2009 issue 3

st. teresa’s academy

the

dart

volume 69H issue 3H october 8, 2009

DIVIDING LINES Kansas City is more dangerous than 98 percent of US cities, with the majority of crime concentrated in a few neighborhoods.

Are “safe” neighborhoods like STA’s Brookside separated from crime?

See Pages 12-13

in focus

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the dart H st. teresa’s academy H october 8, 2009

SCIENCE behind

romance A Closer Look H 1. Functional Magnetic Resonance Imagers (fMRIs,-the way to measure and observe activity in the brain.

2. Ventral Tegmental-part of the human brain that creates hormone dopamine.

3. Caudate Nuclei, the section of the brain that is in control of memory and is associated with the feelings of reward, motivation, and pleasure.

4. Nucleus Accumbens-the area of the brain which processes dopamine, seratonin, and oxytocin.

5. Major Histocompatibilty Complex (MHC)-is the genetic make up of an individual’s immune system that is detectable through scent.

Chemical Romance H Senior Susie Ancona engages in a tickle fest with her boyfriend of four months, St. Pius X HIgh School senior Andre Tinoco. According to Ancona their attraction is “really really natural.” Photo by Tracy BurnsYocum

Initial attraction goes deeper than visual attraction and involves biological instinct

by SHAUGHNESSY MILLER News Editor

graphic by Michelle Reichmeier

insideout

Love at first sight You’ve played that game. You make eye contact and quickly look away. You’re pretending not to have noticed the other person when really you remember everything. The way his hair sweeps across his face, the color of his eyes, and whether or not he noticed you too.

When you are attracted to someone, it seems the only factors involved are physical. In reality, your brain, nose and eyes are hard at work. Subconsciously, that is.

An anthropologist at Rutgers University wrote an article which discusses the “attraction system” humans use to choose a mate. She explained that this system could also affect romantic love (a relationship based on both emotions and sexual desires).

Normally, the first quality people notice in others is physical appearance. According to the Time magazine article, “The Science of

Romance,” most men are attracted to curves because they show a woman as able to bear children and nurse them. Men with a broad chest and muscles indicate to women that the man is capable of taking care of and providing for them.

Women are also more attracted to a deep voice.

Studies show that men with deeper voices in the Tanzanian hunter-gatherer community of Hadza fathered more children.

Thinking of you Another factor that is nearly impossible to see, except through functional magnetic resonance imagers (fMRIs), is activity in the brain. Ms. Helen Fisher, an anthropologist at Rutgers University studied these fMRIs in her article, “Romantic Love: An fMRI Study of Neural Mechanism for Mate Choice.” She found that the brain’s ventral tegmental, which creates dopamine, and caudate nuclei, which is responsible for memory, become active when one sees the person they are attracted to. These areas are associated with the feelings of reward, motivation and pleasure. In another article, “Romantic love: a mammalian brain system for mate choice,” Fisher writes that activation also occurs in the brain’s nucleus accumbens, which processes dopamine, seratonin, and oxytocin.

Oxytocin causes humans to bond and explains parental attachment. The function of the nucle-

us accumbens is especially visible in long-term relationships.

In a video titled “The brain in love,” Fisher stated that when love is not returned, you simply work harder to feel that reward in the form of dopamine by becoming more attached to that person. She even suggests that “romantic love is primarily a motivation system, rather than an emotion.”

Romance in the air Your brain is not the only part of you that is working hard. When you are attracted to someone, usually their scent lingers, leaving you wanting more.

Mr. Claus Wedekind of the University of Utah’s Department of Biology has researched the importance of pheromones (chemical substances related to smell) to attraction and found that traces of an individual’s major histocompatibility complex (MHC) are found in their scent. The MHC controls which tissues the immune system will accept as their own, and which they will reject and attack to protect the body.

Humans looking for a mate tend to seek someone who has a unique MHC from themselves. Wedekind conducted an experiment in which men wore a t-shirt for two nights and women later smelled them, selecting the ones See ROMANCE, page 22

Opinion: The Dart investigates the new texting and driving law and finds age limit unfair.

See Page 5

Lifestyles: Find the story behind the infamous “Sisterhood of the Traveling Skirt.”

See Page 10

dartonline news

Dart News Online: The Dart’s website released nine new regular online bloggers.

See Page 22

the dart H st. teresa’s academy H october 8, 2009

Dunlay teaches despite cancer English teacher fights illness, undergoing medical treatments causes daily struggles, changes

by LAURA NEENAN Staff Writer

Last December, English teacher Pat Dunlay woke up with a severe pain in her back and immediately went to the doctor. Dunlay was initially diagnosed with lung cancer, but upon closer inspection doctors discovered the fluid build up in her lungs was caused by breast cancer, which is more easily treated. Although the news of the changed diagnosis was promising, eight days later Dunlay discovered the blood fluid had filled up again and received surgery the next day. Dunlay’s life changed in about a week going from a healthy woman to living with breast cancer.

“This has been a tough year,” Dunlay said. “I am more tired than ever and it’s not just the pain I have to endure.”

Dunlay continues to teach and now has the cancer under control. Although the surgery was unsuccessful in removing the cancer, Dunlay considers herself lucky because she does not have to receive chemotherapy. Dunlay takes medication once a day in hopes that the cancerous tumor will “shrink” until it is so small that it is insignificant.

Along with the side effects of the medicine, Dunlay still suffers from pain from the first surgery. “[The doctors] told me it was a terrible surgery, but what would I know?” Dunlay said. “I had never really had surgery like that before.”

Dunlay currently has positron emission tomography, or PET, scans every three months to monitor the cancer and according to Dunlay, every one that comes back clean is something to celebrate.

Dunlay continues teaching, making this her 21st year at STA. Dunlay currently teaches various English and literature courses including AP literature/college composition and world literature as well as junior and senior English electives British literature and contemporary literature.

“I mostly love the fact that I can be teaching something I love,” Dunlay said. “I love literature, I love language, and I love the fact that I empower young women. I can [empower young women], I think I can, and I feel like I do.”

Senior Laura Yeradi, who took Dunlay’s

Turn it in H English teacher Pat Dunlay accepts a paper to review before her first class on Sept. 28. Last year at this time, her advisees would have been in and out of her room checking in. Photo by Hanna Katz

World Literature class sophomore year and is currently taking British Literature, said Dunlay is known for her advanced teaching style preparing students for college level classes. Yeradi has noticed the cancer affecting Dunlay physically but has seen little changes in her personality. Yeradi says Dunlay has stayed the same loud and vibrant woman that she has always been. “[Dunlay] really has a passion for what she teaches, and doesn’t let the cancer get to her,” Yeradi said.

According to junior Katie Pautler who was previously in Dunlay’s advisory, the girls in the advisory were shocked when they found out the news of her cancer.

“I found out [about Dunlay’s cancer] Christmas break and didn’t believe it at first,” Pautler said. “It was really scary, the first thing people in the advisory had to do was reassure me that she would be okay.”

Because of the daily struggles she endures, Dunlay and previous principal of academic affairs Nancy Hand mutually decided that Dunlay should no longer have the commitment of an

advisory to make things easier for her. For the 2009-2010 school year, Dunlay’s advisory made changes including Ms. Jeanella Clark as a new advisor and moving from the M&A Building to Donnelly Hall.

“Clark is a new advisor so she isn’t quite as comfortable,” Pautler said. “It’s a little bit harder because she doesn’t know us as well as Ms. Dunlay. [Dunlay] would give us advice because she knew us so well, but we’re all making the best of it.”

Dunlay is not yet ready to give up teaching, even if that means making changes such as loosing her advisory.

“They’re having to get used to the idea [of changing advisories], but they will,” Dunlay said. “They’re all happy I am getting a bit of a rest.”

According to Dunlay, she puts almost all of her energy into being a teacher here at STA. “I am kind of living one day at a time,” Dunlay said. “I would like to remain teaching as long as I can but I would just like to feel back to my normal self.” H

STA’s reckless driving causes concern Neighbors complain to school administration about safety on streets MEGAN SCHAFF Opinion Editor

For years, STA’s neighbors have been calling the school and reporting that students are speeding, neglecting to watch for people and cars and refusing to extend courtesy to the houses that surround the school. Already this school year, principal for student affairs Mary Anne Hoecker has received two phone calls; each from different neighbors and each complaining about students’ driving.

“The thing that would truly change a student’s life forever would be if they hit somebody,” Hoecker said. “I know our students. They wouldn’t easily survive that.”

Mr. Steve Bessenbacher, who lives directly across from STA on 57 th Street, agrees that some students speed and do not pay much attention while driving.

“There are a tremendous amount of young children on the street,” Bessenbacher said. “We

have to make sure people are aware of what’s going on.”

Bessenbacher’s wife was one of the neighbors to call this year and alert Hoecker of reckless driving.

According to Bessenbacher, his wife offered to have an off-duty police officer patrol the street if the problem persisted. Hoecker said police watching the street is a definite possibility and it would only take enough neighbors calling in.

“Police visibility might slow our students down,” Hoecker said.

“If police are going to be patrolling this area that could be a signal to [students].”

Bessenbacher said the houses surrounding the school have discussed putting speed bumps in the roads. However, the neighbors decided the problem could be more easily solved by simple courtesy.

“That’s a dramatic solution to a problem that could be solved by mutual respect,” Bessenbacher said. “ We view STA as a neighbor of ours and we do our best to keep our eye on the school and keep it protected. We want to have the same respect back.”

Junior Leah Miller thinks that although police patrolling the area

campus news

3

DARTBOARD

by KYLIE HORNBECK and HANNA KATZ

STA discusses new laptops The STA administration hopes each student will have a net book, a miniature laptop with a longer battery life than a full size laptop, by next school year to increase the use of technology in the curriculum, according to STA President Nan Bone.

Bone claims that to do this, STA will need to become wireless, a current project that she plans to have completed by next semester.

STA is still in the process of fine-tuning its plan for the net book, according to Bone. The administration is working on ways to make the net book cost (which is still an undetermined amount that will be built into the current registration textbook fee) more affordable for students. Bone and the administration are also studying the many minor details that factor into this transition process. They have to make a number of decisions including whether students will lease or own the netbooks and whether or not the school will require students to use the net books.

Bringing the net books to STA will allow students to access a form of technology that will help them both at STA and after graduation.

“In this information age, it is essential STA commit to preparing its young women to work in an evolving, informationcentered, global community,” Bone said.

“STA students should be provided with the opportunity to explore, investigate, analyze, evaluate, design and create using state-of-the-art technology to solve real world problems.” H

Parents form booster club Under the direction of Ms. Billie Deatherage, publications parents gathered on Aug. 22 to discuss the new St. Teresa’s Academy booster club. Journalism at St. Teresa’s Academy, or J@STA, will support the four STA publications, the Windmoor, Teresian, Dart and Dartnewsonline.

The club hopes to be organized by December of this year. Potential committees include publicity/ technology, food night, end of the year banquet, special events/ awards/ scholarships and a student committee. They hope to reach out to the publication staffs through a committee of student editors, one being named the student representative. H

CSC plans Food for Thought

Zoom zoom H A stuent’s car, like many others, hurriedly leaves the STA parking lot. STA girls’ driving habits have raised concerns in the surrounding neighborhood. Photo by Tracy Burns-Yocum

would slow speeding, it could eventually have a negative effect on STA students.

“I think it would be smart to make girls slow down but if they start getting tickets and fines there is going to be a great complaint,” Miller said.

Hoecker thinks STA is capable of changing its ways and keeping

smart driving tactics in mind. The main goal is to be a safe driver and keep other people and cars from harm.

“I would say to all drivers slow down, put the cell phones down, be a careful driver and be courteous,” Hoecker said. “If I could prevent one driver from having an accident it’s well worth it to me.” H

Community Service Club (CSC) hopes to gather more canned goods than ever at its annual Food For Thought event on Halloween this year.

The club invites all students to help the cause by trick-or-treating for canned goods that it will donate to an organization that is still to be determined.

According to event leader and CSC member Kelsey Wendland, CSC hopes for an especially successful event this year because of a few changes from last year. Students will begin trick-or-treating around 4 pm, an earlier start time than used in the past. CSC will put up flyers at local churches and restaurants along with the houses it collects from during the week before the event to attract more interest as well.

“I don’t think we’ve put up flyers at places other than houses before,” Wendland said. “I think this will help remind people [to have canned goods ready] and also draw in some outside interest that we haven’t seen before. Also, I think there’ll be a better turn out [from STA students] because it is earlier this year so people can still go out afterwards.” H

News

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the dart H st. teresa’s academy H october 8, 2009

Law restricts texting for drivers under 21 Missouri legislation to limit inattention of younger drivers

began to read it. She noticed she was veering off the road and tried to turn the wheel, but when it would not turn the way she wanted it to, she turned it the other way. In a panic, she accidentally

by ELIZABETH WILSON pressed the gas and skidded across Managing Editor of Copy the road, hitting a tree.

Gassman’s airbags went off, Junior Sara Gassman has first hand evidence of the effects of the impact breaking her nose, and texting and driving in the form of her car was totaled.

According to Gassman, this a broken nose. Missouri legislature has enacted a new law to stop was the first time she had ever texteens from experiencing such ac- ted while driving and it will certainly be her last. cidents.

According to Hotz, there are no A law banning sending, readstatistics as to how ing or writing an electronic message The Dart asked 135 many people have for Missouri drivers student drivers, “As of been pulled over for ages 21 and under Aug. 28, it is illegal to texting and driving took effect Aug. 28. send, read or write an since Aug. 28.

“Our policy is The law, passed by electronic message while the Missouri legis- driving for people ages 21 that any time there lature, permits law and younger. Have you is a new traffic law, enforcement offi- been following the law we try to issue warncials to stop young since it came into place?” ings and educate the public about the drivers suspected new law for the first of texting and drivcouple of months,” ing.

A violation Hotz said. of this law includes said YES said NO Ms. Laura Bar$200 and two points ton, a recently retired major of the against the driver’s license.

Lt. John Hotz of the Missouri Kansas City Police Department Highway Patrol believes this re- (KCPD), believes the new law has striction was enacted because serious flaws.

“Why does it only apply to texting causes inattention, which takes away from properly operat- drivers under 21?” Barton asked. ing a vehicle. He added that it is “Why are other non-driving redifficult for a driver to pay atten- lated activities not prohibited such tion to changing traffic and speed as reading, applying make-up or dialing a number?” limits if he or she is texting.

According to Hotz, the new “A lot of people think, ‘If I just look away for one second, it’s no law only applies to drivers ages big deal’,” Hotz said. “If you’re 16 through 21 because it takes driving 60 mph, you move 88 ft. young and inexperienced drivers in one second. There’s a lot of five years to go from a beginning driver to an average one. But, opportunity for error.”

On Sept. 25, Gassman went to Hotz added, anyone can be given a get coffee before school started. ticket for weaving, a frequent side As she turned right at a stoplight, effect of texting while driving.

“No matter how old a driver she received a text message and

37% 63%

TTYL H Senior Abby Schleicher composes a text message while pulling out of the STA parking lot. Missouri has recently enacted a law that bans texting while driving for people under 21. Photo by Tracy Burns-Yocum

is, if they are weaving from one side of the road to the other, they can be given a ticket,” Hotz said.

“That is driving in a reckless manner.”

Both Barton and Gassman also believe it will be difficult for police to tell who is texting from who is simply dialing.

“If a driver denies texting, the next step would be to look at the phone,” Barton said. “But if the driver refuses, some legalities come into play as to obtaining the phone against the wishes of the owner.”

According to Hotz, the Highway Patrol will try to give drivers the benefit of the doubt when it comes to issues of texting versus dialing.

“But if their attention seems to be directed to their cell phone for a good amount of time and if they are repeatedly dialing on their cell phone, that is a pretty good indication they are doing more than just making a phone call,” Hotz said.

Gassman believes the new texting and driving law is a good idea.

“I don’t really think people should text and drive at all,” Gassman said. “It causes accidents. [People have texted and driven] and got[ten] killed. I was really lucky.”

According to Barton, the texting law in Missouri is a state law and for now will be enforced only

by Missouri State Troopers and County Deputies. Kansas City will need to enact a city ordinance that mirrors the state law in order for the KCPD to enforce the law.

Barton also commented that the legislative temperament on a national level appears to be moving toward prohibiting cell phone use completely while driving rather than just prohibiting texting. H

Cap and trade bill sets limits on emissions Senate prepares for voting on law full of controversy because of potential costs

by CARA MCCLAIN Staff Writer

The cap and trade bill, which sets a limit on how much greenhouse gases businesses can emit, passed in the House of Representatives in June and now waits for the Senate to vote on it.

The bill’s main goal is to reduce the amount of carbon and greenhouse gases that factories release into the atmosphere. Because the bill could affect everyday Americans, many people are questioning what they are willing to sacrifice for climate change and whether it is worth it.

