September 2021

LeJOURNAL Notre Dame de Sion High School | Volume 40 | September 2021

FEATURE: PAGE 8

ON THE COVER: PAGE 14

A&E: PAGE 18

SOPHOMORE GIOIA SERRA EXPRESSES HERSELF THROUGH PERFORMING

THE CHANGING DRESS CODES CAUSE A NEW PERSPECTIVE ON PROFESSIONALISM

A RECAP OF THE CULTURAL, FASHION, AND TEENAGE TRENDS THIS SUMMER

what’s inside features

08-09

news and sports

04-05 Show Up for One Another

Gioia Serra, KC Superstar

20-21

06-07

Volleyball’s Unfinished Business

Poe and Renner at Aviation Challenge

opinions

10-11

Cancel Culture

Sorority Publicity

12-13

Rebranding Victoria’s Secret

cover story

22-23

14-17

Meet the New English Teachers

Self Expression through Hair Color and Tattoos

24-25

a&e

18-19 Summer Trend Takeover

26-27

Doug McLagan, Music Man

Back to School Book Suggestions

LeJOURNAL. 2021 // 2022

Photo of the issue

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

MEMBER

Missouri Scholastic Press Association National Scholastic Press Association International Quill and Scroll Journalism Educators of Metropoliton Kansas City Missouri Journalism Education Association

LETTERS TO THE EDITORS

Le Journal accepts letters to the editors in response to published articles. Letters must be signed, verified, and no longer than 200 words. Letters may be edited for length, grammar, spelling and content. Letters will not be printed if content is obscene, invasive, ecouraging disruption of school and/or is libelous.

PRINTER

Neal/Settle Printing, Grandview MO

02 // LeJournal

PRINT CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEFs

WEBSITE CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEFs

Sofia Aguayo Kate McCarthy

Liv Zender Ava Albracht

PRINT MANAGING EDITOR

SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR

Ella Rogge

Lauren Smith

EDITORIALS EDITOR

COPY EDITORS

Elle Simon

Zahra Parsons Sophie Gromowsky

A&E EDITOR Megan Kelley

FEATURES EDITOR Brianna Legette

chalk-e cheese Freshman Francie Keithline (left), Junior Kori Franklin (middle), and freshman Ava Lynn (left) group together for a picture after participating in the annual color throw.

“During the color throw I was thinking about how I wanted to be in the middle so that I could be covered in a variety of different colors,” Franklin said.

editors’ink Hello there! We are Kate McCarthy and Sofia Aguayo, your new editors for the 2021-2022 school year, and we are beyond excited. This news magazine is dedicated to all of you, our readers, so if you have any ideas, suggestions or comments, please send them our way!

This issue is all about self expression.

These days, self expression can mean anything from pursuing your passions to decorating your appearance with tattoos or colored hair. Check out how students and teachers embrace their meaningful tattoos and colorful hair while still maintaining every aspect of their professionalism (pg. 14-17). Also look at how sophomore Gioia Serra expresses her artistic passions through her participation in the KC Superstar Competition (pg. 8-9).

Following last year’s COVID-19 craze, this is the year of reestablishing traditions - the high

percentage of vaccinated students and faculty now allows us to gather together at assemblies, sit three feet closer to each other and finally sit in the much-loved booths for lunch.

Take a look at how Sion is growing closer through the continuation of old traditions (pg. 4-5).

As a Le Journal staff, we strongly stand for body positivity and inclusivity.

Check out Victoria’s Secret’s new rebranding changes and see whether or not these changes are actually effective in being more inclusive.

As you flip through this first issue of the year, we hope it excites you for all that is yet to come in the school year. Good luck with the rest of the year, we hope it’s the best one yet! :)

student space sophia grantham

These are cabinets that I painted for one of my client’s bathrooms. She had given me a piece of ceramic tile with a bird similar to those [to the right] and that’s what I based these on.

These two I did as an art reconstruction.

I was given an image of this town in Italy and my client wanted it on a much larger canvas, so that’s what I did.

This is what sort of sparked my love for interior muraltype art. Over the first quarantine, I was redoing my room along with most of the teen population and I had this closet door that was boring and white and didn’t really go with the rest of my room and so I did some research and settled on this design.

Much love, Kate and Sofia

(photo by Raegan Wesley)

keep up with us: @lejournalsion

Use camera to visit lejournallive.com!

September 2021 // 03

news.

Show Up For Sion

Rollacosta Ridin’ Students dressed to the “water safety” theme fill the bleachers for the first Sion vs. St. Teresa’s rivalry game of the year and the first game to allow crowds since before COVID-19 (photo by Lauren Smith)

Have A Great School Year Senior Sophia Ong, sits in the grassy area next to the Peace Garden while students participate in a school wide yearbook signing (photo by Sofia Aguayo)

The Sion community grows and comes together in the year following the COVID-19 pandemic.

BY KATE MCCARTHY PRINT EDITOR IN CHIEF DESIGNED BY LIV ZENDER WEB EDITOR IN CHIEF

F

Freshman Fresh Start Freshman Addie Doyle poses for a picture with her peer ministers, seniors Sophia McClure and Carmen Phillips, during Freshman Orientation (photo by Kate McCarthy)

04 // LeJournal

reshmen sat tapping their feet anxiously on the gym floor, anticipating their moment in front of the entire school. One by one, each freshman’s name was called: Emily Bahora, Amelia Bedell, Kaylin Bendon. Each girl stood up, timid, yet proud to represent their grade. Finally, student body president, Lauren Ellwanger, finished calling each girls’ name, and the crowd erupted into a loud cheer.

Pale blue polos flashed rapidly as the seniors pumped their fists and jumped up and down in excitement. Whistles and cheers echo throughout the gym while students clap their hands together laughing. With that, the new students were formally welcomed by the veterans of the school into their new home.

In convocation, the first all-school event this year, many leaders of the school spoke with various words of wisdom about the year to come, and the ways in which it should be approached. Grace Beelman, the senior class president, spoke on the importance of community and the value of showing up for each other. Recalling her freshman year, Beelman remembered her Intro to Journalism teacher, Allison Long. According to Beelman, Mrs. Long was livid at the lack of spectators at the classic Sion versus STA volleyball game. A tiny woman with long brunette hair typically pulled back into a misshapen bun, Long stood over

news.

Crowned Senior Kat Riggs presents freshman Francie Keithline with her personalized Beanie at the annual ceremony held in the gym (photo by Elle Simon)

Writing and Smiling Sophomore Caroline Hammett, Sophomore Suzanne Sade, and Sophomore Noelle Bertand, pose for a picture after signing eachother’s yearbooks (photo by Sofia Aguayo)

Shark Attack Freshman Annie Johnson returns to her seat after being presented with her Beanie, a shark hat with googly eyes and her name written down the side (photo

by Elle Simon)

Beelman and her classmates and lectured them on the importance of attendance at school functions.

