The Network
Marian High School - 7400 Military Avenue Omaha, NE 68134 - www.marianhighschool.net - Volume 61 Issue 3 - October 2016
Human Trafficking event informs Marian community about dangers of sex trafficking
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ccording to the Coalition on Human Trafficking, more people live in slavery today than any other time in history. This statistic isn’t talking about the kind of slavery that students learn about in social studies courses; it is talking about human trafficking. unusual More than 250,000 people tattoos (dollar are sex-trafficked in the United signs, bar States every year, and Omaha’s location in relation to I-80 and codes, pimp I-29 makes it a hot spot for this name) kind of exploitation. That is why it is important for Marian, as an large amounts all-girls school, to be educated on of cash what can happen to any of us, at any time, anywhere. “I think it is no ID important to be informed because rarely alone we need to be aware about what’s happening in the world and comsomeone munity in order to be safe and answering for recognize when others might not them be safe,” sophomore Zaza Nelson said. On Oct. 6, Rho Kappa (Social source: Anna Brewer Studies Honors Society) hosted ficking, began with a showing of a movie and a panel of speakers “Sold,” a movie highlighting the to educate the Marian community perils of sex-trafficking in India. about sex trafficking. This event, brought to Marian by the Nebraska “The movie and panel had a profound effect on my knowledge of Mothers Association as a benefit sex-trafficking. The risks and the for the Coalition on Human Traf-
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warning signs of trafficking
effects became more apparent in my life. Now, I feel that I am able to help keep a look out for others and myself who have the possibility of being sex-trafficked in Omaha and around the world,” senior
Madeline Shaffer said. Although the movie was based in India, all five panel speakers spoke to the fact that things aren’t any different here in the United States. “Every single one of you in this room--that could’ve been you,” said Sakura Yodogawa-Campbell, survivor of sex-trafficking. The rest of the panel was made up of Anna Brewer, former FBI agent and current human trafficking consultant, Sr. Rosalee Burke, Notre Dame sister and social justice coordinator, Dr. Sue Gabriel, associate professor of nursing at Nebraska Wesleyan University and Amber Schlote, human trafficking investigator. Each of these women have an expertise in human trafficking and speak often at events. One of the biggest strategies of traffickers is their ability to pick girls based on their vulnerabilities. “One of the best things you can do is look at all the other girls around you and ask ‘How can I be a friend to the girls who are lonely? How can I lift someone up?’’ said Yodogawa-Campbell. Although trafficking is a scary reality, the movie and panel emphasized the importance of being informed.
Secondary teacher of the year: Banned Books Genoways honored at Archdiocesan dinner Editorial Pg. 4 E erinwalter
ach year, schools and parishes throughout the Archdiocese of Omaha nominate individuals who demonstrate a superior devotion to Catholic education for the Archdiocesan teacher of the year award. Last spring, students, faculty and staff at Marian were delighted to hear that science teacher Mrs. Sharon Genoways would be one of two recipients of the Archdiocesan Teacher of the Year Award for Secondary Education. On Sept. 29, Genoways and the other outstanding educators in Nebraska
were honored at the The 39th Annual Archbishop’s Dinner for Education. Several Marian staff members and students, along with many of Genoways’s family members, attended the dinner to support Genoways and recognize her dedication to her profession. “Being surrounded by both my real family and my Marian family meant more to me than receiving the actual award,” Genoways said. At the dinner, which was held at the Embassy Suites in La Vista, Archbishop George Lucas honored eight
individuals for their exemplary work in administration, elementary education, secondary education, special education and inner city education, respectively.
Archdiocesan Honorees Administrators of the Year
Educators of the Year Elementary
Jay Dunlap, Madonna School and CommunityBased Services, Omaha
Lisa Benson, St. Matthew the Evangelist School, Bellevue
Don Blackbird, St. Augustine Indian Mission, Winnebago
Amy Sokol, St. Anthony School, Columbus
Educators of the Year Secondary Sharon Genoways, Marian High School, Omaha Mary Jo Kampschnieder, Guardian Angels Central Catholic, West Point
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Educators of the Year – Special Education and Inner City Mary Fisher, Sacred Heart School, Omaha Colleen Mertz, Holy Name School, Omaha
Posing with the prize Marian’s Principal Susie Sullivan, Archbishop George Lucas and Superintendent of Schools Patrick Slattery pose proudly with Sharon Genoways and her Secondary Teacher of the Year award at the Archdiocesan dinner on Sept. 29.
Technology Tips Pgs. 8-9
Sports Team Managers Pg. 13
Grandparents Day Pg. 16
(2) News
The Network (October 2016)
Lolo’s Angels paves way for AML research ellierommelfanger
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ach year, more than 13,500 children are diagnosed with cancer, however, only 4 percent of the National Cancer Institute’s annual budget is dedicated to pediatric cancer research. This gap in funding is what Mrs. LesLee Hacker, biology teacher and mother of freshman Lauren Hacker, sought to close when she started the Lolo’s Angels Foundation. Lolo’s Angels is a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising money for pediatric Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), which is what Hacker’s daughter Lauren was diagnosed with when she was in fifth grade. “The inspiration was all of those months in the hospital. You have a lot of time on your hands, and I just kept thinking ‘How can I help?’” Mrs. LesLee Hacker said. The nonprofit will host bone marrow and blood drives, as well as increase pediatric cancer awareness through political activism and events that honor kids who have had cancer. When brainstorming for Lolo’s Angels, Hacker decided to have both an Executive Board and a Junior Board. The Executive Board is made up of adults
from a slew of professions who make the big for the Backyard Bash, the portion planned by decisions and guide the Junior Board in runthe Junior Board, showed up and danced the ning the nonprofit, while the Junior Board is night away. Tickets were sold for $20 and all of made up of students from Creighton Prep, Mar- the money went straight to AML research. “It was inspiraian and Duchesne tional because it was who work togethamazing to see such a er to help plan large group of young events and spread people get together the word around for something that to high schools. matters,” senior Lucy “The Junior Fishburn said. Board is special Lolo’s Angels is because I feel like helping to pave the we are going to way for the youngactually help save children’s lives by er generation to get involved in finally raising money for graphic by ellierommelfanger putting an end to pediatric cancer,” cancer. sophomore and Junior Board Member Even if you are not on the Junior Board, you Marin Waters said. can still help to raise money and awareness and On Oct. 7, Lolo’s Angels hosted their first official event in the Hacker’s backyard. The night prove what young people are capable of accomplishing. Be on the lookout for blood and bone started with a fundraiser for adults, which was marrow drives, as well as any upcoming news planned mostly by the Executive Board. At 9:30 p.m., teenagers who bought tickets from Lolo’s Angels.
Go to mariandigitalnetwork.com for an update on the Chemistry labs!
MPower luncheon provides leadership, alumnae networking opportunities for students emmaherold
M source: Alley Poyner Macchietto Architecture
Servants of Mary lend helping hand to Sheltering Tree
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he Servants of Mary make it their personal goal to reach out a helping hand to all people. The convent houses a group of sisters who are willing to do things as small as pray for you and as big as donating bricks to a developing school in the Congo. Their newest project consists of selling a part of their property on the east side of campus to Sheltering Tree, a nonprofit that builds affordable housing for people with developmental disabilities. Sheltering Tree gives the parents of people with disabilities a place to let their children live independently, but safely. Five years ago, Sheltering Tree asked the Servants of Mary if they would sell the organization a piece of land by the convent for a new center for young adults with disabilities. The project has been in the works since then, and on Sept. 30, the Servants of Mary sold land to Sheltering Tree. The property is about two and a half acres and will be right across from the QT on 72nd and Military Avenue. The new center will be built to fit about 20 people and two managers, and although the first idea for the project was to make
it for only young women, it will be open to both men and women. The Servants of Mary hosted an open house of sorts for members of Sheltering Tree. “We see this as an open opportunity for ministry for us. We see that some of our sisters who are not able to get up and go out some places to minister can walk down the hill,” Sister Mary Gehringer said. Selling the property is just the beginning of their involvement with this non-profit. The opening of this center also gives the Servants of Mary a new way to spread their ministry and continue their mission. The Sisters will be interacting directly with the young adults by coming to Mass or having dinner with them. Marian’s connection with the Servants of Mary also opens many opportunities for students and faculty to be a part of this project. “I have spoken with Marian administrators and faculty and they are open to the possibility of developing such opportunities for the Marian community. As Sheltering Tree’s programs get settled, we can look into a variety of ways in which both the Servites and Marian can minister with them,” Gehringer said.
Power is a program initiated by our alumnae board that exposes girls to career opportunities and professions. The purpose is to create professional mentoring opportunities with Marian alumnae. “Starting in 2012, it has evolved over the years. It used to be only open to juniors for one-on-one mentoring, however this year it is open to juniors and seniors and it is more collaborative. Twenty girls were chosen from an application process,” alumnae director, Mrs. Nancy Casey said. On Tuesday, Oct. 11, MPower students and Marian alumnae met in the Performing Arts Center lobby for MPower’s kickoff luncheon. These alumnae with various professions came to the luncheon with opportunities for students they wouldn’t find elsewhere. “They provide networking connections in order to encourage mentoring and job shadowing,” MPower member senior Claire Janecek said.
“We talked about all sorts of things from our family lives and past Field Day themes to the alumnae’s careers and how they came to choose their current career path,” Janecek said. “It is an amazing opportunity for Marian students to connect with alums in this way. Alumnae who have volunteered include two engineers, a doctor, a physical therapist, an accountant, a speech pathologist, a mental health social worker, an IT expert, a human resource executive from Gallup, a marketing director and others,” President Mary Higgins said. Over the year, the group will meet four to five times. MPower plans to meet next on the evening of Thursday, Nov. 3 at HDR, where people will present different ideas to expose girls to various professions. A Human Resource Department representative will come to explain all sorts of things, such as the job interviewing process and how to dress correctly.