The Enviromental Protection Agency, or EPA, said on their government website that the idea behind the cap and trade system is to allow businesses to use “pollution credits” in order to emit greenhouse gases, but once the credits are all used up, then the business can’t produce any more pollution. If a business doesn’t use their credits, then they can sell the right to emit pollution to another company.

If a company pollutes over the preset amount of emissions, they can buy an allowance for the extra emissions they produced.

EPA said the bill will “reward innovation, efficiency, and early action and provide

a strict environmental accountability without inhibiting economic growth.”

According to the Heritage Foundation, a conservative policy research institute, the businesses that would be directly affected by the cap and trade bill are the electric utilities, oil refineries and natural gas producers as well as other gas emitting businesses.

Because the bill will require companies to pay allowances for extra emissions, the Heritage Foundation predicted companies like gas and electricity companies will end up raising the price of their products or services to keep up.

The Heritage Foundation said homeowners, small business owners, car owners, property owners and farmers would be indirectly affected because the cost that the cap and trade bill will put on companies would be handed down to consumers.

However, President Obama has said that creating a cap and trade program is necessary and important. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi believes strongly in the cap and trade bill and spoke of the subject in January with the San Francisco Chronicle.

“I believe we have to [pass a cap-and-trade bill] because we see that as a source of revenue,” Pelosi said. “Cap-and-trade is there for a reason. You cap and you trade so you can pay for some of these investments in energy independence and renewables.”

The Sightline Institute, a non-profit research and communication center based in Seattle, believes that the cap and trade bill

will “speed the transition to a clean energy economy.”

Many people like CBS news blogger Declan McCullagh are taking guesses at what the cost of the effects of the bill per family will be. McCullagh said the additional amount of money families will have to pay will be around $1,761 per year. He said it could cost taxpayers anywhere from $100 billion to $200 billion overall.

However the Congressional Budget Office said something different. Their guess is by the year 2020 the cap and trade bill would only cost a family $175 on top of what they are already paying. The Heritage Foundation said it would cost an average family of four $1,870.

EPA has yet to predict the cost of the effects of the bill per family.

Over time the government will make the cap smaller as soon as companies have grown accustomed to it, so they can reach the goal of polluting the least amount of greenhouse gases as possible.

The government can take a cap and trade system and apply it to many different programs, so it is not unique to the bill that is in the Senate right now. In fact, there are other cap and trade programs in effect like the Acid Rain Program and Clean Air Interstate Rule.

In the 1990’s, the Acid Rain Program, whose goal is to reduce sulfur dioxide emissions that cause acid rain, saw 100 percent compliance. The predicted cost of the program per year was $6 billion annually but actually cost between $1.1 to $1.8 billion. H

There she blows H The smoke stack at the Hawthorne Power Plant sends a pillar of smoke filled with pollutants, into the air. The new Cap and Trade Program will restrict the amount of carbon gases that can be released into the atmosphere. Photo by Tracy Burns-Yocum

the dart H st. teresa’s academy H october 8, 2009

opinion

Texting Terrors

After witnessing several car accidents caused by text messaging drivers, the grim reaper had become well-versed in texting language.

Remove age limit, then we’ll talk Slowly drifting out of lanes, abrupt stops, slow acceleration, long paus- distracted because they were texting or talking on their phones. If a police officer notices a distracted driver, he or she has to see, first, if the driver es. We all see this and think "that person's probably texting."

A law passed in Missouri Aug. 28 banning drivers under the age of 21 is texting, then if that driver is under 21. If he or she pulls over the driver, only to discover that the driver is over the age of 21, or if the driver wasn't from texting while operating a vehicle.

Everyone texts. So why enforce this texting ban with only people under texting after all, it will waste the police officer's time.

Having a law that includes drivers of all walks of life would be easier to the age of 21? Really, the law only applies to a driver for five years, assumenforce and would be a precautionary measure not much different from the ing someone starts driving at the age of 16.

According to a Nationwide Insurance study, 20 percent of all drivers text law that is in effect right now.

According to an article published in the Kansas City Star last Wedneswhile operating their vehicles. Not 20 percent of drivers 21 and younger, day, the Obama administration has declared that but 20 percent of all drivers. texting and talking on the phone while driving Why the age limit then? We all know that has become an epidemic. Last year, there were texting while driving is reckless, but not just for approximately 6,000 deaths reported due to the people under the age of 21. According to a study so-called "epidemic," with accidents, injuries and by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, deaths escalating each year. While the governthose who text while driving have a 23 percent ment is taking action on a nation-wide scale, our higher chance of having an accident than drivers state government is only prohibiting a tenth of its who aren’t texting. population from texting while driving.

Sorry to say it, but young people are way betout of editors voted in Many politicians are pushing legislation that ter texters than our parents, who still have trouble would make states ban texting while driving. If using their e-mail accounts in this day and age. support of this editorial. a state doesn’t pass a law banning the epidemic, However, our state legislators decided to prohibit the consequence would be a loss of 25 percent of texting only from the people who do it best. government-provided annual funds for state highThis law would be positive legislation if there was no age limit. It's a bit ageist of law-makers to enforce this, to take a ways. Hop on board Missouri and Kansas! Or the condition of our streets right away from young people, but not from old. Taking away this right will become even worse.

In Kansas, a law prohibiting drivers 16 and a half or younger from usfrom young people but not from adults makes it seem like our state lawmakers only oppose texting while driving when it's done by a young person. ing a cell phone while driving will take effect in January. This is an even But when an adult is texting and driving, they show no objection, appar- smaller percentage of the population than the Missouri law affects. These ently, and deem it appropriate. But, the fact is, texting is dangerous for laws will make little to no difference on the effect texting has on drivers because they apply to so few people. every driver.

We can all agree that texting while driving is dangerous, but this law Recently, when Governor Jay Nixon was asked why texting was banned only for people under the age of 21, he quickly responded by saying that sta- won't help the problem. It's a personal choice whether to text while you tistically, more young adults get in car accidents as a result of texting. But drive. Most young people probably will avoid texting behind the wheel not Mister Governor, teens get in more crashes period, regardless of whether to be safe, but to avoid the possible $200 fine that comes with breaking this they're texting or not. People with little driving experience will always get law in 0Missouri.

Like 19 other states, including nearby Arkansas and the District of Coin more accidents than people with more experience.

According to the 2008 AAMI Young Drivers Index, 52 percent of young lumbia, both Missouri and Kansas should pass laws banning texting while driver crashes are caused by inattention. In many cases, these drivers were driving fom all drivers, not just those under the age of 21. H

The staff editorial represents the views of The Dart editorial board 6 6

5

6 I know that I am New age, new punishment: email is the way to go taller than your an opinion by dad; back off

opinion

the dart H st. teresa’s academy H october 8, 2009

an opinion by

Taylor Irwin

Paige Wendland “You’re really tall.”

I can guarantee I’ve heard that extremely obvious statement at least a few thousand times. Here’s a news flash for those of you out there who remind me of this wonderful attribute on an hourly basis: I know I’m tall.

I don’t need to be told every 8 minutes. No, I would not like to stand up so you can feel twice as short. No, I don’t play basketball.

And no, I don’t play volleyball. You know, some people might be very offended if you called them a waste of a tall person. But, yes, I do enjoy towering over just about every other girl my age. It gets kind of fun.

And I know you’re jealous. You should be.

Being a 6' 4", 15-year-old girl may draw a lot of attention, but I think it's fantastic.

However, some people have developed an uncanny proficiency in the art of stating the obvious. Although you may think I’d be elated to hear that I’m as tall as your dad or your entire hand is smaller than my palm, I'm not that interested.

I admit I enjoy other people's excitement in small things — feeling miniscule when standing next to me, for instance. But it gets old. Really old.

"Do you know your feet are bigger than mine?" the five-foot girl standing in line next to me at Panera said. "Why yes I do!"

I responded with way too much enthusiasm. She stared at me like I'm a maniac and walked away silently. I laughed.

Though I may cast an uncontrollably ominous shadow toward people sometimes, I am not plotting to ferociously attack them anytime soon (just because your head may only come to my shoulder does not mean that I have to be a scary, intimidating, Iwill-eat-you monster).

I have friends who are under 5 feet that can walk next to me and I won’t even notice the difference. The other day, though, I saw a girl around my age who appeared to be about 6 feet tall, and I thought, “Oh my gosh. She’s really tall.” Then I realized: I’m 4 inches taller than her. Sweet.

In the future, please consider whether telling me, “you’re really tall,” when I stand up is important. And to the new crop of freshmen: most people do not enjoy being stared at constantly in a free or having their every move monitored.

On the subject of nicknames: please be creative. "Jolly Green Giant" does not qualify. I have been called "Dinopaiger," "Paj Mahal," and "Leaning Tower of Paigea," so I am definitely used to being referred to as a prehistoric creature or ancient piece of architecture.

Next time you see me, please avoid the mind-numbingly repetitive conversation I’ve had too many times: “You’re really tall.”

“I know.” “How tall are you?” “6’4”.”

“Okay then. Bye.” “Goodbye.” H

“Taylor Marie Irwin.”

Uh-oh, I’m in trouble now. I think it’s pretty safe to assume that every child, teenager and toddler alike, knows to run and hide when mom or dad utters the middle name.

A whole world of not-so-great possibilities opens up with just that one addition. But now, as I have grown older, I have a new sound to fear.

“You’ve got mail.”

My heart drops into my stomach whenever I see a forwarded email from Michelle Irwin; most of the time titled “Taylor Irwin, Progress Report for [insert math class here]”. My brain hurriedly rushes through all recent activities; what was my last quiz grade? When is the next test? Did I turn in all my homework?

Hesitantly, I open the email.

“This grade is unacceptable, Taylor,” the email reads. “If you don’t talk to your teacher, I will. Consider yourself under surveillance until the next report.”

The humorous part was that the email was dated three days ago and I haven’t heard a word about it. That’s the funny thing about

mother dearest: she never talks to me about my grades; she just types.

Our conversations are restricted solely to cyberspace, and usually one-sided at that. Sometimes, I’m even grounded wirelessly.

Take freshmen year, for example, when the whole email system first began for me. Half way into the first semester of Algebra I, my grade began to take a turn for the worst; the beginning of the end if you will. What would soon become ritual, I opened the forwarded email to be greeted with the obtrusive red D+ letter grade with an attached note from my mother.

“This can’t happen, Taylor,” the email read.

“This is not a good way to be in your freshmen year, this shapes the rest of high school. You’re grounded until I receive notice that your grade has been improved.”

Ouch, right?

Now, I want to make something clear; I’ve never been a math person and can pretty much guarantee I have absolutely no future in the mathematics department. All you people out there who actually know more than the first two digits of pie, or is it pi? Yeah, I’m not so sure we’d get along very well.

You see, I’m a fan of words, which is why I take part in lovely student organizations like The Dart and not the mathletes. I applaud (and even envy) your abilities, but it’s just not me.

So whenever I see a forwarded progress report from my mom, I know it’s not good news.

So while most girls who receive less-thansatisfactory grade reports grit their teeth as they bear the verbal beating of “This is absolutely unacceptable behavior,”, “We don’t pay X amount of dollars for you to perform like this,” (that’s about the extent of my algebra in everyday life, might I add) or “We expect more from you” I’m

stuck staring at a computer screen which connects me to a person who is definitely not very happy with me.

Although I like the continuous updates my mother sends my way, sometimes it’s inefficient in getting her point across. Usually, I don’t see the e-mail until several days after it was sent and my grounding is over-rided because I’m left unaware that I’m currently on lockdown.

This is mostly a benefit — until I come home and am informed of my convict status and my jail time has increased.

Often I find myself wondering how my mom goes about like nothing is troubling her, when I know in the back of her mind she’s concerned about my ever-changing grades.

It just plainl confuses me, when she hands over a $10 bill for some gas when 10 minutes prior I received an online lashing. It’s like our Ethernet connection brings out a new side in her.

Lately, I’ve come to realize my mom believes in me the way only a mother can; and while she knows I’m working hard in all my classes, she is expressing the need for me to do better in the best way she knows how.

By telling me my performance is lacking — her words, not mine — via email, it’s her way of letting me know I need to do better, without putting me on the spot. She knows I’m capable of more and this is the way she chooses to inform me. And while it may be confusing, it is also in a way, endearing.

When I prematurely warned my mom about this piece, revealing to her that her methods would be publicized all over the STA campus, she wasn’t too thrilled.

“Taylor,” whined Michelle Irwin. “Please don’t make me sound like some weird mom. I do it to remind you, not scare you.” H

The fabulous life of a first year DartNewsOnline webbie an opinion by

Betsy Tampke As I pass Matt Stewart in the hallway I give him a highly significant look, not in an effort to woo him with my eyes, rather to say “I’m one of you.” Following right behind him is Sydney Deatherage, who holds up three fingers and addresses me as “W.” When I get home from school my phone buzzes with texts that aren’t meant for me, but for the entire school. Next I log into a fictional character’s Facebook account and obsess over what her status should be.

Why do I get to do all of this?

Because it’s my first year on staff, and I’m a webbie.

Which, naturally, entitles me to consider myself an equal with Technology Coordinator Matt Stewart, have a hand signal created by Sydney Deatherage to identify fellow staffers, forward texts to Twitter, and secretly be Teresa Dart on Facebook... well I guess it’s not a secret anymore.

This year five Dart staffers built www. dartnewsonline.com using the Wordpress program. Its intention, to keep The Dart’s news coverage up to date with the ever progressing and changing world of news coverage.

I am the only member of web staff who has never been on Dart staff before, yet remarkably I still earned the title, “Web Publicity

Get Clicking H The DartNewsOnline website was released Sept. 4 at the Fall pep rally. The new web staff is made up of five Dart staffers Photo by Tracy Burns-Yocum

Manager.”

Impressive right?

Almost as impressive as the new slew of technical sounding words I picked up in my journey through the world of the web. In order to sounds as smart as possible, I try to use these new words whenever I can. For example, if you are passing me in the hall one day as I am talking to Morgan Said, fellow webbie, you might hear me say, “Last night, while trying to organize our Adsense account, I noticed that our Google Analytics ratings, installed by tracker codes, were up. I also noticed that our google ratings are climbing due to our increased amount of meta data. Log on to your word press account to see for yourself on our widgets, dashboard, and gazettes.”

Sounds fancy right?

Before you are completely overcome by

my awe-inspiring use of vocabulary, keep in mind that I probably used about a third of those words incorrectly, I haven’t even figured out how to set up our Adsense account, and I am unsure if any of the programs I set up are working like they should be. Mainly because I have had to teach myself everything out of a book, test it by trial and error, and for the most part I have a very narrow idea of what I’m supposed to be doing.

And I’m not only talking about web terms.

At the beginning of this year I had never been a part of The Dart staff, and suddenly I was the sole person in charge of promoting it. I had never used Twitter and I was now in charge of every single tweet that goes up there. Facebook became an entirely different kind of friend.

I taking my first plunge into the mysterious, terrifying waters of newspaper, like many of my fellow first years. But they were jumping off of the high dive, while I was cliff diving.... as an amateur swimmer... in shark infested water... in the middle of a category five hurricane.

Like five blind mice trying to put together a jigsaw puzzle the web staff is trying to piece together a site that embodies STA with no guide to tell us what to do, how to do it, and most importantly how not to screw it up.

With most of us working on the website and the print, were walking a fine line between The Dart’s traditions and The Dart’s future. As journalists are trying to cling to their print papers, terrified of multimedia coverage; STA is boldly marching into the future with a battle cry of “WWW.DARTNEWSONLINE.COM”.

So Matt Stewart, next time I see you in the hall, don’t act so creeped out. H

7 The deadly circle has a solution at last It’s never too late to call a sibling truce the dart H st. teresa’s academy H october 8, 2009

an opinion by

Cassie Redlingshafer There is a despised circle of death at STA; one that could be stopped with just 12 oz. of caffeine.

It all starts on Sunday nights when girls, understandably, don’t start their homework until 7 p.m., stay up until 1 a.m. working on it, and still depend on morning frees to “finish things up” or just, “look things over.”

Monday mornings are spent in a half-awake state, but the half that is awake is focused on finishing left-over homework. Since we aren’t awake for these classes, our Monday night homework becomes virtually impossible because we don’t understand what we learned in class. We were busy doing homework or dozing off, remember?

This worthless morning then leads to lunch where most girls are finally awake.

Lunch is followed by a food-induced, spastic activity time which abruptly ends once 9-10 begins. I don’t think STA girls are ever really awake for 9-10 because after stuffing our faces and being hyper, we naturally crash.

Once 11-12 starts, we come around and are almost completely focused until there are about 37 minutes left of 15-16. Then, our time is spent hoping a torrential downpour will miraculously fall from the sky so the dreaded after-school practices will be canceled and we can go home and nap.

This evil circle repeats daily because once we arrive home, which for many of us isn’t until around 6 p.m. due to extracurriculars, we have hours of homework. We inevitably don’t finish it, so it carries over to the next day.

