October 2013

JOURNAL

Le

WIRED TO

TECHNOLOGY PAGES 10-13

A PUBLICATION OF NOTRE DAME DE SION

10631 WORNALL ROAD, KANSAS CITY, MO 64114

VOLUME 33 ISSUE 2 OCTOBER 2013

{

THE

INSIDE LOOK

B & E’s GIRL CODE

Women Empowerment Edition

B and E reflect on women fighting for their right to an education.

BY MARY B. FREEMAN & ELLIE STINGLEY REPORTERS

PAGE 6

Sophomore Daria Kinchelow lights up while showing off her goldfish, a prize attained after winning six games at Fall Festival.

(Photo by Kristine Sullivan)

PAGE 9

Kansas City native Matt Besler and fellow US Men’s National Team players walk off the field after defeating Jamaica at Sporting Park.

(Photo by Sydney Manning)

PAGE 15

Junior Lillie Weise adapts back into American life after living in Hong Kong for five years. (Photo

by Emma Dopheide)

Malala Yousafzai is all in. The youngest person ever to be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize knows that education is priceless. To her, it’s worth standing up to the Taliban and risking her life. Although she didn’t win the award, she is still speaking out for education on behalf of women around the world.

But back in our bubble, it’s Monday. Seven a.m.

The alarm goes off, pulling us away from a good night sleep. B and E’s first thought: I don’t want to go to school today. We’re tired of studying. We’re tired of going to practice. We’re tired of finding the square root of x. We’re all tired. And since we’re so busy being tired, we forget what our education is worth.

E: On one particularly rough Tuesday morning my mind was in 10 different places. With a precalculus and AP history test that day, I was struggling to drag myself to a 7:15 a.m. Storm Stomp meeting. I was complaining, wondering why I was being put under so much unnecessary stress.

At the meeting Lauren Golden, the faculty advisor of Storm Stomp, encouraged us to call more donors. I remember thinking, “Why is she putting this on me? It’s not like I have nothing else to do!” Right then, Golden reminded us of the committee’s purpose:

JOURNAL

Le

Le Journal is the official publication of Notre Dame de Sion High School 101631 Wornall Road Kansas City, MO 64114 MEMBER Missouri Interscholastic Press Assoc.

National Scholastic Press Assoc.

International Quill and Scroll

PAGE 19 Students grow restless for the second movie in The Hunger Games triology. (Photo courtesy Lionsgate Publicity)

ON THE COVER

2LE JOURNAL ISSUE 2

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION

BY KATY ZAHNER

to raise money for scholarships for girls who can not afford Sion tuition.

I realized that I was complaining about something that countless girls would consider a blessing: an education. I was forgetting the value of a gift that I had simplified to the annoying buzz of my alarm every morning and seven long classes with teachers who seem to enjoy planning tests all on the same day.

But I was wrong. Our teachers and parents do not give us this work to make our lives harder. They want to expand our minds, so we are ready to raise our voices in the world and hopefully help make it a better place.

This is what countless girls around the world desire. Girls who are being married away or raped at age 10, who are being kept as slaves, all they want is a voice. And education is the way to find it.

We have the chance to speak out, because we attend a school where educating minds, expanding hearts and empowering lives are important.

There are some in this world who put everything on the line for this chance. In the new movie “Girl Rising,” we met a perfect example, 8-year-old Wadley from Port Au Prince. The teacher tried to make her leave since her tuition was unpaid, but she refused.

She knew she was worth it. “Even if you send me away I will come back every day until I can stay,” she said.

This girl had the courage to stand up for her education, knowing its power and its hope to give her a better life.

So, B and E have made a pact. Every time we think, “I really don’t want to go to school today,” we are going to remember Wadley, Malala and the millions of other girls that are deprived of education. We are going to be thankful for the education we have.

We implore you to do the same. Girl Code.

2013-2014 MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Katy Zahner WEB-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Meghan Lally

MANAGING EDITOR Madison Hummel

REPORTERS Sydney Daniels Georgia Evans Mary B Freeman Sarah Harris Meghan Kearney Sydney Manning Dana Routh Anna Schroer Ellie Stingley

NEWS/EDITORIAL EDITOR Emma Dopheide

ADVISOR Alison Long

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Ashley Herring

PUBLICATIONS BOARD Sarah Allen Alison Long Natalie McDonough Moira Quinn Kamryn Schropp Penny Selle Carole Wall-Simmons Georgia Thompson Steven Turner Melissa Wilcox

CO-EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Sarah Allen Georgia Thompson

SPORTS EDITOR Mary Kate Hense FEATURES EDITOR Kim Fryer PHOTO EDITOR Kristine Sullvian

THE EDITOR’S INK

BY GEORGIA THOMPSON CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF As I opened my sleepy eyes, something immediately felt wrong. Sunshine filled my room, which it wouldn’t have if I had waken up at my normal time of 6:30 a.m..

Most mornings of my life, my alarm consists of my dad’s footsteps walking up the stairs with a “Good morning, Georgie.” But since my parents were out of town, this particular morning required I set an alarm on my iPhone.

Since I’m tech savvy, overnight I decided to download the new Apple Software, iOS7, so I could awaken to the magic of a revived iPhone. Unfortunately, this new download deleted all of my previously set alarms, resulting in my oblivious slumber until 8:45 a.m.

For many, this unplanned sleep-in morning would be trivial. But it sent me into a tailspin of hysteria.

I had slept through Melissa Wilcox’s class. And one does not miss her class...period. I had already missed three times that week due to sickness and field trips.

Therefore, I was terrified of facing Wilcox and worried about what symbolism I missed from the day’s “short story bootcamp” discussion.

Meanwhile, as I was throwing on my kilt in a flustered hurry and racing to school much above the speed limit, my poor parents were sitting in the Dallas airport, convinced that I had been abducted, crashed my car and died or fared some other horrible fate. Sion informed my parents that I had never made it to school and my deep, ignorant slumber kept me from picking up my parent’s numerous calls.

So therefore, that day was not a pleasant one. Though I now take full responsibility for not being better prepared or responsible enough to wake myself up

and calmly address the problems of the day, I learned that I need to rely less on the technology so present in my life. Still, though weeks have passed, I find myself bitter towards this technology that caused such a stressful and flustered day.

When the staff decided to focus this issue of Le Journal on the rampant use of technology in teens’ and students’ everyday lives, I felt as if I could relate completely. Though cell phones and computers are designed to make our lives simpler and more efficient, I often find them more distracting and restricting than advantageous. To hear more about the wired society we live in, check out Pages 10-13.

This month Sion also honors a time when our world wasn’t plugged in, through the first “Her Majesties’ Theatre”, our school’s own Renaissance festival. From choir performances to face painting and displays from multiple art classes, the event celebrated Sion’s arts by bringing us back to a different time in history, as described on Page 17.

This issue of Le Journal also covers the other fun events that occurred in this busy month of October, such as the school’s annual Fall Festival on Page 6, Halloween do’s and don’ts on Page 5, and of course, Rockhurst Homecoming on Page 17.

So Sionians, enjoy all that this exciting issue of Le Journal has to offer and please remember to set an extra alarm for the morning if you’re downloading i0S7. Trust me, I learned the hard way.

Sophomores Sarah Tritt and Aneliese Peeler practice escaping from a choke hold during the TAKE self defense class on Oct. 11. (Photo by Dana Routh)

Stand your ground

The gym floor was filled with girls in pairs, facing each other. Screams of “No” reverberated off the walls.

Teachers and students together practiced how to prevent and escape dangerous situations.

Standing on the bleachers directing the class were two representatives of the The Ali Kemp Educational Foundation, established in 2005 by the family after her tragic murder. Bob and Jill Leiker, the instructors, said they are continuing the Kemp’s mission to carry on Ali’s legacy and to ensure that what happened to her does not happen to anyone else.

They do this by teaching self-defense classes and spreading awareness about personal safety throughout the country. The program, sponsored by the Father’s Club, had been to Sion once before in 2010. Sophomore Aneliese Peeler said she enjoyed the experience of participating in the class.

“I thought it was beneficial, because it’s good to know self-defense and be prepared for something that could happen,” Peeler said. “Although it kind of freaked me out when the guy said you are never safe.”

The participants partnered up and learned ways to set boundaries and be aware of their surroundings.

They also learned how to escape when grabbed by the wrist, shoulders, or hair. Senior Mary Horn said that she liked learning how to protect herself.

“Self-defense class was a great opportunity to learn how to defend myself in a scary world,” Horn said. “The course was informative and well done. I know how to face a killer now.”

PHOTO OF THE

ISSUE Fall festival

The annual Fall Festival Oct. 5 at Sion’s Grade School featured confetti eggs, human hamster balls, and four inflatables. The kids ran up and down the slides, racing friends to the end of the obstacle course.

First grader Isabella Rivera (pictured) was one of the Sion Grade School students that enjoyed the inflatables at the event and was among other attendees who were able to take advantage of the committee’s hard work. (Photo by Kristine Sullivan) LE JOURNAL

ISSUE 2

3

OPINION

KEEPING IT CLASSY similar opinions and have been disappointed with the way some students are choosing to embody this fine preparatory school.

Keeping it classy is more than how you Senior Madi Lamb was upset by the way the school was represented when many students arrived act, it’s also how you dress. in revealing clothing at the Fall Dance.

As students settle into first hour, adding last

“I was just disappointed with how [some stuminute touches to last night’s homework and chatting dents] chose to dress as a representation of themselves with friends, the announcements blast over the and the school,” Lamb said. “It’s not the light I want school’s intercom. Prayer, a list of birthdays, and our school to be seen in.” what’s for lunch fill students’ tired minds. It’s the same

While freedom to express yourself through format each morning. fashion is a right fully reserved to each individual,

“Stay classy, ladies.” it is important to keep in mind that you never can

This reminder is repeated without fail by student separate yourself from being labeled as a Sion girl. body president, senior Moira Quinn, at the end of

The people inside these walls may know you for every morning announcement. your incredible math ability in the classroom or your

But staying classy is more than just the way passion for helping others, but sadly, when you walk students act, it is something that should be reflected into a mixer (or any other school-sponsored event), in every aspect of our daily lives. Oftentimes, students the people around you do not see those things. They fail to recall that the way they dress in public is a see the clothes, or lack-thereof, on your body. And direct reflection on the student body and school as a with that, they see Sion. whole.

