March 2022

LeJOURNAL Notre Dame de Sion High School | Volume 43 | March 2022

FEATURE: PAGE 8

ON THE COVER: PAGE 14

EDITORIAL: PAGE 22

DANCE TEAM BACK TO BACK NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

INEQUALITY IN ATHELTICS BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN

RESPECTING THE CULTURE OF THE PLACES YOU TRAVEL

what’s inside features

news and sports

opinions

08-09

10-11

12-13

20-21

04-05

22-23

Dancing Domination

Sion and Beijing Olympics

Amplifying Black Voices

Sports Highlights

24-25

06-07

Brewing Up a Business

February Deep Dives

Disillusioned with the Drama

Adventurous, Not Afraid

a&e

18-19 Oh, the Places You Should Go

cover story

14-17

26-27

WoMEN’s World

Summer Must Haves

LeJOURNAL. 2021 // 2022 LE JOURNAL IS THE OFFICIAL STUDENT PUBLICATION OF NOTRE DAME DE SION HIGH SCHOOL - 10631 WORNALL ROAD - KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI 64114

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news and sports

A&E EDITOR

COPY EDITOR

Sofia Aguayo Kate McCarthy

Ella Rogge

Zahra Parsons

Brianna Legette

FEATURES EDITOR

Elle Simon

Liv Zender Ava Albracht

Sophie Gromowsky

Megan Kelley Lauren Smith

Photo of the Issue SCREAM FOR YOUR TEAM Excited for Sion Olympics Mar. 5, senior Ashley Ulowetz cheers for her grade representing the United States of America. The Olympics consisted of dances performed by each grade’s student council followed by free time to participate in an activity of choice. “Sion Olympics was really fun this year, especially after not having a real one last year,” Ulowetz said. “I really liked the theme of USA. I’m a proud American.” Photo | Kate McCarthy More information about Sion Olympics can be found on pages 10-11.

02 // LeJournal

editors’ink

H

appy springtime everybody!

We hope you all had an amazing Spring Break filled with relaxation, excitement and loved ones. It is officially quarter four which means the end of the year is almost here!

Although this quarter can be the hardest to push through, especially for the seniors, keep your heads up looking forward to the summer and beyond.

This is sadly the last issue with a cover story as our next and final issue will be all about the seniors, their accomplishments and their futures. This cover story on pages 14-17 is about how women are unfairly treated, especially in the world of sports, and what we can do about it.

This past month was an exciting one. Turn to pages 8-9 to read all about dance team and the hard work that led up to their National and State championships this past month. Flip to pages 6-7 to learn about all the experiential learning opportunities offered

to Sion students through the long-awaited and very successful February Deep Dives. On Feb. 10, the Black History Month Committee organized an amazing assembly titled “Amplifying Black Voices” full of activities, performances and shopping opportunities (pgs. 20-21).

Have you seen the new and improved concession stand room in the New Grande Salle?

Flip to pages 24 and 25 to read all about how this space is being used for our very own coffee shop, Vive Coffee. Although spring break just passed, make sure to read about respecting the culture and people of the places you travel to this summer and beyond on pages 22-23.

It is so bittersweet for us to be handing out our last regular issue of the year, but the journey of these 5 issues has been worth it. We hope you love this issue as much as we enjoyed making it; stay tuned for our last and final senior issue in May!

student space Emma Titus

I run my own Etsy shop called Drawsbyemmashop where I sell originals, prints, and greeting cards of my hand cut and painted collage artwork.

I opened Drawsbyemmashop about two years ago during quarantine.

For my process, I decide what I want to create a picture of and draw that with pencil the regular way. Then I paint lots of sheets of different colors and patterns. I have a big folder full of scraps now, so I don’t have to paint so many sheets every time. After that, I cut out shapes with an X-Acto knife and glue them onto a clean white piece of paper where I need them to go. This process is very time consuming so I make and sell prints of each piece, not just originals like I used to.

I mostly sell my artwork through Etsy. I’ve participated in two craft fairs since opening which were both very successful so I’d love to do another one in the future. Also, I recently had my artwork up in Martin City Coffee and made a few sales that way too.

Much Love, Kate and Sofia

keep up with us: @lejournalsion

Use camera to visit lejournallive.com!

March 2022 // 03

news .

NEW LAX LEADERSHIP With Spring Sports starting, many changes have been made to the teams and rules.

T

ryouts for spring sports began Feb. 28. After nearly a decade of being off, distance coach Reynold Middleton rejoined the track and field team. Middleton was Athletic Director for 15 years when he first arrived at Sion as well as being distance track coach.

He has spent the last 22 years being head coach of the cross country team.

“I’m excited to have Mid as our distance coach because he makes running fun, which is hard to do sometimes, and he’s a good coach,” freshman distance runner Mary Schumm said.

Two new lacrosse coaches started this season including head coach Brittni Levasuer and junior varsity coach Elizabeth Johnson. Both have continued to play since high school and are very experienced in the lacrosse world. Levasuer has played every position except for goalie. Johnson is a member of the Kansas City Board for Lacrosse and she participates in meetings and teaches new referees how to judge plays. Levasseur and Johnson are strong Photo | Megan Kelley advocates for women’s lacrosse and teaching others about the sport.

“It is the fastest growing sport in the United States,” Levasseur said. “Women’s lacrosse is just as physical as men’s lacrosse.”

Missouri High School Activities Association recently changed a rule on preseason practice for the soccer team. This new rule allowed head coach Douglas McLagan to scrimmage and work on new ball skills during the preseason. Previously, MSHAA only allowed for the coaches to do workouts without the soccer ball.

With the soccer transition to this year, the team lost 16 seniors.

Last year’s team consisted of 22 players, so this season is going to be a building year. Even with the loss of so many seniors, McLagan wants the team to perform to their best ability.

“The aim this year is to try and be competitive,” McLagan said. “If we can do that I’d be really excited because what we’re trying to do is build our competitiveness for next year and the year after.”

04 // LeJournal

DANCING TO NATIONALS On Jan. 4-6 the dance team traveled to Florida and performed at the Walt Disney World Resort for nationals. They won national champions in the small varsity high kick for the second year in a row.

The dance team has won state 14 times. Last year they also ranked top 10 in the nation for their pom dance.

They start their tryouts in mid April and continue their training into the summer. They start their training in the summer to get a head start in conditioning. The team also attends a camp over the summer allowing them to compete for nationals.

Sophomore Natalie Stapp has been on the dance team for the last two years. She went with the team to Nationals and loved the experience.

“It just feels really good to know that all of our hard work has paid off, and that we really stuck it through the finish line,” Stapp said. “It’s when the moments where the whole season kind of sums up into one moment.”

Flip to pages eight and nine for more information on the dance team.

KICKING CHAMPIONS

Sophomores Ava Townsend and Livvy Cavaliere and junior Reese Chambers perform their kick routine at Nationals. “The feeling of competing at Nationals is honestly so unreal,” Chambers said. “You work the entire season just to get to that one place and the amount of adrenaline you have really changes the perspective of everything.”

Photo | Professional Photographer

news

WINTER SPORTS

WINS SWIMMING INTO ACTION

The swim and dive team placed first at the Belton and Grain Valley meets as well as the Independence Invite Meet. Right before State, the team competed in the ILC Invite and placed second.

At the beginning of the season, the team’s home pool at the Redbridge YMCA closed, forcing the team to practice later in the evenings at the Jewish Community Center in Leawood.

Despite not having a home pool, the team sent divers senior Lydia Poe and sophomores Maggie Axtell and Jane Lehmann, and seven swimmers to state including freshman Maeve Glennon; sophomores Ava Townsend, Ellie Hutchin and Maddi Adkins; and seniors Grace Townsend, Ava Albracht and Elise Stringer.

“I feel really proud of the girls for all their hard work dealing with some ups and downs of having to practice late at night and not really having a home pool,” swim and dive coach Kelly Timson said, “But really persevering through that and working hard despite all the challenges.”

BY MEGAN KELLEY NEWS & SPORTS EDITOR

Highlights and notable events that occured during the 2022 winter sports season.