The cycle could end if one innocent caffeinated drink could be purchased at school.

One during lunch would make us productive in the afternoon so we could make a dent in our stack of homework, enabling us to go to sleep earlier and actually pay attention in our morning classes.

Offering caffeine would not only stop the circle of death, but would also stop people from going on covert missions in an attempt to rebel against the circle. They stealthily sneak into the teachers’ lounge to buy caffeinated drinks. These girls risk SBRs, detentions and pride, for 12 oz. of the canned energy they need to get through the day.

Caffeine is “unhealthy” and therefore not an option in the vending machines, but we are offered chips, candy and pop tarts which, according to Forbes Magazine, are less healthy than soda. So how does that work?

If STA gives us six plus hours of homework each night, they should offer us 12 oz. of caffeine. H

an opinion by

Avery Adams Head-banging, thrasher metal music blasting from surround-sound speakers religiously every night? Sure! Whines of “Will you take me there? Avery! Come pick me up here!”

Why not! Twenty dollar McDonald’s trips at 11 p.m. on school nights? You betcha! Who doesn’t love having a freshman brother living just a wall away?

When Henry and I were little, we were enemies. We competed in almost everything: who could fit the most grapes into their mouth, who could run the fastest bare-footed, who was brave enough to yell the loudest in church, who could make Mom the most angry. All in good fun… for the most part.

The competitions used to define our relationship as brother and sister. However, now that we’re both much older, and, well, somewhat more mature, I’ve come to look at Henry as more than just an arch nemesis.

Now when I need someone to accompany me to PetCo for a new fish, a tour guide around Westport or someone for mere entertainment, Henry’s there. When he needs help with hon-

opinion

ors biology homework, picking out new clothes, that “are comfortable, don’t look girly but don’t look like [he] tries to look good” or a neighborhood-football teammate, I’m there. In a way, it’s like having a sidekick.

My mom used to always tell my brothers and sister and I that one day “we’ll be each others’ best friends.” Sounds really cheesy, right?

Now that we’re all older though, I can see what she meant. I now see just how important it is for siblings to get along, because whether you like it or not, you’re stuck with them for the rest of your life, so you might as well be friends.

There are some risks involved when befriending your sibling, however. Especially if he is a testosterone filled, teenage boy. If you bring your senior girlfriends around when your brother “just happens” to be shirtless and “wanting to go to the gym,” they will almost always be confused and will giggle awkwardly.

And if your brother invites all the “bros” over before a Rockhurst football game, there will be no food left in the kitchen and dishes strewn throughout the house.

These risks, however annoying and weird they may be, make our friendship all the more entertaining and worthwhile. Oh and if any of you readers are worried that Henry will disagree with anything in this article, don’t worry. He’s read it. And his response?

“Make sure you put my phone number in that…you know, for all the single St. Teresa’s girls.”

So there you have it! My brother, best friend and womanizer! Now go out there and befriend your siblings! H

It’s the end of the world as we know it, and we’ve got a lot of work to do an opinion by

Sure there are theories, but it is an unanswer- To me, the “Kingdom of God” will be present when the entire world able question. I like is at peace and we’ve unanswerable quesall done what Jesus and tions because I have here will be acGod have told us to do the freedom to be a million times. That ceptance, not prejlike Nostradamus and way, we won’t really make my own theory. udice.

Love, not hate. be dead. (Well accordI believe the world Peace, not war. Clear ing to Jesus and God will end the moment it we never really die, is at peace. skin, not zits.” but you know what I It’s a little sad to mean.) The earthly think we’re working for peace just to die the moment we grasp it, but world will be over and the heavenly world will begin. There will be acceptance, not prejudice. that’s not exactly what I mean.

We’ve all learned about “The Kingdom of Love, not hate. Peace, not war. Clear skin, not God” and how it’s supposedly a pretty cool place. zits.

“T

Rosie Hodes When is the world going to end? According to those genius Mayans and that creepily prophetic Nostradamus, we only have until 2012. If that’s true, we better start living.

the Adviser Mr. Eric Thomas

Editor-in-Chief Rosie Hodes

Managing Editor of Copy Web Editor-In-Chief Elizabeth Wilson Sydney Deatherage Managing Editor of Photos Tracy Burns-Yocum Managing Editor of Web Centerspread Editor Morgan Said Sports Editor Taylor Brown Mollie Pointer Web Multimedia Editor In Focus Editor Kayla Loosen Entertainment Editor Taylor Irwin Web Technology Editor Micah Wilkins Michelle Reichmeier News Editor Features Editor Web Publicity Manager Shaughnessy Miller Madalyne Bird Betsy Tampke Opinion Editor Photographer Writers & Photographers Megan Schaff Avery Adams Chelsea Birchmier Kathleen Hough Assistant Photographer Lifestyles Editor Katie Hyde Hanna Katz Caroline Thompson Cara McClain Molly Meagher Academics Editor Laura Neenan Graphics Editor Kylie Hornbeck Cassie Redlingshafer Julia Stapinski Paige Wendland

dart

This may be naive of me, but it is more comforting than the more logical ice-caps-melting, ozone-layer-crumbling, slow-demise-of-the-human-species theories.

But, if my theory is true, God is going to have to use all His tricks to save us from the ice caps and the atmosphere before we figure out how to get along with each other. I told a friend my theory and her response was, “Well, we’re screwed.”

We’ve been through some tough times before, so I’m sure we can change our habits and cause the peaceful end of the world, not the scary end...

Well, maybe my theory is more of a long term — very long term — goal. Sorry Mayans and Nostradamus, we’re going to miss the deadline. H

staff

Ownership and sponsorship: The Dart is created by the student newspaper staff and is published by general operating funds of St. Teresa’s Academy, a Catholic institution sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondolet. The Dart will not publish opinions that contradict the teachings and beliefs of the Catholic Church, whether on a diocesan or worldwide level.

Editorial Policy: The staff of the Dart is subject to prior review by the St. Teresa’s Academy administrative team in circumstances that concern student safety and illegal behaviors by students. Otherwise, the policies above will guide the Dart. The Dart intends to be a public forum for voices regardless of diverse ages, sexes, races, cultures, religions, or beliefs. Signed columns reflect the opinions of the individual, not necessarily the newspaper staff or the school community.

Letters Policy: The Dart encourages letter to the editor about topics covered by the paper or other issues. Letters can be sent in the following ways: in person to Mr. Eric Thomas in Music & Arts 205; by mail to St. Teresa’s Academy, Attn: Eric Thomas, 5600 Main Street, Kansas City, Mo 64113; or by e-mail to ethomas@stteresasacademy.org or to dartopinions@hotmail.com. Letters should be limited to 250 words. The Dart staff reserves the right to edit or shorten letters for publication.

Photo Illustrations: Photo illustrations are conceptual photos that combine the limitless possibility of the drawing with the realism of the photograph.

Corrections Policy: The Dart will print corrections as soon as possible after the error is discovered.

academics

8

the dart H st. teresa’s academy H october 8, 2009

Students take small classes, retain focus STA’s smallest classes

Out of the 124 courses in the curriculum, STA enrolls eight students or fewer in 11 full year, first semester (S1), or second semester (S2) classes

Four on one H Seniors Tracy Burns-Yocum, from left, Maggie Dunn, Kayla Loosen and junior Mary Frey sit among several empty desks in Mr. Mike Egner’s classroom. The four girls are only students in Mr. Egner’s college western civilization I class. Photo by Hanna Katz

STA offers singleton classes, students build relationships with teachers, classmates

by KATHLEEN HOUGH Staff Writer

A student entered Mr. Mike Egner's college western civilization I class on her first day of school this year and noticed something unusual: there seemed to be more Royals baseball bobble heads in the classroom than students.

Over the years, STA has provided many "singleton" courses, classes that only have one available meeting time per day. This year, STA has seen the smallest numbers of students enrolled in these classes, academic scheduler Kathy Walters said.

STA is able to have singleton classes because it has a small student body and uses modular scheduling. The STA administration believes these singleton classes should be offered despite the small number of students registered. Senior Maggie Dunn is one of four students enrolled in her west-

ern civilization class this year. "[Being in a smaller class] is a lot different from being in a larger class," Dunn said. "You don’t have to raise your hand, you can just talk out when you want and ask questions when you want to."

According to Walters, STA has 16 singleton classes this year; seven of which are college courses. These courses include classes such a western civilizations I and II, college composition, AP biology, Spanish IV, Latin III, and Latin IV. Over half of the singletons contain under 10 students.

"We have singletons in the schedule because we need to have a variety of courses for all students’ interests," Walters said. "In each scheduling year, students interests vary, so one year we could have one section of a class, but the next year we might have two or three because more students want to take it."

The smallest number of students in a singleton occurs in intermediate dance, where only two students are enrolled: juniors Alexa Fowlkes and Tessa Jianas. However, Jianas departed Monday for Eugene, Oregon to rehearse and perform seven shows of the ballet "Sleeping Beauty." While she is away for over a month, Fowlkes remains the only student currently participating in the class.

"It's really weird being the only one in my class," Fowlkes said. "When Tessa first explained to me that she was going to be gone I was kind of freaking out but have since then I've thought it is going to be okay. I really enjoy the class and have fun with [dance teacher Andrea Skowroneck]."

Junior Lilly Kraus is currently taking astronomy, a singleton class of ten students. Kraus finds the small class size to be beneficial.

"In astronomy, there’s a lot more group discussion," Kraus said. "If you don’t understand a concept, usually you’re not the only one in your class who doesn’t and so you can go over it more in-depth, without feeling like you have held back the rest of the class."

According to Dunn, these smaller classes also provide a more focused learning environment.

"I pay attention more in [western civilization] to the lectures because there isn't really anyone to distract me," Dunn said. "It feels like it's just Mr. Egner and you because he talks to you directly, one-on-one."

Through singletons, Kraus has been able to form new relationships with other students.

"There are girls in class who I don’t think I really would have talked to if hadn’t taken astronomy," Kraus said. "Now I've been able to form

Class

Students enrolled

1.College Western Civilization II (S2)

2

2. Instrumental Music

2

3. Intermediate Dance (S1)

2

4. College Latin IV

3

5. College Western Civilization I (S1)

4

6. Intermediate Dance (S1)

5

7. Technical Theater (S2)

5

8. Debate/Speech (S1)

6

9. Debate/Speech (S2)

6

10. Homepage (S2)

6

11. Technical Theater (S1)

8

new friendships with diverse girls outside of my friend-group."

Although there are benefits to being in these singleton classes, Kraus and Dunn believe these courses also come with their fair share of challenges.

"The attention is more on you," Kraus said.

"For example, in some of my larger classes, if I forget to do my homework, I feel like it’s more unnoticed. But in a class where there's only nine of us, if I didn’t read or something, there’s only so many people [astronomy teacher Terry Conner] can call on for a question about the reading."

According to Dunn, the empty classroom can also be irritating at times.

"When people are sick or something in the class, you kind of feel lonely," Dunn said. "Also, if you miss a class, it’s kind of hard to find someone to get notes from."

Overall, Kraus enjoys the experience of having both small and large classes during the school day.

"I don't think I would like to have a schedule with all tiny classes," Kraus said. "I think it's good that I have some classes where I know it will be the same group of girls, but I also like being able to see a new group of girls, too." H

Science bowl team looks to attract freshmen Despite advertising, team seeks freshmen with little success

by KATIE HYDE Staff Writer

After distributing flyers to all freshmen mailboxes, hanging posters around campus and making daily announcements, science teacher Mary Montag was not surprised when two freshmen out of a class of 142 girls attended the first meeting.

In her 11 years of moderating the science quiz bowl, Montag has noticed a pattern in enrollment: freshmen do not join as often as upperclassmen. According to Montag, there is only one reason why freshmen are not involved in her team: they are not as familiar with the material as upperclassmen.

“Quite honestly a freshman is

not going to know as much as an upperclassman in many categories [of science bowl competitions],” Montag said. “They just have not had the courses [an upperclassman has taken].”

The science quiz bowl is an academic team of about 20 students who meet weekly to learn science trivia and prepare for two annual competitions, the Avila University Women's Science and Math Challenge in November and the National Science Bowl at Rockhurst University in February. At Avila, questions are multiple choice, and the top members of each team compete by answering questions on paper. At Rockhurst, groups of up to five members partake in a four-round competition with differently formatted questions. The teams use buzzers and can only consult with teammates before buzzing.

Although she has not taken botany, chemistry or biology, freshmen Meaghan Coble joined the team along with fellow freshmen Ruby Dibble to

get involved at STA. "When I heard about the team, I was really excited for an opportunity to get involved in science and to meet other students," Coble said. "I think the quiz bowl is a great way to learn science and to have fun. Since I've joined, I have not felt at a disadvantage on the team. All the upperclassmen are really welcoming."

Although science trivia challenged past freshmen, according to Montag, freshmen give another reason for not joining: their friends do not.

Sophomore Megan Hodes, who joined the team this year, believes social influences impacted her decision not to join her freshman year, when two freshmen were on the team.

“I heard about [the team] from other girls, but I did not do that sort of thing when I was a freshman because it seemed like it was only for the upperclassmen,” Hodes said.

“Also, none of my friends were doing it. If you are a freshmen who does not know the other girls [on the

Short pause H Sophomore Maddie Dang pauses while talking to Ms. Mary Montag during the science team’s meeting Monday. Last year Dang was one of two freshmen on the team. Photo by Hanna Katz

team] it is kind of awkward. But now that I have joined the team [as a sophomore], I realize the girls are all really welcoming.”

Coble encourages her classmates

to get involved at STA, despite their friends' choices.

"Freshmen, branch out!" Coble said. "Everyone at STA is so welcoming." H

close up

the dart H st. teresa’s academy H october 8, 2009

9

FAMILY MATTERS

“Family Matters” is a three part series, exploring parents’ relationships with their teens.

Part 1: Single mother and daughter Part 2: Divorced parents Part 3: Supported by a sibling

Family Portrait H Junior Elle Rauch, left, and her mother Ms. Anne Rauch pose for a photo in their fron yard on Oct. 5. Anne has raised Elle alone for 16 years. Photo by Hanna Katz

Single mother, daughter find perfect relationship Junior Elle Rauch, mother discover two-person family ideal, bond as partners

by ROSIE HODES Editor-in-chief

Sixteen years ago, a partnership began.

At age 35, single mother, Ms. Anne Rauch, gave birth to her daughter, junior Elle Rauch on Jul. 16, 1993. Since then, the pair has lived together in St. Louis and in Kansas City. They have not felt the hardships of a stereotypical single parent atmosphere, and believe their relationship is much stronger because of their circumstances.

“Growing up with just me and [my mom] for 16 years, it has made us a lot closer, I think, than if I had siblings or if I had a dad that lived with us,” Elle said. “All we really have is each other so we lean on each other.”

When Anne was pregnant, she and Elle’s father decided not to get married and Anne raised her daughter on her own, with the help of her family and friends. As opposed to half of the technically single mothers polled by Babytalk Magazine who have some sort of parenting partner in their lives, Anne has refrained from dating and kept Elle her “number one priority.”

“I’m content in my life and I never looked outside to make my life happier,” Anne said.

at a glance in

300

words

Modeled after Brady Dennis’ original 300 word series, this series captures people and moments in 300 words: no more, no less.

by MORGAN SAID Web Managing Editor

“I think of her as an equal partner and we Anne, and many single mothers across the just make sure we cover all areas of our lives country, think a positive aspect is the freethat need to be covered,” Anne said. “We dom to raise her child on her terms and not worry about who has to kill bugs and who has have to argue with someone else over the to fix stuff when it’s broken. The emotional best strategy. Elle and Anne agree that havpart of it has never been hard.” ing just one parent shows Elle a clear balance Because Anne was prepared at 35 to cover between discipline and friendship. all the responsibilities that come along with “I think we have created certain boundmotherhood, she supports the idea that an aries that [Elle] knows exist, and when she increase of single crosses or gets closer mothers is due to a to the boundaries I changing culture in stop being a friend America; women are and operate as a pare worry about now able to support ent,” Anne said. a child on their own According to who has to kill and no longer find a Anne, “because Elle bugs and who has to fix partner necessary. is such a good kid,” In 1993, when the Rauches usually stuff when it’s broken.

Elle was born, apfunction as friends. proximately 30 Elle thinks her reThe emotional part of it percent of births in lationship with her has never been hard. ” the US were from mom is unique comunmarried women, pared to her friends Anne Rauch, mother according to the that live with both Center for Disease parents.

Control and Preven“Most of the time tion (CDC). Today, the rate is approximately [my mom]’s really easy to talk to about 40 percent. The increase is not an isolated things,” Elle said. “I feel like I can go to her problem among teens and low income womabout anything and not fear that she’ll freak en. In fact, the percent of teenage non-marout on me. She’ll let me talk before she says ital births declined from 50 percent in 1970 anything.” to 23 percent in 2007, according to the CDC. Anne said she has created a friendly reAnne said she hopes that her experience will lationship by making her expectations and teach Elle to be prepared if something unexboundaries clear, and by sharing responsipected ever comes up in her life. bilities with Elle.

