Marian High School Network Student Newspaper - December 2020

THE NETWORK MARIAN

VOLUME SIXTY-FIVE • ISSUE FOUR • December 2020 MARIAN HIGH SCHOOL • 7400 MILITARY AVENUE OMAHA, NE 68134 • WWW.MARIANDIGITALNETWORK.COM

Christmas isn’t universal: world religions celebrate tradition in December QuinnFindley

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The menorah, or “hanukiah” is a lamp that holds seven or nine candles, depending on the family’s tradition. The candles are lit in a left to right order, corresponding to the way that Hebrew is read. However, unlike Christmas, this is not a quintessential celebration in the faith. John Levy, (Mount Michael ’99 ) a “cafeteria Catholic” who was raised with a Jewish father, said, “its significance has grown partially to be an alternative to Christianity and so Jews can have their own celebrations during this time.”

In the Islamic faith, the actual date of their faith-based

ah Hanukk Diwali

as Christm Eid

Graphic by AnnaKidder celebrations is determined according to the lunar calendar, which is slightly shorter than the Gregorian calendar, the one followed by the United States. This means that some years, Eid-al Fitr can fall around the Christmas season, but it’s not limited to a scheduled date. Eid, the most important occasion in Islam, consists of a three-day celebration that rejoices the end of Ramadan, the month

of fasting.

Imam (the title for a leader of a mosque, comparable to a priest or rabbi) Daoudi, from the Tri Faith Initiative Muslim American Institute, said. “Eid-al Fitr is a time to socialize with the community, and for family to visit each other and friends.” In Islam, the holidays are more focused on celebrating the achievement of the community for doing God’s work, rather than celebrating individuals.

“In the morning we have Eid prayers at the mosque and then afterwards we give Eidi (little money donations) to the kids and we usually go out for brunch afterwards and celebrate with parties the rest of the night. It’s just nice to accomplish something with your community and celebrate it,” senior Amal Imran said.

Lastly, though the Greek Orthodox Christmas is similar to the Catholic Christmas, there are some differences.

“On Christmas Eve, we go to a service at night, and then we have family over for a formal long dress, suit and tie party at our house,” senior Sylvia Poulos said. The Christmas Eve service usually lasts a few hours and is fully recited in Greek. Poulos said, “In Greece, Christmas is celebrated by sailors decorating their boats in lights and floating around the island visiting families and friends.” But similarly to Hanukkah, Christmas is not the most important holiday in the Greek Orthodox faith.

The most meaningful holiday is Easter, which includes a multiple day celebration.

Freshman

treat Re

n the United States, being surrounded by decorated trees, festive radio stations and constant shopping catalogs, it’s easy to forget that not everyone celebrates the Christian holiday of Christmas: including Marian girls.

In Hinduism, the most important holiday is called Diwali. Mr. Mark Koesters said, “Diwali is a festival of lights. They light up all the cities.” This year, the 5-day celebration began on Nov. 14, around the time when the summer heat fades and cooler fall temperatures take its place.

During this week, practicing Hindus begin to line their household doorways with clay lights and adorn their homes with fragrant jasmine garments made from flowers. Near the middle of the celebration, people spend a full day making sand mandalas outside of their houses in the shape of the lotus flower. These flowers serve to welcome guests and symbolize open-heartedness. In bigger cities, the streets are draped with lights for miles on end. On the final day of the festival, colorful firework shows are held in celebration of light over darkness. Individuals often host their own celebrations at home.

Similarly to Diwali, Judaism has a holiday that is also known as a Festival of Lights. Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday that celebrates the triumph over the Hellenistic-Syrian tyrannical leader, Antiochus, which resulted in a re-dedication of the Second Temple. Every year, the feast is celebrated over eight days in either November or December. This timing is based on the original Hebrew calendar which follows the lunar cycle of the moon. This year, celebrations will take place from Dec. 10 to 18.

Math teacher and basketball coach Mr. Peter Cunningham continues his tradition of dressing up as Santa. Photo by NaomiDelkamiller

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02 News

December 2020

History in the making: first woman elected to be vice president LexiKetcham

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November 3

Election Day Citizens cast their ballots.

December 8

Safe Harbor States must certify the final vote count. This number cannot be overturned.

December 14

Electoral College 538 electors representing the states cast their votes.

January 3

New Congress The newly elected Congress holds its first meeting and counts the electoral votes.

January 20

Graphic by MaddieGenoways

Inauguration Today’s the day! The president-elect is sworn in and his/her staff takes over.

hether you are a Democrat, Republican or women shared their experiences and words of Independent, the 2020 election has made advice to the all-girls high schools in honor of history and paves the way for future women to women’s voting rights and the importance of become political leaders. Kamala Harris, the women in politics. vice president-elect, is the first woman, AfriIn addition to these political figures, Nebrascan-American and South Asian-American to ka Senator Megan Hunt said she feels having hold this position in the United States. a woman vice-president is exciting and long Before becoming vice president-elect, she was overdue. “The United States should have reached a senator for the state of California, and bethis milestone decades ago,” Hunt said. came the second African-American woman and Hunt represents the eighth legislative district first South Asian-American senator in history. in Omaha consisting of Dundee, Benson and She was also the first woman and first AfriKeystone. For the past 15 years, she has worked can-American to serve as California’s Attorney as a small business owner in Dundee and is a General. partner at a political consulting firm. In the past, It’s no secret that Harris has made history she has started a co-working space, cofounded within her state, but Nov. 7 marked a historical a boutique and started a nonprofit to end sexual day for the whole country when it was anassault and harrassment in bars and clubs. nounced that she would be Hunt emphasizes the the new vice president-elect. importance of representa“Harris’s election is a tion in government, saying really big deal, because that the legislature is mainly representation matters. represented by straight, white It matters that we elect men over the age of 50. “Legwomen. It matters that we islative bodies at all levels of elect women of color,” Chair government—whether that’s of the English Department at the state, local, or federal Susie Sisson said. Sisson level—work better when remembers watching Gerthey reflect the identities and aldine Ferraro (1984) and experiences of the people Sarah Palin (2008), the first they serve,” Hunt said. She two women candidates for recognizes the efforts of these vice president, run and has men, but feels that “there is always hoped to see a womno substitute for personal an elected to this position in experience when it comes to the White House. understanding the challenges Graphic by QuinnFindley Sisson said she believes of a population.” in the importance of female representation in Senior Cleo Wear is thrilled to be old enough politics because 51 percent of the US population to understand what having a woman as vice presis composed of women, and says that they should ident means for the country. “I think this changhave a voice in making important decisions. In es a lot because young girls will grow up with fact, about 74 percent of 168 Marian students the reality of having women in such high offices, who responded to the Network survey feel more and it will be a norm for them that women can represented in having a woman in a high place of accomplish anything men can,” Wear said. government, and 86 percent say it’s necessary to Wear said that it’s vital to have female reprehave women in these positions. sentatives and for female voices to be heard. She “When young people see women in positions said she feels Marian girls are outspoken, like of power and authority, they know that anything Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, and are cais possible. They know that they, too, could hold pable of defending what they believe in. “I think positions of power and authority,” Sisson said.

Marian girls, no matter their party or beliefs, will Students from Marian, Duchesne and Mercy find a connection with Kamala and be inspired had the opportunity to watch a panel presentaby her,” Wear said. tion hosted by Sisson in place of the postponed Hunt advises women aspiring to work in male conference for women’s voting rights. Speakers dominant fields to not be too competitive with included Sara Howard, Nebraska State Senator, each other but rather help each other. “WhenAlisha Shelton, former US Senate candidate, ever I make it through a door, I don’t let it close Theresa Thibodeau, chair of the Douglas County behind me. I hold it open for the people coming Republican Party and Katie Waldo, Head of after me. If you try to hoard success, you lose it.

Community Impact, We the Action. These It will come to you if you share it,” Hunt said.

INSPIRE

Marian cancels open house, recruitment adjusts by going virtual FrannieCihunka

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very Marian girl remembers the moment they knew Marian was the place for them. For many girls, this realization happened at Marian’s annual open house. Unfortunately, due to Omaha’s rising cases of COVID-19, Marian canceled its open house to protect prospective students and their families from contracting the virus. Instead, Marian offered a virtual version of the annual event through a series of videos posted on the Marian website.

Student tour guides Shantise Pearson, Cali D’Agosto, and Anne Masek guided future Marian girls through Marian academics, activities and traditions.

Recruitment Director Mrs. Molly Woodman ‘97 and the Marian administration made the decision to cancel it. “Many factors were considered—the rising numbers of COVID cases in our county was, of course, a main factor,” Woodman said. “While we were

confident that we could keep everyone remember being in their shoes! I really safe, we also have to consider the public think that Marian did everything they perspective. We have healthcare workers could to put out great resources for peobasically begple looking at high ging people to schools,” D’Agosto stay home, and said. Open house we’re inviting affected D’Agosto’s the public to a high school decibig event at the sion as well. “As same time? That soon as I walked looks terrible—no into Marian, I was matter how many greeted by smiling precautions we faces from everyhave in place.” one in the buildJunior reing. The energy cruitment team was uplifting and member Cali fun. Getting to D’Agosto was walk in the halls as happy that open if I was a student house would still Image source: Marian’s Facebook page sealed the deal for be happening, me,” she said. albeit virtually. “I’m bummed it couldn’t The videos were “prerecorded snippets be in person because I look forward to that were on a dynamic (interactive/ meeting possible Marian girls, and I changing) webpage on our site. That Ms.

[Mary Catherine] Ruesch built from scratch in one day!” Woodman said.

“We tried to mimic an actual tour with girls leading them into the most popular tour stops and talking to the teachers.” The seven videos cover the fine arts, sports, STEM and journalism programs, Campus Ministry, a tour of the Haddix Academic Center, and a look at the Bluetique.

Although Marian was able to offer the open house in some way during this pandemic, not being able to have in-person events will have an effect on recruitment. “Only three grade schools allowed the admissions directors to come and recruit, and we weren’t allowed to bring student recruiters with us. For the rest of the grade schools, each high school had to send a recruitment video,” Woodman said.

“It’s probably going to have an impact, but we won’t know for sure until the placement exam.”

December 2020

News 03

Rising lunch prices equate to better health of community, environment MaryCateTabor

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arian girls swipe their lunch the trash cans,” Dean of Students Mrs. cards for a chicken salad and Kris Hennings said. Returning Marian three cookies for a total of $6.50. Just students may remember helping clean yesterday it seemed that it was only up after lunches last year with the Cafe $5.50 for the whole lunch. Lots of girls Crew. The effort to bring more student are left with the question as to why awareness to sustainability will be lunch prices seem to have increased so coming back in January. much over the past few years.

