Marian High School Network March 2015

The Network Marian High School

7400 Military Avenue Omaha, NE 68134

www.MarianHighSchool.net

Volume 59 Issue 5

March 2015

Break for the

finish line Juniors

Ally Freeman and Jenna

Taylor share a laugh after they finish the inflatable obstacle course. Surprise Day took place on Feb. 13, which was the first time it was hosted on a half day.

Photo by kathleenbever

Breaking with tradition: An inside look at Surprise Day 2015 maevenelson

eturning after Christmas break to a school full of anticipation, every Marian girl has visions of cotton candy dancing in her head around 11:20 a.m.

As a student painfully has a staring contest with the clock, she hopes that maybe today she will get lucky and miss her math test because maybe, just maybe, today will be Surprise Day. Surprise Day is a Marian tradition hosted by the Student Board, where, typically, the afternoon classes are canceled and the festivities begin. This year’s Surprise Day on Friday, Feb. 13 aimed to shock students, as it was hosted scheduled on a half day.

Around 9:30 a.m., Block D was interrupted by the song “Surprise, surprise” by Bruce Springsteen on the intercom. After a few moments of confusion, the student body caught on and proceeded to stampede to the East Gym. Freshman Telly Mounto said, “My class didn’t really know what was going on until we saw seniors running through the hallway, so it was a great surprise.”

To break with the tradition of hiring an opening act and because it was so early in the morning, Student Board decided to provide free breakfast instead. Students had the option of either a Krispy Kreme donut and a

cinnamon roll or French toast sticks very minute. Building off of their with a drink choice of either Sunny-D experiences from years past and or milk. advice from members of the Board Sophomore Madison Brown said, “I who have been on both the planning preferred Surprise Day on a half day, and receiving end of the surprise, compared to last year, and the absence the students begin preparing in the of an opening act gave students more fall semester. After raising money free time for their from events like n t e s d u t s f %o own favorite Welcome Dance 34 f o se activities.” and Winter n o But, even with Formal, the all the changes, members of the the fan favorites Board planned of cotton candy how to spend the and inflatable day. obstacle courses But regardless were still present. of the chosen After breakfast, the attractions, all cafeteria became members agree the the face paint and most important airbrush tattoo part is to keep the stations with six secret. artists, and DJ Mr. Andrew What is your favorite Hot Boy from Bauer, Spanish Surprise Day activity?

Power 106.9 teacher and 30% 32% radio station, a Student Board Dance Party Inflatables Marian favorite, moderator, has 4% 4% hosted a dance now had the Craft Room unique experience Nap/Homework party in the West Gym. of seeing both sides 9% 10% Face Paint of the production.

Other Behind the scenes, Student Board, collaborating Bauer and the rest of the Board were with the administration, had been eager to make this year the best planning for this day for months, surprise yet. “Every year, you want it scheduling everything down to the to be a genuine surprise. And although

many people in school may know about the day before hand, everyone is under a lot of pressure to keep the secret, and the satisfaction of a great surprise is what motivates us to maintain the surprise tradition,” Bauer said.

“Like Field Day, Surprise Day truly is a very organic tradition unique to Marian. It is a rare thing that a school, in agreement with the administration, can offer something like this because not every school can pull something like this off,” Bauer said.

When it comes to something like Surprise Day, Student Board is under an immense amount of pressure to keep the secret. “Everyone wants to know when Surprise Day is, but it would be considered the worst Surprise Day ever if we actually ever told anyone. A great surprise is why we maintain this tradition,” junior Student Board member Ally Kmiecik said.

Unfortunately, with every great surprise there are some drawbacks.

Because it was hosted on a half day, the entire student body was not in attendance, but that is the price of a genuine surprise.

For years, Surprise Day has been a tradition hosted on a full day of school, so this is the first year that it was on a half day. Is this the start of a new tradition? Student Board members’ lips are sealed, so only time will tell.

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Features Max the dog

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The Network [March 2015]

[2] News

Choir pops concert standards Robotics Club kathleenbever

M

arian’s Ninth Grade Choir and Select Women’s Choir held their annual Pops Concert on Feb. 14 and Feb. 15.

“Pops Concert is very different from other concerts mainly because we get to sing songs that are known and popular,” sophomore Julia Manganaro, an alto in Select Women’s Choir, said. “It gives the audience a chance to hum along and have fun with us.”

“Overall, I think Pops went well,” junior Molly Fisher, a soprano in Select Women’s Choir, said. “People seemed to enjoy the concert and although we made a few technical mistakes for the first show on Saturday, we came through in the end.

I think everyone in the choir enjoyed themselves.”

“My favorite song was definitely the Bruno Mars medley. Our costumes were spot on, [and] the dancing, which was choreographed by [senior] Charlotte Wortmann and Mrs. [Michelle] Delisi was really cool,” Manganaro said. “It was just a fun song to do.”

Even though Pops Concert is an annual tradition that began in the early ‘80s, it has gone through a transformation over time. “My Pops experience has definitely changed a lot over the past two years,” Fisher said.

“When I was a freshman, we didn’t have the Performing Arts Center (PAC), so we sang in the old gym.” She said that costume changes were stressful because there wasn’t a real backstage like the one that is in the PAC. “Having the opportunity to sing in the PAC now is amazing,” Fisher said.

Seniors in Select Women’s Choir are offered the opportunity to bring in family members and sing with them.

Julianna Curley and Emily Welchans sang duets with their fathers at this year’s Pops Concert, and Charlotte Wortmann sang with her brother Ryan, a sophomore at Creighton Prep, and her sister Rachel, who graduated from Marian in 2014.

“I’ve been looking forward to singing with my dad since freshman year,” Curley said. She and her father, Mark Curley, sang “Anyway” by Martina McBride.

“My voice teacher suggested it, and when we listened to it, we thought it would be a cute song to do,” Curley said.

Welchans and her father sang “Knee Deep” by Zac Brown Band. “I picked a song that was easy to sing because my dad isn’t big into singing; he did band in high school rather than choir. I wanted to pick one we both liked, and Jimmy Buffett is one of his favorite artists, so the choice seemed obvious,” Welchans said.

The Wortmann siblings decided to sing “Hakuna Matata” from Disney’s “The Lion King.” “I figured we would need some comic relief during the concert because sometimes it’s hard sitting through a long concert where everyone is being serious the whole time. It’s always fun getting a good laugh out of the crowd. We even decided to take a selfie on stage,” Wortmann said. “We have a great time singing together and it’s a lot easier to blend voices while harmonizing when you all sound the same.”

Curley, Welchans and Wortmann all agree that their experience with their families at Pops Concert has positively affected their relationships.

“I think it’s made us closer and helped our trust because you have to trust the other when you’re on stage, and so it’s carried over to our lives off stage,” Curley said. “We’ve been singing together our whole lives so I think we kind of take the bond we have for granted. We are all best friends and it’s just one more thing we can do together before life starts taking us separate directions,” Wortmann said.

Students who participated in Marian’s Pops Concert readily agree that preparing for the performance took hard work and dedication. “I think the hardest part about Pops Concert was learning the music and the dancing in just a few short weeks. It took awhile to really get the music down, and once you add dancing to the mix, it’s a whole new dimension. It’s a lot of work, but it’s worth it,” Manganaro said. “Our hard work definitely paid off. We put a lot into the show and we gave it our best! Both shows went well, and in the end I think everyone was happy with the outcome.”

A father-daughter duo Senior Emily Welchans and her father perform the song “Knee Deep” by Zac Brown Band. Other seniors sang with their family members as well. Juliana Curley and her father performed “Anyway”

by Martina McBride while Charlotte Wortmann and her two siblings sang “Hakuna Matata” from “The Lion King.”

C’mon Ninth Grade Choir The Ninth Grade Choir sings the Elvis Presley song “C’mon Everybody” at Pops Concert.

The Ninth Grade Choir was later joined by the Select Women’s Choir. Photos by kathleenbever

The Robotics Club participates in two competitions per year, one in September and one in February. The most recent competition took place at the Strategic Air & Space Museum on Feb. 22. The team placed first in lab notebook and presentation. Although the competitions are over, it’s not too late to join! Contact Mrs. Sharon Genoways in Room 104 for more information.

Green Thumb

Science Club

Club

The Science Club is open to students interested in scientific investigation. Contact Julia Griffin ‘16 or Lily Foley ‘17 for more information about their upcoming forensics activities.

The Green Thumb Club is open to all students that have an interest in nature. Members are currently working on plotting and transplotting plants. They are planning on taking a field trip to the plant rescue in Benson on March 17. Contact Faith Vinton ‘16, Isabelle Swanson ‘17 or Rachael Steier ‘16 for more information.

Graphics by erinmartinez

College for the community: Marian weighs in on Obama’s college promise megansmith

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ree college: sounds like a dream, right? If President Obama has his way, it will be closer to reality rather than fiction.

In his State of the Union Address on Jan. 20, Obama proposed the idea of two free years of community college for all citizens, labeled as America’s College Promise. Keeping in mind that “by the end of this decade, two in three jobs openings will require some higher education,” his hope is to create easy access to higher education for those who can’t afford the increasing college tuition rates. Students who choose this route must keep their grades at a certain level, graduate on time, complete a community service requirement, and more.

As foreign as the idea may seem, two regions of the country have already tested the program (the city of Chicago and the state of Tennessee) and have seen success. If the government piloted the program across the entire nation, it’s estimated that it would impact the lives of more than 9 million students.

For future Marian seniors, this could mean a stark change in college choices, (some cool statistic from college center, working on getting it) Senior Melia Markham knows this all too well; because of the steep costs of her first choice college, she is unable to attend the school of her dreams.

While the high-priced tuition rates for schools around the nation have not deterred Melia from attending a different four year university, they have helped shape her approval of president Obama’s proposal.

“I think that because I have been raised the way that I have and also because I go to Marian, I would still

choose a four year university, but I think it’s a great option for other people who don’t have the same circumstances that I do, and I also think it has great benefits to it,” Markham said.

Markham also stressed the fact that the benefits the program offers must be earned by each student.

“I know a lot of people don’t know about the community service and the good grades policy that president Obama did address in the State of the Union, and so I think that’s a huge part of it because people think it’s just a handout, but really there are requirements to get into the program,” Markham said.