“Generally Sion girls are well dressed and easily

“Staying classy is a way to let your true self shine impress others,” Quinn said. “Every student at this modestly,” Quinn said. “When you stay classy people school is a smart and sophisticated young lady and we flock to you, not because of how you are dressed, but want our clothing to show how lovely we are.” because of the personality you have.”

According to freshman Jessica Cloughley, stu When we leave the doors of this school, we dents feel pressured to dress a certain way for many are doing just that. We are stepping into the real reasons, one being a way to capture the attention of world as representatives of Sion, and I want us to be boys from other schools when they leave the all-girls represented well. Many upperclassmen have voiced environment. Pressure from classmates leads to dressing in a way that does not show respect for one’s body.

“At things like RockWHEN REPRESENTING SION REMEMBER TO hurst games or other events, “STAY CLASSY” AND WEAR CLOTHING THAT POR[girls] feel pressured to dress TRAYS THAT MOTTO. provocatively by wearing low cut crop tops or super short shorts in order to be noticed,” Cloughley said.

Ladies, as Sion students, I am confident to say that each and every one of you is an BIG CUT TIGHT SHIRTS intelligent, talented and beautiful OUTS individual that does not need to get boys’ attention by forgetting BELLY half of your outfits at home.

CROP TOPS BUTTON

Capture the boys with your class, with your smarts SHOWING and with the confidence that SHORT SHORTS this school instills in you.

Wear clothes that accentuate SKIMPY SKIRTS the beauty God has given you, not clothes that exploit it. And finally, please leave some things to the imagination.

“If we’re going to keep calling ourselves classy, we need to show it,” Quinn said. “We don’t want to sound hypocritical or be given a representation based purely on how we dress.”

LE JOURNAL THIS EDITORIAL REPRESENTS THE VIEWS OF THE LE JOURNAL STAFF. NINETEEN OUT OF 19 VOTED IN SUPPORT OF THIS VIEW.

THE DON’TS

4

ISSUE 2

BING! With distractions from technology everywhere, students need to put down the phone and hit the books.

BY KATY ZAHNER MULTIMEDIA EDITOR

Say you’re sitting at your desk laboring over anAP World History assignment. Just as you start to get deep into reading about Aztec ritual blood-letting ceremonies --“BING”! Your phone goes off and the information about the ancient civilization rushes out of your mind as quickly as kids leaving school on a Friday afternoon. You scramble through your papers and gallantly scoop your life line to modern civilization up out of the rubble.

This is a situation we are all familiar with.

Let’s be honest, even when we put our phones away, we still find ourselves thinking about how many texts or notifications we’ve missed. 67 percent of teens can’t go more than one hour without using some sort of digital technology, and 40 percent can’t last more than ten minutes, according to the website Edudemic. Even if we manage to cut the cord between ourselves and our phones, we still face the obstacle of online distractions while doing assignments on our computers.

How could anyone get in the study zone on a computer with multiple tabs open, Pandora music blaring, and pop-up advertisements filling the screen?

The bottom line is using our phones to connect to social media or to chat with friends combined with homework isn’t multitasking. It’s switching from one task to something completely different, and the focus is no longer on your Spanish Quizlet. You can’t expect results when you aren’t giving your undivided attention to a subject. Instead, spend a solid time block on one assignment, and then allow for break time before moving onto the next thing.

“Constant distractions from technology leads to shallower, less flexible learning,” brain expert Annie Murphy Paul says.

Furthermore, teachers quoted in a New York Times article written last November agree.

“I have noted a decline in the depth and analysis of my students’ written work,” said English teacher Hope Molina-Porter from Troy High School in Fullerton, Cali.

Clearly, integrating technology into our study habits and our homework is leading to an inability to respond competently and coherently.

Technology is a magical time warp where once sucked into it, one may become stuck for much longer than originally planned. What begins as a brief check on messages, quickly manifests into twenty minutes spent browsing Twitter or Facebook. It’s an easy choice to make between reading a book for homework or scrolling through one of your many “friends” profiles on Facebook.

Don’t give yourself that choice.

In the end, your grades will ultimately suffer from such constant interruptions. Nothing on social media sites will be beneficial for a pop quiz in AP World History the next day. No matter how many likes you get for your status updates, you won’t like the way your grades look as a result.

OPINION

WHERE STUDENTS?

BY SYDNEY MANNING REPORTER

ARE THE

This year, attendance at school sporting events is at a record low.

From 3:30 to 6 p.m. every day after school, Sion students are practicing for their upcoming matches, games and meets. Hard workouts and recovery days have become their life, sacrificing sleep, a social life and study time to improve the team and themselves.

Sadly, their work goes largely unappreciated by the student body. Attendance rates at Sion sporting events are terribly low and embarrassing to the teams, parents and students that do attend. As one Sion community, this needs to be changed.

Some students can’t go to the games due to other activities and outside commitments. Junior Laura Mann is a ballet dancer and spends over 20 hours a week at her studio. If she wasn’t so committed, Mann said she would love to attend a few games.

“Ballet is a choice I made knowing that I would have to sacrifice things like being able to go to sports

HALLOWEEN

FOR TEENS

1. Haunted Houses

Some popular haunts are The Beast, The Edge of Hell, the Chambers of Edgar Allen Poe and Macabre Cinema. Tickets to each of these downtown venues cost around $30.

2. Pumpkin Patches

Some notable patches are Powell Pumpkin Patch in Louisburg, Kan., Johnson Farms in Belton, Mo. and Schaake’s Pumpkin Patch in Lawrence, Kan. Admission to each of these is free.

3. Corn Maze

The Liberty Corn Maze is a giant corn field that has been transformed into an maze that shows an intricate design when seen from above. Admission to the maze is $10.

4. Carving Pumpkins

Pumpkins are available at pumpkin patches or most grocery stores. Pumpkin carving kits can be found at Walmart and Target for as little as $6.

5. Ghost Tour

People looking for a scare this October can take a tour in one of the many locations available through Ghost Tours of Kansas, like Shawnee, Lawrence, or Kansas City. Tickets for the tours are $20.

games and not having much free time,” Mann said.

“There’s just too much to balance right now.”

Between the six fall sports that each practice everyday after school, about half the student body is involved in one, leaving no time to spare. Junior Megan Sloan, a Sion player, has a similar problem as Mann. After finishing practice, she has too much school work and can’t stay for other games.

“I would like to go to more Sion events, but I don’t have any time between softball and studying,” Sloan said. “The no homework nights are nice, because I can go and cheer for my peers and not have to worry about what else I have to do later that night.”

Athletic Director Reynold Middleton has seen a decrease of the fanbase over the years. He says that this breaks his heart.

“School spirit at athletic events is pretty much at an all time low,” said Middleton. “There’s been volleyball games where there’s only two students in the stands, and that’s sad.”

Middleton doesn’t know what he can do to bring attendance back up, and he didn’t like the suggestion

TOO OLD FOR

HALLOWEEN?

As girls get older, some Halloween traditions may become inappropriate.

BY SARAH HARRIS REPORTER

Halloween is a holiday to be adventurous and creative, while displaying the inner kid within us. As high school students, Halloween should be a little different than as it was when we were growing up. But how should Halloween be celebrated now? Can we still trick-or-treat? Dress-up? Is there a societal age limit on Halloween?

Halloween is for all ages, and there is no reason to be self-conscious about dressing up. Many believe at this point in our lives it is time to hang up the “kid stuff ” like dressing up for Halloween, going to Chuck E. Cheese’s for your birthday and reading bedtime stories. And maybe it is time to leave some of these childlike things behind, but instead of abandoning traditions, we simply need to sophisticate them. Instead of Chuck E. Cheese’s, we have a dinner at a nice restaurant. Instead of bedtime stories, we read our leftover English homework on a Sunday night in bed.

Instead of dressing like a princess for Halloween, we find new, unique things to dress up as.

“At Sion, we are just so comfortable dressing up, and people are able to go all out and crazy with their costumes and don’t have to worry about being judged at all,” junior Elizabeth Shay said.

Though Sion is an accepting place, if you come in an inappropriate costume, that you had no business leaving your house in, then it is safe to say that you may get some disapproving glances. Nobody wants to take their kid trick-or-treating in a neighborhood where all of the teens are walking around half naked

(Photo by Sydney Manning)

of offering extra credit in his math classes as incentives to attend games. Middleton said that the last time Sion saw consistent, large crowds was six years ago. Since then, the numbers have dwindled.

“When we first opened the gym, it would always be full. We played a live game one time on Metro Sports, and it was packed. There were no seats,” said Middleton. “I don’t know what has happened since then.”

As everyone is getting back into the habit of school, free time is almost nonexistent. The school year should progress at the same rate as which organizational habits do. Hopefully, this will result in bigger crowds at Sion games over the school year.

Every student has learned that our time at Sion goes by all too quickly. High school truly is some of the best years of one’s life, so why not cherish it before it’s gone? Ferris Bueller wisely said, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” This has proven to be true, so take time to be involved now. Cheer on your fellow Sionians, before it’s too late. in their “costumes.” As high schoolers it is understandable that Ariel, Cinderella and Snow White aren’t age-appropriate costumes anymore, but if you’re going to dress up, make sure that your outfit is acceptable for all ages to see. We are a school that prides itself on the classy ladies that attend it, so when shopping for a costume make sure it is something that you could wear to school and not risk getting a pink slip. That means: not too revealing, not too short and not something that you can’t show your kids in 20 years.

If dressing up is acceptable at all ages, does that mean that trick or treating is too?

“There is an age limit on going trick or treating, because when you reach a certain age, parents start to look at you a certain way. They don’t want to give you candy anymore, because they want to save it for the little kids,” Churchill said. “So, at least parents think there should be an age limit.”

It is hard to accept that our time has come to pack away the designated Halloween trick or treating pillowcase and start buying our own candy for the season, but it’s time to grow up. Trick or treating is a Halloween tradition for young children to get candy and show off their costumes to their neighbors, not for high school students taking advantage of the one night a year that free candy is given away.