The talk of the table Students Cassie Palmer ’18 and Claire Janecek ’17 chat with alumnae at the MPower luncheon on Tuesday, Oct. 11. The luncheon began with mingling before lunch was served. emmaherold
The Network (October 2016)
News (3)
Capital Campaign strives to improve environment susanapettis
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ll Marian students have that certain something that they wish would be fixed (we all knew it was the bathrooms’ time to shine), so when the survey went out last year asking a million questions on what Marian could change, students had a variety of responses. “We were all dreaming of a perfect school. It seemed like none of it could really happen,” junior Audrey Yost said. “It would be amazing if we could put our dreams in to action.” “I think I put something on the survey about needing more places for relaxation. I just think that a pool would be a great addition,” junior Lily Watkins said, “but the bathrooms were in dire need of attention. This survey provided Marian with specific information on what needed to be fixed and the Marian
girls’ wishes were finally granted when new bathrooms greeted them on the first day of school. In the October Network Survey the same question was asked: ‘If Marian had unlimited money, what should be fixed?’ Suggested improvements ranged from removing dividers from lockers to redoing the track by sophomore lot. Alas, Marian does not have an unlimited amount money to give to every single renovation that the building needs. A feedback board composed of alums, parents, board members and faculty started meeting to make choices on the most pressing needs in our community. The data from the survey was also used to decide how to go about working on Marian and in the end it all came together into a capital campaign. A capital campaign is an extraordi-
Architectural rendering of a new entry way. Photo courtesy of Leo A Daly.
Archdiocesan ACT Average is above national average elliemullligan
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ACT scores
or thousands of students across at a 21.4. the United States, the ACT is a Impressive as that is, here in the necessity before they start applyOmaha Archdiocese, this year’s ing to colleges. From getting into scores have broken records with your first choice of college to getan average of 24.9. ting the scholarship you want, the Many students take ACT prep ACT is, for many, the only thing classes in order to achieve a higher standing between high school stuscore, but what exactly does a dents and the freedom of college. higher ACT mean for a student? For those who According to How does the Omaha have yet to face counselor Mrs. Archdiocese the test, the ACT Laura Gelecki, measure up? is a standardized “Many scholarassessment comships are tied to prised of tests in a student’s ACT English, reading, score. The differscience, and ence between a mathematics. 28 and a 29 can The four tests mean the differare taken as one ence between a Archdiocesan Nebraska National exam nationwide couple thousand Average Average Average at test locations dollars of scholgraphic by elliemullligan throughout the arships.” source: CatholicVoice.com city, and soon after, For students each of the tests are sent off to be who attend parochial schools individually scored on a scale from throughout the archdiocese of one to 36. Omaha, this heightened average The overall score is determined reflects positively on their quality by the average of these four tests. of education and hopefully secures The ACT is taken by more than them a better future as they head 1.5 million people across the Unit- off to college. ed States. The national average in The ACT can be a stressful time 2016 is 20.8. Here in Nebraska, for students, but hard work will the average is even higher, sitting pay off and make a difference.
Architectural rendering of a new entrance. Photo courtesy of Leo A Daly. nary fundraiser that raises enough money to cover things that aren’t covered by tuition, for example. The money is acquired by reaching out into the extended Marian community, finding volunteers, donors, and generous hearts. What will primarily be fixed in this new development is the entry into the building, a new technological center instead of a traditional library, and the relocation of the chapel into the former choir room, Room 312. The fundraising campaign is also meant to supply endowments for tuition assistance and teacher salaries. The Steier Group, a Catholic development consulting firm, is in charge of the campaign and fundraising the money to make it happen. Past clients of the Steier Group include the Madonna School, the Stephen Center, Mt. Michael and Mary Our Queen. They have been around for about 19 years, and have helped clients raise over one billion dollars. “We have hired the Steier Group to work with us for one year. This breaks down to three months of preparation, three months of
‘silent phase’ and six months of the ‘public phase’ to recruit campaign pledges,” said President Mary Higgins. The campaign is projected to raise $8-10 million and start construction in spring of 2018. This gives Marian many opportunities to advance student resources and create an updated environment. Kevin Warneke, father of Katie, who graduated in ’13, is in charge of the campaign that the Steier Group is creating. “I’m excited because this is the place that my daughter went to high school, so I have a vested interest in helping Marian reach its goals, and I am honored that I am the person who gets to do that,” Warneke said. He will be working at Marian Monday through Thursday and from the Steier office on Fridays. “Overall, this is an incredibly exciting project for Marian. We have the opportunity to do something extraordinary for Marian. I look forward to meeting with our generous donors and seeing the endowment growth and the facility enhancements come to fruition,” Higgins said.
IDEAS club promotes Hispanic Heritage Month nataliekemler
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uring lunch on Oct. 5, IDEAS club hosted two speakers for Hispanic Heritage Month to tell their personal stories of their journeys to Omaha, Nebraska. The first speaker, Claudia Archer, recounted her movement from Spain to London and from London to Omaha, as a result of her job. The company she was working for encouraged her to become a citizen, and eventually she did. The second speaker, Amor Hab-
bab, revealed that her family traveled to Omaha after her mom was kidnapped at an ATM when they lived in Mexico. Her mom couldn’t feel safe living in Mexico, so they moved to Omaha when Habbab was only 13 years old. She attended Christ the King and Duchesne High School, then continued on to study at Creighton. Both speakers gave students inspiring insight on different perspectives that need to be heard.
Why is Hispanic Heritage Month important to you?
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It shows that Hispanics are important too, and people set aside important days to celebrate it, and that’s pretty cool.” Mariana Inciarte-Balza ’19
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It’s part of my culture and past. I wouldn’t be here if my grandpa’s family didn’t come here.” Claire Sena ’19
(4) Opinion
The Network (October 2016)
Why censorship will always do more harm than good C ensorship. It’s a big heavy word for an even heavier topic. Censorship can come in many different forms, whether it be book burnings or your parents telling you that you’re not quite mature enough to watch that rated R movie. At times it can seem like censorship is the perfect solution. If a topic makes so many people angry or uncomfortable, why not prevent people from reading or writing about it? The answer, really, is simple. We can’t avoid talking about the uncomfortable things in life because those things happen, and are important. Everyone is going to face difficult situations in their lives. To pretend that the world around us isn’t scary and a little bit dark is like pretending that cupcakes aren’t bad for you. Sure, you’re going to be a lot happier as you gobble down cupcake after cupcake, but in the end you’re only hurting yourself. Pretending bad things don’t happen won’t stop them from happening, it just leaves us hopelessly unprepared for when they do happen.
That being said, no one wants to talk about topics that are hard to explain or make them uncomfortable. It can be painful and awkward, but that’s the amazing thing about being in high school. High school provides us with a safe environment where we can talk about heavy topics without the fear of being judged. Now is our time to ask questions and explore every part of the world we live in. When you try to take books that may seem graphic or vulgar but have important messages away from all young people, you’re pre-
venting them from understanding the world we live in as a whole. When we try to prevent journalists from reporting the whole story, you’re essentially forcing them to lie. When you try to take certain topics out of textbooks, you’re dooming future generations to repeating the same mistakes humanity has made time and time again. There’s simply no situation in which censorship, on a larger scale, makes the world a better place. On a smaller scale, censorship can be a little more understandable. Parents know their kids, and we know ourselves. It’s a parent’s job to know what their kids can handle and to take
Network Staff Editorial
steps from there to be sure they’re educated properly and are taking in the world as slowly or swiftly as they can handle it. As an individual, you know when something is too much for you to handle. The problem only comes in when parents or individuals try to prevent everyone else from reading books simply because they don’t want to read them or find the content too inappropriate. One person cannot speak for the entire population. In honor of Banned Books Month, the Network Staff would like to encourage everyone to explore. Pick up a book from a banned books list, ask your parents or teachers about a topic that might be hard to talk about, or start an open discussion with your friends about how they’ve seen censorship in their lives. We can learn so much from the things that make us uncomfortable. At the end of the day, keeping each other in the dark will only leave all of us blindly wandering around. It’s best for us to turn on the light, even if it can burn our eyes at first.