For some, however, the requirements to enter the program don’t quite pass the test. America’s College Promise could cost more than $60 billion in taxes over 10 years. On top of high taxes, the possibility of four year universities to increase their tuition due to a lack of students may arise. For seniors like Emily Worth who plan on attending four year universities, this could put an extreme dent in college plans.

“Students with low income already get free community college through the Pell Grant, so it would further privatize and increase expenses for four year universities, hurting all college students, not just the people wanting to get free college,” Worth said.

Whether or not free community college is a decision that will benefit or hurt students across the nation has yet to be determined, but for now, the only option is to wait and see if president Obama fulfills his college promise.

News [3]

The Network [March 2015]

Returned from Africa, alum shares story, dream kaylasullivan

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mily McKeone ‘05 visited Marian on Feb. 11 with a unique story to share. In October 2014, she returned from 27 months in Zambia as a service worker with the Peace Corps.

McKeone spoke to the Rho Kappa Social Studies Honor Society and gave a presentation about her experience at both lunches to all students. Ever since her time as a Marian student, she had been interested in joining the Peace Corps.

McKeone initially studied undergrad at Loyola University Chicago, but she took time off to work and figure things out.

After conducting research into joining the Peace Corps, she realized that that all participants need a college degree. She went back to school at University of NebraskaLincoln, where she got involved with community service clubs. From her time at Lincoln and in doing these activities, McKeone learned “what it meant to do public service,” she said.

She earned a double major in sociology and environmental science.

She began the long application process for the Peace Corps in May 2011, and was assigned to a fish farming project on the northern border of Zambia.

“Going into it, I was really, really scared,” she said. McKeone left for Zambia in July 2012 with 33 other fish farming volunteers from across the country.

The first three months of her assignment were spent in language classes and safety training for the new environment. She learned to speak ChiBemba, but the official language of the country is English. “I thought it was easier to speak than Spanish,” she said.

McKeone lived in the town of Mansa where the homes are mud huts with grass thatch roofs, and there is no electricity or running water. She had

her own hut with a host family next door to ensure she was taken cared for.

“I had their support,” she said. “I felt safer in my village than even now in America. They would really protect me against anything,” McKeone said.

Initially, McKeone doubted her ability to teach anything about fish farming to the Zambian people.

However, she quickly realized that her limited knowledge, resources and education were of significant worth.

“Having a degree in America is so much more valuable than we can grasp. I was really able to teach them,” McKeone said.

As she adapted to life in Africa, McKeone was upset by watching villagers drink unclean water. She dreamed of bringing clean drinking water to the people of her community, especially to children in school.

McKeone raised the money to build three hand pump wells through an online website.

Each well, or “borehole,” was installed near a rural primary school and is expected to provide clean water for 50 years. It cost only $5,000 to build all three wells, and one borehole can serve 300 people a day. One hand pump well makes a huge impact on the health of a community.

Since returning home, McKeone has launched the Water for Zambia project. (Information about the project can be found at waterforzambia.org).

She is reaching out to the Marian community to assist in her fundraising efforts to bring many more wells to the villages of Zambia.

For now, McKeone is still adapting to life back in Omaha. She hopes to travel back to Africa in the future.

Being in the Peace Corps motivated her to step out of her comfort zone and taught her that she is stronger than she realized. “Anything worth doing is hard,” she said.

Being in the Peace Corps motivated her to step out of her comfort zone ...

“Anything worth doing is hard,”

The buzz on the Bee erincarollo

The lineup Contestants (from left to right) Emily Folts ‘18, Vicky Bongamin ‘18, Caroline Lahey ‘18, Amber Bridgeford ‘15, Alex Regan ‘15, Claire Davis ‘16, and Libby Knudson ‘18 sit in their designated seats as students file into the East Gym for the spelling bee on Wednesday, Feb. 11. Photo by sarahmullen Write it out A technique for Amber Bridgeford, Claire Davis and Alex Regan was to “write” the words on their hands. “When I write words out, I can imagine if they look right,” Regan said. Photos by sarahmullen

-Emily McKeone ‘05

Graphic by megansmith

Saved by the bell Davis and Regan give the judges confused looks after a challenging word. The finalists were interrupted by the bell before either girl was able to win. The two stayed behind and spelled through 13 rounds of words to determine Davis the winner with the word ‘maraschino.”

Photo courtesy of Kayla Young

After four years of price increases to more than $4/gallon, the cost of gas has been cut in half. It has stayed around $2/gallon for almost five months.

According to CNN, the main causes of the price drop come from a huge decrease in the cost of oil, an increase of fuel-efficient vehicles and more production of oil in the United States.

Even though drivers are enjoying low gas prices, it’s impossible to predict how much longer the streak will last.

It seems as if Marian students are taking advantage of the low prices.

To see how much of an effect the drop in gas prices had on the Marian community, The Network compiled responses from 240 students on a Google survey about their driving habits and their gas use.

The Network [March 2015]

Opinion [4]

The Staff Speaks: When people matter more than products

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he theory of supply and demand is this: the more products people are buying, the more products that need to be made. When a company’s supply and demand goes up, it seems to be an overall success for the company and for those at the top of the ladder. More products sold equals more money made. However, the people at the bottom of the company ladder might see supply and demand in a different way.

For a garment worker or a factory worker who is already working 80 hours a week, an increase in demand can bring a negative impact to his or her daily workload. Workers will often be kept overtime to fill the large orders that need to be completed in a timely fashion. Of even greater concern are the 215 million children around the world under the age of 15 who are part of this workforce. According to www.waronwant.org, in one factory, workers were kept up to 50 extra hours each week to keep up with demands. These 50 hours were not just, “Hey, let’s have a coffee break,” hours, but hours filled to the brim with work and very few restroom and food breaks.

So how does this apply to Marian girls? As consumers, we are the ones who have a chance to do something about it. Most of us have bought a few dozen t-shirts throughout our years at Marian. But do we know where any of those t-shirts came from or where they were made? Most people don’t think about where a product was made, or by whom, when they pick it up off of the rack for 50 percent off.

Many Bluetique items and club t-shirts are ordered from Lawlor’s, a local clothing company. Owner Pat Lawlor sees the issue of unjust labor conditions, and said that unfortunately, almost all of their products are produced in Honduras by the company Gildan, but are printed and embroidered in Omaha. Even though the products are not made here, Lawlor stated that Gildan is known for having a good reputation and keeping labor in foreign countries safe.

He also added that large companies like Nike and Adidas are constantly changing where products are made, according to where they can get it produced for the least amount of money.

In fact, Creighton Prep sports teams have become aware of this problem and have decided not to

purchase sports uniforms from Nike or other companies that take advantage of sweatshops.

It is important to realize that the clothing we purchase could create a life of poverty for someone else. It is difficult to be a worker who knows his or her hard work is just going into a shirt that will go to someone who already has 3o shirts in his or her closet, while he or she only has a couple.

But will one person boycotting one product or one company make any impact at all for the person sitting at the sewing machine? Maybe not.

However, there are a few plans of action that each of us can take.

First and foremost, be informed.

It will take some effort and research, but take time to know where the clothing you buy is coming from. Is it imported from another country?

Is it a trustworthy company? Are the products made by children? It’s also good to also support businesses in the United States, so buy products that can help stimulate our country’s economy while standing up for something. However, it is still important to research U.S. companies to see how their workers are treated; sweatshops and poor treatment of workers are not limited to other countries. It may seem like a lot of work, but the Internet can give lots

?

Wow, I LOVE your shoes!

Thanks! I got them from a sweatshop in China!

Cartoon by megansmith

of information in a short period of time that can change our view on our clothing and our next shopping excursion.

The Huffington Post featured an article about an online software called aVOID, which helps shoppers make informed decisions about what they are buying. It is an easy download that works on both Safari and Google Chrome. Once installed, a hand icon appears near the search bar. The software works on certain sites like target.com and Google Shopping.

When shopping, the software immediately filters out products that were made by children in sweatshops around the world. It replaces the product with an icon of a hand, so only the items made in a safe environment show up on the given website a consumer is searching. Utilizing a software like aVOID is a smart way to take advantage of the technology we have to make a difference.

Once informed, do something about it. Plenty of places sell leggings, t-shirts or prom dresses.

Find somewhere that has a good reputation for treating its workers well. Also, consider writing a letter to the company that is not treating its workers fairly. It might seem small, but one drop can create millions of ripples, even if it is just a ripple that reaches one person.

One question can arise from the previous recommendation of how to change our consumerism. If we boycott a company that is staffed with people in poverty, won’t we further dig them into poverty? Some could argue yes, but the ultimate answer is no.

According to www.waronwant.org, which studied working conditions in Bangladesh, the average monthly salary of a garment worker is a little less than $16. This puts families below what is called the living wage — a wage that allows a person to provide his or her family with food, water, healthcare, clothes, shelter, transport and education. These people are already in poverty, and if we are truly concerned about them, we do not want them living like this.

By not supporting these companies, consumers can help end the cycle.

Just as Marian girls matter, so do those girls, boys, women and men working in the clothing industry and other factory-based industries. We have the power to pass the message that people matter more than products.

I never want to change... out of my uniform

“S

amantha, why is your uniform still on? It’s almost 9:30,” my dad says to me while I am lounging on my couch watching the latest episode of “Modern Family.” I look at him, slightly confused, and reply with the classic, “Whatever.” He sighs and walks away.

This is a daily occurrence in the Chaney household and has been for roughly the last 13 years of my life.

I started wearing a uniform on my first day of kindergarten at Mary Our Queen and have never looked back.

Even in my earliest days as a uniform wearer, I refused to take my uniform off until I went to bed.

When I was in kindergarten, my parents thought it was just a phase; they figured that maybe I just felt so cool and grown up in my uniform that I couldn’t bear to take it off. I must admit that, yes, I did feel super

cool and very grown up, which is why I didn’t want to take it off. I then realized two things: uniforms are insanely comfortable, and there is no point of changing out of it if I am just going to sit around at home.

This phase slowly faded out as I went through grade school. Nine long years in the same dark navy blue and red plaid skirt and white polo can get quite boring, and frankly my skirt then was not nearly as comfortable as my Marian one.