Principal Susie Sullivan says “I think Marian’s lunch staff does that the Cafe Cleanup Crew will be an amazing job of keeping everyone starting back up and these homeroom safe and is very efficient getting people crews will be reinforcing the use of in and out of the lunch room,” senior proper compost, recycling and trash Liza Heim said, adding that she “never bins. They will also help with cleaning [has] to worry about packing a lunch,” tables. The compost bins will also be with the various options offered in the removed after the lunch hour so that cafeteria. after-hours waste isn’t placed into the The lunch program has been the wrong container without being monsame for the past itored. few years, but “An example of why cannot serve we raised the prices is certain items that they are having to in the weekly buy more individual rotation this year items so there is less in order to be as cross contamination,” 0 efficient and safe lunch coordinator Tim 5 $1. as possible. They Eoriatti said. do not want many Some of the many reasons for the One example of people in the increase in lunch prices are sustain- these changes is mozcafeteria at the able packaging and the need to buy zarella sticks. “Last year same time waiting more individually packaged items. the marinara sauce was in lines because of scooped onto the plate COVID-19, so the foods now availfor each person, but this year to have able are easier to prepare. less cross contamination, they have to When it comes to the prices of the buy individually wrapped sauces, which food, they are determined by many cost 50 cents a piece, so they must raise factors. New salad containers increased the cost by 50 cents to cover that extra the salad portion size and an extra cost,” Eoriatti said. chicken tender has been added this The lunch staff has six employyear, too. French fries have almost ees who work very hard every day to doubled in price from last year’s disprepare lunch. When determining the tributor. price of the food, along with all of the Much of the other factors, they must food comes in also allow a margin sustainable packof profit for employee aging that can wages. be composted, as Another change opposed to the in the past two years regular packaging is the Marian Moms 50 . that goes straight lunch prices. “The cost 1 $ to the landfill. was $4 for a very long This year, the cafeteria staff is trying The slight raise time. Two years ago to be as efficient as possible, so there in prices comes we increased it by $1 are fewer people and food items in the partially from the and this was due to the cafeteria at any given time. new compostable increase of beef, produce packaging. and paper products,” AsOn the front of sustainability, Marsistant to the Principal Mrs. Michelle ian is still participating in the Hillside Delisi said. “The profits from the lunch Solutions program for composting and program goes to things you might not recycling. have expected, such as classroom items, “Right now the problem is that we a post prom donation and a scholardon’t have enough people to monitor ship,” she said.

$6

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COVID-19 Q&A: today’s big questions with even bigger answers

With Dr. Bill Lydiatt, Chief Medical Officer and Vice President of Medical Affairs at Methodist Hospital and Methodist Women’s Hospital NatalieCusick & EmilySalzman

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: How have our numbers changed, and what are they in relation to other states? : We look at hospitalizations and ICU care. When we saw our peak, which was at the end of May, we had approximately 35 patients at our maximum; about 10-15 were in the ICU. Two weeks ago, we hit 99 people and about 25-30 in the ICU, and of those, about 10-15 on ventilators.

From the standpoint of our state numbers in terms of per capita, we’re actually very high; we’re in the top 20 percent or maybe even a little higher. : Which demographic(s) are the sickest now? : Mostly young people are getting it; mostly old people are being hospitalized.

70 percent of people in Douglas County with COVID-19 are under age 50 and only about 7 percent are over age 70. Whereas people over age 75 represent maybe 6 percent of the people that have it, they are over 58 percent of the deaths. : What should people be doing right now? : Without a doubt, I think the most important things are staying away from groups (especially when you’re eating and drinking), washing your hands and avoiding crowds. Avoid confined spaces, crowded places and wear a mask.

I think as an individual, you can best honor the nurses and doctors that are caring for people in very unpleasant situations, seeing people die, going through really traumatic times and being physically uncomfortable wearing the PPE by not getting the disease, and you can best not get the disease by doing those things. : What do you foresee happening with the holidays? : I see two different stories: one is if people really start to understand the severity of this and the fact that we are getting close to capacity. If we don’t socially distance and we don’t have small groups, then it’s going to be a catastrophic December; a December where we don’t have space in our hospitals. : How long will we be “living with the virus?” : I think we’re going to be living with the virus for years, but I think we’re probably going to see the vaccines be remarkably effective. But there’s not enough of them right now, so it’s going to take probably through

Q A Q A

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the spring and summer before we get enough of the population to get the vaccines to really make a difference. I would anticipate [in] the next three months to have a lot of people in the hospital with COVID-19. : When the vaccine comes out, how will it be administered? Who will get it first?

How will this change things? : Initially, it’ll be health care workers and first responders, very closely followed by people that are older that have other health issues. I suspect that’ll be all that will get the vaccines through the winter. Probably in March, April and May is when they’ll be more available. If we have enough people vaccinated, then the virus doesn’t have the same opportunity to have these big outbreaks because more people are going to have at least some immunity.

That’s our biggest problem now, more so than beds: staff. We have nurses that are sick, physicians that are sick, and so it’s really about the staff. It takes more effort to care for a COVID-19 patient typically because they stay in the hospital longer and require more work by the nurses. : Will next school year be normal?

When do you anticipate normalcy? : I think we will see higher percentages of people in class in [the] spring. I think next fall we will see normalcy in terms of people not having tele-education. However, I wouldn’t rule out that we’ll still be wearing masks. I think we’ll see more people wearing masks, much like Asia, when they’re in denser situations.

Some feel like, “I’m young, COVID-19 won’t bother me,” and it is true, but there are long-term effects. I was just talking to a physician who showed me his CT scan and it looked terrible. He said, “I don’t feel bad,” but you see all that change on the CT scan and you worry that he’s going to have long-term lung problems, and he’s in his 30s. I worry that there are long-term effects that people don’t recognize yet.

Q A

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don’t want “to doEvenit forif youothers, it’s still

a good idea not to get this disease.

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Dr. Bill Lydiatt

Hydration station filters lead to overflow of questions, concerns GraceVirgillito

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arian students use the water fountain units and filling stations on a daily basis, but many have noticed that the water filters, meant to keep the student body healthy, may not be at peak performance. Water fountain filtering systems have been seeing more red lights than ever, but what is Marian doing to fix this issue?

The filters are designed to give the community cleaner, healthier water. However, with most filter station lights on red, are they really doing their job? Since the beginning of August, the drinking portions have been blocked off, but water-filling stations are still being used.

According to the Elkay (the system manufacturer) website, all of the filters are made with activated carbon designed to improve the taste and odor of the water. The filters are NSF certified to NSF/ANSI 42 and 53 for reduction of lead, chlorine, taste and odor, which permits the filters to decrease contaminant levels for health benefits. Health effects are set in this standard as regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The filters are considered class one particulate in water filtration; in other words, they are ranked top class in removing a large amount of particles safely and efficiently.

Elkay filters are supposed to be easy to connect and have self-contained replaceable cartridges, limiting exposure to contaminated media. Most parts manufactured are ISO

9001 registered and meet strict customer service health standards.

Head of Indoor Maintenance Mr. Eric Phipps explained that the reason behind the filter lights’ red glow was a timer system. “The filters get changed when the red light comes on and that varies depending on usage. This year has been unusual because of COVID-19,” Phipps said. “I’m sure everyone has noticed [that] the red lights have been on since school started. The reason for that is in addition to the fountain keeping count of water usage, it also has a timer built in that will turn the light red after so many days regardless of activity,” he said.

Since most filters and fountains were not used during the last quarter of the 2019-2020 school year and the following summer, the filters were not as worn down as they usually would be. The filters were green, but due to the automatic timer, they turned red even when nobody was here to use the fountains. The filters were replaced over Thanksgiving break.

“I think Marian has been applauded [since] the first water fountain was put in the quad. It was somewhat new technology at the time and the girls really used it!”

Phipps said. One aspect of these machines is a water counter that provides a number for the amount of bottles filled. “[However] the counter doesn’t accurately reflect

the amount of bottles filled at that fountain, and due to an error, the counter was reset at around 175,000 bottles filled,” Phipps said.

To go further in depth about the different filter status, the green LED light stands for 100 percent to 20 percent, yellow light stands for 20 percent to 1 percent and red light indicates that the filter needs to be replaced.

Senior Bridget Gerards said she is “an adamant water drinker and frequently [uses] the water fountains at school. I noticed many of the filters were red and wondered if my water isn’t being filtered all the way.” While not putting a huge importance on the situation, she said she would prefer cleaner drinking water. “I think the filter status is an important part to keeping Marian students safe and healthy,” Gerards said.

Freshman Phoebe Meier said she “didn’t really know what the lights on the fountains were…[and] just guessed the filter needed cleaning or something fixed.” Even after hearing talk about the lights, Meier said she “still continued to drink out of the stations,” trusting Marian maintenance to keep the water cool and clean.

04 Opinion

December 2020

Grade school goody-goodies turned into high school worriers

F R

: So, I’m sure we’ve all seen this tweet that’s been going around the Internet. : “Anyone who was a ‘pleasure to have in class’ has an anxiety disorder now.”

It’s absolutely true. It wasn’t until high school that I realized, “Boy, all this stuff I’m doing? Not healthy!”

F: Absolutely, and you never even realize it because these behaviors are so normalized. I just wanted to be the good kid that all my teachers liked, but then it becomes a need to please your teachers, which bleeds into parents and friends until you’re not even your own person anymore; you feel like you’re living for everyone else.

R: Absolutely, which is why this tweet summarizes some of the problems early childhood maturity can cause.

F: Although you are a good little worker in class and think very highly of yourself, you still internalize everything as a child. In reality, if you mature emotionally early, you are actually really far behind your peers socially. But I thought it was cool that I grew up that early because that made me a “pleasure to have in class.”

R: I remember how proud of myself I was when adults would tell me how mature I was and I was like, “Finally, I’m doing all this stuff to come out on top, and it’s getting acknowledged.”

F: Yeah, but it’s really just setting yourself back for the rest of your life because you hit high school and you realize none of that matters. You’ve been so concerned with being this perfect person (at, like, 8 years old) that you’ve missed out.

R: It makes so much sense. In grade

school, I was considered the smart kid and not more, from me.

F: Yes! I did some research on the subit gave me pride, but it also made me put so much pressure on myself. ject of early maturity and people pleasing F: Because you felt that you had to stay and I found some effects it can have on that way. your life, one of which is becoming the R: Yeah! We would do a Kahoot or peacemaker. This means you can sense if a something, and I felt like I had to come in confrontation will end well for you or not first place because if someone else got first, and will avoid them accordingly. they’d say, “Oh my gosh, I beat Rylee!” It R: This also goes on with people pleasshouldn’t have ing because I’ll been a big deal, want to express but it made me an emotion to feel like I was a friend, but I failing! That’s don’t want to ridiculous! burden them, F: You so I don’t let automatically something out assume a role that I might in your grade really need to. school society F: You have and you feel two different like you can’t personas: the stray from that. Conversation by FrannieCihunka & RyleeGregg caretaker and I remember one who you actually day in first grade, I was walking into my are. Since you take care of others so much classroom in the morning, and my teacher and feel uncomfortable drawing boundwas standing outside the classroom, and aries, you feel like you are solely existing she said, “Frannie, you’re not smiling for other people, which drains you. And today! You always smile!” and I thought, then you notice this, so you either isolate “Oh. I’m the smiley girl, I have to be like yourself and feel terrible, or start sharing this all the time.” and feel terrible.