REACHING FOR THE STARS

Basketball finished the season with an 18-6 record, the best all around since the 2013 season. They won the Irish Cup against St. Teresa’s Academy on Feb. 24, winning 38-25. The Storm also won their first game against the Stars earlier in the season 42-38.

Going into the second game against St. Teresa’s, the varsity team had two of their starters out. Sophomore Grace St. Peter played in both games against the Stars.

“It was really relieving,” St. Peter said. “We were really scared about the second game because two of our starters were hurt.”

In their Archie Tournament on Jan. 28-29, the team made it to the championship, taking second place against Harrisionville with a score of 50-45.

Districts for basketball started on March 1, against Nevada High School. The Storm won 44-34. In the second game on March 4, the Storm lost to Clinton High School with a score of 30-44.

RAIDING THE HILL

Standing on the side line in anticipation, freshmen Ava Lynn and Terryn Ford prepare to re-enter the game. The Storm took the win against the raiders on Feb. 28 with a score of 69-53.

Photo | Lily Wilkin

TESTING THE WATERS At the ILC meet, head coach Kelly Timson tallies up the points needed to beat rival St. Teresa’s Academy. “I was keeping track of if anything was changing, how many points might we gain on them,” Timson said. “Because from prelims to finals, we needed to gain 20 points on them.”

Photo | Caroline Hammett

March 2022 // 05

news

SOUTHWEST SMILES Photo Submission | Anna Golian

In Bisbee, Arizona students explored a previously active mine on trains and learned about how the mines affected jobs, immigration, and the environment.

Deep Dive Days Sion held multiple-day deep dives in February and the reviews are raving.

BY LAUREN SMITH COPY EDITOR

06 // LeJournal

S

ion dived into experiential learning for the second time this year Feb. 14-18 with 20 different classes in a range of interests from Identity through Art to touring French culture around Kansas City or even designing an escape room after visiting Breakout KC. Sion launched this new learning program at the beginning of the school year, planning to incorporate three separate sessions of experiential lessons outside of the classroom.

Due to scheduling conflicts the third session in April has been canceled. The Deep Dives were originally scheduled for four days from Feb. 14-18, but the administration canceled the last day due to a snow day.

The intention behind Deep Dives was to link students to real-world experiences and to expose them to problem solving outside of the classroom. Many Deep Dives traveled around the Kansas City area, and two explored outside state boundaries, traveling to Arizona and Texas. The course “Experiential Cultural Immersion in the American Southwest” with Spanish teacher Solange Gonzalez and History teacher Richard Shrock explored immigration at the U.S. border while visiting Indigenous tribes in Arizona.

“You see a lot of stuff in the news about the things we got to cover in the Deep Dive,’’

junior Caroline Dold said. “You see a lot of things, talking about the issues from a distance, but it’s really different once you’re on the ground. It’s enlightening to have a closeness to all of that instead of being distant from it.”

Courses that stayed local were just as gratifying touring around the diverse places that Kansas City has to offer. Elizabeth Mulkey’s course, Jazzin’ KC, attended live jazz performances each day. Senior Olivia Mancina was even able to step on stage and sing at the Blue Room Feb. 15.

“I was like ‘I only know one jazz standard,’” Mancina said about her performance. “I wasn’t really scared because it felt like a very safe environment. So, I just kind of got up there and had fun.”

Deep Dives had something for each student. The Big Bend National Park Adventure with English teacher Melissa Wilcox and counselor Lara King explored numerous places throughout Texas.

“The trip was such a good experience to branch out and get out of my comfort zone,” freshman Emily Bahora said. “I met a lot of new people which was really good, and I saw myself grow because I got more confident.”

Ultimate Frisbee fanatic and history teacher Chris Schreiber taught his class the

news ARTISTS IN THE MAKING

DIVERSE DISHES

Those in the Ologies deep dive immersed themselves in African culture for preparation for the opportunity this summer of an excursion to Northern Kenya.

Photo Submitted | Amy Vandenbrul

In Identity Through Art students visited Studios Inc to see their gallery and an artist studio. “It was a very interesting experience and allowed me to see that we have a large art world her in KC,” sophomore Grace Kiewiet said.

Photo Submitted | Grace Kiewiet

ACTING FOR THE CAMERA

Play director Maggie Killian taught students how to develop their acting skills and how to best use technology to aid students in this process.

BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK ADVENTURE

English teacher Melissa Wilcox and counselor Lara King went to El Paso, Texas along with their adventurers for a 5 day trip full of outdoor excursions such as rafting down the Rio Grande, hike up Emory Peak and a visit to Santa Elena Canyon.

BOOK ART HISTORY: FROM CLAY TABLETS TO E-TABLETS English teacher, Emily Grover and her students explored books and how they have been written throughout time. Students made hardbound journals and experimented with paper-making and bookbinding, along with visiting the rare book collection sat the Linda Hall Library and UMKC.

CHEMISTRY OF CHOCOLATE

Chemistry teachers Kelly Timson and Kathleen Teel led students through visits to an industrial kitchen to make chocolate, a talk with a professional chef, visiting a chocolate maker and, most importantly, sampling chocolates. They learned about the social justice issues surrounding coffee beans and the difference in types of chocolates.

DESIGNING A HABITAT AND ENRICHMENT FOR AN AUSTRALIAN HABITAT

DUNE DAYS

Students explored the terrain of the south by sleding on the sand dunes at sunset in the White Sands National Park.

Photo Submitted | Emily Bahora

basics of his favorite sport. He introduced students to the rules of the sport by collaborating with the players from The Bettys, the women’s ultimate frisbee team at the University of Kansas.

“I think I gained a good understanding of ultimate frisbee,” sophomore Grace St. Peter said. “I felt like I could play on a team. We did a lot of skill practice and learned all the different ways to throw a frisbee.”

Not everyone went on outdoor adventures. “The Chemistry Behind Chocolate” with chemistry teachers Kelly Timson and Kathleen Teel led their class in learning all about chocolate through tastings, visiting André’s Chocolates, and going to the Kansas State University science center in Olathe.

“I learned the process in which they temper chocolate and how it’s made, and all the things that actually go into it, and how to start a small business, and things I can actually apply to my real life,” freshman Caroline Weber said.

This session of Deep Dives benefited students because the experiences and lessons learned will aid them. Connections formed through these diverse experiences exceeded expectations of these Deep Dives and brought to life the visions of experiential learning.

“It’s so important to learn life skills that will help us in the real world and in our futures which we usually can’t learn inside the walls of Sion,” junior Chloe Welch said. “So, going outside into the community can help us succeed later in life.”

Biology teacher Kaci Flippo led animal lovers in creating a habitat of an Australian animal that lives at the Kansas City Zoo where students were able to pitch their habitat ideas and an enrichment toy for an animal to the staff.

ESCAPE YOUR PRIVLEDGES

Math teachers Mary Humphrey and Lori Moore applied their problem solving skills with a group of students to design a Breakout KC escape room. Throughout the week the students learned the processes that go along with an escape room and made a prototype of their very own.

EXPERIENTIAL CULTURAL IMMERSION IN THE AMERICAN SOUTHWEST Desert duo Spanish teacher Solange Gonzalez and History teacher Richard Shrock led students throughout Arizona to emerge themselves in diverse cultures and practices. Through visiting Borderlands Restoration Network, the USMexican border, the International Sonoran Desert Alliance and the Tohono O’odham Nation they learned about sustainability, culture exchange and preservation.

GEOLOGY OF THE OZARKS

Ozark lover, and Science teacher Amy Vandenbrul led students into the geologic history of the Ozark plateau through visits to the Kansas Museum of Natural History and visits to lakes and springs in the metro area. Students explored how mountains, caves, springs and especially water affect the landscape around it by creating a road trip planner.

#GIRLBOSS

Ellen Carmody, a girl boss herself, led students into becoming a #girlboss in a real world setting. Students engaged in professional communication skills, spoke with women executives in KC and learned how to build wealth and best present themselves.

WELCOMING TO THE WORLD OF KC

Mission director Annie Riggs and her students connected with Sion students from Australia, Brazil, France and Costa Rica to plan the next International Sion Student Meeting.

IDENTIFY THROUGH ART

Art teachers Liz Smith and Penny Selle helped students navigate to a place where the mind, heart, and soul shine on a tour of KC’s finest spaces where artists work and are celebrated with an emphasis on reflectionbased personal identity.