During my first few weeks at Marian, I went through that phase again. I felt even cooler and even more grown up. When I went out in public, I felt like I was walking on air because finally everyone knew that I was in high school, instead of assuming that I was 11 years old.

Over the last 13 years of wearing a uniform, I have become extremely

attached to it. When there are school breaks, I frequently run out of clothes to wear. I’m not going to lie, I have seriously considered just throwing on my polo before I leave the house.

When I think of going to college, my first thought is always, “What do people even wear in college?”

I have had nightmares in which I walk into my first college class in my royal blue polo. (I also frequently wonder if people actually get ready for class in college, but that is a whole different topic.)

To all you underclassmen out there reading this, treasure your uniform and all the years you have left to wear it. This uniform is one of the best things that has ever happened to me.

The memories I have made while wearing this uniform are some that I

The Real Sam Chaney

samchaney

will always remember as some of the best.

I am dreading the day when I no longer have the luxury of knowing exactly what I am going to wear on a day-to-day basis. Having to wake up and actually think about what I am going to wear just sounds awful. But I guess I am going to have to find out in a few short months.

Opinion [5]

The Network [March 2015]

Pump gas, not wallets lucyfindley

$2

.38. To some, this may seem like nothing more than a small amount of money; but to me, it is so much more. This simple number can make my day, turn it around or make me want to curl up in a ball and spend my whole day sobbing.

Some of my fellow OGPD (obsessive gas price disorder) victims recognized right away that $2.38 is the current gas price in Omaha. I know it’s slightly risky saying $2.38 is the current gas price, because similar to my mood, the prices are constantly changing. I’ve actually had to change the price twice since I first wrote this. Back to the point, why is this such a big deal?

I’ve been driving for about two years now, and I’ve paid for my gas the whole time. My first car was a little brown Honda that cost me a maximum of $20 to fill up my tank, and then I switched cars, and now I own the not-so-beloved gold Chevy Blazer. Now, I’m lucky if I spend less than $40 a week on gas.

As soon as I started driving this gas-guzzler, I became obsessed with watching gas prices and driving the least amount possible. Then something wonderful happened.

A few months ago, the gas prices plummeted, and all my dreams and hopes began to rise. Well, maybe I wouldn’t go that far. But these low gas prices have made a few extremely positive changes in my life.

The first and most important change is that I’m saving money. This means more money in my pocket that would usually be wasted away at a gas station. Second, I find myself driving way more and being slightly less stingy about giving my friends rides. Lastly, I have even become slightly less obsessed with gas prices.

Now, I still look every time I pass a gas station, but I’m not constantly forming plans and estimating how long I can last with an empty tank without paying for gas. I consider that a major improvement to my OGPD. Although these past few months of low gas prices have been more than satisfactory, I begin to become anxious and melancholy as I see the prices slowly, but surely, rise. The only thing that will get me through the high gas prices (that I fear aren’t too far away) is the commonly referenced saying, “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.”

‘Pretty Girl Rock’: owning my awkward stage Shower Thoughts With Lizzy: Behind the Curtain

lizzyvandyke

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understood. They told me something along the lines of me having a face “a mother loves,” but that’s not true because when I was thirteen she would not let me get my eyebrows waxed! I calmly solved my own problem and plucked my eyebrows until I had trimmed them to the most perfect crescent shape, a fourth of their original size. Now with those out of the way, I had time to focus on my eyes. Again, my mom did not allow me to wear makeup for some reason, so I had to get creative in finding a way to truly express my maturity. After much deliberation, the obvious choice was to glob mascara on my lashes from the samples at Target and Sephora, and the remnants of that would smear and tide me over for the next couple of days. Now those are just a few of the tricks of my trade.

I can’t take credit for all of the geniusness. I owe a shoutout for my physical artistry to American Girls, “The Care and Keeping of You,” along with the gift bag given to me years ago after “The Talk” at school. My mini Dove deodorant and I shared a couple of memorable years, and my travel-sized body spray was a great substitute for clean laundry.

Lastly, I owe endless hugs and thanks to Justice for supplying me with an exponential supply of camisoles to layer when I was too afraid to wear a bra.

When to contact lenses, when to buy into bifocals

am not a wallflower. I am not alternative. I certainly am not Emma Watson. But I do recall the very moment that sparked my unceasing feeling of infinity. My eighth grade year I sauntered out of the orthodontist, wind blowing in my hair, feeling like a million bucks. I had always safely sported pink or blue bands on my braces, but that day I hesitantly gravitated toward a subtle rainbow pattern. Some might call this an “Aha!” moment. This life-altering decision opened my eyes to the most beautiful me.

My personal double rainbow opened the eyes of those around me as well. They could never keep their eyes off of me, always commenting on my “transcendent features” as well, sometimes referring to them as timeless, raw, or show-stopping. I was hardly bragging. And boy, were they right. I was show-stopping. There was one particular comment I never fully

annawinkeler

Glasses: the way to go

Contacts: the clear choice

“S

he needs glasses," the doctor said. My little second-grade self was terrified! For the next seven years I had my fair share of prescription changes and new glasses. I finally reached a point where I. Was. Done. I got my contacts in eighth grade and it was a life-changing decision.

Contacts transformed my vision.

I can see whole new world that I never saw before. My vision has been expanded. My contacts follow my eyes and I never have to face that awkward time when you look at something and it isn’t in the line of your glasses.

It just ends up looking like a blob of color that you can’t quite make out.

With contacts, that peripheral vision issue is solved. With contacts, I never have to worry about my glasses sliding down my face or getting dirty because contacts move with your eyes and can't get fingerprints all over them.

When I smile, my cheeks always seem to hit my glasses, but with contacts there is no piece of plastic sliding down my nose or getting

bumped because of my chipmunk cheeks. Also, on Wednesdays when you are getting ready for the day and slip on a sweatshirt, contacts won’t slide down your face or get caught in the sweatshirt. There is nothing I won’t do to wear contacts and to leave my glasses at home. My eye could be red, hurting, or watering. I don’t care any more. I want to see without all of the hassle.

Now, everyone is saying that glasses are a trendy thing. People buy fake glasses with an attempt to be “hipster,” but this is one trend I refuse to be a part of! I stopped wearing glasses four years ago, and it was one of the greatest decisions I ever made!

The Network

blairkellner

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lasses are my life, plain and simple. Without my beloved glasses, I would run into walls more often than I usually do. Why wear contacts when you can show your style with an awesome pair of glasses?

Contacts dry out your eyes and make them feel uncomfortable all day. Why would you make yourself go through that when you can just wear glasses?

Glasses however, there for you whenever you need them. With glasses, you never have to worry about losing a contact and not being able to see.

Sure you can lose your

The Network is a monthly publication of the journalism students at Marian High School, Nebraska’s only Class A, Catholic, North Central Accredited college preparatory school for girls. The Network is a member of the N.H.S.P.A, N.S.P.A. and the C.S.P.A. It is our goal to provide an accurate and informative news source for the student community. Opinions expressed on the opinion pages do not necessarily represent those of the entire community. Students, faculty and friends are invited to voice their opinion in Letters to the Editors. All letters must be typed, signed, and sent to this address: The Network, Marian High School 7400 Military Ave. Omaha, NE 68134 Or emailed to us here: netpaper@omahamarian.org An electronic version of this paper and exclusive content can be found here:

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glasses, but you can always have a spare at home.

The latest fashion trends show that glasses are back in. Glasses give you another opportunity to accessorize.

There are so many different types of glasses these days that you don’t have to wear an embarrassing pair that fit every style.

Today, glasses are not just your typical three different styles that your mom picked out for you.

Designers come out with different styles all of the time! From Ray-Ban to Kate Spade, you can show off your style though a variety of brands.

If I’m correct, you can not buy designer contacts.

I tried contacts for the first time this year and it was horrible!

It feels like something is stuck in my eye all day. So the next time you go to the opthamologist, make the right choice, choose glasses.

Power of the Press Managing Editors: katiepallesen & megansmith Copy Editor: kathleenbever Photo Editor: emmiemcminn Graphics Editor: sarahmullen Online Editors: erincarollo & erinmartinez Front Page Editor: maevenelson News Editors: tayloreicher & anabellemcdonald Opinion Editors: samchaney & charlotteelsasser Editorial Writer: laurenwarner Feature Editors: emilybashus, blairkellner, laurenwarner & annawinkeler Indepth Editor: kaylasullivan Sports Editor: maggiemainelli Entertainment Editors: lucyfindley & lizzyvandyke Photo Essay Editor: mariavaladez Columnists: samchaney & lizzyvandyke Adviser: mrs. marshakalkowski

The Network [March 2015]

[6] Features

Junior FBLA members recognized for 500 hours of service maggiemainelli

F

Books connect all ages Junior Taylor McHugh reads to a class of students at Columbian Elementary. Photo courtesy of Taylor McHugh

ive-hundred hours is a lot of time to dedicate to anything, let alone work with no pay.

But for juniors Molly Haddick and Taylor McHugh, service is an important part of their lives, and they have both managed to accumulate more than 500 hours of volunteering in the last few years.

The awards come on three levels: Community (50 hours), Service (200 hours) and Achievement (500

hours). Both Haddick and McHugh will receive Achievement awards, and junior Elise Pape will also be receiving the Service award.

McHugh has been deeply involved with FBLA. As one of the presidents of Marian’s chapter, she is busy preparing for FBLA State, where she has been nominated for Delta Pi Epsilon Local Chapter Leadership Award, Outstanding Secondary Business Student Award, Knowledge Matters and Who’s Who in Nebraska FBLA. Over the years, she has volunteered at Children’s Hospital, Gretna TOP Soccer, Ollie Webb and at Marian.

Right now, she is dedicating the most time to the Just Friends program at Ollie Webb, in which she plays with children with special needs.

“A lot of the service I do involves sick people or disabled people, and the smiles on their faces makes it worth it,” McHugh said.

Haddick has spent 100 hours each year volunteering at the Henry Doorly Zoo. She, and other high school members of the Zoo Crew, display animal skulls or pelts and give the visitors information about the animals.

Haddick is a new member to FBLA this year, but her volunteer work did not go unrecognized. She, along with McHugh and Pape, will receive their Community Service Awards at FBLA State in Omaha on Apr. 9-11.

