October 2011

Journal

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A Publication of Notre Dame de Sion* 10631 Wornall Road*Kansas City, MO 64114 Volume 30, Issue 2 October 2011

How Failure Produces.....

Successful People

A New Version of an Old Classic Gets Us Moving

Le Journal’s Top Scary Movie Picks

Social Network Challenges Facebook

What’s Inside 10 Failure ; A Step On The Road To Success

An Inside Look At Troy Davis And The Death Penalty

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Meet Sion’s Students Who Achieved National Merit

German Exchange Student Tries A New Sport

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Starbucks’s Secret Menu Revealed

Think Pink During Breast Cancer Awareness Month

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what’s inside

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IN EACH ISSUE 3

THE EDITOR’S INK

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STAFF EDITORIAL

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Now playing

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MY LIFE IS AWKWARD

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A LAST LOOK ON THE COVER

LAYOUT BY: VICTORIA KENNER WHAT’S INSIDE: FROM THE TOP: LUCY GASAL, MCT CAMPUS, SARAH HOLLAND, LUCY GASAL, MCT CAMPUS, WIKIMEDIA COMMONS COVER: MARIKATE SEARS, SARAH BRILL, SARAH MURPHY, JENNIFER JURY COVER PHOTOS BY: ALI SWEE ,PARAMOUNT PICTURES, WIKIMEDIA COMMONS, AND WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

With Changing Seasons, Comes Changed Perspectives

BY ALI SWEE Editor-in-Chief

Confession: I hate scary movies. Yet, conveniently, everyone I know, seems to be obsessed with them. So, somehow, I am always coerced into watching one. For me, that feeling of uneasiness when you’re not sure what’s going to happen next, who killed who, or whether or not she is actually dead is not necessarily comforting and/or thrilling.

Just scary.

Take Case 39. After watching it, my nightlight is now accompanied by the dim luminance of my pink touch lamp. Yes, I sleep with two lights on.

Embarrassing, I know. Fear is such a constant, sometimes we don’t even notice it. Whether it’s subconsciously locking our car doors before we even turn on the ignition or making sure our closet

door is shut every night for no apparent reason, fear settles into our bones and shakes us more than we even realize.

This time of year, fear immerses itself in the air.

Everywhere we go, we’re surrounded by fake blood, cobwebs and little kids dressed up as Michael Jackson. For some reason, the transition from the long summer days spent by the pool are overtaken by the dark nights haunted by thousands of daunting legends. There’s no rhyme or reason to it, but somehow, everything is scarier in October.

All of a sudden, the kid down the street who you babysit, rings your doorbell, arms stretched

day of risks.

Sure, the risks are minuscule. You’re really not in that much danger on Halloween. But nonetheless, every year, on October 31st, the autumn air catches an ominous, eerie chill and we embrace it.

We anticipate it. We, for the most part, love it.

Sometimes fear surrounds us, overwhelms us, suppresses us. It’s almost impossible to escape. We let it control us and it begins to take over our lives.

We wonder why we’re faced with so much stress and so little enjoyment.The fear of failing, fear of succeeding and everything in between overwhelms us.

In this issue, we tried to look deeper into our inherent fear of failing and combat it. I’ve realized over the years that sometimes failure isn’t the end all. Life goes on. Sure, it hurts when you fail a test. Actually, it stings and makes you want to just break down and cry. But as hard as it is to see, sometimes the fear of failing is so numbing that we don’t even give ourselves the chance to try.

So, why not live everyday like it’s October 31st?

Why not take a risk, embrace, anticipate and learn to combat our fears? Why not take a hint from the only girl who can single-handly sell out Arrowhead Stadium, Taylor Swift? Why not, just, simply be fearless?

“Sometimes the fear of failing is so numbing that we don’t even give ourselves the chance to try.” out, face smothered in white face paint and gushing fake blood. It’s the only day of the year we happily open our doors to hundreds of strangers, dressed as unidentifiable creatures and subordinately hand them candy. And we don’t think twice, it’s subconscious. A day when we drop all inhibitions and let anyone in our house. A day when we overlook our neighborhood differences and drop a handful of fun-sized milky ways into their overflowing bag. A

Le Journal is now online! Use your smartphone to see more on the Maison of the Month, Athlete of the Week and Teacher Spotlight!

Letters to the Editor

Le Journal welcomes letters submitted by readers. The staff reserves the right to edit length and minor grammatical errors, but the letter’s message will not be altered. The staff reserves the right to review letters and edit material that is inappropriate. Libelous, slanderous, or obscene letters will not be printed. Letters must be signed.

leJournal Le Journal

is the official publication of Notre Dame de Sion High School 10631 Wornall Rd., Kansas City, MO 64114.

Member Missouri Interscholastic Press Assoc.

National Scholastic Press Assoc.

Columbia Scholastic Press Assoc.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ali Swee FEATURES EDITOR Maura Eveld A&E EDITOR Delaney Bates

MANAGING EDITOR Taylor Escher

LAYOUT/DESIGN EDITOR EDITORIAL/NEWS EDITOR Emma Eveld Elizabeth Gianino SPORTS EDITOR Audrey Saracini

PHOTO EDITOR Lucy Gasal

PUBLICATIONS BOARD Michelle Olson Kay Walkup

ADVISER Alison Long

WEB-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Katie Mahoney

Ali Swee Taylor Escher

Melissa Wilcox Penny Selle

MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Emily DeCoursey REPORTERS Emma Grojean, Laura Travis, Victoria Kenner, Sarah Holland, Meg Cowan , Shannon Laird

Jane McCormack Carole Wall-Simmons

International Quill and Scroll

editorials

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Death by a Needle

Troy Davis Execution Resurrects the Death Penalty Issue in Today’s Society

BY EMMA EVELD

“To take it as a faith issue,” religion teacher Bonnie Haghirian said. “Jesus raised the bar when he told us that an ‘eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth’ was not his way. He asks us to love our enemies.”

Supporters of the death penalty claim that killing the murderer teaches others Why do we kill people who kill people to show that killing people is a lesson and decreases crime. But many who have studied the issue, including the wrong?

National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty, Whoa. Did you process that? Read it again. say it is not a deterrent.

It might seem complicated, but the message is The Death Penalty Information Center clear. What are we possibly teaching people states that 88 percent of the country’s top crimiby killing others? In my opinion, absolutely nologists do not believe the death penalty acts nothing. as a deterrent to homicide. According to the On Sept. 21, Troy Davis was executed for American Civil Liberties Union, when police shooting and killing an off-duty police officer in officers were asked what they thought were the Savannah, Ga., 22 years ago. In those 22 years, best actions to deter crime, they ranked the he came close to execution three times. death penalty as the least effective.

Before his first execution date in 2007 and The long court processes make executhe second in 2008, people such as Archbishop tions wildly expensive. In fact, executions cost Desmond Tutu and Pope Benedict XVI made far more than keeping a murderer in prison or appeals to spare his life. The U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals received a petition with 140,000 sig- Supporters of Troy Davis gather across the road from Georgia’s death on parole, according to the Commission on the natures asking the court to intervene. The ex- row prison in Jackson, Georgia, Wednesday, September 21, 2011. Fair Administration of Justice. The extra costs of executions are paid for by American taxpayers. ecution was put on hold.