“I wanted to write about how Sion has helped me to become a better member of this community,” Beelman said.

“I was thinking back to freshman year and the moment that stuck out to me was Mrs. Long saying to our journalism class, ‘Show up for each other.’”

This line, the central idea for her speech, is what inspired Beelman to write about the importance of showing up for events this year, especially the new ones. The purple carpet, Convocation, a new coffee shop, yearbook signing and Deep Dives have all been added to the calendar in order to help foster growth within our school. Assistant Principal Jenny Brown-Howerton played a critical role in the changing and planning of these new traditions.

“The best way that we can show up for one another is to just be present and show up to events,” Brown-Howerton said. “I think showing up is so important and the more we do it, the more meaningful and beneficial it will be to the whole community.”

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, these new traditions will be the first experiences in which the entire student body are able to unite and be physically together once again. School president Alicia Kotarba is hopeful that this year will bring in-person, hands-on participation in all the activities.

“Be there and be engaged,” Kotarba said. “It’s easy to follow from afar in the world of social media, but when I think about participation in our community it is about a deeper engagement to show up for one another.”

Currently, the seniors are the only class that have experienced a full year of normalcy and true Sion spirit.

According to Beelman, it is crucial that we set a narrative for the participation in school-wide events. These vast new traditions are an opportunity to show up for each other and participate in various gatherings that facilitate bonding and new friendships. Above all, Beelman claims that the greatest new tradition in the year to come is that of showing up for each other.

“We need to appreciate the fact that we’re here and we’re together,” Beelman said. “Sion is such a great place and there’s really nowhere else like it, so I think we need to appreciate it, and in a way, our greatest new tradition will be the tradition of showing up for each other and the community this year.”

September 2021 // 05

sports.

Volleyball’s Unfinished Business

After last year’s season-ending loss at sectionals, the volleyball program is returning with a new theme to put them back on the path to the state tournament.

BY SOPHIE GROMOWSKY COPY EDITOR

Jumping Into Action

E

arly morning sunlight filters through the net onto the court as the varsity volleyball team begins their first Saturday practice of the year. Upbeat music and loud calls of teammates cheering one another on echo through the gym. After an hour and a half of drills and scrimmages, the team gathers together in the center of the gym with poster boards and art supplies to brainstorm a list of goals for the season ahead, all connected to the program’s new theme: Unfinished Business.

“I would describe our theme as accomplishing goals,” junior Kori Franklin said. “We made goal sheets for what our focus would be and now it all just comes down to following through and getting it done.”

After a hard-fought loss to Pleasant Hill in the first round of sectionals brought last postseason to a disappointing finish, the new district champions immediately turned their attention to the 2021 season. This year, the team hopes to keep a winning record and beat teams such as St. Michael the Archangel and Shawnee Mission East. Their biggest goal for the season is to make it to the state tournament and be crowned state champions, a title that Sion volleyball hasn’t held in 20 years.

“When I reflect back on our last season, there’s the question of did we leave it all on the floor and give it everything we had? It was a little unsettling,” varsity coach Brittany Boerigter said. “Our goal is to move past that. Last year, it was fifteen years since we’d won districts. This year it’s been twenty years since the volleyball program’s won state.”

The team is led by six returning varsity players, including team captains, senior Anna Sheedy and junior Kori Franklin. After spending an active summer refining their skills by participating in conditioning, camps and clinics, they are excited to return to the court and plan to use their experiences from last season to motivate them in inspiring the new team.

“We didn’t like losing last year, and now we want to come back and beat the teams we were so close with,” senior Mckenzie Warren said. “We have a lot of new players coming in that are going to make our team even stronger. I think having good camaraderie as a team will help us all to bond and win this season.”

The roster also features four freshman newcomers, who will be stepping onto the high school stage for the first time. The new players bring fresh strength and speed to the team, as well as an additional height factor, which the team has been lacking in previous years, according to Franklin. Freshmen Ava Lynn and Grace Renners, listed at 6’0” and 6’1”, respectively, are two of the team’s tallest players. Their heights make them well suited to filling positions as blockers, in which players must be able to reach over the top of the net and block the ball from crossing onto their team’s side of the court.

“I have not played right side blocker before so that was kind of crazy to change because I was not expecting it,” Lynn said. “But it’s very fun and I love playing it now. I’ve gotten more experience playing it now and I’m very happy I

got the opportunity to do that.”

As they count down the weeks to postseason, the team is confident that their group of seasoned players and eager newcomers

will be able to accomplish the goal of bringing volleyball excellence back to Sion.

“We want to become a volleyball school again, one that the community looks at as a team that is consistent and consistently getting better,” Coach Boerigter said. “I feel like our team is strong enough this year that we can go and really finish out the state tournament.”

Varsity Volleyball Captain junior Kori Franklin leaps for a pass during a game against Blue Valley North on Sept. 2. One of her personal goals for this season is to leave every game with no regrets. “If I know that I did the best I could, I can leave the game relieved whether we win or lose because at least I played aggressively,” Franklin said.

06 // LeJournal

sports

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1. New Kid On the Block

1

Arms outstretched, freshman Ava Lynn reaches up to block the volleyball from traveling over the net in a game against St. Pius X on Sept. 14. She says that playing for Sion feels different than playing for her previous teams. “Playing in high school is very nerve-wracking just because everyone’s older than me,” Lynn said. “It’s more pressure to play better especially since I’m on varsity.”

2. Serving Up A Storm

Freshman Francie Keithline raises her arm to prepare to serve in a game against Blue Valley North. She says that playing with the upperclassmen this season has helped her to improve her game. “They’ve helped me a lot with even the little stuff like perfecting my passes and working on consistency,” Keithline said.

3. Leading the Charge

Varsity volleyball captain senior Anna Sheedy high-fives sophomore Sophie Saxton before the home opener game against Summit Christian Academy Aug. 31. Sheedy’s leadership philosophy includes being a good role model for her fellow players. “My plan for leading the team this season is to help motivate my teammates for each and every game and be an example throughout the games of working hard and always giving my best,” Sheedy said. (Photo by Elle Simon)

4. Ready for a Rematch

Junior Brynna Fitzgerald extends her arms to pass the ball in a game against Blue Valley North. She is eager to play against schools that defeated the team last season. “Last year we lost many of our games and this year we’re going to come back and we’re just going to crush them,” Fitzgerald said.

