9 minute read
Junior Claire Boehm helps a Sion Grade School student play Plinko. She volunteered in one of the many booths at Fall Festival. (Photo by Sarah Allen
from October 2012
by Le Journal
Newsin brief
French Day
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Kicking off spirit week, French students celebrated their language with food, games and friends. From arts and crafts to playing french card games, students celebrated the tradition of French day on Monday, Oct. 8. The red paper flowers that were created appeared throughout the day.
The school represented French day with various costumes. Students sported berets, chef hats and mime face paint.
“We got to pray in French and eat chocolate croissants,” junior French student Maggie Keenan said. Keenan was not the only one who enjoyed the food. As the French students gathered in circles in the Original Grand Salle, they munched on their French-inspired feasts and played games.
Juniors Georgia Thompson and Madi Lamb play the French card game “Mille Bornes” on French Day. (Photo by Mary Kate Hense) Senior Megan Benson cheers as the seniors grasp the victory in the Quidditch match. (Photo by Lucy Gasal)
Fall Festival
Oct. 6 marked the kickoff of Sion’s centennial celebration with the annual Fall Festival at the Grade School.
The festival was true to its fiesta theme, thanks to fiesta decorations, chips and queso, crafts such as maraca decorating and confetti eggs as well as performances by Flamenco dancers and a Mariachi band.
“I think there was a good turnout,” Volunteer Chair Lucy Curfman said. “It was a little cold, which may have kept some people away.”
The Fall Festival Committee added something new this year - a parade around Hyde Park, complete with a police escort, fire truck, Kona ice truck and kiddie train.
“I think the Fall Festival is important to Sion because it embodies the school’s philosophy on togetherness and unity,” Fall Festival Committee Co-chair Brenna Dougan said.
Junior Kirsten Rasmussen, who dressed up as Draco Malfoy on Harry Potter day, cheers for Slytherin during the Quidditch match. (Photo by Kim Fryer)
A Century of Spirit
Sion celebrates 100 years of spirit through a week of games and fun.
BY GEORGIA THOMPSON
Reporter
The week of Oct. 6 through 13 was dedicated to the celebration of 100 years of the Notre Dame de Sion School. Stretching from the fiesta-themed Fall Festival at the Grade School to the 100th Anniversary Party, the week was filled with themed dress days, in-class activities and all-school events.
In order for the week to be one remembered for years to come, Student Council Vice President Kamryn Schropp said STUCO had to brainstorm for new ideas and fun ways to include the entire student body and faculty.
“We planned for months. STUCO played a large part in coming up with a lot of the themes and planning the logistics for the games, Pep Rally and the breakfast,” Schropp said. “Our goal was to raise school spirit while incorporating Sion’s history. Stuco believed that if we showed our passion for Sion, then the rest of the students would too.”
Along with the school celebration, Sion’s 100 years have been recognized citywide. Kansas City, Mo. Mayor Sly James, a former Sion Grade School parent and Board of Trustees member, formally commemorated the school by issuing a proclamation that established the week in Sion’s honor.
“It was a request that the school made because of the Mayor’s relationship with Sion, and he has always been such a big supporter. We told them that in honor of our 100th anniversary we had an entire week at the school dedicated to celebrating our centennial,” Alumnae Coordinator Lauren Gyllenborg Golden said. “They responded that they would be interested in doing a Mayor’s Proclamation that would announce the celebration week.” Teachers honored the history of Sion by incorporating activities into their class schedules.
“In my American Government and history classes we drew some comparisons between what we were normally studying to what the historical and political situations were in 1912 when the school was founded, and drew some connections between the two. We really looked at what situations the first Sion girls would have been living through,” teacher Becky Haden said. “I think it’s important to learn about how we developed as a school and get in touch with our history and traditions so we can go forward in a meaningful way.”
The week that centered around the celebration of Sion was a success in Dean of Students Fran Koehler’s opinion. Due to the centennial, she believes the school was more energized.
“It feels like Sion has received a fresh coat of paint. It’s a positive, new energy,” Koehler said. “History is who we are. We have a unique mission, we are a strong school, and I feel as if we have a lot to celebrate.”
Path to Pathophysiology
New science class is established at Sion for second semester. BY KRISTINE SULLIVAN
Reporter
Diseases are becoming more prevalent in the world today and it is important that people know what the causes and effects of these diseases are. That is why Sion is offering a new class, Pathophysiology, to juniors and seniors so they can learn more about diseases. It will be offered as a second semester class after one semester of anatomy. Marilyn Stewart, the geometry, anatomy, physiology and Algebra I teacher, will be teaching this course.
