such a big part of my life. I’ve met a lot of great people, and I’ve seen a lot of things. It’s just that sense of being able to help people that’s really great,” Stewart said. “And we just want to continue to get bigger and be able to help as many people as possible.”

To learn more about Brooklyn’s Backpack Drive or to make a donation, scan to visit www.brooklynsbackpackdrive.com.

VINTAGE VIEWING

BY ZAHRA PARSONS PRINT CO EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

PRACTICAL MAGIC

The 1998 film “Practical Magic” attempts to combine comedy, romance and fantasy to create a unique and intriguing story, but ultimately, it drops the ball.

Sally and Gillian Owens (Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman) are sister witches dealing with a family curse that claims any man who loved an Owens woman would be doomed.

After losing both of their spouses to the curse, the sisters move back in with their aunts, Frances and Jet (Stockard Channing and Dianne West), and are social outcasts in their town due to their family’s reputation with witchcraft.

The film’s frequent tonal shifts between the three genres interrupt its natural cadence and prevent it from catering to any specific age range or audience.

Overall, the film’s sole redeeming quality is eccentricity--it is unlike most other Halloween-themed films, for better or for worse.

fall fashion

BY ZAHRA PARSONS PRINT CO EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

These

These knitted sweaters fasten down the front with buttons or zippers, and are typically worn like a jacket. In my opinion, they are best paired with a vintage tee and high heels, but they also go well with khakis, jeans and dress pants.

shoes are

Catch up on some classic vintage Halloween movies.

CLUE

“Clue” (1985) is a comedic mystery based on the popular board game. Six strangers become victims of blackmail after being invited to a New England mansion, to find that the seventh guest, Mr. Boddy, has knowledge of secrets from the others’ pasts.

The butler, Wadsworth, notifies the police upon hearing these scandals, and Boddy gives the guests a variety of weapons to kill him, in order to preserve their secrets.

He turns the lights off, and later a gunshot is heard. When the lights come back on, the guests find Mr. Boddy dead, and investigate who did it using a number of clues from the house and from his life.

The movie has three separate endings, and while that fared well for the box office 40 years ago, it makes the film difficult to follow. As comedic as it is, the multiplying plots are both overwhelming and disinteresting. “Clue” is rated PG and is available on Hulu and Showtime.

Grandpa sweaters are the perfect balance of soft fleece and cotton with unique vintage patterns. They pair well with jeans and are perfect for a casual outing on a chilly day.

HOCUS POCUS

“Hocus Pocus” is a fantasy/comedy film that takes place in 1993 in Salem, Massachusetts. It stars Sarah Jessica Parker, Bette Midler and Kathy Najimy as a trio of witch sisters resurrected by Max Dennison (Omri Katz), an unsuspecting teenage boy, on Halloween night, three centuries after they were executed for witchcraft.

Max, along with his sister Dani and his crush, Allison, escape the witches and flee to an old cemetary, where the witches catch up, and a struggle ensues.

The set, colors and special effects make the movie bright and entertaining, along with the eccentric personalities of

“Hocus Pocus” is a charming classic that combines light horror with comedy, and factors in important lessons on the value of family. It, as well as its sequel, “Hocus Pocus 2,” are rated PG and are available on Disney+.

Cargo pants are making a comeback this fall. They are versatile; their paper bag waists and utility pockets are not only useful, but pair well with black heels on a night out.

Flare leggings are the new and improved yoga pants, offering everyday comfort in style. The wide bottoms can be complemented by classic sneakers, platform shoes and 70’s-style clogs.

which witch?

Check out these childhood photos of faculty, then head to Instagram @lejournalsion to find out who’s who! aloha

This facutly member is wearing a hula dancer cosume. She still has the skirt today. Pictured here she is 5 years old.

hard knock life

This faculty memeber is wearing an Annie costume her mom made. Pictured here she is 5 years old.

pumpkin spice & everything nice!

This faculty member is wearing a pumpkin costume. This is one of her favorite costumes from her childhood. Pictured here she is 6 years old.

i’m a mouse, duh

This faculty member is wearing a mouse costume that she won in a competition at her preschool. Pictured here she is 3 years old.

ka pow!

This faculty member is dressed as his favorite superhero. Pictured here he is 7 years old.

double, double toil and trouble!

This faculty member is wearing a witch costume. She still loves witches. Pictured here she is 4 years old.