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DEAD WEEK Cross Country Oct. 2 - 8:00 am @ Ray-Pec South Middle School Oct. 5 - 4:00 pm @ TBD Oct. 9 - 8:00 am @ Jesse James Park Oct. 14 - 4:00 pm @ Warrensburg High School Oct. 20 - 4:00 pm @ Richmmond High School Oct. 30 - 8:00 am @ TBD

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Volleyball

Oct. 4 C - 5:00 pm, JV - 6:00 pm, V - 7:00 pm Oct. 7 - SENIOR NIGHT C - 5:00 pm, JV - 6:00 pm, V - 7:00 pm Oct. 11 C - 5:00 pm, JV - 6:00 pm, V - 7:00 pm

Softball

Sept. 30 - SENIOR NIGHT V - 4:30 pm, JV - 6:00 pm Oct. 5 V - 4:30 pm, JV - 6:00 pm Oct. 6 V - 4:30 pm, JV - 6:00 pm

Field Hockey

Oct. 8 V - 4:15 pm Oct. 9 V - 9:30 am, JV - 11:00 am Oct. 12 JV - 4:15 pm, V - 5:30 pm Oct. 19 C - 4:30 pm

September 2021 // 07

feature.

SINGING FROM THE HEART

Performing onstage for judges and a recording camera for the KC Superstar Competition, Serra engages her facial expressions and physical movements to increase the effects of her stage presence. After all the contestants’ performances were over, the recordings were made available to the public for voting.

Serra

Superstar

BY SOFIA AGUAYO PRINT EDITOR-IN-CHIEFF

Sophomore Gioia Serra creatively expreses herself through singing competitions, musical theater and fashion.

P

ainting her winged liner with a crisp end and sliding bobby pins into her hair to secure the strands she pulled back, sophomore Gioia Serra gets the performance jitters out as best as she can backstage before striding onto the stage at the Jewish Community Center, ready to perform. After auditioning online along with 600 other local high schoolers, Serra was one of only 22 singers who made it to the semi-finals. Once on stage, the singers were each allowed to practice their songs one time before the recording started. After using her practice round, Serra performs “Remember” by Lauren Daigle, the song that she’s practiced countless times in preparation for this moment.

Serra took part in the local KC Superstars Singing Competition

08 // LeJournal

which, according to Serra, is “like American Idol, but for Kansas City.” The competition is put on by the Jewish Community Center of Greater Kansas City and awards scholarship money of up to $10,000 to the few winners of the hundreds who audition.

“My friend was in it last year, and she was telling me about it. I thought, you know, it’s online auditions, you just Zoom in, it’s easy,” Serra said. “I definitely didn’t think I was going to get in.”

Few freshmen ever win the competition as the prize is college scholarship money, so Serra was proud of herself for making it to the semi-finals even though she did not continue on. Her hope is to continue competing every year to grow her skills and to allow a chance for the judges to get to know her so that she may win her senior year. According to Serra, the competition really pushed her self-disciplinary skills as there was no formal direction or deadlines besides the audition and the semi-finals.

“You don’t work with anyone there. To get ready for it, it’s only you. You have to pick the song. You have to pick what you wear and everything about it - your makeup, your hair,” Serra said. “If you want to do your best you have to prepare and really work for it.”

Along with her passion for singing solo, Serra also expresses herself through her ongoing involvement in theater, choir, and

feature BEST DRESSED

STRUT AND POSE Dancing to the musical choreography, Serra looks into the spotlight at the Rockhurst Cabaret. Accordng to Serra, she has loved performing in front of an audience since she was little.

Dressed up in a flowing red dress for a wedding, Serra poses for pictures to add to her Instagram page. This is where she shows off all her latest looks following trends and combined with her own unique styles.

LOST IN THE MUSIC

Passionately throwing her hands up in the air, Serra sings onstage at the Rockhurst Cabaret as a freshman.

The event was for local high school singers to perform for socially distanced groups outside on a field. (photos submitted by Gioia Serra)

fashion. According to her mother, Paetra Serra, she was first introduced to musical theater through watching movies with her grandmother to which she would memorize the songs and sing them everywhere.

“Gioia’s passion for singing and theater took off around six years old,” Paetra said. “She’s close to her super cool Italian grandmother and they watched Funny Girl with Barbra Streisand one night and Gioia was hooked. She memorized every song and sang them loudly around the house for months and even in her classes at Sion grade school.”

Her first personal experience with theater was through Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, at seven years old. Since then she has grown to love every aspect about putting a musical together.

“So much self expression goes into it,” Serra said. “There’s so many different styles of singing and so many different types of musicals that you can then incorporate those different types of singing into.”

In recent years, Serra developed a passion for fashion and assembling her own unique outfits stemming from the creativity and love for all things art of her older sister, Alessia Serra.

According to Serra, her fashion sense developed as she admired

her sister’s style and as her personality grew. Her outfits usually model current trends mixed with her own style of pieces she likes at the moment, which she gets anywhere from thrift stores to Urban Outfitters.

“When she was younger and in high school, I would be like ‘oh she’s wearing this today, she’s doing her eyeliner this way, her hair this way,’ everything was very much based on her,” Serra said. “I definitely got into fashion because of my sister, and then I realized I can be so creative with it.”

Whether it be singing for scholarship money in the KC Superstars Competition, performing in a musical, or modelling off her fashion style, Serra takes charge of doing what needs to be done in order to have opportunities to perform. According to Serra, having a strong work ethic is necessary to achieve the goals she has for herself, such as making it to the finals in the KC Superstar Competition and continuing her self expression through singing, musicals and fashion.

“She is constantly trying to improve her skills and become the best she can be,” Serra’s long-time friend sophomore Violet Gowin said. “She is always so focused and driven and has taken her talents to the next level.”

September 2021 // 09

opinion.

Change The Culture or Cancel It Cancel culture needs to change if it is going to continue in society.

BY ELLE SIMON EDITORIALS EDITOR

W

ith a social media following comes great responsibility; but instead of tying up villians in webs or chopping heads with guillotines, this generation holds power with likes and comments. You have to watch what you say, what you do, what you post and anything you choose to put out into the digital world. It’s a big risk, and the content on the internet never truly disappears, so what happens if you mess up? In today’s society, “cancelling” is a common way of saying that a person of influence should no longer be supported based on their actions.

Cancel culture is extremely prevalent in today’s society, and is seen throughout multiple facets of the internet, which prompts the question: is it helpful or harmful?

While cancel culture points out the mistakes of prevalent people in our society, it can be harmful to the ones who are being “cancelled.” Take TikTok star, Dixie D’Amelio for example. She was cancelled for looking “musty” after coming back from the gym in Vogue’s “24 Hours With Dixie D’Amelio”. In the D’Amelio family’s new documentary series on Hulu titled “The D’Amelio Show,” D’Amelio breaks down about the comments left because of her appearance in the video. “I know it’s people’s opinion, but it hurts so much,” D’Amelio said in the episode. Why can’t we be kinder, after all, aren’t we “cancelling” people so that they will recognize their mistakes?

Recognition and apology is the main goal when “canceling” someone. We want them to recognize what they did wrong, and sincerely apologize for it. But if insulting remarks are directed towards the person in question, will an apology be made? Will there be recognition of the mistakes? Most likely not. To hurt someone in response to them hurting others is not going to fix anything. An apology will not be issued, and if it is, it will seem forced and fake. Additionally, the behavior will continue, showing that nothing was learned from the experience. If a behavior isn’t changed, and mistakes aren’t corrected down the line, then why

10 // LeJournal

should “cancelling”exist?