JAZZIN’ KC

Jazzin’ musical director Elizabeth Mulkey introduced students to the rich history and presence of jazz in Kansas City by learning about the progression of jazz through a visit to The American Jazz Museum and watching live jazz each day.

KC STORIES

History teachers Mary Murphy and Taylor Hersh collaborated with theology teachers Polly Holmes and Paul Kramschuster led students to engage directly with both stories and storytellers around Kansas City along with how historical artifacts are preserved, researched and exhibited by visiting museums, and historic sites.

MORE THAN JUST COFFEE

Caffeinated ethic teacher Morey Williams led her team of students in exploring all that goes behind a cup of coffee. Students visited local roasters The Roasterie and Repetition Coffee to learn more about the process that goes into farming and roasting a good cup of coffee, and even constructed their own coffee roasting machine.

OLOGIES

In partnership with Young Conservationists, Emilie Lai led her students to understand what fuels -ologists locally and in Kenya.

Students visited the Kansas City Zoo, met with an Herbalist and explored the successes and challenges of a modernizing Africa to learn about the opportunity this summer of an excursion to Northern Kenya.

PORTRAIT OF A REFUGEE

Spanish teacher April Schendel, theology teacher Jessica Hull, and counselor Erin Stein-Hughes led students through a course of understanding a person having refugee status by working with local organizations including Della Lamb and Catholic Charities.

PYTHON, HUNTERS & WUMPI, OH MY!

Computer scientist Todd Decker led students through the basics of programming through the Python programming language in addition to learning the program game Colossal Cave Adventure.

SPORTS BUSINESS

Athletic coordinators Kate Pilgreen, Reynold Middleton, and Doug McLagan led their team of students through the world of opportunities as a female in sports business by exploring the possibilities around Kansas City.

STORIES IN GLASS

Theology teacher Bonnie Haghirian and her team of students explored the stories behind stained glass. Students explored the history through visiting museums, parks and a stained glass artist.

STORYTELLING AND FOOD

English teacher Chrissy Nance led her team of sous chefs in storytelling through a culinary experience by visiting restaurants and chefs.

ULTINATE FRISBEE

Ultimate frisbee fanatic and history teacher Chris Shreiber taught his team of students the basics of ultimate frisbee with athletes at the University of Kansas and the women’s ultimate frisbee club The Betty’s.

VIVE KC

All things French fans and teachers Liz Bono and Amanda Loflin led students to explore KC’s widespread French history with a tour of French settlements and cuisine in downtown KC.

March 2022 // 07

feature

Dancing

D0mination From starting the first ever Notre Dame de Sion dance team, to 2x National Champs, coaches Marion Gould and Shelli Vaughan have seen their team through it all.

BY LIV ZENDER WEB EDITOR IN CHIEF

Demand for Dance Photo | Sion Dance Team

08 // LeJournal

Dance Team members celebrate winning the National Kick Championship and pose for a picture by placing a hand on the trophy and holding it in the air.

feature

D

ance teams in huddles all over the place, holding hands, waiting with bated breath as the countdown began. In third place, Oakton High School. In second place Crown Point High School. And in 1st place, as National Small Varsity Kick Champions, Notre Dame de Sion. Cheers erupted from the stands where parents and spectators were watching. The dancers rush together to celebrate, cheering “G! G! G! G!” In honor of coach Marion Gould who

Dedication

Coaches Marion Gould, left, and Shelli Vaughan, right, pose for a picture with Gould’s recognition plaque honoring her 25 years of coaching.

was not in attendance the year before, due to COVID-19.

Every year dance team travels to the ESPN World Wide of Sports to participate in pom and kick competitions but this is their second year in a row being National Small Varsity Kick Champions. They have also been state champions (nonconsecutively) 14 times.

“After confetti, lots of pictures, and getting our trophy and banner, we all came together to give Shelli a huge hug,” Senior Sophia Totta said. “That was one of the happiest moments of my life.”

Coach and alum Shelli Vaughan petitioned to start the dance team during her four years attending high school. After the principal at the time, as stated by both Vaughan and Gould, put up every roadblock possible, the first ever dance team was founded by the mother daughter duo. As Vaughan went off to college and then returned, Gould maintained and elevated the dance team’s abilities and later hired a kick specialist to help improve technique, form, flexibility, and endurance.

The team continued to work hard and compete in Nationals for kick, sometimes placing 4th, but never quite able to break the top three. When asked what inspired them to start the dance team Gould responded: “I think for one it was the love of dance. I danced when I was younger and Shelli danced with American Youth Ballet for a long time,” Gould said. “That and the Sion school population wanted a dance team. They were excited about it.”

Vaughan and Gould think there were a lot of contributing factors to the years long struggle to place in the top three ranking, including team size, how divisions are divided, and the academic

rigor of a college prep school.

Until 2022, kick was the only dance category at Nationals not split into categories, small, medium and large varsity. This meant that the small but mighty dance team consisting of 14 dancers could be competing against large schools with 24 dancers. Teams with larger numbers of dancers can choreograph dances that create more of a show when it comes to lifts and tricks while other dancers kick.

Celebrating Seniors

Seniors Ashley Ulowetz, Carmen Phillips, Sophia Totta and Liesl Riffe, from left to right, pose together after winning Nationals in small varsity kick.

Additionally, the college prep rigor doesn’t allow for an in school dance class and limits the number of practices the team can have in a week. Nevertheless, after nearly 25 years of hard work and dedication, the team managed to not only break the top three, but win Nationals two years in a row.

“You’re up against schools by squad size, not school size. So we’re up against schools… with thousands of kids in there.

And they have 200 people try out,” Gould and Vaughan said. “And then here’s Sion.

Sion is small but mighty. And we know that but how does that translate when other people don’t.”

Much like everything else in life, COVID-19 had a tremendous impact on the last year’s and this year’s season.

Countless more obstacles than usual, one of which being the previous year’s national competition being delayed, causing the season to be two months longer than usual and interfere with studio dance competitions.

“I feel like last year we had every possible obstacle thrown in front of us.

The road map kept changing and what we thought it would be kept changing to something else, and everybody had to roll with the punches,” Vaughan said.

“Last year I was not only proud of what the girls were able to accomplish. I’m just proud of us getting [there] safely and making everything happen.”

An additional obstacle that the team had to overcome were the strict COVID-19 regulations at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, such as parents and coaches being the only audience members allowed which restricted the dance teams ability to watch their fellow competitors’ dances.

Additionally masks were required

at all times other than performances.

Luckily, this year all dance competitions were held in person, on time, with masks being the only COVID-19 precaution remaining. Teams were able watch other teams compete and dancers could bring as many family members to watch as they wanted.

“I tried very hard to continue to have this experience that the girls have had for so many years now,” Vaughan said. “And to hold that precious and keep that tight

State Superiority The dance team takes one last group picture of the 2021-22 season after being named State Champions in both pom and kick.

for them and make sure that they had that [experience]. COVID made that hard.

That’s what I’m most thankful for. That we were able to get back to that normal.”

Gould and Vaughan have undoubtedly changed dozens of girls lives forever, from pushing and inspiring them to becoming better dancers, to supporting them through their life after high school.

According to Vaughan, one of the most enjoyable and rewarding aspects of coaching is more than just the success and bonding of the team in the moment, its the lifelong touch they have on these young girls who graduate and don’t forget their time on the dance team.

The dancers sing their praise and appreciation for their coaches. It doesn’t take long to realize the incredible impact Vaughan and Gould have had on their dancers, and vice versa.

“Our coaches do so much for us,” Junior Reese Chambers said. “Not only do they help us with dancing but they help us learn things for real life situations and how to handle certain situations.

They are really motivating and they keep us going.”

From white Keds and once piece uniforms with skirts long enough to satisfy the Sisters of Sion, to a different uniform for every performance, dance shoes, two national championship titles, and 14 state championship titles, the dance team has come a long way but Gould and Vaughan’s message to graduating seniors remains the same.

“We watch them mature. They come in girls, eighth graders,” Gould said.

“And we truly watch them turn into young beautiful women by the time[they graduate] and confident women, which is what we want.”