“W

Daddy’s Little Girl The first year in St. Louis was awful.

The second, lonely.

And the third, dull.

St. Louis was where junior Sierra Stanton lived, but it was never really home. However, on an early June morning, she was finally preparing to return to life as

she once knew it.

Her clothes were packed. The desk in her room was taken apart and ready to load into the minivan. She took one last look at her St. Louis room before turning her back for good. She couldn’t believe it was actually happening she finally convinced her mom and grandma to let her move back to Kansas City with her dad.

She had missed him, her best friend. She missed attending his band’s gigs and listening to old records with him. For the first time

“I always tell her to make a life for herself - to have a career and background so she can make those choices,” Anne said. “So she knows that she’s got every option out there.

No one chooses necessarily to be a single parent.”

Although Anne and Elle think the emotions involved in a two-person family are easy, they have had trouble with smaller problems in the past, such as finding suitable babysitters. According to Elle, she went through countless babysitters, and even one who convinced her that ants could eat people.

While Elle’s fear of ants has cooled since she was eight, she knows her mom has trouble leaving her alone when she travels for work.

Anne is an attorney for the Environmental Protection Agency, and travels to St. Louis for trials every few months.

“I think traveling’s definitely making [my mom] nervous because I’m at the age where I can start staying home alone more...but she doesn’t know how much freedom to give me,” Elle said.

Despite these challenges, Elle and Anne see their two-person family as positive, overall. They both agree that growing up with a single mother will most greatly affect how Elle raises her children.

“I’m hoping it makes her more self-assured to see that I can do it on my own,” Anne said. “I tell her to take advantage of all the opportunities in her life so she can function as a one-parent-one-child family or a two-parent-ten-child family some day.” H

in three years, Sierra and her dad wouldn’t have to limit their relationship to two phone calls a day; instead, they could now eat dinner together and talk face-to-face every evening.

Of course, leaving her mom in her St. Louis apartment alone would be difficult. After a tearful embrace and promises to call every day, she shut the van door and headed out.

As she sits on her bed, she scans the bedroom she has always dreamt about returning to: the one

with the purple walls, the bookshelf with a countless number of her favorite books and the two dressers to store her clothes. Her boxer, Delilah, pants beside her as she completes her homework, and thinks to herself how lucky she is to have her life back.

Although she misses her mom and grandma, she would never choose to live go back and live in St. Louis again. Sierra is perfectly content with her life in Midtown.

Because, like they say, there’s no place like home. H

Lifestyles

10

the dart H st. teresa’s academy H october 8, 2009

Dance do’s Campus ministry Follow this guide to create fun hairstyles for Teresian dance or any formal event

by CAROLINE THOMPSON Lifestyles Editor

welcomes interest

Ballerina bun

Kathleen McClain, senior

A loose bun is an elegant style perfect for a dress with straps. To get this hair: 1. Using hot rollers or a curling iron, curl hair in different layers, starting with the bottom and moving to the top layers.

2. Gather the curly locks into a ponytail, leaving out bangs or the front section of hair.

3. Twist the ponytail into a ballerina bun and secure it using bobby pins.

4. Apply hair spray to guarantee the curls will stay intact.

5. Add a flower, ribbon or brooch to add a special touch!

Curly n’ girly This style works well with a strapless dress and takes 35 minutes to create. For this look: 1. Naturally part hair.

2. Curl hair in as loose or tight of curls as desired with a curling iron or a Chi. 3. Take two pieces of hair from each side of head and individually twist back.

4. Bobby pin each strand towards the middle back of head.

5. Use excessive amounts of hair spray and bobby pins to keep curls and twists luscious!

Megan Caffrey, senior

Teresian twist

Haley Mize, senior

This twist keeps stray hairs out of the way and is simple, yet fun. To make this style: 1. Naturally part hair and section off hair about 2 inches deep from hair line.

2. With that section of hair, make a French braid with only two strands of hair (more like a French twist) and stop near the ear.

3. Twist the two strands without adding more hair, and put all your hair in a ponytail.

4. Take some hair from your ponytail, wrap it around the ponytail holder (so you can’t see it), secure with bobby pins.

Photos by Tracy Burns-Yocum

Listen up H Campus ministry leader and senior Anne Marie Whitehead listens intently at the Faith in Action meeting Sept. 25 in the auditorium. Whitehead was one of the main student participants in campus ministry. Photo by Avery Adams

Ministry involvement expands, documents record attendance

by KYLIE HORNBECK Academics Editor

A record count of students attended this school year's first campus ministry meeting, even though campus ministry did not do anything differently to attract students than in previous years.

"Over the course of the 10 years I've been here, we've seen a steady increase in student involvement [in campus ministry]," campus ministry department head Robin Good said.

According to Good, there has been a great swell in student interest this year, and 46 students were involved with the first all school mass. “[Campus ministry] has always been inviting,” Good said. “I hope we have created an environment that says that [all students] are important and know that we value their thoughts. We are just trying to keep communication with the students as we always have been.”

According to Good, campus ministry has always welcomed all students to participate in masses, liturgies and other campus ministry-run activities. However, Good believes students only participate in campus ministry if they have a true interest.

“I think more students are getting involved because they feel a sense of ownership and responsibility that prayer life is the responsibility not just of campus ministry, but of the students,” Good said.

Senior Anne Schwartz, who has been involved in campus ministry since the beginning of her sophomore year, agrees with Good. She also believes campus ministry's unique opportunity for students to show school spirit and its lack of commitment restrictions have contributed to its expanding student involvement. "[Campus Ministry] is a re-

ally good way to get involved with school," Schwartz said. "It's not really time consuming because you can go to meetings when you want. It's kind of a come and go thing. It's not a burden, but it's a really good part of school to be involved in."

Schwartz personally enjoys the

Campus Ministry Events

H Respect Life Week Oct. 5-9 Freshmen Retreat Oct. 14 St. Teresa of Avila Feast Day Prayer Service Oct. 15 Faculty Retreat Oct. 16 Pro-Life Convention Oct. 21 Parent Daughter Liturgy Nov. 12 Fall Kairos Nov. 17-20 Thanksgiving Prayer Service Nov. 23

satisfaction of participating in campus life through campus ministry.

"I like helping plan masses because sometimes they're boring,” Schwartz said. “It's cool to be able to actually have a part [in] making things you want to [see] happen, happen at mass."

According to Good and campus ministry faculty member Joe LaScala, campus ministry invites every student to involve herself in any way she desires.

"At any time, if a student wants to see something in campus ministry... they can come to us and we can help make it happen," LaScala said.

LaScala welcomes any and all forms of student input in campus ministry. He encourages any student who is interested to become involved in campus ministry, whether by reading at a mass, singing at a prayer service, helping lead a retreat, providing suggestions for any part of campus ministry or simply participating in campus ministry-run activities.

“Student help has just blossomed,” Good said. “Music interest, especially, has grown in the last year.”

Campus ministry is able to make its activities more elaborate, especially regarding technology and music, because of the influx of interested students. Schwartz feels that because of this, more students are willing to participate in and pay attention during prayer services and liturgies.

"Definitely the music has changed," Schwartz said. "I love contemporary Christian music because it makes mass more interesting and I love to sing along."

Good and LaScala believe that even though campus ministry did not do more this year to promote student interest than in the past, the department has progressed in a number of ways due to self-motivated student involvement.

LaScala takes pleasure in the idea that so many students have taken the initiative to participate in campus ministry in their own unique ways this year. “[Students] can take whatever role, however much ownership they want [in campus ministry],” LaScala said. “It’s so awe-inspiring for me seeing so many people wanting to make [campus ministry activities] good experiences. It’s fun seeing [the] excitement that some people have and their desire to make a mass or event better for others and to help others.” H

Lifestyles

the dart H st. teresa’s academy H october 8, 2009

Sisterhood of the Senior class passes skirt to different girl each day at school

by CAROLINE THOMPSON Lifestyles Editor

Making her way across the Quad on an August day, senior Gaby Wilson overheard snickers and concealed laughter from fellow students.

“I can’t believe she’s wearing that.”

“Could she not get it hemmed?”

Wilson continued on her way, unphased by the jabs at her ensemble.

“Yeah, I was expecting [that reaction],” Wilson said. “I didn’t care. I thought it was funny. I wanted the younger people to think I was serious.”

The garment students were referring to is the ankle-length, vibrantly plaid, light woolen “traveling skirt”: the skirt that every senior would wear at least one day of this school year.

Wilson and her friends, senior Brady Essmann and alumnae Anna Boisseau and Anna Ess-

11

traveling skirt

mann discovered the familiar, tartan plaid skirt while shopping at the Disabled American Veterans thrift store on Wornall Road this summer. The skirt resembled the typical STA skirt, only longer and included Velcro straps securing the waist. Boisseau tried it on and Brady followed after. Next, Wilson slipped into the skirt.

“The skirt fit [Boisseau] perfectly,” Brady said. “... I tried [the skirt] on and it fit me, too.

We said, ‘If it fits [Wilson]’s tiny body then it’s a universal skirt and we’re buying it.’”

The girls left the store $6 shorter and holding a long, outdated kilt in their hands. Because it seemed to fit everyone, the girls wanted to pass around the skirt to each senior to wear for a day.

Brady said it would be like “the sisterhood of the traveling skirt” — a play off Ms. Ann Brashares’ popular book and movie series “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.”

“We thought it would be really funny,” Brady said. “Plus we thought passing around this kilt that goes down past your knees would be a fun way to bond with the girls in the class.”

The next step was to gain the

approval of the administration.

Brady, the senior class vice president, proposed the idea of the traveling skirt to president Nan Bone, principal for academic affairs Barbara McCormick and principal for student affairs Mary Anne Hoecker at a class officer meeting in June. The administrators had no problem with the skirt, according to Brady, as long as every senior could fit into it and have an equal opportunity to wear it. Brady assured them that the Velcro waist would accommodate any size, and there are enough days in the school year for each girl to wear it at least once, if she chooses. “[The administration] was very supportive,” Brady said.

“I remember walking up the stairs when [Hoecker] shouted, ‘Lookin’ good! How does it feel to be wearing the skirt?’ I think they really love the idea.”

The seniors have also responded positively to the “traveling skirt.” Several seniors have worn the skirt already, passing it on to a friend or any other senior who asks for it.

“I love the idea that everyone gets to wear [the skirt],” said senior Kristina Strader, who was

one of the first girls to wear the kilt. “It’s a really good example to other classes of how close you can get with your class.”

The seniors have not decided what will become of the traveling skirt after the school year.

“If we want to keep it as a memento, we could frame it,” Brady said. “Or if we wanted to keep the tradition going, we could have a ceremony and pass it down to the class of 2011. It just depends on what our class wants to do.”

Regardless of where the skirt ends up, Brady says the kilt is an important means of bonding and a tradition that will hopefully continue after theseniors graduate.

That quirky, goofy nature, she says, is something that can only be found at STA. “Sometimes I can hear freshman being like, ‘Oh my gosh.

What is she wearing?’” Brady said.

“And I think to myself, ‘You’ll understand in three years.’” H

Four’s company H Seniors Caroline Thompson, from left, Anne Schwartz, Sam Waeckerle and Allison Pericich joyfully laugh while walking to the Commons. Waeckerle chose the first day in October to adorn the “traveling kilt.” Photo Illustration by Avery Adams

It’s a wonderful life Whether a stroke of luck, strange coincidence or small miracle, students recall experiences that help to make their lives simply wonderful.

Hinken

“A couple weeks ago I was bummed because I wouldn’t be able to meet Clinton Kelly from TLC’s “What Not To Wear,” at Macy’s in Oak Park Mall because I had to baby sit that day. So instead my mom and I went shopping at Macy’s on Friday to find shoes for a wedding. I turned around and saw [Kelly] helping a

woman find a nice pair of shoes. I immediately word vomited all my annoying fan vomit: “I love your show.

I want to do what you do.” He turned to me and said I’m glad you’re such a big fan, and I really like your jeans.

I immediately melted inside! It’s a wonderful life!”

- Maura Hinken, senior

My life sucks

From tripping down stairs to walking into the men’s bathroom, STA students recall unfortunate moments in their everyday lives.

by CAROLINE THOMPSON Lifestyles Editor

Livers

“During the reading comprehension section of the ACT I noticed something moving on the floor. I found myself staring at one of the biggest spiders I have EVER seen.

It was big, hairy, and moving toward the girl sitting next to me and rather than focusing on my test, I spend the next five minutes watching the spider crawl up and down the girl’s leg and she had absolutely

no idea. I couldn’t say anything or else I would be kicked out of the test. Once the spider got bored, it decided to get a workout... This mammoth bug started to sprint in weird patterns across the floor. Because of this stupid spider, I have to spend another Saturday morning taking a five-hour test. Thank you, spider. MLS.” - Lane Livers, senior

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13

center spread

CRIMETIME Kansas City harbors diverse criminal activity, with no physical division between safe and dangerous areas

1.Guard dog H Signs reading “Beware of Dog” and “No Trespassing” line the fence of this house on 41st and Forest, the second most dangerous neighborhood in Kansas City. Photo by Taylor Brown 2. Gotcha H The Kansas City Police Department Tactical Team (SWAT) serves a search warrant for an aggravated assault suspect last Tuesday in the 64130 zip, an area notorious for crime in Kansas City. Courtesy of the Kansas City Missouri Police Department

1

by TAYLOR BROWN Centerspread Editor

3017 Bales Avenue, Kansas City, Missouri. Living at this address is a 35-year-old African-American man named Mr. Rob Lacello, his wife and their 10-month-old son. A cashier at Ben’s Super Market, Lacello is a high school and college graduate. He lives in fear of danger and suffering every day of his life. In his neighborhood, he, his wife and son each have a one in seven chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (homicide, robbery or assault), according to neighborhoodscout.com. The FBI considers the area around 30th and Bales — just a 13 minute drive from STA — to be the sixth most dangerous neighborhood in the US. Lacello became one of these statistics five years ago when he was one of eight people involved in an eruption of violence.

“How do I feel about crime in my neighborhood?” Lacello asked. “We were raised with this killing and crime. If you were raised in a bubble, how you gonna know it’s a bubble? If we was raised around danger, how we gonna know it’s dangerous?”

Dividing Lines

“My neighborhood is really safe, I know basically everyone. I think knowing everyone and that everyone looks out for you is the main thing.”

– Ali Morgan, senior

Photo

POLL?

“Definitely getting to know the people around me and the activity of the neighborhood.”

– Molly Kenney, junior

“Knowing my neighbors. We all have neighborhood safety things like a list of phone numbers; I feel like I can call them.”

– Katie McCombs, sophomore

What kinds of things make your neighborhood safe?

The area of STA and Brookside Boulevard is one of the top 10 safest neighborhoods in Kansas City.

However, STA is just 13 minutes away from the most dangerous neighborhood in Kansas City and sixth most dangerous neighborhood in the US. Somebody’s watching me H A crime watch sign sits on a corner in the 30th and Bales neighborhood, but according to residents, it does not defer enough criminals.

The intersection of 30th and Bales is the most dangerous neighborhood in Kansas City and sixth most dangerous in the US. Photo by Taylor Brown

Although Kansas City is safer than only 2 percent of all cities in the nation, according to neighborhoodscout.com, Lacello believes most Kansas City citizens do not have the same “dangerous” experiences that he does.

“I was with eight of my guys the day I got shot,” Lacello said. “I wasn’t the only one injured. Another time, I saw my dude die right in front of my face.

Most people [in Kansas City] don’t have things like that in their life. They don’t know what it’s like in [our neighborhood].”

Nothing physically separates so called “dangerous neighborhoods” from other areas of Kansas City. However, according to Lacello, there is a noticeable transition from “hood-to-hood.”

“We got fences around our yards,” Lacello said.

“You got gardens. We don’t have all the Thriftways and malls that you got. We don’t got all the soccer fields and swimming pools that you see in other neighborhoods.”

Country Clubs, fountains and parks appear in safer areas of Kansas City, such as Ward Parkway Road, and create a different atmosphere than that of Lacello’s neighborhood. Most people in these areas feel safe enough to walk their dogs on the streets and play kickball in their front yards. According to neighborhoodscout.com, the area of STA and Brookside Boulevard is one of the top 10 safest neighborhoods in Kansas City. Most people in the community feel their exposure to crime reflects this statistic.

“I think some of us [in the STA community] are less exposed than others,” principal for student affairs Mary Anne Hoecker said. “A certain amount of us are sheltered. We’re lucky and we’re sheltered.”