“I just like helping the community by doing anything I can do to make a difference,” Haddick said.

Let freedom ring? Students debate freedom in high school tayloreicher

F

rom ages 13 to 19, teenagers walk a tightrope between being considered a child and an adult.

Teenagers, who see themselves as adults, want all the freedom they can get as soon as they can get it. Parents just want what they believe is best for their children, which can often be portrayed as “strict.”

Freshman Erica Curtis’ parents are what she would consider strict. Curtis is only allowed to go out with family and mentors on the weekends, not school friends.

Curtis’ mentors are people that she can “express how I feel and what I should do about particular situations

going on within my life or life itself.”

Curtis still wishes she was able to go out with her friends on the weekend. “I am not okay [not] being able to go out with my friends. It kind of annoys me really, especially when I get invited to things, such as the movies, by my friends, but then end up telling them I can’t go because my mom won’t let me,” Curtis said.

Curtis’ mother, Ms. Shawntel Clark, says that she “set certain rules and expectations for my children, especially for Erica, considering that she is the oldest in the house.”

Ms. Clark also added, “At the end of the day our family is just one huge

team, and in a team people have to work together considering there is no “I” in team,” she said.

Junior Amber Jimenez believes teens still need to respect their parents. “I believe we should respect our parents no matter what they tell us. So we should respect our curfews, spending money should be limited, [we should] tell them where we go, and so on,” Jimenez said.

In the same regard, Jimenez also said that parents should respect their children. “Parents tracking you on your phone to see your every move or perhaps your parents reading your messages to see who you talk to [is too

far]. There should be some balance of trust and privacy between the parent and child,” Jimenez said.

Jimenez has a few tips for anyone struggling with this. “Respect curfews if you have one, tell your parents who you’re hanging out with and where you’re going, listen to them and do what you’re told (laundry, dishes), respect them (don’t throw a tantrum because Mom or Dad wouldn’t let you go to the Prep game!). Instead of asking for money, perhaps ask for a trade. You’ll clean out the garage for $30? Little things like those could give yourself and your parents a much better relationship.”

Features [7]

The Network [March 2015]

A new note: Girls define the way they listen to music

Photo Illustration by emmiemcminn

59% prefer earbuds rather than “over the ear” headphones.

r ve y o n to e

Erica Dunham ‘15

43 % listen of gir ing ls p t he r 32% to Sp efe r Pa who otif nd lis or t a.

Nic

ole

Tur n

er ‘

18

Only 27% of students find listening to music while studying distracting.

Only 16% of students buy their music on iTunes.

n ria Ma o the vey.

6 t 25 ed ur le s d om s fr spon oog t l su re ry G a y re ho ve ts w ebru r u n F S de s ’ stu twork Ne

Only 32

% listen

to mus

ic most

freque

ntly on

their iPa

d.

Under locket and key: Marian secures life long friendships charlotteelsasser & mariavaladez

E

ven before entering Marian on the first day of school, we are told, “You meet your friends in college, but you meet your bridesmaids at Marian.” Usually, people don’t automatically have that in mind when making friends freshman year. Yet, as years pass and friendships grow, it becomes obvious that a wedding is hard to imagine without your best friends from Marian.

“We can’t imagine not having each other in our lives after high school.

Our weddings won’t happen if the other can’t be there,” junior best friends Mary Kate Mulhall and Holly Banark said.

For the past two years, Mulhall and Banark have been inseparable. In that time, they have not only learned valuable lessons from each other, but from attending Marian. “[I’ve learned that] a first impression is such a minuscule part of someone’s personality. Take the time to really get to know people,” Mulhall shared. Banark said, “You never know who your friends are going to be.

Make sure you are open to talking to anyone because that one person could end up being your best friend.”

Proof that these girls will do anything for each other is not hard to find. Once, before dinner at Banark’s house, her mother jokingly told her daughter that if she wanted dinner she would have to eat the banana she’d left to turn rotten. Mulhall in response to this picked up the banana and went to the bathroom.

Eight minutes passed and Mulhall still hadn’t come out. Concerned,

Banark went to the bathroom to check on Mulhall, who then came out looking a little pale, holding the brown banana peel in hand. Mulhall had eaten the banana.

“I didn’t want Holly to have to do it,” Mulhall said when asked

by Banark’s parents why she had eaten the banana.

Of course, Banark’s mom was kidding, but this is just proof that they’re ready to do anything for each other.

While most young teenagers 1. Sarah McMeen and Lauren Novacek. Photo by charlotteelsasser would be upset 2. Holly Banark and Mary Kate Mulhall. Photo by charlotteelsasser at having the 3. Five ever Lauren Novacek and Sarah McMeen, age 8, play absence of basketball. They have been playing together since they were 5 years old boys in their and have been ever since. Photo courtesy of Lauren Novacek everyday life at school, Mulhall way. It is so much easier to just be and Banark ourselves and not feel any pressure don’t mind. Instead, they feel as if from boys,” Mulhall and Banark said. it strengthens their friendship. “We Juniors Mulhall and Banark aren’t don’t feel like we need to act a certain

1 2

3

the only ones who appreciate the absence of boys. “I love the fact that you can just be yourself, so I can talk to Lauren 24/7, and it’s okay. No one judges,” sophomore best friends Sarah McMeen and Lauren Novacek said.

Having been friends for almost 12 years, Novacek and McMeen have learned many important lessons from one another. The most important one is that they should always be there for each other. McMeen said, “Having a support system by your side helps you with everything.”

Not only have they learned lessons about friendship from each other, but also from Marian. In fact, 94% of Marian girls who took The Network survey said that Marian has taught them lessons about friendship.

Novacek said, “You can always count on your friends to be there in hard times or good times.” McMeen agreed, saying that even if you aren’t particularly close to someone, they’ll still help you with a math problem.

McMeen and Novacek have quite the archive of cute stories from their 12 years of friendship. “We used to go matching to school every dress down day. We had everything matching,” Novacek said. Their moms used to enjoy joint shopping trips and would often buy the same things for the girls.

“Her mom is my mom and my mom is her mom,” Novacek said.

Despite the fact that we are all confident, independent, thinking leaders, friendship is extremely essential. Even the most independent girls need a friend, and the best place to find one is at Marian.

In-Depth [9]

The Network [March 2015]

1.65 TIMES / WEEK X $8.80 / MEAL

4.19 GAMES / YR X $5 ADMISSION / GAME

LICENSE APPLICATION $17.50 + PARKING STICKER $35

40% SET A $50-$100 MONTHLY BUDGET OR RARELY SHOP

$14.51 / WEEK

$50 / MONTH

$21.15 / YR

MANI: 2.59 / YR X $22.50 PEDI: 2.33 / YR X $37.50

AVERAGE 3 TSHIRTS $45

FORMAL DANCES

$52.50

$145.66 / YR

ASK DATE $5.12 DINNER $30 DRESS $49.12 HAIR & NAILS $18.31 TICKET $15 FLOWER $10 X 2 DANCES

$255.10

$20.94 $12.50

AVERAGE 4 TSHIRTS

$11.92 / WEEK

$60

INFORMAL DANCES DINING OUT

MOVIE THEATRE

T

DRIVING

ST AR

ATHLETIC EVENTS

PH YE OM AR O RE

DINING OUT

SO

RS D BE GE SS’ UM ERA L A SES C N RE T LN V T A AL RE HA SPO WE GS T E S N ES E W M Y R ICE MO IC

O E R FR RV L PR D A G P OF F E N UT O SU L I A G & RA PET EY O 0% E V .5 S M AV CO SUR OX LAS * PR C AP C H EA

Graphic by sarahmullen

JUNIOR

MANI/PEDI

SHOPPING

4.32 MOVIES / YR

DINING OUT

DANCE TOTAL thing.

Do you have a fun work story?

The little brother of a boy having a party kept wanting to go down the slides with me. It was so cute!

What is your favorite part of the job?

My favorite part is making pizzas and my homie Zane.

Do you have a fun work story?

One time, my boss needed me and was calling my name repeatedly, and I heard him, but one of my favorite songs was playing in the back, so I said, “Hold up I love this song” . . . Big mistake. It was funny to everyone just because they couldn’t believe I said that. The radio was taken away for the rest of the night.

G

APPLYING TO COLLEGE

1.68 TIMES / WEEK X $8.75 / MEAL

PROM

DRESS $100 HAIR NAILS & OTHER $80 DINNER $35 TICKET $30 FLOWER $10

$255

What do you do?

Make pizzas, clean, and answer phones How long have you worked there?

Since December What is your hourly wage? $8 How often do you work?

I usually work 20-25 hours a week.

How did you get the job?

I walked in and filled out an application.

IN

GAS

Evelyn Benda ‘15 - Papa Murphy’s

IV

COLORING HAIR

SHOPPING

DON’T P A S S GAS

$85.24 / MONTH

What do you do?

As a party pro, I’m in charge of the birthday parties. In the party room, I help with pizza, cake and presents.

How long have you worked there?

Since September What is your hourly wage?

It just depends. I get paid $6 per hour plus tips —usually $20 per party.

How often do you work?

Saturdays and Sundays, two or three parties each day (A party lasts about one hour and 45 minutes.)

How did you get the job?

My dad knows the owner and I had a group interview.

What is your favorite part of the job?

Seeing how excited the kids are during the party. They think it’s the coolest

DR

33% OF GIRLS PAY $120 / DYE X 6.67 TIMES (ONCE EVERY 6 WEEKS) / YR

29% OF GIRLS HAVE A MONTHLY BUDGET OF $50-$200 (44% DON’T SET A BUDGET)

FRESHMAN YR 2.10 FORMALS + SOPHOMORE YR 1.67 FORMALS X $127.55 + JUNIOR YR 1.70 PROMS + SENIOR YR 1.60 PROMS X $225

$14.71 / WEEK

Claire Kilborn ‘17 - BounceU

What do you do?

I serve food in the dining room.

How long have you worked there?

A little over a year (You can start working at New Cassel at age 14.)

What is your hourly wage? $8.50 How often do you work?

Tuesdays and Thursdays, 4-7 p.m.

How did you get the job?