R: I know! It’s made me seriously R: Every time I go to therapy, my evaluate what makes me happy and what therapist will start out by having me name I want the point of my life to be because I my current feeling so I actually have to don’t want it to be people pleasing. I feel think about the feelings I habitually push like it started because of my older brother. down. It’s so helpful because the exercise He was the ‘smart kid,’ and that made me forces you to identify and actually feel feel like people would expect the same, if your feelings.

F: Another big part of this is self doubt.

If you’re doubting whether your feelings are good enough to be shared, then you doubt that they’re even valid at all.

R: I saw a post about having childhood issues that has to do with this as well.

Some of the resulting effects are not being able to deal with other people’s anger without crying or disassociating, keeping in your truth to avoid conflict, extreme independence, not taking action for fear of punishment, and extreme people-pleasing to receive love!

F: CHECK! Oh my gosh, I did not come here to be called out like that.

R: I feel you! That’s why it’s so hard to recover because it’s hard to figure out where these problems come from but you just have to end up accepting it. I do these things, and it’s okay. I’m gonna work on it.

I might not make progress for a long time, but that’s okay.

F: Yeah, that’s one of the worst things about these mental illnesses because we both had pretty privileged childhoods, but we still have all these issues and it feels like there’s no reason for them. And there isn’t because there is no logical reason for mental illness.

R: I know, that’s why I think it’s important to talk about mental health.

F: We just have to let people who deal with these problems know it’s okay to be struggling and it’s okay to put yourself first. Stop putting so much pressure on yourself to be perfect, and live your life as the person you are now. You don’t need to be perfect, you need to be you!

towards the stems from negative story, our relationI would. That ship with gravitation is vulnerability. called negative Being vulnerbias; the outable makes us feel weak, standing human and on top of ability to lathat, it’s really, ser-focus on the really scary. worst possible Being open outcome. It’s a and honest safety blanket of and then getsorts. Living like everyone is out ting rejected to get you makes is one of the you feel less vulhardest things to cope with, nerable to outbut we need side attacks. No Cartoon by MaddieGenoways it to grow and one can break build connections you down harder and with other people. further than yourself.

Think about the people who are imBut that negativity right there, where we begin to shift our view to see ourselves as portant to you, like your friends or family. threats, that’s where we lose our ability to Then think about the way you treat yourlove ourselves. self. Would you say half the things you A lot of our struggle with self-worth say to yourself to them? Would you break

down their confidence and criticize the things they love? Of course you wouldn’t!

So why on earth do we treat ourselves like the enemy when we should be our own best friend?

Start small, like exchanging dark humor for praise. When you make a mistake, try replacing the automatic “I’m such an idiot/burden/failure, etc.” with “I made a mistake, but I’ll do better next time.” Make time for the things that make you happy, not just the skills that benefit others or are profitable. Simple changes in the way you speak to and about yourself can have massive effects on your opinion.

Treating yourself like a friend is a skill that requires plenty of practice. It’s easy to slip up and be cruel again, but we need to remember that self-love is an ongoing process. We’ll never be perfect, and that’s okay! Practicing even the basic skills can skyrocket your self-worth and improve your relationships with others as a result. I really hope that one day you will wake up celebrating how wonderful you are. I think every person deserves that.

Self-love: why it’s hard to like what we see in the mirror every day Opinion by MaddieGenoways

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ou’ve probably heard the phrase “you can’t love someone else until you love yourself,” and you probably also have your own interpretation of it. Personally, that phrase has always rubbed me the wrong way. Where are you supposed to learn how to love? There is no one who can teach you how to like yourself, let alone love. On the other hand, if you fully and truly love another person, you’ll know how to treat them, and by extension, yourself.

Okay, that’s a tall order, I know, so let me break that down a bit. Let’s start with why it’s difficult to like ourselves to begin with.

Imagine two stories your local newspaper just published. One describes all your ground-breaking achievements, the beautiful things you’ve created, complete with interviews from all the people who love you. The other is a hateful article, one that recounts all the mistakes you’ve ever made, every time you’ve been wrong and gleefully points out all your flaws. Which one would you pay more attention to?

I think I can safely say we’d all gravitate

Not feeling at home where you are, but finding a place where you belong

Commentary by AnnaDailey

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hat was it like to visit a foreign country?” the cheerful teachers ask in each class on the first days of school.

Eager to build new relationships and connect with the students, these teachers’ simple question misses the point: Costa Rica is not a foreign country to me. Costa Rica is the family I love, the food I crave and the friends that can’t be replaced.

Costa Rica is home.

My mother was born in Jamaica and moved to Costa Rica at a young age. Ever since I was a baby, I have spent a few months each year with family in the beautiful country.

I wake up at my grandpa’s house, smell the rain on the trees and go downstairs to eat Gallo Pinto, a traditional Costa Rican meal. I drive to my cousin’s house and we

talk for hours on end about the year we have spent apart. I go to get lunch with my friends who provide the best memories. In the evenings, I return to my cousin’s house to share another Costa Rican meal with all my relatives there. These moments, these meals, represent the communion that I invariably crave when I am away.

Part of the experience of going to Costa Rica hurts me. Whenever I arrive in Costa Rica, I know my days there are limited and will pass by quickly. I know I don’t speak Spanish fluently, making me an obvious foreigner when combined with my blonde hair and pale skin. I know that I will not see my family again for months. What hurts most of all is returning to a country where I have never felt I truly belong.

This is not to say I am ungrateful for my

life in the United States; I am aware of my privilege to live here and I have been given a wonderful life here. However, the United States has never felt like the place I belong.

In America, I wake up to the sound of my alarm, eat a hurried breakfast of cereal, drive to school and juggle responsibilities each day without the joyful interactions of my extended family and friends.

I often respond to the teachers’ questions with a vague answer such as “it was fun,” because it would take far too long to explain that Costa Rica is more than just a vacation destination to me.

As a teenager, I am eager to find the place in the world where I am called to contribute. My passion for Costa Rica leaves me with unanswered questions about who I am meant to be and what I

am meant to do, but I believe passion is the driving force of happiness, success and fulfillment.

I know the path toward finding my place in the world that awaits me will be long and trying, but I will walk it with the knowledge that it is leading me to find my true calling and purpose in Anna Dailey life. Whether the place ‘21 catches a I belong ends up being fish in Costa Costa Rica, the United Rica the sumStates or somewhere mer before her entirely new, I am defreshman year. termined to travel the distance to find out.

December 2020

The lunatics have taken over the asylum, and now the government Opinion by QuinnFindley

T

his weekend, I was listening to a song by Fun Boy Three, an 80’s alternative band, called “The Lunatics (Have Taken Over the Asylum).” But the title of this song wasn’t coined by the band, it’s actually a well-known phrase that exposes a situation in which those in authority are incapable of handling their own job, resulting in total chaos.

Today, I think we see this everywhere in politics. My biased mind has tried to convince myself that only the opposite side has corrupt leaders of course the ones I follow are perfect citizens with

the best intentions for the American people-- but, that’s never the case. No matter which side, Democrat or Republican, Libertarian or Authoritarian, no politician is innocent.

And off of that note, Che Guevara was a notorious socialist revolutionary who, although the eventually turned into a tyrannical leader, had bold insight into the corruption of authority. He said, “Cruel leaders are replaced to have new leaders turn cruel.”

Even though this is an extreme accusation, because not all leaders are truly

cruel, I do believe that based on history, every single politician slowly grows more intolerant and less open to change as they gain power-- even if that was what was hated of the leader before them.

Even though politicians are solely paid to voice their opinion, they can’t even hold their own today.

It’s so uncommon for someone to base their ideas issue to issue. Now, most politicians just people-please to their party’s contentment.

However, the American people are partially to blame for this, because we

Opinion 05

do the same. We’re so brainwashed to believe that we have to agree with everything that the majority of our party supports, but really, we should take it upon ourselves to read into the policies, watch the news (from multiple sources too), and simply educate ourselves about what’s going on so we can be able to question authority with confidence.

Since the leaders aren’t going to change, take it upon yourself to be aware of what’s going on, and don’t let the lunatics continue to take over this asylum of a government.

Looking back on the year’s most memorable moments; there’s a lot Satire by NaomiDelkmiller & GaeaKaan

2020

has been and will be one of the strangest occurrences throughout history, and with all the social media platforms, historians will have an interesting time researching this year’s digital footprint. The TikToks that will be shown in a classroom one day to our children and grandchildren about the great toilet paper scare is an absolutely hilarious concept. Even if we wanted to, this is a year that we won’t be forgetting anytime soon, so why not make it go down in history as the worst year in the best ways?

Remember when the 2020 New Year rolled around and we were all hopeful for new beginnings, then all of a sudden the world was on the brink of WWIII? Although it feels like an eternity ago, the increasing tension between the United States, Russia, Iran and North Korea began to raise the concern of yet another World War at the start of the year. After finally resolving seemingly petty arguments with other countries, everyone hoped the year would begin to deliver more than just worry. And yet, it somehow got worse.

Throughout the year, the Earth struggled just as much as people did, if not more, which is saying a lot because we ran out of toilet paper for a while. More than 20 percent of Australia’s forest was lost to fire and four million acres of California were left scorched, thanks to a gender

reveal party. Africa was plagued by unprecedented locust swarms; severe floods impacted communities across the world and mysterious Murder Hornets decided to join the party later in August.

However, along with the hottest temperatures to be recorded in Antarctica, the United States held the highest COVID-19 cases on record. Post 2020, most of us won’t buy toilet paper without thinking about the times the shelves were empty of it or touch a stairway railing in a public building without using copious amounts of hand sanitizer. This is probably a good thing; we now know how really gross everyone can be in public, so it may be best to keep things clean and more sanitary anyway.

A record number of people took to the streets in support of racial justice, coming together to obtain justice and peace as a part of the Black Lives Matter movement. Tensions were high all across the country over a number of hot button issues, no matter what side you were on.

Most of us won’t forget the video of George Floyd unable to breathe or the footage of James Scurlock’s murder. We won’t choose to relive the weeks of the 2020 presidential election or the fighting that took place on the

national stage. Most of us will want to bury 2020 and move on with our lives, ready to write our New Year’s Resolution lists that will most likely be to leave our house more or find ways to make our lives healthier.

The year that has felt like it would never end is finally coming down to the wire.

It is December 2020, and we are officially nine months into a pandemic that has fundamentally changed the way we live

our lives, like a new hobby of watching Tik Tok or online shopping. Teenage anxiety spikes, cancelled plans and shutdowns were just the tip of the iceberg… which is melting, in case we forgot.

Recapping 2020 is no easy task, and we give our best to the Google creatives who are working to create the year in review because this is not a year that most of us identify as our “best one yet.” But don’t feel bad, it wasn’t anyone’s year, unless you’re Jeff Bezos or Mark Zuckerburg, who are expected to make almost $85 billion more in 2020 than in previous years.

It seems like the year has been especially difficult for the younger generation, but if there is anything to take from these past 12 months, it’s the exceptional media content that has been created for us to drown our sadness in.