Ryan Lochte and other people I don’t let make my political decisions
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’m going to get a little controversial here and say that I wouldn’t let Ryan Lochte do my taxes. I’m probably one of Lochte’s biggest fans, and I can say that after the whole “Hey, maybe I accidentally started beef with the Brazilian government, but who hasn’t?” dilemma, because without knowing the guy, I can pretty much tell that’s par for the course for Ryan. I wasn’t disappointed by the incident, because I really didn’t expect that much out of him anyway. (Ryan, if you’re reading this, I don’t mean it, I promise.) I wouldn’t let him do my taxes because just because someone is talented in one area, doesn’t mean he or she is talented in another. The guy is a swimming machine, a regular fish both in and out of the water, which qualifies him to have both athletic and celebrity status. You know what celebrity status gets you? A spot on this season of “Dancing with the Stars.” You know what it doesn’t get you? Pretty much anything else. Despite popular belief, not every celebrity has gone through Mr. Baker’s AP American Government
Is-a-bout to get real with Isabelle Swanson class. Not all of them count Federalist Papers when they have trouble sleeping. When I want to know about current political issues, I have some places I go. When I want to hear a sick beat, I also have some places I go. The Venn diagram of those places is two distinct circles. There’s no overlap. It has become the norm to look to companies, restaurants and organizations to either condemn or support political stances. When standing in line at a fast food restaurant (as an on-the-go savvy business woman, I often find myself needing a quick meal between meetings), I have never once wondered how that company feels about any political issue. When I want chicken nuggets, I’m on a mission. No political grandstanding will impact the quality or price of that chicken nugget, so that’s not my concern. The only opinion from a company I would humor for more than half a second is their opinion of tax codes,
regulations, and wages, because that’s something they know. That’s something they have learned about from experience, and I, personally, value experience more than anything in a political science textbook (based off of my vast collection of experiences and vast collection of political science textbooks). There’s a big difference between talking about how a restaurant should run and actually running a restaurant. The line between celebrity and politician seems to blur more every day. My plea to you, my fellow citizens, is that you consider politics issue by issue. At the end of the day, a recognizable name or the number on the back of a jersey won’t fix the economy. And athletes really shouldn’t concern themselves with trying to fix the economy. And if they do, they should let me know ASAP so I can take them off my fantasy league because I only want serious athletes with their eyes firmly planted on the metaphorical and literal prize. I don’t like my celebrities political and I don’t like my politicians to be celebrities. I wouldn’t expect Thomas Jefferson to perform a musical number, so I don’t expect foreign policy advice out of Katy Perry.
graphic by briannawessling
Skip the Twitter polls, head to the real ones briannawessling
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etween Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and countless other sites, young people spend much of their lives scrolling through social media. It comes as no surprise, then, that many politicians are looking to social media to get their message out in the hopes of gaining the coveted millennial vote. Unfortunately, this election season has been filled with more passive aggressive tweets than it has been
substance and policy. If you’re able to vote this fall, I encourage you to try your best to ignore the mudslinging and late night Twitter battles Focus on the issues that matter to you and where the candidates stand on those issues Social media is a gift, but I think we can all agree that we don’t want the election to be decided by the amount of retweets a candidate gets, or who has the most followers.
The Network (October 2016)
Boo! Two thumbs down for morganhobbs
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Halloween
’m the grinch of Halloween. There, I said the unspeakable. In five words, I’ve disrespected one of America’s most beloved holidays and made roughly 92 percent of you want to banish me into a corn maze or something. If I could pick one experience to sum up how I feel about Halloween, it would probably be the haunted house trip I took with some friends in seventh grade. I decided I was going to try to act like I wasn’t scared and had done a pretty good job of it. Once we stepped outside afterwards, I thought I was in the clear until a chainsaw roared to life behind me, and I let out a scream that rivals the “I Knew You Were Trouble” goat. Couple this with the white mask the man was wearing, and I was already in a dead Usain Boltlike sprint towards the safety of my friend’s mom. My main issue with this holiday mostly comes from the fact that Halloween is the most overrated holiday on the face of this planet. I’m just as in love with the season of fall as most teenage girls. However, the minute the clock strikes 12 a.m on Aug. 1st, my Twitter timeline is flooded with anticipation for Halloween, and these tweets continue to taint the entire season for me. I just don’t get having a day
Holla-ween:
It’s toad-ally eerie-sistible
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Opinion (5)
dedicated to scaring people. Evt’s no secret that I, the self-proeryone knows someone is going to claimed Queen of Halloween, try and scare them on Halloween; am completely and totally in love what’s the point? I’m extremewith the best holiday known to ly creatively challenged when it humankind. comes to pumpkin carving (and I live for perfect pumpkins anyone who isn’t is obviously and spooky skeletons and wicked born a witch). Most costumes are witches. My room is decorated overdone and a waste of money year-round with the most hip Hal(although there are a few exceploween decorations. tions to this.) And do not even My favorite candle scent? get me started Witches’ Brew by on the atrocity Yankee Candle. that is candy There is literally corn. That is nothing better than straight up Halloween. crayon wax, It occurs in the and I refuse to most happenin’ believe otherseason (autumn). wise. Autumn is My defihappenin’ because nition of the morganhobbs & amaleapoulos it’s crisp and cool. word “scary” Not to name any has since shifted from grown men names, but who can actually chasing me with a chainsaw to celebrate a holiday when there’s adults asking me about college two feet of frozen white semiplans. I’m not “anti-festive” -- talk ice (from the devil) covering the to me around the 4th of July and ground? you’ll see that is anything but the It also has the cutest decoracase. It’s not that I “don’t know tions. Forgive me, but who cares how to have fun”. I don’t think about red and green, pastels, or I’m “too cool” for Halloween. I red, pink and white? just know an obnoxiously overratBlack, orange, purple and someed holiday when I see one. times green? Heck yes. According So on Oct. 31, catch me sticking to a scientific study I just made to my usual routine and up, colors typically affiliated with pretending to hand out candy at Halloween are way cuter than any home while I eat every last Twix other colors. I mean come on, it’s in the bowl. scientifically proven!
Listen to the facts. I have a special flame burning for Halloween because, unlike Christmas, you’re not expected to be cheerful 24/7. Sometimes I just want to throw myself a pity party and not be called a humbug. I also consider Christmas to be the general worst because it takes up an entire month and a half (and sometimes more!). This is super hypocritical because I expect everyone to celebrate Halloween year round but because no one listens to me, we can pretend like I’m not trying to make everyone spooky for 365 days a year. For any haters out there, I am on my knees begging you to give Halloween one more chance. Take a single night to watch “Halloweentown,” “Hocus Pocus” or “The Nightmare Before Christmas” and allow the spookiness to seep into your soul. If you’re not into classic films, watch “Beetlejuice” or “Practical Magic.” Try baking some ghost-shaped cookies with your friends. Make DIY pumpkin pillows! The possibilities are endless. I know Halloween can make anyone happy. I’ve accepted my role as Baby Grinch for the months following my beloved Halloween. Until then, I’ll continue daydreaming of ghouls and witches until I, myself, am a spooky skeleton.
Hey guys, it’s not that deep in the journey of self-discovery
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‘it’s not that deep’, and move on. t’s not that deep.” If your Instagram caption is longer than I say it so often that I consider it a three lines, it’s not that deep. mantra. We get it, you shop at Goodwill. I don’t need Every time fall rolls around, the leaves turn orange, the air becomes cold and the drinks are to see a picture of your polyester jacket that’s been put through six pumpkin spiced. different VSCOcam filters. It seems like everyone transforms If you’ve ever held a warm mug from their energized summer selves of coffee in two hands, brought it into an introspective, scarf-clad to your nose and deeply inhaled, poet, staring longingly out a rustic trust me: it’s not that deep. It’s a window as they post yet another cup of coffee that you got from #latteart picture on Instagram. Starbucks, not a Robert Frost Next time you take a break from being Jesse McCartney in the poem. If you don’t shop at Whole “Beautiful Soul” music video, realize Foods because it’s corporate, that it’s not that deep. What is ‘it’, Mull-ing it over with please--I’m begging you--take a you ask? ‘It’ refers to everything, Ellie Mulligan step back and realize that it’s not, but also nothing. nor will it ever be that deep. Zoom out for a moment and If you’ve ever tried to tell someone that your notice that all of your problems are miniscule, if not microscopic. While in the context of your favorite band sounds better on vinyl, it’s time to stop. It will never be that deep. That’s a day-to-day life, your issues all feel like you might die if they aren’t dealt with, it’s healthy promise. There’s nothing wrong with thinking things to sometimes just shrug your shoulders, say
The Network Staff
The Network is a monthly publication of the journalism students at Marian High School, Nebraska’s only Class A Catholic, North Central Accredited college preparatory school for girls. The Network is a member of 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. Opinions expressed on opinion pages do not necessarily represent those of the entire community. Students, faculty, and friends are invited to voice their opinion in Letters to the Editors. All letters must be typed, signed, and sent to this address: The Network, Marian High School, 7400 Military Ave., Omaha, NE 68134 Or emailed to us here: netpaper@omahamarian.org Or call us at 402-571-2618 x 1134 An electronic version of this paper and exclusive content can be found here: mariandigitalnetwork@wordpress.com Follow us on Twitter @MHSbeat Follow us on Instagram @MHSpub Friend us on Snapchat @MHSpub
are deeper than they are, but at some point, you have to realize that making things so incredibly meaningful is draining. There’s no heartwarming moral, no life changing epiphany--some things will just never be as deep as you want them to be, no matter how many filters you add or how many pumps of pumpkin-flavored syrup they put in your drink at Starbucks. I can’t count the number of times I’ve seen my friends get worked up about something trivial, and then after being reminded that it’s not that deep, they were instantly relieved. Accepting the idea that some things are just going to stay the way they are is an integral part of adopting ‘it’s not that deep’ as your lifestyle. I’ve been on a journey of self-discovery called ‘it’s not that deep’, full of putting down the coffee, pulling the curtains on the window and reducing my Instagram captions down to a single emoji. I suggest that we all follow suit, and from time to time, when you get overwhelmed, remind yourself that it’s simply not that deep.