Those who live near STA are just 13 minutes from dangerous areas of Kansas City, yet they rarely come in contact with crime. According to detective for the Kansas City Police Department Kevin Boehm, this is probably due to socioeconomic issues that do not affect areas around STA but are heavily present in dangerous areas. “[Issues affecting crime include] higher unemployment and concentration of probationers and parolees, lack of education, and lack of jobs in those areas of the city,” Boehm said. “It’s much more than just a crime issue.”

Stopping crime

“Crime watch” signs mark the corners of Lacello’s neighborhood; yet, they do not defer enough

criminals he said.

As the coordinator for the Kansas City Metropolitan Crime Commission, Boehm tries to do what these signs cannot. This agency implements many organizations that work toward the safety of the Kansas City community. Some of these include the Crime Stoppers Tips Hotline, Metropolitan Community Service Program, Second Chance Program for individuals released from prison and SAFE (Surviving Spouses and Family Endowment Fund).

However, Hoecker, who considers herself less exposed to crime, believes it takes personal responsibility from individuals to truly stop crime.

“If a person has had a lot of violence in their life — if they have been abused physically, emotionally, verbally — they have to find a way to deal with that violence,” Hoecker said. “Somewhere along the line they should say, ‘That should not have happened to me. I did not deserve that.’ If you don’t deal with the violence that has come at you in your life, one possibility is that you carry that violence on. Violence begets more violence. It’s a cycle of crime.”

Many people struggle with this cycle of crime, so Boehm understands that some look solely to police to deal with it; but, he believes the police department is not the only facet of the community responsible.

“Just because the title of a particular newspaper article says something about crime, you can’t just say, ‘Well that’s the duty of the police department,’” Boehm said. “It has to be a community wide effort.

I am a detective, I live in the [Kansas City] community, I have a responsibility as my chosen career to keep the citizens safe. By the same token, the citizens that live within the city also have a responsibility as a citizen in the society to curb crime and get involved.”

Crime occurs in ‘safe’ neighborhoods an opinion by

MORGAN SAID

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I'm a typical Johnson County girl. I live in a nice neighborhood with great neighbors and an abandoned golf course in my backyard.

I live in a safe place — nothing bad could ever happen here. Or so I thought.

Over the summer, my neighborhood had a few freak-outs dealing with pool vandalism and cars being broken into. Cell phones, iPods and cameras were taken out of multiple people's cars, leaving them with shattered glass and sometimes without means of communication.

As all the adults wondered who could have possibly destroyed everyone’s property, the neighborhood kids were just as scared.

Rumors spread about who might possibly be the culprit: was it the 13-year-old troublemaker who lives right across the street from me? Or the creepy, unidentified man who stares at girls at the pool?

Different experiences

The crime statistics of Kansas City present the city, certain neighborhoods especially, as dangerous.

However, Boehm believes this information is somewhat superficial.

“What you have to understand from that information is what statistics they are measuring,” Boehm said. “It looks to me like they are measuring calls for service from a given area from the police database.

My personal opinion is that the label ‘most dangerous neighborhoods’ is kind of misleading. I am not going to dispute that certain areas of Kansas City are more dangerous than others or there are more crimes that occur, but you have to look a little deeper than that.”

Misleading or not, Boehm has experienced crime through his law enforcement work in a way many Kansas City citizens will never have to encounter.

“I am sure there are a lot of people that aren’t familiar with things that a police officer sees everyday,” Boehm said. “That’s a good thing; they shouldn’t be.”

And in spite of the negativity surrounding issues of crime, Lacello remains optimistic about the future.

“The thing is, it can change,” Lacello said.

“Crime can change. We’ve just got to stick together and stop hating on each other. There can be a sunny side to it all.” H

DART tube

see the podcast at www.dartnewsonline.com

Watch Sydney Deatherage’s podcast featuring interviews with Mr. Rob Lacello, detective Kevin Boehm and more.

Neighborhoods of Kansas City According to neighborhoodscout.com, these 18 areas represent the 10 safest (green) and 8 most dangerous (red) neighborhoods in Kansas City. The crime index of each area determined this information. Crime index measures selected offenses (including crimes of murder and non-negligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery and aggravated assault) reported to law enforcement.

by JULIA STAPINSKI Graphics Editor

9 8 2

Paseo Blvd.

1 4

8

3

1 2

6 27 5

4

Parkville / Park College

2

Route 45 / National Dr.

3

Ward Pky. / 68th Ter.

4

Blue Pky. / Raytown Rd.

5

Woodson Rd. / 59th St.

6

Knobtown

7

New Santa Fe

8 9

Weatherby Lake Barry Rd. / Route 152

10 St. Teresa’s / Brookside Blvd.

5 1 2

10

3

1

Bales Ave. / 30th St. Forest Ave. / 41st St.

3 4

Broadway St. / 12th St.

5

Harrison St. / 39th St.

6

Penn Valley Dr. / 31st St.

Safest neighborhoods

7

Main St. / Westport Rd.

Most dangerous neighborhoods

8

Paseo Blvd. / 25th St.

Main St. Prospect Ave. 71 Highway Interstate 435

7

6

US Route 71 / US Route 24

I have to admit, these crazy ideas eventually started getting to my head. I was becoming paranoid about everything! I was afraid to go into a dark room by myself or to sleep in my bed alone. I sprinted up the stairs because I was afraid a stranger was following me. Even when all seven of my family members were home and the alarm system was on, I was still terrified.

Small, daily spooks turned into huge, irrational nightmares because of the thefts.

Eventually, I came to my senses and realized that I sprinted up the stairs in fear of someone following me even before the crimes. The reality of the situation is not that I have an awful neighborhood, but instead that crime happens everywhere. You can’t pinpoint where bad things are going to happen, because in reality, they happen all over the place. In the end, it just comes down to how aware we are of our atmosphere and to prepare for the worst but hope for the best.

I still believe that I live in a safe place, but even the safest of places have the potential for danger. I’m learning to get over sprinting up the stairs, but I do realize that my surroundings don't necessarily mean that I'm protected from danger. H

sports

14

the dart H st. teresa’s academy H october 8, 2009

STA ATHLETICS

from the beginning Through the growth of the athletic program, sports have come, gone and changed over the first 100 years at the Windmoor campus

Golf was introduced to the STA athletic program in the fall of 1995 with only six girls. Softball was introduced in the fall of 1998.

STA joined the MSHAA in 1982.

Throughout the 1980’s basketball, volleyball, swimming, tennis, soccer and cross country became a part of The tennis courts located in STA’s competitive athletic program. the northwest corner of the campus were donated by the Thompson family in 1988.

The Goppert Center was built in 1983.

Basketball 1989

1900s

Basketball 1973

1920s - 70s

1909: STA moves to Windmoor campus

1980s

1990s

2000s The softball field was developed in 2000.

Girls only played intramurally or against other catholic all-girl schools. Sports such as basketball, tennis and bowling were part of the program.

The cheerleading squad turned to a drill team in 1991, later becoming the dance team.

“Strolling” served as acceptable excercise for the girls. Strolling consisted of walking the premises of the campus.

Dance team turned competitive in 2003.

Drill Team 2001

Getting to know our

NEW COACHES

by ELIZABETH WILSON Managing Editor of Copy

The athletic department has made changes for this upcoming year which include all new coaches for the three winter sports. The new coaches will be for swim, dive and basketball.

The winter season begins with tryouts in November.

Andy Wilcox

Position: head swim coach Background/experience: Coached the boys and girls programs at Truman High School, founded the boys and girls swim programs at Lee’s Summit North High School in 1995 and coached for 14 years, coached United States Swimming and summer league.

Why STA: Wilcox was aware that STA was looking for a swim coach and knew there would be no conflicts of loyalty with his teaching position at Rockhurst High School.

Looking forward to: Building a great swimming and diving program at STA and go to State meet in St. Louis Looking for in a swimmer: willingness to sacrifice, work hard and dedicated According to Hough: “Wilcox is on the ball and knows what he wants.”

Contact info: Awilcox1@kc.rr.com

Doug Nelson

Position: head basketball coach Background/experience: coached basketball at Rockhurst University, Baker University, JCCC and Missouri Western State College and high schools in Kansas, New Mexico and Arizona Why STA: “STA has the expectations and standards that I would want to be a part of.”

Looking forward to: “Making progress and making it back to the glory area of STA basketball.”

Looking for in a basketball player: “They have to be good students, positive ambassadors for the mission of STA and I want a team of players proud to wear black and gold.”

Goals for this year: Win the Irish Cup (a crystal vase for winner of the STA vs. Notre Dame de Sion High School game) According to Hough: “Out of a large stack of applicants for this position, Nelson really stood out Contact info: moneycoach@kc.rr.com

Katherine Mingle

Position: head dive coach Background/experience: was a member of the Homestead Country Club dive team and the Shawnee Mission East dive team and has been the assistant dive coach at Homestead Country Club for the past six years Why STA: she has known several families from STA that she has coached including the Arensbergs and the Hutchisons Looking forward to: getting to know the “lovely ladies!”

Looking for in a diver: any remote sense or coordination and a good sense of humor Goals for this year: at least two state qualifiers According to Hough: “This job is something Mingle really wants to do and she is very excited about it.”

Contact info: kmingle@ku.edu

sports

the dart H st. teresa’s academy H october 8, 2009

Teammate to competition

SCOREBOARD varsity softball

Senior Katie Sharp ran against STA team at Rim Rock race

by MOLLIE POINTER Sports Editor

On Sept. 26, STA and Shawnee Mission East High School competed at the Rim Rock race, a distance of 2k. Crossing the finish line, senior Katie Sharp found herself racing against the girls she once called teammates.

Sharp placed 26th individually while East finished 3rd in the cteam division and STA came in 4th.

Sharp transferred last year from STA to East in the middle of her junior year. Sharp participated in the State meet her freshman year and ran at the varsity level all three years at STA. According to teammates and coaches, Sharp was a vital part of the varsity team and a leader for everyone.

“It was a huge loss to not have [Sharp] run for us this year,” STA cross country coach Karen Moran said. “More importantly than her status as a varsity runner, however, Katie was a leader to her teammates through her work ethic and enthusiasm for running.”

According to Sharp, upon entering East, she knew next to no one and feels that participating on the cross-country team has helped her gain a sense of comfort within the East community. “[Cross country] has made things a lot easier for me at school,” Sharp said. “I actually know people in my classes now.”

The size of East’s team is a vast difference for Sharp, having about 200 runners compared to STA’s 68. As a result of the bigger team, Sharp now mainly runs JV instead of varsity like she once did at STA. She has also found that these larger numbers make forming close relationships with her coaches and teammates more difficult.

“I don’t know [the coaches] and they don’t know me,” Sharp said. “They probably still think I’m the freak kid who cried on the first day. The first week was pretty rough.”

Former varsity teammate senior Grace Krause supports Sharp’s decision to continue running at the competitive level and feels that she has become no less

powerplayers Kathleen Vogel Sophomore “I like how you have a team and it’s not just you,” Vogel said. “Your team is always there for you.”

Vogel has played varsity for STA the past 2 years.

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9/16 St. Pius 3 STA 18

9/22 Truman 4 STA 5

9/24 Smithville 8 STA 2

9/30 Sion 8 STA 5

10/3 Benton Tournament STA

In the Belton tournament Saturday, varsity lost all four games. According to sophomore Sara Pence, the team was hurting because two out of the three pitchers were out with injury, leaving one pitcher to play all four games. STA played and lost to Gallatin, St. Pius, Maryville and Putnam County. Varsity played the first game of Districts yesterday.

varsity tennis

9/18 Guifoil Tournament STA 1st place

9/28 Miege 0 STA 9 9/29 Aquinas Tournament STA (individual ranks)

10/2 Kickapoo 3 STA 6

10/5 Aquinas 3 STA 6

On Sept. 18, STA won every division at the Guilfoil Tournament. Senior Kylie Hornbeck ranked number one singles player, freshman Murphy Marx number two singles player, senior Caroline Farchman and junior Cassie Redlingshafer number one doubles team, and junior Morgan Barrett and sophomore Caroline Connor number two doubles team.

varsity golf

9/17 Blue Valley 1st place STA 2nd place

9/24 Pembroke 2nd place STA 1st place

10/6 Districts STA 2nd place

In the District tournment on Tuesday, STA placed second.

Due to their placement, the entire team has qualified to go to State. Seniors Casey O’Flaherty and Nina Salazar led the team with a 4th place tie.

varsity cross country Long strides H Shawnee Mission East senior Katie Sharp races Sept. 30 in an intersquad meet. Sharp previously raced varsity for STA her freshman, sophomore and junior years. Photo by Mollie Pointer

a part of the STA team.

“Katie will text me every morning before a race, wishing me good luck,” Krause said.

“She hasn’t completely left the team.”

Moran feels the same way in that Sharp has continued to stay a part of the team through conditioning with the girls during the summer and coming to practices when East has a day off. “[Sharp] came into our team tent [at the Rim Rock] race too,

something we would never allow an athlete from another school to do,” Moran said. “I still consider [Sharp] to be a member of our team, even though she no longer attends STA.” Though she no longer walks the halls at STA, Sharp hopes she will be able to hold onto her relationships as well as be willing to let new ones form.

“I love my new team, I love my teammates and I love STA,” Sharp said. H

•

ACHIEVEMENTs

Club team, MAVS won the AAU

9/19 Hazelwood Central STA 3rd place

9/26 Rim Rock Invitational STA 5th place

10/3 Metro Meet STA 6th place

varsity volleyball

9/19 Park Hill 0 STA 2

9/19 Lee’s Summit North 2 STA 1

9/22 Oak Park 1 STA 2

9/25 Cor Jesu 2 STA 1

9/25 Incarnate Word 1 STA 2

9/29 St. James Academy 2 STA 0

National Champiosnhsip in Orlando this past summer •

Club team came in 2nd for the junior Olympics

•

Named in “Frosh 59” by Prepvolleyball.com as one of the Nation’s leading freshman in volleyball

•

FUTURE

Hopes to recieve a college scholarship to play volleyball

On Sept. 19, the top 12 runners went to St. Louis to compete in the Hazelwood Central meet.

“The St. Louis trip is the most fun meet in the whole season,” junior Addie Thompson said.

10/2 Rock Bridge 0 STA 2 10/3 St. Jospeh’s Academy 2 STA 1 10/3 Lee’s Summit West 2 STA 0

The varsity volleyball team (11-10) competed in the Lee’s Summit North tournament Sept.

19 at Lee’s Summit North High School. The team beat Oak Park High School, Staley High School and Hickman High School in pool play, which seeded them first for tournament play. The Stars then beat Park Hill South High School in the quarterfinals, Park Hill High School in the semi-finals and lost to Lee’s Summit North 2-1 in the finals.

On Saturday, the team played Lee’s Summit West High School, champion of the 4th Annual Varsity MO/KAN Challenge Volleyball Invitational Sept. 12. Though head coach Amy Carlson believed the team had a chance to win, the Stars lost 2-1.

Sports

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the dart H st. teresa’s academy H october 8, 2009

Cheerleaders to coaches Dance team works under professional, experienced dancers

by CHELSEA BIRCHMIER Staff Writer

When people think of dancers and cheerleaders, they often envision pom poms, sparkly costumes and “spirit fingers.” However, according to dance team coaches and former Chiefs cheerleaders Savannah Vose and Deena Schaumburg, cheerleading and dancing are much more than that.

“Cheering for the Chiefs is really dancing,” Vose said. “A lot of people think it’s all about the glitz and glamour, the hair and the fake eyelashes. On the Chiefs we had an awesome coaching staff who drilled us and also taught us to be classy and well put-together.

They wanted girls they could be proud of.”

Vose and Schaumburg heard about the coaching job at STA by word of mouth. Ms. Laura Eilers, who was the coach for STA’s dance team several years ago, had cheered with Schaumburg and Vose on the Chiefs. Eilers told Vose about the job opening at STA. Vose originally applied for assistant coach, not realizing they were in need of a head coach as well. When she accepted the position of head coach, she recommended Schaumburg, who then became assistant coach. “[STA] was different at first just because we both went to public schools,” Vose said. “The parents, the girls, the school and the athletic directors have been very welcoming. It has been a smooth transition.”

Sophomore Lindsay Cook believes Vose and Schaumburg’s coaching reflects the time they spent as Chiefs cheerleaders.

“They set the standards really high,” Cook said. “I think they put more effort into the game performances than a lot of other coaches.”

At STA, the dance team has an unusual season, going from April of one year to February of the next. Vose and Schaumburg prepare the girls for performances during the school year and dance camp over the summer. In addition to scheduling and organizing performances and paperwork, they work with charities and plan team bonding exercises.

“We do a lot in the year,” Vose said. “[The girls] pretty much have one month off and even then they’re training. We’ve gone by what our coaches taught us.”

Vose and Schaumburg enjoy sharing with STA’s dance team what their coaches taught them as Chiefs cheerleaders. This is their second year, and they feel like coaching at STA is a great way to share their experiences.