Illustration by GaeaKaan

Hallmark movies are seriously cliché, in the worst way possible Opinion by MollyMonahan

I

t’s that time of the year again. Time for snuggling up by the fire with a rich hot chocolate, pressing your face against the cold car door window to catch a glimpse of a soon-to-be deflated Santa Claus and never being able to escape the happiness of other people beaming with love. Ah yes, the holidays are a perfect time for not only couples around us, but also movies, to rub their relationships in our noses in a cheesy and not at all unrealistic way. Although I would consider myself a hopeless romantic, with a combination of the acting, false pretenses and cringeworthy moments, Christmas Hallmark movies do not satisfy my romantic sweet tooth.

The girl hates or loses faith in Christmas, but the boy, usually starting off in the movie as the annoying, yet charming, antagonist loves the holidays and tries to restore her spirit. Despite all Hallmark has done to try to switch their basic and overused plot line up, it all ends the same.

TheNetwork Marian High School, 7400 Military Ave., Omaha NE 68134 netpaper@omahamarian.org

MHSbeat

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The guy ends up with the girl. Many of us know that is not always the case. And what is so wrong about that? The guy and the girl do not always have their happy ever after, not all dreams come true and Christmas is not always magical.

Hallmark movies cause a dissolution that everyone who is not romantically involved with someone on Christmas is lonely. The reality of the Christmas season for a high school student means spending all the money in your bank account on family gift exchanges and random coworker white elephants. Also, with

The Network is

December comes finals, also known as the absolute worst time to be a student.

Oftentimes I am so wrapped up in school, jobs and finding an outfit for Christmas that will be approved by both my mother and grandma, that being “lonely” and not in a relationship on Christmas is the last thing on my mind.

As hopeful teenage girls snuggle up and sit on their couches to watch movies on repeat on the Hallmark channel, more than a chance of physical movements for the day is going out the door, reality does too. Hallmark movies are notorious for planting that idea of a “perfect boy” in the heads of young impressionable heads. You don’t

a monthly publication of the journalism students at Marian High School, Nebraska’s only Class A Catholic, AdvancED accredited college preparatory school for girls. The Network is a member of the N.H.S.P.A and the N.S.P.A. It is our goal to provide an accurate and informative news source for the student community. Students, faculty and friends are invited to voice their opinion in Letters to the Editors. Letters must be typed, signed, and sent to the address below. Or call us at 402-571-2618 x1134.

An electronic version of this paper and exclusive content can be found at mariandigitalnetwork.com

have your perfect guy fixated in your head?

That boy who will first take interest in you, bug you in a Ryan Gosling hanging on a Ferris Wheel type of way, then will be so perfect for you that you can’t get him out of your head? Yeah, me neither.

Allow me to save you some time. Every Hallmark movie has these basic plot lines.

A girl is struggling with being at an average, depressing job because she is extremely passionate about something that wouldn’t pay her bills. Or maybe she is with a guy that is completely wrong for her, and not at all ironically, she has already met her perfect guy, perhaps her best friend or a stranger met in the first act of the movie. Possibly her mother is pressuring her to marry rich, but she has already fallen in love with someone else. Or maybe, in simple Christmas fashion, she has lost the magic and hope in Christmas and is in desperate need of a boy to put the Christmas twinkle back in her eyes.

Managing Editors: NatalieCusick & NaomiDelkamiller Copy Editor: RyleeGregg Photo Editor: AnnaKidder Graphics Editor: MollyMonahan Online Editor: LexiKetcham News Editors: MaddieGenoways, JessicaBrusnahan & EmilySalzman Feature Editors: AnnaDailey, MollyMonahan, SophieStevens & AnnaKidder

Opinion Editors: CourtneyThompson, LexiKetcham & GaeaKaan Indepth Editor: QuinnFindley Sports Editors: MaryCateTabor & SophiaVirgillito Entertainment Editors: FrannieCihunka & MiaDunker Photo Essay Editor: GraceVirgillito Adviser: Mrs.MarshaKalkowski

06 Feature

December 2020

Marian activities go virtual AnnaDailey I

Fresh faces of leadership

f Marian is known for anything, it is the did not let this affect their performance. plethora of activities offered for students. “Something on the network was blocking From Campus Ministry to musicals, stuthe video and the sound of the other opdents can always look forward to upcoming ponents, so we had some technology issues events and meetings. This year, Marian but we fixed those,” Debate coach Ms. Halli activities look a little different.

Tripe said. Since the debate girls competed For this year’s season, the Speech and from home, it was harder to make sure that Debate team will compete virtually instead everyone was present and on time. “I would of in-person. Girls on the Speech and have to Google hangouts them, and if they Debate team still prepare their pieces and didn’t answer I would have to call their get dressed up, but present to their iPads parents,” Tripe said. rather than a panel of judges. “[Finding “The worst part was probably trying to out the tournaments would be virtual] was figure out which team we were on. Each disappointing, but not unexpected,” Speech round had a new judge and new people we coach Dr. Renee McGill said. “Since the had to compete against. Trying to figure girls didn’t get to compete at districts and out which link we click to get to our next state last year, this is better than nothing.” round was confusing,” Tripe said.

Although it is unfortunate that the tourMost clubs have decided to hold naments are virtual, some girls enjoy the fully virtual meetings or hybrid meetings experience even more than being in person. this year to reduce the risk of spreading “It eased COVID-19 and my mind minimize the need not having for contact tracing. to perform Young Republicans in front of a Club leader junior crowd. I could Sydney Schroedput a post-it er has held a few note over [the meetings this year, judge’s] face some hybrid and and pretend some fully virtual. like I was just “We had a lot of practicing,” people come because senior Emily a lot of the people at Crowe said. home were able to “It made log on. Even in some me think I of our in person Freshman Brianna Sedlak logs onto her speech should have meetings, we still done speech as a competition. Photo by AnnaDailey. had a lot of virtual freshman!” people who were “I loved at home because of presenting in front of an iPad instead of a quarantine,” Schroeder said. panel of judges because it gave me a chance Zoom has made some aspects of club to be more dramatic and enthusiastic,” meetings easier. “I’ve found that on Zoom freshman Brianna Sedlak said. “Being in it’s easier to do polls and get people’s opinfront of judges in person is a little scary, so ions, or if people just want to say a comcompeting virtually was incredible.” Comment to me privately, it’s easier for them,” peting virtually also allows the competitors Schroeder said. “We have found ways to to be in a quiet space to focus and prepare adapt to Zoom, and it’s going great.” before they present.

Young Medicine club member sopho“Debate tournaments are loud, chaotic more Gozie Okafor agrees that aspects of and never have enough food to serve every- Zoom meetings are easier than in-person one. I like being home where I am orgameetings. “I was able to clearly see all of nized or at school in an empty and quiet the information slides that the speaker had classroom,” junior Eliza Turco said. without the desk shields that are usually Like with most virtual activities, in the way,” Okafor said. “It was easier to technology problems occurred at the first focus without many distractions and went tournament. However, the speech girls smoother than I expected.”

Frosty feelings about the holidays G

n

by A

naDailey

“I’m stressed because, you know, COVID. . .It’s just hard to find energy to celebrate.”

- Lauren Montague ‘22

ra

p “Christmas is just okay. It’s still a while away, and I think people are too excited about it. I do love The Grinch though; it’s a fantastic movie.”

-Madison Werth ‘23

hic

“I LOVE Christmas! The season is very fun and the vibes are just so cheerful. Plus, I love seeing the lights everywhere!”

- Eva Kriener

‘24

“It’s overrated.

The Christmas music specifically, like who made that? I guess Christmas day itself is okay. . .”

- Casey Brattain ‘21

Graphic by MollyMonahan

Sky Achola

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Class Officer

Ruthie Barrett

L

Class Officer

Caitlyn Dunham

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Class Officer

Hailey Eriksen

Class Officer

S

Tori Schenkelberg

S

Class Officer

Mariella Virgillito

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Class Officer

Ellie Fogarty

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Student Board

Mia Ramirez

2

Student Board

Madeline Wear Student Board

4

December 2020

Feature 07

Freshmen discover their journey at Campus Ministry retreat MollyMonahan

Freshman Maggie McGill places her canned food item to be brought to St. Leo’s Food Pantry.

The service involved in freshman retreat helps bring a sense of how Marian prides itself on service outreach to the freshmen.

Photos by MollyMonahan, NatalieCusick and MaryCateTabor

The shadow crew, organized by theology teacher Mr. Greg Golka, is a group of sophomores chosen to do the behind-the -scenes work at the retreat. The shadow crew welcomes the freshmen upon their arrival, performs a skit, and creates an overall fun and welcoming environment for the incoming freshmen.

Due to standing COVID-19 precautions, 13 freshmen participated in freshman retreat on Zoom. Leaders Molly Smith, Sophi Steffes and Kate Timmerman spent their day in the Haddix making their Zoom group’s day just as fun and interactive as it would have been in person.

The senior or junior leaders, along with Campus Ministry leaders Deacon Kevin Fuller, Mrs. Anna Kolterman and Sr. Jackie Thorn, prepare all month for their groups of bright, smiling freshmen.

Two upperclassmen are the leaders of each group, ready to guide their freshmen on discovering their journey. To make freshman retreat as fun and exciting as possible every freshman is included and participates in activities led by Campus Ministry. The groups are made to create a small and comfortable environment for the freshmen to feel a part of the community in order to truly embrace all of Marian.

The freshman retreat Mass, celebrated by Fr. Kevin Schneider, S.J. , was the first Marian Mass attended inperson by the freshmen due to COVID-19.

Freshman Retreat took place on Friday, Nov. 13, 2020. 22 junior leaders, 28 senior leaders, 16 shadow crew members and 4 leader alternates were selected to help guide the freshmen on their journeys to find others, themselves, their faith, and their place.

The retreat was a total of 15 hours

and all 158 freshman left

Marian with huge smiles

across their faces.

Senior group leaders Alexa Richter and Ellie Sidoruk take their freshmen Ashley Kilduff, Julia Trainer, Bridget McGill, Ava Schroeder, Jane Kidder and Mia Butler on a journey to Paris.

Black Friday holiday shopping brings chaos to student retail workers CourtneyThompson

R

unning into people rushing by, knocking over displays and jumping over someone on the floor, all to get to the half-off TV in aisle four. Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, is put aside for the bargain shoppers of the world, as they sprint into stores to beat the next person to the items circled in the catalog.

This day is full of chaos, and working on Black Friday would be most retail employees’ worst nightmare. Those who work on this hectic day will see their coworkers pack up and wish them luck before getting as far away from their workplace as possible. Regardless of how much it stinks to work on the extremely busy non-holiday, some people just have to bear the burden anyway.

Some Marian girls work Black Friday with confidence and compassion, just as they are taught. Senior Aby Acevedo

works every Black Friday at American Eagle Outfitters, and is never too scared when going into work. “It’s awful in the sense that it’s nonstop, but it’s definitely manageable because all the workers get to a point where they don’t care how long they’re taking with each person in line.

It never stops,” Acevedo said. “When I worked it wasn’t that crazy, but the amount of people always is.”