March 2022 // 09

opinion.

ring chasers From broken records to doping scandals to COVID-19 restrictions, the 2022 Winter Olympics were quite eventful.

N

STORIES BY WEB EDITOR-IN-CHIEF AVA ALBRACHT; DESIGN BY PRINT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF SOFIA AGUAYO

orway triumphed in the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, earning 16 gold medals and breaking their own record for most gold medals received according to NBC Olympics. Germany placed second, receiving 12 gold medals. China placed third, the United States placed fourth and Sweden placed fifth.

Canadian hockey player Sarah Nurse scored 18 points and broke the record for most points scored in an Olympic tournament.

Additionally, Erin Jackson became the first Black woman to receive a speed skating medal.

Russia was not allowed to compete in this year’s games due to its previous involvement in government-run doping schemes. However, athletes from Russia were able to compete under the Russian Olympic Committee.

This change did not prevent doping however; 15-yearold Kamila Valieva tested positive for trimetazidine Dec. 25.

She was still allowed to compete because while under the age of 16, she is considered a “protected person,” according to the World Anit-Doping Code, meaning she cannot be punished for this discretion. Allowing her to compete caused an uproar and sparked discussions worldwide. Junior Georgia Kuntz watches the winter Olympics, specifically figure skating every four years; she did not agree with the Olympic committee’s decision to allow her to compete and place.

“I think her scores should be erased, I know it’s not her fault and I think she’s a great skater. I think she herself shouldn’t be punished but her coaches should because her coaches are the reason she was doping,” Kuntz said.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, no spectators could attend the games. Athletes competed in and performed for empty arenas. Infection rates stayed at 0.01%, according to president of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach. Sion much like China has had to adjust their Olympics this year as well by having students only sign up for one activity, read more on Sion’s Olympics on the next page.

Bronze

Silver

Gold

TOTAL

NORWAY

13

8

16

37

GERMANY

5

10

12

27

CHINA

2

4

9

15

UNITED STATES

7

10

8

25

SWEDEN

5

5

8

18 Photo | Pexels

10 // LeJournal

opinion

global dance off

Student Council performed dances and students got the opportunity to take part in activities during Sion Olympics on Mar. 5.

S

ion Olympics is a long-lasting Sion tradition, planned by Scream Team that allows all students to spend time together and compete in games for their grade. Due to Ash Wednesday falling on the same week, the activity period was cut short and confined to 40 minutes. In past years, the Sion Olympics have been between one and two hours. Senior and scream team leader Grace Townsend hoped that students would still get the chance to have a break from their day.

“Our main goal was just really to get the dances in and then just have people go out and have as much time outside as possible before we had to go back inside since we had less time than we typically do,” Townsend said. “But it was so fun.”

Although Student Council does not plan the activities, they play a role in the event by choosing each grade’s countries and planning the dances. This year, the freshmen represented Canada, the sophomores represented Greece, the juniors represented Ireland, and the seniors represented the United States. The dances were at the beginning of the activity period to get students excited for the event.

Student body president Lauren Ellwanger enjoyed putting together the dance with her fellow STUCO members and performing for the student body.

“I think that’s a big part of why the dances are important because it’s a way for all the girls to kind of be loud and be excited together,” Ellwanger said.

The shortened activity period allowed for about 15 minutes for students to participate in the activities they signed up for earlier in the week. Students gathered in the gym, the New Grande Salle, in the circle drive and on the field for this short period of free time. Anticipating the day, freshman Mary Schumm only knew what her sister had told her about Sion Olympics and was excited to see what the actual day would be like. “[Sion Olympics] definitely lived up to my expectations,” Schumm said. “Maybe even more because it was really fun to watch and I also loved how we were able to get outside and hang out with classmates and get to enjoy the nice weather.”

POSE FOR THE CAMERA right During their dance, sophomores Imani Cutler, Lucy Shively and Sophia Grantham lean into their poses to match their music. This was the sophomore Student Council’s first time performing a Sion Olympics dance for the school as it was partially virtual last year.

WALKING THE WALK left Strutting the human runway, senior Ava Albracht walks across the senior student council members’ backs during the popular lyric, “Walk a mile in these Louis Vuittons” plays on the speakers.

Photos | Kate McCarthy

I BELIEVE I CAN FLY above To best represent the United States of America, the senior stuco members decided to have a few people dress up as American staples such as the Statue of Liberty, former presidents, founding fathers and an eagle. Four stuco members hold up senior Sofia Aguayo who is dressed as an eagle during the Foo Fighters’ song “I Believe I can Fly.”

DOLLA DOLLA BILLS above Swiping monopoly money out of her hand, sophomore Cat Knopke leads the dance in the front. “We came up with tossing the money when we were listening to the music, we all thought that tossing money during that song would fit perfect,” Knopke said.

SWING LEFT SWING RIGHT left During their first stuco dance debut, the freshman members dressed in red tutus and sunglasses and white shirts to represent Canada.

March 2022 // 11

opinion

DISILLUSIONED W I T H

T H E

D R A M A

BY AVA ALBRACHT WEB EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Series set in High Schools are unrealistic and far from the actual, unglamorous life of teenagers.

T

he schedule of a normal teenager and one from “Euphoria” could not be more different. I wish I could just sit and talk with my friends all day like in “Ginny and Georgia,” or seemingly never attend class and just show up and sing with my A Capella friends like in “Glee.”

Unfortunately, myself and every other teenager actually sits through classes every day and does school work.

The monotony of my daily routine simply is not entertaining enough to captivate millions nationwide, which is why directors don’t include it in teen drama shows.

However, the bulk of teenagers’ time is spent doing these activities.

The dramatization of daily life in teen shows does provide an escape from reality which can be more entertaining and more comforting. Take “The Vampire Diaries” for example, obviously high school teenagers are not vampires or in constant conflict with werewolves, but it sure is fun to watch. It also provides a break from real life.

Senior Sophia Ong is an avid fan of “The Vampire Diaries” and enjoys watching the show because of its contrast from her daily life.

“What I love about shows such as TVD is that they are different and are more entertaining than my daily life, but they still include the same themes that I experience daily such as friend drama,” Ong said.

According to the Washington Post, the average high school student spends 2.7 hours a night doing homework.

This, combined with seven hours of school and any other extracurricular activities, leaves no time to partake in the time-consuming social lifestyle portrayed on screen.

We have parents, rules and obligations on a daily basis, unfortunately. These 300-person, full house parties occurring seemingly every weekend on television are not you’ll see me on a Saturday night because a) no one has that

12 // LeJournal

many friends and b) no one’s parents would allow that.

Teenagers do not actually look like the 30-year-old actors who play them. Take “The Vampire Diaries”, for example. The lead character, Elena Gilbert, was played by Nina Dobrev until she was 28 years old. All due respect to 15-year-olds, but no freshman has that kind of matured flawlessness.

Typically if a character has acne, it is because they are a “nerd,” or considered unattractive. In reality, 85% of teens deal with acne, according to UC Davis Health. Most teenagers, myself included, cannot relate to what we see on screen because the actors and actresses are not actually teens and they have a whole crew of makeup artists and hairstylists to keep them looking impeccable at every angle.

Potentially, the worst part of teen TV shows is the straight-up corniness. It is truly unfortunate to watch because actors are consistently using outdated slang. Slang is constantly changing, especially with social media, causing 40-year-old writers to be left in the dust.

Sometimes when I watch a show, I wonder to myself, “Do the producers of this show know that teenagers actually know how to form a sentence?” We do not only say “LOL” or “TTYL,” we communicate like most other human beings.

There just seems to be a gap between the writers and teens that needs to be bridged.

Teen shows are out of touch due to the fact that they are written and performed by adults or because the characters never have to do actual work. There will always be an audience for these series, but that doesn’t mean viewers should have to settle for cringe-worthy shows set in fantasy land while simultaneously claiming “relatability” when no teen can actually relate.

This editorial reflects the views of the Le Journal Staff. 7 out of 11 voted in favor of this editorial.

opinion

Photo | Thiago Matos/ Pexels

March 2022 // 13

woMEN’S

cover story

14 // LeJournal

S world

cover story

Throughout the years, men’s and women’s sports have had striking inequalities in pay, treatment, advertising, and much more and the time for change is now.

