Grief and healing during the holidays
The holidays are often painted as the most joyful time of the year. The iconic Christmas songs and advertisements show families gathered together, laughing and making memories. But for those grieving, whether it be the loss of a loved one or the feeling of a “normal” holiday season, the season can feel overwhelming and even bittersweet. For those grieving, it could be the first holiday without a grandparent or parent, the first holiday season with divorced parents, an absent parent or it could be the grief of missing the feeling of your childhood holidays. The pressure to be cheerful can make those feelings of grief even heavier. For high schoolers, who are still figuring out how to process complex emotions, this time can be especially difficult.
Grief during the holiday seasons often brings a mix of emotions, from sadness and anger, to guilt and even moments of joy. You might feel lonely when you see others celebrating, guilty for enjoying yourself or even frustrated at the world for being able to continue on as if nothing has changed. These feelings are normal and valid. Grief does not operate on a timeline, and it doesn’t disappear just because there are lights on the tree or gifts under it.
One way to navigate this difficult season is to honor and listen to your feelings instead of ignoring them. Pretending everything is fine only makes grief a little harder to carry. Allow yourself to cry and feel frustrated, and it is okay to need to take a break
Grief does not operate on a timeline, and it doesn’t disappear just because there are lights on the tree or gifts under it.
from holiday traditions if they feel too painful. At the same time, finding ways to stay connected with the loved one you’ve lost can make the holidays feel a little less empty. You could make a favorite recipe they used to love or hang an ornament that reminds you of them. Sharing stories with family or friends who also loved them can be healing. It’s a way to acknowl-
edge the loss while also celebrating their life. It’s okay to experience moments of happiness and laughter, even in the midst of grief. These emotions don’t mean you’ve forgotten your loved one--they mean you’re human. Lastly, be gentle with yourself. The holidays don’t have to be perfect, and you don’t have to meet anyone’s expectations of how you should feel or act. The pressure to find the “perfect gift” may fuel those stressfull emotions, like the feelings of not giving a good enough gift or that your love won’t be shown properly through the gift. At the end of the day, the holiday season is not about money, decorations or gifts. The holiday season is about the people your cherish, the memories you create together and honoring those with you and those who aren’t with you.
Grief may change how you see the holidays, but it also shows how deeply you’ve loved. This love doesn’t end with loss--it’s something you carry forward, shaping who you are and how you honor their memory. Through the pain, you are finding your strength. In the quiet moments, when the world feels heavy, remember: healing doesn’t mean letting go; it means holding on in a way that lets you move forward. You are not alone.
What’s inside this edition
Staff
Staff
Staff
Staff
Inscape staff
Co-Editor-in-Chief
Co-Editor-in-Chief
Addison Haywood
Fiona Stanek
Mireya Gomez de la Casa
Adilene Urbina
Kayla Baker
Adeline Moles
Angela Zubrzycki
Rylee Dombro
Magen Connolly
Chloe Berten
Olivia Regalado
Luna Munoz-Diaz
Margaret Kilgallon
Elysia Gonzalez
Caitlin Sears
Alila Underwood
Ella Meenan-Smith
Aniyah Roberts
Thomas Bochenczak
Abigail Sheahan
Editorial Policy: The opinions expressed in this magazine are the views of the individual authors, and not of the Inscape staff or Mother McAuley High School. Inscape is an open forum that welcomes letters to editors, comments, and feedback from all readers. All letters to the editors must be signed in order to be printed.
Mother McAuley Liberal Arts High School
3737 W. 99th Street
Chicago, IL 60655
(773)-881-6500
www.mothermcauley.org
Principal Dr. Kathryn Baal
Vice Principal Mrs. Sandra Smycz
Vice Principal Mrs. Sarah Kolkmeyer ‘06
front cover by Elysia Gonzalez back cover by Mireya Gomez de la Casa
New additions have been overflowing this year, from new staff, new clubs, new systems and most importantly, the new phone policy. Phone caddies are now in each classroom, requiring students to leave their phones in their designated pocket before class begins, only having full access to them during their lunch period.
This decision has garnered many opinions since the beginning of the semester, leaving countless students asking why. “The major reason for the change in our policy was the significant increase in distractions that were being caused by phone usage during class time, as well as disruption that was often occurring within the classrooms. Incidents of academic dishonesty, taking photos of students without their knowledge during class time or simply being distracted by messages and social media during school are all issues that we’ve observed, taking away from a students’
Do not disturb
Elysia Gonzalez
academic experience. Another factor has been students using their phones in the hallways, especially during times when the hallways are more crowded such as during passing periods, which is a student safety concern. Our intention in looking to modify this policy was to alleviate these distractions and help students stay focused and safe throughout the school day,” Dean of Students Ms. Amanda Sullivan said.