“I cheered for [the Chiefs] for four full years and loved it,” Vose said. “But I’m glad I didn’t go back for that fifth year because I would have missed out on the opportunity to coach at STA.” Vose began dancing at age three at White Oak Dance Academy in Blue Springs. In the following years, she danced on the Blue Valley High School dance team and UMKC dance team. Schaumburg began dancing at eight years old and danced for the Lawrence High School dance team and KU dance team. Vose and Schaumburg both cheered for the Kansas City Comets indoor soccer team for two years before joining the Chiefs,

an opinion by

Madelyne Bird

Go Chiefs! H Dance team’s head coach Savannah Vose used to be a cheerleader for the Kansas City Chiefs football team. Vose and assistant coach Deena Schaumberg both cheered for the Chiefs. Photo Submitted

so cheering on the Chiefs together strengthened their previous bond.

“As cliché as it sounds, we were a squad of friends,” Vose said.

“Since 2004, we’ve still got the same core group of girlfriends.”

Although they had a lot of fun making friends and doing what they loved, it was not easy making it there. “[Tryouts] are pretty grueling,” Vose said. “It’s not just about how

good of a dancer you are.”

“They want to see your poise as well as how you dance,” Schaumburg added.

Despite difficulties, Vose, having danced for 22 years, and Schaumburg, for 18, agree that they love to dance, and hope to continue dancing for as long as they can.

“We’re addicted,” Schaumburg said. “We can’t stay away.” H

Managers contribute through commitment Cross country needs extra help with demands of team, make coaches job easier

by CASSIE REDLINGSHAFER Staff Writer

State banners and t-shirts include team managers, but what do the managers really do?

They attend practice daily and go to all of the meets, matches, and games but they are busy with different jobs during these events.

According to cross country coach Karen Moran, the managers, seniors Jenny Platten, Brady Essmann, and Claire Hansen have “many, many responsibilities.” Moran also said that the managers make her job a lot easier.

“Yes, [the managers make practices and meets easier for me because they] help take care of a lot of things I don’t have time for,” Moran said. “This helps me focus on the actual coaching.”

At each meet the three managers set up tents, tend to minor injuries, and take times for the runners at the one mile mark, two mile mark, and finish line which, according to Moran is their biggest responsibility.

The managers attend practice every day and have responsibilities such as taking attendance, making coolers, and timing the varsity players when they run hills.

Are sports worth all the extra work?

Managing madness H (From Left) Senior runner Grace Krause and senior managers Jenny Platten and Brady Essmann pay attention in a meeting before practice last Thrusday. The managers agree their commitment is just as important as the runners. Photo by Hanna Katz

Platten ran cross country as a freshman but sophomore year she was diagnosed with Achilles tendonitis and has managed ever since.

“After I decided I didn’t want to run I thought about how much I liked the coach and I loved the girls so I emailed coach Moran and she suggested that I become a manager,” Platten said.

According to Platten, she prefers managing over running on the team because she likes to run on her own time instead of being timed.

Although Platten is no longer a runner, her time commitment to cross country has not changed.

“Yeah, I think [managing is as big of a time commitment as being a runner], I mean there is a lot of stuff [the managers] do,” Platten said. “Even though there are three coaches this year, there are 68 girls [on the team] so we always have something to do.”

According to varsity runner and sophomore Kelly O’Byrne, the managers are not only as important as runners but that they hold crucial positions on the team.

“Well I feel like the managers are just as much a part of the team as the runners,” O’Byrne said. “They go to all the pasta parties and practices and meets and everything.

They also help with individual improvement by timing everything and they really encourage everyone. They’re also just fun!”

Coach Moran agrees that the managers are a key component to the team and believe they deserve more credit.

“Absolutely, [the managers] are just as important as the actual runners even though many people often overlook them,” Moran said. H

It’s 8 p.m. on a school night. I sit over my American history book, my eyes drooping, my body exhausted, taking notes. I have been sitting at the same table for almost three hours, I can feel myself re-reading the same sentence over and over again. I can’t focus because all I can think about is what I have to do next.

My eyes skim my planner for the sixth time that night. The list of things I need to do seems to grow every time I look down.

All I want to do is take a shower and crawl into bed. My dad offers to get a pot of coffee started, I have a long night in front of me.

I softly decline, I don’t want my body to become used to being hyped up on caffeine constantly. This has become a common theme in my nights this year. When school rolls around in August, I know what’s coming.

I am a proud, third-year, varsity golfer for good ole’ STA; however, this comes with its consequences. The grueling hours spent trying to balance school and golf. Up at seven and at school till three. Golf practice from three to six. Homework until I can’t function.

I know I’ll struggle in school from August to October.

Golf isn’t the most physically exerting sport that can be found, but I miss more days than I want to, nine to be exact. It is an inconvenience to my week requiring constant planning and talking to teachers, rescheduling tests, turning in homework early or late. I have to make sure that teachers know I’m going to be gone and that I don’t have any missing assignments in any classes. It never seems to end and I always fall short with my efforts at inventory.

So far this semester, I have missed five days of school and left school early on four different occasions. I am scheduled to miss four MORE days of school and leave school early five more times. I am stressed out.

The fact that I miss so much school isn’t just an inconvenience to me though. It is [an inconvenience] to my teacher and my fellow classmates, who now have to wait an extra day to give and get their tests back. I feel guilty for causing so many problems. But choosing between school and golf is difficult.

Obviously, my classes are important and I try as hard as I can to make them a priority, but golf is also a priority to me too. I’m looking into playing collegiate golf, so my future is also dangling with it as well as school. So earlier in the school year when my grades weren’t good and my parents were pressuring me to choose between the two, I faltered.

“Is it worth it?” I asked myself. Eventually, I would stick it out for the rest of the season and when it ended, I would work as hard as I possibly could to get those grades back up.

As for now, I’m giving it my best effort. It becomes difficult in my classes, though. I hate being the kid who can’t answer the teacher’s questions when they call on me in class. I don’t like seeing the look of disappointment before they say, “No. Can someone else help Madalyne?”

So in the end there is no way around these particular facts. Golf can’t be played on the weekends because there is no possible way that over 75 people’s schedules would match up with that. Therefore, we must be taken out of school, there is no other option, which I understand. That it unless I pick another sport....to bad I’m not good at any others. H

arts & entertainment

the dart H st. teresa’s academy H october 8, 2009

Teachers’ tunes on shuffle Faculty scrolled through their iPods and rifled through CD collections in an attempt to describe their music taste

Compiled by JULIA STAPINSKI Graphics Editor

Mr. Patrick Sirridge Social Studies teacher

Mr. Richard Shrock Social Studies teacher

Favorite song? “Hey Jude” by the Beatles Favorite album of all time? Abbey Road by the Beatles Favorite genre? Jazz Favorite concert venue? “Smaller places, like the Uptown [Theatre] or Casino [Theatre].”

What’s your soundtrack on the way to work? “[A] mix my son Andy made.”

What do you listen to when you’re working out? “Who does this?”

What do you listen to in the car?

Michael Buble, Dire Straits Do you prefer loud music or quiet music? Quiet Have you ever played an instrument? Bass guitar Have you ever been in a band?

Garage band in a fraternity. “It was fun... we were terrible.”

Have you ever played an instrument? “I play viola, I have a banjo but I’m not very good.”

Been in a band? “I was in a string quartet in high school. We played at parties... For adults and stuff. We played at formal banquets, too. And we tried to get wedding gigs but... no.”

Favorite band or artist at the moment? Neutral Milk Hotel Favorite band or artist of all time? Radiohead Favorite song of all time? “Needle in the Hay” by Elliott Smith Favorite album of all time? “In The Aeroplane Over The Sea”

by Neutral Milk Hotel Last concert you went to? Gorgol Bordello in Lawrence, Kan. in 2007 What do you listen to when you’re working out? The album “Honeysuckle Weeks”

by The Submarines

Ms. Jeanella Clark Math teacher How would you describe your taste in music? “Eclectic. I like a lot of different kinds.”

How many songs do you have on your iPod? About 240 What’s the best concert you’ve ever been to? Green Day What’s the last concert you went to? Kenny Chesney What’s your soundtrack on the way to work? “Usually contemporary Christian.”

What do you listen to when you’re happy? “Something from Maroon 5.”

Do you prefer loud music or quiet music? “Depends on my mood.”

Ms. Amy Carlson Science teacher

Favorite artist of all time? Madonna Favorite song at the moment?

“Freak on a leash” by Korn & Amy Lee Favorite song of all time? “Bring me to life” by Evanescence Favorite album of all time? “Garden State” soundtrack Favorite radio station? 95.7 The Vibe What do you listen to when you’re working out? Eminem What do you listen to when you’re sad? Dido

17

Ms. Mary Jo Coughlin Theology teacher How would you describe your taste in music? “Eclectic.

I like classical music, I like jazz, I like Irish music.”

Favorite band or artist at the moment? “I really like Green Day a lot, and Coldplay.”

Favorite band or artist of all time? Simon & Garfunkel, Paul Simon, The Beatles Favorite song at the moment?

“Whatsername” by Green Day Best concert you’ve ever been to? Garth Brooks. “Not recently but in the 90’s.”

Favorite radio station? “I listen to 96.5 The Buzz a lot because [my son] always has it on.”

Next concert you’re going to? “I thought about going to Green Day... If Billy Joel came back I’d really try to get there.”

What do you listen to when you’re happy? “Rock ‘n roll...

I like to sing in the car, it makes the kids go crazy.”

Scroll through your teachers’ iPods and listen to their favorite bands and songs on an audio podcast on Dart Tube.

Art department fired up over donated kiln In memory of son, family gives ceramics class new kiln to create unique pottery

by MOLLY MEAGHER Staff Writer

An STA family of alums and benefactors donated a new kiln to the art department for Ceramics classes. The kiln, called a raku kiln, was first fired by Ceramic II students on Sept. 24 behind Goppert Center. The estimated cost for the kiln was around $1,500. A raku kiln is a portable kiln that uses post fire reduction. Junior and Ceramics II student Eilene McSorley said that although students are unable to put handles onto the pieces when using raku, the kiln gives students another way to fire and experience something different. “[The raku kiln] is awesome,” McSorley said. “It’s super dangerous which is probably why I think it’s so awesome. It makes the coolest colors that you can’t create with other glazes.”

The Fahey family donated the raku kiln in dedication to Thomas Fahey, who died in a plane crash at age 26 in August 2006. The Fahey family found an organization in Thomas’ name to donate to people who need something that Thomas loved to do. Connie Fahey, mother of Thomas, is glad that students have the opportunity to use

the new kiln and is able to pass on Thomas’ love for pottery.

Dibble originally applied for a grant asking for a raku kiln to the Women’s Circle of Giving (WCG), an STA organization that gives students and faculty financial support. The Fahey family, who are a part of WCG, saw Dibble’s grant asking for a kiln decided to independently fund for it.

“My daughter is [also] in the [Women’s] Circle of Giving, Allison Fahey Schorgl, [and] when she and I saw [the grant asking for a kiln] it was one of the things we immediately thought of Thomas,” Mrs. Fahey said. “And [donating is] just something that gives us a lot of peace and pleasure to make people happy in his name.”

Unlike other kilns, the raku creates glazes through a process called post fire reduction. This process, according to Dibble, draws oxygen out of the pottery to create unique and unpredictable glazes. Because of the unpredictability of post fire reduction, students are unable to control the outcome of their pieces. Dibble said someone could make five identical pots but get a different glaze out of all of them when using the raku kiln.

“Opening the bucket [used for post fire reduction] is like opening Christmas presents because you just don’t know what you’re going to get,” Dibble said. “Because of all the firing and the different variables involved for post fire reduction, the results are always different. [The pieces

change] due to where you put it in the kiln and how it [reacts] in the bucket. It’s the element of surprise and it’s kind of nice because of how immediate it is. It’s like opening a Christmas present, you’re like ‘oh, look what I got this time.’”

The raku is also much quicker than other kilns. Firing with traditional kilns usually takes several days, whereas the raku uses about 80 minutes to set up, fire, and take down. Dibble said this gives students “instant gratification” when firing with the raku.

The art department is primarily funded from the school budget, student lab fees, and Fine Arts Boosters club (FAB), an organization whose goal is to raise money for the art, drama and music departments of STA. Now faculty members, like Dibble, are able to submit a request for a grant through the WCG for supplies or equipment that wouldn’t be covered with the existing funds.

This is the second year WCG has been together and so far they have donated recycle bins and a projector to the school as well as financial support to several students.

Dibble said she is very grateful to the Fahey family for donating the kiln because it has allowed students to fire ceramics in a different way. She is also grateful to the administration for organizing WCG. “I think that the administration is really supportive,” Dibble said. “Just the fact that they developed this grant for equipment [shows that] innovation in the future is a beautiful thing.” H

Fire it up H Ceramics teacher Lisa Dibble explains the Raku kiln outside of the Goppert Center on Sept. 24. Dibble and ceramics students fired clay pots and sculptures with the Raku kiln, breaking away from their normal firing kiln. Photo by Avery Adams

arts & entertainment

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the dart H st. teresa’s academy H october 8, 2009

Senior excels in musical world McKenzie Miller began musical training at an early age, influenced mostly by her mother

by PAIGE WENDLAND Staff Writer

A three-year old looked up at her violin teacher. She stared down at the strange lines of tape going down the neck of her quarter-size violin. Looking back up to her teacher’s hands, she tried to imitate what her fingers were doing, but the noise that came out didn’t sound as perfect. She gazed up at her mom who looked on, giving an encouraging look every once in a while. Finally, after an intense set of seconds maneuvering her hand to the perfect configuration, the little girl played the note she had worked so hard to sound out.

Senior McKenzie Miller was first introduced to music through her mother, Barbara Miller, a bluegrass artist. She says she grew up listening to her mom’s singing, which made her interest in music grow.

“My mom’s a musician, and so is my brother, so I grew up with this life like centered around music,” Miller said.

Barbara wanted McKenzie to be involved in music starting at a young age, so she enrolled her in violin lessons.

“One day she just told me, ‘You’re going to play violin,’” Miller said.

McKenzie’s first teacher, Elise

“M

y mom’s a musician, and so is my brother, so I grew up with this life like centered around music.’”

-Senior McKenzie Miller

DART tube

see the podcast at www.dartnewsonline.com

Watch Morgan Said’s podcast of McKenzie Miller showcasing her talents singing and playing violin on Dart Tube.

Street-Bradshaw, used the Suzuki approach of instruction, which starts musicians’ education at a very young age. According to the

Suzuki Association of the Americas (SAA), young children learn music like languages, through repetition and parental encouragement. The method uses large amounts of listening rather than reading music in the early years, similar to how children learn to speak before they can read.

“Musical ability is not an inborn talent but an ability which can be developed,” the SAA said. “Any child who is properly trained can develop musical ability, just as all children develop the ability to speak their mother tongue. The potential of every child is unlimited.”

Although McKenzie stopped taking violin lessons in middle school, she was in the instrumental music class at STA freshman and sophomore year, and she still enjoys playing in her spare time.

Barbara not only influenced her enthusiasm for violin but also began her interest in singing. She began taking voice lessons before freshman year. Last year, she joined the choir at STA as a soprano and began participating in various competitions. “[At the Classical Singer Convention,] it was just like a bunch of people in ball gowns at a hotel for no reason,” McKenzie said. “But it was still really fun to meet people who like the same thing as me.”

See INFLUENCE, page 22

Classical Expression H Senior McKenzie Miller preforms for several students in the auditorium Sept. 28. Miller also played several chords on the piano during this activity period, showing her musical versatility. Photo by Avery Adams

Artists feel need to create, express Three juniors are pulled to paint, draw, sew and release creativity, on their own time

by MICAH WILKINS Arts & Entertainment Editor

The necessities for most STA students to survive and thrive are eating and sleeping.

For juniors Molly O’Boyle, Clare Odegard and Anna Rayburn, their necessity is art.

O’Boyle, Odegard and Rayburn find that they must express themselves, and they channel that expression and creativity through their artwork that they make.

“I make things,” junior Anna Rayburn said. “That’s a requirement for my existence.

This is like, what I do now. This is what works.”

Rayburn has recently begun crafting clothes and jewelry, and finds herself inspired by fashion from periods as far back as the 1500s. She also enjoys using old clothes or jewelry and recreating them.

“Mostly I use stuff that I find,” Rayburn said. “I like using my grandma’s old jewelry.

If I do buy things it’s really minimal or used stuff from a thrift store that I can take apart and modify.”

Like Rayburn, Odegard often feels the need to create things.

“I’ve always made art, even if it was silly anime in sixth grade,” Odegard said. “I’ve always had a need to make things. I’m very drawn to it and I can’t explain why. It’s there and I can’t ignore it.”