You need patience and that positive bone in your body to work on the busiest

day of the year, which most don’t have.

Sophomore Bijou Bell had the opposite experience, dealing with angry customers and downright chaos at Walmart.

“It was extremely busy, and people were aggressive in the store. Displays get knocked over a lot, and it’s hard to clean with so many people around. It’s just a really stressful shift.”

Managing a store on Black Friday is even worse. On top of dealing with all the things employees do, the manager has to make sure all their workers are doing their jobs efficiently

“It was extremely busy, and people were aggressive in the store. Displays get knocked over a lot, and it’s hard to clean with so many people around.

It’s just a really stressful shift .”

-Bijou Bell ’23

and dealing with disheveled customers saying “I need to speak to your supervisor.”

Senior Jadyn Anderson has an uncle who manages a store, and he undergoes more scrutiny than expected. “My uncle manages a Scheels, and he always comes to Thanksgiving dinner dreading to leave.

He has to make sure his employees are going to be productive the whole shift, and managers are called to deal with angry customers a lot. He always has a lot on his plate on Black Friday.”

The day went by as smoothly as possible, and employees said it wasn’t as bad as they thought it would be. “It wasn’t bad at all,” Acevedo says, “and I know I got paid well for the night, so I’m not worried at all.” Black Friday might not be as crazy as it’s thought to be.

08 Indepth

Decembe

Holidays in omah

Being a touris

”I like to bake Christmas cook’22 “My y l ies with friends and go shop-Sul mom and ping or do a secret Santa.”Ryan I have a

die

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Reily Welsh’24

Lauren Mendlick’’23

R“I love driving aroundtradition of seeing all the Christmasgoing to a lights and Drinking hot Christmas chocolate!” “I like to tree farm go ice skating and cutting a t t h e U N M C down a tree r i n k a n d l o o k each year.” at the Christ mas lights.”

’21

. 1111 Bellevue Blvd N., Bellevue, NE 68005

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lin ger

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Gingerbread Habitats

christmas at union stati

On Dec. 19, head over to Fontenelle Forest to learn more about winter animals’ habitats, and then make one of your own out of gingerbread!

sledding hills

. 156th and Pacific Streets . Memorial Park (6005 Underwood Ave.) . Pacific Meadows Park (W. Papio Trail) . Walnut Hill Park (1100 N. 38th St.) . Hitchcock Nature Center (27792 Ski Hill Loop)

. 801 S 10th St. The Durham Museum continues its yearly tra tion of Omaha’s Christmas Tree. Dating back 1930s, a tradition that is more than 40 feet ta tree was chosen and hauled from southwest O across I-80 towards its new holiday home. Chr at Union Station can be visited in downtown Omaha at 801 S. 10th St. until Jan. 10.

Remember to be safe while sledding!

ice skating

. UNMC Ice Rink (4016 Emile St.) . The Capitol District Ice Rink (1022 Capitol Ave.) . Tim Moylan Tranquility Iceplex (12550 W. Maple Rd.) Ice skating is a fun way to warm up outside during the cold winter weather! Grab a few friends and head on down to one of these ice rinks to test out your skills!

midtown lights

. S. 36th and Dodge Streets When heading east towards downtown, Midtown is in the heart of Omaha. The whole area is transformed into a winter wonderland with the buildings and trees adorned with lights, and the shop’s windows displaying scenes of Christmas for everyone passing through.

er 2020

Indepth 09

ha

st in your own city.

a warm cup of joe (or hot chocolate)

bakeries

. International Bakery (5106 S. 24th St.) . The Omaha Bakery (608 S. 72nd St. and 725 N. 210th Street, Suite 120) . Sweet Magnolias (813 N. 40th St.)

Make a stop at some of these bakeries to get holiday cookies, cupcakes, scones, cinnamon rolls, and countless other treats!

horse carriage rides

. Amateur Coffee (3931 Cuming St.) . Zen Coffee Company (230 S. 25th St. #3) . Stories Coffee Company (11432 Davenport St. Suite 1) . Hardy Coffee Co. (1033 Jones St.) . Stir Coffee Bar (16950 Wright Plaza, Suite 137) . The Beanery (344 S. Washington St.) One of the best ways to warm up on a cold winter day is with a hot drink! Go support one of these small businesses and get a hot chocolate, peppermint mocha, chai tea latte, or your usual coffee order!

. S 11th St. and Howard St. Head to the Old Market downtown with some friends or family and hop onto one of the horse-drawn carriages for a scenic tour of the Christmas lights!

christmas tree nurseries

neighborhood lights

ion

. Linden Estates (S 132nd and Blondo St) . Nelson’s Creek (Nelson’s Creek Dr. and Lake St) . Christmas in Bellevue (Childs Rd. E and Camp Gifford Rd.)

adito the all. The Omaha, ristmas

The neighborhoods of Omaha are known for their Christmas lights. Especially in Linden Estates, computer-operated, festive light displays decorate the houses. Driving around to observe Christmas lights is a COVID-19 friendly way to preserve the holiday spirit.

. Cirian’s Farmers Drive-In Market (4911 Leavenworth St.) . Nordstrom’s Christmas Tree Farm (11401 Pawnee Road) . Indian Creek Nursery (303 Saddle Creek Rd.) . Mulhall’s (3615 N. 120th St.) . Frosty’s Pines (2172 US-75) An evergreen tree is the quintessential symbol of Christmas. Go to any of these nurseries and farms to continue that tradition and bring a little light to your holiday season by buying a tree, or even cutting your own down!

seasonal shopping Volunteering

. Open Door Mission (2828 N. 23rd St. E) . Siena Francis House (1702 Nicholas St.) . The Salvation Army (2525 Dodge St.) This year, you can help to bell ring outside of shops to raise money, transport hot meals, make toy bags for children, or if you would rather volunteer in a contactless way, write some heartfelt letters to some of the residents at the Durham Booth Manor, hand-make masks, or simply donate new or used clothes, books, furniture, or food.

. Tannenbaum Christmas Shop (1007 Howard St.) . Spruce (5022 Leavenworth St.) . Handmade Omaha Take a peak in these stores to search for the perfect seasonal gift for your loved ones, yourself, or just to window shop! Check out Handmade Omaha’s winter cyber show by going to handmadeomaha.blogspot.com to support local craftsmen and artisans.

Photos by MollyMonahan, SophiaVirgillito, MaryCateTabor & QuinnFindley

10 Feature

December 2020

Minute-to-win-it games spark spirit, competition SophieStevens O

n Friday, Nov. 6, students walked into the East Gym to find a strange combination of slushies, cheese balls and red solo cups. All classes spent the day participating in fun activities and service to celebrate Marian’s tradition, Gnimocemoh. Each class participated in minute-towin-it games including stacking cups while blindfolded, drinking slushies as fast as they could, and dressing up. Each class was competing to complete the minuteto-win-it games as fast as possible so their class could win.

“The class officers and Ms. Megan Piernicky senior class

moderator met up at a coffee shop and brainstormed fun ideas and games that we could do! We chose these because they seemed super fun and entertaining and we’ve never really done competitions like this before,” senior class officer Cydeny Putnam said. The senior class officers put together a fun, and exciting day for the student body and ran the minuteto-win-it games.

“The games were a fun break from school and a good opportunity to bond with my class. I would love to do something like that again,” freshman Ellen Smith said. For Smith, this was a good

way for her to see the fun and competitive Marian, something she hasn’t been able to see due to COVID-19.

Teachers used the minute-towin-it games as a fun day off from their teaching. Math teacher Mrs. Jaime Piernicky was seen by many students having a good time and dancing, enjoying the day being with all the students.

“The best part of teaching high school is all the silly traditions, and it is always awesome to see our students laughing and having fun together. Marian girls know how to make things joyful,” Piernicky said.

Joslyn McKee ‘24 and Lauren Helton ‘24 try their best to finish stacking cups while Helton was blindfolded.

Sophomore moderator, Mrs. Jaime Piernicky dances with the sophomores in the gym during the games.

Dressed in pink, Liza Heim ’21 and Jaden White ’21 race to finish their slushies.

Maddie Balus ’23 and Christina Kleinsmith ’23 stack cups on Friday, Nov. 6, trying their best to bring home the win in this new Gnimocemoh spirit event.

Photos by SophieStevens, Claire Thiele & Maddie Mitchell

Hannah Tate ’22 and Isabel Soto ’22 swing to the spirited music in the gym.

Christmas sweaters ignite holiday cheer in Marian girls U MaryCateTabor

gly Christmas Sweaters, a long time tradition, have been bringing people together for decades. “My grandma, when she was young, had this sweater that she said was something very out of the ordinary back then,” junior Annie Masek said.

“She said she almost got rid of it several times, but somehow it ended up in a box somewhere.

Years down the road my mom found it while cleaning out my grandma’s attic and now my mom has passed it on to me. It might seem silly, but I find it so interesting that something like a Christmas sweater once belonged to my grandma, and I get to wear it every year.”

Bringing families and friends together, an ugly Christmas sweater party is a fun holiday tradition many take part in to get in the holiday spirit. “I love when I get to go to an ugly

Christmas sweater-themed party.

My whole family participates, and we each buy a new one every year,” sophomore Cecilia Regan said.

With all of the stress the holiday season can bring, it is nice to have those traditions that are light and fun. Making an ugly sweater with friends or family, whether it is painting on a blank sweater or knitting your own, are great DIYs to get in the spirit of the season. “My grandma knits Christmas sweaters for our family every year. When she was on her last one she ran out of supplies, so she ended up making one with all of the scraps she had left and it is always a fun topic of discussion during family get-togethers,” senior Grace Walsh said.

Ugly Christmas sweaters started making an appearance in the 1950s. Originally called “Jin-

gle Bell Sweaters,” they became popular very fast with all of the Christmas advertisements. In the ’80s, “The Cosby Show” started the trend of wearing sweaters with more creative colors and designs. In the ’90s, there were fewer and fewer ugly Christmas sweaters, but the trend never completely died. Luckily in the early 2000s, the tradition of ugly Christmas sweaters made a big reappearance in the media and back in people’s homes.

At first in the ’50s, the intention was for the sweaters to be joyful and pretty instead of “ugly” but over the years the trend of buying ugly Christmas sweaters started to grow and is now a fun holiday tradition for many. With such a long history, many of the ugly Christmas sweaters people hold close to their heart come with an interesting back-story.

Cecilia Regan ’23

Grace Walsh ’21

Sophia Reinhardt ’24

Bridget McGill ’22

Humans of Marian; Sofia Torres-Salvador What is your background? What got you to where you are today?

“My parents immigrated here from Venezuela. I always strive to do well. I work to get a better education than my parents had. Hard work is a big part of my life. Getting a scholarship to Marian was something I worked hard for and am proud of.”

What is something you wish people knew about you that would help them understand you better?

“I value family a lot, so I enjoy it when people like to spend quality time with their loved ones.”

How do you connect with people?

“Normally pre COVID I loved to hug people, but now I enjoy talking to people and saying hi when I get the chance.”