Teachers, for the most part, were enthralled about this decision. As many agree, phones were a major distraction in the classroom. According to Pew Research and New York Times, more than 70 percent of high school teachers say student phone distraction is a “major problem.” “Phones were an ongoing issue before. The biggest difference I see is that students are going to the bathroom less. Before we started to enforce the ‘no phone policy’ I think most students were leaving
above.
Building a new community?
Do you enjoy taking classes with the students from Brother Rice?
“To be completely honest, at first, the overall vibe of the classroom was weird. It was odd due to having more boys in the class rather than girls. I was used to an all-girl environment, and when adding the boys it took a while to adjust to due to their more lively energy.”
How, if at all, did it affect your learning?
“At the beginning, it affected my learning ability due to the overall lack of confidence in the room. In an all girl classroom, you build calm, helpful and supportive relationships, which promotes a chance for making mistakes and learning. Now, with the Rice boys, it’s more intimidating to answer questions or even ask questions due to not knowing how you will be perceived.”
Took Intro to Drawing with Mrs. Gordon Davis
Why did you decide to take the class?
“Most of the electives at Brother Rice were either engineering or building. I saw art and I wanted to explore that. I also wanted to see what a class at Mother McAuley would be like especially since both schools are trying to be on the same path. It gives students a chance to experience coed classes before they go off to college”
Did you enjoy taking a class at Mother McAuley?
“It was one of the best decisions I made junior year. Mrs. GD’s talent reflected greatly on the students in the class, and I still use what she has taught me today to improve my art skills.”
class to use the bathroom, but in reality, they needed to text friends, catch up on something they missed or to just stay in contact with each other. So the foot traffic to the bathrooms has dramatically decreased as well as the length of time students are gone,” English teacher Ms. Mary McCormick said.
Students, on the other hand, do not have a unified response compared to teachers.
There is no clear answer if everyone mutually agrees this policy is an improvement or setback, as many exclaim their phone were not a distraction before. However, the main concern students agree on regarding this policy is their safety. “With all the phones being in one location, I worry about what might happen in an emergency, like a school shooting. In a worst-case scenario, I might not be able to alert my family or send that last message,” Julissa Gonzalez 12 said. However, Sullivan said that due to having phones in caddies, phones will still be accessible during emergency events, exemplifying why caddies are the best option for the school at this time.
Florida, Indiana, Ohio, South Carolina and Louisiana have all passed laws to restrict and even ban cell phones in all K-12 schools, while countless school districts in numerous states are implementing policies just like McAuley.
“This is a great start, and I think the students have adjusted to everything pretty seamlessly. I realize that the iPads have replaced their phones in many ways and they are doing much of the same thing on their iPads now, but one hurdle at a time. Things have definitely improved,” McCormick said.
Teaches two classes of Intro to Drawing to Brother Rice Students
Why did you agree to teach this class?
“Because I am passionate about Visual Arts, and Visual Arts Education. The Brother Rice students did not have any Art within their curriculum, so I volunteered to have them come take classes at McAuley. I believe that creativity and creative problem solving skills taught within Visual Art classes are necessary for future success.”
How do the Brother Rice classes differ from the traditional all-girl classes?
“Our Visual Arts classes are scaffolded from year to year. As this is the only Art class offered for all levels of Brother Rice students, they are coming in with little to no experience or skills. We often find that boys are not encouraged to continue with their Visual Arts classes due to societal norms.”
Survey taken by a small group of McAuley students. graphs by Elysia Gonzalez
McAuley Faculty
Mrs. Kathy Gordon Davis
McAuley Student Luz Gomez 12
Brother Rice Student Logan Killelea 12
Takes Advanced Placement classes with Brother Rice students.
With the 2024 election coming to a close and President-elect Donald Trump preparing to take office on Jan. 20, 2025, the question on all of America’s minds is: what does the future hold? Trump’s 100-day plan has two primary focuses: immigration and the economy. These two topics were his main focuses during his campaign. Trump has made many promises on both of these issues, such as promises to cut taxes, end the alarming inflation rate and enforce a mass deportation of illegal immigrants.
A key reason for Trump’s victory in this election was the large concern for Americans about the current economic state. Trump’s promises for the economy had a positive impact on his campaign and its success, with 80% of his voters stating they voted for Trump because of economic concerns, according to an Edison Research exit poll of 5,631 respondents. Trump has made multiple statements regarding his current concerns for the economy and how he intends to fix them. One of his two main focuses is his ambitious goal to end inflation and his efforts to cut taxes. Trump has made several promises on ending taxes on tips. This will give tax relief to all tipped workers. Donalad Trump has also come up with a series of plans to enforce tariffs, taxes on imported goods, in order to promote a shift in U.S. manufacturing and lower income taxes.