Odegard uses whatever resources she has around her to channel her creativity, including her bedroom. She decorates it by drawing

Artistic Expressions H Junior Molly O’Boyle displays one of her favorite paintings she’s done.

“I feel like artists are sort of born with their creativity,” O’Boyle said. Photo by Micah Wilkins Wall of Fame H Junior Clare Odegard, in her room Sept. 26, decorates her room with murals and other images on her walls. “Most of the things I make come to me at like four in the morning, so I don’t really know what’s going on then,” Odegard said. Photo by Micah Wilkins

on her walls, and creating webs of yarn and lights in several corners of her room.

O’Boyle, who began painting abstract paintings less than a year ago, finds herself constantly thinking about painting.

“I’ve always been doodling on all my notes,” O’Boyle said. “Even though I just started, now it’s like I need to paint. If I don’t, I get really tense. It’s a real relief to paint.”

O’Boyle also finds painting to be a very personal act, in which she discovers her faith, her emotions and nature.

“When I see a painting of mine, I can see exactly what I was feeling,” O’Boyle said. “I feel very connected. That’s the thing about art, you’re putting yourself out there.”

O’Boyle doesn’t display her artwork or show friends because she feels it’s a more personal activity which few people can relate to.

“Not many people know that I paint,” O’Boyle said. “I keep it a secret. Most people, when I tell them that I paint, they’re like ‘Hm paint, what does that mean?’”

Odegard also feels that what she creates

is personal, and keeps most of her artwork to herself.

“I hang [my art] up in my room sometimes and then sometimes I don’t do anything with it,” Odegard said. “Stuff I make at home I don’t really show anybody, unless they ask. I don’t really give it away. I don’t know how much people want my art as gifts.”

According to O’Boyle, her artwork is a part of herself, and showing someone her artwork can be compared to showing someone her own emotions or thoughts.

“I’m putting myself on the canvas,” O’Boyle said. “I almost feel vulnerable showing people what I’m feeling even if they can’t tell what I’m feeling. It’s kind of scary.” H

the dart H st. teresa’s academy H october 8, 2009

entertainment

WALL

arts & entertainment

19

STA takes a shot at new class

Digital Photography Samples

“The Boy Who Knew Too Much” is Mika’s second album, but it still highlights his wide vocal range and ability to ingrain a tune in your head for weeks on end. However, the lyrics of many of its songs lack the whimsical humor of Mika’s first album, “Life in Cartoon Motion,” and instead focus on themes much more melancholy and dark. Its songs hide stories of Mika’s teenage life beneath catchy rhythms and steady beats, an over-the-top sense of merriment masking his past angst. Although many of the songs are appealingly upbeat and quirky, the album in its entirety fails to measure up to the near inimitable style of “Life in Cartoon Motion.”

-Paige Wendland

Each week the class is given a new assignment, ranging from nature, like Steck’s photo, bottom, to self-portraits like McNaghten’s photo, top.

CD

-junior Alyson McNaghten

HHH

My first instinct upon hearing “Automatic” by Tokio Hotel was to laugh.

It sounds like My Chemical Romance and Hello Kitty collaborated on a single. The song resembles the “Pokemon” television show theme music, fully equipped with dramatic echoes and distant, robotic “whoa”s.

While I will admit the chorus is relatively tolerable and even somewhat catchy, it’s almost impossible to contemplate the song’s meaning without getting caught up in its ridiculous packaging.

“Automatic” is the perfect song for you if you’re getting pumped to trade “YuGi-Oh!” cards.

-Julia Stapinski

Song

HH

Book

Ever since the Twilight era came about, it’s become harder and harder to find a good fantasy book among the shelves. And the novel Swoon by Nina Malkin is no exception. While the parts of the plot were relatively predictable, the majority of the story line wasn’t. The writing wasn’t really challenging, so mostly I felt as if I was being talked down to. All in all, I just couldn’t sink my teeth into Swoon, but then again I’m not one to finish a book.

-Taylor Irwin

Picture This H Junior Anna Rayburn takes pictures in her front yard for her digital photography class assignment. Rayburn has been interested in photography since she was 13. Photo by Tracy Burns-Yocum

Juniors, seniors enroll in new elective; motivated by adviser, subject and art of photography

by MADALYNE BIRD Features Editor

STA is offering a new Digital Photography class the 2009-2010 school year for current juniors and seniors. Students can earn either a half-credit in fine arts or a half-credit in computer science.The length of the course is one semester, where students are taught the technical and compositional aspects of photography.

There is only one section per semester for this class, complete with only 14 students for the fall, due to limited amount of computers in the classroom.

“I like how small [the class] is,” junior Sarah Wirtz said . “It’s very intimate and we get a lot of individual time if we need it.”

Publications adviser Eric Thomas who is teaching the photography class this year, has been proposing this class since his first year as a faculty member in 2002.

“There used to be a photography class [at STA], but it was dropped after they got rid of

the dark room,” Thomas said. “The kids in photography club have also been proposing a class.

If I were only to get to teach one class it would be photo-journalism.”

After five years, Digital Photography has been added to the program of studies once again. During the course of the class students are taught three major ideas of photography: technical aspects, using Adobe Photoshop to edit photographs and rules of composition.

“I love learning how to take better pictures using better techniques,” junior Alyson McNaghten said.

The class is given a new assignment every week, ranging from self-portraits to nature.

“I like being able to go out and have the freedom to take pictures of whatever we want,” junior Emma Steck said. “I like that it’s not really restricted.”

After students are finished taking photos for their weekly assignment, they upload them onto a computer and edit them in Adobe Photoshop.

After they have completed this task they upload their narrowed selection of photos to Flickr. com. Students are also required to write a reflection on each weekly assignment, to be submitted online.

“We’ve already nicknamed this class ‘the

-junior Sophia Garozzo

-junior Emma Steck

best class ever’,” Steck said.

Once a student has successfully completed the course, they have the option to apply as a staff photographer for either the Teresian yearbook or The Dart newspaper.

“I’m thinking about applying for a position as a photographer, “ McNaghten said. “I didn’t want to take journalism, but I liked the photography part of it, so I figured this would be a good way to get in to [the publications].”

However, it is not only the photography class that the students enjoy.

“I think [Mr. Thomas] is an awesome teacher, “ McNaghten said. “He really knows what he is doing and he’s really passionate about the subject of photography. His excitement gets everyone else excited too.” H

HHH

The pilot for “Glee” premiered last spring on Fox but the actual season started on Sept.

9. This show is about a Glee Club that is formed and causes controversy because the star football player joins. Even though it sounds a lot like the High School Musical movies, it’s different because of the more mature comedy. At some cheesy points in the show (like in HSM) I stopped and thought, “Why am I watching this?”

Then I quickly remember, because it’s hilarious. Although some moments are completely cliche they are different than the HSM cliche moments because you can tell that the writers were cracking up while writing scenes where main characters break out into duets, not imagining these scenes as touching moments.

-Cassie Redlingshafer

Show

H H HH

Senior Anna Blanck Q: What art classes are you currently enrolled in?

A: First semester: Portfolio, Ceramics, and Graphic Design. Second Semester: Computer graphics, Portfolio, and Graphic Design.

Q: What type of art do you enjoy most?

A: Painting.

Q: Any current projects?

A: “To create individual, quicksketch watercolor 8x10 paintings of everyone I work with at Waldo Pizza. “ Q: How many portraits is

Compiled by TAYLOR IRWIN In Focus Editor

that?

A: 84.

Q: How many have you finished?

A: Two. Q: How long have you been interested in art?

A: “Since I was really little. I’ve always drawn.”

Q: Do you plan on pursuing art in the future?

A: “Yes, I’m really interested in painting. I’m looking into schools for design, that way I can still make art but have a more steady income... but right now I’m happy painting.” H

Figure Drawing H Senior Anna Blanck draws an outline of a model in her sketch book last Tuesday.

Blanck has been interested in art since a young age and is currently enrolled in four art classes.

Photo by Tracy Burns-Yocum

features

20

the dart H st. teresa’s academy H october 8, 2009

1.

2.

BRIDGE to Camellia Jahanshahi left STA to attend another all-girls Catholic school in New York

by MICAH WILKINS Entertainment Editor

Trading Places Camellia Jahanshahi would be a senior at STA this year with 130 young women who would be her classmates. She would be waking up, throwing on her plaid skirt and driving to 5600 Main street every morning like she’s done for the past three years. She would be checking into the Whitney advisory just before the bell rings.

But Jahanshahi now goes to a different allgirls, Catholic high school, 1,200 miles away in New York City. She wakes up every morning in Brooklyn and puts on a different uniform skirt before taking the F Train to join 80 other girls at her new school.

Hazy Future The summer after her sophomore year at STA, Jahanshahi had no idea what her family’s plans were.

“I remember the end of sophomore year I thought I was moving to Chicago, Ill. during the summer, but my parents were like ‘Oh, never mind,’” Jahanshahi said.

Mr. Kamran Jahanshahi, Camellia’s father, had been searching for a new job when his employer in Kansas City let him go. Some of their relocation options and Kamran’s potential job offers were in places like Barcelona, Tokyo, New York City, as well as Chicago. Kamran

lia was traveled in the midacross the dle of second globe to be ingrade. These conterviewed for posistant changes in locations, but when plans tion were beneficial to fell through, the uncerthe growth of Camellia’s tainty was unsettling for character and ability to adapt Camellia. Even that October, to her surroundings.

Kamran was still deliberating “I believe that your personand going to interviews, accordality is made when you’re a kid,” ing to Camellia.

Camellia said. “The amount of “I just snapped one day and I told time that I’ve moved and traveled [my parents] ‘Don’t tell me anything in general has made me develop as about where we’re going to live until a person. I’ve experienced a lot of you actually know,’” Camellia said. “I cultures. I’ve realized how people are didn’t want to tell people and then have different. And, I’ve learned to blend plans change again, like they had so many in to most scenarios. I love that I’ve other times.” moved around and Not until last been in so many forwinter did Kamran fieign places.

Plus, nally settle on the dewith my background-cision to leave Kansas he amount of time my mom’s Southern, City, which the Jahmy dad’s from Iran-anshahis had called I’ve moved and it just suits us. We’re home for 10 years, traveled in general has all hyper-aware of the for a job as vice presiculture that surrounds dent for a global busimade me deveolp as a us.”” ness transformation person... I’ve learned Many of the reaat MetLife, a life insons why Kamran surance company in to blend in to most scedecided to move his New York. In July, family around so freKamran, Camellia, narios.” quently were for the her mother Ms. JuCamellia Jahanshahi benefits Camellia and lie Milner, their dog Stephan would in turn Zara, their cat Calico receive from being and their fish Jake in so many different moved to Brooklyn, a places. borough of New York City.

“Both of my kids had the opportunity to exWorldview perience different cultures,” Kamran said. “As Camellia is no stranger to new places, new a result, they are wiser and more mature dealpeople or new experiences. ing with people and dealing with change. We “I was born in Baltimore, [Md.], and then are more and more becoming a global village we moved to Florida, I can’t remember where,” and a very mobile society, so I think they will Camellia said. “Then after Florida we moved become more successful in their futures.” to Greece. After Greece we moved to Belgium.

Hitting the Road After Belgium we moved to Missouri. After The first of the month of July, Camellia and Kansas City we moved to Brooklyn [NY].” her mother woke up early, packed up their car Camellia and her family have packed up and and did a quick check through their now empty changed their living situations for her father’s house to make sure they weren’t leaving anyjob more times than she can recall. thing behind.

“I have global responsibilities,” Kamran Camellia and Julie squeezed into their Honda said. “So I have to travel within the US and Fit, complete with three suitcases, one dog, one abroad.” cat, one fish, snacks, CDs and movies for the The Jahanshahis, Kamran, Camellia’s moth20-hour drive to their new home in Brooklyn. er, Julie and Camellia’s older brother, Stephan Camellia and Julie would be meeting Kamran, Jahanshahi, moved to Kansas City when Camel-

“T

who had been living there in a small apartment, working at MetLife since January.

By July 10, Camellia was standing in her new bedroom in the Jahanshahis’ new apartment on the corner of Court Street and State Street, deciding which posters to put up on her new walls. Joey Ramone facing the north or the west?

Family Time The family’s constant movement made them closer, especially in new or foreign environments in which language or customs would act as a barrier, separating the Jahanshahis from others in their new country.

“Basically we were guests living abroad,” Julie said.

“We have become closer as a family unit,” Kamran said. “We’ve always had to rely on each other.”

Camellia and her brother, Stephan, have a very close relationship as a result of their family’s moves. Stephan, who is 21 and attends Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, stayed with his sister and his parents in Brooklyn this summer and spent a lot of time with Camellia.

“Most siblings aren’t as close,” Camellia said. “We rely on each other a lot, because we’ve been ‘the new kid’ a lot.”

Twists and Turns After the Jahanshahis decided to move to New York City, they still had several unanswered questions. How would Camellia complete high school? Where would she attend?

Would she even need to attend school?

At the beginning of the summer, just before she left for Brooklyn, Camellia intended to enroll in online classes to acquire her necessary high school credits rather than attending a school in New York. After they arrived, however, she was informed that she needed her GED (General Education Development test), which she had to be 18 to acquire. Camellia would have to attend high school after all.

“My dad didn’t like the idea of me going to a public school,” Camellia said. “So, he applied

the dart H st. teresa’s academy H october 8, 2009

features

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BROOKLYN f o r m e , without asking me, to several private schools. Soon St. Saviour [High School] called and told me I was accepted.”

Traveling Man For most of Camellia’s life, her father has been away on business trips across the globe. But she got used to a lifestyle that didn’t always include him.

“When he was home we lived one way and when he wasn’t home we lived another way,” Camellia said. “It was kind of like we had two separate households. But his absence wasn’t that big of a deal. It was just kind of how we lived.”

Despite her father’s frequent travels, Camellia said, he has nonetheless been a reliable parental figure.

“My dad’s always given me and my family the best that he could,” Camellia said. “He’s had expectations for himself as a dad and a provider and he’s always lived up to them.”

Foreigners Born in Iran, Kamran moved to the US when he was 16. After Kamran and Julie met at the University of Minnesota where they were attending, they decided to marry in 1982.

After college, Kamran decided he wanted a job that involved a lot of traveling and global involvement.

“I was looking for a job where I had a responsibility of international scope,” Kamran said. “I enjoy working with people from around the world and interacting with different cultures and backgrounds. In general I just like being able to have a broader view of the world and being involved with it, instead of reading about it or researching it. I get to experience it first hand.”

Kamran has lived in 11 countries and worked in many more, including Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Germany, Spain, France, Belgium, Greece, Italy, Poland, India, Hungary, Egypt, Japan and China. Kamran also travels to several foreign countries on business.

In the next few weeks, he will be traveling to Delhi, India, then to Hong Kong and then to

b a c k Mexico home.

City, all “I miss so on business for much [in Kansas MetLife.

City].,” Camellia said.

After living in sev“I miss my friends so eral foreign countries, the much, and I miss James, Jahanshahis realized the difmy boyfriend so much. I miss ficulties of having a family in a having a house. I miss driving foreign country. my car.”

“They were amazing locations Trapped at home, Camellia [where we lived], but we were alyearned for new friends and new ways foreigners in those locations, things to do, but she had no resources which isn’t the best place to raise to find places to go or people to see. kids,” Camellia said.

“For the first two and a half months Kamran also agrees that despite the of being [in Brooklyn] I was pretty much benefits of living in different places, the sitting in my room alone or hanging out family lacked a set place they could call with my mom,” Camellia said. home.

In addition to mak“We haven’t ing herself adjust, Cahad the opportunity to mellia also comforted establish deep roots, her mother, who was so that’s a disadvanthink each one of us also having a difficult tage,” Kamran said. is re-evaluating how time with this move, “I’m also sure it’s difwith elements of her ficult for the kids to we define home. Kamran life that she loved make new friends in and I have always said back in Kansas City. new places every time “My mom took it we move.” home is where your famreally hard,” CamelTaking away one lia said. “It happened life for another ily is. Having a family really fast, it was kind Camellia undertogether is home.” of like a vacuum just stood her family’s Julie Milner, mother turned on and sucked moves when she was away everything. She a child. But after stayloves work and she ing in Kansas City for loves church and she ten years, she thought loved the house, the she would be able to neighborhood. We both agree that this was the finish out her high school years until her next hardest move. When we see the ‘I heart NY’ move; college. shirts we don’t get it, but we saw an ‘I question However, Camellia felt her father found a mark NY’ and we were like ‘Yes!’” new job at a pretty inopportune time.

The new kid “I resent [my parents] a little bit for this Camellia woke up at 6 a.m. Sept. 9. She move,” Camellia said. “I had to leave for my groggily walked the six blocks to the subway senior year. I’m not going to be able to go to and boarded the F train with the other early prom or do senior pranks or do Kairos. I resent morning commuters. After she arrived at her that they took me away from my friends and stop, she walked another four blocks to St. Savmy home.” iour High School for her first day of school.