managing editors: carmenmiller & isabelleswanson copy editor: kateschwaller photo editor: amaleapoulos graphics editor: sydneymonahan online editors: susanapettis & briannawessling front page editor: erinwalter news editors: amaleapoulos & sydneymonahan feature editors: emilydoll, susanapettis, ellierommelfanger & briannawessling opinion editors: anahingorani & laurenmayer indepth editor: elliemulligan sports editors: morganhobbs & maddiemingo entertainment editors: emmaherold & nataliekemler photo essay editor: alliemorrissey social media queen: victoriaackermann adviser: marshakalkowski
(6) Feature
The Network (October 2016)
Weight watchers watch their weight drop alliemorrissey
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eturning students saw it while walking in the hallways in the first week of school. Marian’s faculty and staff were looking slimmer and clearly had rocked their summer wardrobe while students were enjoying their sunny, school-free days. Maybe it was just summer’s seasonal fresh foods and good vibes that helped shed a few pounds, but many teachers and staff members had also been participating in a weight loss program all summer. Mrs. Sheri Reynolds coordinates Marian’s wellness group. “I had a couple of teachers come to me and ask, ‘What about Weight Watchers at work?’ I looked into it and found that you have to have 20 people in order to do it. We just didn’t have quite enough interest at that time,” Reynolds said. More and more people shared their interest in the program, and after the holidays were over in early 2015, she pitched Weight Watchers again and more than enough people responded. Weight Watchers is a weight loss program that encourages a healthy lifestyle, but without using a crazy diet. Using a point system, participants track their food, exercise and sleep on an app. There are no preset meals, and it’s up to you if
you want to eat that slice of cake for group stay on track. dessert. Each week, the participating The group has been meeting spo- faculty members meet with a radically for the past three years, Weight Watchers representative in but has had consisthe Marian Room to tent participation weigh in and discuss in 2016. This year their progress (or lack alone, the faculty of it), tips and tricks has participated in and experiences. They a 17-week session celebrate each other’s in the spring, a successes and moti12-week summer vate each other when session and are curthe scale doesn’t move rently in a 12-week or goes up. fall session. “My mom loves “The staff are the Weight Watchers not required to join meetings because of Weight Watchers, the community. It only if they want makes losing weight a to, and Marian bit more fun and easy will pay the for her,” Reyncost of half old’s freshman Watching those numbers drop Miss Ronda of the prodaughter Abby Motykowski weighs in with Marian’s Weight gram if the said. Watchers representative, Ronda Riel. All parstaff member As a school, ticipants track their progress at the beginning the Weight finishes with a certain level of each meeting after school on Tuesdays in Watchers team of participahas lost 619 lbs. the Marian Room. alliemorrissey tion,” Reynsince Septemolds said. ber of 2015, Motivating yourself to live a and Miss Ronda Motykowski, Dean healthy lifestyle can be extremely of Student Affairs, has lost 62 lbs., difficult, but the support system of the most weight of the group. “Ms. the Marian community helps the Rohlfs and Ms. Brusnahan were
worried about me and my health, so when we found out that Marian was going to host a Weight Watchers session, Ms. Rohlfs and I decided that we would do it together to support each other,” Motykowski said. She has gone down four dress sizes in the past year and is still motivated to continue losing weight. “The encouragement we all receive from each other is priceless. So many of us have done [Weight Watchers] outside of Marian and not been successful because we don’t have the network we have here,” Reynolds said. Although it is not a competition, some faculty members form little rivalries to see who can work out the most. “The weight loss is more of an encouragement thing because we want each other to succeed, but there’s a competition between Ms. Hinrichs and I to see who can work out the most. We’re averaging going to Ms. Christen’s Jazzercise class about five times a week,” Motykowski said. With their support and encouragement for each other, the Marian Weight Watchers group is unstoppable, and the numbers on the scale just won’t stop dropping.
What it takes to be a Marian Mom susanapettis
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to the school, faculty and staff, and the girls,” McKillip said. Besides the four to five hours spent at Marian on the day of the salad lunch, McKillip spends several hours the night before prepping taco meat for the next day. Don’t be fooled- Marian Moms is behind far more things going on in the community than just Desserts Galore Ms. Jennifer Maher, mother of Emma taco salad lunches every Maher ’18, sets out fresh desserts for students to pick other Thursday. They are from. Students get a dessert with every Marian Moms involved in post prom, lunch or can purchase one separately. susanapettis Lunch with a Leader, the BLUEtique, Light Night, Grandparents Day, Senior Honors Day, Ice Cream McKillip continues to be proud Social and the Father/Daughter of the wide variety of volunteers and Mother/Daughter stepping up in the Marian commuMass and Breakfast. nity. “I would encourage all parents What everyone really (and even grandparents) to really wants to know is how it try to become involved in some works. capacity with Marian Moms. We A Marian Mom comlike to say we don’t discriminate by mittee meets to elect a gender or age, and have a number president and executive of dads and grandparents who are committee. The presi“regulars”-- and we love that! “ dent then makes sure Dan Determan, who is on his that there is a chairfourth year with Marian Moms, mom for each event and said he has finally been promoted keeps in touch with the and put “officially in charge of the administration to make lemonade.” Lemonade Life Dan Determan, father of Kateri ‘16 sure everything runs One thing both McKillip and and Maria ‘18, and Mike McCawley, grandfather of smoothly. Determan agree on is their favorite Lucy Boever ‘17, fix up lemonade for Marian Moms The diverse group part of Marian Moms— interacting lunch. The cups rapidly disappear off of the table. includes moms, grandwith their daughters. susanapettis parents, and of course, “I have lots of ‘favorites’--getdads. veryone can immediately tell when it is Marian Moms by the smell of taco salad wafting through the hallways and the extensive amount of smiles waiting for students in the lunchroom. Marian Moms has become an important tradition for students and staff alike. But the real question is: what does it take to be a Marian Mom? For mothers like Tracy McKillip, who has been involved with Marian Moms since 2001, it takes time, commitment, and 12 to 15 pounds of taco meat. “My favorite part of Marian Moms is that it gives all moms, dads, grandparents, older siblings, and alums a chance to be part of the everyday life at Marian. It can allow us to see our girls in ‘their natural habitat,’ while at the same time providing significant support
ting to see my daughter(s) at school in the middle of the day, helping out with an “event” at Marian that everyone looks forward to, hearing so many thank yous from the students and of course the Taco Salad lunch that we get to enjoy afterwards,” Determan said. Marian Moms is a fun experience not only for the students who race to the cafeteria for the coveted lunch, but for the parents. They get to interact with their daughters and other Marian students in their natural environments plus, who doesn’t love a good taco salad lunch?
The Network (October 2016)
Feature (7)
Saturday School secrets exposed emmaherold
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aturday School: a mystery to many and dreaded by all. “I would probably cry if I was at Saturday School,” an anonymous freshman admitted. As a punishment for getting 10 disciplinary points, Marian has a detention that takes place on Saturday, called
Saturday School. Once a student receives 10 points, she and her parents are invited to attend a meeting of the Review Board. The student is assigned five hours of Saturday School, held on selected Saturdays. The teacher proctors get paid an extra $100 for supervising Saturday School. The student gets to wake up bright and early, put on her uniform and get to school before 7 a.m. That almost sounds like a regular school day. While many students imagine the 5-hour Saturday School as comparable to “The Breakfast Club,” students disclosed that they cleaned, painted, wrote out part of the handbook or dictionary, picked weeds
and even swept out dead Japanese beetles from a back room in the library. Several shared that they also ate ice cream. Students responded with different attitudes toward Saturday School. Some said it was “terrible,” while some “heard that it was fun.” A lot of factors go into Saturday School, and the experience can depend on the time of year. The student may get to paint cabinets in the art room or sweep under the bleachers. “I’ve had my fair share of Saturday schools. We do some work, but for the rest of the time we just sit there and eat. It’s pretty chill. I’ve made a lot of friends there,” an anonymous senior said. Many students at Saturday School have received their points for various minor infractions such as uniform violations, talking out of turn and eating in class. “It is considered a 5-hour detention that involves the student putting in service to her school,” Ms. Ronda Motykowski, Dean of Student Affairs, said. “This hap-
Saturday school or prison? An anonymous senior models an “inmate” shirt worn by the senior team at the Gnimocemoh volleyball game. amaleapoulos pens after 10 points, and again at 20 points, which is 10 hours that need to be served,” she said. Whether the student enjoys Saturday School or not, most would agree that there are better things to do on a Saturday morning. As long as your points are low, Saturday school is avoidable.
Students break out the camo for Gnimocemoh 1
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Gnimocemoh was held on Oct. 14 and organized by the senior class officers. “We all voted between the camo theme and a Christmas theme, but the camo theme reigned victorious,” senior class officer Brenna Morris said. Each day of the week each had its own theme as well. Monday was What Not to Wear, Tuesday was Sports Team, Wednesday was Hawaiian, Thursday was American and Friday was the much-coveted Dad Day. “My favorite part of Gnimocemoh week was Dad Day because it was fun to dress up and see all of my classmates dressed up as well,” Katrina Palmer ’20 said. Caijah Anderson ‘20 (1), Kira Bravo ‘19 (2), Emma Farhart ‘18, Kate Bilyeu ‘18, Olivia Tate ‘18 (3), seniors (4) and Margaret Mullen ‘18 (5) can’t disguise their excitement as they dance. alliemorrissey
(8) In Depth
The Network
In Depth (9)
(October 2016)
Apple Demo demolished
How the headphone jack got jacked
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he release of the iPhone 7 on Sept. 7, 2016 has caused both eye rolls and the emptying of wallets. The cause of such reactions is the phones’ lack of a headphone jack, which was once a feature expected to be on every phone. The headphone jack, which is a phone connector primarily used for audio devices, is commonly used to listen to music through headphones or an auxiliary cord that connects the phone to a car’s stereo. Apple is selling wireless headphones in place of their $649 phones’ jacks, which has led to widespread backlash. Some people find the wireless headphones, which are called AirPods, to be just another way for Apple to con consumers out of their money. “It is ridiculous that they expect people to spend more money for another device to plug in their headphones,” junior Katherine Martin said. Although Apple product owners have shown concern with the new phone, Apple
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Laptop or iPad? Marian girls weigh in
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arian girls will often face several ultimatums during the day. The most important of these is most likely the great debate between cookies and ice cream at lunch (to which most will probably opt for the happy compromise of the cookie sundae). A close second to this is whether to sport a school-issued iPad or a laptop. There are many pros and cons to both laptops and iPads. Most girls opt for the laptop option because of the convenience that a built-in keyboard can bring. This makes it a lot easier to type papers, which, as a Marian student, can be a very influential factor. However, keyboards are available that can sync with your iPad via Bluetooth, which
makes the iPad paper process a lot smoother. Aside from this, a lot of girls appreciate the easy website accessibility of laptops. Numerous sites require a separate mobile version to function correctly on the iPad, which can be an additional burden. On top of all of this, iPads are more portable than laptops. Some girls have chosen to go with iPads simply because that’s what Marian issued them and they don’t own a personal laptop. Others prefer their own laptops, citing the easy-to-use physical keyboards and simple organization. No matter if you’re #teamiPad or #teamlaptop, it’s clear that Marian girls have resources to excellent technology on their hands.