Rylee Dombro
But to some people, tariffs are rather problematic when it comes to economic concerns for the lower and middle class who spend a larger share of their income on imported goods, compared to wealthier households that save more and consume fewer imports. In his efforts to create a series of tax breaks, including cutting federal income, tips and payroll taxes, Trump will be significantly reducing the amount of funding for social security. The idea behind tariffs is that they make foreign-made goods more expensive than those made in the U.S. However, U.S. manufacturers could also face higher costs if they need to import parts. Additionally, other countries may impose their own tariffs in response, making it harder for U.S. companies to sell their products overseas.
Similarly, the Edison Research exit poll of the election showed another reason for Trump’s presidential election win was his plans for immigration, with an overwhelming 90% of voters voting red because of immigration concerns. Trump has made his plans for immigration clear. He has plans to enforce a mass deportation of undocumented immigrants. He has set Tom Homan, his former acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director, in charge of executing a deportation plan. On their plan of action for deportation, Homan said,“They’ll be targeted arrests. We’ll
Israel and Hamas: conflict resolution
Following the re-election of Donald Trump as the 45th president of the United States, a senior Hamas leader has called for an immediate end to the war in Gaza between Hamas and Israel. Hamas Political Bureau member and spokesperson told the media, “Palestinians look forward to an immediate cessation of the aggression against our people, especially in Gaza, and look for assistance in achieving their legitimate rights of freedom, independence and the establishment of their independent self-sovereign state with Jerusalem as its capital.”
Ceasefires have been discussed and executed over the past year of the conflict, which began on Oct. 7, 2023 with a Hamasled large-scale attack that killed around 1,200 people and resulted in the capture of 253 hostages.
On the morning of Nov. 18, the United Nations Security Council convened for a briefing titled “Ending the War and Securing Durable Peace in the Middle East.” The agenda included a concept note from the United Kingdom, stating that ending the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon “remains the immediate priority” of the international community.
President Trump, following his return to the White House, vowed to “stop wars.” At a rally in Wisconsin in September, he said, “We have been treated so badly, mostly by allies. Our
Caitlin Sears
allies treat us actually worse than our so-called enemies.” The war has strained international relations, forcing many nations to take sides. Qatar, one of several mediators in the conflict, recently stepped back from its role. “Qatar notified the parties 10 days ago during the last attempts to reach an agreement that it would stall its efforts to mediate between Hamas and Israel if an agreement was not reached in that round,” the Qatari foreign ministry said. “Qatar will resume those efforts … when the parties show their willingness and seriousness to end the brutal war.”
Hamas has maintained a political base in Doha, Qatar since 2012 at the request of the
know who we’re going to arrest, where we’re most likely to find them based on numerous, you know, investigative processes.” But the logistics on how the plan for deportation is still unclear. It seems the plan is to create detention centers to hold the immigrants. These will be both federal and county jails. But the difficult part is finding the money to fund these deportations. According to a recent special report by the American Immigration Council about mass deportation, the average cost of deporting one undocumented immigrant is $10,070 for a total of $88 billion annually to remove 11.3 million people, which the federal government will pay for. This plan of mass deportation will span for a little over a decade, with the plan being to deport one million undocumented immigrants per year. The effects of the deportation are likely going to be devastating, especially to the job economy. There are 7.5 million undocumented immigrants in the labor market, making up about five percent of the U.S. workforce. Immigrants often take up jobs that most American born citizens will not choose to do.
While these policies may change as the Trump administration and cabinet grows and we near Jan. 20th, it is important to know what the future may hold for our country.
Obama administration. However, following Qatar’s withdrawal from mediation, reports suggest it agreed with the U.S. to ask Hamas to close its political office in Doha due to “a refusal to negotiate a deal in good faith.”
The United States has played a significant role in the conflict, bolstered by its strong relationship with Israel and increased financial support. According to the U.S. Embassy in Israel, more than $3 billion in Foreign Military Financing and weapons development has strengthened the bond between the two nations.
As of now, an official agreement to end the war remains unreached.
graph by Caitlin Sears
Commemorating Officer Enrique Martinez
The Chicagoland community is grieving the tragic loss of Chicago Police Officer (CPD) Enrique Martinez, who was killed in the line of duty. Martinez, only 26-years-old, lost his life early November during a routine traffic stop with his partner in the East Chatham neighborhood. Martinez and his partner had stopped a vehicle that was blocking traffic.
When approaching the vehicle, they noticed 23-year-old Darion McMillian in the passenger seat, reaching into a bag. Both officers had repeatedly told McMillian to stop reaching and to “show me your hands,” when McMillian took out a fully loaded .40 caliber handgun equipped with a machine gun conversion device and fired, fatally shooting Officer Martinez.
Prosecutors have said that as McMillain fired at Martinez, he also fatally shot his own friend in the driver seat. After the shooting, McMillian fled and broke into a first-floor apartment nearby where he cut off his electronic monitoring bracelet. McMillian has since been detained and has now been formally charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, unlawful use of a weapon and more.