In some cities around the country there are laws prohibiting teenagers from trick or treating, according to FOX 31 in Denver, Col. These cities such as Belleville, Ill. have banned kids over the age of 12 from trick-or-treating. Offenders can be fined up to $100 or even jailed. Though Kansas City, Mo. has not implemented such a law, this is a wake up call that it is now inappropriate to trick-or-treat at our age.

Halloween is just around the corner and it’s time to start planning out your creative and appropriate costume with friends, but just remember that organizing your trick or treating route is unfortunately a thing of the past.

LE JOURNAL ISSUE 2

5

NEWS} BRIEF

Senior Allison Elsbernd contributes to the excitement of Fall Festval by painting faces for the younger kids. (Photo

by Katy Zahner)

Fall Festival

BY SARAH HARRIS REPORTER

Human hamster balls, homemade crepes, and a photo bus are just a few of the activities that contributed to the success of this year’s Fall Festival at Sion’s Lower School. On Oct. 5 the sun was shining bright and the parking lot of the grade school was filled with children and adults alike enjoying the festivities, according to attendees.

“Since the weather was nice, I think it brought a lot more people out this year,” senior Brelahn Wyatt said.

The weather was not the only thing that drew in crowds to Fall Festival. Children were swarming to the cotton candy booth, the live goldfish give away and the numerous inflatables.

One activity in particular was a standout among them all: the confetti eggs.

“At first I was confused, because I didn’t know if they were real eggs or not, and when I saw people walking around with confetti in their hair I figured it out,” junior Lexi Churchill said. “I just thought it was a good idea because it is a fun way for the kids to prank their friends, and I think it was probably the kids’ favorite thing to do.”

Throughout the day the attendees were able to see both the cheerleaders and nationally ranked dance team preform. The event also showcased other performances by an Irish dancing company and the high school choir.

A group of 10 Sion girls planned the entire event.

The girls met for months out of the year, working through every detail of the event.

“There was a lot to do and things that people probably don’t think about. I was in charge of entertainment, and making sure something was going on all the time was very daunting,” senior Mattie Carter said. “I was really nervous about the entertainment, but everyone seemed to really like them. A lot of people really liked the martial arts performers, and someone even said it was the best Fall Festival they had seen.”

The Fall Festival committee members were able to put on an event to raise money for the school. The day succeeded in bringing both campuses together, in an event trying to please everybody in attendance, both young and old.

6 LE JOURNAL ISSUE 2

BY ANNA SCHROER REPORTER

Flashing lights and applause fill the ballroom as the last senior and mother model duo make their way across the stage. They pass the podium from which a voice describes the upcoming model sporting a leather lined dress from Lilly Pulitzer’s Under the Palm Tree.

The Mother/Daughter Luncheon was sticking to the traditional script. But this year’s luncheon and fashion show was different. This year a new tradition began with the addition of seventh graders from the Sion Grade School joining in the festivities.

The seventh and eighth grade girls watched as the mother and daughter models walked down the runway, cheering along with the high schoolers. They became part of a long tradition at Sion, the school they will one day be a part of.

“With more grade school girls coming to high school events we hope it will encourage them to continue their Sion education by attending the high school,” Director of High School Admissions Sharon Radovich said.

The idea of incorporating the middle school girls into the high school’s events is not a new idea. In the past, eighth grade girls have also attended Storm Stomp, a basketball competition fundraiser. Admissions hopes it shows them how unique and exciting continuing their education at the high school is. This year, with the event scheduled during the day, a bus filled with grade school sixth, seventh and eighth grade girls arrived, allowing them to come play, cheer and participate in the Storm Stomp festivities.

“I love it when the younger girls come to high school events,” junior Micheala Henne said. “It shows them just how great the high school really is and how glad I am as a lower school alum that I continued with a Sion education.”

Colorado Wildfires

BY GEORGIA EVANS REPORTER

Last summer was when she noticed it. Living in Colorado, Kelly O’Brien, cousin to three Sion students, was used to the familiar smell of firewood and pine. But this time was different. It didn’t go away.

The wildfires were beginning. From then on, the sky became dark and the mountains that surround Denver were covered in smoke that would be a fatal chain of wildfires covering the state of Colorado.

The Waldo Canyon Fire and the Black Forest Fire have resulted in insurance claims in excess of $750 million, and taken the lives of four people. Following the wildfires was intense flooding. According to NBC reporter Sophia Rosenbaum on Sept. 22, eight fatalities have been reported.

Wildfires are by no means new to the scene in Colorado, happening almost once every year. O’Brian said the fires usually vary in size and destruction.

According to Alex Johnson and Matthew DeLuca of NBC News, the Waldo Canyon fire near Colorado Springs was the worst in the state’s history to that date, burning more than 18,000 acres and destroying more than 300 homes.

“The scariest part really is thinking that some

}

in

We are One Family

Standing in the rubble, due to the effects of the wildfires in Colorado, a couple embraces. They are cleaning up the ash that was their house. (Photo by MCT Campus)

of these fires were started by people--not putting out a campfire, or flicking a cigarette out the window in a dry area,” O’Brien said.

Before the fires could be contained, the rains started and massive flooding ensued. According to Kari Bowen, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in Boulder, Col., the wildfires that have afflicted the forests in the region have made the floods considerably worse.

Counselor Erika Ellwanger’s cousin, Early Ferguson, was affected by the floods following the fires.

“The worst part is that the flood destroyed my home and all of my memories there,” Ferguson said.

“But we will make new memories and rebuild our house too.”

Government shutdown WHAT:

-Some services such as Social Security, air traffic control, active military pay, and Congress are still being funded.

-Many government programs shut down without funding such as certain websites, malls, and monuments.

WHEN:

-Septmeber 30th to October 17th. It lasted 18 days.

-The last shutdown in 1995 lasted 21 days.

WHY : -Congress failed to agree on funding for the Affordable Care Act.

CONSEQUENCES:

}

“My brother, his wife, and their child couldn’t go on the Mall in DC because of the shutdown.”

- Mary Sizemore, senior “I was on the EPA website. The shutdown meant that I couldn’t contact anyone with questions I had. I was going to look into doing a river cleanup for my senior service project, but I gave up because I didn’t have access to the information that I needed.”

-Mattie Carter, senior “My mom has been home since the shutdown, so it is different because I finally adjusted to her going back to work.”

-Beth Borgmeyer, sophomore

“I personally believe the number of students using these substances has significantly diminished.”

F

UZZY’S RENZY

Sion students’ frequent stops at local restaurant contribute to thriving business.

BY ELLIE STINGLEY REPORTER

Local restaurants tend to attract Sion students and faculty. Whether it is during lunch checkout or when you just need a quick bite to satisfy you until practice, places such as Fuzzy’s Taco Shop on Wornall Road have captured the regular business of Sionians.

Lunch checkout is just one of the times when students like Senior Mackenzie Manning enjoy leaving school to grab a taco or two. She says Fuzzy’s Taco Shop has become one of her favorite places to spend her lunch hour.

“I go probably at least once every two weeks, but a lot of girls go every Friday and I’m starting to get into that habit as well,” Manning said, “When my family doesn’t have much time or needs to go get something quick Fuzzy’s is definitely one of our first

Junior Elizabeth Shay grabs a taco at Fuzzy’s Taco Shop before afternoon volleyball practice. (Photo by Ellie Stingley)

options. And if I go there with my family for dinner, I see other Sion girls there.”

She is not the only one gravitating towards the taco shop. Junior Maria Wagner enjoys a crunchy chicken taco every Wednesday at Trivia Night with her family.

“Almost everyone I’ve talked to loves Fuzzy’s,” Wagner said, “If I ever go there after school, I always see a couple Sion girls.”

This October marks the 28th anniversary of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This time is dedicated to raising consciousness of the disease that affects women all over the world.

Breast cancer is a disease in which malignant cells form in the tissues of the breast.

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It is believed that 39,620 women in the United States will die in 2013 from breast cancer.

The two most common risk factors for breast cancer are simply being a woman and growing older.

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Most breast cancer cases and deaths from the disease occur in women aged 50 and older.

There have been an estimated 232,340 new cases of invasive breast cancer in 2013 among U.S. women.

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and worries that the students have regarding the testing.”

Though a student uproar originally resulted from the announcement of the drug and alcohol testing, students’ dislike and bitterness has been somewhat quelled after a few months of the testing in action, Brocato said. He believes that so far, the testing has proved

BY GEORGIA THOMPSON successful, though the behaviors of the students who CO-EDITOR IN CHIEF previously used alcohol and drugs have not unanimously changed.

Come May, 80 percent of students at Rockhurst

“I personally believe the number of students using High School will have received haircuts, not out of these substances has significantly diminished,” Brocato necessity, but due to the random selection of the school’s said. drug and alcohol testing. This policy was introduced to

Through witnessing Rockhurst’s adoption of the student body last spring and was implemented at the mandatory drug and alcohol testing, the question has beginning the 2013 school year.

Rockhurst Principal Greg Harkness says that he and arisen of whether or not Sion would follow in this policy.

Principal Natalie McDonough says she does not feel that the other administrators were motivated to create this this testing fits into Sion’s mission or community, but she testing by what they perceived to be the pervasive drug culture to which many teens are exposed to. So far, Hark- believes that there are other preventative measures Sion ness believes the testing has been successful at Rockhurst. takes against these negative influences.

“We must continue to give girls self-worth and

“It is my hope that our random tests will help our self-esteem and educate students make good them on the issues and choices as they are problems that drinking exposed to drugs and drugs add to their and alcohol,” Harklives,” McDonough said. ness said.

“Events like Girl Rising Students’ and TAKE hopefully opinions vary, some will continue to speak being similar to the to girls on the power of -Matthew Brocato, administration’s education and their while others perceive Rockhurst senior value in society as the mandatory teststrong, educated and ing to be an invasion clear-thinking young women. There is no place in that of privacy. Therefore, students such as the Student Govformula for drugs and alcohol.” ernment Association President, senior Matthew Brocato

With the drug and alcohol policy only having believe it is his and SGA’s been in place for a few months, changes are bound to responsibility to be mediators between the come about within the next year at Rockhurst. administration and the students.