pple has been quality might burn bragging about your house down, but their new iPhone 7, it makes a cool party which contains hip trick. new features such as In all honesty, removing one of the most important element of a phone: the headphone jack. But the Samsung Galaxy s7 one-upped them and created a new feature that’s innovative and will light up your world! It’s called“The column by laurenmayer Survival Feature”. The best part is every phone has their that it’s fun and easy ups and downs. to use! Some have little All you have to do water resistance, is turn your phone on, crack easily or set it down and then explode. The Samsung it’ll start a fire for you! Galaxy s7 was This is a more released on Sept. 2 organic and natuand everyone was ral way to produce confident it would be light, so ditch your a hit and it was! old, rusty, environMillions of ment-killing flashpeople bought this light. new phone, which Just be careful only burned its brand because this quirky even more.
People commented on its superb display and polished design. But after 35 reported cases of the phone overheating and even exploding, the phone was recalled. They claimed the cause of the combustion was the “battery management system.” It’s the thing in your phone that tells the electrical current to stop once the battery is fully charged. If one part of the system is faulty, the battery will overcharge. Remember when the infamous hover boards were bursting into flames? Well, this is something like that. Both the hoverboards and the phones use lithium batteries. Once this flammable liquid quickly heats up, it explodes. I guess you could say, this phone is...lit.
graphic by erinwalter & elliemulligan
Samsung brings the heat
morganhobbs
graphic by elliemulligan
Jack Black photo source hdpics.co
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graphic by sydneymonahan & elliemulligan
was intended to make setting up the ipads easier for Billy, Mrs. Jane Campbell and the TARs, not create another internet access point for students. “Apple devices, by default, will automatically connect to a network named Apple Demo if it is an open network. “This is a method that was used by Apple in their retail stores to provide a seamless experience to their customers setting up their new devices. “This way, customers wouldn’t need to enter a wifi password,” Deibler said. In terms of Marian, this way everyone wouldn’t need to worry about entering in the mhs student password right away. Although the main wifi networks not working is a pain for everyone, Deibler wants to stress to students not to use Apple Demo. “Students should NOT be connecting to this network,” Deibler said. “The goal is that their devices will all be on MHS network.” Apple Demo will be shut down sometime this month, so until then, stay off of Apple Demo!
emilydoll
graphic by elliemulligan
anahingorani t should come as no surprise to anyone at Marian that the main student wifi network, mhs student, tends to get a little overworked at times. Who can blame it, when it has 699 ipads currently connected to it? On the occasion that the wifi isn’t working, most students’ first instinct is to head to the wifi selection menu under settings to try to connect to another network. There, you would find mhs student, mhs staff, Visitor and Apple Demo. As one might imagine, mhs student is for student use, mhs staff is for staff use, and Visitor is for, well, visitors, along with students who choose to bring in more than one device, for example, laptops and phones. But what about Apple Demo? According to technology specialist Billy Deibler, “The Apple Demo network was originally meant to be open for a period of time for enrolling new iPads into our iPad management system (hundreds of iPads at a time) and then closed.” In other words, Apple Demo
representatives have shown faith in their new design. “At first, I was confused about what I was going to do with the auxiliary cord, but then, I figured out how to work the Bluetooth feature on my car. Then, it wasn’t that big of a deal anymore,” senior Maggie Dowd said. Some people have looked past the lack of headphone jack and focus on the phones’ new features. “I was upset about the lack of a headphone jack at first because I thought it would be an inconvenience. However, my friends have purchased the new iPhone and seem to be unbothered by it, so I have now taken it into consideration. The new iPhone seems to offer many more amenities, so I suppose that they could make up for the fact it does not have a headphone jack,” sophomore Olivia Hess said. “Many people oppose the direction that technology is progressing towards, but I think that it may be inevitable: the future just might be wireless,” freshman Chiara Wallen said.
(10) Feature
The Network (October 2016)
Father-Daughter Mass: sharing faith with fathers “I anahingorani
’m tired.” tween a daughter and stronger as she gets “Hi tired, I’m her father. older. Jim.” “This bond that we “I have seen my “Why can’t a nose be share with our dads relationship with my 12 inches long?” is something very dad flourish not only “Because then it unique,” Baysa said. from my time here at would be a foot.” “My dad has played a Marian, but ever since “Why did the belt vital role in shaping I was little, and I know get arrested?” me into the person I it is something that “Because he held up am today, and I am will only grow stronger the pants.” so proud to call him as I go off to college,” No one can deny my father. So think Baysa said. that they love a good about everything your After Mass, fathers dad joke, and on Oct. dad has done for you, and daughters alike 9 at 9 a.m., enjoyed a delithere was no cious breakfast. This bond that we shortage of “I always have a these jokes lot of fun at this share with our dads at the 2016 event,” Senior Father-Daugh- is something very Sarah McMeen’s ter Mass and father, Jason Mcunique.” Breakfast. Meen, said, “I love Kaitlyn Baysa ’17 getting to spend Almost 200 Marian time with Sarah, girls and their fathers everything he has sacand Marian never fails gathered at this event rificed for you through- to do a fantastic job.” at the Scott Conferout the years, thank The breakfast was ence Center building him and tell him you planned by a commiton the UNO campus. love him.” tee of Marian Moms, Even Principal Mrs. The theme of the and the mass was Susie Sullivan brought mass, Flourishing planned by the campus along her dad, Richard Together, was evident ministers and the Faith Spethman. throughout the entirety in Action Core Team. Senior Kaitlyn Baysa of the event, especially The committee and her father kicked when Baysa touched worked hard to put off the mass, each with on how she knows her together a enjoyable a reflection about the relationship with her Mass for both fathers special relationship be- father will only grow and daughters.
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Flourishing with fathers Kaitlyn Baysa ’17 serves as an Extraordinary Min-
ister of the Holy Eucharist to Marian dads at the 2016 Father-Daughter Mass. The mass was organized by Campus Ministry and the Faith in Action Core Team. anahingorani
Dads and danishes
Hundreds of Marian students and their fathers attended the mass on Sunday, Oct. 9. Dads and daughters enjoyed a delicious breakfast after Mass. anahingorani
PSAT testing pays off for students carmenmiller
Katie Williams
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eing a part of the National Merit Scholarship Program is one of the highest honors a student can receive. The candidates are selected based off of their PSAT scores, and approximately five percent of students nationwide receive the Commended Student title, and less than one percent receive Semifinalist. On Oct. 18, Marian announced that seniors Katie Williams and Isabelle Swanson received National Merit Semifinalist honors, and senior Lily Foley and former student Ione Enderez (who currently attends Cebu Doctor’s University in Mandaue, Philippines) received Commended Student status. During their time at Marian, these girls have worked incredibly hard to prepare themselves to reach these national titles. In order to receive Finalist titles, students have to go through another series of hoops. Those who qualify will be notified in early February.