Officer Martinez’s death has devastated his family, his colleagues and the community he served. Retired CPD Officer Micheal Brittain,
With Vice President Harris’s loss in the 2024 election, many voters have shared concerns about the state of the American government, particularly the amount of fair and diverse representation within it. Luckily, for these voters, Congress has recently had a flow of diversity. This year, two Black women were concurrently elected to the Senate, and the House of Representatives welcomed its first openly transgender representative to the House floor, making this election season historic in its own right.
Lisa Blunt Rochester of Delaware and Angela Alsobrooks of Maryland join the historic ranks of Black women to serve in the Senate, which, including these two women, has only had four Black women senators ever, with current Vice President Kamala Harris being one of them. Rochester and Alsobrooks publicly supported each other during their mutual rise to the U.S. Senate, calling each other “Sister Senators” on X, formerly Twitter, and both vowing to use their platforms to represent Black women’s issues. “We’re going to be able to do some really big and bold work...the historymaking part is good, but the impact is what we’re all going for, to make a difference in
Fiona Stanek
speaking to ABC, reflected on the loss, saying, “He was a young kid…He had his whole life ahead of him.”
Martinez leaves behind his family, his fiancée and a legacy of courage. The city not only mourns the loss of Officer Martinez, but also the lives of other officers killed in line of duty over the past four years: Luis Huesca, Aréanah Preston, Andrés Vásquez Lasso and Ella French.
This rising toll of fallen officers and the continuance of violence has sparked an outcry from Chicago residents in and around the city, calling for action and accountability. According to the Illinois Policy, violence across Chicago has climbed up 18% while arrests have gone down 43% over the past 10 years, and residents look to their lawmakers to take action in public safety to ensure that Chicagoans feel safe.
At a recent press conference following the news of Martinez’s death, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson came forward to make a statement: “Officer Enrique Martinez saved lives, even though he knew it could cost him his own,” said the mayor. “This exemplifies what our police officers do every single day. They know the sacrifices, as well as the risk, of their profession—but yet still, they work every day to protect us.”
As the city continues to mourn, Officer Enrique Martinez’s sacrifice stands as a painful reminder of the bravery and selflessness embodied by those who protect Chicago. His passing emphasizes the need for urgent action to ensure the safety of both the community and the officers sworn to serve it.
Diversifying Congress
people’s lives,” said Rochester, according to People magazine.
Likewise, another big milestone was hit during this election season when Sarah McBride became the first openly transgender person elected to Congress. McBride formerly served as a state senator before winning a House seat representing Delaware. With LGBTQ+ rights and issues constantly being at the forefront of policy discussion and debate, McBride offers representation for transgender people in Congress; however, she has emphasized in her speeches that representing the people of Delaware on common issues, like expanding access to healthcare and procuring further workers’ rights, is at the forefront of her agenda. “I think that folks know that I am personally invested in equality as an LGBTQ person, but my priorities are going to be affordable child care, paid family and medical leave, housing, health care, and reproductive freedom,” revealed McBride in a CBS interview.
This spurt of diversity in Congress comes at a time characterized by the continual impact of the overturning of Roe v. Wade and Affirmative Action, as well as the transition of
the Senate and House to a majority Republican rule. However, significant strides for increasing representative diversity continue to persist and offer consolation to marginalized voter groups.
Addison Haywood
above. Flyer given to 19th Ward residents to hang in windows to honor fallen Officer Enrique Martinez
above. Congresswomen Angela Alsobrooks, Lise Blunt Rochester, and Sarah McBride are depicted. edited photo by Addison Haywood
The impact of sharenting
Sharenting: when parents over share their children’s lives on social media. Child exploitation has been a rising issue with the arrival of social media platforms. Almost 34% of kids in the United States start their digital footprint when they’re in the womb from the pictures their mothers post of them from sonograms. While this is an innocent sharing of one’s life, there are posts that have completely different intentions.
There have been many instances where parents are seen oversharing on social media. This can often be perceived as parents exploiting their children through the entertainment industry in exchange for views, followers and income.
Furthermore, Tiana Haneline and Scarlett Gray Smith, a mother-daughter TikTok duo known for daily affirmations, have constantly been in the limelight for sharenting. Their TikTok platform has garnered over 6 million followers since Smith made her debut in 2020.
Haneline has been under fire because of how she was caught treating Smith on a TikTok live stream. In a moment where Smith was crying repeatedly stating,” I don’t want to be on there,” her mother stepped out of the frame and aggressively gestured at her to interact with the followers.
Unbeknownst to Haneline, she was visible to the audience through a mirror. Since the incident, she has come out and apologized for her behavior towards Scarlett.
There have been many times when Haneline has had to address comments about how Smith appears uncomfortable in TikToks. Haneline’s response is usually that Smith is uncomfortable with dancing in public. Fans question why Haneline makes Smith dance in public.
above. Screenshot of drafts Tiania Haneline put up for sale. A TikTok draft from 2020 was listed for $7.99.