Though Harkness said it is challenging to convince

“When questions regarding the drug and alcohol the boys that the administration is concerned with testing do arise from the students, we are responsible their health and wellness and is not out to get them, he for bringing these questions to the administration and believes over time this policy will help create a more relaying the answers back to the student body,” Brocato positive and stronger Rockhurst school community. said. “Likewise, SGA is responsible for reporting issues

{

Mandatory drug and alcohol testing at Rockhurst High School is effective after a few months of the policy in action.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

{

New Testing Sees Success

Susan G. Komen’s 3 Day “Race For the Cure” is a 60 mile walk that raises money for breast cancer research.

(Info from ww5.komen.org)

Bri Mullen, Fuzzy’s Assistant Manager, says Sion has added to the restaurant’s business.

“We are seeing many more new faces of Sion girls this year than we did last year,” Mullen said, “I think that as word of mouth got around the area as a whole our business has picked up.”

Mullen says business, especially during lunchtime, has increased at this location because of local students, including Sion girls. According to Mullen, Sion girls and other students in the area have brought so much business that Fuzzy’s now offers 10 percent discounts to local students with their IDs.

But Fuzzy’s is not the only place appealing to the Sion community. Among others are Chipotle, Fresh Grill, QuikTrip and Panera. With 400 hungry teenagers in the area, many inexpensive restaurants have seemed to receive more business according to counselor Erika Ellwanger.

“One Friday I ran into the majority of the Senior class at Fuzzy’s,” Ellwanger said, “I would call that good business. I think Sion gives QuikTrip and Dunkin lots of business too.”

At the end of each lunch checkout and after school every Friday, QuikTrip cups, Panera bagels, and Chipotle burrito bowls make their way into the cars of hungry Sion girls. People such as Mullen and Ellwanger agree that Sionians and the local restaurants benefit mutually; One side gets the business and the other gains a satisfied stomach.

LE JOURNAL

ISSUE 2

7

New Cheer Coach Cheer coach Jennifer Halter comes to Sion from The Barstow School.

BY SARAH HARRIS REPORTER

School spirit is a way of life and the biggest promoters of school spirit are the cheerleading team.

Every game. Every pep assembly. Every Sion sponsored event. The cheerleaders always pump up crowds and encourage the players. But every year it seems like something is just a little different about the squad: the coach. The cheerleading squad recently received their third new coach within the last three years.

“Having a lot of coaching changes has made our team a lot stronger and has made people on the team step up into leaders because we don’t really have a strong leader due to the fact that none of the coaches have stayed long enough to make a connection with the team,” junior Courtney Linscott said. “They all have dreams, but they just aren’t here long enough to accomplish any of them. Our new coach is just flying by the seat of her pants.”

Within the past three years the cheerleading team has gotten progressively better and better due to the senior captains stepping up and leading the team through the frequent coaching changes. The team is able to use what the last coach has left them and apply it in their new routines.

“We are able to take the best technique advice from each coach and each year we just keep getting better and better,” senior Mary Sizemore said. “Each coach just kinda does their own thing and we learn with very different styles.”

A new coach is not the only new addition to the team. There are 10 new members. The returning

1. Softball

members have to teach the coach the routines and how the team usually operates, as well as the new members.

“It’s definitely hard because we have gone through all of these coaches and we know what is best for the team. But then there are all these new people who aren’t on the same page for us,” Sizemore said.

“The new members are in the same book but different page.”

One person that has to adjust to the new team is their new coach, Jennifer Halter. Halter is a former cheer coach at The Barstow School. She has had to make large strides to not only catch up the new cheer members, but to also now lead the cheerleading team toward another successful season.

“Coming to a brand new team has its challenges

Fall Sports Round-up 4. Golf

Was 9-15 and lost the first district game so they didn’t place.

Placed third at the MSHSAA Class 2 State Championship.

2. Cross Country Received a “perfect score” at Warrensburg Invitational meaning our top 5 runners qualified in top 10. Thursday Oct. 24 they run against Richmond.

3. Tennis 1.

Senior cheer captains Kitty Tankard, Claire Boehm, and Amelia Jones give a few words of encouragement moments before their performance at Rockhurst High School’s Homecoming game. (Photo by Allison Elsbernd)

Won districts and lost in the finals at sectionals to Lee’s Summit North.

2.

5. Volleyball Their wins against O’Hara and Lee’s Summit were big.

They were 9-4 for the season and their districts start Monday Oct 28.

4.

6. Field Hockey

Varsity is 3-4 and has 5 more games. Their last game is against Pembroke Hill on Tuesday Oct 29.

5.

3.

(Photos by Mary-Kate Hense)

6.

8 LE JOURNAL ISSUE 2

for sure, but for me it doesn’t really affect the way or style in which I coach,” Halter said. “Each coach and each team is different so you have to adjust and kind of go through a ‘learning curve’ until all of the kinks are worked out.”

The squad continues to progress every year, but as for the coaching status, the girls never know what could happen.

“It’s definitely up in the air because last year we lost a lot of seniors, and it’s hard because next year it will just be me and Maryliz Henning from the ‘original’ team,” Linscott said. “Even though the new people are starting to get a hang of everything, it’s hard because we each have our own dreams from seeing where we started out, and we all want to progress and end in a better place.”

A Perfect Score

BY GEORGIA EVANS REPORTER

Whether it’s the new coach, new players, or the spirit of Kansas City fans, the Chiefs’ luck is changing this season.

The Chiefs became the NFL’s only 8-0 team Sunday, Oct. 27 against the Cleveland Browns according to Randy Covitz of the Kansas City Star.

According to the Associated Press, in the Super Bowl era, 20 teams have started 8-0 and all 20 qualified for the playoffs. Twelve of those 20 clubs advanced to the Super Bowl. Eight won the Super Bowl.

These are high aspirations for the Chiefs considering last year their record was 2-14.

According to NFL reporter Chris Wessling, the team’s perfect record has been lead by running back Jamaal Charles. For three consecutive games, Charles dominated the other team with a clock-running fourth quarter run, according to Wessling. Charles touched the ball nine times for 58 yards and scored the game-deciding touchdown on a 14-play drive that took nearly 10 minutes off the clock in their game against the New York Giants. In the game against the Tennessee Titans Oct. 6, Charles ran 108 yards and scored the team’s only offensive touchdown, making the score 20-17 Chiefs in the fourth quarter.

And to some girls, the Chiefs’ recent wins are something to be celebrated.

“The Chiefs winning gives me hope,” freshman Hattie Sigler said. “I love looking forward to watching them play every week to win. It’s cool to see Kansas City football do well finally.”

Receiving

An Ailey Education

Senior Lauren Trippel was given the opportunity to train at one of New York’s best dance companies.

BY MARY KATE HENSE SPORTS EDITOR

The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is a modern dance company based in New York City.

The company was assembled in 1958 of only seven dancers plus their choreographers, but now is known worldwide for its incredible programs and dance instructors. Although there are no auditions or entrance exams, this is a very popular workshop and fills up every year. Knowing that, studio owner and tap class instructor Roxanne Higbee registered her teachers months in advance to avoid the waiting list.

And this past summer, senior Lauren Trippel took a break from reality and headed to New York City for the five day workshop.

“I asked Lauren to go, because she has shown extraordinary dedication to her dance training. She is extremely mature and hard-working, and always sets an incredibly wonderful example of what you hope your dancers will be like,” Higbee said.

Trippel, along with her first ballet instructor,

Jenny Allain, and Higbee, landed in New York City the morning of Aug. 8. Trippel attended classes under Finis Jhung, who is internationally considered one of the best ballet instructors, according to Angie Trippel, Lauren’s mom. Higbee added that he is not only a teacher’s teacher, but that he has coached many professional ballet dancers too. He sells his own line of music and instructional videos that have made him well-known to dance teachers all over the country.

Many teachers use his educational material without ever getting to meet him. Jhung annually hosts the teachers’ convention that Trippel had the opportunity to attend. For two days she got up around 9 a.m. and went to a small cafe then immediately headed to the studio to begin classes.

“Most of her classes were targeted towards “dance teachers”, so I believe that has helped her become more confident in her teaching and choreography as well,” Angie Trippel said.

Trippel said that she was by far the youngest present out of a 100 or so dancers, but by no means did she let this hold her back. She took a Theater Jazz class, a Tap class and a Ballet class at Broadway Dance Center, which is the main studio in NYC.

“I was able to take my ballet class from my former dance teacher,” Trippel said. “She had moved to New York to dance there professionally and it was really great to see her again.”

Trippel started dancing at Kansas City Ballet when she was 3 years old. She ended up at Dancerz in the fourth grade and started competing in the seventh grade. She admits that she doesn’t have much free time, taking about fifteen hours of dance classes a week and teaching about two hours a week. Trippel takes about every dance available to her, from Jazz, Tap, Lyrical and Hip Hop, to Pointe, Ballet, Contem-

Senior Lauren Trippel attends Finis Jhung’s modern dance teachers’ convention in New York City this past summer. (Photo courtesy Lauren Trippel)

porary and Musical Theater.

Angie Trippel said, “Lauren has become a beautiful, talented dancer, and this trip definitely helped to open another door and push her a little further.”

Higbee couldn’t agree more. She said that Trippel progressed quite a bit in a relatively short amount of time and that she is so deserving of all the additional opportunities provided to her. Higbee along with Trippel’s mom were so proud of everything she had accomplished.

At the end of the week the dancers were given a certificate with their name on it showing that they had completed classes in the Alvin Ailey program.

“Having danced in my past, I understand how hard she has worked to achieve all of her goals,” Angie Trippel said. “I am so proud of all of her hard work and am so glad she had this amazing opportunity to train under some of the best in New York.”

U.S. Soccer Game Brings National Attention to Kansas United States national men’s soccer team plays final home World Cup Qualifier in Kansas City, Kan.

BY SYDNEY MANNING REPORTER

Qualifier, and the result was a first place standing for maintains many Kansas City traditions that he’s had the U.S. in their World Cup qualifying group. since he was a child, like Easter brunch on the Plaza,

This exclusive U.S. team is made up of the best the lighting ceremony on Thanksgiving and his annuAmerican born soccer players, who play in various al fall visit to the Louisburg Cider Mill. Like the apple tournaments and friendly games and also travel to the cider doughnuts, playing a game of this caliber in his World Cup every four years to represent the country. hometown was sweet.