Favorite studying snack: Greek yogurt Favorite class taken at Marian: Government College major (pending): Biology
Isabelle Swanson
Favorite studying snack: Jumbo chocolate chip muffins Favorite class taken at Marian: Spanish IV, English Language and Composition College major (pending): Data Analytics
Favorite methods of studying: Quizlet, studying in 25 minute blocks Dream colleges: MIT, Vanderbilt, Texas A&M Extracurricular activities: Newspaper, Engineering Club, Marian Academic Competition Club,
Lily Foley
Favorite methods of studying: Reading and re-reading the text Dream colleges: Notre Dame, UNL Extracurricular activities: Tennis, Trap, Campus Ministry, Engineering Club
Ione Enderez
Favorite methods of studying: Reading the text once before going back and highlighting/taking notes Dream college: Cebu Doctor’s University Extracurricular activities: Fall musical, Worship Choir, French Club, Recruitment Team
Favorite studying snack: Puppy chow Favorite class taken at Marian: Calculus BC, Chemistry College major (pending): Bio-medical Engineering
photo courtesy of Ione Enderez
Favorite methods of studying: Reading and highlighting the text book Dream college: Stanford University Extracurricular activities: Cross country, Track, Band, Science Club, Campus Ministry
Favorite studying snack: Skinny Pop, the occasional Snickers bar Favorite class taken at Marian: Sociology College major: Nursing with a pre-medical track
The Network (October 2016)
Feature (11)
In October, we wear pink:
Survivors, family, friends come together to race for the cure sydneymonahan
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ancer is a word no one ever wants to hear, but it needs to be talked about. According to breastcancer.org, one in eight women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime. To put that in perspective, about 85 current Marian girls will develop breast cancer in their lifetime. Attending an all girls school like Marian increases the chances of students being effected in some way by breast cancer. Even if a woman is never diagnosed, there is a huge chance breast cancer will drastically change her life in some way. Senior Nikki Rhoades found out that her mom had breast cancer earlier this year, “Marian was helpful with dealing with breast cancer because I had students and teachers reach out to support my family and lots of people were praying for my family,” Rhoades said. October is breast cancer awareness month, and there are many ways to get involved. Something as small as buying products from a business that supports fundraising for the cure can make a huge impact. For example, Hy-Vee is currently selling a re-usable grocery bag and $.50 per bag will be donated to breast cancer awareness and research. It is not necessary as a teenager
to get a mammogram, but encourage relatives to get screened. At this age, self examinations are a good way to be mindful of breast cancer without being too stressed about it. Breast cancer is uncommon at a young age, but doctors recommend self examinations because the earlier breast cancer is found the easier it is to treat. To find more information about how to self examine a breast for cancer visit nationalOn your marks, get set, go! Friends, families and survivors line up to begin the Race for the Cure breastcancer. on Oct. 9. The event was held at the Baxter Arena and participants ran around Stinson Park. org. If anysydneymonahan thing suspicious is found ed the 5k with her mom, who is a Kathleen Winkelbauer said. immediately breast cancer survivor. Having a strong woman figure contact your doctor for further “My favorite part of the race to inspire and motivate is importinstruction. was when my mom crossed the ant to the development of young Another way students finish line and was handed a pink women. Women who have battled supported the cause was flower. She turned to me and this disease are perfect examples through the Nebraska hugged me and told me she loved of courageous role models. Race for the Cure hosted me. It does not seem like a big Cancer isn’t going anywhere by the national foundadeal, but I do not know where I anytime soon. That is why people tion Susan G Komen. The band together to support each race happened the morning of Oct. would be without her today, and I’m so glad she is still with me other and raise money for research 9 and as of Oct.12, the Omaha race today,” Winkelbauer said. through events like Race for the has raised $241,136 and is consid“I am a seven year survivor and Cure. ered to be successful. I walk for those who can’t walk Although October is coming The money fundraised will go for themselves, whether they lost to a close, that doesn’t mean that towards breast cancer education, their battle with breast cancer or cancer awareness and fundraising screening and treatment. Sophoare still fighting their battle,” Mrs. has to as well. more Abby Winkelbauer complet-
Marian Momentum hopes to gain momentum through new fundraising program emilydoll
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ot only are Marfor who can sell the ian Momentum most. The organization show choir members aspect will be handled motivated on stage, by FundraisingU, makbut they are also moing it much easier on tivated to fundraise. students and As Marian Momenactivity moderators. tum is preparing for This will hopefully also its second season, the eliminate any overlap girls are fundraising in fundraising between for the show choir’s groups,” Morrissey equipment, costumes, said. competition fees and Last year, during other necessary the show choir’s first payments. The group official season, Mariis raising funds an Momentum raised through Fundraisinfunds by selling tumgU, which is a compabler mugs, homemade ny that specializes in pizzas and baked organizing fundraisgoods. Their previous Sing it out! Momentum members Scarlett Wedergren ’20, Rachael Brich ’18, ers. Kaci Kirchhoefer ’18, Colby Lemkau ’18, Katrina Boesch ’20 and Lauren Zada- fundraising methods Throughout the lis ’20 practice in preparation for competitions, which start in January. emilydoll showed great results, but year, Marian Momenraising money through experience. I love being a to execute these fundraistum members will FundraisingU will likely part of Momentum, and ers. be selling various items be more beneficial to indi“Since Marian girls are ranging from coupon cards, fundraising will help us vidual members. involved in so many activipopcorn, cookie dough and become an even greater This new process will team,” freshman Lauren ties that need fundraising, tumbler mugs. The show help all participants, we hope FundraisingU choir has even coordinated Zadalis said. including students that Spokespeople from both makes the process easier with Under Armour to sell partake in more than one FundraisingU and Under for students. Each sale will Marian Momentum apparactivity that fundraises Armour will help Ms. only last a week or two, and throughout the year, such el. Lauren Morrissey, the there are incentives “I’m super excited, and as Marian Cheer and Marishow choir’s new director, provided by FundraisingU it’ll be a great bonding an’s Speech Team.
Instead of the girls raising funds for one activity at a time, the girls now put their raised money towards all of their activities’ funds as a whole. The cost of each activity that a girl is involved in is combined so that girls can raise funds all at once and not worry about tracking each activity’s raised money separately. “Momentum is looking to have an amazing second year of competitions, and we appreciate all of the support we receive from the Marian community. We plan on making some apparel available to everyone as well, so everyone can have some cool Momentum shirts to wear when they come to support us at our competitions,” Morrissey said. Whether it be practicing for hours on end or pulling together to sell popcorn, Marian Momentum has proven that they know how to work together as a team.
(12) Sports
The Network (October 2016)
Trap Team trapped in a tight spot, safety top priority T maddiemingo
rap team members hit their targets both on ing an odd scene of transferring guns off camanywhere from $1,000 to $30,000.” and off the range. They crush flying clays pus, Marian girls have come up with a number Another factor that prevents students from from 25 yards away and ensure gun safety of ways to adhere to the law. “Sometimes I leaving their guns locked up is that shooters while still having fun. will carpool with a friend need to rehearse muscle memory. “Besides Recent success for the and drop my gun off at her practice, I do stationary drills at my house like team at State last year house the night before. That gun mounts,” senior trap member Lily Foley and meets last spring way, her parents can bring said. “I put black dots on sticky notes and hang has drawn attention it with them when they them on my wall to act as targets. Then, I put from fans, as well as drive us to practice,” freshpieces of tape on my floor to stand behind and shone a light on an man shooter Anna Feldman I practice shooting. In 20 minutes, I can do obstacle the shooters said. “Otherwise, I normally about 100.” face. Marian, along go home and get it, then go Marian enforces its “no guns on campus” with all other Nebrasto practice.” policy not simply to adhere to the law, but also ka high schools, has a Along the same lines, to ensure the safety of its students. People with “no guns on campus” one of the assistant coaches ill-intent may search out trap shooters with protocol, which is has offered to help chaufthe hopes of finding a gun, but the Nebraska Crushing clays Anna Feldman ’20 and Sarah intended to adhere to feur the guns for the girls. Revised Statute prevents them from finding Villarreal ’17 exchange a fist pump while shoota statewide law and He keeps the guns during anything on school campuses. ing.The two shot together during handicaps at protect students from the day and returns them at Trap team members fully understand the potentially dangerous practice. maddiemingo practice. seriousness of safety. It is ingrained in their situations, not make While these methods minds from the moment they first touch a gun life more difficult for the trap team. At Marian, seem to work, some students will ask, “Why not at practice. “We go over safety regulations at safety is a definite priority. leave the guns at the trap range? Isn’t there a the beginning of the season and periodically According to a Nebraska Revised Statute, all way to lock them up somehow and leave them throughout [the rest of] the season,” Feldman schools across the state must abide to certain there?” As great as the idea sounds, leaving said. “Our guns are always open and pointed in firearm laws. One such law states, “Any person guns at the trap range looks a safe direction until it is our turn who possesses a firearm in a school, on school much better on paper than in to shoot, and we all are required grounds, in a school-owned vehicle, or at a action. Leaving the guns after to wear eye and ear protection on school-sponsored event is guilty of the offense practice is a liability to the trap the line. The coaches want us to of unlawful possession of a firearm at a school. range, and many ranges do have fun, but safety is always the Unlawful possession of a firearm at a school not want the responsibility of top priority.” is a Class IV felony,”(Nebraska Revised Statwatching over such significant For Marian shooters, guns are ute, Chapter 28 Section 1204.04). Thankfully, investments. “Some students tools, not weapons. All of the polMarian is aware of this rule and has informed guns cost more than their icies and laws regarding firearms trap team members of it to avoid any arrests. cars,” Mrs. Sharon Genoways, are set in place not to inconveSkeet Shooters From left to Unfortunately, though, this law puts a burden Moderator of the trap team, nience trap shooters per se, but to right: Tyra Carstens ’18, Elizaon the shooters, as they need their guns after said. “I have seen some shootbeth Krejci ’17, Sarah Villarreal ensure safety. Under all circumschool for practice. ers with $20,000-$25,000 stances, Marian holds safety as a ’17, Samantha Tracy ’19. Without bringing guns on campus or creatguns; the price range can be definite priority. maddiemingo
Golfers sink their shots at State
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s cold winds froze their fingers, and an icy mist coated their clubs, Marian golfers competed in the NSAA Girls Golf Championship on Oct. 10 and 11. The meet took place at the Norfolk Country Club in Norfolk, Nebraska, and the team placed fifth out of 12 teams. Individual medals included senior Grace McMinn in ninth place and sophomore Jalea Culliver in 18th place. While conditions were tough, the golfers gave their all, and ended the season on a positive note. “I played how I knew I could,” McMinn said. “My regular season had a rough ending, but I kept working hard and it all paid off at State.” “I had a really really good two days [at State]!” senior golfer
All smiles The team huddles together
after the last hole at State on Oct. 10 and 11. They placed fifth out 12 teams. From left to right: Ms. Connie Cavel, Grace McMinn ’17, Mia Soulliere ’18, Jalea Culliver ’19, Isabelle Swanson ’17, Mary Neppl ’19 and Coach Robert Davis. Photo courtesy of Amy Swanson.