BY PRINT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF KATE MCCARTHY & SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR SOPHIE GROMOWSKY

W

hen brainstorming a list of famous athletes, who comes to mind? For many, it’s Patrick Mahomes, Lebron James, Lionel Messi, Usain Bolt and more. Notice something about that list? They’re all men.

Over the course of the past 10 years, the world of women’s sports has exploded onto the national stage. Increasing viewership and ratings, growing attention from fans and marketers and an influx of new sponsorships and TV rights deals make women one of the greatest investments currently in the sports industry, according to the Washington Post.

This rising interest is fueled in large part by the unparalleled female sports highlights that have characterized the past decade: the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team’s back-to-back World Cup victories, Serena Williams earning her 23rd Grand Slam title while eight weeks pregnant, the U.S. Women’s National Basketball Team winning its seventh consecutive Olympic gold medal and so many other victories that showcase the sheer excellence of female athletes.

On Feb. 22 the U.S. Women’s Soccer Team was awarded a $24 million settlement from U.S. Soccer, ending the widely publicized lawsuit between the players and their employers regarding equitable treatment of female players which was first filed in 2019, according to the New York Times. The multi million dollar payment is also accompanied by an agreement by the federation to equalize pay between the men’s and women’s national teams. The ruling has been hailed as a turning point in women’s sports by prominent figures from both inside and outside of the sporting world, from former USWNT captain Megan Rapinoe to President Joe Biden who tweeted his congratulations to

the team on Feb. 22, calling the case’s outcome “long overdue.”

The lawsuit’s settlement and the changes that it is likely to bring about, not only in women’s soccer but in the entire field of women’s sports, makes the case a historic victory to be sure. However, the very existence of the lawsuit itself raises the question of how, in the 21st century, 50 years since the passage of Title IX and 59 years since the enactment of the Equal Pay Act, such glaring imbalances still exist between the treatment of male and female athletes.

Since the inception of women’s sports, female athletes at nearly every level have struggled to overcome obstacles that for their male counterparts simply do not exist.

Sexist beliefs and practices that continue to be present in today’s society not only endure within the sporting world’s audience, but also in its governing bodies, media coverage and sponsorship corporations. The industry is designed in a way which prevents women from reaping the same rewards as men for equal time, talent and hard work.

One area in which this disparity is perhaps most evident is in the wage gap that exists between male and female athletes. The salaries for male athletes are between 15-100% higher than those of female athletes in five major sports: basketball, soccer, tennis, golf and baseball/softball, according to Adelphi University. The difference is more pronounced in some sports than others. The average WNBA salary is only 1.5% of the average NBA salary, according to NBC Sports. The average professional women’s softball player has a salary of $6,250, according to Snap Softball, while average MLB salary is $4.17 million, according to ESPN. Even in tennis, which

March 2022 // 15

cover story

BEYOND THE PLAYING FIELD The United States is the only industrialized country in the world without federal paid maternity leave.

According to Forbes, a recent survey of 1,500 collegeeducated women with children showed that 72% had to pause their careers or step out of the workforce after having children because their jobs did not offer the maternity benefits they needed. The issue of paid family leave disproportionately affects women and prevents them from progressing in their careers at the same rate as men.

Women pay an additional “pink tax” on many products that are specifically marketed towards women. This extra charge affects a wide range of items, from beauty and health related products all the way down to children’s toys. A study performed by Consumer Reports found that women’s products may cost up to 50% more than similar products for men.

Women are still underrepresented in politics in the United States. Though they account for 51% of the US population, women make up only 27% of Congress, according to Represent Women. Some factors that deter women from running for office include gender bias in the electoral arena and the perception of the electoral environment as bias against female candidates, according to NPR. Women are also less likely to believe that they are qualified to run for office compared to males.

ONLY 14% OF SPORTS REPORTERS ARE FEMALE according to ESPN

WOMEN’S SPORTS RECIEVE ONLY 5.7% OF BROADCAST TIME ON ESPN according to Statista

WOMEN RECIEVE ONLY 0.4% OF ATHLETIC SPONSORSHIPS according to Marketing Week

16 // LeJournal

features the lowest gap between male and females, women still make 80 cents to every dollar a man earns.

Sadly the wage gap is not a phenomenon unique to the world of sports, but rather a magnified reflection of America’s payroll. Women in the United States earn 84% of what men earn, according to the most recent available data from the Pew Research Center. A 2017 study by the same organization also found that 1 out of every 4 employed women reported that they earned less than a man doing the same job. According to Forbes, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development says that most of the numerous causes of the gender pay gap can be separated into two categories: “sticky floors” and “glass ceilings.” Sticky floors cover the issues that women frequently face towards the beginning of their career, such as gender stereotyping and discrimination, while glass ceiling issues relate to penalties associated with motherhood and care giving which may prevent women from being promoted to higher-level positions.

For women in athletics, the most common argument used to justify the wide gap between male and female earnings is the simple fact that women’s sports do not generate as much revenue as men’s and therefore the players make less. Sports are a business after all, and it’s not possible to allocate more money to players’ salaries when the funds do not exist. The WNBA, for example, has lost approximately $10 million every year since its inception in 1996, according to USA Today. These losses are subsidized by the NBA, whose annual revenue is $8.3 billion according to CNBC. Fiscally speaking, it would not be feasible to pay female athletes salaries equal to those of their male counterparts because they are just not generating the necessary funding required to enable the organization to afford such high figures.

This argument disregards of course, the abundance of ways in which women’s sports are prevented from generating the same amount of revenue as men’s. First of all, women’s sports at a professional level were introduced to the game much later than men’s. The NBA was founded in 1946, the WNBA in 1996. The US Men’s National Soccer Team played their first game in 1916, while the women’s team wasn’t established until 1985. This has given men’s teams greater opportunity to establish themselves and develop fanbases who will generate income through game attendance, television viewership and merchandise sales.

In addition, women’s sports receive significantly less coverage and marketing compared to male sports. Female sporting events only comprise 5.7% of broadcast time on ESPN’s SportsCenter, according to Statista. Not only does lack of airtime severely hamper women’s team’s abilities to develop a large and steady audience, but it also reinforces the idea that men’s sports are more important and upholds the familiar belief that sports are a man’s game. Furthermore, it dramatically decreases the chances of female athletes procuring sponsorships. Through athletic sponsorships, companies are seeking to expose their brand to new audiences.

When female athletes receive only a fraction of television time compared to males, it is impossible for them to achieve the same level of exposure, which deters brands from sponsoring female athletes. According to Statista, out of the $57 billion distributed in global sports sponsorships in 2020, only about $1 billion went to women. The inability of female players to acquire sponsorship deals only serves to help in widening the wage gap between male and female athletes.

The lack of opportunities for women in sports also extends well beyond players. Women are grossly underrepresented in all areas of sports business. In 2021, The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport reported that men accounted for 83% of sports editors and 86% of sports reporters, according to ESPN. Women hold only 17% of senior administrative positions in Major League Soccer, 38% of senior management positions

cover story in the NBA and 29% of senior administrative positions in the MLB, according to the Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport.

Some Sion students witnessed the notable absence of women in sports business for themselves through the Sports Business Deep Dive that took place in February. Throughout the week students attended a variety of sites which included Royals Stadium, KC Comets’ indoor soccer arena and Children’s Mercy Park, home of Sporting KC - all locations played at by male teams. On Tuesday they visited 810 Sports Radio, where they observed no women employees throughout the entirety of the trip. During a panel at Sporting KC on the final day of the Deep Dive, the lone female speaker advised students interested in pursuing careers in sports business to be their own advocate and speak up for themselves because no one else would have their back, according to sophomore Ellie Gromowsky.

“It made me feel very disappointed and upset to see how few women held high-ranking positions at each of the places we went,” Gromowsky said. “It’s discouraging that in 2022 men still dominate the world of sports.”

Sports business is far from the only male-dominated career field still in existence in the United States. Some of the most prominent examples include software engineering, architecture, financial analysis and piloting according to

Insider. Women working in male-dominated industries report additional challenges surrounding their jobs, according to Catalyst, including societal expectations and beliefs about women’s leadership abilities, pervasive stereotypes regarding the role of women as mothers and caregivers and lack of mentoring and career development opportunities. Additionally, 28% of women in male-dominated industries report having experienced sexual harassment in the workplace, as opposed to 20% in female dominated industries. Such formidable obstacles can deter women from entering career fields that are majority male, allowing them to remain male-dominated.