(Photo from Mike Haskey/Columbus Ledger-Enquirer/MCT) It’s more than an uneasy feeling to know that my But on Sept. 17, more than 600,000 signaparents’ taxes are supporting executions. tures were presented to Georgia’s Board of Pardons and Paroles to ask for We need to make our opinions known. Start talking to people about your clemency, and it was denied. beliefs on the death penalty. Also, make your opinion known to government lead Throughout those 22 years, Davis had claimed that he was innocent. ers such as your U.S. representative, senators, governor and other local political Innocent or guilty, killing the man was wrong. I am not alone in beleaders. On the NCADP’s website, you can browse to find your state so you can get lieving that the death penalty is immoral and hypocritical. involved locally.

“If we execute a criminal, how does that make us any better (than the Next time when you hear about a death penalty case, realize a life is being killer),” freshman Maura Healy said. taken. Innocent or guilty, a life is a life.

The death penalty is wrong on many counts: It violates our faith prin “Life is precious,” freshman Mary B. Freeman said. ciples, it doesn’t deter homicides and it’s too costly for American taxpayers.

Everyone deserves the chance to live.

Catholic doctrine opposes the death penalty. Its teachings call us to proclaim life at every level, from conception to natural death, according to Catholics Against Capital Punishment.

News/Editorial Editor

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The Beats that Changed a Nation

A Critical Look at the Rap Genre’s Negative Influence on Our Society

BY ALI SWEE Editor-in-Chief

Pulsating. Pumping. Vibrating.

Throbbing. The beats that make a 1997 Toyota Corolla bounce violently.

The beats that doubt the government and destroy political campaigns. The beats that give men the upper hand and send women to domestic abuse shelters. The beats that cause drive by shootings and promote illegal drug use. The beats that change our moral compass.

In the 1980s, a new genre of music emerged, known as “rap.” It featured a predominately African-American male scene and carefully crafted lyrics woven amongst throbbing beats. An instant hit. Within the last 30 years, the music that once intrigued the nation has taken a dramatic turn, for the worst. Tales of successful artists’ careers ruined by the pull of a trigger and the slamming of prison bars.

Once a genre of hope and opportunity has become haunted by violence, drugs and degradation. And with the release of Soulja Boy’s newest single, “Let’s be real” once again brings to question the ethics behind the pulsating beats.

Not only has the music industry been affected by the degenerating rap music scene, but also society. One of the hardest hit victims of it all? The United States Government.

The origin of much of the controversy, rapper Common wrote “A Song for Assata,” which glorifies a convicted cop-killer and former Black

Panther Assata Shakur.

Then, there’s Soulja Boy. His newest song, “Let’s be Real”, features horrifyingly anti-American lyrics, such as “---- the F.B.I.” and “---- all the Army troops.”

Finally, there’s Ludacris. In 2008, he released a song blasting Hillary Clinton and remarking that “McCain don’t belong in any chair unless he’s paralyzed.”

Regardless of where you lean politically, as Americans, we are obligated to give and receive respect, especially to those serving and protecting our country. For those sitting at home, praying everyday for their solider to return safely and every family of a cop that has died on duty, these lyrics are not only offensive, but hit painfully close to home.

Another victim of rap’s vengeful wrath: women. As students at a prestigious all-girls school, we should not succumb to rap’s degradation of women. Here, we are taught that we deserve respect and equality. Rap teaches the exact opposite. Often times, rap portrays women as nothing less than an object.

Songs like Ludacris’ “Money Maker”, Nelly’s “Tip Drill” and Snopp Dogg’s “Ain’t No Fun” completely alienate women and exploit their sexuality, rather than placing value upon them.

Then, there’s Eminem. Hundreds of hit songs, thousands of degrading lyrics. There’s the song “Love the Way You Lie,” which spotlights domestic

abuse, “Superman” which highlights the wonderful world of promiscuous women and “Kim” which depicts his real life ex-wife’s suicide attempt.

Rap’s final victim? Us. The teenagers.

The ones who listen, scream out the lyrics and continue the whole painful cycle. Rap has begun to influence teenagers more than we begin to imagine. The theme of violence is so omnipresent in every rap song that it’s almost impossible to ignore.

How can we look up to these men, who act like monsters? The ones who beat their wives, abuse their children and shoot the innocent.

So it’s no surprise that rap artists have the highest incarceration rate out of any musical genre according to thedefendersonline.com. A strikingly, alarming statistic of which we all should be aware. Famous rappers, like Lil’ Wayne and T.I. have even gained more notoriety from their incarcerations.

So think twice about pushing play on Lil Wayne’s “Tha Carter IV” album.

Maybe sometimes we need to pause the rap music and try something new.

We need to stop commending the men who put down our government, our women and advocate violence.

Instead, we need to turn on uplifting songs, the ones that make us strive for a better society. By simply turning off the pounding beats, the ones urging us to shoot a cop or beat up a woman, we can change society for the better, one lyric at a time.

“

Grammy award winning rapper Ludacris, performs during a taping for a video for upand-coming rapper Sheldon Bullock, known as Small World, 25, at left, August 4, 2007, in Raleigh, North Carolina.(Corey Lowenstein/ Raleigh News & Observer/MCT)

I think rap music can be postive at times because sometimes they have interesting thoughts and ideas. While some rappers rap about negative topics, I think that there is always some lesson to it. This can be positive to our society because it can influence us in a good way.

-Gigi Failoni, freshman

”

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Rap’s Controversial Trio

Rapper, Common, poses during his second performance in the Coca-Cola Superlounge during the 2007 Essence Music Festival in New Orleans, Louisiana, Saturday, July 7, 2007. (Katina Revels/Detroit Free Press/ MCT)

Do You Think Rap Music has had a Postive or Negative Impact on Society?

I think some rap music is okay but some of it, actually most, can be degrading to women. In rap women are seen as objects. I don’t think it has had a postitive effect.

”

-Lauren O’Bannon, junior

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Eminem performs at Lollapalooza Sunday, August 7, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. (Lenny Gilmore/RedEye/MCT)

Possibly Both. Music has the power to enlighten people and give them a good attitude, but some of the types of music out there could be harmful.

Younger kids sing anything they hear on the radio and the lyrics are sometimes pretty vulgar.

”

-Megan Heydon, senior editorials

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National Merit Announced

Girls Receive Commended and Semifinalist Awards Looking Back 100 years in honor of Sion’s 100th Birthday 5 October 1911

Jack Daniel, distiller and businessman died from blood poisoning.

BY SARAH HOLLAND Reporter Seniors Laura Camarata, Rachel Fenimore, and Mary Crowe have achieved National Merit status by earning high scores on the PSAT. Camarata is a Semifinalist while Fenimore and Crowe are Commended. These girls continue the tradition of Sion girls receiving these honors.

“This is Sion’s 43rd consecutive year of National

10 October 1911

California men voted and narrowly gave women the right to vote.

24 October 1911

Orville Wright set a gliding record of 9 minutes and 40 seconds in the Outer Banks, NC at an altitude of 150 feet.

Record held until 1970.

Clarence M. Kelley, FBI Director 1973-1978 was born in Kansas City Missouri.

29 October 1911

Joseph Pulitzer died at 64 of a heart attack. He created the Pulitzer prize and published the Journal World.

From Top to Bottom, Left to Right: Laura Camarata, Mary Crowe, and Rachel Fenimore. (Photo by Sarah Holland)

Merit Recognition. Our goal is for continued success annually, “ Kay Walkup, Academic Dean, said.