What is the most important thing to you and why?

“My education. My mom always says that people can take away everything but my education. Without my education, I can’t be successful.”

Freshman Sofia Torres-Salvador

Feature 11

December 2020

Students use Kent Bellows as an outlet for their creative energies

AnnaKidder

A

ccording to the Joslyn Art Museum, the Kent Bellows Mentoring Program “offers an interdisciplinary arts studio and professional artist support that encourages teens to explore, observe, think and create in the arts. Three semesters per year, professional artist mentors are matched with about 70 high school teens who are provided an opportunity to find personal inspiration, gain technical skills and build a portfolio.”

The application process is simple. Prospective teens complete an online application form, and if they’re contacted, they are asked to participate in an interview and provide their portfolio.

The program offers 13 different classes. Painting, mural, fashion design, ceramics and music production are a few.

Seniors Naomi Delkamiller, Katie Hedrick, Ellie Kripal and

Tory Roubidoux participate in the program. On Nov. 21, these students showcased their individual works from the Fall 2020 program.

Senior Naomi Delkamiller joined the program in January 2020. She took photography last semester and is currently in sculpture. For the exhibition, she built an Ruth Bader Ginsburg tribute out of wire and cork.

“It feels like the world is moving so fast, and I wanted to slow it down. By making this piece, I felt so much peace and purpose. I truly feel like I have honored her memory in the best way I could, in the best way I knew how,” Delkamiller said.

Delkamiller also made a hanging hot air balloon sculpture. “The idea behind this piece morphed as the semester went on, but I knew I wanted to symbolize the ending of an incredibly hard year with the weightlessness and hope of something simple.

While making the hot air balloon, I constantly thought about everything I am letting go of as I enter into the year 2021.”

“I joined the program for the guidance given by the incredible mentors and the resources available.

I have learned so much about art and also myself,” Delkamiller said.

Senior Naomi Delkamiller stands with her Senior Ellie hot air balloon sculpture at the exhibition. Kripal joined Kent

Senior Ellie Kripal poses in front of one of her prints at the exhibition.

Bellows for a different reason.

“I wanted to meet new people from Omaha who enjoy the same things as I do. The diversity of this program really makes creating art more enjoyable,” Kripal said.

She joined the program this August, and is currently in the printmaking class. Her favorite part of the program is the “oneto-one feedback” she gets from her mentor. “I came into the program knowing nothing about printmaking, but my mentor, Mike, made everything more understandable. He really helped me through the printmaking process.”

For the exhibition, Kripal made two prints. The first is an Intaglio print, “which is a form of printmaking that requires carving into acrylic with hatching and linework, rubbing oil into the acrylic, and putting it through a press machine.” The second is a linoleum relief print, which is “a bigger piece that only has two values.”

Senior Katie Hedrick works on her cast for the exhibition.

This program has given Kripal a sense of individuality. “I have discovered a new side of my artistic style, which adds to my overall artistic abilities.”

“I joined Kent Bellows because I was craving an artistic opportunity where I would be introduced to new mediums and be surrounded by fellow artists,” senior Katie Hedrick said. She joined the program at the same time as Kripal but is in the mixed media class. “Art is a way of expressing who you are and letting your feelings out.”

Hedrick kept this in mind when she designed her projects for the exhibition. The first piece she made is a shoe stuck in gum.

“I made this piece because I felt confined and stuck in my usual ways of using pencil and paper.

This piece helped me break my habits and just let loose.”

Her second piece is bathroom signs that she painted. “These were used as a way for me to get my creative juices flowing in order to complete my last and

favorite work.”

For her third piece, she used plaster to make a cast of her foot.

She then put copper leaf on it and a farm on the ankle. “This was a way for me to be happy and express how everything is perfect, no matter how small.”

Hedrick’s favorite part about Kent Bellows is that it not only allows you “to express yourself,” but also “to step out of your comfort zone in art.”

Delkamiller’s advice to any Marian student who loves art is to “keep loving art, keep creating and keep exploring different mediums. Some of my best pieces have been made with materials and processes outside of my comfort zone!” There are many outlets available to students who want to express their creativity outside of school.

If you’re interested in joining the Kent Bellows Mentoring Program, applications are now open on Joslyn’s website. As Hedrick said, “the world is your canvas, so use it!”

Art IV students carry on self-portrait tradition

t ie a K Senior

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Although they look like one large picture, the portraits are actually made up of around 350 small boxes, and each box usually takes around 5-10 minutes to complete, depending on what’s inside. Each class deadline requires a set of boxes to be completed until box by box, the class completes their self-portraits.

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Senior Maddie Genoways

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Take senior Lydia Rose’s criticism of ketchup for example: “I really do hate ketchup so this photo is a great representation of myself,” Rose said.

“The photo idea was definitely random, but I’m glad I decided to do it!”

Senior Emma Gunn also made use of props in her photo, except her props were other people. “I liked that I had the hands of my two friends in it. I feel like it fits my art style pretty well,” Gunn said.

Senior Katie Hedrick’s face is hidden by glass in her portrait, obscuring her facial features but still leaving her easily recognizable.

Senior Maddie Randby pulls a shocking pose in her portrait.

“I remember the day I started my portrait I was so scared because I’d never done anything this big before.

It’s just crazy to almost be done with it,” Randby said.

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self-portrait, which would be displayed in numerous contests and portfolios, as well as in the quad for students to appreciate.

Last year’s Art III class was not so lucky. The peer-critique and teacher advisory they relied on was no longer available in quarantine, and the portrait process came to an abrupt halt. However, despite the challenges presented by COVID-19, art teacher Mrs. Ashley Bauer and her students continuing into Art IV have picked up where they left off in May, and the self-portraits are ready for their big reveal.

Portraits are made of much more than just the face, students also learn to tackle backgrounds, additional props, or in senior Rachel Achola’s case, reflections, before they begin to work on their faces. “Otherwise,” said Bauer, “girls would draw their eyes first, and then get bored.”

Portraits don’t need to be serious!

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ince the 1990s, Marian has seen countless stressed-out, graphite-covered second semester Art III students pass through its halls, toting their intimidating black portfolio bags up and down the stairs and mumbling under their breath about lead and erasers. These are the telltale signs that self-portraits season has begun.

In a normal year, Art III students would spend the first semester studying lead types, shading techniques and every type of paper they can get their hands on. Then the class would move into photography, where students would take more than 100 photos of themselves, before choosing just one to dedicate their self-portrait to.

By the end of their second semester, juniors and seniors would see their hours of hard work pay off in the form of a 23 x 17 in., handdrawn, picture-perfect graphite

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MaddieGenoways

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12 Sports

The search for a pool: swim, dive team splashes into new practice locations JessicaBrusnahan

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he Marian Varsity swimming and diving team is going with the flow this season. Along with welcoming a few new members, the team will have to deal with the various challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nebraska is the latest hotspot for cases, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that there will be many more restrictions for the 2020-2021 swimming and diving season compared to last year.

Head coach, Mr. BJ Christiansen expressed his confidence at how the season is going so far. “[The girls] are looking formidable. Due to the pandemic many of the girls were able to get some rest to repair their bodies and then hit training hard. Several have not done a meet since State last year,” he said. Despite this seemingly negative situation, Christiansen is ready to see some big improvements and even more broken records this year.

As for practice changes, the team seems to be taking everything in stride. In a typical week, the swimmers practice every day after school from 3:30-5:30, which is only slightly earlier than 4-6 from years past. The most obvious difference is location: for many years prior, the Crusaders’ home pool was the University of Nebraska-Omaha natatorium.

However, amidst the pandemic, the university has closed its doors to outside groups. “It is undecided at this time if or when they will allow outside groups to rent the facilities,” Christiansen said, as the Marian swim team’s liaison with the university.

In response, the swimmers have moved to the YMCA at 7502 Maple St. Morning swim practices (on Fridays and Saturdays) are still at the College of Saint Mary at 7000 Mercy Rd. In addition, the divers have made some changes to their practice schedule. “We are practicing at Bellevue West [High School] and only get to practice 2.5 hours a week because of limited boards in Omaha,” sophomore Claire Troshynski said.

One thing these new times and places have taught the swim and dive team is this: efficiency. “We have to really use our time well in practice,” Troshynski pointed out, with the divers’ decreased practice availability. Swim practices also are subject to change. As for COVID-19 measures, both swimmers and divers must wear masks outside of the pool and use social distancing measures when possible. In fact, chlorine (the well-known “pool chemical”) helps “deactivate the virus at levels of 0.4 parts per million for 10 minutes,” Christiansen said, noting that most pools maintain even higher levels for caution.

Meets will look a lot different this season. As opposed to a loud, crowded pool deck, this year fans (and even teammates) are discouraged from close cheering. While the passion for the sport and community will still be present, masks and distancing will be strictly enforced, and family and friends will often be told to tune into live streams rather than attending meets in-person. Gatherings are one of the biggest worries of this pandemic, so any ways to cut them down (especially in high-intensity competition areas like meets and practices) are key to continuing the season.

Obviously winning the state championship again is the ultimate goal, but some fear that even making it through the rest of the season is in jeopardy.

The Marian swim Sarah Specht ‘23, Megan Carter and dive team has per‘21 and Eva Watson ‘21 after the severed through what Burke High School diving invite on can only be described Dec 4 2020. Photo source: Marian’s as a rollercoaster of Swim&Dive Twitter emotions. With several quarantines already under their belt and one meet currently cancelled due to a spreading scare, everyone is doing their best to stay healthy and safe, and be “grateful for any opportunity that [they] will get,” as emphasized by Christiansen.

“My hope is that we can all come together and support each other in order to make everyone better,” Troshynski said. Bonding is one thing that the team has held onto, no matter what the season brings.

Senior Abbie Kellen is at the head of this mission. “Even though we won’t get to have team sleepovers, I hope we can still get as close as we have years prior,” she said. With a 27-strong team and memories of last year’s title still in their minds, the Marian swim and dive team is back…and hungry for more.

December 2020

Bowling rolls into Marian in its first season, makes a strike on the Nebraska sports scene NatalieCusick

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t’s the game that has people voluntarily picking up weights, it’s the perfect excuse to eat greasy food, it’s everyone’s favorite family game night outing, and it’s now Nebraska’s newest NSAA competitive sport. Bowling has rolled its way into 32 schools across the state this year, including Marian.

“The schools proposed to have bowling as an organized sanctioned sport through the NSAA legislative process and the schools voted it in,” said NSAA Assistant Director Dan Masters, who is in charge of bowling and headed the committee to create the sport.

“The first thing our committee dove into was deciding on which governing rules body we would follow, and we decided to follow the United States Bowling Congress at bowl.com.”

With this being the first season of the sport, the Marian bowling team’s future truly can’t be predicted.

“We had 12 try out and decided to keep all 12 because of COVID this year and people having to quarantine and things like that,” said Marian bowling coach Mr. Chris Dziadus.

“When they asked if it would become a sport here at Marian Ms. Rohlfs also asked if anybody would be interested in coaching and I told her that I would. I did bowl in a league for two years a long time ago. We did not have bowling when I was in

high school, just recreational,” Dziadus said. Most of the team’s experience has also been recreational.