The teenage mind matures with time, it’s a fact of life.

Bringing up old social media posts is a recurring theme in cancel culture. A great deal of the posts that resurface tend to be from a person’s teenage years or early twenties, when the understanding of right and wrong has yet to be instilled, or they tried to follow the crowd. Sometimes these posts cause a person to receive repercussions in the future. Say a 30-year old is interviewing for a job, but they don’t get it because of a tweet they posted when they were 16. Asking for apologies for these mistakes is justified, and it’s something that is collectively desired in order to help aid any hurt feelings. Holding these old actions against a person is rude, and the posts are not a good judge of character. Judging based on what’s old and in the past doesn’t give anyone the benefit of the doubt that they have turned over a new leaf, and rules out the possibility that they have become a kinder person.

Kindness is something that is desperately needed in cancel culture if we are going to make a positive change, and continue to call people out for their wrongdoings. Instead of attacking, let’s try educating; tell them what they did wrong, why it was wrong, but also give some compassion. Recognize the humanity in them.

Kindly pointing out mistakes and educating on what was done wrong will help change actions in the future. Hopefully a sincere apology and recognition for the mistakes will be issued, including ways to fix the mistake in the future.

Cancel culture truly can be a harmful thing to those involved.

It hurts feelings, and is not an appropriate way to tell other people that a mistake was made. If calling people out for their wrongs is going to be a part of society in order to help admit mistakes were made, then it needs to be done kindly. Without switching the nature of cancel culture from harmful to helpful, society will never be able to call out each other’s mistakes without being hurtful.

11 out of 11 staffers voted in favor of this editorial

opinion

First Impressions

Social media has completely reconstructed the process of recruitment week for sororities across the country.

BY LIV ZENDER WEB CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

G

litter. Themed Clothes. Matching t-shirts. More glitter. Rounds and rounds of recruitment parties and the excitement of bid day.

The pressure to “make a good first impression.” Thanks to TikTok, at this point most people have a vague understanding of how sororities work, and the process of recruitment week.

However, Gen-Z sororities have another layer of impressions to consider that older generations never had to fathom: social media. Now, women going through recruitment must reevaluate their social media presence just as much as, if not more so, than the in-person impression made during the rounds.

In recent years, recruitment chairs and current members have admitted to “stalking” each potential new member’s Instagram profile before meeting them during recruitment week. Certain aspects of an Instagram profile, such as number of posts, likes, followers, the quality of photos or if flattering filters were used on pictures, and what’s written in an Instagram bio are all factors that might be taken into account when choosing a candidate. The direct correlation between between those who do/do not receive bids at the end of recruitment week and their respective social media profiles puts a new level of intensity and pressure on each individual.

Everybody knows the typical sorority

girl stereotype, but ask almost any sorority woman, and they would say that there’s more to joining Greek life than the material things. Sororities have been known to foster strong sisterhood bonds, a happy and involved community, and a place that feels like a home away from home. Sororities have also been known to take the heat off incoming freshman who are worried about making friends.

According to the National Panhellenic Conference, collegiate retention rate from freshman to sophomore year is 93% higher for those who are involved in a sorority in comparison to those who are not.

However, the fact that one’s social media presence makes a difference in their recruitment takes away from the core principles that Greek life should encompass. Rather than instilling sisterhood in college students, it creates an environment of toxicity and competition that does entirely more harm than good. The pressure to have over 1,000 followers or at least 400 likes on each post, or use the most trendy filters causes sorority women to compare themselves to others on the platform. It also creates beauty and popularity standards so unattainably high that the only possible outcome is the eventual spiral of internal unhappiness.

During the Alabama Recruitment week another layer of TikTok emerged. This

side of TikTok consisted of ex-sorority members who posted videos exposing their sorority and “story times” about their bad experiences. This showed that while sororities have been known to help freshman have an easier adjustment to college life it can also expose them to large amounts of pressure and toxicity within the first few weeks of living in a brand new location with brand new people.

On the flip side, it has also been noted that students planning on recruiting will do a bit of social media stalking themselves. This could involve following certain Greek organization’s Instagram or TikTok accounts, which would allow them to find individual members through tagged profiles. This way, potential new members have the ability to make assumptions about each organization and the women associated with the organization, who they could possibly in turn be associated with before they actually meet them. The truth is, all Instagram accounts are an unrealistic highlight reel that doesn’t truly reflect ones life and persona. Whether it’s a Potential New Member (PNM) using social media to assume things about their possible future sorority or current sorority members using social media to pass judgment on the PNMs going out for recruitment, none of the online content is a fair representation of who they really are, as a person or an organization as a whole.

September 2021 // 11

opinion .

according to USA Today

1 IN 4 VICTORIA’S SECRET STORES WILL CLOSE IN

2021 according to The Cut

$24 MILLION DROP IN NET WORTH IN

SIX YEARS

according to Simply Be

89% OF WOMEN DO NOT FEEL REPRESENTED IN MAINSTREAM FASHION

according to Upworthy

9.2 MILLION DROP IN ANNUAL FASHION SHOW VIEWERSHIP

12 // LeJournal

Fallen Angels

opinion

Victoria’s Secret announces several company changes, including the cancellation of their annual fashion show, in response to major drops in consumer engagement and net worth.

BY ZAHRA PARSONS COPY EDITOR

I

n a desperate last attempt to stay relevant in a society that has moved on, Victoria’s Secret is implementing a series of changes that will supposedly transform the face of the company, and aim to make amends for their problematic past. However, these changes, which seem to have good intentions, are solely a backhanded effort at inclusion, and are, without a doubt, monetarily motivated.

Claiming to be an effort striving for “what women want,” the frequentlycriticized retailer is swapping their trademark models, known as “Angels,” for a lineup of actresses, athletes, and activists to be a part of the new Victoria’s Secret Collective. Angels have long been an important facet of the company, walking in the annual Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show to display the brand’s different outfits and new collections. However, the selection of Angels throughout the years has been continuously noted to lack diversity, as the first black Angel, Tyra Banks, did not walk until 1995, years after the show’s debut.

The purpose of the Collective, as Victoria’s Secret’s website states, is for “accomplished women who share a common passion to drive positive change.”

The Collective’s founding members, including professional soccer player Megan Rapinoe, transgender model and activist Valentina Sampaio, and actress Priyanka Chopra Jonas, are definitely representative of the company’s selfproclaimed inclusionary effort, however, a few factors in the equation are amiss.

According to The Cut magazine, Rapinoe, who is well-known for her vocal activism and social justice initiatives, has heavily criticized Victoria’s Secret in the past, calling the brand “patriarchal,” “sexist” and “really harmful.” So, what makes Victoria’s Secret so eager to work with her? The pathway from relevance to monetary profit.