As a Semifinalist, Camarata is one of about 16,000 students nationwide that is a high scorer from their individual state. She has the chance to go on and become a Finalist.

“Sion is a very competitive school when compared to other high schools, but also within our own halls,” Camarata said. “I really think that selfpropelled drive can’t be anything but useful in the future, for me, and for all of us.”

Fenimore and Crowe will not continue on in competition, but are candidates for special scholarships sponsored by corporations and businesses.

“Receiving this award has opened many doors for me and many colleges are interested in me that I never thought about looking into,” Fenimore said.

“For the girls looking to be a National Merit Scholar, I would tell them to take it seriously.”

She recently visited the University of San Diego and asked a pre-med student what he’d do differently in high school. He said that he’d try harder on the PSAT because of all the opportunities that become available. “[To prepare for the PSAT] practice questions, get familiar with the test, relax, eat well, and stay positive and confident,” Karen Phillips, guidance counselor, said.

Books Behind Bars

Banned Books Week Breaks Down Barriers

BY ELIZABETH GIANINO Layout Editor

From the caution taped doors to the restricted book displays, libraries across the nation, have participated in what is referred to as ‘Banned Books Week’. For the first time Sion participated in this nationwide event, recognizing acts of censorship in a more in-depth approach. Typically falling on the last week of September, the event is strictly devoted toward the free access of information.

“Freedom of speech is important to the First Amendment rights,” Librarian Jennifer Campbell said. “It focuses on what it means to be an American.”

So why did Campbell encourage Sion to participate in Banned Books Week? As a librarian, she feels it is extremely important for people to utilize their freedom to read and develop as a human being.

“People don’t realize that restricting books is a common theme. Banned Books Week raises an awareness that this issue always goes on,” Campbell said. “If anything, people are more likely to read the restricted books.

The restriction process involves two major steps. First, someone challenges the book. Recently, the top two causes for restriction are whether or

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not the book contains sexually explicit or offensive language. Then the governing body makes the final decision. In a school predicament, the principal and school board have the final say.

Cracking this issue, Sion students have participated in this event by expressing their feelings toward this matter, analyzing the displayed books, and simply sparking interest. Book club members created a personal silhouette, describing any thoughts regarding the banning of books beneath it.

“I feel restricting books is unethical,” book club member Allie Lampo said. “Just because a few people are too immature to handle certain scenarios, doesn’t mean other people in society should be deprived of those specific books.”

Books that have gone through attempted bans include: To Kill a Mockingbird, 1984, and The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian, many of which have been required for the Sion English curriculum. Even the Harry Potter Series and the Dictionary have posed conflicts.

“The Banned Books Week’s purpose is to empower people and to maintain freedom of speech,” Campbell said. “In order to be a well rounded human being, you have to expose yourself to information, analyze it, and have a thought process about it.”

The library participated in Banned Books Week by placing caution tape on the library doors and books that have been banned. (Photo by Elizabeth Gianino)

Fair Trade

Ten-Thousand Villages

BY KATIE MAHONEY Web Editor

October is Fair Trade Month and for Ten Thousand Villages employee Martha Brox in Overland Park, it is a time of celebration and thanksgiving for fair-trade and ending third-world poverty. Ten Thousand Villages is a store based on a national organization that buys from thousands of poverty stricken countries around the world, to keep women working and children in school and away from factories and unfair treatment.

“Fair trade helps against social unrest. We’re caring about the person at the lowest end of the society,” Brox said.

Representative from Ten-Thousand Villages, Martha Brox, discusses benefits of fair trade for sophomore religion classes. (Photo by Victoria Kenner)

Harvesting Young Futures

Children Expand Knowledge on Healthy Lifestyles

BY MEG COWAN

Taking care of a large garden can be hard work, as the children can attest. However, everyone steps up to the plate to help contribute to the community Hiding within the hustle and bustle of down- garden. Amy George, another garden coordinator town Kansas City lies an organic, pesticide-free gar- and school nurse, said that it takes a lot of hard den. Tomatoes, green beans, lettuce and broccoli are work and that they couldn’t do it without help. just some of the vegetables that flourish out of these “Of course it takes time and extra effort which is wooden-boxed beds. This green spot is located deep led in great part by a super enthusiastic and dediin an urban neighborhood and home to the Sion cated parent, Sydney Evans,” George said. grade school.

Evans helped es Twenty-two boxes filled tablish a group of inwith dirt, fruits and vegterested parents and etables are evenly spaced teachers, who volunthroughout the garden. Each teer to work in the grade manages a bed, in garden. This garden which they tend their grade’s committee also works specific plant.

Saturday mornings “My daughter came home during the summer.

-Annie Riggs, Garden Coordinator last week talking non-stop The students are about how her kindergarten also encouraged to class got to harvest radishes, work and enjoy the spinach and green peppers. Each child got to bring garden with their parents. This way, they are exhome what they picked,” Annie Riggs, garden coor- posed to new foods. dinator and Spanish teacher, said.

“Kids are supposed to like mac and cheese, chick Not only do these children get to participate in the en nuggets and pizza right? Just look at any kid’s growing and harvesting of fresh plants, they get to menu and that’s all that is listed,” Riggs said. participate in preparing and serving the vegetables The garden helps encourage kids to enjoy healthy during lunch. foods. The children at the grade school have been One grade prepared acorn squash. The children exposed to a whole new lifestyle filled with healthy cleaned, roasted and helped prepare acorn squash eating. The garden has many positive benefits, insoup, which they served to all the students at lunch cluding supplying foods for lunch, and expanding that day. the knowledge of eating healthy.

“Almost all the kids tasted the soup that day, but “If our kids never see us eating a salad, or whole not everyone liked it,” Riggs said. grain bread, why should they try it?” Riggs asked.

Reporter

“If our kids never see us eating a salad, or whole grain bread, why should they try it?”

Palestine Fights For Rights

Palestine Turns to United Nations for Help But Israel Wants Negotiation

BY MAURA EVELD Features Editor

In its quest for statehood, Palestine submitted an application September 23 to receive full membership in the United Nations.

Ahmed Awad, Palestinian refugee and father of sophomore Neda Awad, said the Palestinians hope for statehood because they want independence and autonomy.

“They do not want to be ruled by an occupier or a foreign nation; they want to have their own sovereignty,” Awad said. “It is time for the Israelis to give some concessions and allow the Palestinians to live side by side with the Israelis.”

Lilach Nissim, the Israeli emissary of Greater Kansas City, said most Israelis today accept and agree with the idea of a Palestinian state, but Israelis are bothered by Palestine’s United Nations approach.

“We want it [a Palestinian state] as a part of true negotiation,” Nissim said.

The proposed state of Palestine includes land that has been under Israeli control since the Arab-Israeli

War of 1967: East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza. The most difficult problem is what to do with Israelis who have settled in disputed areas after 1967 and how to relocate Israelis who live outside of proposed new borders, Model United Nations Club sponsor Mary Murphy said.

Israel also wants to retain total control of Jerusalem because it is home of the Western Wall and what Nissim said is the most sacred place in the world for Jews.

Israelis also worry that the Palestinians are not sending peaceful messages to the next generation.

“The main problem is trust,” Nissim said.

In order to be promoted to United Nations status of full membership, Palestine needs nine out of 15 votes in the Security Council, Murphy said. However, the United States promises to veto any such application.

A longtime ally of Israel, the United States agrees with Israel that the best way to fix Palestine-Israeli tension is for Palestine to negotiate with Israel rather than approach the United Nations, Murphy said. But this veto may weaken the United States’

reputation among other Arab nations.