Aniyah Roberts
In addition to this, Haneline also received backlash for attempting to sell drafts (unfinished videos) on TikTok Shop as a source of income. The listing has since been deleted.
This is just one example of how children are used to bring in money for their parents. Many times the exploitation comes from the parent’s getting too invested in the income the platform generates to consider the feelings of their children. Children are often overworked and forced to do things they are uncomfortable with.
The exploitation of children is something that has been happening long before the arrival of social media. Child actors are also included in this. For years, parents had been in charge of their children’s income with no restrictions. They were allowed to keep or spend the money any way that they wanted.
Jackie Coogan, a child actor who starred in the film “The Kid,” was a victim of the exploitation of children in the early 1900s.
Coogan had a booming career as a child actor up until he reached adulthood when he realized he had no money left after his hard work as a child. At the time, California had no law requiring parents to keep a portion of their income for their children’s future.
Coogan sued his mother and former manager for compensation. This resulted in the Coogan Law being put in place in 1939 in the state of California. This law was put in place to protect young actors so that they would have some of their earnings remaining when they reached adulthood, but there were loopholes in the law.
As of Jan. 1, 2000, the law was readjusted to state, “…earnings by minors in the entertainment industry are the property of the minor, not their
parents. Since a minor cannot legally control their own money, California Law governs their earnings and creates a fiduciary relationship between the parent and the child. This change in California law also requires that 15% of all minors’ earnings must be set aside in a blocked trust account commonly known as a Coogan Account.”
Similarly, New York requires a UTMA or UCMA account to be opened up for the children who act. The rules for this account are similar to those of the Coogan Law, but the account can be opened in any state or bank that meets the requirements.
Illinois requires that a Blocked Trust Account be opened for the child and 15% of the income be placed in it. However, this is not required for background performers.
Louisiana and New Mexico both require a Blocked Trust Account but only if the child earns more than $1,000 for each job in New Mexico.
Overall, steps have been taken to reduce child exploitation, but it still persists. Some children are forced to work long, taxing hours to provide a source of income for their parents. This has resulted in many children losing the opportunity to have a normal, carefree childhood.
The digital footprint started by their parents can affect them for the rest of their lives. Whether it be a silly photo found by a child’s classmates or a video discovered years later by their dream college, whatever is placed on social media affects the child. It is always important to be mindful of what is posted on social media.
above. Silent film star, Charlie Chaplan (left) and Jackie Coogan (right) starring in the 1921 film, “The Kid” directed and written by Chaplan himself.
What your need for your final grade
Ella Meenan-Smith
Favorite holiday tradition?
“Making homemade pierogies for Christmas!”
-Aniela Murphy 10
“Decorating the Christmas tree with family.”
-Maggie Guardi 9
“On Christmas Day, spending my day with my family!”
-Ashley Lopez 12
“Celebrating ‘Las Posadas’ with family.”
-Andrea Jamie 11
Moving on to the next chapter
I know looking for the perfect college can be a struggle. It can be a confusing time trying to figure out where you want to spend the next four years of your life and having so many questions about what college is right for you. Here are some tips to figure out what’s best for you in this next chapter of your life.
A good way to know what you want is to visit the colleges you are interested in based on your major, the size of the school, the location and more. You should try and visit a variety of schools because you may not know what you want. Visiting the college and being able to ask questions to your tour guide about a certain major they have that you’re interested in can be a great way to get a better idea of if they are known for the major you want and if they have a good program.
Something big to consider is being open about where you want to go. Luis MartínezFernández, a History professor at the University of Central Florida, said on collegeboard.com, “You may not think you’re able to thrive in a large institution because you come from a small high school, but you may actually do better in that type of setting.” Another thing
that is something to look into is the location of the school. Do you want to stay in-state or go out-of-state? Danika Miller, an Editor for Best Colleges, said, “If you decide to stay in your home state and attend a public school, you can qualify for in-state tuition, potentially saving you a lot of money on college. Your proximity to home also affects how often you can visit family and friends and the cost and convenience of travel.”
There is always so much to consider when choosing the right college for you. Just don’t forget to breathe and think about all your options.
Olivia Regalado
photos by Mireya de la Casa
Hot takes Sunrise on the Reaping: New or old news?
Margaret Kilgallon and Magen Connolly
The
Margaret:
The world of Panem in “The Hunger Games” series is full of complex storylines and diverse worldbuilding. Author Suzanne Collins recently released the book and movie “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes,” a prequel following antagonist President Snow’s descent to villainy during the 10th Hunger Games. Collins’s newest novel, coming out in March 2025, “Sunrise on the Reaping,” follows District 12 mentor Haymitch Abernathy’s victory during the 50th Hunger Games and his journey towards the mental decline we see in “The Hunger Games” series.