Isabelle Swanson said. “Usually, hole six is the bane of my existence because I always hit the ball out of bounds to the right, but at State I kept the ball in bounds and scored my personal best. I just needed to believe in myself and enjoy the good shots; things went so much better when I did.” Overall, Coach Robert Davis is pleased with how the team fared and competed throughout the whole season. “Grace McMinn and Jalea Culliver played some exceptional golf, and often beat all of the other schools’ top two golfers. Mary Neppl had a breakthrough season, ending the year by consistently shooting in the mid-90s, and Mia Soulliere gained valuable Varsity experience for next year, when she will be our only senior on the team.” This season ended well for the golfers, and next season looks just as bright. Three of the five State team members will be returning for next season and carrying a great deal of experience from their time at State this year. “We have some amazing seniors on the team and it will be hard losing them next season,” Soulliere said. “However, we have some really hard workers on the team and I think that for myself and the sophomores on the team, State was a good opportunity to set goals for ourselves to work towards next season,” she said.
Team unity leads to success at state nataliekemler
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lthough cross country is deemed by many to be an “individual sport,” Marian’s cross country team shows otherwise. Senior Katie Williams named two important aspects of a team—trust and respect— when she addressed the school in regard to the state cross country meet. The cross country team is one of the best examples of teamwork as a result of those two components here at Marian. Multiple teammates showed up (with a sign and a cookie cake) to cheer on their teammates who ran in the state competition in Kearney. “It’s important for me to support my team because we are all
teammates and it wouldn’t really be fair for them to make State and then have no one there to cheer for them. It’s just nice to support our teammates because they supported us,” junior Anna Mikulicz, one of the teammates who attended the state meet, said. Marian runners who competed in State were freshmen Tatum Lundgren and Brooke Wigdahl, sophomores Sarah Anderson, Emma Boever and Katherine Pelton, and seniors Katie Williams and Claire Janecek. Overall, Marian placed eighth out of 12 teams in the 2016 Girls Class A State Cross Country Meet.
State Cross Country Results from Kearney, October 21, 2016 Class A Girls Race Marian 8th of 12 teams
Pre-race embrace Before the
race, Claire Janecek ’17 holds her arms open to embrace her teammate. Anna Mikulicz ’18, Lauren Philips ’19, Carolyn Griffin ’19, and Abigail McGill ’19, came to support their teammate. nataliekemler
Individual Runners Brooke Wigdahl ’20 29th Emma Boever ’19 45th Katherine Pelton ’19 47th Katie Williams ’17 49th Claire Janecek ’17 75th Tatum Lundgren ’20 79th Sarah Anderson ’19 89th out of 99 runners
The Network (October 2016)
Sports (13)
Student managers manage students, details for coaches isabelleswanson
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ountless hours of practice go into preparing for each game, tournament and match. While athletes are spiking, dribbling, hitting, throwing, kicking, running and diving, many others are running around behind the scenes to do tasks that improve the experience of many athletes. Student managers help by taking care of details so athletes and coaches are free to focus on other tasks, knowing whatever is asked of the student managers will be done well. The volleyball student managers, seniors Mia LaHood and Maria Gallegos, attend every practice and game. “We shag balls and keep scores and do anything any of the coaches ask me to do. I also go to every game and tournament and keep statistics for the team,” Gallegos said. One of the reasons LaHood and Gallegos decided to be student
managers was tell them that as because it’s senior long as you’re Mary Wolfe’s last doing your best, year of volleyball. that’s all you can “We thought it do,” Davis said. would be fun to The softball spend her last year team benefited with her!” Galfrom senior stulegos said. dent manager Jen Last basketball Novotny’s work season, Julia Nulty this season. No‘16 and McKenna votny input game Simpson ‘16 were Stats and Smiles Senior student volley- data into Gathe student manag- ball managers Maria Gallegos and Mia meChanger, which ers for the varsity allowed fans to LaHood laugh while keeping stats at a basketball team, follow live updates match at Westside. Marian received third and current senior from their phones. Eryan Davis was place in the Westside Invite. When she wasn’t isabelleswanson the student managlogging stats, she er for the junior varsity basketball cheered from the dugout. “Every team. game I would try to cheer so loud Part of Davis’s duties were to that my voice was at least a little make sure the team’s spirits were bit hoarse. Every game was fun always high. “I would encourage to attend and I loved being team them in the locker room. I would manager!” Novotny said.
Since the cross country team has three coaches, varsity coach Mr. Roger Wright and assistant coaches Mr. Greg Golka and Mrs. Alee Cotton, the team does not have a student manager this year. Golf is in a similar situation, as varsity coach Mr. Robert Davis and assistant coach Ms. Connie Cavel share duties. Juggling all these responsibilities isn’t always glamorous. “At a tournament in Lincoln, the second set of a game was just about to start and my nose started profusely bleeding. I was in the bathroom for a whole set, so I didn’t get any stats and I came back and it was all over my folder and now everyone knows it is my folder,” Gallegos said. Despite these challenges and bloody noses, student managers can be seen at every practice, faithfully shagging balls, keeping score and keeping spirits up.
Softball proves everyone Sisters set each other up for wrong by competing at state success victoriaackermann
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nother year is in the books emotional milestone for senior for the varsity softball team. outfielder Kelly Gehring. GehAfter winning state last year, the ring hit her first ever home-run, a Crusaders returned to the state grand slam, in the bottom of the tournament in Hastings looking fourth inning to bring the score to for another big win. “This year 5-7 and teared up while rounding was different because we had a the bases. Although the game condifferent approach. We lost a lot cluded in a 6-14 loss, the Crusadof talented players last year, so we ers stayed positive. “Even though had to go about things a new way. we lost, we still didn’t give up at Instead of looking at the tournaall. We could’ve given in and just ment as a whole, we took it one got run-ruled but we stuck it out game at and fought a time,” through senior the entire outfielder game,” VilMelissa lotta said. Geis said. The team The No.7 then went ranked back to Crusaders their hotel started off and rested their state up for the journey next day. on Oct. 12 Rejuvewith an nated from exciting 6-1 a good win against night’s Millard sleep, West. “My the team favorite continued moment One down, two to go The infielders of the Marian soft- their tourfrom State nament ball team meet together on the pitcher’s mound after was the run the recording the first out in their game against Lincoln game we following played Mil- East on Oct. 13 in Hastings. The team finished tied for day. Being lard West... fifth at the state tournament. Photo courtesy of Becca down one we got the Willams. game, the last out Crusaders and I looked over at my coaches faced elimination against No.8 and team in the dugout and every- Lincoln East. After a hard-fought one was really excited,” freshman battle, the Crusaders lost, 0-10. first baseman Tory Villotta said. Despite the difficult ending, the The upset against the no.2 ranked Crusaders look back on the tournateam gave the Crusaders a new ment with positivity. “The toursource of energy. nament was definitely a learning The excitement did not stop experience, and I’m confident that there. The Crusaders then went on we’ll come back better and more to play No.6 Millard South later prepared next year,” junior third that night. The game brought an baseman Cammy Gregor said.
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veryone knows that volleyball who really compared the two of us is a team sport, but it is a fami- were my parents, but other than ly sport as well. that it was never too big of a deal,” Two of the varsity starters this Mary said. year, junior Lily Heim and senior When it comes to collegiate Mary Wolfe, are following in their volleyball, Mary will follow in her sisters’ footsteps by leading the sister’s steps by committing to play team to a successful season. Their at the University of older sisters, Maggie Heim ’13 and Nebraska-Kearney, which is the Annie Wolfe ’13, played both high same school where her sister curschool and club volleyball togethrently plays. Mary carefully mulled er, which inspired their younger over her sister’s advice when maksisters to ing this decision. “She take up the would always sport. tell me to not “I would feel pressure usually go when deciding to every where I want game and to play,” Mary be in awe about said. “She really how good they emphasized that were. [Mary] I should play and I also where I want to watched our play, not where sisters play our parents club volleyball want me to together, so play.” we have been Inheriting Maggie Heim ’13 friends for a your sister’s long time,” Lily role on the team said. has its pros and This year, Maggie had some cons, but one of the biggest perks difficulties returning that favor to being a legacy is always having to her sister. She attends Ohio someone to turn to who has been State University, so making the in the exact same position that you 12-hour drive to Omaha to watch are currently in. her successor play is no easy task. “One piece of advice that I “Unfortunately, I only get to watch always give her is remember that Lils play once or twice a year, but your legacy is not about stats or I actually got to watch her play honors; it is about the person you last weekend at a Lincoln tournabecome in the process. So, be the ment. I snuck away right before last one in the gym getting reps afour Nebraska match and uber’d to ter your teammates have left, give Lincoln Northeast to watch her,” the freshman a ride to practice and Maggie said. talk to the young fan in the stands One of the hardest parts of being decked out in Marian gear at the an heir to a volleyball throne is match. Do little things with great being compared to your sister. purpose, and always be grateful for Luckily for Mary, she was rarely the gift God has given you,” Magequated to Annie. “The only people gie said.
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Remember that your legacy is not about stats or honors; it is about the person you become in the process...Do little things with a great purpose and always be grateful for the gift God has given you.”