“I am very excited to be teaching this because I am a retired physical therapist and I am huge on promoting the health care field to students,” Stewart said. “It is a very secure and flexible field to be in.”
Pathophysiology used to be taught in the anatomy class, but time tended to run out before they could get to it. Stewart wanted to make this a whole separate class because the subject was so fascinating to students. The students will be learning about diseases in skin, skeletal, muscle, nervous and special senses areas of the body.
“I want what I am teaching to be meaningful to my students,” Stewart said. “That’s why I will focus on concussions, sprains, torn muscles and other things that are relevant to them.”
Senior Maggie Gorman said she is taking the class because she is interested in studying nursing when she is in college. She thought this would be a good class to take so she has a better understanding of the diseases and illnesses people develop and have.
“I think it will be very beneficial since I’m looking into medical school for a career,” Gorman said. “I’m really excited to learn about the different types of cancers there are and how to identify them.”
Junior Alex Mayse is also taking the class because she wants to become a doctor when she is older.
“I am taking the class because it is really interesting and I want to know why people get sick and how we can help them,” Mayse said. “I love anatomy and biology so I thought this would be a good class to take.”
Pathophysiology
[path-oh-fiz-ee-ol-uh-jeee] The disordered physiological processes associated with disease or injury.
Pathophysiology teacher Marilyn Stewart shows an x-ray of a fractured hip . (Photo by Lucy Gasal)
Spirit Nights
sepTember:
5Sion vs. STA: Volleyball, softball & BBQ at THE High School novEMBER: 15 Purple on the Plaza: Dinner at California Pizza Kitchen february:
1Fine Arts Friday: Art & Music show at Crossroads District april: 23 Culver’s Night: Annual dinner at Culver’s
Purple and White Nights
Spirit Nights bring high school and grade school together. BY MAURA EVELD
Co-ediitor-in-chief
Three hundred plastic swords, 20 tubes of face paint and 250 hot dogs later, over 800 spectators filed out of the gym. The first Spirit Night ended and a new tradition unfolded in the form of hundreds of screaming girls.
“One of the goals that I was given from the board of trustees was to really ensure a one-school model for our two schools,” Head of School Christina Broderick said. “So since we’re on the quarter system I said ‘Can we, one night a quarter, come together as a community and have Sion Family Spirit Night?’”
Broderick has already planned all four Spirit Nights for this school year. A designated no-homework night once a quarter will allow for the Sion community to engage in service, food and fun, she said.
“Our mission speaks to how we treat each other, and if we’re so wrapped up and consumed with our own stuff and we don’t take a break to spend time with family, and if Sion is our community and our family, then I’m just saying for two or three hours on one night every eight weeks could we stop what we’re doing and say, ‘Wow, we’re really blessed,’ Broderick said. “We’re blessed with spirit, we’re blessed with service, we’re blessed with athletics. We have so much to be grateful for.”
Sion Middle School Division Coordinator Annie Riggs said the first Spirit Night showed that the plan is succeeding in bringing the two campuses together.
“That night it was great to see a lot of our [Sion Grade School] families there, and even families of all boys, or families that don’t have older sisters at the high school,” Riggs said. “I thought that was pretty cool.”
Next up on the calendar? On Nov. 15 Sion families are invited to eat dinner at California Pizza Kitchen. “Purple on the Plaza,” as Broderick coined it. And 20 percent of the proceeds will go to Redemptorist Food Pantry as part of Sion’s annual Food for Thought canned food drive.
“It’s completely different than anything we’ve ever done before for trying to find a new way to raise money and promote spirit for the school,” Senior Class Vice President Maggie Gorman said. “It will be a really good way to raise money for one of the biggest causes that we support.”
The new year brings two more spirit nights. Broderick said her friend donated her Crossroads District art gallery on Feb. 1 so that Sion can host a Montessori through grade 12 art and music show. She said she hopes students will sign up to do acoustic guitar and other musical performances. There will also be an art showing of pieces from grade school and high school students.
With the annual Culver’s Night capping off the year, the four Sion Family Spirit Nights focus on sports, service, the arts and community building.
“Now next year we’ll see how we can top it,” Broderick said.