I am personally extremely excited for this new book. Suzanne Collins is such an amazing author, and her world building adds to her immersive storytelling. “The Hunger Games” series has never failed to wow me, and I doubt “Sunrise on the Reaping” will be the first. The story of how he wins the 50th Hunger Games with the additional 24 tributes and how he is affected by the Capital’s response to his victory will really help to build his character even further and add a new perspective to him. The character we see in “The Hunger Games” series is that of a bitter and resentful man. I feel learning of his backstory is essential to understanding his character and why he is the way he is in the series.
Haymitch Abernathy’s story focuses on abuse of power and the suffering of the lower class. As a member of District 12, Haymitch is faced with poverty and oppression. On top of these struggles, Haymitch is additionally reaped to be a part of the 50th Hunger Games, facing 47 other tributes. As a result of his victory, which he achieves by using the arena’s faults to his own advantage, the Capital punishes him by executing his family. The power of an oppressive government and control through fear are major themes throughout “The Hunger Games” series and will be even more potent throughout Haymitch’s story in “Sunrise on the Reaping.”
Magen:
Suzanne Collins is releasing another prequel to “The Hunger Games” on March 18, 2025 about Haymitch’s games, which will be through his perspective. I was thrilled to hear that she was coming out with a new story, but then I realized it isn’t exactly a new story. Don’t we know about Haymitch’s games already?
In “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire,” we read about Katniss and Peeta watching previous Hunger Games. They come across the year that Haymitch won and decide to watch it. In the scene, Katniss completely describes the arena, the deaths of other tributes, Haymitch’s alliance, how it broke and his victory. The tributes find Haymitch watching them after they finish the clip, and he describes the consequences he received for the inherent act of rebellion that won him his games. We already know what happens and understand everything important about Haymitch’s story--how the government reacted, how it changed the games, how it led to him losing everyone he cared about, how it contributed to his alcoholism and how it helped develop his struggle to form relationships.
above. Maggie, Woody Harrelson and Magen pose in their PJ’s at the “Mockingjay: Part Two” premiere.
September/October Hot Takes
Results:
40%- “Twilight”
20%- “Vampire Diaries”
20%- “Interview with the Vampire”
20%- “My Babysitter’s a Vampire”
I love Suzanne Collins, but I don’t see how this is going to contribute anything new or add any depth to the existing storyline. I really hope this prequel and any others come from a place of passion for her craft and appreciation of her fans. There’s so much media that looks to ride on the wave of popularity of the original works, and so many series get reduced to cash grabs. I hope this does her previous books and well-loved characters justice. I’ll still read it either way.
Chloe Berten
As popular brands and companies keep going back to the aesthetics of yesterday, it is clear: nostalgia is not just a phase; it‘s a way of life.
Over the last several years, society has become increasingly obsessed with television reboots, movie remakes and recreations of classic fast food meals. You might also notice, while walking down the street, the revival of vintage clothes and more voluminous hair styles are making a comeback. These recreations of beloved culture might be more important than you think.
Studies show that feeling nostalgic can affirm social belonging, alleviate loneliness and enhance our sense of meaning. When we revisit old memories, our brain releases feelgood chemicals (endorphins) that benefit humans both physically and mentally. The National Library of Medicine published an article stating that, “Nostalgia is an important resource for maintaining and promoting individuals’ physical and psychological health.” So, even though digging through your closet to find an old jacket or eating from the Taco Bell “Decades Menu” might not seem the healthiest, it is actually quite beneficial! This connection to the past is not just personal; it can also bring people together. For instance, you might have noticed the growing popularity of reboots and remakes of classic television shows. Sitcoms like “The Twilight Zone,” “Full House” and “Gilmore Girls” have all been recreated, bringing back members of the original cast and adding in some new characters along the way. This allows audiences to reconnect with their favorite characters and introduce them to younger generations. Sharing favorite characters is not the only way to bond nostalgically. Vintage clothes and antiques passed down from generation to generation can bring families and friends closer through the appreciation of past styles. Many clothing brands have vintage collections such as Nike, Dior and Levi. The quality and craftsmanship of these collections draws people to purchase them. Yet, a vintage item from your parent/grandparent may hold more sentimental value. Overall, people and brands are beginning to appreciate the beauty of nostalgia and both are using it to their advantage. In a world that is constantly evolving forward, nostalgia gives us a chance to pause and reflect.
The hidden journey of donated clothes
When you donate clothing to your local thrift store or charity, you never really put much thought into where it may go. But what if you did? Where do the clothes citizens donate end up going? 10-20% of clothes do get passed down to others who are in need of it most, like those who don’t have any suitable clothes to wear. But sometimes they go in the complete opposite direction and get sent to incinerators or even overseas.