Julie also had trouble with this move, but This is the fifth school she’s attended, and preferred it to the alternatives. just like the others, she was considered the “Mostly I like to move, but this move “new kid.” wasn’t something that I would have chosen,” Though this place was different, she still Julie said. “We tried living apart with [Kamquickly adapted, like she knew she would. ran] commuting but that didn’t work for me. I “When I approached [Camellia] I saw that needed to support our marriage.” she was sweet and extremely outgoing,” Erica July and August found Camellia in New Shwab said. Shwab is a senior at St. Saviour York City, lonely, sad and missing her friends

“I

High School this year, and one of Camellia’s closest friends so far.

“Camellia has came to my house several times, and I’ve enjoyed the stories she tells and the conversations we have.”

Finding the way home As Camellia, Julie and Kamran unpacked and set up their apartment, they remembered the last four times they had done so, in four different cities, in three separate countries.

To remind them of their past homes, they brought with them their piano from Kansas City, their Persian rugs, furniture from Belgium, art from Greece, family photos from everywhere and enough memories to fill a lifetime.

“I think each one of us is re-evaluating how we define home,” Julie said. “Kamran and I have always said home is where your family is.

Having a family together is home.” H

1. Shadows H Senior Camellia Jahanshahi, former STA student, poses for a photo by a mural in her former Kansas City church. Jahanshahi left STA to move to New York during the summer. Photo by Jaime Henry-White 2. Artsy Fartsy H Senior at Saint Saviour Camellia Jahanshahi draws on her sketch board during art class at her new school. Photo Submitted 3. Father-Daughter Bonding H Camellia poses for a picture with her father, Kamram, while in Tennessee. Photo Submitted 4. New Life H Mother Julie Milner, far left, Camellia, brother Stephan Jahanshahi and father Kamram Jahanshahi share a New Year’s Eve meal in their new home of New York City. Photo Submitted

in the mix

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the dart H st. teresa’s academy H october 8, 2009

Romance: The chemistry behind innate physical attractions Continued from page 2

With a different MHC than their own as more “pleasant.” He hypothesizes that the reason for this is to avoid inbreeding, continually change the makeup of the immune system so parasites do not adapt, and that immune diversity is more disease-resistant.

However, the nose can sometimes mess up. According to a study by Mr. Stewart Craig Roberts, an evolutionary psychologist at the University of Newcastle in England, the use of birth control could confuse the scent of your possible partner and possibly contribute to divorce. Some women who marry while on birth control and stop to have children later realize their genes do not match well with their partner’s.

The nose also functions to allow men to subconsciously detect when a female is fertile or ovulating. If this is the case, the male

will be more attracted to her because she is able to bear children at the time. According to a study by the journal Evolution and Human Behavior, strippers who are ovulating earn $70 an hour on average, while strippers who are menstruating earn only $35 an hour on average.

Taste test Scent and taste go hand in hand in determining whether a partner suits you. The fact that MHC is also contained in saliva explains kissing.

“Kissing might be a taste test,” said Martie Haselton, an associate professor of psychology at UCLA. Often, testosterone gets into men’s saliva. Kissing can cause a transfer of this testosterone which could stimulate the female to be more open to greater intimacy.

A study led by psychologist

Gordon Gallup showed that women place more emphasis on kissing than men. They use kissing as a way to assess their partner and the status of their relationship. The study suggested that since women can get pregnant from sex, they tend to be more picky when choosing their partner.

Also, the close proximity of kissing allows you to learn more about your partner.

“At the moment of a kiss, there’s a rich and complicated exchange of postural, physical and chemical information,” Gallup said. “There are hardwired mechanisms that process all this.”

These “hardwired mechanisms” are so primal that humans do not even realize they are using them.

When people look for these signs in the opposite sex, they aren’t just looking for love, but to continue the human population. H

Taking same steps STA teachers train, plan to run half marathon Oct. 17

by KATHLEEN HOUGH Staff Writer

STA English teachers Katie Dolan, Carrie Jacquin, Kelly Fast, Eric Thomas, and world history teacher Richard Shrock have more than grading essays and vocabulary tests in their lesson plans for the Saturday of the Teresian dance.

While STA students wake up early in order to attend pre-planned hair appointments, manicure/pedicure combinations, and last minute alterations to their one-of-a-kind dresses, the five STA teachers will be stretching for and running the Waddell and Reed Kansas City half-marathon.

The half-marathon covers

H

13.2 miles of Kansas City, beginning at 7 a.m. Oct. 17. The race will start at Union Station, continue from downtown to the Country Club Plaza, only to loop back around and end back at Union Station where it began.

According to Dolan, most of the teachers did not plan to run the half-marathon together, and do not train with one another.

“It all started at an English department meeting,” Dolan said. “I was talking to Mr. Thomas and mentioned that I was training for a half-marathon. [Thomas] said that he, Mr. Shrock, and Mr. Fast were [training] too, and then Ms. Jacquin chimed in and said that she and her husband were doing [the half-marathon] as well.”

Although all five teachers plan to run the half-marathon, Dolan predicts each teacher will run the race on their own, and not as a group, contrary to popular belief.

“From what I gather, it sounds

like Mr. Thomas is the fastest,” Dolan said. “However, Mr. Fast claims that he’s kind of crazy about it too, plus Mr. Fast and Mr. Shrock have been training together, so I’m not sure if [Thomas, Fast, and Shrock] will run together or not.”

When it comes to the actual race, Dolan confesses her anxiety about the event. She believes that her normal schedule in addition to volleyball season has prevented her from training as much as she had planned.

Dolan is worried about her performance at the race.

“I’m actually a little nervous about [the race] because I’m afraid I’m going to get injured,” Dolan said. “I haven’t been doing the amount of training I should be doing, but I still want to run [the half-marathon] because I told myself I would do it. I would be really disappointed and embarrassed if I didn’t. H

FAB raises money for Scotland trip Tonight the Fine Arts Booster club (FAB) will hold their first meeting of the year. FAB is a parent booster club that works and raises money to support the arts at STA. According to President Alicia Girardeau, all of the money FAB raises this year will go toward the Scotland trip, in which a small

cast will travel to the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh to perform the play, “Greater Tuna.”

“The entire Fine Arts Department designed that all funds will go for the Scotland trip, which was very generous of them,” Girardeau said.

FAB raises money by selling concessions at STA performances,

hosting uniform sales, and selling donuts every Thursday to students and faculty in the mornings, with some other ideas for this year on the way.

“We are working on a mother/ daughter Bunko night in the winter to raise money,” Girardeau said. “And we have some other ideas in the works as well.” H

Influence: A rooted passion in music Continued from page 18

McKenzie says her passion in singing is opera, and she hopes to major in voice and opera in college. She is preparing an audition video to send to colleges she cannot visit personally, and she plans to visit closer schools to audition in person.

“Opera is something that’s unique,” McKenzie said. “I mean, it’s not something that everybody out there does. I think it would be really cool to have that as a job.”

Along with McKenzie’s accomplishments playing the violin, she began taking piano lessons this year. Although she started quite re-

cently, McKenzie says her knowledge gained through playing the violin has helped her learn quickly, especially when doing things like reading music.

Throughout her life, McKenzie’s mother has been a heavy influence on her when it comes to music. She says much of her taste in music came from her mom, especially her interest in bluegrass.

With years of experience playing the violin and singing and with piano as a new musical talent to add to her list, McKenzie has astounded STA with her musical capacity in such a variety of areas. H

Issue Two Corrections

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On page 2, The Dart incorrectly identified Principal of student affairs Mary Anne Hoecker as the Principle for academic affairs.

The Dart apologizes for this occurrence. H

Web releases blogs The Dart’s website launches nine new online bloggers

by CASSIE REDLINGSHAFER Staff Writer

Dart News Online launched its blogs Monday night. A “blog” coming from the words “web” and “log” has been compared to an online diary. Blogs will have a topic unique to every individual blogger and content all it’s own.

Bloggers write in an informal writing style more relatable to students.

Nine STA bloggers will blog biweekly about a variety of topics ranging from spirituality, to weird things, to local news. The bloggers and the subjects they will blog about are as follows: junior Kathleen Hough (Weird Things), junior Madalyne Bird (Local News), senior Sydney

Deatherage (Campus News), senior Taylor Irwin (STA Life), senior Kayla Loosen (Pop Culture), senior Micah Wilkins (Entertainment), senior Elizabeth Wilson (Advice), senior Caroline Thompson (Spirituality), and junior Morgan Said (Academics).

Blogs contain links to related YouTube videos, news clips, or news articles depending on the content of the blogs.

Each blog will be updated on a different day of the week or more, depending on the blogger.

The blogs, like most of the website, are purely for the entertainment of the readers in and out of the STA community.

Blogs and other information will are related to the print version of The Dart, with all stories and other information online for readers to enjoy.

Readers can comment on blogs, and after review by the web staff, the comments will be posted on the bloggers page. H

Auction plans begin Although the annual STA auction is less than two months away, preparing for the fundraiser includes activities long before.

Sept. 25 was the auction pre-party hosted by the Lauden family.

Different incentives for selling include receiving STA sweatpants that can be worn at school in place of the skirt, along with

individual, advisory, and class prizes. Each ticket in $10, and one winner is picked at the auction with a choice of a three year lease on a 2010 Toyota Corollas, $10,000 in cash, or one year free tuition and fees at STA. The theme for the auction this year is “Starry Starry Night” and will be the night of Nov. 21. H

Rosie Hodes

5

Patient ‘Angel,’ I am so sorry

1

Angelica, here is my 15th apology, and it’s more formal because it’s in writing: I am so sorry.

To all of you who are questioning what I did to hurt this poor “Angel,” I shall explain.

My second “get to know a stranger” experiment didn’t go so well.

Cross-country practice was over and I had a while to spare before my date with senior Angelica DeSimio. So, what did I do? Went to Chipotle, obviously.

That seems innocent enough, but 45 minutes and 450 phone calls later I arrived at the Roasterie and profusely apologized to Angelica for throwing my key (or so I thought) into the trashcan.

But she waited! She waited for tardy, irresponsible Rosie who didn’t take her subconscious seriously when it yelled at her to “Get Angelica’s phone number!

Just in case!” I hear you laughing now, subconscious. Her phone number is now safe and sound in my contact list.

When the excitement (a.k.a. embarrassment) settled down and Angelica graciously granted forgiveness, she popped open her Jones’ Root Beer and we chatted about anything an everything.

Angelica works at Laura Little’s fudge shop and has trouble resisting the temptation of a nibble or two. She read “Colleges That Change Lives: 40 Schools That Will Change the Way You Think About Colleges” by Lauren Pope and has narrowed her list to four choices, all of which sound incredible and so Angelica-esque.

She is bringing the class of 2010 an incredible gift for Teresian: and her greatly-missed big-timeNew-Yorker date (see pages 2021). She shares my unconditional love for the Academy, citing the friendships she’s made as her favorite part.

Angelica was so relatable to me and I wondered why I never let my knowledge of Angelica go past the superficial, “Editor of Windmoor, went to Visitation, used to clobber me in volleyball.” I’m glad I dug deeper, but I can tell there’s even more to learn.

So, even though getting there was a little stressful, my date with Angelica was definitely worth it. I would stick my hand in a Chipotle trashcan for her any day. H

top

MODEL BEHAVIOR

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3

The Kokondorok Dog. This dog is unique in the way that it’s fur is long and cordlike, greatly resembling a mop.

The Angora Rabbit. This is one of the oldest known breeds of rabbit, known for it’s long hair. The Angora Rabbit originated in Turkey along with the Angora goat.

The Star-Nosed Mole. This mole is found in East Canada and Northern US. This mole is a great swimmer and can be found along river bottoms, searching for food.

4 2

Workin’ It H Critter has allegedly been taking modeling classes ever since his debut as the “campus kitty.” He has been seen struttin’ his stuff up and down the Donnelly Hall stairs between mods. Some wonder if the publicity has gone to his head. Photo by Sophia Garozzo

compiled by Avery Adams

Information compiled from hubpages.com

[tune in at teresian]

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10.

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13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

20.

21.

down- 1. Just a small town girl…

2. Been here all along so why can’t you see 4. Do me a favor call me jerk one more time 5. We used to kiss all night, now it’s just a bar fight 7. Open up and set us free, aoooow 11. Somebody call 911! 12. What’s going on on the floor? 14. Someone like you and all you know and how you speak 16. Groove slam, work it back, Filter that, baby bump that track 17. We were both young, when i first saw you across- 1. Keep on with the force don’t stop 3. i never thought i’d… be in love like this 6. And the Britney song was on 8.

This beat be bumpin’ bumpin’ 9.

Don’t wanna be tough, better do what you can 10. i was hanging in the corner with my 5 best friends 13. Fill up my cup- drink- mozzletoff 15. you shoulda put a ring on it 18. you’re delusional, you’re delusional, Boy you’re losing your mind 19. Do you want love or you want fame? 20. There’s always gonna be another mountain 21.

Mmm that you only meant well?

Well of course you did.

created by Shaughnessy Miller

Days of our lives The Dart created a countdown to some of the most anticipated days of the school year.

8

days until Teresian.

Exactly 66 days until first semester finals.

There are

14 days before the next late start.

days until the next 7 three day weekend.

And only 232 days until summer.

Approximately

DARTSMART is the one thing you are most 1. What proud of?

The Leafy Sea Dragon. This animal was named after the Chinese Dragon, like all sea horses, the males carry the eggs and become pregnant with their young.

1.

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Which member of the Bromance are you most like?

Compiled by Taylor Irwin

Blob Fish. The Blob fish is found in the deep waters of Tasmania and Australia, which are mostly inaccessible by humans; explaining why this unique fish is rarely seen.

1

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[[Weird Animals]]

answers- down: 1. Don’t Stop Believin’ 2. you Belong With Me 4. you’re a Jerk 5. Love Drunk 7. She Wolf 11. Fire Burnin’ 12. Just Dance 14. Use Somebody 16. Starstruck 17. Love Story across: 1. Don’t Stop Till you Get Enough 3. Knock you Down 6. Party in the USA 8. Boom Boom Pow 9. Beat it 10. Good Girls Go Bad 13. i Gotta Feelin’ 15. Single Ladies 18. Obsessed 19. Love Game 20. The Climb 21. Watcha Say

Nice to meet you

in the mix

the dart H st. teresa’s academy H october 8, 2009

a.

My “Freaks and Geeks” DVD collection, the ABC Family TV show based on adolescence in the 1980s.

b.

My homeboy: Thomas Jefferson.

c.

The person I have become.

d. The giant photo collage of my daughter, hanging behind my desk.

2. What do you do in your spare time? a. Visit my acting coach to keep up my

lead role status in the annual auction pep rallies.

b. Look up YouTube videos on government conspiracy theories.

c.

Hang out at the Roasterie and talk about indie bands like The Shins and Wilco over coffee.

Take photos of my two children and

d. listen to my 4-year-old daughter sing “Single Ladies” by Beyonce.

one word describes your per3. What sonality the best?

a. Awkward. b.

Breezy.

c. Mysterious. d. Awesome-ness.

4. What do you do on the weekends?

Nothing until I get my daily coffee

a. fix.

b. No comment.

Go see the latest movies, only to

c. make fun of them with students in Monday morning classes.

d. Compare The Dart to less-cool local student newspapers.

if you answered...

Mostly A’s You are social studies teacher Richard Shrock and can be overheard saying “hi,” in the hall to everyone you see.

Mostly B’s You are most like history teacher Craig Whitney, known generally for your laid back personality and hand gestures.

Mostly C’s You are American Literature teacher Kelly Fast, and can often be found in Eric Thomas’s classroom.

Mostly D’s You are journalism teacher Eric Thomas.

You are known for your use of the nonexistent word “goober” and unique PowerPoints.

last look

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the dart H st. teresa’s academy H october 8, 2009

VA M P I R E

1

FAC E STA faculty and staff put on the annual auction pep rally Oct. 2 in the auditorium. The theme for this years’ pep rally was the movie “Twilight.”

O F F

3 1. Get your claws out H Teachers face off during the auction pep rally skit Oct. 2 in the auditorium. The theme for this years pep rally was based on the movie “Twilight.” Photo by Laura Neenan 2. The great protector H Drama teacher Shauna Prentiss hides behind history teacher Richard Shrock in a scene from the auction pep rally Oct. 2. The theme for the pep rally was the movie “Twilight.” Photo by Tracy Burns-Yocum 3. Put’em up H Guidance counselor Holly Bentley shrieks during the auction pep rally Oct. 2. Faculty and staff performed a parody of the movie “Twilight.” Photo by Laura Neenan 4. Gettin’ jiggy wit it H Government, sociology, and psychology teacher Pat Sirridge dances at the auction pep rally Oct. 2. Faculty and staff ended the skit in a dance party with the seniors. Photo

by Laura Neenan

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