“Statistically, there are a lot of fields that are maledominated where women are just super underrepresented. In the government, women make up like 27% of senators and state legislatures and like 7% of Fortune 500 CEOs,” senior Tess Tappan said. “And not to mention the pay gap and sexism in the workplace. It’s easy to be discouraged and passed over.”

Though women have made significant gains over the course of the past several decades on the sporting field and the workplace, there is still tremendous work that must be done to close the gender gap in all areas of life. Women deserve equal recognition and rewards for all of their contributions and achievements, and they are making history every single day as they take the steps to establish their place in a world built for men, by men.

a league of their own

Students share their opinions on sports inequality.

SOPHOMORE GENESIS MARTINEZ-PORRES

“The argument of women’s sports being ‘boring’ is honestly just a joke. They don’t get as much crowd which doesn’t make the atmosphere as fun as a male sports game. Honestly, if they got all the hype like men’s sports to do everyone would enjoy them.”

JUNIOR ANGIE SCHIMMEL

“It is important to watch women’s sports and support female athletes because then it provides them with more views and gives them more money, which helps the pay gap a tiny percentage. Plus if we support them and stand with them on this unequal treatment, it shows that we agree and will support them.”

SOPHOMORE ELLIE HENSON

“You can usually find Sporting KC on a channel when they play, but when KC Current (Kansas City women’s soccer team) plays you can not find them on any channel. TV channels should make how much they play women’s sports vs men’s sports the same.”

FRESHMAN DENALI SANCHEZ-BENCOMO

“Female athletes should deserve to be paid the same as men because they can do anything a male can, if not better. Sex shouldn’t be the reason why a female makes $60k a year and a male makes $120k when they do the same thing.”

March 2022 // 17

A&E

Ttravel website has and every local knows. From parks and

he City of Fountains is more than the landmarks that every

gardens, to all different forms of entertainment, the city we all call home has more to offer than we think it does.

KAUFFMAN LEGACY PARK

oh, the places you (should) go Kansas City has more to offer than what us locals and the travel guides show.

BY ELLE SIMON FEATURES EDITOR

18 // LeJournal

Photo | Kauffman Legacy Park

It’s a hot sunny summer day and you’ve just gotten coffee with your friends from The Wild Way. So now what? How about sipping your coffee while taking a nice stroll through Kauffman Legacy Park.

Located behind the Kauffman Foundation Conference Center, the park spans about two acres and has gorgeous grounds. The Kauffman Legacy Park was created with the hopes of focusing on conservation and highlighting the native Missouri wildlife that can be seen throughout the park. If you’re lucky, in the spring you might spot some Canadian geese goslings!

The Kauffman Legacy Park is a great place to connect with nature and learn about the wildlife that calls Missouri home. It’s stunning grounds are the perfect place for a summer picnic or a family stroll!

YAYA’S ALPACA FARM Photos | YaYa’s Alpaca Farm

Animal lover? Then paying a visit to YaYa’s Alpaca Farm is the hidden gem for you. Located in Cass County, YaYa’s Alpaca Farm is home to quite a few alpacas.

At YaYa’s Alpaca Farm you can take a tour of the farm where the alpacas live and see what the property offers besides the wooly llama-like animals. During the tour you will learn about alpacas, their origins, their behavior, and how their fleece is used to make goods for the store on the farm. You even get to spend time with the alpacas!

YaYa’s Alpaca Farm is a fun and unique way to discover a species you don’t encounter very often and a cool experience to take part in.

A&E

THE WILD WAY

Photo | Alaina Perila

ZIP KC

Coffee from a mobile trailer? Seems a little wild. But that’s what The Wild Way is all about. Founded by husband and wife team Christine and Jon Clutton, The Wild Way is a mobile coffee business that travels around Kansas City serving coffee at public and private events.

Their coffee takes inspiration from untraditional creativity and “the desire to take the road less traveled” The Wild Way’s website states. The Wild Way uses in house, local, and organic ingredients making their coffee above your average Starbucks.

In the warmer months, you can find The Wild Way at the Overland Park Farmer’s Market or in Brookside at the corner of 56th and Brookside Boulevard. During the cold winters when we’re all in need of a hot latte, stop by The Wild Way Warehouse. The Wild Way is a unique coffee experience that you can’t find anywhere else.

THE RIO THEATRE

Photos | ZipKC

Is ziplining on your bucket list? Then consider it checked off with a visit to Zip KC. Located in Bonner Springs, Zip KC gives you the opportunity to take a zipline tour above the bluffs of the Kansas River. The tour consists of nine different ziplines expanding over 5,800 feet.

The two most popular tours that are offered are the sunset tour and the tower tour.

The sunset tour goes through all nine towers of the course while the sun is setting. The tower tour consists of five lines that run from tower to tower in the tree canopy.

At Zip KC you can also take a hiking tour or try out their ninja warrior course. If you love a good adventure, then taking a trip to Zip KC would be right up your alley.

GRAFFITTI ATTIC Photo | Elle Simon

The Rio Theatre was first opened on Christmas Day 1946 and closed in the 80s. It reopened in 2000 and has kept popcorn popping ever since.

The neon lights, light pink and baby blue exterior, and the bright marquee sign out front gives the illusion that it is straight out of “Grease”. The vintage popcorn machine even keeps up with the nostalgic feel of the place. The theatre plays old movies from decades past. The kinds of films you wouldn’t find on the silver screen at your local AMC. The Rio Theatre is meant to be a cultural experience and hopefully opens your eyes to seeing the world differently than when you entered. Though The Rio Theatre might appeal more to the older generations, it is a unique cultural excursion for teenagers who want to experience the old movie magic.

If you’re an art lover or artist, taking a trip to Graffiti Attic is an art museum experience unlike any other. Located within Union Station, Graffiti Attic gives local artists the chance to paint whatever they want on whatever they choose to use as their canvas.

Since the artistic wonderland has opened it has become a place for Kansas City street artists to share their techniques and styles with other artists in an artist commune. The gallery has portraits, interesting visuals, and some incredible artwork,all done with a few cans of spray paint.

Graffiti Attics displays the artwork of many street artists, whose work we tend to see as vandalism or destructive. It gives street art a new light and demonstrates that it really is a growing and unique form of creativity.

March 2022 // 19

feature.

AMPLIFY

Photo | Megan Kelley Not pictured: Tyra Frazier and Kamryn McKibben

20 // LeJournal

Bl

feature

ACK

VOICES

The Black History Month Celebration, created and organized by students, celebrates black history and black voices within Sion.

BY: BRIANNA LEGETTE A&E EDITOR

D

rums hit and bang and the piercing sound of a whistle is heard throughout the gym as the Kansas City Marching Cobras stomp onto the court and perform. “Oohs” and “ahs” echo through the crowd, and students dance and clap to the impressive kick-off for the Black History Month: Amplifying Black Voices Celebration Feb. 10.

Starting in December, the BHM committee consisting of sophomores Imani Cutler, Munira Mohamed, Vikki Muchai, Kosi Okuagu and Mary Margaret Perkins, juniors Eden Davis, Kori Franklin and Ellington Persley, and seniors Tyra Frazier, Brianna Legette and Kamryn McKibben, planned the Black History Month events with teachers Emily Grover, Morey Williams, and the rest of administration.

“I don’t think we’ve had a Black History Month celebration like this before,” Mohamed said. “I feel it was nice to experience something like this and all the students could experience it.

The celebration was about showing black culture and having fun with it.”

Committee members met before school and during free time to plan and organize all of the activities: showcasing black artists, black literature and poetry, music, a movie night, black-owned businesses and even a step team.

Perkins, who made the art displayed in the Commons, said, “My inspiration was actually Kehinde Wiley and the paintings he does are in front of a background. And so I was like, I’ll just do these artists in front of the background inspired by their art.”

Perkins used Photoshop to make the art prints hanging in the Commons and did it all in one night, taking six hours.