On average 700,000 tons of used clothing gets exported overseas. About 2.5 million tons of clothing are recycled. Over 3 million tons are incinerated, and 10 million tons are sent to landfills. Pretty shocking, right? According to a 2016 study by McKinsey Sustainability, every year, roughly 100 billion garments are produced globally, with more than half of those items discarded within a year. A large portion of donated clothes aren’t suitable for someone else to wear because of poor conditions like mildew or quality issues. An example of this is if you were to donate a fast fashion clothing item, over time this item can deteriorate over time. This is because they are made from low quality items like polyester and nylon. This then leads to them
Adilene Urbina
facing the tragic fate of being incinerated or sent to landfills. Any clothes left over in popular thrift stores get moved to an outlet, and anything leftover in these outlets get sold in bulk where materials are sorted into four categories: resale, recycling, down cycling and export. Sometimes clothes can also be sent to textile recycling centers. About 700,000 tons of used clothing gets sent to other countries annually. Sending clothing overseas can create a waste problem and can negatively affect local economies. Their sales can compete with other merchants and textile industries which can put financial pressure on those struggling to make profit. But what can we do to prevent this?
To solve this we can apply the following into our daily life: choose to buy secondhand clothing, and look for recycled products to ensure demand for recycled textiles. Another option is to look for organizations who take clothing donations and actively send them to places who are in need of them most. If enough people look for more reliable places to donate clothes and buy sustainability we can for sure fix this problem.
A whole new world in our hands
above. Graph shows the US leads in number of Notable machine learning models, a subset of Artificial Intelligence. graph by Kayla Baker
On Oct. 28, 2024, Apple came out with a new AI, called Apple Intelligence, available on both iPhones and iPads using the iOS 18.1 update. A few included features are the ability to type to Siri and better email response suggestions as well as a ‘priority messages’ feature. Photo editing will become a lot more simple, and similar to ChatGPT, Apple Intelligence will now be able to create images using “Image Playground” as well as allowing users to create their own emojis. With all
being said, these new updates will definitely affect the way we write, read and respond to each other.
The CEO of Apple, Tim Cook, said, “Apple Intelligence builds on years of innovation in AI and machine learning to put Apple’s generative models at the core of our devices, giving our users a personal intelligence system that is easy to use--all while protecting their privacy.”
Aside from similarities and new abilities in Apple devices, Apple Intelligence is strongly focused on keeping users’ information private by continuing the use of encryption, app tracking transparency, etc. Since Apple Intelligence has been released, reviews have been positive and appreciative, especially mail and notification summaries, while others don’t feel as if it’s much of a change at all.
Of course with anything involving new devices and media, there will always be risks and flaws. As perfect and futuristic Apple Intelligence might seem, there are some concerns such as data privacy risks; however, there are precautions being taken to prevent any sort of exploitation. According to a cybersecurity website called Corellium. com, Apple Intelligence doesn’t seem to have the best privacy with medical information, account/ transaction details and more about simple user confidentiality. Some smaller flaws that have been reported are notifications being delayed and inaccurate summaries. Apple AI is a work in progress and is already giving people a whole new world on their Apple device. How will this continue to affect our device usage and the future of technology?
Kayla Baker
graphic by Adilene Urbina
Fall sport recap
Making history
On July 3, 2024, the National Hockey League’s Seattle Kraken hired Jessica Campbell, making her the first woman to be an assistant coach in the league. She then made her debut on Oct. 8, 2024, receiving a standing ovation from the entire Climate Pledge Arena. Campbell stated, “When I got to the arena, just the reception from those around you and seeing the emotions from the people is what really reminds me of what this means to the industry and to the community… I’m taking pride knowing that I have to carry this torch for others.”
Before she began working for the NHL, Campbell coached the Coachella Valley Firebirds in the American Hockey League, making her the first female coach in that league as well. During her time coaching for the Firebirds, she led them to the Calder Cup finals for two seasons. Though the team didn’t end up winning the cup, they still had many accomplishments due to Campbell’s
hard work. She worked with running the power plays and helped with the players’ developments. Campbell mentioned it not being an easy job, but she always looked toward the positive side. She turned her setbacks into stepping stones to move forward and achieve greater things.
Campbell strives to inspire many women and girls who are interested in working in sports. Being given the opportunity to be the first woman behind the bench has been a huge accomplishment for her. Campbell shared her thoughts on how she feels about inspiring young girls who strive to achieve their goals: “All they’re going to know is that there can be a female coach behind the bench, it’s really special for me,” Campbell said. “Hopefully somebody else will have a door held open for them versus them having to push it open and find ways to unlock it.”
Play like a girl
Adeline Moles
Over the past three years, junior Quinn Arundel has proven herself to be an extremely skilled point guard and shooting guard at Mother McAuley. She started her freshman year with a bang by making the varsity team. “Being a freshman on varsity, I was definitely really nervous for the season to start and play in our first game,” she said. With her sophomore year she took on the role of being an underclass woman on varsity once again, and she definitely delivered on the court.
This year, she returned to varsity for the third year in a row as a junior. As Arundel nears closer to her senior year, she is beginning to think about possibly pursuing her basketball career into college.