“The reaction from the Palestinians to the United States’ stance has been clear long ago. Disappointing, to say the least,” Awad said. “When the majority of the world agrees for an independent Palestine, the United States threatens with the veto.”

If vetoed, Palestine’s next move could be to vie for status as a non-member state, which requires a two-thirds majority vote in the General Assembly, Murphy said.

“Nobody can tell exactly what will happen,” Nissim said.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas speaks before the United Nations General Assembly in New York City, Friday, September 23, 2011. (Dennis Van Tine/Abaca Press/MCT)

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XC Freshmen Contribute to Success

Coach Middleton is Pleasantly Surprised by Freshmen Turnout this Fall Season

BY VICTORIA KENNER

workout which is either seven miles, five hard miles, mile repeats, pole workouts, or hills. Then Tuesday is a long recovery day, which is usually about six

Taking that last gasp of air, freshman Molly miles. Thursdays we do an Avila hill run, which is McCarthy, runs across the finish line at the Excelsior five miles. We finish off on Friday, which is usually Springs Invitational, finishing 14th. McCarthy is one the day before a meet, with a church run, which is of the few freshman that have been selected to run an easy four,” McCarthy said.

Not only does McCarthy train hard, she makes varsity. Though the varsity team changes with each race, the freshman runners have proved their place sure to stay hydrated, eat healthy, and get plenty of rest along with the rest of the team. McCarthy said on the team.

“The freshman have such a positive outlook the cross country team has really bonded.

“I absolutely love the team. We think of ourwith our team. The entire team is so close (all class- selves as a cult, and we can talk for hours. Cross es), and we all support each country is one of the only sports other,” McCarthy said. “The “Mid always puts where you can basically talk the seniors have been a strong backbone for us freshman. his runners first. He entire time you practice. We learn about each other’s lives They have given us tips and will never push us and share stories while we are pointers on meets and running that have helped each one farther than he knows busy running six miles or so,” McCarthy said. of us.” we are capable of,”

Running right next

Reynold Middleton or -Julianna Steilen, Freshman to McCarthy, fellow freshman Coach Mid, the cross country Julianna Steilen, also agrees the coach, had a pleasant surprise team is close and connected, which helps them do at tryouts this summer.

“With cross country you never know if the better. Steilen places most of the freshmen success freshmen will be able to fill the spots of the seniors on Middleton’s coaching.

“Mid always puts his runners first. He will nevwe lost. It’s a very hit and miss sport, and this year er push us farther than he knows we are capable of,” was definitely a hit,” Middleton said.

This year Middleton said he plans to make sure Steilen said.

Though the team may have several successful the team works hard and has fun. He will be happy freshmen, the seniors and upperclassmen are also with whatever results from their hard work.

Middleton has a precise workout schedule for a big part of the winning team. Middelton said the team is strong and he is looking forward to the the whole team McCarthy said.

“On Mondays and Wednesdays we do a hard growth of younger members of the team.

Reporter

Weekly Workout Monday: 8 miles Morning: 3 Afternoon: 5

Tuesday: 10 miles Morning: 3 Afternoon: 7

Wednesday: 8 miles Morning: 3 Afternoon: 5

Thursday: 8 miles Morning: 3 Afternoon: 5

Friday: 7 miles Morning: 3 Afternoon: 4

Saturday: 3 miles Race Day: 3

Drawings by MCT Campus

Unlikely Team Member

Tennis Team Totes Bizarre, Adopted Good Luck Charm to Tournaments

BY AUDREY SARACINI Sports Editor

Sophomore team member Kamryn Schropp introduces Sasporumpet as the team mascot. (Picture by Audrey Saracini)

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It was the crack heard around the court.

After the match on September 16 at Minor Park courts when freshmen Savannah Oddo defeated a Kickapoo player, the Sion tennis team hoisted Oddo in the air.

They handed her Sasporumpet (sas-poor-umpet), a preserved shark in a jar, as her prize. She held him out victoriously until suddenly, he fell. He tumbled to the ground and bounced off the pavement.

A gasp released from all the players in unison.

But no worries, the shark recovered and reassumed its rightful place as the “unofficial” mascot of the tennis team. Yes, a shark in a jar has nothing to do with tennis but it has become a symbol of the team that started with a joke just two years ago.

“One day I brought Sas to school just to freak

people out,” senior manager Mary Crowe said. “But I ended up taking him to tennis that day and everyone thought it was really funny.”

Sasporumpet has become such a permanent member of the team that he even appeared in the tennis team picture this year, and was with them up to their last match against Barstow that ended the team’s journey to state.

“At first I thought Mary was crazy when she told me the shark brings special powers to the team, but I was wrong,” coach Karen O’Neill said. “Our team is full of such great girls that we will really miss our seniors next year.”

With or without Sasporumpet the team still has their record this year. They made it to the last round of districts and still have individuals at state to go.

Even with the end of team’s state competition, the team has found a way to stay unified and confident. Even if it is with a dehydrated, baby shark.

An Exchange of Interest

Sion’s Daring German Exchange Student Opens up to a New and Unfamiliar Sport

BY EMMA GROJEAN Reporter On her own, and up to her; German exchange student Pia Keienburg switches from the self-dependent sport of tennis and becomes a team player in a foreign country and a foreign sport.

She is comfortable with tennis, and she has a lot of experience with it, but Keienburg wanted to try something different when she came to the United States.

“I think that any sport you play will open you up to many new people and help a lot with making friends,” Keienburg said.

Keienburg did not know anything about softball before she tried it, but now she talks about wanting to play when she returns home. By joining the softball team, Keienburg has met many new people.

“Pia warmed up to the softball team and was having fun with her teammates in no time,” Head Coach Kurt Morrison said, “the softball kids really took her under their wing and tried to encourage and help her every chance they got.”

The softball girls, all involved in making Keienburg feel comfortable and at home in such a vastly different place, played a huge part in her game improvement.

“We were all so excited, last week in the JV game Pia hit her first ball and then continued on to first base,” junior Maddie Roederer said.

In Germany, many of her friends are also participating in foreign exchange programs. One of Keienburg’s good friends, who lives in Kansas City, is the reason Keienburg decided to come to Notre Dame de Sion.

Sion bound, Pia Keienburg departed Bonn, Germany and took the seven hour flight to New

York City. After a few days of sight-seeing and walking around New York, Keienburg boarded the next flight to the Kansas City International Airport. She left her only brother, mother and father to join a family with plenty of members to make up for her loss.

The Healy family was paired up with Keienburg only two weeks before her departure date, though she had signed up for the exchange program almost a year before.

“I was a little nervous, but not much. I was mainly really excited,” Keienburg said.

Keienburg was welcomed by a family of seven on August 15. Her first day of school, along with all of the other incoming sophomores, began just two days later.

“Not only has she learned more about softball, but she has also taught the team so many things, especially German. She is improving rapidly at the sport as well as enjoying her time learning at Sion,” Roederer said.

Back home in Bonn. Germany, Keienburg goes to a coed school with no uniforms.

“It is really nice getting up in the morning and not having to worry about what to wear, but also one outfit can be kind of boring,” Keienburg said.

Keienburg is working hard on the junior varsity team, and is always there to help cheer on and support her varsity teammates.

“Here is a young lady without the background in softball, as many of our kids have, out there day in day out giving it all she has... Very contagious in a great way,” said Morrison.