The United States qualified for the World Cup for

The atmosphere in Sporting Park is one of the the seventh consecutive time on Sept. 10, 2013 after best in the country for soccer, according to players beating Mexico 2-0 in Columbus, Ohio. U.S. defender and fans throughout the league. When it opened in Matt Besler was a key player in both these games.

2011, it was obvious the owners had big things in

Besler, a Kansas City native and Blue Valley West mind. With 33 straight sellouts during the Major graduate, not only played in the game against Mexico, League Soccer season since, it’s known that Kansas but also started and played City fans are loyal to their the full 90 minutes in the team. Rain or shine, many fans 2-0 win against Jamaica at and groups including “The Sporting Park. Besler, raised Cauldron”, Sporting Kansas in Overland Park, Kan., has City’s main supporter section, played for Sporting Kansas come out week after week to City since 2009. His childsupport their boys in blue, or hood memories and soccer in this case, red, white and -Matt Besler, Sporting KC and roots both come from his blue. It was no different on Kansas City home.

Oct. 11.

USMNT defender

The match in Kan “[The game] was somesas City was something Besler said he was looking thing that I had been looking forward to for a very long time. It’s something I’ll always remember,” Besler forward to for his entire life. He said he has enjoyed said. “I take a lot of pride in representing Kansas City.” watching his native “cowtown” grow into the “soccer

For Besler, there is no better place to play than city” that it’s known as today by fans and media.

“It’s something I’ve always hoped for,” Besler said, in Kansas City. As his lifelong dream was fulfilled, he “but it’s hard to predict that it would be this good and also inspires others to have the same kind of faith that he had in the small city’s future. He’s shown the nation happen so quickly.” that Kansas and Missouri aren’t just fly over states

Besler played a large role in making the sport gain so much popularity in the metro area. He’s anymore. There is nowhere but up for the city to go from here, and Besler and the rest of his Kansas City known to the Sporting Kansas City fans as the and United States teammates will take it there.

“Hometown Hero.” Embodying the spirit well, Besler LE JOURNAL

“I take a lot of pride in representing Kansas City.”

U.S. defender Matt Besler guards a Jamacian player during the World Cup Qualifier at Sporting Park on Oct.11. (Photo by Sydney Manning)

For the third time since opening on June 8, 2011, Sporting Park in Kansas City, Kan. hosted the United States Men’s National Soccer Team. Of the three matches held here over the years, the game on Oct. 11, 2013 was the most important. There, the United States played Jamaica in the final home 2014 World Cup

ISSUE 2

9

WIRED TO

TECHNOLOGY

Technology is an aspect of life 21st Century teens can’t imagine living without. But with piles of homework and loads of tests, how does one complete the task at hand without giving in to distraction technology temptations?

WHAT IS YOUR TIME WARP?

LAYOUT AND STORY BY MARY B FREEMAN, SYDNEY DANIELS AND MADISON HUMMEL

10 LE JOURNAL ISSUE 2

“INSTAGRAM, I GET SO LOST FOR TIME SCROLLING THROUGH THE PICTURES.”

“PINTEREST BECAUSE THERES ALWAYS COOL STUFF ON THERE, AND I KEEP LOOKING FOR MORE.”

MEREDITH SANDERS JUNIOR

SARAH BRADSHAW SOPHOMORE

“TWITTER. IT’S SO ADDICTING. I LOVE HOW YOU CAN FOLLOW FAMOUS PEOPLE.” GABBIE ISMERT FRESHMAN

Technology: A Way of Life

A LOOK AT THE NUMBERS

Screenagers: The nickname given to 21st century teens who can’t imagine life without Google. Technology has become an overwhelming aspect of life and is available at the fingertips of millions 24 hours a day.

The Internet is loaded with ways to help people worldwide, including students. Sites such as Quizlet, Online Dictionary and Google Translate are beneficial aids to studying students.

Although the Internet is loaded with helpful tools and information, it can also be a major distraction when study time rolls around. Social media sites such as Twitter, Instagram and Facebook are in abundance on the web and are used as one of the top ways of communication for this generation.

Teenagers don’t know life without technology, as is has become the norm within the past 10 years. But is too much technology affecting students’ academic performance? According to a 2010 Kaiser Family Foundation study, teens spend more than seven and a half hours a day consuming media — watching TV, listening to music, surfing the Web, social networking

and playing video games. Senior Ali Campbell admits technology is often more of a priority to her than academics.

“I would rather spend time on social media than on homework, so if i have the option to be on social media I take it,” Campbell said.

Campbell is not alone in choosing to use her time with technology over homework. According to a Le Journal survey, 50 percent of Sion students are on technology devices three to four hours a night.

Technology consumes multiple hours of the day that could have been used for academic purposes. It can be difficult to find a balance between getting homework and studying done without shutting technology completely out of the picture.

A Helpful Tip

Eleven P.M. at night. The sun is down, the stars are high in the sky, and junior Courtney Tushaus sits at her desk still working on her homework. She flips through the pages of her giant Algebra II book, trying to understand today’s lesson. The book’s text makes no sense to Tushaus. So what does she do? She consults

the Internet. In three minutes flat, Tushaus has the information she needs, information that she could not have accessed without the use of technology.

“There is just a wealth of information on the Internet,” Tushaus said. “You can find people’s opinions on things and other ways to solve problems.”

Without the Internet, where would students be?

Flipping through books all night long? Struggling to find information that makes sense? The Internet, and search engines like Google are being used daily by students. In fact, according to news.com.au there is a verb for Googling something in twenty different languages including Icelandic, Croatian and Hebrew.

Google it.

The abundance of information that comes from the Internet is tied to social media, which, according to Tushaus, is so distracting it doubles the amount of time it takes her to do her homework. Why do we do it to ourselves? Whatever the answer to this question is, there are many ways to use technology to only benefit the student.

(Story continues on pg 12)

60% 32% 8% OF SURVEYED STUDENTS SAY THAT TECHNOLOGY DISTRACTS THEM AS THEY DO THEIR HOMEWORK.

OF SURVEYED STUDENTS SAY THAT TECHNOLOGY HELPS THEM WHILE THEY DO THEIR HOMEWORK.

OF SURVEYED STUDENTS SAY THAT TECHNOLOGY DOES NOT EFFECT THEM AS THEY DO THEIR HOMEWORK. LE JOURNAL

ISSUE 2

11

HOW TO COMBAT TECHNOLOGY DISTRACTIONS:

1

TURN OFF YOUR PHONE. NO NOTIFICATIONS MEANS NO DISTRACTIONS.

2

LOG OUT OF ALL SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES. IF YOU CANNNOT ACCESS IT QUICKLY, YOU WILL BE LESS TEMPTED.

3

12 LE JOURNAL ISSUE 2

USE IT AS MOTIVATION. 30 MINUTES OF WORK MEANS TEN MINUTES OF SOCIAL NETWORKING OR A TELEVISION BREAK.

“Turn off your phone and use your computer,” Tushaus said. “What I do is I will logout of Facebook and Twitter, so even if I do type it in I will be logged out and be like alright, back to homework.”

There are also ways to use technology to motivate yourself to do homework. Tushaus explained that she will reward herself with Netflix. She says that after she does a certain amount of homework she allows herself to watch a few minutes of her favorite show.

Although technology can be distracting, as Tushaus explained, there are ways to combat the distractions and use non-academic websites to your advantage, such as staying in touch with your respective clubs. Through the strategy and cleverness of avoiding social media distractions and utilizing search engines such as Google and study tools such as Quizlet, technology can do what it was made to do: enhance the efficiency of whatever the user is undertaking.

The Ultimate Distraction

Facebook. Twitter. Instagram.

If the social media networking site Twitter was a country, it would be the 12 largest country in the world. Nin percent of the “fans” on the Pinterest Facebook page are women. Instagram images in total, receive 575 likes per second (all according to mediabistro.com).

Today, the world in which American teenagers grow up, has been dominated by technology. The Internet and smart phones are now “a central force that fuels the rhythm of daily life,” according to The Pew Internet Project.

According to studies released by The Pew Internet Project and Common Sense Media, many teachers believe that students’ overuse of technology results in shorter attention spans and a lack of drive, bring about difficult challenges. Media use by children ages 8 to eighteen has escalated to such an extent that on average, students spend twice as much time looking at screens each year as they spend in school.

They also addressed the technology issue from educators’ perspectives. Out of the 685 teachers surveyed, 70 percent said that technology is hurting the attention spans of today’s younger generations.

Almost 50 percent of those teachers remarked that the use of technology further damaged the students’ ability to think critically and complete homework.

Then there’s the so-called “Wikipedia” problem. Students have become conditioned to expect quick, short answers to questions with just a few strokes of the keyboard. If an instant answer is unobtainable, many become exasperated and proceed to stop searching.

Dr. Dimitri Christakis, director of The Center for Child Health, Behavior and Development, studies the impact that technology has on the brain at Seattle Children’s Hospital. He agrees with teachers’ sentiments that the dwindling attention spans of students result from overexposure to, and heavy saturation by, the media and technology.

“[The heavy technology use] makes reality, by comparison, uninteresting,” Christakis said.

On average, every waking minute of an American teenager’s life, with the exception of school, revolves around some sort of technological device, according to a 2010 study performed by the Kaiser Foundation. These devices are a vital, inundated

feature of their lives, according to Harvard Medical School Professor Michael Rich in the article “If Your Kids are Awake, They’re Probably Online,” that appeared in The New York Times.

“Like the air they breathe, the water they drink and the food they eat,” Rich said in the article.

Students who were found to be the largest abusers of technology said they spend 16 or more hours a day on a device. Those same students received C averages or lower in school. Moreover, those students were more apt to complain of boredom or unhappiness, according to studies performed by the Kaiser Family Foundation.

Cognitive abilities such as multitasking are relatively nonexistent. Furthermore, as a result of technological distractions, students average under six minutes of on-task studying before switching tasks.

Often times, young people assume that brief “technology breaks” help their brain when in actuality, but they are actually a hindrance to their learning ability, according to 2009 studies performed by Stanford University and published in The National Academy of Sciences.

Overland Park Psychologist Dr. Michael Lubbers, agrees that multitasking is a deterrent to brain development. He advises students on keeping electronics out of the bedroom.

Another suggestion is to have a shutoff time in order to quiet an overstimulated brain.