(14) Entertainment
The Network (October 2016)
DJ Hot Boy, the man behind the turn tables
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e’s known for lighting up the Eve party. The energy the crowd floor (literally) at Marian produced that night gave DJ Hot dances and for rocking the airBoy a rush he had never experiwaves on Power 106.9, but after 15 enced before. “I knew that I was years, DJ Hot Boy supposed is finally hanging to be a DJ,” up the headHot Boy phones. said. “I’ve learned DJ Hot that all things Boy’s Marmust come to an ian career end; it is an inevbegan as a itable part of the miraculous cycle of existence. accident. All things must “The DJ conclude,” Hot that was Boy said. supposed As most kids, to DJ the DJ Hot Boy grew event had up loving music. booked “I was the kid two events DJ Hot Boy heats the beats in school who at the Most recently, DJ Hot Boy DJed at collected music,” same time, Marian’s Welcome Dance on Sept.16. Hot Boy said. and he asked emilydoll His passion me if I would became a career do it.” But during his senior year of high that mistake sparked a rocking school when he had the opportuni- relationship between the DJ and ty to DJ his older sister’s New Year’s Marian. “Every [Marian] dance is
extremely special to me. I’ve done so many schools, but I can say with all honesty that Marian is by far my favorite school to play,” Hot Boy said. He credits Marian for assisting in shaping his career as a DJ. After serving the community through events such as fundraising for childhood cancer and organ-
izing a safe, free trick or treating event for metro kids, he is giving back by joining the Omaha Police Department. Hot Boy will miss people approaching him to talk about an event that they remember. “That tells me I gave them an experience. That’s all I’ve wanted to do, and I will miss that the most.”
A letter from DJ Hot Boy Dear Marian, I want to end this by saying THANK YOU! Thank you for the memories. Thank you for giving me a chance. Thank you for always showing up. Thank you for making me the DJ that I am. If I NEVER spin another record, I am honored to say that my LAST event was at Omaha Marian High School. THANK YOU!!! Sincerely, DJ Hot Boy
‘Harry Potter and the Spellbound by Cursed Child’ isn’t cursed Spielbound Cafe New play continues magical tradition of Harry Potter amaleapoulos
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s an avid Harry Potter fan, I was skeptical about reading “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.” I love Harry Potter, and I was worried that a new book with different characters would tarnish my view of the series. Boy, was I worried for nothing. “Cursed Child” is a play, meaning the book is actually the script. The playwright Jack Thorne based the production off of an original story he wrote with J.K. Rowling and John Tiffany, a Tony award winning theatre director. The book was released on July 31, 2016. The dialogue was captivating; I found it impossible to put the book down, I read its entire 308 pages in under 10 hours. Although the book is written as a script, the transcript doesn’t skimp on any particulars; the stage directions provide enough details to see the whole picture. The story focuses on the dysfunctional relationship between Harry and his middle child, Albus. It deals with the passage of time and how one bad decision can turn the world upside down. As with any other coming-of-age story, there is a dark villain (with a bit of a twist).
Some of the most satisfying parts in the book are the exchanges between lifelong friends Harry, Hermione and Ron. Harry, now the Head of Magical Law Enforcement for the Ministry of Magic, often works side by side with Minister for Magic Hermione Granger. Ron visits the pair when he’s not busy with Weasley’s Wizarding Wheezes. Harry and Ginny have three kids: James, Albus, and Lily. Ron and Herkateschwaller mione have two: Rose and Hugo. The families often work together and it is reminiscent of the original novels. “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” didn’t fall flat compared to the original novels. It’s the perfect story to read while enjoying a Butterbeer-inspired latte from Spielbound.
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othing goes better together than a board game and a nice cup of coffee. You can get the best of both worlds at Spielbound Board Game Cafe, located at the intersection of 33rd Street and Harney. The shop opened in 2013. You can order a coffee and rent a few board games, and stay for a while. Parking is available along the streets near the shop. If you’re ever looking for a place to spend a few hours on a rainy afternoon, Spielbound would be my first recommendation. It is the perfect place to sit and enjoy a coffee and a book, or join some friends for a board game or two. They have any
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board game one could imagine, from Jenga to Clue, and more. To play their games, you need a membership or a $5 day pass. The atmosphere inside the shop was extremely welcoming, and the employees were quite polite and courteous. When I walked in, the barista instantly recommended a Butterbeer inspired latte to match the book I was carrying, “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.” She whipped me up a 16-ounce caramel vanilla latte with butterscotch froth for $4.90. I settled into a booth, enjoying the quiet music and the relaxing atmosphere. The sweetness of the butterscotch combatted the bitter undertones of the espresso, blended together into a perfectly balanced drink. As I sipped the latte that let off the soothing aroma of freshly brewed coffee, I perused the shop. The menu consisted of a plethora of drinks, for coffee lovers and haters alike, from hot cocoa and chai tea to lattes and a coffee of the day. After about an hour spent in the cafe, I emerged again into the bustling downtown area, feeling perfectly content with my visit. I have plans to go back in the near future and further explore the adjoining library, and enjoy another hot cup of coffee.
The Network (October 2016)
Entertainment (15)
Singin’ in the Rain: a downpour of talent laurenmayer
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ome may not associate singit includes singing, dancing and ing with the weather, or the an engaging story. When the weather with singing. However, students signed up to audition, this is not about KETV weaththey knew that they’d have to erman Bill Randby’s forecast turn school time into musical for the week, it’s about Maritime. They spent not two days, an’s fall musical, “Singin’ in the not two weeks, but two months Rain.” rehearsing, memorizing lines, This story revolves around learning the dances and finding characters such as Lina Lamthat perfect pitch. ont, Don Lockwood, Cosmo “In past productions, I’ve Brown and Kathy Selden. been leads, but the not main Junior Rachel Brich is playing lead where they need me 24/7. Lina. I’ve been getting three hours Brich was cast as Mrs. Sulof sleep on average since the livan in last fall’s musical, beginning of September, but we “Rags.” In addition, she was are still going at it,” Wortman “Verges,” a sidekick cop in said. “Much Ado About Nothing,” These students have busy but now she’s going to be in the schedules trying to find time spotlight dancing...in the rain. memorize their lines and juggle “I’m really excited to see the all of the other school work they Front and center Anna Swoboda ’18, Audrey Otwell ’19 and Olivia Hess ’19 gesture to finished product. Getting the have because rehearsal ran until the light crew in their rehearsal curtain call after a group bow. Their smiling faces showed costumes and makeup really 9 p.m. Even so, they remain how proud they were of their performance after months of practice. “Singin’ in the Rain” puts everything to a whole othoptimistic and can’t wait to put er level,” Brich said. on a great show. debuted to the public Oct. 27. The main lead, Don LockLast night’s forecast predictBella in “Rags.” But it’s time to switch gears, wood, will be played by Creighton Prep senior ed some change in the weather. Randby preand star in a production with a more upbeat Ryan Wortman. Lockwood is a charming silent dicts an incoming storm, but it’s actually going vibe. Hausman will be playing Kathy Selden. film star whose goal is to become a real actor. to rain dollar bills! Specifically 10 dollar bills Kathy is basically the female version of Don, Wortman has also been part of past Marian because that’s how much tickets cost for adults and she is more than what meets the eye. The productions such as “Children of Eden,” “The and only $7 for students. The tickets are sold at King and I,” “The Little Mermaid” and last year contrast between Kathy and Bella will be one of the door and online on Marian’s website. the most demanding adjustments, but the cast starred as Ben in “Rags.” Wortman said he is “Singin’ in the Rain” will run from Oct. 27 and crew have been practicing since the start of to Oct. 30 in the Kish Auditorium of the Perfothrilled to be playing Don. He’s watched and the school year, and Hausman said she is confi- ming Arts Center. The first three performances re-watched the movie; it’s considered a classic dent all their hard work will pay off. in his family. begin at 7 p.m. and the Oct. 30 performance “Singin’ in the Rain” is about two hours long, will be at 2 p.m. Last fall, senior Gigi Hausman starred as
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(16) Photo Essay
The Network (October 2016)
1. Come one, come all Grandparents were packing into Marian on Oct. 6 for Grandparent’s Day. Anna Cook ’18 celebrates the special day with her close family friends, John and Elaine Boyce. “I like to call them my ‘Omaha grandparents’ because my other grandparents live in Minnesota. Having them with me on Grandparent’s Day was really special to me!” Cook said. alliemorrissey
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6. Sweatshirts galore Noel Olson ’19 and her grandmother, Beverly Brown, wanted to get their hands on some Marian merchandise from the BlueTique on Grandparent’s Day. “I’m pretty sure it was her first time using an iPad for checkout,” Olson said. alliemorrissey
5 2. Picture that Jeanne Weaver, grandmother of Carly Peterman ‘17, captures the procession before the Mass begins. This tech-savvy grandma took time out of her day to enjoy her granddaughter’s last Grandparent’s Mass. carmenmiller 3. Love at first sight Maya Tate ’19 greets her grandmother, Christine Tate, lovingly with a warm hug. “My favorite part of the Mass was getting to spend time with my grandma because I’m really busy, and I never get to spend some time with her, so it was really nice to go to Mass and eat breakfast together,” Tate said. carmenmiller 4. The first of many lasts A joyful Mass and multiple cups of coffee make for a typical day at Marian but a special treat for grandparents. John and Ruth McLeay celebrate their last Grandparent’s Day with Michaela McLeay ’17 (right) but aren’t done yet. Michaela’s cousin, Hope McLeay ’20 (left), has three more years of yummy danishes ahead of her. alliemorrissey 5.We are family Like many Marian grandparents, Gary and Debbie Pink have granddaughters in multiple grades. Ellie Pink ’17 and Eva Pink ’20 hug their grandparents goodbye after the festivities are over. “I love having my grandparents come to Mass every year! It’s a fun tradition, and I’m excited to I got to share it one last time with my younger sister,” Ellie said. alliemorrissey