Last year, the boss sent a note to my teacher asking for a new employee. I decided to try it and I like it.

What is your favorite part of the job?

The residents. I know almost all of them.

Do you have a fun work story?

A couple weeks ago, a guy spilled his apple juice and when it started to go over the edge of the table, he tried to catch it. It was so cute.

2.5 DANCES / YR X $5 / DANCE

AVERAGE 3 TSHIRTS new people or making friends with co-workers (according to the survey).

“It teaches responsibility, independence and to work as a member of a team outside of the home and school environments,” DeBoer said. “I think as long as you enjoy what you’re doing, it’s going to be a great experience,” she said.

The Network staff decided to showcase a few girls and their work experiences.

1.38 TIMES / WEEK X $8.64 / MEAL

$1223.36 ALL 4 YRS into the “real world,” or it can be nothing but a stress-inducing headache.

“It’s case by case.

For some, I think it’s a great idea [to have a job] because they have time in their schedule and want to save money for college, but some people are just too busy to fit another thing in their schedule,” counselor Ms. Kathy DeBoer said.

While for some the best part of their jobs is clocking out, other Marian girls enjoy meeting

9 or 10 in the morning until 3 or 4 in the afternoon.

How did you get the job?

When the business opened a few summers ago, they were having a job fair and I got the job. I have been there since the store opened.

What is your favorite part of the job?

My favorite part is interacting with customers and coworkers.

Do you have a fun work story?

Once I slipped on a wet floor and spilled cleaner all over myself. I also did the ice bucket challenge after a shift.

ADMIT 1 $8.75

$

$800 / YR

$45

AVERAGE 3 TSHIRTS

A

What do you do?

I usually work the cash register, clean the lobby, and frost donuts.

How long have you worked there?

I have worked there for a year and a half. I was hired on my 16th birthday.

What is your hourly wage?

I make minimum wage, plus about $8 in tips per shift.

How often do you work?

I work every Saturday and Sunday from about

Megan Leddy ‘18 New Cassel Retirement Center

$37.50

ATHLETIC EVENTS

$37.88 / APPLICATION + $2 / TRANSCRIPT + $12 / ACT OR TEST SCORE SENT X 4.08 SCHOOL

$79.17 / MONTH

COFFEE SHOPS

2.68 TESTS X $46.25 / TEST + 67% OF GIRLS TAKE A TEST PREP CLASS ON AVERAGE $433.33

$45

ACT/SAT TESTING

$523.72

kaylasullivan fter accounting for hours of homework, club activities, sports practices, family obligations, church activities and sleep, it’s a wonder how students are able to fit part-time jobs into their busy lives.

However, many Marian girls are employed, working anywhere from 10 to 25 or more hours a week at a variety of different places.

Working in high school can either be a great opportunity to gain insight

Molly Miller ‘16 - Dunkin’ Donuts

4.19 GAMES / YR X $5 ADMISSION / GAME

E TH O T T AR E W LS ST AM HO IR R G EI G E SE IAN TH OM O R T AR D F M PEN EY AN EAR S N M Y O H M ES IOR FR EN S

$125 / MONTH

G O AGAIN $20.24 / MONTH

MORE THAN PAPER MONEY Jobs provide income, life lessons

YEAR

$211.83

[8] In-Depth

The Network [March 2015]

[10] Features

Max provides comfort to student population emilybashus

W

ho is walking down the hallway with Technology Specialist Mrs. Jane Campbell? That’s right— a dog, more specifically a boxer-beagle mix.

This summer, Campbell adopted Max from the Nebraska Humane Society in hopes of training him to become a therapy dog.

Max’s training includes completing a six-week obedience class, a good citizen test through the American Kennel Club and an extensive-therapy test from Love on a Leash.

To pass the tests, Max needs to be able to sit, stay for at least two minutes, be in a room away from Campbell, remain calm when a loud pan is dropped, be around a person

who is yelling and walk through a hectic crowd.

This is a lot for any dog to handle, but Campbell has full confidence in Max. Campbell went to visit the Humane Society the week of Camp Kindness, a day camp where kids can go to play with the animals and learn a lot about them. While all of the kids were making most of the dogs very excited, Campbell noticed Max was just sitting there calmly in the midst of chaos. “If a dog can be calm during that environment, it is a good indication that he could be a successful therapy dog,” Campbell said.

Once the training is complete, Max will accompany Campbell to different nursing homes, retirement homes, literacy events and visit even more schools because Max reacts very well in the school environment.

One program Max attends allows students to read to the dogs. Campbell’s favorite are the Dr. Seuss events. Senior Hannah Frisbee’s elementary Paw playdate Senior Katie Siwa spends her study hall on Feb. 18, school, Fullerton, playing with Max in the Quad. Max loves to spend time with Marian sent students students. Photo by emilybashus

like her little brother who had trouble reading to these same events.

“Reading aloud to a therapy dog really helped my brother feel like he was in a relaxed and judgementfree environment. The therapy dogs provided a comforting presence, and when he didn’t have to be around the stresses of the classroom, he was able to grow more confident reading out loud,” Frisbee said.

Frisbee said Max will have a positive influence on the Marian community.

“I think having him here will spread a positive feeling around Marian.

Having a dog around can make people happier and more upbeat,” she said.

Campbell first got the idea to get a therapy dog in 2005 when she read an article about how dogs were being integrated into schools across that country. She proposed the idea to the principal of St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) Elementary School, Mrs. Patty Buttell, who was on board with the idea. A few months later, Buttell passed away from cancer.

It was after this that Campbell got her first therapy dog, a greyhound named Sierra, in hopes of providing some comfort to the staff and students at SVdP. Sierra stayed at SVdP for five years until Campbell left to work at The Apple Store.

When Max isn’t at Marian, he stays at home sleeping and eating after taking off his gray Marian t-shirt uniform for the day. He also loves to

go on walks and sniff his way through the neighborhood.

Campbell says that Max loves all treats. “One day Mrs. [Melissa] Brusnahan gave me some steak bones for Max. He doesn’t eat human food, so he thought those were just the greatest things. He looked at me in shock, picked up the bone and slowly walked down the stairs,” she said.

Campbell reminds students to make sure not to give Max any treats without direct approval.

Sophomore Julia Anderson said Max will be beneficial to Marian. “He will show that not just other people can help people, animals can help a lot, too,” Anderson said.

Junior Natalie Ashbrook agrees.

“I know a lot of girls have anxiety. If someone was having an anxiety attack, Max might be able to make her feel better,” Ashbrook said.

Max is being trained by Campbell to not approach girls if she can tell that they are apprehensive, but Campbell wants girls to know that they don’t need to be afraid of Max. Upon instruction, Max will do a “sit-stay,” which would allow girls to get as close to him as they want to help alleviate some of their fear.

Campbell also likes when girls tell her that they are allergic to dogs; so she knows to keep Max at a distance.

Next time Max is spotted in the halls or in the technology office, don’t be afraid to stop and say hello.

Girls embark on Lenten journeys TEACHER anabellemcdonald

L

ent: a time where Christians reflect and try to better themselves in preparation for the death and resurrection of Jesus. A Lenten journey, whether it is giving something up or doing something every day, can be life-altering.

Marian girls are no exception to the Christian tradition. Almost 60 percent of the 218 girls who took The Network survey this month are participating in some sort of Lenten challenge.

A lot can be learned from these challenges. Often times, participants discover themselves and even God by distancing themselves from bad habits and materialistic things.

Freshman Megan Doehner has learned the true meaning of Lent through her past Lenten journeys.

She also said that along with giving something up, doing something extra for others can also be extremely valuable to one’s spiritual self.

“In past Lents, I’ve learned that doing something extra is always more rewarding than just giving something up. You tend to focus more on the one thing you gave up rather than turning your attention towards prayer and sacrifice, which is what Lent is really about,” Doehner said.

This year, Doehner has decided to go the extra mile and give up something most people do every day without thinking twice about:“I’m giving up complaining,” Doehner said.

Complaining, for many people, comes as a second language. It is easy to vent to friends or family about a rough day when things are going awry. Doehner is taking on this difficult task to live out Lent to the fullest.

“Complaining really just brings you and the people around you down, and that’s not how I’d like to spend my Lent. I’m going to be more aware

of the things around me and think before I say things,” Doehner said.

Although Doehner is excited to better herself, she is aware of the hardships her challenge will bring.

“The thing that will be hardest for me is stopping myself before I start complaining. It’s second nature to all of us to bash something we’re not happy with, and I’m trying to train myself to keep my opinions to myself,” Doehner said.

Sophomore Julia Manganaro is also undertaking a Lenten challenge.

Manganaro decided to give up coffee for the 40 days of Lent.

“I gave up coffee for Lent because I drink it way too much. It’s almost an addiction,” Manganaro said.

A caffeine craving is difficult to ignore, but Manganaro is up for the deprivation. She hopes that her promise will teach her what is truly important and the meaning of sacrifice.

Manganaro has experienced positive changes in her life from participating in past Lenten challenges. “I’ve learned how to make sacrifices, even though it may be hard,” she said.

Along with a renewed spirituality, Manganaro hopes to strengthen personal qualities. “Hopefully I will be able to learn to give up the little things in life and focus on making smaller sacrifices,” Manganaro said.

Lenten journeys are as unique as the person undertaking the task.

However, there is one common goal: to form a closer relationship with God. After the 40 days of Lent, Doehner is hoping to find herself renewed: “I’m hoping that I’ll become a more positive and understanding person. It’s difficult to hold my tongue, but I know in the long run, it’ll be worth it,” she said.

FUN FACTS

Graphic by erincarollo

77%

20%

of surveyed teachers have children

of surveyed teachers have grandchildren

not interested at all

How do they feel about Field Day?

1

“

I play the saxophone.

Mrs. Stacy Tunink

”

Science Department

2 3 4

“

5 6 7 8 9

I cooked for forest fire fighters for almost two years in California.

Mr. Mark Koesters Language Department

“

10

”

I can turn my arm around a full 360 degrees.

”

Mrs. Janet Tuttle

Language Department Field Week is my favorite week of the year!

What social media are they on?