The team’s 17-8 season ended with a loss to Belton in the district championship. The team had become so close that after their final game, no one wanted to leave. The teammates stayed after, reminiscing on their season.

On a long anticipated Senior night, Junior Jodie Rellihan and Sophomore Pia Keienburg cheer on their teammates from the dugout. (Photo by Sarah Holland)

“It’s rare to have a team with that strong of a connection and Pia was a big part of why the connection was so strong on this years’ team,” Assistant Coach Jared Pitts said.

The softball season has officially ended, but Keienburg’s stay has not. She will stay in Kansas City, and at Sion, until the first of February then she will say goodbye to all her swiftly made friends, and return home.

“Pia has definitely made an impact on my life.

Softball brought us together, and friendship will keep us communicating.” Roederer said.

Softball For Dummies Five terms to remember when getting into the softball swing.

◆◆ Change-up – a pitch thrown deceptively slow to surprise the batter.

◆◆ Sacrifice - A batter strategically hits the ball

into an out situation to advance or score a runner.

Usually a “sacrifice bunt” or “sacrifice fly.”

◆◆ Run - The point scored when a batter or base runner advances to home plate. ◆◆ Ducks on the Pond - Runners on 2nd and 3rd base, but especially when the bases are loaded. ◆◆ Strike - As called by the umpire, a pitch that

enters the strike zone in flight and is not struck at by the batter; a pitch that a batter swings at and misses; a foul ball.

◆◆ Lay One Down - To purposely bunt the ball.

Senior Jessica Benninghof pitches the ball on senior night to their opponent Oak Grove High School. Junior Maddie Roederer awaits an oncoming batter at first base. Sion beat Oak Grove High School 5-4. (Photo by Maura Eveld)

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F

I L A

A Bump on the Road of Success

F

Layout and Story By: Shannon Laird and Laura Travis

ailure is perceived as something terrible. But is it really? Family therapist Mary Helen Dennihan believes that people are afraid of not living up to the expectations they and other people hold for them. Society raises us in the belief that making mistakes, not being perfect all the time, is something to be avoided at all costs. Le Journal wanted to find out if failing can actually teach us how to

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succeed.

L

R E U

ww

Failure toolbox Use These Tools to Bounce Back from Failure*:

p lure, ste i a f m o lf fr do e yourse ou can Distanc analyze what y dwelld er than . h t a back an r e rong ext tim better n what you did w ing on Don’t give up o n something yo u love, even if yo u aren’t great at it. Do what mak es you happy and just work tw ice as hard. ne ure doesn’t defi Remember fail is perspective. Th you. Keep it in your identity. is a failure, not *Tips from Cynthia Schendel, Licensed Specialist Clinical Social Worker

M

Junior Annie McKenzie concentrates during class as she works on an assignment. McKenzie said her hardest subject is English. (Photo by Victoria Kenner)

ath teacher Reynold Middleton is walking around the classroom. The moment has come.

He is passing back the final test of the quarter. The test that will decide your fate. The test that you spent hours studying for into the early morning with only Starbucks, your homework corrections you actually did even though you didn’t get a grade for it, and your iPod to keep you sane. The only motivation in the back of your mind is the hope that all your hard work will pay off.

This test has the potential to make or break your grade. Your GPA could plummet. Your college dreams could go down the drain if you do not do well. Middleton approaches your desk, pulls your test off the top of the stack, and drops it face down in front of you. You turn over the paper with anticipation of reward for all your labor only to see a big D+ written on the top of the paper in bright red ink.

Questions begin to flood your mind. How could this happen? Why is it even happening? You put everything you had into studying for this test. You double checked every answer. All of that hard work was for nothing. You put so much into this test, and it didn’t pay off one bit. You feel like life is over. You feel like giving up. You feel like a failure.

Failure can be defined as an act of failing or lack of success, but it is so much more than that.

“It’s the pressure to be better than you already are,” sophomore Lilly Schaffer said.

At first, failure can seem like the end of the (Continued on page 12)

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11

If at first you don't succeed...

Sophomores in English 2 Honors listen to their teacher, Melissa Wilcox, as she teaches about The Crucible. (Photo

by Meg Cowan)

world. It can seem like nothing you do is good enough.

But there are two ways anyone can respond to failure: you can get caught up in your losses, or you can rebound from it and learn from the experience.

According to sophomore Kristine Sullivan, failure can either tear a person down or make them stronger. It is all about perspective.

But what causes that fear of failure? For some, such as junior Bethany Barber, it’s that pressure society constantly puts on perfecting our human flaws.

For others, such as sophomore Hanna Meek, it’s that constant comparison to older siblings, needing to follow in their footsteps. But whatever the cause, the fear of failure is a very real thing in every person’s life.

“We live in a society where failure is not an option,” guidance counselor Erika Ellwanger said.

Nevertheless, failure gives us the opportunity to grow, to change, to build ourselves up, to learn to get knocked down and jump right back up again. It’s all about the effort you put into something before you fail at it.

“If you don’t try, you don’t fail,” Math teacher Marilyn Dreas said. “It’s what we do with our failures that defines us.”

A study completed at Riverdale Country School in New York City, N.Y. proved that character really does have an impact in a person’s ability to bounce back from disappointments.

According to David Levin, co-founder of Knowledge Is Power Program network of charter schools in New York, students with strong character traits such as optimism, persistence, and social intelligence are more likely to succeed in college.

These students were not necessarily the ones

Junior Chris Flucke works hard on homework during her study hall. Flucke said her hardest subject is Algebra 2. (Photo by Lucy Gasal)

Despite Great Failures Steve Jobs Had Many Great Successes (Photo by MCT Campus)

“...all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure - these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked.

There is no reason not to follow your heart.”

- Steve Jobs, 2005 Stanford commencement speech

Steven Paul Jobs was born February 24, 1955 and was adopted by Clara Jobs, an accountant, and Paul Jobs, a Coast Guard veteran in Mountain View, Ca.

He dropped out of college after six months.

Jobs began his career developing video games for Atari.

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In 1976, he started Apple with his close friend Steve Wozniak. The company soon went downhill after four years and Jobs was forced to retire from Apple.

In 1986, Jobs bought an animation studio from George Lucas which later became Pixar Animation Studios.

In 1997, Jobs returned to his CEO position at

Apple and began his series of “i” products like the “iMac”, the “iPod” and the “iPhone.”

In 2001, doctors discovered pancreatic cancer which they believed they had removed in a 2004 surgery.

On October 5, 2011 Jobs died at the age of 56 after a recurrence of his cancer.

(According to Biography.Com)

O t h e r S u c c e s s f u l fa i l u r e s :

Before Jordan was known as one of the greatest basketball players of all time, he was cut from his high school team. But he persevered and knows what it takes to be the best.

“I have missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I have lost almost 300 games.

On 26 occasions I have been entrusted to take the game winning shot, and I missed.

I have failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”

J. K. Rowling

Walt Disney

Although everyone knows Rowling as one of the richest women in the world from her Harry Potter book series and the bookinspired movies, she was nearly penniless before she published.

Today, everyone knows Disney from the multitude of amusement parks, merchandise and movies.

“You are not finished if you lose, you are finished

She had recently been divorced, was putting herself through school and trying to raise a child on her own while writing a novel. She went from surviving on welfare to one of the wealthiest people of our time in a span of Eventually he found Hollywood and the only five years. secret to his success.