It is commonly known that the brand has a controversial past. The company’s former chief marketing officer Edward Razek is infamously known for making fatphobic and transphobic comments towards the models, and, according to The Guardian, has even been accused of sexually harassing them. Leslie H. Wexner, the company’s former chief executive, received backlash in the past for his close friendship with Jeffrey Epstein.

Throughout the course of these events, according to Upworthy, the television viewership for the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show dropped from 12 million viewers to 3.3 million. In addition, their net worth has dropped from 29 million dollars in 2015, to 5 million dollars in 2021.

There is an obvious direct connection between the actions of the brand’s representatives and the drop in viewership of the fashion show and overall interest in the company. The significant drop in net worth was a red flag that something needed to change, and the quickest and most effective solution? Ingenuine philanthropy. People like Rapinoe and Jonas, who are in the prime of their spotlight, can potentially help the

company to regain the popularity they once had, and therefore increase their revenue. It is clear that Victoria’s Secret is taking advantage of the general public and their increase in awareness about certain issues by using fake compassion to draw people back so that they can profit.

It is absolutely no coincidence whatsoever that as soon as the money started slowing down, they decided to implement these changes.

It is extremely unlikely that, in a matter of years, the entire mindset of the company changed for the better. Correlation is evident, and an unsympathetic abuse of consumers’ selflessness. The company’s aim is to win social justice points in order to generate revenue, an unsurprising exploitation from a large corporation. This gesture is comparable to big companies equipping their social media platforms with rainbow flags during pride month, while simultaneously donating to and working with anti-LGBTQ organizations. It is an effort to draw attention to the brand and fit in with social standards of inclusion, but ultimately does harm to people in that community.

It is time for big companies to stop manipulating innocent consumers, and we as a society need to recognize that most of these initiatives are under false pretenses. Victoria’s Secret should unequivocally continue to be held accountable for their past actions, because a marketing strategy under the guise of inclusion is simply not enough.

September 2021 // 13

cover story.

PICTURING PICTURING PROFESSIONALISM PROFESSIONALISM

14 // LeJournal

cover story

With the new dress code changes, more students and faculty are reimagining how they perceive tattoos and bold hair colors.

BY WEB EDITOR AVA ALBRACHT & PRINT MANAGING EDITOR ELLA ROGGE

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itting in a conference room with coworkers and smiling faces, you wait for the meeting to begin.

The company has invited an expert in their field to come lecture. While chatting with Stacy from human resources and your department coworker, Chad, a petite woman with an edgy neon pink pixie haircut and a nose ring walks through the door with a laptop and approaches the head of the table. Reaching for the presentation clicker with an arm covered in tattoos, she smiles and says, “Welcome, everyone.”

within the professional world Professionalism is often thought to be determined by physical appearance. According to an article by the Society for Human Research Management titled “Title VII Changed the Face of the Workplace,” prior to the implementation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, advertisements for jobs would often classify which gender and races could apply. Title VII most greatly influenced women in the workforce - in 1967, women made up 29% and grew to nearly 47% in 2013 as Title VII’s impact strengthened over decades. This open discrimination has since been replaced with unconscious bias, where managers unknowingly operate on a “like me” bias, favoring workers who remind them of themselves. Workplace perspectives typically correlate professionalism with dissociating from visible tattoos, eccentric piercings, and unnaturally colored hair.

“It used to be that you were professional if you were formal,” performing arts teacher Elizabeth Mulkey said. “Formal in the way that you addressed people, formal in the way that you physically dressed and formal in your looks.”

Tattoos became linked to counterculture socially in the 70’s, which was the first time they were embraced outside of veteran and sailor communities, according to a Grey Journal article titled “The Evolution of Tattooing in America.” During this time, tattoos were used as a way to prove a commitment to beliefs.

Although this is the first time that tattoos were socially displayed, throughout history tattoos have served a multitude of different purposes. Soldiers during the Civil War got tattoos as a way to make sure their bodies were identifiable. In the 1930’s, following the Social Security Act, it became common for people to get their social security numbers tattooed in fear of forgetting it.

“I think there’s definitely, especially for some of the older generations, a connotation that counterculture, all anti-establishment, and rebellion are things like extreme hair and tattoos,” English

teacher Dr. Emily Grover said.

But items like that are more than counterculture rebellion these days. Today, self-expression is the name of the game, and various differing opinions have expanded the definition of professionalism. Being authentic, emphasizing respect not just to authority figures but also to peers, showing strong character and remaining appropriate in one’s apparel are more in tune with professional standards today.

According to the Ipsos article “More Americans Have Tattoos Today than Seven Years Ago,” three in ten Americans have tattoos, which is an increase from the 21% of Americans in 2012. Individuals under the age of 55 are twice as likely to have at least one tattoo. However, while some industries showcase all forms of self selfexpression in the workplace, many other occupations continue to hold onto a traditional approach to professionalism.

“I think that younger professionals tend to care about other aspects than their particular appearance, and it’s more of an expression of who they are, rather than a big show of how competent they might be at their job,” Humphrey said.

Prior to the start of this school year, administration modified dress code policy, allowing faculty and students to have artificially colored hair, though tattoos must remain not visible.

According to recently retired Dean of Students Fran Koehler, the policy regarding hair color has always been a little hazy. The original rule required students not to dye hair at all; students had to keep their own natural hair colors. However, this meant that black students could not technically lighten or darken their hair to match braids or extensions, as any dye was considered against regulation. Koehler saw challenges in implementing this policy because if she made an exception for one student, then she would have to for everyone. This is how we came to the previous rule, which is that students could dye their hair colors on the spectrum that might be considered “natural.” As of this year, however, the new handbook omits the “extreme hairstyle” requirement under Uniform Information and Guidelines. Teachers like Mulkey believe this change creates an opportunity for students to display personality through appearance.

“Some people are going to look at it and say it’s ‘unprofessional’ or that it doesn’t look good for a private school and then others will say ‘it’s how we express ourselves,’” senior Mia Eakins said. “It just depends on the person.”

September 2021 // 15

cover story.

Would your parents allow you to get tattoos, dye your hair, or get piercings?

Yes No No, but I plan to anyway Do you plan on getting a tattoo at some point in your life?

Maybe No Yes (From poll of 126 students)

Following COVID-19 and quarantines, working from home quickly caused professionals to go from formal wear every day to sweatpants. As occupations shift back into in-person, former dress code policies in some fields are being redrafted according to the iNews article “Workplace Dress Codes: Bosses are Ripping up Pre-COVID Rules,” offering employees an opportunity to dress in more comfortable, casual apparel. Even so, many industries still adhere to past expectations of professionalism, and new graduates seeking jobs should alyways be wary that they may be turned down opportunities due to their self expression choices. For example, nurses, physicians and many health industry careers require natural hair, no perfume, and even clean, unpolished nails. Teenagers might be best suited to stick to hair color changes - something easily reversable down the road.

within the sion community “In a school where you have a common uniform, there’s not a ton of places where you can have that unique self expression,” Grover said. “So having those other forms of self expression could further showcase the diversity that we have.”