31% use LinkedIn

66% of surveyed teachers use Facebook

41% use Pinterest

6% use Snapchat 34% use Twitter

9% use Instagram *statistics based on a survey response from 32 teachers

The Network [March 2015]

Features [11]

Women vs. Men

The confidence gap between men and women might not be very apparent in our society, but it is definitely there. The confidence gap refers to the way men act in comparison to the way women act, according to The Atlantic.

Women today: Make up

60%

When asked if a confidence gap between men and women exists, Marian girls responded...

of ALL college students

Earn only

81%

of what their male counterparts do.

In 2015, women make up

4.6%

of all CEO positions.

75%-Yes 16%-I Do not know what the confidence gap is

9%-No Graphic by samchaney

Instrumental music program students participate in BOCH Festival, Pops concert kathleenbever

W

hen walking into the Performing Stahlnecker said. She also said that Arts Center, it’s hard to miss the she is grateful for how the instrumenentrance to the main stage. As the cen- tal music program at Marian has imter stage for all vocal and instrumental pacted her future in music. “I’m excitperformances, it draws in guests from ed to continue to play the violin after all sides of the building. But whoever high school. I know that playing in the asks to see the band practice room will orchestra at Marian has prepared me find a small corner of the building hid- for whatever music brings me.” ing behind the main stage’s flashing Marian girls in the instrumental lights and tangled microphone chords. music program are also able to show What this small corner of Marian’s off their talents through performances newest addition creates behind closed and competitions throughout the year. doors is On anything Feb. 10, but small. girls in It’s bethe string hind these ensemble doors that and band members perof Marian’s formed at instrumenInstrutal music mental program Pops in the Concert. fine arts Middle department school are allowed students to express in the themselves Music in in loud Catholic and new Schools ways not Honor available in Beautiful music Junior Hannah Saalfeld and senior Bay- Band other Mariwere lie Moravec, who play the flute, perform at Instrumental an fine arts invited to Pops Concert on Feb. 10. Photo by kathleenbever classes. perform Mrs. Rachel Misiolek teaches all of with Marian student musicians as the classes in the instrumental muwell. sic program; classes offered include Outside of Marian, nine band and String Ensemble, Honors String string ensemble members were selectEnsemble, Handbells I, Handbells II, ed to participate in the 2015 UniversiBeginning Band, Honors Band and ty of Nebraska-Omaha Band, OrchesBand. tra and Choir at the Holland (BOCH) Senior Meg Stahlnecker has been a Festival, which took place from Jan. violinist in Marian’s string ensemble 23-25. since she was a freshman. “I decided “The BOCH Festival is a great to try out orchestra when I started opportunity to perform with other high school because I have always musicians from around the state in played the violin and I thought it large ensembles,” Misiolek said. “It is would help me grow as a musician,” very different to play in a band made

up of 80 than being the only person on an instrument in a 12-person band.”

Sophomore Katie Williams was one of the nine Marian girls to be selected.

She plays the tuba in Honors Band.

“In order to get into the UNO BOCH Festival, you had to send in an audition tape that consisted of two scales, one regular and one chromatic, and two solo pieces,” Williams said.

Freshman Ellie Messerschmidt was also selected to participate in the festival. She plays the violin and she is enrolled in String Ensemble. “I was really nervous when I made the tape, but it was a lot less stressful than a live audition,” Messerschmidt said.

Students who participated in the BOCH Festival were able to work alongside instructors and other high school musicians from around the Midwest. “At the festival, we mainly had rehearsals, attended a masterclass, [and] watched two concerts,” Williams said.

After two long days of practicing, the students ended the festival with a performance at the Holland Performing Arts Center. “My favorite part was getting to hear the hard pieces that we learned in less than two days,” Messerschmidt said.

Participating in opportunities such as the BOCH Festival allows Marian girls in the instrumental music program to develop their skills while fostering a lifelong passion for music. “[The festival] has helped me realize that the most important part about being a musician is not how well you play, but how you show the emotion and feeling that you put into it,” Messerschmidt said. “It was such a wonderful experience. I would definitely do it again.”

Williams agrees. “This experience helped me become an overall better musician because it taught me to listen to other parts of the band and not just my own,” she said.

Taxidermy mounts itself in members of Marian mariavaladez

E

very year as the windy hunting season comes into light, senior Anna Vasko anticipates the early mornings she’ll get to spend hunting with her father. Since she can remember, she’s been hunting deer, quail and pheasants with her father in the most orange that she can possibly wear. “I hunt for sport, food and social interaction,” Vasko said.

However, apart from her impressive hunting skills, Vasko contains a collection of items that have needed a taxidermist’s hand, such as a deer head, deer skin, rabbit skin, a raccoon hat and deer antlers.

While it would be easy to assume that taxidermy is a rare thing, Vasko is not the only hunter appreciated at Marian who has connections to the art of taxidermy.

When maintenance staff member Mr. Kevin Adcock shares that he is a taxidermist — one who specializes in the process of preparing, stuffing and mounting the skins of dead animals for exhibition in a lifelike state — he laughs at the fact that his hobby is anything but common.

It all started when Adcock needed a job and finally found a position working with a man, who, over time, showed him the art. For the past 20 years, Adcock has maintained the hobby of mounting animals, which can take anywhere from six months to a year.

Now a maintenance man at Marian, Adcock continues his hobby, using half of his garage as his shop. In the last five years, he has done quite a number of assignments. In fact, he has even mounted a whitetail deer and elk for a faculty member’s family.

To many students, stuffing and preserving an animal is disturbing, but not for Vasko. “You and other people get to admire your accomplishment,” Vasko said.

Caught in the headlights Custodian Kevin Adcock poses between two deer mold forms. The next step after molding the shape of the animal is adding the hide, which can take six or more months due to the preservation of the hide. Photo courtesy of Kevin Adcock

The Network [March 2015]

[12] Sports

Crusaders ‘half ’ what it takes to win a State Championship laurenwarner

I

t was a .5 difference: 357 points for the Crusaders to Lincoln Southwest’s 356.5. It doesn’t get much closer than that. On Feb. 26, 27 and 28, Marian swimmers and divers competed at the State Championship at the Bob Devaney Sports Center in Lincoln, Nebraska. The girls earned the State title, thanks to the combined effort of the swimmers and divers.

The Marian dive team started the weekend out well, with sophomore Taylor Carter taking first place and sophomore Kelly Straub taking runner-up. “I do get nervous while I am diving, but once I take my first step on the board the nerves go away,” Carter said. Carter set a new overall Nebraska state diving record and also beat her mom’s Marian record from 1986. “[This season] I am most proud of setting the State record,” Carter said. Carter’s diving score was the only individual first place award Marian actually received, so her score, along with Straub’s, was crucial.

Straub said Carter and the rest of her team, along with the swimming team, helped motivate and push her to her best, “I am most proud of how far I’ve come this season. I’ve only been diving for a year and a half. I went

from a score of 388 to 491! That’s a huge improvement in diving. I worked so hard for this and finally something good came out of it.” When she found out she was runner-up, Straub said, “I couldn’t believe I actually did it!” With these two top finishes, Marian gained a greater chance of bringing home a State title, as diving and swim titles are combined to determine an overall top finisher.

Marian’s team won the Metro Championships, which took place on Feb. 13 and 14. This brought confidence to the team, but swimmers knew they still had to work hard to surpass Lincoln Southwest, the defending state champions. Between Metro and State, the girls trained hard to be as prepared and as motivated for state as possible. “We did a lot of mental training this year, so it really helped having that to ease my nerves before each race,” freshman Cassie Palmer said.

Head Coach Pat DiBiase said, “I love swimming because it is a very objective sport. The clock doesn’t lie, you know exactly where you stand on the team. High school swimming and diving is extra special because it is extremely team-oriented, while

Four years paid off Senior swimmers Emmie McMinn, Molly LaFave, Brynn Robertson, Summer Baldwin, Indiga Hadford and Julie Moritz hold their State Championship trophy before presenting it to athletic director, Ms. Rochelle Rohlfs. Photo courtesy of Kate Pickering

most club teams focus more on the individual.” The team knew it would be a close race to win State, and a close race it was. Although it was a team effort, the title took various individual race advances to build up points. “Savannah Nichols’ 100 fly would definitely be called unexpected as she pulled into third place at the last 10 yards,” sophomore Sarah Sutej said.

Although most Marian girls couldn’t make it to Lincoln to watch the State Meet, girls watched the close races and the finger-biting victory from home. The Marian swim team pulled out the State title, the first since Racing toward the championship Junior Anya Lindholm competes in the 100 breaststroke at Metros on Saturday, Feb. 2007. “The best 14. The Crusaders went on to win the Metro meet by a landslide. Photo by emmiemcminn

part of the day was getting to watch the girls [Naeleah Hadford, Olivia Tate, Jenna Popp, Brynn Robertson] touch third in the last relay to win the State championship by 0.5 points,” Sutej said.

Marian was deep enough to pull out this victory by such a small margin.

The divers’ first and second ranking and the amount of Marian girls that qualified for finals, as each girl that qualified earned a point for the team, were essential to the win. For many girls, the moment of the victory was surreal.

“When I found out I won State, I didn’t believe it at first, but then it hit me when my friend sent me a picture of the final scores that were displayed on TV,” Palmer said. NETV gave upto-the-minute updates of scores, so viewers at home often knew detailed information faster than the swimmers by the pool did.

For the swimmers who missed Surprise Day because of the Metro Championships, their state title meant one more thing. Coach DiBiase would rent them a bouncy house, for their own Surprise Day, in honor of their State victory.

Finding the silver lining of an athlete’s nightmare: injuries

B

efore Marian softball had the best pitcher in the state, they had me, which can pretty much be summed up in one word: struggle. This can best be described by the one day I was nailed in the chin with a line drive and was taken by ambulance to the hospital.

It was a normal day really, and the weather was perfect. We were getting beat up by the Monarchs of Papillion—this was normal back then—when Julia Anderson came up to bat. Alright, Julia’s really good. I tried to pitch around her, but she took that low outside screwball and drove it right back at my face.

I heard everyone gasp; I knew I should have probably fallen into unconsciousness at this point, but I was pure adrenaline. There was still a possible out at first base, and she just hit me in the face! I certainly wasn’t going to let her get away with it. But when I looked down to find the ball, there was only black.

I don’t remember much after that.