...try, try again. who received the best grades in high school, but they were the kids who learned to easily recover from a fight with their parents or a bad test score and knew to stay at home on a Friday night to study rather than go to the movies, Levin said.

They learned the importance of getting help from professors early in their educational careers and actively sought that help as college students.

Failure can give you the chance to learn about yourself, your strengths and weaknesses. And, let’s face it, teenagers are already confused and stressed enough. Why make it worse on yourself? As guidance counselor Karen Phillips said, failure gives us room to grow in ourselves. It is unrealistic to think that someone will never experience failure, but high school is the training ground for it. Embrace mistakes, learn from them, become better at being authentically you.

“If you don’t know how to do something wrong, how do you know how to do something right?” junior Mary Grace Adkins said.

Many times, the fear of failing can prevent us from actually reaching our goals. According to Susan Youngsman, a financial advisor in Seattle, Wash., the significance of events in our lives does not come from what we do, but from what we learn about ourselves in the process. It is important to remember that failing can propel us to a more rewarding achievement if we let it.

“You are not finished if you lose, you are finished if you quit,” sophomore Michelle King said.

Failure is a mental game. It is all about persevering and finding something that is worth the disappointment once you reach the goal. Mistakes make us stronger every day. At the end of the day, every failure we have encountered and overcome brings us one step closer to the success we had been aiming for from the beginning.

But he was fired from his first newspaper artist job because “he lacked imagination and had no good ideas.” He then started several businesses that failed and ended up in bankruptcy.

- American educator Thomas H. Palmer 1840

“Don’t be disappointed in failures,” English teacher Melissa Wilcox said. “It’s healthy to make mistakes. Learning is a process. Our goal is to succeed, but most of all to be happy.”

Failure is just one step on the roadus to success. You will fail many times before you reach success. This may be hard to see especially when you are staring down at that big fat D+ on the math test Middleton plopped on your desk. However, looking closer, you see that on the second problem you forgot to put the negative sign on one of the answers.

You flip over the paper and see that on another problem you added wrong throwing the rest of it off.

How did you not catch that when you looked over your test?

You look at the rest of your test, calm down from the initial shock of that ugly red letter on the top of the front page, and really think about what happened.

You start to think about those long hours you spent studying and realize there is a small chance they were intermixed with an episode or two of Glee along the way. You also realize that ‘into all hours of the morning’ may not count considering you crashed around 1:30 a.m. even with your Starbucks.

You realize that you made a few mistakes.

Fortunately, you now know what went wrong and learned that probably watching Glee is not the best idea when you have a big Midd test coming up.

These are things you will probably not do again next time you have a Midd test. And that big fat D+ will serve as a reminder and motivation to work harder.

Your failure in the form of bright red ink will stick with you for a long time, but it will serve as a reminder that failure teaches us how to learn and puts us back on the right track when we swerve away from the road of long term success.

to Success “In order to succeed, your desire for success should be greater than your fear of failure.”

-Bill Cosby, actor “Success is one percent inspirtation, ninety-nine percent perspiration.”

-Thomas Edison, inventor “Defeat is not the worst of failures. Not to have tried is the true failure.”

-George Edward Woodberry, author “There is only one success-to be able to spend your life in your own way.”

-Christopher Morley, author

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Michael Jordan

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13

Now Playing: Footloose

What’s Happening in

KansasCity?

“What My Husband Doesn’t Know” Music Hall of KC 10/21-10/22 Straight No Chaser Midland

10/23

KC Chiefs vs.

San Diego Chargers Arrowhead 10/31 The Cake Boss: Buddy Valastro Midland

11/7

The Enchanted Forest Exposition Overland Park Convention Center 11/10-11/13 Guns ‘N Roses Sprint Center 11/12

Obnoxious Character Shouldn’t Stop You from Seeing this Movie

“There’s a time for dance and the time is now.”

Footloose is a current rendition of an old classic that gets the whole

BY TAYLOR ESCHER audience excited to Managing Editor join in the dancing. This movie kept me laughing with its hilarious dialogue and kept my toes tapping.

Five years before the story takes place, five teenagers were killed in a car accident involving, alcohol, loud music, and a dance party. So, the town of Beaumont implemented rules prohibiting these things and imposing an 11:00 p.m. weekend curfew on the teenagers. Ren MacCormack, played by Kenny Wormald, moves to Beaumont and is stunned by the strict rules. Ren finds comfort in his new friend Willard, played by Miles Teller, and buddies from the football team. He also meets Ariel, played by Julianne Hough, the daughter of the town minister. Ariel is rebellious and loves breaking the rules. In the end, Ren and Ariel shake up the town of Beaumont.

The New Facebook: Google Plus

Has the New Google Plus Taken Over the Facebook Scene?

Anything Goes Sion Musical 11/17-11/21 Twilight Saga Breaking Dawn: Part 1 11/18 University of Kansas vs University of Missouri Arrowhead 11/23 Sion’s Thanksgiving Break 11/23-11/25

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entertainment

The movie was exciting. The dia- is an obnoxious character and I was logue was comical, such as the way wishing Ren wouldn’t stay with her in Ariel’s boyfriend said, “touché” and the end of the movie, because she’s not the whole audience was cracking up at worth it.

Willard and his bad dance moves. The Okay, so if you disregard the ircontemporary setting kept the movie ritating character of Ariel, this movie fresh and updated. The music was really improves upon the original. You pretty much equal to the original and might even find yourself practicing I was struggling to stop myself from the dance moves in the restrooms at dancing in my seat. the movie theater (guilty) and singing When you are not laughing at the the songs with the music blasting from jokes and puns or trying to control your car, as many groups of moms did your dance moves, you are scoffing at afterwards. Go see Footloose on a Ariel. Ariel is such a rebellious char- rainy day or if you’re in a bad mood, acter and instead of admiring her, I it’ll pull you out of any slump. found myself cringing at her accent, *See LeJournalLive for insider interviews almost non-existent clothing, and bad decisions. Craig Brewer, director, keeps Ariel consistent with the original movie but plays up her attitude way too much.

At one point in the movie, Ariel is standing on a train track as a train is rushing toward her and doesn’t move until Ren pushes her out of the way. Then she follows up with asking him if he wants to kiss her. What?

She has a boyfriend who is a 30-year-old ruffian who has no goals in life Performing the final dance, Ariel played by Julianne except to get drunk and Hough and Ren played by Kenny Wormald in the new race cars. Cool. Ariel version of Footloose. (Photo from Paramount Pictures)

BY EMMA EVELD

News/Editorial Editor

After school activities: Grab a snack. Upload pictures from last Saturday onto Facebook. Do a smidgen of homework. Post the hilarious new video you found on your best friend’s Facebook wall. Tweet about the awkward moment in English class today.

Millions of teenagers are engaging in social networking sites, the most popular being Facebook and Twitter.

Internet companies aren’t stopping there, though. A new social networking site, Google Plus, has just made its entrance.

Google Plus twists Facebook and Twitter into one. A feature called “Circles” allows users to group their friends. In these circles, people can

disable others from seeing what they post. In simpler terms, people can categorize their friends.

For some, it’s a solution to the “I don’t want to be friends with my mom” issue. Google Plus allows teenagers to be friends with their parents, while keeping some posts out of sight.

The “Hangout” option is basically video chat, similar to Facebook’s, but with Google Plus, users can video chat with up to 10 people at a time.