“I grew up bowling with my cousins all the time.

However, I never thought of competing or playing it as a sport. I had only ever played for fun!” said senior bowler Molly Griffin, who started the season with the highest score.

“For tryouts no one knew what to expect since bowling is a new sport at Marian. I was a little nervous, but thought I would just go out and if it was meant to be, it was meant to be....I couldn’t remember a time when I had ever bowled over 100. But, in both games I bowled over 100 at tryouts,” Griffin said.

Senior bowler Emma Gunn also surprised herself with her skills on Wednesday, Dec. 2. “I never thought I would get a turkey, which is three strikes in a row, and somehow I ended with five! It was a crazy experience, but the way the rest of the girls were cheering me on and were so happy for me felt really special. It’s such a fun thing to do after school, and I love our small team!” Gunn said.

“We go to Maplewood Lanes after school and bowl from 3:30-5, one or two times a week. We usually get in about three games. It is really fun because it’s a nice break from school work! We chat and bowl and try to improve our scores. Also, each practice determines who goes to the duals so it’s important to score the highest you can,” Griffin said. The team bowls its top five bowlers at each dual. Their first dual was on Thursday, Dec. 3 against Westside, who defeated the Crusaders 9-2.

Emma Gunn ‘21 approaches the alley as she rolls her fifth stike!

Cece West ‘21 and Sidney Sledge ‘21 bowl next to each other at Maplewood Lanes. Photos courtesy of Grace Ellis

Bowlers: (back row) Cali D’Agosto, Sidney Sledge, Katie Corpuz, Brejea Glass, Molly Griffin, Emma Gunn, (front row) Audrey VanDyke, Daley Mayer, Anne Masek, Breanna Alberts, Sydnee Baysa, CeCe West.

Dance team keeps school spirits high despite COVID-19 effects LexiKetcham

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ance, unlike many other sports, requires team synno longer able to attend some competitions includchronization, especially in high school dance teams ing nationals in Orlando, Florida in Feb. 2021. Since where dancers are trained to look unified. Without many other teams have decided to stay in Nebraska, every dancer physically in their formation, the whole the decision was made to not attend nationals in order picture of the routine can look unclear. to keep the dance team, their families and the Marian This goal met with the obstacles of Zoom and social community safe. distancing has made it difficult for the Marian dance Junior Kysa Holmstrom is upset by the news, but team to perfect their dances to the realizes it gives the team more best of their ability. Those who are time to focus on school spirit. quarantined have been practicing “My favorite part of nationals at home through Zoom; however, is not only performing with my challenges arise without dancers team members and showcasing physically at practice and in their our hard work, but also being able formations. to go to the [Disney World] parks “It’s difficult to hear and see and creating memories with the what is going on over video team. It allows us to grow closer because every practice is differand create a stronger team bond,” ent and every dancer is different.

Holmstrom said.

Practices that we have completed Despite the challenges, the have to be redone because we simdance team has not let that get in ply have to,” Marian dance team the way of working hard to have coach Chelsea Vorland said. the best year possible. Dancers Like the other sports teams have been working hard in and at Marian, the dance team is out of practice knowing the unable to travel out of state and amount of performances they has limited competitions and have this year are limited. performances. Mask protocols, “We have seen a drive from disinfecting and social distancing dancers. Each dancer has faced protocols have been set in place to their own challenges, but each maintain the team’s season. practice we see more dedication Photo by LexiKetcham The activities directors from and growth, not only individually, the Metro Conference schools have been but as a team,” Vorland said. communicating on decisions to keep students safe.

Although the team is not working toward nationals, Marian then makes their decisions based on this inthey have not given up on their routines as they work formation to keep the Marian community healthy, and for other performance opportunities including State in so those in the Conference have similar expectations Grand Island this Feb., Marian basketball games and wherever they go. other competitions and performances for Omaha dance “Our student athletes and their parents have been teams. very grateful for the opportunity to be in school and to “I’ve noticed that although we’re upset, we haven’t let have the opportunity to compete this fall. Some stuthat get in the way of our hard work. As we prepare for dents in our area did not get that opportunity,” Athletic our performance in December, we have been putting as Director Ms. Rochelle Rohlfs said. much effort into practices as we normally would, if not Because of travel restrictions, the dance team is more,” Holmstrom said.

Sports 13

December 2020

Freshman Hailey Eriksen works hard to become a future trampoline star EmilySalzman

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ports and extracurricular activities are not unique for a girl attending Marian High School to participate in, whether it be playing for a school team such as cross country or soccer, or participating in sports outside of Marian such as figure skating or, in the case of freshman Hailey Eriksen, being part of a trampoline team at Premier

Gymnastics in Omaha.

Trampolining is the art of tumbling and performing practiced routines on a trampoline and can be seen at both the recreational and the Olympics levels.

Eriksen began her journey towards becoming a level 10 trampolinist, the level she is today, at just 3 years old when she joined the gymnastics program at Premier.

Two years after the start of her time as a gymnast, the coach of the trampoline and tumbling teams at Premier approached Eriksen and her mom in order to discuss the possibility of her joining the tumbling and trampoline teams in addition to her regular gymnastics. “I was excited to jump on a trampoline as I’m sure most 5-year-olds would be,” Eriksen said.

She continued her involvement on both the gymnastics and the trampoline and tumbling teams until 2019 when Eriksen decided to end her gymnastics and tumbling careers in order to put all of her focus into her career in competitive trampoline.

For the past 10 years, Eriksen has spent four days a week, year-round devoted to practicing and perfecting her routines on the trampoline.

Trampolining is an integral part of Eriksen’s life and the countless hours which she has put into her sport will ensure that she can do her best once the competition season rolls around.

Eriksen has gotten the opportunity to compete in various trampoline competitions which have taken her to Iowa,

Missouri, Indiana, Wisconsin, Texas and North Carolina.

“Our competitive season runs from January through July,” she said.

However, back in March, Eriksen had her season cut short due to COVID-19. “As of now, our first competition will be in Dallas, Texas in January,” Eriksen said.

Although trampoline is not a sport which exists at the collegiate level, she hopes to continue working towards her ultimate goal of reaching the elite level.

While it will take lots of hard work and commitment, Marian sports fans can hope to see Hailey Eriksen competing on the trampoline at the Olympics in the somewhat near future.

Freshman Hailey Eriksen trains at Premier Gymnastics in Omaha in November.

Photos by NaomiDelkamiller

Future is bright as athletes sign, set sights on future colleges JessicaBrusnahan

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or senior high school athletes, it was the day they had been waiting for.

They sat at a table, cheered on by teammates, friends, and family, and made one of the biggest decisions of their lives. On Wednesday, Nov. 11, thousands of high school athletes participated in the fall 2020 National Letter of Intent ceremony. Aside from ending the exhausting recruiting process, signing a letter and committing to a college for sports ultimately decides what a senior’s life will look like for years to come.

A National Letter of Intent is defined as a “document [that] commits an athlete to a university and signifies the end of the recruiting process,” as reported by athleticscholarships.net. The letter of intent is legally binding and requires the athlete signing to play for the listed school for one year. Also, a common misconception around letters of intent is that any athlete can sign, regardless of athletic scholarship.

Athleticscholarships.net certifies that an athlete must be offered athletic aid in order for them to be able to sign officially.

Marian had ten signees: diver Megan Carter (Indiana University), volleyball players MC Daubendiek (George Washington University) and Sidney Sledge (Bellevue University), soccer player Anna Kidder (Eastern University), swimmers

JoJo Randby (University of Nebraska-Lincoln) and Rylee Trojan (Southern Illinois University), and softball players Abby Russell (Southwest Minnesota State University), Kaydence Skiles (Northern State University), and Tatum Villotta (University of South Dakota). Celia Hacker signed from home to play basketball at Lake Superior State University. Despite the difficulties of hosting a gathering amidst COVID-19, the girls were able to celebrate their momentous achievements in the presence of family members and coaches.

In addition to the signees, there were three other honorees at the ceremony.

Head swimming and diving coach BJ Christansen was awarded the Swimming Coach of the Year from the Nebraska Coaches Association (for the 2019-20 season). Last year’s state championship team signified Marian’s return to the top of the podium in the sport after five years as runners-up. Also recognized on Nov. 11 were senior Eva Watson and freshman Stella Miner. Watson received a Believer and Achiever Award from the NSAA and U.S. Bank. This award is given to high schoolers across Nebraska “to reward...their excellence in academics and participation in NSAA activities [as well as] commitment to citizenship, school involvement and

community projects,” as stated by nsaahome.org. Miner was recognized for her All-Class State Championship in Cross Country with a state record-breaking time of 18:11.

“I was really bummed my teammates couldn’t come, but I was glad we still got to have the ceremony,” Daubendiek said.

In the past, teammates have been a huge part of NLI ceremonies, filling up most of the available seats after parents and other family members.

In regards to changes due to the pandemic, Athletic Director Ms. Rochelle Rohlfs said Marian “held the ceremony in the PAC auditorium instead of the PAC lobby and did not allow students to attend in order to stay at the DHM [Directed Health Measures] requirements.” Many seniors who are planning to sign in early 2021 are hoping that these COVID restrictions will be lifted soon so that signing ceremonies can have some semblance of previous years.

One perk this year was that there were many teammates signing together. One of the closest pairs is Rylee Trojan and JoJo Randby. The two have been swimming together since Trojan moved to Nebraska in the summer of freshman year. “[ Jojo] works so hard and I was so proud of her

for finally signing…it was really special to be there to see her do it and even get to be doing it myself,” Trojan said. But there will still be some sadness: the two best friends will be 546 miles apart next year. On the bright side, Randby said they “are both planning on taking many trips to see each other and FaceTiming” to stay close.

Among the signees, there was an obvious consensus: phew! Villotta committed in August of her junior year and was relieved to get the decision off her shoulders. “It feels great knowing exactly where you’re going to college and being able to plan ahead,” she said, as she looks to Vermillion, South Dakota next year.

Russell echoed her teammate. “I felt like everything I’ve worked for basically my whole life finally paid off and it was the best feeling,” she said. Nothing like relieving a little stress senior year, right?

Needless to say, decisions are around every corner for teenagers. They are forced to grow up and start thinking for themselves about where they will go, who they will see, and what they will be doing in a few years (or even just one for seniors).

Choosing a college is difficult, period. The Marian athletes who signed on Nov. 11 are ahead of the curve, as per usual.

Maddie Clark back in the water

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Committed Athletes: (back row) Jojo Randby, Tatum Villotta, MC Daubendiek, Sidney Sledge, (front row) Rylee Trojan, Abby Russell, Megan Carter and Anna Kidder. Not pictured: Celia Hacker. Photo courtesy of Olivia Turkel.

n Sept. 24 senior swimmer Maddie Clark was involved in a car accident on State Street, breaking her pelvis, sternum and a few ribs. She was admitted into the hospital for a week, followed by half a week of rehab, putting a pause on her swimming career.