I know there were paramedics, an ambulance ride, a neck brace and a lot of disgusting pictures of me in it. But the funny thing about it is that I was actually lucky. If that ball

would’ve hit me trainer, Melissa an inch higher, Brusnahan, with I wouldn’t have that tiny abrasion, any front teeth; she would’ve an inch lower, laughed in my face and I would’ve and thrown me a stopped band-aid. breathing.

It looked like I But hey, no maybe could have Sweating Truth just bumped my pain, no gain, Sports column by maggiemainelli right? foot against my I’m talking bed frame in my injuries, which sleep, but I had may as well be the plague to some literally been dragging my exposed athletes. But I’ve been playing ball foot (there was a hole in my cleat since I was 5 years old, creating a because of the continued dragging) vast history of injuries, ranging from against hard dirt every pitch. It was scratches to season-enders. And excruciating, but all I have to show for although there has been a lot of pain, it is a blueberry-size scar that does not I’ve decided to embrace all these reflect the trauma it took to get it. injuries as warrior wounds. My body There are two different kinds of sure does, as it collects scars like some injuries: pains that you can play people collect coins. The line drive to through or something is actually the face was an extreme example, but wrong. injuries come in all shapes and sizes.

The pains that you can play though In fact, one of the worst pains I’ve have a whole life cycle that usually ever felt came from a small scab on goes something like this: 1. Player my left foot. The thing was probably starts feeling pain during practice. five millimeters in diameter, but its 2. Player continues to practice. 3. pain radiated throughout my whole Player complains to teammates. 4. body. If I would’ve gone to the athletic Teammates advise player to tell the

coach. 5. Player responds that if she is taken out of practice, she will not play in games that weekend. 6. Player plays that weekend. 7. Player’s pain worsens.

Sometimes, it’s just a tight muscle that needs to be stretched, but sometimes, something could actually be wrong.

I was terrified the day I found out something was actually wrong, but after playing in pain for so long, it was kind of relieving to know that I wasn’t making up the pain I was feeling.

Nothing happened in particular, my shoulder just tore from years of use.

After my surgery, I sat on the bench for more than half a season, in the prime of my game. Every athlete who has ever had to sit out because of an injury will understand me on this: it’s the worst. All you want to do is play. You want to be there for your teammates, but you want more than anything in the world to be playing alongside them.

In this way, injuries can be a blessing in disguise. After three months of yearning from the sidelines, I will never waste another second on the field.

The Network [March 2015]

Nail-biting loss ends basketball season blairkellner

T

he Marian varsity basketball team members conquered their hope of having a comeback season, and the team ended with a record of 11-12 with their final loss against North Platte.

The team worked hard to make their average points per game 50.1. Senior Cassie Jones led the pack with a total of 268 points for the year, with junior Tehillah Alphonso close behind with 231 points. This brought Jone’s to reach more than 700 points in her high school career at Marian to end her senior year.

Sophomore Megan Anderson led the way with 65 offensive rebounds, with Alphonso following with 55. Junior Holly Banark came in with the save during the year with 12 blocked shots for the season and 88 assists. Bachman had 98 rebounds, and 101 point for the season. Anderson ended the year with 96 defensive rebounds, and 156 points for the year.

The Crusaders played their District game at North Platte on Tuesday, Feb. 24. The team put up a tough fight, but ended with a loss by two points to North Platte, which called for the end of their season.

The Crusaders played all over the state against great teams.

“The most memorable game for me was the game against Central at the Ralston Arena”, freshman Bela Gonzalez. Marian played against Central, then Creighton Prep played against the boys

team. This gave the team the The varsity basketball team opportunity to play in a college put their heart and soul into the level arena, a first for Marian season this year. They had to basketball. The event was called play against a variety of teams, The Baxter Roundball Rivals, but they wore their heart on and was held to honor the their sleeves.

Marian team who took state in 1985.

In the end, the Crusaders won 11 of their 23 games. The season started off strong with their record, but as time went on, their schedule got more difficult.

Even with the difficulties the Crusaders didn’t let it show.

The team spent a lot of time together between practices and away games. “One of my favorite parts of the season was dancing to the song ‘BO$$’

by Fifth Harmony together Beating the block Sophomore Megan Anderson shoots before over an Omaha South defender on Thursday, Jan. 22. every game” Gonzalez said. Photo by maggiemainelli

Cheerleaders remain positive after season maggiemainelli

T

he improvement of the team has been apparent over the past few years, despite the fact that they have had four different coaches in four years. This challenged the team to strive for a stronger team bond. “My favorite part about cheerleading is… getting to spend time with some of my really close friends I have made on the team,” junior cheerleader Kierstyn Wattier said.

The team was put to the test

at State Cheer on Saturday, Feb. 21 at the Heartland Event Center in Grand Island. They had been practicing all season for a 2-minute and 30-second performance in front of a panel of judges. The team cheered their hearts out, but they did not receive the results they were expecting. The Crusaders placed fifth overall.

“I was really shocked. But I didn’t really care about the judges’ opinions. I just cared about how we did as a team and how we all came together to make a perfect routine,” Wattier said.

For the younger girls, the fifth place finish fueled in them a fire to work even harder next year. “I was disappointed, but now I’m more motivated for next year,” freshman Maddie Vosik said.

Although it wasn’t a first place finish, the cheer team enjoyed a weekend of watching other teams perform and hanging out at the hotel.

The cheerleaders not only had to prepare themselves for their own competition, but they also cheered at the Spreading cheer Sophomore Laura Shaw Crusader volleyball and basketball games. In holds a sign high during the State Cheer pep this way, they provided rally on Thursday, Feb. 19.

Marian’s other athletic Photo by maggiemainelli

teams with endless support, which is very appreciated by the athletes at Marian. “Their energy was contagious. They were always positive and supported us when we needed it,” junior volleyball player Sophia Terwilleger said.

Yet, while the girls enjoy bringing an enthusiastic environment to the games, most cheerleaders prefer cheering at competition over games. “I enjoy cheering for competitions or performing for the school more than at games because I love how the whole squad comes together to make an awesome routine, and I also love the rush of adrenaline I get right before I go onto the mat to perform,” senior Kelly Neuhaus said. But the cheerleaders create a tangible excitement that would not be present without them “The most rewarding part of being a cheerleader is being able to help pump up the teams, especially when you know they need a little pumping up,” Neuhaus said.

After a successful year of encouraging sports teams, fostering school spirit, and preparing rigorously for competition, the cheer team is ending the season the same way they started it: positively.

They may not be walking away from the season with State Championship medals, but they are taking away some much more valuable memories from the season.

Sports [13]

D1 athletes’ 5 proudest moments

katiepallesen

Senior soccer players Margaret Begley, Madeline Wright, Susie Dineen and Faith Carter, and swimmer Indiga Hadford signed to play their respective sports at Division I universities next year.

Faith Carter

• • • • •

Texas Christian University

State champion 2012 & 2014 Club State Cup champion U13 & U16 Nationals with club team MVP Kicks for a Cure 2013 First Team All-State 2014

Susie Dineen

• • • • •

University of Mississippi

State champion 2012 & 2014 All-State Honorable Mention 2013 Second Team All-State 2014 Nationals with club team Club team captain

Margaret Begley • • • •

Texas Tech University

•

State champion 2012 & 2014 Club State champion U13 & U16 Nationals with club team Elite Girls Academy player of the year 2014 Club team captain

• • • • •

State Cup champion 2012 Surf Cup finalist 2012 MRL champion 2014 NPL champion 2014 State champion 2014

Madeline Wright

Texas Tech University

Indiga Hadford

University of Nebraska-Omaha • • • • •

State Qualifier all four years 4th place in 100 Breast 2014 & 2015 All-Metropolitan Academic Team 2014 & 2015 3rd in Marian’s top 10 times for 100 Breast State champion 2015

The Network [March 2015]

[14] Entertainment

Culprit Café & Bakery wickedly scrumptious What is your spirit animal?

A charlotteelsasser

lizzyvandyke

1. What's your DJ name?

A. Dr. Dance Daddy B. Master Mom Jeans C. DJ Wick Wack Bass Attack Layin’ da Tracks Spinnin’ Mad Fast 2. What is your most used Twitter hashtag?

A. #lebroning B. #ButThatsNoneOfMyBusiness C. #first

A caffeine cove When entering, customers first see a display of all featured coffee flavors on the chalk boards surrounding the cash register. Photo by charlotteelsasser and the flavor of the month. This month’s flavor is “Red Hot,” which is incredible, and the foam heart floating on the top of my coffee was a nice touch as well.

On my way out of the door, I couldn’t resist the display of desserts.

I bought a small piece of cheesecake which I enjoyed immensely later that day.

While Culprit Café & Bakery is incredible in various ways, there are a few cons. They are open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., which makes running all the way down to 16th and Farnam from my lovely abode on 90th and Maple a mini vacation.

They also do not have Wi-Fi. I can respect this because the atmosphere

is one that does not involve every customer being plugged in and browsing the web. I wish I could have worked on my homework while I was there, but I also appreciate that I was forced to enjoy the atmosphere and the people I was with.

The only thing I can really complain about is the parking ticket I found under my windshield wiper when I arrived back to my car. This of course is not the fault of the café, but I will probably complain about downtown parking for the rest of my life.

If you are looking for great food, amazing coffee, delicious desserts and a relaxed atmosphere, I strongly encourage you to visit Culprit. I give it five stars, Wi-Fi or not.

Homemade Honey-Cinnamon Steps Acne Facial

1 tablespoon of cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon of water

Graphic by tayloreicher Original facial source: https://www.organicfacts.net/

+

5. How do you trick out your car?

A. Hydraulics B. Fuzzy steering wheel C. Oversized dice

Kenzie Gregg ‘15 You are a praying mantis because you are confident, outgoing, and you occasionally eat your siblings.

Why it works

This facial works best to help control acne.

Honey and cinnamon rid the skin of bacteria while cinnamon also has antibacterial, antiinflammatory and antioxidant qualities.

Acne can be caused by bacteria, which both ingredients work to combat. The antiinflammatory qualities reduce redness.

Antioxidants can also help with redness, repair sun damage and reduce the appearance of scars.

Antioxidants help stimulate blood flow to the skin which can help new cells develop.