Google Plus’ “Sparks” allows users to name their interests, and their friends can make comments on these interests according to their circle settings.

“I don’t have a Google Plus. I might get one soon,” sophomore Mary Sizemore said. “Truthfully, I’m getting kind of tired of Facebook and

their new update doesn’t make me happy. If enough of my friends go to Google Plus, I probably will, too, just so I can keep up with them, events, and pictures.”

There are about 25 million Google Plus users currently, according to Google estimates. Compare that to 800 million Facebook users and Twitter’s 200 million tweeters.

“My first thought was ‘Geeze, it took me forever to shift my network of people from Myspace to Facebook’I’m getting too old for this,” Ellen Carmody, director of Sion’s technology services, said.

While Google Plus may become a serious contender with Facebook and Twitter, a major drawback may be whether people have time to set one up and use it.

MyLifeIs Awkward...

Awkward Phrase of the Day: AWKtober 31st

“My whole eighth grade class went over to a friend’s house for a Halloween party. My friend and I decided to go all out on our costumes. Little did we know, everyone else felt we were too old for costumes. So, we showed up to her party dressed as scuba divers. I’m talking full wet suits, goggles, masks, and flippers.” -Courtney Tushaus, freshman “One Halloweeen, all the girls in my grade went to my friend’s house who lives in Loch Lloyd and next to Matt Cassel, the Chiefs player. We all were surrounding him and then we all hugged him so hard he got pushed into a large pot on his front porch. The pot shattered and we felt bad.” -Maria Wagner, freshman “I thought it’d be cool to wear a penguin costume made for a two year old when I was about 13 because I thought it was funny. People would comment on how cute my friends’ costumes were, but not mine. I guess they didn’t think it was funny.” -Emily Schnitker, sophomore “One Halloween my grade was having a party. My mom made my costume. I went as Lilly from the Rugrats. Lilly has a twin, but I went alone. To make it worse, I had a binky in my mouth and all night, people were asking ‘Who are you?’ So awk.” -Elizabeth Prusa, junior “I don’t know why, but one Halloween I found myself on a New York subway in a cape. I think I was Dracula.” -Gary Adams, Music Teacher

Grand Opening

BY KATIE MAHONEY Web Editor

Two summers ago on an Alaskan vacation, freshman Aubrie Horstmeier and her mother, Melanie Coleman, roamed in and out of little stores to buy presents and get ideas for their own store.

"I asked her at the end of the trip, 'When are you going to do this for yourself?'," Horstmeier said.

And now she has. Tallulahbelle's, an upscale boutique that sells a variety of hand-crafted jewelry, purses, scarves, hats and notebooks, celebrates its grand opening at the end of October. It is located in the new Park Place stores at 116th and Nall.

The store offers oneof-a-kind works of art, according to Coleman.

See LeJournalLive.com for more information.

(Photo courtesy Melanie Coleman)

Fall Trends...

Sally Hansen nail polishes have all the trending fall colors like burnt orange and brown. CVS Pharmacy for $5.99.

The longer the better. Wear maxi dresses with prints and solid colors.

Find at Target from $20-$40.

The chunky heel and suede components are in this fall. Solid colors avaliable at Aldo for $90.

(All photos MCT Campus)

entertainment

15

Top 5

How-To Carve A Pumpkin Like A Pro

Le Journal’s

1 2 3 4 5

The Grudge (2004)

1. Pick your favorite

pumpkin from the nearest patch.

2. Using a knife, cut a

An American nurse living and working in Tokyo is exposed to a mysterious supernatural curse, one that locks a person in a powerful rage before claiming their life and spreading to another victim.

Knotts-approved circle around the stem, then remove it. (Pumpkin Carving Set: $9.99 on Amazon or $3.89 at Walmart)

3. Use your hands to

4. Draw a scary face

on the outside of your pumpkin with a permanent marker. (Pumpkin Carving Patterns: DLTK-Holidays.com or Pumpkinmasters.com)

5. Cut along the line. Once you finish

cutting, push the cut-out pieces from the inside out.

pumpkin to create an eerie glow.

7. Enjoy and have a Happy Halloween!

The Exorcist (1973)

When a teenager is possessed by a mysterious entity, her mother seeks the help of two priests to save her daughter.

The Shining (1980)

scoop out the seeds and guts.

6. Place a small candle inside the

Scary Movies

A family heads to an isolated hotel for the winter where an evil and spiritual presence influences the father into violence, while his psychic son sees horrific forebodings from the past and of the future.

The Ring (2002)

A young journalist must investigate a mysterious videotape which seems to cause the death of anyone in a week of viewing it.

Insidious (2010)

A family looks to prevent evil spirits from trapping their comatose child in a realm called The Further.

(Movie descriptions by IMDb.com)

Revealed: The Starbucks Secret Menu

Cookies & Cream Frap

Captain Crunch Frap

Zebra Mocha

Students take on a secret mission to uncover the Starbucks Secret Menu. Check out what we discovered behind the scenes of America’s largest coffee chain.* What’s in it:

Location:

Who tried it:

Reaction:

White Chocolate Mocha mixed with a Regular Mocha

State Line Rd. and 135th St.

Nicole Mangiaracina

“It did not taste good. It was an iced coffee with a lot of milk. I’m not a fan.”

Strawberries and Creme Frappuccino with Toffee Nut Syrup

Roe Ave. and 135th St.

Alexis Bates

Vanilla Frappuccino with Chocolate Chips

Ward Parkway Mall

Jillian Nelson

See lejounallive.com for a behind the scenes video (All photos MCT Campus)

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entertainment

“I loved it and it tasted just like Captain Crunch. I’d get it again.”

“They looked at me really weird and had no idea what I was talking about. Abort mission!” *According to the LA Times

Think Pink: Behind the Battle

Student Recollects Emotional, Life-Changing Struggles

BY LUCY GASAL Photo Editor

Fourteen years ago, junior Natalie Wood’s mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. But what was a tragic period of time during Natalie’s life, turned out to help her appreciate her family and especially her mother, so much more.

“Sometimes I think about how lucky I am, and how I should be thankful. I would have no memory of my mother at all if she hadn’t been so strong,” Wood said.

Wood was only two when she found out her mother had breast cancer. All she remembers is having to stay at grandma’s house in Arkansas while her mother was getting treatment.

“I feel like I can’t appreciate it as much as the rest of my family since they remember it,” Wood said.

Breast cancer affects thousands of women throughout the world. According to the National Cancer Institute, there are an estimated 230,480 cases of breast cancer and an estimated 39,520 deaths in 2011.

This deadly disease tests different families all over the country.

“Women in the United States get breast cancer more than any other kind of cancer,” Dr. Kristi Monson, an immunologist and allergist in Duluth, Minn., said.

Different women handle the situation differently.

Some don’t believe it, some are just plain terrified and some don’t even know how to react, according to Monson.

According to Dr. Talia Miller Whitsett, a breast cancer coach in North Carolina, disbelief is one of the most common first emotional responses.

“Breast cancer survivors are faced with many critical decisions. Often there is a time of pressure to make treatment decisions and many other decisions,” Miller said.

Women and children are constantly being put in difficult situations because of this disease. Some children feel confused and they don’t know how to handle the situation. They are afraid that in the end, the outcome may not be desirable. However, it can also bring families closer together and for those who do survive it, it makes them even stronger according to the Live Strong Foundation.