Grover had her own experience with rebelling against strict dress code policy while teaching at Brigham Young University. She hoped that by wearing a bow tie or having a pixie cut she could show her students that although they attended a more conservative college that her class was a safe space for diversity and to be creative even if the rest of the school did not appreciate those qualities as much. While interviewing for her position at Sion, Grover was unsure

16 // LeJournal

cover story.

of the school’s policy about colored hair and did not find out until she was hired that she would be able to keep her hair dyed.

“So if they hired me even with my hair maybe that would show me that this is where I was meant to be,” Grover said.

Besides rebellion by hair and dress, self expression through tattoos are often a simple reminder of a time in someone’s life. This is the case for Mulkey. Her first tattoo, a music note, is a memento from her time studying abroad in London.

Later in life, Mulkey chose to get a more meaningful tattoo of a dove with an olive branch that turns into a music note.

“So you know the saying ‘peace, love, and happiness, my saying has always been peace, love, and music, so that’s why I got that,” Mulkey said.

Similar to Mulkey, Diaz has several tattoos with varying amounts of meaning. One of which is a little mushroom on her wrist that she just thought would be fun to get to match with her best friend.

Her second matching tattoo is a wave that her mom also got to remind them of Diaz’s childhood playing at the beach. Her third and final tattoo is “enough.” tattooed on her forearm to remind herself that she is enough.

“I feel like [my tattoos] tell you that I have maybe had a hard time believing in who I am,” Diaz said. “So many people have complimented the “enough” [tattoo], even some of my teachers have told me, ‘that’s so special, you are enough.’”

Rituals and routines are very important to Eakins, one of her most beloved rituals is when

she sees the time 11:11 she kisses her phone and makes a wish for good luck. This tradition helps Eakins to have a positive mindset because 11:11 is considered to be an angel number that signifies good coming to the person who sees these numbers, which is why Eakins chose the tattoo.

“My 11:11 tattoo helps me stay true to myself,” Eakins said. “I think that it shows other people something about myself, my habits and my attitude about life.”

The four years that students spend in high school can be some of the most formative. A person’s worldview can be shaped by how they were or were not able to express themselves in adolescence. Sometimes the inability to present oneself in an authentic form can lead to either shame or rebellion. Sion alumna and teacher Humphrey believes that if students had been allowed to change their hair color while she was a student, more girls would have been able to reflect how they feel on the inside to show to the rest of the world.

“No matter what they look like, “ Humphrey said. “I hope that it allows teenagers who have to figure out so much in such a little amount of time to have a chance to explore who they are and what they want to do to express themselves before they get to a point where it’s too overwhelming to think about.”

September 2021 // 17

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denim daze

SUMMER TREND TAKE OVER

Old jeans are back starring in the grunge theme.

Teens are wearing high waisted, boyfriend, dad jeans, A-line, and much more.

Who needs phones? With cheap cameras that can be bought at any local Walmart, CVS, or Walgreens, you can capture all your fun moments with friends on film.

girls on film

BY KATE MCCARTHY PRINT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

A recap of all the trends you may have missed this past summer.

BUBBLE BRAIDS 18 // LeJournal

New seasons bring new hairstyles. These new braids involve elastic bands periodically placed on a ponytail to create a cute up-do for any outing.

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CRUMBL CRAZE

Ooey, gooey, flavorful cookies filled the stomachs of thousands this summer. With a new variety of flavors each week these cookies were a staple of the summer.

devil returns

Swimsuit styles are changing yet again. Now sporting three pieces on each bikini, teens are ready to go to the beach with the addition of a wrap to their swim style.

Three Piece

This viral tik tok trend dominated social media this summer. Partygoers slipped on a pair of adorable shades and posed for a photo.

One hit single and she was off, Olivia Rodrigo shattered music records this summer with her debut album, Sour.

Put em on and pose

nailed it

A remake of a classic film, Cruella filled world screens May 28. This modern twist on a classic tale is a must watch.

sour summer

Swirly, line design centered nails decorated the hands of teens and adults this summer. Filled with different colors and shapes, these nails, often long, completed every look.

September 2021 // 19

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Air Force

United In Uniforms Lydia Poe and Caroline Renner pose together in their unforms they received at Space Camp, the Aviation Challenge. “I thought it was going to be really cool becuase I was able to meet new people,” Poe said.

20 // LeJournal

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Aviators

BY BRIANNA LEGETTE FEATURES EDITOR

Seniors Lydia Poe and Caroline Renner went to a week-long space camp over the summer.

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eniors Lydia Poe and Caroline Renner attended a week at Space Camp in the Aviation Challenge in Huntsville, Alabama this summer to learn about outer space, survival skills and aviation.

“I’ve never really done a sleepaway camp. So it was my first night staying away from home, from my parents,” Renner said.

Poe attended the Aviation Challenge during the last week of May, while Renner went the second week of June. Their experiences were both similar and different, and a part of that might be due to the camp’s goals and foundation.

Space Camp was founded by German rocket scientist Dr. Wernher von Braun and the first director of the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, Edward O. Buckbee. Space Camp is located in the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, the official Center for NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. Participants, referred to as trainees, get hands-on STEM experience, training like an astronaut and learning aeronautics and flight.

While at camp, they both were placed in the Mach III group consisting of campers ages 15-18. They participated in missions that tested their survival skills and teamwork.

“We did search and rescue missions, and we had to find stuff that the trainers had hidden, [such as] fallen aircrafts,” Renner said.

Poe flew an F-18 aircraft computer simulator and practiced dogfighting, an aerial battle between two fighter planes, on other simulators. Renner learned how to use coordinates, learned multiple survival skills, and repelled from a zipline into the water for water rescues which was meant to simulate jumping out of a helicopter

and getting rescued. Poe explained that the night missions would last for quite a long time, meaning they had to have solid teamwork.

“You would walk in your patrol line. Our first night mission was to search and rescue,” Poe said. “It wasn’t all black, we were in twilight. But as soon as it hits pitch black, then we’re all just like, ‘Find what you need to look for before it gets too dark.’”

The activities lasted one to two hours, and they filled up their days. As trainees tested their teamwork with militarystyle patrols, they also did experiments with aeronautics, space, and flight.

“We built our own foam [airplane wing] and we tested it in a smoke tunnel to see how the wind would roll over the wing and see how much turbulence is caused, rather than just smoothly, slowly going over it,” Poe said.

While they enjoyed all the activities, Renner and Poe also learned a lot from the experience in general especially about aviation. Renner learned about the different parts of the plane and how planes work and function, as well as different aspects of STEM and how to work as a team.