Arundel has had an incredibly memorable career so far here at McAuley, but she has one memory that sticks out to her the most: “One of my favorite memories from my basketball career here is definitely the McAuley vs. Marist game my freshman year. We went into double overtime and managed to win.” Like she said, the Macs defeated the Redhawks 56-53 in a thrilling game. Arundel also mentioned that that game was one of the most stressful, yet fun games she and some of her teammates have ever played in.
Arundel is a superstar on the court and has truly been a very important asset to the varsity team these last three years. We can once again expect great things from her this season.
above. Arundel studies the court, watching for the perfect moment to drive to the basket
photo by Elysia Gonzalez
Margaret Kilgallon
Luna Munoz-Diaz
Artist spotlight
Magen Connolly
Dulce Nepomuceno ‘25 landed the title role in McAuley’s 2024 musical, “Peter Pan,” and she described it as nothing more than “truly unimaginable.” She’s been participating in shows at McAuley since the performance of “The Little Mermaid,” but Nepomuceno has always been a performer at heart: “Ever since I was little I have loved to sing and perform for my family, but in my grammar school, we only had a choir and not a theater program. When I saw how many classes and extracurricular activities related to music there were at McAuley, I knew I had to join.”
When she found out that she was going to be the leading actress in this year’s musical, she could hardly contain her thrill and anticipation, and she devoted herself to doing the role justice. She worked hard to master all the elements of her role. “Working with the flight system has been really fun and such a cool experience. I really enjoy all of my flights in the show but most of all ‘Peter’s Entrance,’” Nepomuceno reported.
The actress also had to figure out how to balance rehearsal and schoolwork. “Between memorizing lines, songs, dances and doing schoolwork, I have had to learn to manage my time so I could have time for myself to rest and relax,” she admitted.
Overall, she had an incredible experience in this year’s show, especially with the support she received from the other cast members. Despite long hours, the group made the most of their time working together, inspiring Nepomuceno to work hard and put forth her best self. It seems to have been a very memorable experience that filled her, her family and the entire community with pride.
“Peter Pan” musical review
Starting off with my base opinion on the musical is that I really enjoyed it, mainly the acting, the music and the overall energy brought by the actors. I really enjoyed the performance done of one of the main lost boys, Teagan. Watching them perform and accidentally “killing” Wendy thinking she was a big white bird got a “gasp” out of me. I loved the costume choices for the lost boys and the pirates; those were my absolute favorite to see. Something that got a constant laugh and a giggle out of me was when I saw characters getting pushed or falling off the deck. The effect of water splashing every time someone fell added a comedic effect to the musical, and it was an amazing choice.
Tiffeni Whiting 12 said, “The sets were nicely made and the pit’s music was really nice, and I really liked how sassy and mean Tinker Bell was.”
I believe that all the costumes were great, but the Peter Pan costume could have been a bit more vibrant like how he is represented in the books and other musicals I’ve seen. I also wished they gave him his iconic hat; it would have made it 100%! I thought there could have been more use with the characters with the flying mechanics, and I wish I saw the main
character fly more, especially when they were going to Neverland. I really loved watching the characters fly so seeing them fly more would have been spectacular!
Direct from Domingo!
“Live from New York, it’s Saturday night!” This iconic introduction to the comedy show “Saturday Night Live” (“SNL”) has began making audiences laugh until their stomachs hurt once again. The comeback of “SNL” has been an ongoing debate as of recently. After many viral skits across social media, viewers are questioning whether or not peak “SNL” could be making a return.
For nearly five decades, “SNL” has put a comedic spin on politics, pop culture and relevant events. The television show gave many comedians an opportunity to be recognized for their talent. Comics such as Adam Sandler, Will Ferrel and Tina Fey all received their “big break” on “SNL” and went on to star in many movies and other popular projects.
As icons left the show and new cast members were introduced, “SNL” seemed to hit a dry spell. In 2021, season 47’s pilot brought in some of the lowest ratings in the show’s history. This slow decline in
popularity quickly took a 360 though when the 50th season premiered.
From the start of this pivotal season, the show rerouted their target audience. They are now appealing to Generation Z, as well as older generations. “SNL” began making skits that referenced social media personalities, not just A-list celebrities. The new additions to the cast brought a breath of fresh air, such as Jane Wickline and Emil Wakim, who added diversity in unique ways. The show also began ”blowing up” on other platforms such as TikTok.
As traction built, “SNL” was still not getting the recognition it once had until Oct. 12, 2024 when “Domingo” aired for the first time. This sketch starring Ariana Grande had a magnetic energy that quickly found its way to other apps. With over 150 million views in total in under one month, more people are tuning in now than ever before, but this time it is through a cell phone.
Alila Underwood
Chloe Berten
Cartoon by Alila Underwood
above. Nepomunceno flies above the audience during the performance of, “I’m Flying”