“It’s very hard to multi-task while studying. The brain isn’t as efficient,” Lubbers said. “Technology interferes with sleep which adversely affects performance on tests. You[a student] might be drawn into staying up later.”

When it comes time to sit and actually study, students are more distracted than ever. On average, they spend 60 minutes a day on Facebook, 43 minutes a day on search engines and 22 minutes a day e-mailing. Lastly, students admit to sending an average of 71 texts a day while doing their homework, according to 2009 studies performed by Stanford University and published in the National Academy of Sciences.

“Using Facebook and texting while doing schoolwork are negatively predictive of overall GPA,” according to the National Academy of Sciences.

In essence, students’ brains are rewarded for constantly switching tasks, not for staying on them, according to Rich.

“The worry is we’re raising a generation of kids in front of screens, whose brains are going to be wired differently,” Rich said.

Dr. Grace Ketterman, psychologist, and author of over two dozen various books remarked on the overuse of technology. Ketterman believes that each student should have a reasonable schedule that includes technology as well as a “shutoff ” time. She also feels that teenagers today, and older people as well have chosen “an easier way to live,” a life filled with the utilization of technology as opposed to knowledge. This abuse of technology is as Ketterman put it-a result of parents’ “inability to set boundaries.”

“The biggest thing to push is that parents need to set reasonable boundaries,” Ketterman said. “By doing this, the younger generations will see a dramatic improvement.”

“Like the air they breathe, the water they drink and the food they eat.”

- Michael Rich, Harvard Medical Professor

Time Warp

After a long seven hours at school, all senior Natalie Moran wants to do is relax with her technology when she gets home. But when Moran looks up, what seemed to her like an innocent 20-minute break was actually an hour. An hour lost of study time is an hour loss of sleep time.

“The problem is that time moves in warp speed when I’m on my phone,” Moran said. “I sometimes have to put my phone in another room so I can focus.”

Moran is not alone.

Seniors Maggie Nelson and Jessie Brown browse Instagram before first hour.

According to a recent (Photo by Madison Hummel) survey of Sion students, 60 percent of girls thought technology was a distracShapley said. tion. However, 32 percent of Sion students said it was

According to the article “Four Ways to Cure beneficial. your Technological ‘Distraction Addiction’” Alex

“It benefits my academics, because I can basically Soojung-Kim Pang, author of “The Distraction Adhave an immediate answer to any of my questions diction” said many of us find ourselves hunched over, regarding the things I’m learning,” Moran said. eyes straining towards a screen for an hour longer

According to Moran, the pros outweigh the cons. than intended. Technology has invaded our lives.

She says that without technology, productivity would These devices essentially diminish our intelligence, increase but the speed and vast knowledge of the attention spans and our ability to live. We as a race, Internet is a definite asset. are sliding into dementia because of our extreme re liance on search engines instead of actually rememA Personal Test bering things.

Technology Literacy teacher Amy Shapley says

“Computer users spend an average of fortechnology can impact student’s academics in positive ty-three minutes every day, five hours a week or ways, without distraction, but only if used properly. eleven days a year waiting for computers to start up, She agrees with many of Ketterman’s points. She also shutdown, load software, open files and connect to suggests if a student struggles with technology disthe internet,” Pang said. “Connection is inevitable. traction, then they should download timer apps like Distraction is a choice.”

Pomodoro.

According to Pang, technology can be used in

“Personal discipline is a huge part of it. It’s a great negative and positive ways, yet humans are the true way to get things done. So when you’re doing your decision makers when it comes to their fate, and the homework, work for 25 then get on Twitter for five,” ultimate decision is up to them.

How Wired Are We? 7:15 a.m Woken by iPhone alarm 7:16 a.m Check for any overnight texts 7:35 a.m.

Plug auxiliary cord in for music 7:55 a.m.

Scroll through Instagram and Twitter 8:30 a.m.

Check PowerSchool 9:05 a.m.

Send a mass Snapchat 12:20 p.m.

Use Google Translate to study for Spanish quiz 2:30 p.m.

Check PowerSchool

A minute by minute diary portraying how often an average teenage girl uses her cell phone.

3:10 p.m.

Call parents and friends 3:12 p.m.

Check e-mail 4:30 p.m.

Browse Facebook and Twitter 5:05 p.m.

FaceTime and play Candy Crush 6:45 p.m Check texts and update calender 8:15 p.m Surf the web for homework questions and check e-mail 10:00 p.m.

Set alarm and browse Twitter 10:20 p.m.

Last scroll through Instagram

A random sampling of 131 students said these were their favorite aps.

62Twitter

6Facebook

30 Instagram 33Vine How long do you think you use technology per night?

50% 33% 15% 2% less than 1-2 hrs 30 min

3-4 hrs

5+ hrs

(According to a Le Journal survey of students in all English classes)

LE JOURNAL

ISSUE 2

13

LiddyAnstoetter

Freshman Liddy Anstotter shares her story of living with achondroplasia.

BY ANNA SCHROER REPORTER

Vibrant yellow sand beaches, lush green palm trees shifting in the wind overlooking the Mediterranean-esque stucco and brick buildings of West Palm Beach, Fla. This vacation destination is an oasis many people covet for its tropical sunshine and rolling ocean waters. But for freshman Liddy Anstoetter, West Palm Beach is near and dear to her heart for a different reason.

She has been visiting this oceanfront vacation destination for over five years. But it’s not to surf the waves or snorkel with the abundant sea life. Instead she visits world renowned surgeon Dr. Dror Paley at the Paley Institute. Anstoetter was born with achondroplasia, a genetic disorder which results in abnormally short limbs. So she participates in long stays in the sunshine state where Dr. Paley performs her limb lengthening procedures.

Anstoetter began the long journey of limb lengthening at the end of her fifth grade year. Her parents supported her the whole way through.

“I wouldn’t have done any of this if it wasn’t for my parents positivity and guidance,” Anstoetter said.

“They are my number one supporters and caregivers.”

These tedious procedures were done in order to fix a bowlegged problem common in many children with achondroplasia. During the procedure, Dr. Paley fixed the leg and attached a fixator to the bone after it was broken. As it healed, Anstoetter could crank the knob on the outside of the fixator, moving the bones apart millimeter by millimeter - thus lengthening the actual bone with newly formed tissue between the two parts.

“That first time I was going for 4 inches added to my height, in addition to having the C-shaped curve in my legs fixed,” Anstoetter said. “I went and stayed in Florida from March to June and couldn’t walk for the three months I was there.”

According to Anstoetter, this first surgery ended up making a difference in common household tasks and everyday tasks such as reaching counters, using sinks and doing activities in school.

“After I saw the difference that first surgery made, I knew it would be a good choice to go back and get lengthened more,” Anstoetter said. “The before and after pictures we have are so different. My height and leg shape was completely changed.”

In July of her eighth grade year, almost two years later, Anstoetter went back to her old friend Dr. Paley to get 6.5 inches added to her height. By September of that year she stood a full 11 inches taller then when she first went to West Palm Beach four years earlier.

Though the long procedures were finally over, Anstoetter’s journey was far from finished. Due to her new leg lengths, her arms now hung too short on her body.

“The arms are a piece of cake everybody at the institute told me,” Anstoetter said. “So that’s what I am doing now with the fixators on my upper arms. I have LE JOURNAL

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3 inches so far and I am going for 5.”

According to Anstoetter, the lengthening of her arms has been a lot easier because she doesn’t have to be confined to a wheelchair as she did with the previous leg surgeries. She can still do everyday tasks, go to school and do the activities she loves such as baking, traveling, art and some sports.

In the future Anstoetter has the option to undergo another leg surgery if she wants to add more height to her 4’11 frame but right now she remains content where she is.

Completing the arm lengthening process and then enjoying high school is her next task. In the next couple of years she hopes to join the tennis team since playing is one of her passions as well as swimming. Anstoetter’s confidence and attitude has even impacted the faculty.

“She is a true confirmation of what an amazing girl is,” Director of High School Admissions Sharon Radovich said. “The first time I met her she exuded a wonderful amount of confidence and inspiration.”

The simple phrase “little legs, big heart” Anstoetter says helps define the giving and caring lifestyle she follows through with day to day. When she goes down south and visits her home away from home, The Paley Institute, she also helps kids who are about to go through the same process that she experienced. She serves as a role model for visiting children and adults.

“Liddy helps everyone with their problems even though her plate is loaded even heavier than theirs,” said Ansteotter’s mom Jennifer. “She is so grateful for the life that God has given her and gets her own healing from helping other kids.”

She goes the extra mile when helping kids, teens and adults from the institute. Even with school work and other activities, Anstoetter makes time to personally call, text and talk face to face with others who are

starting out where she had already been.

“Right now I facetime with a girl everyday who just had her first surgery,” Anstoetter said. “I love that I can talk to her, because I have done what she is doing and know how it feels.”

To document all of her surgeries and to show prospective patients the truly wonderful transformations she has gone through, Anstoetter has constructed many photo books that sit in Dr. Paley’s office over 1,000 miles away. She also serves as a teen patient navigator which has her deeply rooted in the Paley Foundation community. She says that in the future that she may want to move to Florida and work either in the foundation or perhaps do something in the medical field.

“I could go to the other people in the foundation for anything,” Anstoetter said. “When I go down there once a month to get my arms x-rayed we all get together and have a great time catching up. They are like my second family.”

This December, the Paley Foundation will host its annual 5K race which raises money to fund about 78 free surgeries for children in third world countries.

“I am raising money for the foundation right now,” Anstoetter said. “If the patients all raise enough money there is a big party, and it’s like a big family reunion.”

Anstoetter says she can’t wait to go back in December, because she will be there for more than just a weekend, which is what she is accustomed to now with monthly checkups. She loves seeing her friends that come in from all over the country. And she loves participating in something that relates directly back to helping people like her.

“The whole thing has been a journey,” Anstoetter said. “There have been ups and downs on the road to where I am now. But I know that I am a stronger, more confident person because of where I have gone and what I have been through. I wouldn’t change the path I have taken for anything. “

(Photo by Anna Schroer)

Did You Know?

Number of people in the United States with achondroplasia:

30,000

Average Height:

M: 131 cm. or 4ft, 4 in.

F : 124 cm. or 4 ft, 1 in.

LILLIE WIESE

Junior Lillie Wiese makes an emotional move back to Kansas City from temporary home Hong Kong.