The Women’s Awareness Club is trying to raise awareness by putting up posters and signs throughout the school according to Women’s Awareness Club sponsor Jennifer Brown-Howerton.

“We want to educate the population on what causes breast cancer and how deadly it is,” BrownHowerton said.

According to Women’s Awareness Club president senior Aubrey Okenfuss, they are planning on having a speaker come in to talk about breast cancer prevention.

Even though Wood was only a little girl when her mother had breast cancer, it has affected her life tremendously and has helped shape who she is. She appreciates how strong her mother was and that she is clear now.

Breast Cancer Facts According to Web MD

A person’s age, genetic factors,

personal health history, and diet all contribute to breast cancer risk.

Breast cancer is the most com-

mon cancer among women.

Almost one in every eight women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime.

After lung cancer, breast cancer

is the second-leading cause of cancer death in women.

(Photo courtesy Natalie Wood)

Products that Benefit Breast Cancer Research PANERA

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features

17

• •• • •

•

• •

•• • •

Anna Hendrix Meryl Vannoy Megan Govea

•

Marked by Many Miles

BY MAURA EVELD Features Editor

They traveled thousands of miles. They attended dozens of schools. They inhabited 18 cities.

Frequent moves are often rough on children and adolescents, according to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. But seniors Meryl Vannoy, Megan Govea and Anna Hendrix don’t need the experts to tell you that. All three moved at least five times before high school, and it wasn’t easy, they said. However, they found many benefits from the experience.

Govea moved seven times, ranging from Minnesota to Georgia. Each of her four siblings was born in a different city. Her family moved for her dad’s job, and their goal was to ultimately live in Kansas close to their relatives.

“I didn’t like moving because, although I made friends pretty easily, I don’t like the thought of starting over,” Govea said.

Vannoy also struggled with starting over in four states: Nebraska, California, Indiana, and Kansas. The shift from California to Indiana was the hardest, she said. A third grader at the time, Vannoy transferred from a small private school with only 16 students per grade to a public school with 110 in each class.

“No one was mean, I just felt like they already had their set friends,” Vannoy said. “[As a third grader] you’re just trying to get in there.”

Vannoy switched schools in second, third,

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fourth and fifth grade. But, Vannoy said, those weren’t her “vital years.”

“My parents always said we’d stay in one place once we got to middle school and high school,” Vannoy said.

Moving fazed Hendrix in a different way. Although she has lived in eight cities in four states, changing schools wasn’t too difficult for her thanks to her outgoing personality, she said. One big downside was missing the chance to connect with her relatives on a daily basis, especially her grandma.

“[Seeing] my grandma was almost like seeing

“...I don’t like the thought of starting over.”

-Megan Govea, Senior

Santa Claus,” Hendrix said. “When I saw her it was only seasonal, and while my mom was a single parent she would travel to come watch me.”

But the moving experience wasn’t all negative, the three agreed. Hendrix said she grew to be more open-minded and comfortable with many surroundings, and Govea said she became more outgoing.

“I became closer with my family,” Govea

Seniors Megan Govea, Meryl Vannoy and Anna Hendrix collectively lived in 18 cities and nine states. All three have lived in the Kansas City area for their high school years. (Photo by Maura Eveld)

said. “We relied on each other because we were our only friends when first coming to a new state.”

Vannoy even considers continuing this lifestyle. In the future, she wants her own family to live in several different places. A person experiences so much more if they travel, she said.

As for Govea and Hendrix, they want Kansas to be their permanent home. Hendrix said that by staying in one city a person can have closer friends and be more involved in the community.

“I feel like if I wouldn’t have lived here [Kansas], I wouldn’t have been the person I am today,” Hendrix said.

Strings, Solos, and Symphony

Sion violists Claire Martin and Cigi Danda perform at the Kauffman Opener.

BY ELIZABETH GIANINO Layout/Design Editor

Both pairs of eyes direct their focus on the conductor as he lifts his two arms. With their chins propped in position and their bows held motionless, two violists, along with the makings of an orchestra wait for the delicate motion of the conductor’s hands.

It is after three metronomic taps that the sound of “Tchaicovsky’s 4th Symphony” began to flood the ears of the 1,600 people seated in Helzberg Hall. What began as an ensemble was the opening of Kansas City’s 13-acre performing arts facility, the Kauffman Center.

Given this opportunity, senior Claire Martin and junior Cigi Danda were two out of nearly one hundred musicians who represented the Kansas City Youth Symphony during the September 18 grand opening.

When entering the transparent doors on that wet Sunday morning and seeing the long lines of 50,000 people, both girls agreed they had ‘the preperformance jitters’. Despite their nerves, nothing could distract them from experiencing the attractive building.

“The lobby is made entirely out of glass walls, which allows you to see the city beyond,” Martin said.

Through the lobby, there are two primary entertainment halls: the Muriel Kauffman Theatre and the Helzberg Hall. The Youth Symphony played in the Helzberg Hall, which was described by Martin as ‘Sydney Operahouse-esque’.

“Helzberg Hall was gorgeous. The seats were evenly scattered all around us as if it made a semi-circle,” Danda said.

After having two rehearsals prior to the event, the Youth Symphony, along with Martin and Danda, was not expecting a full house. Both recounted that every seat was taken. According to Danda, having a full house was significantly different from the normal solo and ensemble competition.

As the opener, the Kansas City Youth Symphony performed two pieces of literature: “Tchaikovky’s 4th Symphony” and “The Barber of Seville”.

“‘Tchaikovky’s 4th Symphony” was incredibly fast which made it so much harder to perform with an ensemble,” Martin said.

Danda said that when practicing alone, she was able to maintain the tempo, but when putting the literature together with several other instruments, things got out of hand.

Despite the challenging pieces of literature, the group of 88 musicians that collectively formed the Youth Symphony were able to pull off the one hour act of the opener.

Claire Martin and Cigi Danda scan their literauture when performing “Tchaikovky’s 4th Symphony”. Both Martin and Danda are located in the strings-section of the orchestra. (Photo by Claire Martin)

Whether it be playing in the Kansas City Youth Symphony at the Kauffman Center or performing in solo or ensemble competitions, both Martin and Danda share a common talent. They both intend on pursuing their musical interests, even if not professionally. Danda, as well as Martin, never wants to lose passion for playing.

Martin said, “I want to maintain the skill level I’ve worked so hard to reach.”

The Kansas City Youth Symphony performs at Helzberg Hall during the Kaufmann Opener. The Symphony is made up of 88 orchestra musicians. (Photo by Claire Martin)

Claire Martin and Julia Kauffman converse after the symphony’s opening performance. They are located in lobby, right outside Helberg Hall. (Photo by Claire Martin)

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SPIRIT WEEK This year’s spirit week was changed from Catholic schools week to October 17-21. According to Student Council President Sarah Arnoldi, spirit week was changed because students could only dress up two days during Catholic schools week and it took away from the spirituality aspect.

“Because we don’t have a Homecoming we wanted to do it in October so we could have our take on what all the other area schools are doing,” Arnoldi said.

Students throughout the school went all out for the themes: Bro-coming, World Cup Soccer, w Music Genre by class, Makin’ it Rain and Spirit Shirts.

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From top to bottom right: Senior Sarah Andrews cheers for her World Cup team; juniors Alex Lozano, Meg Cowan, Maddie Roederer, Meghan Gordon, and Serena Clark present their class float; the senior float is the gift of this year’s seniors; and junior Ellie Fritts dons a rain poncho.

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