“Everybody involved had to do their part, and everyone was responsible for doing their part, otherwise the mission would crash and burn,” Poe said.

Along with the teamwork aspect of it, Renner and Poe also have more respect for the military lifestyle, and the structure of it. Survival is about attitude, and the skills you’ve learned come after. Both trainees greatly appreciated their time spent at Space Camp, and Renner would like to go back next summer.

Poe said, “I don’t think it would be the exact same experience if I were to go back. I won’t want to relive the good memories, because it’s hard to relive good memories and have the exact same experience with a different team.”

Be My Wingwoman Anytime Poe and Renner recreate the the salute they did at camp. “I wanted to toughen up. I looked into the camp and it sounded awesome, and so I applied,” Renner said.

September 2021 // 21

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The Ladies

Get to know the new faces of the English department and all their unique passions.

STORY BY ELLE SIMON EDITORIALS EDITOR; DESIGN BY PRINT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF SOFIA AGUAYO

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hrissy Nance has always had an appreciation for single-sex eduation. As she hails from Kansas City, Nance always admired the girls who attended Sion. She loves how the students can be themselves and also loves the diversity.

“I think Sion offers unique opportunities that other schools aren’t able to, and I think that those opportunities are part of the world that’s changing around us,” Nance said “And I just feel like this is a place where leaders are being made.”

Within her classroom, Nance loves to tell stories, and she leads with empathy and compassion. Her goal is for all her students to feel welcome in her classroom. Nance also tries to offer as much choice in the projects as possible to her students.

“I want the girls to be able to be confident in their voice, and so any opportunities that I can give them to express themselves and also from each other,” Nance said.

22 // LeJournal

egan DeLaurier taught in a middle school setting for over twenty years before coming to Sion. When her former students who went to Sion came back and visited, she noticed that they were all so happy and seemed like they were where they were meant to be.

She feels that those students inspired her to come to Sion.

DeLaurier appreciates Sion’s faith aspect and inclusivity, as well as having conversations surrounding events occurring in the world “I think it’s neat that [Sion is] doing these deep dives this year where you get to do some experimental learning,” DeLaurier said. “That’s a unique thing that not every school necessarily could do. The fact that you’re doing it here is awesome.”

DeLaurier hopes creativity is involved in what she teaches in the classroom, and she wants there to be space for students to pursue their artistic talents.

DeLaurier encourages good dialogue within class and she wants her students to be able to express what they are thinking. DeLaurier likes not being the only new face in the department and appreciates that there are veteran teachers to help guide them.

“It’s an awesome department, so yes I would say that it’s nice that I’m not the only new person,” DeLaurier said.

“A lot of us are kind of in this together.”

When DeLaurier isn’t teaching, she loves to garden or be outside. DeLaurier’s favorite things about her garden are her chickens and the flowers that attract butterflies and pollinators.

of Literature E

mily Grover moved to Kansas City from Idaho in 2020.

When she was researching Sion, she came across the women’s rights issue of Le Journal. Grover was so impressed with the diverse perspectives that she knew immediately she wanted to teach at Sion. She loves Sion’s mission statement and how Sion emphasizes interfaith dialogues because she wanted to teach at a school where everyone’s perspectives are valued.

“One thing that I noticed as I was researching Sion is that it is known for its inclusivity, and every time I met a student from Sion, I was so impressed by their kindness, their creativity and their generosity, that it just felt like home,” Grover said Grover’s classroom is filled with an enthusiasm for reading, writing, and critical thinking. She hopes her students find that everything they learn in her class is applicable outside of the classroom. Grover tries to help her students find their own curiosity in whatever topic it is that they are looking at in class because she believes curiosity helps lead to self-expression.

In her free time, Grover loves to garden and raise butterflies as well as bird watching. During the pandemic, she picked up knitting and calls it her pandemic skill. Grover likes being part of a whole new department, and especially loves being a new member of the Sion community.

“I almost feel like we are part of the incoming group of freshman, like we’re almost being initiated to life at Sion, and it’s fun,” Grover said.

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achel Schulte fell in love with Sion after talking with Ellen Carmody about the available position.

She was drawn to Sion because of the mission, and because it is a space for people from all different backgrounds to come together and learn.

“I really appreciated how Sion had a religious element to it while at the same time, was very open to others, and I think that that’s something unique that you don’t see in a lot of private religious schools,” Schulte said.

According to Schulte, she geeks out on books and she hopes that students who take her class feel engaged during class, even if they don’t love literature.

She feels that her class is a place where her students can be thoughtful about the language and the rhetoric they use, as well as their world views.

“I think that it’s our worldview that really determines a lot of our thoughts and actions,” Schulte said.

Schulte loves being in a department filled with new people because she thinks that there is a lot of excitement about what the new department will be able to accomplish and create.

September 2021 // 23

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Clash of Clags Doug McLagan grew up going to two to three rock concerts a week with his twin brother, and this punk passion continues today.

BY LAUREN SMITH SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR

NIGHT AT THE TRUMAN

to catch the bus for nine minutes, you went to the concert, and caught the bus back home.”

Slowly, they started traveling to neighboring cities for bigger concerts by bus and train, deepening their interest in punk music and concerts. Along with this, the two brothers became closer, sharing a passion for music.

“

One of his favorites was a concert with 35 people in the crowd, but, according to him, the band “played like there were 35,000.”

Atmospheres like this are what made him unafraid to go to a concert alone. With his brother living in England, he doesn’t have many now that share a similar interest in punk.

“I will not miss a concert just because nobody will listen to my music,” Doug McLagan said. “Once I couldn’t get anybody to go with me, and at the last minute decided to go by myself, which was one of the best concerts I’ve ever seen.”

It’s apparent that music had an impact on his childhood, and is a large part of his life today. This experience continues to bond him and Ian, and when they call each other, he often has a notepad nearby to write down any band recommendations. Due to the pandemic, he hasn’t been to a concert since May of 2019, when he saw the Psychedelic Furs. He is awaiting the return of concerts to see his favorite punk bands once again.

“Music is everything, ‘’ McLagan said. “It lightens up the day, it makes you feel good, sometimes if you’re not in a good mood you can listen to some of The Smiths. It’s just the mood of the day, and it’s just a nice change.”

The last concert McLagan went to was the Psychedelic Furs on May 10, 2019 at The Truman (photo submitted by Doug McLagan)

THE CLASH AND CLAGS McClagan’s favorite band is The Clash who he’s seen five or six times. His favorite comcert was December, 20 1978 in Wolverhampaton, England (photo by Doug McLagan

24 // LeJournal

Some of the bands we went to were just little buildings, the size of the gym, so it’s packed with punk. They have a mosh pit and it’s crazy, so the atmosphere is just fantastic.

“

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t’s December 17, 1977, and Doug McLagan and his brother, Ian McLagan are with their best friends Kevin and Dale, walking down the hill of the village to get to the railway station in the snow. Dressed in jeans, Doc Martens, t-shirts and army or leather jackets, the teenage boys take the forty-five minute train ride to Wolverhampton, England.