EMMA DOPHEIDE NEWS/EDITORIAL EDITOR

Stepping into the airport with her luggage rolling behind her, junior Lillie Weise turned and took a last glance at the city that had become her home. Weise returned to Kansas City from Hong Kong in July after living there for five years because of her dad’s work.

Her family hadn’t been planning to stay as long as they did, but plans changed when her dad received a promotion.

“We were supposed to be in Hong Kong for three years, but when my dad got promoted we stayed for two more,” Weise said. “We moved back when he got an offer here.”

Weise’s family used to live in Kansas City, so when moving back to America it seemed like the logical place to go. Weise attended Good Shepherd grade Lillie Wiese and family attend a party for her father’s work (left) and spend time together in Kowloon (right).

(Photos submitted by Lillie Wiese) school before the move and still had many friends with whom she had stayed in contact with during her said she was excited to come back and see her friends

Even though Hong Kong is 7814 miles from visits home every summer. Even with all of her Kansas in Kansas City and start at Sion, a school radically Kansas City, Weise said it was easy to readjust to City connections, Weise said it was still hard to leave different from Hong Kong International. life in America, partly because she had visited so her life in Hong Kong. frequently while living in Hong Kong. She said life

“I knew the move back was coming, but in Hong Kong was much more fast-paced, and it was the emotions were half and half,” Weise said. easier to get around using the city’s public transporta“I was excited to come back, but it was hard to tion system. leave. It was all very bittersweet.”

“I miss being able to go out and do whatever

Although Weise is now 13 hours behind using the public transportation,” Weise said. “But it her friends in Hong Kong, she hasn’t lost was hard to be away (from Kansas City).”

-Junior Lillie Wiese touch with them completely. She said that even

Weise said having the experience of living in though the time difference makes things harder, Hong Kong was definitely worth all of the time spent she still manages to keep in contact.

“The all-girls part of Sion is definitely different. away from her friends, the time difference, and the

“It’s easier to keep in touch with things like And we had block scheduling, which really makes struggles of trying to deal with the confusing connectFacebook and FaceTime,” Weise said. “And some of a difference,” Weise said. “I don’t really prefer one, ing flights getting from one place to another. my good friends will come visit me here since I don’t but it’s weird to have seven classes each day instead

“It was great because I was able to travel a lot know how often I’ll come back.” of four. But they’re both good schools and both very and see different cultures,” Weise said. “It really has

Even though Weise misses her old friends, she intense.” changed me.”

{

“I was excited to come back, but it was hard to leave. It was all very bittersweet.”

LIVING THE LEGACY

“There were nuns for teachers.

Sister Stephanie was the principal and there was no head of school when my mom attended Sion.”

-Molly McCarthy, junior

“When my mom went to Sion, everyone was required to take two years of French.”

-Mackenzie Manning, senior

“The South Six used to be the gym when my mom was at Sion.”

-Maggie Keller, sophomore

KIM DELANEY ‘88

SHARON WILKERSON ‘85

PATTI POSKIN ‘85

DENISE COURVILLE ‘83

Taking a look into the past when student legacies’ mothers attended Sion.

“Mr. Conaghan was still there when my mom went to Sion. They still had the class rings and pearl pictures, as well as the white graduation dresses.”

-Laney Ulowetz, sophomore

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Kim’s Declassified Survival Guide It’s not awkward to be single, and third wheeling can be fun, I promise.

BY KIM FRYER FEATURES EDITOR As homecoming season draws itself to a close, and the girl world gets ready to launch itself into the Winter Formal frenzy, we single-Sionians begin to wallow in self pity and despair over our cursed luck of never having a solidified date.

I know, I know, you are all probably wondering how a girl as funny, beautiful, talented (and did I mention funny) as me could possibly be left without a suitor. Well, friends, I don’t know how it’s possible either, but I don’t even care. Being single means more time to mingle. And third-wheeling? My favorite past time.

Survival Tip #1: Flaunt your freedom.

It’s Friday night and you’ve just slaved away for five days in the classroom, your mind numbed by an overload of mathematical equations and rhetorical analysis. The last thing you want to do is put on clothes that don’t have elastic waistbands and makeup. Guess what? You don’t have to. You’re single. Automatic win.

While all your socially equipped friends are stressing over which outfit to wear and what to order at a fancy dinner with their fancy boyfriends, you get the good end of the deal. The best date you could possibly imagine. Even better than a date with Ryan Reynolds.

Ok, maybe not better than a date than Ryan Reynolds, but nonetheless… A date with Netflix.

Netflix and I have a solid and consistent relationship, and Netflix doesn’t judge me for wearing footy pajamas and eating five bowls of popcorn in one sitting.

Can you name a single guy who can shower you with gifts like new and unlimited episodes of Gossip Girl on a regular basis? If you can, let me know, but I’m confident that you wouldn’t be able to find someone so generous. What more could a girl want?

Flaunt that. Text your GroupMe, send an obnoxious amount of snapchats of you having a blast on your couch eating potato chips and rub it in their faces. They’re saying things like “please” and “thank you” while you’re giddily watching Serena and Blair throw down… and you haven’t even left the comfort of your own home.

Because you’re single.

And you should be proud.

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Survival Tip #2: Don’t be awkward.

So maybe you don’t want to spend every night of your life on the couch watching Netflix and apparently having a social life is beneficial to the growth of the human person or something. Whatever, regardless, you might find yourself having to spend some time with your friends and their significant others.

You might be wondering where I ever learned my impeccable third wheeling skills, and it all goes back to the third grade. Being the youngest of four, I have watched my fair share of boyfriends and girlfriends come and go from my house. However, my brother had the first real relationship out of all of my siblings.

Being the dare devil that he is, he brought her over for a movie night in our basement. My sisters and I were obsessively interested in finding out what really went on during dates and wanted to be a part of the fun. My mom was equally as interested and did the right thing--baked a batch of brownies and instructed my sisters and I to take them downstairs and report back to her all of our observed activity.

Not only did we deliver those brownies, but we also proceeded to go back downstairs every five or ten minutes, just to keep things interesting. This is where my knowledge on what it meant to be intruding on someone else’s date began. So thanks, John, and I’m sorry if your relationship suffered due to my actions.

Honesty hour: being the third wheel in one of your friend’s relationship can get awkward on occasion. But only if you let it. You have to practice this whole I’mreally-enjoying-myself-on-your-date-and-I-do-notcare-that-no-one-is-acknowledgingmy-presence thing, but I promise, it’s simple once you get the hang of it. It all lies in your ability to not be awkward. I’ve mastered this art after many years of single-dom and of being the youngest child.

You accidentally join in on their game of footsy and end up kicking them? Blame it on the table leg.

You get stuck in the car in the middle of the back seat between the two lovebirds? Engage yourself in an extremely interesting fake text message conversation with your extremely fake boyfriend who is all the more interesting than they are (but don’t be afraid to secretly listen to their adorable conversations). You’re forced into seeing a movie with them? Run. No, run fast.

And most importantly? When in doubt, laugh it out. Laughter breaks the awkwardness… or at least gives you something else to do other than being awkward.

Survival Tip #3: Avoid your grandmother’s questions like the plague.

In case you haven’t noticed, teenagers aren’t as

(Photo by Madi Lamb)

critical of each other’s relationship statuses as elderly women are.

Back in the day of our grandmothers, high school meant “going steady”, dating seriously and essentially finding the person you would someday spend the rest of your life with.

Oh, how times have changed. But they don’t know that. And they don’t want to accept that. Grandmothers, or at least my grandmother, always want to know about my love life and my grandmother is the queen of the sad shoulder shrug every time I announce sadly that no, I do not have a date on Friday night… and I probably won’t have one next Friday night, or the Friday night after that.

My grandmother has been grilling me on my love interests since the sixth grade. I thought I was going to marry Nick Jonas in those days (what’s changed?), so clearly my answers were never very realistic, although you would never have convinced me that.

As I’ve gotten older and matured, I’ve got the question-answering down to an art. Avoid it. Change the subject. Compliment her. Run. In that order.

“So, Kimmy, got any big plans with any boys this weekend?”

“Well, Grandma, did you hear that the Jonas Brothers broke up? Have you gotten your hair done recently? It looks fantastic, oh, shoot, I have to go, bye!”

Boom. Question avoided and you successfully complimented her new hair-do. Now you can continue being single in peace.

Survival Tip #4: I-N-D-E-P-E-N-D-ENT do you know what that means?

I’m all for chivalry and being treated like a lady, and I wouldn’t mind all my meals being paid for by an attractive male specimen, but sometimes a girl just wants some freedom to do things for herself.

Truthfully, I can do everything a girl with a boyfriend can do, (besides take cute couples pictures together), and I can do it however I want. I don’t need a date to go to the movies, or to go out to dinner or to have fun at a school dance.

Survival Tip #5: Be yourself.

The tip speaks for itself.

Be unapologetically unique and never feel bad about being yourself, no matter how awkward the situations get.

Own being single.

And if you do end up finding a man worthy enough to get the blessing of your presence in his life, that’s great, but just remember that the single life (and Netflix) is always there to fall back on.

Getting Ready For Homecoming Senior Amanda Malecki prepares herself for her final Rockhurst Homecoming.

At 1:30 p.m. the smell of hairspray and burning straightener filled the room. “I usually do my own hair because I’m picky and if I don’t like what people are doing with my hair, I get really frustrated and stressed,” she said.

Sitting as close as possible to her full length mirror, Malecki makes sure her eye shadow, eyeliner and mascara look good for her last homecoming dance at 3:30 p.m.

HER MAJESTIES THEATRE Fine Arts Students perform in a renaissance-like festival that was moved inside due to rain.

BY ASHLEY HERRING ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Hear Ye! Hear Ye! As the rain came pouring down, the outdoor festival was quickly taken indoors. The halls were filled with medieval music, streamers, artwork and smells of Renaissance food. Jugglers strolled up the aisles, girls presented poetry from Shakespeare as well as scenes from Romeo and Juliet, and handmade headbands filled with flowers were worn by the performers.

The Fine Arts Department presented “Her Majesties’ Theatre” on Monday Oct. 14, an event that celebrated the music and crafts of Renaissance and Medieval Europe.