After being in a wheelchair, Clark hit a big milestone when she started standing on Oct. 20 and later walking on Nov. 18.

“My transition has been very smooth with little pain,” Clark said. Eager to get back to swimming, her first time back in the water was with her club swim team on Nov. 18. She had her first swim with the Marian team on Nov. 20.

“My goals for the rest of the season are to walk normally and carry my own backpack, have my pelvis continue to heal and be able to drive. I would also like to be able to swim at state, because it is my senior year,” Clark said.

Senior Maddie Clark is committed to swim at the United States Military Academy at West Point in New York and is planning on majoring in life science on the pre-med track.

14 Entertainment

December 2020

Staffers try new ethnic cuisine around Omaha:

Holiday word find

Okra African Grill on 72nd & Pacific

RyleeGregg

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he time has come for the year’s reckoning.

Have you been nice? Or naughty? Either way, 2020’s been pretty rough, so go ahead and immerse yourself in the yuletide mood. Try not to get too sick of seeing vermillion and emerald everywhere you go, because it marks a special time of year. Now’s the time to journey out to a coniferous forest and find that special tree for the season. Ol’ Kris Kringle’s sleigh will be here before you know it, so spread some cheer by gifting a poinsettia to a friend or making some mulled cider with your family. Turn on a Hallmark movie and deck out that lovely spruce with baubles and tinsel aplenty. Once your halls are decked with boughs of holly (but no mistletoe, just ask Mrs. Sullivan) you’ll know you’re ready to relax with a glass of eggnog and reflect on the tidings this year has brought.

Find the word search solutions on the online Network: mariandigitalnetwork.com

Review by SophiaVirgillito & GraceVirgillito

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win staffers Grace and Sophia Virgillito decided to challenge their taste buds on a new adventure. Coming from an Italian family and a cultural-food-loving dad, we’ve eaten a variety of foods. Our household enjoys a Saturday dinner of Mexican, Italian, Korean, Greek, Thai or Chinese food.

Whether this is going out to a restaurant or cooking up a recipe at home, it is always important to introduce yourself and those around you to different backgrounds, cultures and ethnicities. There are plenty of different locations around Omaha serving delicious food, bringing about diverse cultures and providing opportunities to expand your knowledge.

We decided to keep it simple and COVID-friendly by ordering for pickup at Okra African Grill, located near 72nd and Pacific, after it was recommended to us by a classmate.

Okra African grill is owned by a female immigrant from Togo of West Africa, Nina Sodji. She came to America in 1994 with a business visa. This new business opened around the time of the lockdown, so supporting local establishments is important around Omaha.

The menu has a variety of different Afri-

can cuisine including rice bowls, specialties, sides, snacks and extras, vegan options, desserts and a kids menu. The website is simple and easy to use while you get the chance to choose what ingredients go into your bowl.

On our first trip to Okra, we shared a rice bowl. Inside was roasted sweet potatoes, vermicelli noodles, red beans and sweet corn.

On the side we got two ablos (sweet rice dumplings) and three beignets (Puff Puffs or fried dough) for dessert. The total of this meal was $13.40.

We both agreed that our first meal didn’t initially strike us as something jaw dropping, but later we started to crave it. I [Sophia] found myself wanting to go back to a quality, cultural and COVID-friendly restaurant while not constantly putting a dent in my bank account.

We wanted to explore the menu a little more and get a new experience, so we went back for round two.

The second time around we picked up a Vegan rice bowl, with a side of Jellof Rice (red rice), Pomme De Terre Frit (seasoned homestyle French fries), and for dessert an Ultimate Chocolate Chunk Cookie. The total of this meal was $15.08. It was perfect to split together.

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ophia: I liked the second meal better. It felt healthier and more filling, but less out of my comfort zone. The first meal I could tell was different from other ethnic meals I’ve had before. The rice bowl on our first trip reminded me of a Chipotle bowl. I assumed the ingredients would be similar to a Mexican rice bowl, but the add-ins reflected the African elements of Okra.

My favorite part was the sweet potatoes, something that is usually not added to my initial thought of a rice bowl. Most of the toppings of both bowls were grilled, which added a smoky flavor that I think most adults would enjoy.

The service seemed like a fast food restaurant, but it was quality take out. I would recommend this to anyone who is looking for something new to try in Omaha while also wanting to support locally-owned businesses.

I can’t wait to try another new menu item on my next visit. I look forward to adding another flavor to my palette.

race: When going to Okra, I didn’t know what to expect as the restaurant is fairly new. I had never had African cuisine before, but I was pleasantly surprised.

The environment of the restaurant was 5/5. This is what I respected most. The workers were helpful and friendly, which made it less awkward trying to find our pickup order.

The website was also organized and described the food well, providing easy access to the meal we wanted. They made it easy to differentiate from what we could add and what was in it.

I was eager to test my taste buds with new food and was captivated by the different flavor combinations. Our untraditional choice was a pleasing 4/5 because I was charmed, but unfamiliarized with the culture. I would definitely recommend going to Okra and trying out different meals to everyone. I think it’s important to explore traditions of various cultures and try something you believe is a little different.

Marian as a movie: If the six core values were blockbuster films

Opinion by GaeaKaan

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arian is a magical place. A place where young girls turn into young women and create experiences and friendships that last a lifetime. Going to this school and living through all the Marian traditions we hold so close feels like we’re part of some kind of movie, living through each day like a scene from a show. Especially with the pandemic on the minds of everyone, it makes the days seem more surreal; days turning into months turning into the end of the year. But then that poses the question: which movie would Marian be? Looking at our school’s core values, we can safely narrow it down to the six characteristics that make Marian feel like a cinematic masterpiece.

Compassion describes so many aspects of the Marian community, from the incredible students to the dedicated staff.

There is no shortage of care and respect from our school. When I think of that kind of behavior and the loving environment our teachers have worked so hard to achieve, I think of something like “Cinderella.” The live action remake that Disney produced back in 2015, where the princesses’ words to live by were, “have courage and be kind” ties into the compassionate value everyone in the school possesses, making it feel like something

out of a fairy tale like Cinderella.

Spirituality is a strong core value at Marian, following the Catholic faith and observing its traditions with open-mindedness and respect for other beliefs. The movie I think best represents this trait of spirituality with an open mind is a movie called “I Origins,” a story of a molecular biologist studying the human eye that addresses the history of humanity’s scientific and spiritual beliefs.

Both the movie and our school view the spirituality of every individual and the ways that they practice and present the value.

Empowerment reminds me of “Mamma Mia!” which is seriously one of the best musicals out there. It’s a very empowering story of a single mom raising her daughter who goes to look for her dad but eventually realizes that her mom has been

there for her all along. It’s a very empowering movie for women and seriously just a fun show with lots of dance numbers and fun music from the ’70s band, ABBA, like the school assemblies where all the girls sing and carry on the Marian traditions. This would be a great movie to describe Marian because it provides a fun little spinoff name, “Marian Mia!” Service is something that is important to the Marian population, seeking out others who need aid. This Illustration b reminds me of y Na om iD the acts of elk am kindness ille in r

“The Blind Side,” a story based on true events starring Sandra Bullock as the mother who helps change the life of a young man by providing him a home, school and the love he needed. At Marian, the goal of our teachers and administrators is to provide and serve us with the skills and guidance needed to be the best

person we can be when we graduate.

Community throughout every individual in Marian, the students, staff and alumni, is something unique to Marian. I think it’s safe to say that the involvement of nearly every person within the Marian community is above and beyond the average high school. This definitely reminds me of an older movie called “Akeelah and the Bee,” a story of an incredibly intelligent girl who overcomes adversity and racism with the help of her neighborhood to win the national spelling bee. The movie uses the community to come together and aid a young girl and her potential, which is exactly what Marian does for its students.

The more I think about it, the more I realize Marian can be a great experience for everyone who passes through the school. The memories you take with you will forever impact who you are, and every experience is different, just like every movie is different. All of our lives and our stories here are what we make them.

What genre we want our movie to be, our main characters, the antagonists, the sidekicks: it’s different for everyone. I don’t think Marian is like any other movie, I think it has its own story to tell, just like all of us.

a r M i an S t p e p t K e cre t s e t s B c Gu i ;

December 2020

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Nap Spot; L ig h

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Need to take a quick mirror selfie or bask in the sun? The third floor bathroom near the business office is said to be top-notch.

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ng Lot; T i k he ar

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“Best naps are taken on the benches and pillows in the lighting booth,” says Elaina Carleton ‘21. Work the lights during the musical to test it out for yourself !

Dess ert; W t s e

Cry; Ind o t en t o t p

ff

Q ua d S t a i rs th e

Coo kies

Warm up the Marian cookies in the microwave for 15-30 seconds.

It’s life-changing!

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With 160 ml of caffeine, this drink will get you through that afternoon slump!

Ellie Cusick ‘23 models her Hydrive and her energy.

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m ar

; Hyd r iv

Although often forgotten, the L is Marian’s best parking lot. It’s close to the school, and has an easy exit out the back of the lot.

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In the vending machines, there are three types of gum for only 50c!

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The perfect place to study is in the private study rooms in the HAC. Enjoy some quiet time, and watch the sunrise through the windows. It’s a nice way to start the day.

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Best B a

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Top Tab igh l es

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Graphic and photos

by NatalieCusick & FrannieCihunka

Everyone needs a good cry every once in a while.

Margaret Kelly ‘21 knows the best spot. At the top of the quad stairs, there is a nook that’s just out of sight when you need to let it out.

According to Network November/December survey taken by 209 students.

Day after Halloween 26.8%

It never ends!

6.4% December 1 9.8%

Day after Thanksgiving 56%

Graphic by MollyMonahan

Christmas week 1%

Christmas Spotify Playlist!

Graphic by MaddieGenoways

Photo Essay 16

December 2020

Marian girls help serve the community Freshmen

On Friday, Nov. 6, the Class of 2024 dressed in blue as they participated in one of their first Marian pep rallies. Each freshman homeroom engaged in different services. Pictured is the freshman class making house decor for Habitat for Humanity, building doll houses and crafting tie blankets for Holy Family Parish for the homeless.

Sophomores The sophomore Class of 2023 dressed in yellow. They are pictured dancing in the gym, full of spirit. They are joined by their class moderator, Mrs. Jaime Piernicky, as she cheers them on during their minute-to-winit competitions. Student Board members Audrey Ehlers ‘23 and Cleo Wear ‘21 work together to sew dresses for girls in Haiti and the DR, while the rest of the sophomore class participates in various other service projects.

Juniors

The junior Class of 2022 dressed in green.

Pictured is the junior class gluing together wooden doll houses and furniture that would be donated to a homeless shelter.

Juniors Audrey Van Dyke, Annie Masek and Erin Connelly are seen ‘flexing’ their class unity and spirit.

Seniors

The senior Class of 2021 wore pink. Mrs. Beth Dye guides the seniors through making wooden doll houses.

Each homeroom also took part in creating flashcards for children and designing pillow cases and bibs for families at Mater Filius.

Photos by MollyMonahan, AnnaKidder & GraceVirgillito