Frazier and McKibben spent several hours calling over 80 black-owned businesses to come to the marketplace.

“I think getting to have the businesses come in, and for people to be able to talk to them and not just have the products be sold, I think it was a lot more impactful, especially for the juices and stuff,” Okuagu said.

The black owned businesses that came to Sion were Ruby Jean’s Juicery, where students could preorder juices from the shop, as well as other businesses.

Other activities were a display table of books by black authors such as, Beloved

by Toni Morrison, The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas (which happens to be the featured film of the movie night), etc. organized by Presley and Legette.

Davis, Cutler and other committee members made announcements every morning about an impactful black figure.

Frazier, president of Diversity Club, and McKibben were in charge of the music that’s influential in the black community that Frazier played around school during passing periods.

“I created the Black History Month playlist and the point of it was to show music and it was important to my culture,” Frazier said. “I think in the media that marketed as oldies are never what my family or my community listened to. So I thought it was important to show that.”

Even with the celebration clearly being a success according to students, many think that this is just a step and merely not the bare minimum.

“I think that a lot of people here, you know I think this is good for them. We have a small population of black students.

If you’re able to see black culture in a nice and highlighted way and not the way the media sends it out like riots and stuff,” Okuagu said.

All committee members who have been interviewed think that Sion can incorporate more positive black history into the curriculum. Members expressed

that black history should not be just about slavery. While yes, that is something that happened in history, people want to know more.

“We don’t talk about the other aspects of the black community. [While] incorporating slavery is important, but [there] is also some other things that we can talk about,” sophomore Zoey Marshall said.

Members would love to see more of black excellence, the good things that happened and are happening in the black community and culture; that is what the celebration was about. Members would also love to see more than the usual African-Americans that are presented in classes, such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks. They would appreciate seeing more diversity and not focus on just February as a time to showcase black Americans. They would love to see more of black culture and black history in history classes at Sion.

“We have so much history and even in world history, we talked about it a little bit, but we talked more about European history. It just didn’t reflect the real world,” Okuagu said. “In English classes, read more books by black authors, especially books that don’t just focus on slavery.”

With the whole process of putting the celebration together, it was stressful and overwhelming to get everyone on the same page and get businesses,and all the other features to come to Sion, but it was all worth it, because it came together and was a success.

“I think it was. I feel like especially with the performers and how the students were engaging with the performance and then just their reaction to it,” Mohamed said. “I feel like it was a great success and that it’s going to be something that’s [continuing] for a long time now.”

March 2022 // 21

opinion.

MORE THAN A BEACHFRONT Filled with tide pools, black crabs and numerous shore animals, Conchas Chinas beach in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico is a beautiful paradise located down the hill from the neighborhood of Conchas Chinas. The residential beaches are often the most private and enjoyable because of the absence of tourism.

Photos | Sofia Aguayo

Adventurous, not Afraid People should immerse themselves in and respect the culture of the countries they travel to instead of being afraid and never leaving the “safe bubble” of a resort.

BY SOFIA AGUAYO PRINT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

SACRED HISTORY Filled with rich religious history, the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadelupe located in Mexico City, Mexico is home to the famous tilma St. Juan Diego wore when Our Lady of Guadelupe’s image appeared on it which still remains today.

22 // LeJournal

A

ll inclusive resorts. They boast all-youcan-eat buffets, unlimited drink services, and the most beautiful beaches, pools and spas some people have ever seen.

When discovering these heavenly places, people may wonder, “Why leave the resort if I have everything I need here?” This question boils down to three important topics: respect, support, and immersion.

Growing up in a first-world country such as the United States can often lead to the belief of stereotypes assigned to third-world countries describing them as dangerous, unwelcoming or risky. Americans often have an irrational fear of something terrible happening to them if they venture out into a town of a third-world country rather than staying in a resort. While these countries as a whole may not be as safe as our hometown of Kansas City, the destinations that most tourists travel to for vacations are much safer than many major cities here in the US. According to World Nomads, crime rates in Puerto Vallarta are very low, significantly lower than the crime rates of major cities in the United States. Travel Safety-Abroad created an index showing which Mexican cities are safe to travel to with 32 cities listed as safe, 16 cities listed as medium, and only one city listed as dangerous for travel. All the major touristic cities fall into the safe category, including

opinion “I think there’s a lot to learn when you leave the bubble that you’re used to. As long as you approach traveling and meeting different people with a good mindset, then it can be really interesting to learn more about other people and to let them learn about you as well.”

- Junior Caroline Dold “I feel like the joy of traveling is experiencing these different cultures and different places.

It can help you become more respectful and a more well-rounded person.”

- Freshman Natasha Wulff

Cozumel, Cabo San Lucas, Cancun, Puerto Vallarta and several other common locations for American tourists to vacation. Therefore, people should not be afraid of what is beyond the gates of their resort and should explore what the city and its people have to offer.

The country is filled with thousands of local residents who love to share their paradise with grateful tourists enjoying a vacation and immersing themselves in a new culture. These cities heavily rely on tourism to support their economy, and are therefore very welcoming to all who make the effort to learn more about their way of life. Traveling to a foreign city with a mindset that the people there are out to get you and that all the streets and people are dangerous is not a respectful mindset or view of the people that graciously share their resources and land with American tourists who are generally not as welcoming to their homeland.

While paying a grand sum of money to stay at these all-inclusive resorts definitely contributes to the economy of said country, it is also important to shop and eat at local businesses, just like it is here. Not only does it support the business owners who rely on both locals and tourists to purchase their goods, but it also benefits the tourist

“When people say, ‘I don’t want to leave the resort,’ it’s showing that they’re a little sheltered and they don’t want to see anything else apart from what they’re used to and I feel like if you’re going out of the country it should be an out of country experience.”

- Sophomore Genesis Martinez Porras “Immersing yourself in different cultures is important to having a good mindset about cultures in general and expanding your horizons. I love staying at the resort, but I do think it’s important to leave the resort and explore the city that you traveled to.”

- Freshman Becca Houlehan

because of the experiential learning they acquire about the culture that cannot be obtained anywhere else.

By sharing experiences with the locals, people can taste fruits they have never heard of, learn about captivating daily traditions and ultimately absorb information that can diminish a fear of “the other.” This cultural immersion also aids people in developing a global perspective useful in future careers and in establishing a more peaceful world.

Sometimes, it’s best to imagine situations from the other side of the discussion. Imagine if a tourist from Puerto Vallarta came to visit Kansas City where the crime index is 20% higher, according to Numbeo. The tourist decided to stay in the “safety” of their luxurious hotel because of the talk they have heard and the research they have done about crime and danger levels in Kansas City.

As Kansas Citians, we know that they are missing out on the vibrant Kansas City culture of barbecue, jazz, sports, delicious food and beautiful places to visit, but this is not our decision to make. It is the decision of every tourist to be open minded about the people and culture of the places they visit, and it will eventually pay off from the experiences they gather.

ROMAN RUINS

It’s very important to immerse yourself into the culture of the locals of a city, but it is also beneficial to visit the touristic locations, such as the Roman Colosseum, and learn about the captivating history of other countries.

SEA-RENE SUNSETS On the busy malecón, or boardwalk, of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico are countless locally owned shops, restaurants and scenic views. Whenever you get the chance to visit this vibrant city, make sure to stop by the malecón to get a glimpse into what the locals’ daily lives look like.

PAY ATTENTION TO THE PAST This aging ruin in Antigua, Guatemala is a perfect symbol for how rich the history of foreign countries is. Often times, we do not think about how old other countries’ history dates back compared to the United States. Abroad, countries are home to buildings, memorials and monuments dating back to eras so long ago they are hard to imagine.

March 2022 // 23

feature

brewing

business

BY ZAHRA PARSONS EDITORIALS EDITOR

Students learn business basics and customer service among their peers through Sion’s very own shop, Vive Coffee.

J

uniors Katherine Porch and Sofia Boulware flip on the lights to the concessions booth at 7:45 AM, greeted by an ice cold draft and the pungent smell of coffee grounds.

As they take out ingredients and supplies, they prepare for an incoming wave of their peers for the 30 minutes in which the highly-flammable concessions stand turns into the school’s must-have morning hangout spot: Vive Coffee, Sion’s very own student-run coffee shop.