Music and Performing Arts teacher Elizabeth Mulkey, said the idea of having a Renaissance festival at Sion came to her Senior Mary Kerns, juniors Katherine Glaser and Katia Milazzo when she proposed having an outdoor con- and senior Mary Sizemore sing the comedic “One-Minute Madcert in the fall. Many things were planned rigal” by Donald Moore. All acts were announced by herald Kel Lowndes and her trumpet. (Photo by Ashley Herring) for the evening including performances by three of our choir classes, orchestra and drama the photography students. class, face painting, hair braiding, beading, photo

“My nine other classmates in AP Art and I paintbooths and artwork displays. ed four life size, face-in-a-hole characters, including

“The title of the concert, ‘Her Majesties’ Theatre,’ a man, woman, child and Jester from the Renaissance is the name of a famous theatre in London,” Mulkey time period for guests to put their heads in and take said. “I was able to see ‘Phantom of the Opera’ there pictures with,” senior Maggie Keenan said. when I was in college.”

Amy Shapley’s Art I class made ribbon hoops to

Ceramics, Psychology and AP Art teacher, Linda hang as decoration. They also worked a face painting Blasdel, said her class had fun designing very imagibooth at the event. native ocarinas and pinch-pot rattles to display at the

Senior Cory Cole said, “I mainly painted butterevent. flies on young kids faces, and swirly designs on the

“An ocarina is a vessel type flute which has backs of people’s hands.” variable notes with four finger holes, and some play

Penny Selle’s portfolio class designed the posters just one note when one blows into the mouthpiece,” seen throughout the school promoting the event.

Blasdel said. “The shapes vary from abstract and Mulkey said the event wouldn’t have been posembellished shapes to a turtle and a bird and a whale.” sible without the participation of Symphonie de Sion,

Blasdel’s AP Art Class created painted panels of Grand Choeur, Petit Choeur, Theatre de Sion and the Renaissance characters with cut-outs for people to visual art classes led by Selle, Blasdel and Shapley. poke their heads through for a photograph, taken by

Malecki cautiously pins the boutonnière to her date’s, Matthew Nemmers, lapel. “I also get nervous while pinning my date flower because I never want to prick him or me,” she said.

Smiling for the camera, Malecki and senior Maggie Nelson smile for the group pictures at 5:30 p.m. before heading to the dance. “I love seeing all the girls dresses and spending time with the people who make me smile,” she said.

(Photos by Meghan Kearney)

Senior Cory Cole paints a butterfly on senior Allison Elsbernd’s younger sister Lauren. (Photo by Ashley Herring)

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FALL

your LOOK

INSTAGRAM

SPIRIT WEEK EDITION

FASHION

An exhilarating blend of trends to sport this fall season.

@hiiiita “Brangelina + our babies.”

@bettyboo1095

Junior, Natalie Caruso

Freshman, Katia Hauptmann

Senior, Ariana Fotouhi

“Spirit Week has arrived in full Kardashian spirit.”

“I like to wear dark jeans with a cute top along with a leather jacket.”

“I like to wear big sweaters and leggings with scarves and boots.”

“I like to wear riding boots with jeans and a big, chunky sweater.”

Scarf: TJ Maxx Boots: TJ Maxx Sweater: H&M Jeans: Urban Outfitters

Sweater: Brandy Melville Jeans: Urban Outfitters Boots: Tory Burch

Top: Madewell Jeans: H&M Boots: Italy Jacket: Italy

INSIDE

iOS7

Apple unveils new software for the iPhone and iPad Sept. 18.

BY ASHLEY HERRING ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Ever since the introduction of the iPhone in 2007, the phone has undergone numerous changes.

Bigger screens. Camera improvements. Enhanced speed.

The software on the iPhone hasn’t been changed since it’s release, besides minor additions and improvements, but that has changed with Apple’s launch of iOS 7. The new software was available for download on Sept. 18. New icons, translucent menus with new shades of light blue and purple, cleaner keyboards and a much tidier screen are all new aspects included with the update.

“The iOS 7 is the most significant update since the original iPhone,” according to Apple’s statement to US News.

Apple’s online store said its goal was to create an

18 LE JOURNAL ISSUE 2

@harperlanning2 “It’s not spirit week but @mzancan10 and I thought we’d dress up our friends anyway.”

experience that was simpler, more useful and more enjoyable. The iOS 7 Control Center was created because it would be useful to phone users.

“I like the new control center because you can easily slide your finger up the screen and the flashlight will automatically appear as an option,” senior Margaret Schorgl said. “It keeps me organized because I see my schedule on the lock screen as well.”

A new feature on the iOS 7 includes Air Drop, which allows iPhone users to share content from their phone with people who are on the user’s contact list.

The iOS 7 software is available for download today for all iPhone and iPad users.

(Photo by Ashley Herring)

FOLLOW @LEJOURNAL_NDS AND #LEJOURNAL TO BE FEATURED

MY LIFE IS AWKWARD:

HALLOWEEN “I went to the Edge of Hell and almost got kicked out, because I was running away from the werewolf and hit him.”

- ALLY KOEHLER, FRESHMAN

“One time I dressed up as a juice box and they thought I was a box of cigarettes.”

- SAM MCDONOUGH, SOPHOMORE

“Mary Horn and I tied each other together with ropes and chains. We told people we were trolls.”

- ALLIE MARTINSEN, SENIOR

Catching the Hunger Games Fire Students anticipate the upcoming release of the Catching Fire movie from the Hunger Games series.

-Oct. 29

Paramore

Independence Event Center Tickets $29.50-$49.50

-Nov. 8 Ceaser Flickerman interviews Katniss Everdeen prior to the Quarter Quell games. (Photo courtesy Lionsgate Publicity) even better,” Meister said. “Plus Liam Hemsworth is in it, so obviously it will be amazing.”

Junior Maddy Lewing said she is also excited to go to the premiere with the dance team, even though they haven’t purchased their tickets yet.

“The last one was great, and I’m super excited for the movie to come out this time,” Lewing said. “I’ve read the books multiple times and I think the movie will be good.”

Senior Olivia Enright also plans on attending the premiere with her friend from work. She said she is

mostly looking forward to seeing her favorite character, Peeta, again on the big screen. Enright was unable to go to the last premiere due to a geometry test, so she said she’s been looking forward to this one for a long time.

“I am so psyched,” Enright said.

“I’ve been waiting for two years.”

As the premiere date quickly approaches, the girls said they will soon buy tickets and some will compile costumes. Their excitement will continue to rise, all leading up to the moment when the screen goes black and the movie begins to play.

FALL FAVORITES Students share their favorite items for the fall season.

“I love pumpkin spice lattes from Starbucks.”

- Delaney Dorman, sophomore

C oncerts & Events

BY EMMA DOPHEIDE NEWS EDITOR

Girls in black boots, leather jackets and side-braids march down the hallways. As they walk, they smile at their friends dressed in curly wigs, bright clothing and colorful makeup.

It’s Spirit Week, and the theme is “Tribute Tuesday”. Each girl is dressed as a character from the popular Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins. As Nov. 22, the premiere date of the second movie, “Catching Fire”, approaches, the excitement for the film is becoming more and more visible as students make plans to attend the midnight premiere.

Last year, the dance team started a tradition by going to the premiere following dinner at California Pizza Kitchen. Senior Jackie Meister said a few girls brought bows and arrows last year, but no one completely dressed up.

But Meister said she is definitely going to dress up this time.

“I’m really, really excited,” Meister said. “The book was amazing and I’m excited to see how they will present it in visual form.”

Meister said she was impressed with the first movie and thought the second movie will improve on the first.

“The first one was amazing visually and I’m sure the second one will be

ALL F

“The pumpkin patch is my favorite of course. I also love apples in the fall. ” - Kristen Murphy, senior

“I like the smell of the chimney after it’s used for the first time of the season.”

- Addie Ismert, senior

Keith Urban Sprint Center

Tickets $49.75-$77.25

- Nov.12

P!NK

Sprint Center $51-$117

- Nov.17 Selena Gomez Sprint Center Tickets $39.25-$118.75

-Dec. 3

KanyeSprint West Center

Tickets $58-$146

“I love apple cider, especially when it’s room temperature.”

- Teresa Myers, senior

“I like when the leaves change, I also love wearing sweaters.”

- Madeleine Campbell, junior

-Dec. 6

Lady Antebellum Sprint Center

Tickets $65-$399

-Dec. 7

Drake

Sprint Center Tickets $39-$117.75

(Photos by Dana Routh)

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19

SPIRIT

WEEK

Spirit Week-seven days designated to spirit and fun. Many students and faculty believe this year’s Spirit Week was one of the best yet, Director of Communications Emily Taylor said.

On Monday, Sion transformed into an endless red carpet. When walking through the halls, celebrity couples such as Kayne West and Kim Kardashian and characters like Megan from the movie “Bridesmaids” sauntered along.

Tuesday focused on class competition with a Hunger Games themed dodge ball match.

The Senior Class was the victor.

Wednesday brought a holiday celebration: Easter, St. Patrick’s Day, Fourth of July and Christmas. Each grade’s hallway was decorated in theme for the “Deck the Halls” competition.

“Throwback” Thursday had each grade and faculty sport clothing from different decades.

Girls were adorned in scrunchies, go-go boots, poodle skirts and flapper dresses.

Finally, the week ended on Friday with spirit shirts donned by the entire student body that read “Do you bleed purple and white?” And after seven days of spirit, the answer is yes.

1.

5.

2.

3.

4.

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5.

1. Senior Emma Allegri shows off her first place finish in the gummy worm challenge.(Photo By Itzel Perez) 2. Associate Head Steven Turner, Head of School Christina Broderick, French teacher Liz Bono, Assistant Division Head Fran Koehler and Division Head Natalie McDonough sing along to “You’re the One That I Want” during the pep assembly.(Photo By Mary Kate Hense) 3. Junior Natalie Caruso helps decorate the junior hallway during the “Deck the Halls” competition on Wednesday. (Photo By Ellie Stingley) 4. Math teacher Kristin Hilgenfeld throws a dodge ball to help out the junior class in the Hunger Games competition.(Photo By Christine Rieger) 5. Junior Harper Lanning gives an intense glare to one of her opponents during the Hunger Games dodge ball event. (Photo By Meghan Lally)