From there they walk a few blocks to Wolverhampton Civic Hall to see their favorite band, The Clash; a key band in the start of punk rock in England. Anticipation for the band rises during the opening performance. The lights dim, and when The Clash enters, everyone screams. A mosh pit forms and moves, the crowd sings and bumps into each other. You bump up with friends and then with absolute strangers, but it’s okay. No one cares. You’re here to see The Clash and you don’t care who is bumping along with you.

Doug McClagan’s interest in music, specifically punk, started at the age of fifteen. His brother was originally the one who got him interested in music and concerts, and if it hadn’t been for him, he probably would never have gotten into it.

“As twins, we shared a room, so Doug had to listen to whatever I was listening to,” said Ian McLagan. “When I started taping punk singles off the John Peel shows in 1977, Doug loved these new bands much as I did. I was the one staying up until midnight recording the tracks off the radio.

We couldn’t believe it when The Saints, an Australian band, actually played in our hometown weeks later.”

Growing up, they primarily went to local concerts with a few friends at night. Interest in punk stemmed from finding new local bands who performed in and around their hometown for a low cost.

“The first bands we saw in punk were three bands for five dollars,” Doug McClagan said. “You went down the road

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September 2021 // 25

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BY MEGAN KELLEY ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

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Here are some fun reads for the beginning of the school year.

Shad

By Le ow and igh B Bone ardug o $7.83 on A

A Gentleman’s Guide To Vice and Virtue

By Mackenzi Lee

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5 star r read for m It was clo se to read f e, it d a plot t or me id not wis b make took it t. The ma ecause of a a jo The p down the n r plot twis major t ju lo o did no t twist was tch to 4.5 s st t enjo ta expec y it. ted, b rs. ut I st ill Other B Ninth ooks by L eigh B House ardug King o o: f Scar s Six of Crows .

26 // LeJournal

$7.99 on Amazon In 18th century England, young aristocrat Henry Montague, who goes by Monty, goes on a tour throughout Europe. Throughout this YA Historical Fiction, Monty takes you on this journey with his best friend Percy Newton. Throughout this book, they learn to navigate their romantic and confusing relationship, which is not allowed or normalized in this time period. While learning about their relationship, Monty realizes that after his trip, he has to find a job, and maybe lose his friendship to Percy.

This book is great for readers who want LGBTQ+representation in books. Throughout this book, you’ll freeze up as Monty and Percy get themselves into sticky situations, such as when Monty finds out about Percy’s epilepsy, and he struggles to come to reality with what it means for the future. This will tear at your heart, and make you want to go on your own adventures with your friends. Readers will be pulled into this story and will find it hard to get out of. I would rate this book highly.

I spent a while getting through it because of the language, as it’s set in 18th century England, so it’s a little bit different then modern American English.

Other Books by Mackenzi Lee: Loki: Where Mischief Lies The History of the World in Fifty Dogs Cowrote Fear

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Five Feet Apart

Milk and Honey

By Rachel Lippincott

By Rupi Kaur Content Warning - Abuse

$10.57 on Amazon

$11.99 on Amazon

This YA romance novel features the story of Stella Grant, a 17 year old girl living with cystic fibrosis, which is a lung disease someone inherits that affects the cells that produce mucus, sweat, and digestive juices. Every six months, Grant has to go to the hospital as a result of her condition. She goes in early one month due to a cold. She misses out on a school trip with her friends, and runs into a boy named Will Newman. Will and Stella roam the hospital, and go to Stella’s safe place, the nursery. On one of their adventures, they leave the hospital to play in the snow, resulting in a horrible accident.

This book definitely pulls at the reader’s heartstrings. Some moments, you’ll be rolling around in laughter while Will cracks jokes about the challenging disease they share. In other moments, you will find your eyes filled with tears as Stella faces the reality and dangers of her disease and her evolving relationship with Will. As these characters progress and learn about the consequences of being in a relationship with both partners having cystic fibrosis, you’ll want them to push through. You’ll want their relationship to continue and to strive. This book was worth reading, even with tears streaming down my cheeks. I would rate this five stars, it was beautifully written, and brought me on an emotional journey.

Rupi Kaur takes the reader on the first 21 years of her life.

This poetry collection is filled with abuse, growth, and healing.

As she navigates her first few relationships, she struggles with PTSD and anxiety. Throughout this collection of poetry, you will cry and smile. She’ll show that it’s okay to be hurt, and she teaches the reader how to heal and help them forget about the pain. This book is definitely worth reading. The poems are broken into short chunks, which makes it easier on the reader. It’s a quick read, and intense. This book has so much to teach young women and how to take care of each of their bodies.

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The Seventh Most Important Thing

By Shelley Pearsall

Other Books By Rupi Kaur: The Sun and Her Flowers Home Body De Profeet

$7.99 on Amzon Life is hard in middle school, but for Arthur T. Owens, it’s harder than most. 13 year-old Arthur throws a brick at an older gentleman. He is sentenced to community service, so he doesn’t have to serve time in juvie. In this contemporary book, you will join him in this story as he embarks on what it means to be digging himself out of a hole of trouble. People distance themselves from him due to his record. As he waits for his trial, he experiences a meaningful friendship and shows the reader the importance of cherishing memories. I highly recommend this book for everyone. It is a light and easy story to read. This book also changed my view on how one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. This book left a big impression on me, however, due to its difficulty to get through plotwise, I would rate it four stars.

Other Books by Shelley Pearsall: All of the Above Trouble Don’t Last All Shook Up

Other Books by Rachel Lippincott: The Lucky List All This Time She Gets the Girl

September 2021 // 27

PUZZLE Palooza ACROSS

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1. The Airforce Aviators’ space camp was founded

by Dr. Wernher Von Braun who was the first director of the U.S. Space and ______ Center.

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2. One of the book reccomendations, written by Rupi Kaur, is titled Milk and ______ 3. Feature on a sophomore who is involved in singing competitions, musical theatre, and fashion titled Serra _____

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5. She has an 11:11 tattoo that helps her stay, “True to herself.”

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DOWN 1. The name of the volleyball’s teams tallest player (6’ 1) 4. Find the word: Page 23, Shulte section, paragraph 2, word #16

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a e e h e i u e c l s s

l i

o c v a i c y e b c m n t y h y

t p x u k t t e e

s w r h t b o s v

m i g i s c d v g

s f n q b l w t l

c t a r a f y n p

m l t b k b k t r

a t m v v m y w u

a u d b g c m f p

m r o h e n g g r

v u o n k r y n o

n t r t a q r t v

i o n c s l b q e

d f f u q q i r r

p a r h h z a s l

b a l l v w t o m

WORD BANK clags schulte

storm volleyball

tradition grover

delaurier gioia

vive

nance

sion

crumbl

professionalism

purple