The shop, which has proved to be highly popular among students, opened Nov. 18, 2021. It was originally inspired by math teacher Lori Moore’s Internal Internships class, an elective course in which students are exposed to different types of innovative entrepreneurial concepts and opportunities, and learn the key necessities of sustaining a business.

“The coffee shop has been in the works for basically two years with the Internal Internships class,” Moore said. “It couldn’t happen for a while because of COVID, and then the fire. We started with the first group of girls who were on originally, and then we had a second group that just came on a few weeks ago from the Internal Internships class.”

A key part of the experience of the class is networking and making connections. As such, the shop partners with Parisi Coffee, a locally owned coffee company with national accolades, which provides Vive Coffee with different kinds of supplies, and works with the students on improving their business and making sure the shop runs smoothly.

“Parisi’s partnership with Sion is an extension of our Mother Earth brand in the school, meaning that you guys utilize our drink recipes and products as to mimic our kiosks,” Parisi account sales specialist Ericka Cooper said.

Through connections with local businesses, as well as the daily dealings of entrepreneurship with their own cafe, students are able to learn valuable skills necessary in being a member of the workforce which they will take with them past their high school years.

“I’ve really learned the value of teamwork,” sophomore Izzy DeConink said. “It’s important to step up, pull your own weight with the task, and just Photos | Zahra Parsons

24 // LeJournal

feature be a team player for everyone in the group.”

Students continue to come up with new, innovative additions to increase interactions with the shop and expand their entrepreneurial horizons within the Sion and Kansas City communities. They sell everything from smoothies to lattes, and have plans to implement a food aspect into the shop.

“They’ve got some great ideas, these girls,” Moore said. “With this new group, we’re bringing in fresh bakery items, which we’ll start in a couple of weeks with a partnership with McLain’s.”

Their responsibilities begin with customer service and food handling, but they go far beyond, as they continue to take on new tasks on the business side of the operation.

“So we’re kind of in charge of keeping inventory, and we basically need to make sure that we always have enough supplies, and if we’re running low, we tell Ms. Moore,” Porch said. “Now, we are also starting to work with McLain’s and other outside businesses to bring in some new things.”

Responsible and patient finance management is no easy feat at any stage of life, especially in high school, however, Moore and her students recognize its necessity when running and operating

a business smoothly. They have several other long-term goals for which this process is key.

“Overall, I think that we have had really good business. We want to get all of our startup costs paid for and get everything even so that we can start doing some work outside of the shop.

We want to partner with some sort of service so that we can connect with the community,” Moore said. “We want to make the outside look like a coffee shop and add some furniture and things like that. We have some things that are taking a little bit longer than we thought, but we’re also very pleased with how it’s gone so far.”

Though challenges arise on occasion, Moore is proud of the way that the girls commit themselves to the shop, and don’t waiver in the face of difficulty. She feels as though she is able to rely on each and every one of them, and appreciates their enthusiasm and preparedness.

“They’re so dedicated, and they’re just so kind to everybody.

Their energy and their excitement to get new things moving is really great, and their dependability,” Moore said. “They’re just wonderful. I’m very, very proud of them and all of their work.”

RACK ‘EM UP top Internal internships teacher Lori Moore and junior Teamaurie Grimes count the profits. “Overall, I think that we have had really good business,” Moore said. “We have some things that are taking a little bit longer than we thought, but we’re also very pleased with how it’s gone so far.”

MORNIN’! bottom

Junior Annie Stevens buys an iced coffee while junior Amé Beets works the shop alongside a few of her classmates. The shop is open from 8 to 8:30 AM for anyone who needs a morning pick-me-up before the start of the school day.

BIENVENUE! above

Vive Coffee’s menu features an array of iced and hot coffees and teas, a variety of fruit smoothies, and most recently, pastries from McLain’s bakery.

They also offer alternatives to dairy milk, as well as special add-ons.

March 2022 // 25

try these A&E.

TRENDS Expand your closet with these trendy, bougie and environmentally friendly outfit and acessorizing items.

BY ELLA ROGGE MANAGING EDITOR

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SENIOR TESS TAPPAN

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JUNIOR MO BROWNE

I think that this spring and summer, everyone needs a good pair of go-to sunglasses that you can just whip out and they’ll go with any outfit. If you’re driving, if you’re tanning, if you’re sunbathing you need a good pair of sunglasses to keep your eyes protected.

Jaded London is a global street style brand inspired by urban streetwear in East London, Los Angeles and New York City. They offer a unique range of different styles with alternative patterns and combinations of colors and shapes. While typically in the intermediate price range, Jaded London’s website has an abundance of price reduced items and a student discount of 10%.

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I feel like ribbed clothing is what the move is for this spring and summer.

Especially ribbed tanks because they’re an easy item that you can just put on and have a cute outfit.

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SOPHOMORE KATE WREN

Doc Martens, even though they seem more for fall, they have a lot of different types of sandals. I just feel like they elevate every outfit.

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Lululemon’s Everywhere Belt Bag is an absolute must-have for this season. It’s a functional yet fashionable fanny pack that can be worn stylishly over the shoulder.

Lululemon offers an abundance of colors for this style of bag, while also vending an assortment of different styles of fanny pack. Designed for on the move, this bag is perfect for traveling while remaining reasonably priced for a luxury brand.

FRESHMAN ELIZABETH DANDA

I would say crocs because you can where them anywhere and they’re waterproof.

They’re just easy to throw on and go which makes them perfect for the summer.

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26 // LeJournal

Urban Outfitters has an abundance of trendy jewelry items perfect to accentuate any outfit this spring and summer.

Their items range in price while typically remaining on the more affordable side. They offer a wide selection both online and at their local outlet located in the Country Club Plaza.

A&E

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$$ Everlane is a sustainable fashion brand headquartered in San Francisco that offers customers full transparency with an exact breakdown of the cost of each item and the factories where each garment is made. To ensure their ethical standards, Everlane builds strong relationships with their factory owners and has recently released a line of clothing made from recycled plastic water bottles and other reused items. While Everlane is in the more expensive range, it has an assortment of items on sale and offers customers a ten percent discount on their first purchase.

Maiou is a designer fashion brand originating in France and inspired by styles from the Southern California coastline. In an effort to channel the casual glamorous style of 90’s supermodels, Maiou offers an assortment of styles ranging from bustier-style tops to alternative pieces inspired by novel vintage pieces. As a designer brand its items are in the more expensive price range but they offer a ten percent discount upon first purchase and free shipping on items over $150.

Van Cleef & Arpels is an archetypal jewelry brand with signature styles that are essential for any outing. Presenting an endless selection of the finest golds to pendants exhibiting everything from onyx to mother-of-pearl. Described as being almost a rite of celebrity passage, the brand’s creations range in price tag from expensive to breaking the bank.

The Chanel Small Flap Bag is an iconic rendition of the brand’s notorious oversized chain design.

While the suggested retail price may be appalling to some, the lambskin and gold-tone metal bag is alone an established head turner and stylish addition to any outfit.

The Angela Roi Grace Micro Crossbody Signet is a sustainable, cruelty and sweatshop free option of a stylish handbag named after a rear admiral of the US navy who changed the world of coding with gunmetal hardware. The brand aims to create accessories with ethical materials at an approachable price, making no sacrifices to uphold that their bags are created exclusively of non-animal materials.

Poppy Finch is a brand that has set out to change the jewelry industry by taking a holistic approach to embed sustainability at its core, using the finest recycled gold and ethically sourced gemstones. Their pieces redefine everyday luxury by offering high end creations without substituting design, quality or conscience. Critically acclaimed

by Vogue, Elle, Glamour and many more, Poppy Finch is available at a costly price locally at Nordstrom and globally online.

March 2022 // 27

WORD-LEJ https://www.instagram.com/lejournalsion/

WORDLE These puzzles feature words from this issue; the first and easiest word is highlighted on pages 14-17. The second is on pages 10-11 and the third can be found on pages 6-7. Use the five letter hints to solve the puzzles. Letters in grey are not in the final answer, letters in yellow are in the word but not in the correct spot and letters in green are in the final answer in that spot.

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Y The answers will be posted on LeJournal’s Instagram story which is linked above.