Grace Nelson ‘18 You have all of the koalifications to classify as this cool and cuddly creature. After a couple of naps, you’re the life of the party!

Mostly Cs

=

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4. How do you respond to hearing your own voice in recordings?

A. Love it, I never get tired of me!

B. Oh gross, but I’m over it...

C. Ew! Is that what I actually sound like?!

Mostly Bs

1 tablespoon of honey

1. Mix the ingredients together until the mixture is smooth 2. Wash face with warm water 3. Apply the mixture all over face 4. Let it set for 10-15 minutes 5. Rinse off with warm water and pat dry

3. What song do you want to dance to at your wedding?

A. “Living on A Prayer” B. “Wake Me Up When September Ends “ C. “Eye of the Tiger”

Mostly As

t Culprit Café & Bakery, the sense of community and healthy indulgence has been established since its opening in Aug. 2013.

Their mission is to provide a “practice of leading-edge coffee brewing techniques, a simple and fresh lunch menu that complements our in-house artisan breads, and creative desserts to complete an all encompassing experience in a classic, downtown atmosphere.” After my relaxing lunch in the downtown bistro, I can personally attest that they have fully accomplished their mission.

When entering Culprit, the first thing seen is a front desk surrounded with chalkboards announcing the breakfast and lunch menus, specials and their large variety of coffee and teas. The employee who runs the cash register is either skillfully brewing up coffee orders or taking orders from excited customers like myself.

I ordered the pesto chicken and spinach sandwich and the soup of the day ($9.00), along with a mug of their Cool Hand brew ($4.00). The pesto chicken and spinach sandwich is chicken, fontina cheese, pesto and sautéed spinach sandwiched between two freshly-baked slices of rustic boule bread. The soup they featured that day was a Polish borscht soup.

Its ingredients include red beetroot, onions, garlic and other vegetables.

The soup comes out hot pink which, for me, makes it look even more delicious.

The Cool Hand is a harmonious combination of espresso, milk

Maddie Dushan ‘16 Your individuality and abundance of sweaters for the winter scream “hairless cat.”

Entertainment [15]

The Network [March 2015]

Add rubber bands to the end of plastic hangers to prevent clothes from falling off.

Grab a pop tab.

Hook one hanger through the top and hook another hanger through the bottom.

Closet organization 101 Use clothespins attached to a wall or hanger to hang your tights and leggings.

Graphic by annawinkeler

Dance career starting out on the right foot I

sarahmullen

’ve taken a dance class or two in my lifetime. Perhaps the greatest lesson I have ever learned came from an admirable, wise woman named Shakira: “Hips don’t lie.”

The only exception to that golden rule would be if my hips told you that I’m good at dancing, that would be a lie.

Even though I dabbled in dance once upon a time, ballet classes in kindergarten and Ballet and Tap I during my freshman year could not shape me into a halfway decent dancer.

With this in mind, my two right feet and I decided to set a goal for 2015: We would learn to dance and never end up at the bottom of Abby Lee Miller’s pyramid on “Dance Moms” again.

After searching online for “dance classes in Omaha,” then adding the word “adult” to my search to dissolve the confusion that perhaps I wanted dance lessons for kids from momsofomaha.com, I picked the first

Our dance instructor was Alex studio website that came up. Simply Stidham, a specialist in tango, Ballroom on 27th and Farnam is ballroom dancing and swing dancing where I would go (after driving 30 and one of five instructors who minutes from my house in West O). teaches at the Upon venue. He made arrival, I us comfortable had to circle and confident, the block even though he three times clearly surpassed to figure the level of skill we out which could ever hope poorlysimply-ballroom.com to acquire with labeled his background building the ballroom was in. The iPhone Maps of more than 14 years of competitive app kept telling me I had arrived at my dancing.

I knew this dance studio was a destination. good fit for a Marian girl when he told I parked a little up the block and us the first rule of dancing — “The thankfully didn’t have to pay the woman is always right.” This was, in meter since it was 7 p.m. I needed all fact, a play on the fundamental rule the spare change I had to pay the $10 that you always take the first step drop-in rate for group classes. with your right foot, but I preferred Beginner Tango was a great group to misinterpret it as his support of class to choose, even though the feminism. “group” only consisted of two other The two basic steps he taught us people, one of them being a friend I had brought along. required deep concentration and focus

on the rhythm to master, but toward the end of the 45-minute session, we glided with ease about the dance floor without even looking at our feet.

Once the lesson ended, I realized the release of tension and sense of accomplishment that I felt was worth the 30-minute drive.

When you need to sharpen up your dance skills for a school dance or formal event, or when you set an unnecessary New Year’s resolution, consider lessons at Simply Ballroom as an entertaining and worthwhile investment into your future “Dancing With the Stars” career.

Your first private lesson is free, and discounted packages are offered to make learning to dance an affordable goal. Even those who haven’t yet debuted in a grade school dance recital can become acquainted with the many styles of dance the studio has to offer.

In a series of lessons or just one class, learning to dance will improve your confidence, boost your happiness and possibly sweep you off your feet.

prices are reasonable, and while the environment can be hectic to some, others may find it exciting.

The events provide Catholics and their supportive friends with a great way to come together and practice their faith as a group.

For those who find themselves scowling at the possibility of having to wait in long lines amidst a hungry crowd, there is always the option of takeout. This way, you can keep your Lenten promise, while doing your best to avoid the hassle. Remember to check in advance if your fish fry for the evening offers takeout before you arrive.

Many parishes offer meals each Friday during Lent, while others, such as St. Robert Bellarmine, host one main event during the holy season before Easter.

The availability of fish fries and variety of food offered during the

Lenten season in Omaha makes finding a meal without meat affordable and accessible. (For more info. on fish fries, visit familyfuninomaha.com/ omaha-area-fish-fries-pasta-dinners).

If you and your family find yourselves searching for ways to avoid fish sticks for the third Friday in a row, be sure to explore the closest fish fry to you!

If you aren’t a fish fan, don’t let the title scare you off; there are endless options that don’t involve fish. While you may be able to avoid eating the fish, the screaming kids and unmistakable fish odor will likely be unavoidable.

But, there is strength in numbers; following the abstinence rules of Lent are easier when you surround yourself with people working toward the same goal. And if you’re lucky like me, you might even score a new babysitting job by the end of the night.

Fry-day fish fries stand out in sea(food dining) katiepallesen

F

ish fries: the common place where children are shrieking and wrestling, and there’s a distinct, permanently-sticks-to-clothing scent of fish flowing through the air. Year after year, attending these fish fries can seem like just another reason to have to do your laundry more often, but they offer more than an alternative to boring grilled cheese sandwiches at home or expensive Lenten seafood dining; fish fries are an opportunity to become closer to God and to your parish community.

One Lenten meal offered in Omaha at St. Wenceslaus parish provides an upbeat and community-filled atmosphere. Offering more than one type of meal, the parish volunteers are able to satisfy every person’s taste buds.

Options include baked fish, cheese pizza, spaghetti with marinara or beer cheese sauce and macaroni and

cheese. The best part is, you don’t have to pick just one.

The meal is all-you-can-eat, giving you the chance to go back for more if you’re still hungry or if you’re not satisfied with your first choice. The meal that costs a mere $8 for adults and $5 for kids is well worth the wait.

There is also a special $30 deal for families.

The fun doesn’t end with reasonable prices. St. Wenceslaus also has raffle prizes each week that are announced at the end of the dinner.

There is even a game of BINGO for children to play while their parents wait in line or once they’ve finished their meal. The seating is reasonable for the usual crowd, but depending on your timing, there may be few open spots.

Knowing that I’m supporting the needs of a parish is also another force behind my desire to attend. The

[16] Photo Essay

The Network [March 2015]

“Under the Sea - Dive Deep for Education” MarianFEST: O n Saturday, Feb. 21 Marian hosted its annual fundraiser, MarianFEST. “This year’s MarianFEST theme was ‘Under the Sea – Dive Deep for Education.’ The theme was appropriate because Marian has been swept up in a ‘tidal wave’ of excitement over its fall musical featuring Disney’s ‘The Little Mermaid.’ Given the magnitude of this production, it was a natural transition to carry over the excitement to the MarianFEST stage. The theme was carried out in all aspects of the event. Catering Creations even played up the theme with their underwater-inspired cuisine; each menu item had a fishfriendly name,” Mrs. Kaitlin Ahart, Communications Director, said.

Serving up a sea of success A few of the 100 MarianFEST volunteers, including sophomore Erin Walter and freshmen Lauren Klingemann and Emma Ellerbeck, help serve portions for dinner after being instructed

by Catering Creations.

Just desserts Sophomores Keara Compton and Allison Thelen prepare desserts to place them on the tables. The girls worked together under the instruction of the caterers to make sure the night went smoothly.

MarianFEST Fun Facts

Guest appearance Junior Claire Davis as Ursula and senior Charlotte Wortmann as Ariel put on their costumes one last time for a final performance for the guests at MarianFEST. Wortmann performed “Part of your world,” followed by Davis with “Poor unfortunate souls.”

Attendance:

100

&

500 guests, 150

adult volunteers

student volunteers. FEST Executive

Chairs: current parents Tom and Anne Bryne, David and Lori Loschen, Bryan and Kelly Mick, Eric and Staci Mueller and Mike and Wendy Prosser. The Mistress

and Master of Ceremonies: Mrs. Michelle Delisi and Mr. Tom Baker. Guest Speakers: U.S. Community Prioress of the Servants of Mary Sr. Mary

‘66 and Marian President Mary Higgins ‘69. Funds Raised: $360,000. Funds Gehringer, O.S.M.

raised through “Raise the Paddle” will help support the purchase of an SUV for student transportation.

Deep sea friends Junior Haley Mick greets her parents, one of the few executive chairs of MarianFEST, on stage to congratulate them on the night’s success.

Sitting pretty The guests of MarianFEST sit down in the East Gym for dinner. The dining tables were adorned with a mix of dazzling blue and turquoise linens to carry on the oceanic theme.

Break a glass Sophomore Rachel Walet sets tables for dinner. Student volunteers were able to keep the tips they made this year.

Photos by emmiemcminn, anabellemcdonald & maevenelson