December 2024

LeJOURNAL Notre Dame de Sion High School | Volume 47 | December 2024

REVIEW: PAGE 5

ON THE COVER: PAGE 14

EDITORIAL: PAGE 18

A REVIEW OF THELMA’S KITCHEN

THE IMPACT OF SERVICE

LE JOURNAL STAFFERS SHARE THEIR GRATITUDE

what’s inside 4-5

‘Tis The Season/Kitchen of Hope News/Review

6-7

What’s in a Name?/Transforming Hearts News/Opinion

8-9

Finding Purpose/Scholarly Support Feature/News Feature

10-11

How To Give/How Does He Do It? Feature/Feature

12-13 Beyond the Bow Staff Editorial

14-17

Hearts Larger than the World Cover Story

18-19

Thank You.../Merry Maria Editorial/Feature

20-21

No No No/Santa Comes Clean Opinion/Feature

LeJOURNAL. 2024 | 2025 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

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2 | LE JOURNAL

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

REPORTERS

Caroline Deacon

Evelyn Cramer Nora Gedney Lauren Haggerty Mary Kate Lillis Greta Martin Riley Pintado Avery Williams

Print Editor Addie Doyle

Web EDITOR Bridget Bendorf

Managing Editor Ella Satterwhite

Copy Editor Amelia Bedell

22-23

All Ye Faithful/Love and Light Opinion/News Feature

24-25

The Gift of Food/Christmas in a Community Feature/Opinion

26

Alone for the Holidays Opinion

27

Many Merry Memories News Feature

Photo of the issue STORM WATCH Watching their team play a rivalry match, seniors Abbie Duethman and Ava Lynn cheer from the bleachers on Dec. 6. The STA vs.

Sion basketball game is an annual event and this year’s theme was Polar Express. “These games are so special because of the rivalry and intenseness in between the student sections,” Duethman said.

PHOTO | CAROLINE DEACON

editor’sink T

is the season for another the state of overconsumption, issue of Le Journal. The and this year can be the year we holidays are here, and our stray away from fast fashion or staff has been working on unnecessary gifting and instead a gift for you: an issue with a purchase gifts that give back. special twist. Get ready to read, Before you bring out your immerse yourself in the festive cookbooks for upcoming holiday spirit, grab a hot cocoa parties, indulge in the family and sit by the tree. recipes on page 24, Ask yourself what contributed by our very Christmas means own Sion students. to you before Page 11 will bring we explore the back that nostalgia meaning of of Christmas by Christmas to theorizing how everyone in the beloved Santa Kansas City. As accomplishes you flip through everything he does in these pages one night. Conversely, filled with joy and on page 20, a Santameaning, we invite you centered story details one to see the bigger picture and staffer’s emotions upon learning look at the holidays through a the truth. different lens.

Enjoy the touching images On pages 6 and 7, we and festive graphics and ignite challenge you to reframe the feeling of the holiday season your idea of service and through our Christmas edition, charity, especially within our but above all, engage with the community. Reflect on the deeper meaning within this issue. purpose of our school drives This is a time of charity, family and where our donated items and uplifting our communities. We go beyond the drop-off spot. We hope you enjoy our special edition hope after reading these, you of Le Journal because we sure will think about the real-world loved making it. Merry Christmas! problems at hand rather than a sweatshirt in place of a polo.

Page 13 is a guide to ethical gift-giving. We acknowledge

student space Madeline Johnson

E

very year, freshman Madeline Johnson works with her mom to bake Christmas cookies.

“We just go at it for hours,” Johnson said. “We do maybe 10 batches a day. Some years, it’ll be a couple hundred [cookies].”

Johnson’s favorite cookies are hot chocolate pinwheels, which are made by rolling together a layer of hot chocolate dough with a layer of vanilla dough.

“We start out a few weekends from Christmas and we put every baking material we own on the middle of the counter,” Johnson said. “My mom gets a cookbook,

I get a cookbook, and we go through and make a list of what cookies we want to make.”

At the end of the process, there are plenty of cookies to share.

“We eat some of them, we go around and give them to our neighbors, I take them to school and then we have big Christmas Eve parties,” Johnson said.

PHOTO SUBMITTED | MADELINE JOHNSON

on the cover Cover photo by copy editor Amelia Bedell

keep up with us: @sionstudentmedia

Use camera to visit sionstudentmedia.com!

DECEMBER 2024 | 3

news

‘Tis The

SEASON A

t one time, the idea of watching football on Christmas would have been almost unthinkable. Football has been a staple of Thanksgiving celebrations for years, but had never previously been considered a Christmas Day event. However, over the past 50 years, the NFL has expanded its presence during the holiday.

“It’s a big money-making opportunity for media and businesses,” sophomore Sophia Roberts said. “It’s such a special part of Thanksgiving that people thought we could do the same for Christmas too, but I don’t think it really has the same effect.”

As football continues to spread over the holiday, it can replace the religious and familial meanings of Christmas.

“It’s traditionally a holiday that’s meant for reflection and celebration, at least for those who are Christian, of the birth of Jesus,” Roberts said. “For those who aren’t, it’s a time to be grateful for family and the blessings that you have. Football can distract people from what truly matters on Christmas and take them away from their family.”

Despite Christmas landing on a Wednesday this year, a double header will take place, with the Chiefs playing the Steelers in the afternoon followed by the Ravens-Texans game in the evening.

With 34.1 million Americans tuning into

Football has long taken over the American public’s weekends and Monday nights, but as interest grows, football has become a main holiday attraction.

BY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF CAROLINE DEACON

Thanksgiving football in 2023 according to NFL.com and millions watching the 2023 Christmas Day games, these holiday games are clearly special to many families.

“It’s a tradition in our house to always have a sports game on at almost any family gathering or holiday,” junior Mclean Williams said. “It’s just on in the background and nice to keep up with in the comfort of our home while we don’t have to go anywhere.”

In 2023, the Chief’s Christmas game ended with a loss of 14-20 to the Raiders.

Although for some, watching the game is tradition, a loss can turn the holiday sour for the family. Despite this, millions of fans continue to spend their holidays with the game.

“Football on a holiday makes it extra special,” freshman Isabella Douglas said.

“It’s somewhat of a tradition in our family.

We make snacks and appetizers like nacho cheese, pizza. My dad makes french fries and wings. We’ve done this since I was pretty young. I can’t imagine not doing it.”

Christmas football games mean comfort and connection to some fans, but to others, it’s four hours spent at a television screen rather than spending time with family.

“I feel very mom-like, but I think Christmas shouldn’t have a lot of screen time,” freshman Aynslee Douglass said. “I

feel like we need time to be as a family and I know, at least my dad, as soon as there’s a football game, he can’t multi-task.”

Additionally, every year, professional athletes shift their Christmas plans to a stadium often far away from home. Rather than spending their holiday with extended family or attending Christmas mass or services, the athletes and their families spend much of their day at the field.

“As a society, we kinda forget that athletes are human too,” Douglass said.

“They’re traded around and they go to different cities a lot, but they should have at least one day where they’re not trying to play the game. And it’s not just the game either. They have pre-interviews and postinterviews. It seems like the whole day is just gone by the time they’re done.”

Whether the addition should be celebrated or shunned, Christmas football has brought a new meaning to the holiday for both athletes and fans.

“I love football,” freshman Lauren Elsbernd said. “I grew up watching it with my family and it just became a tradition.

[Christmas football] brings together families even if they do not cheer for the same team.”

Festive Facts The first Christmas football game was in 1971, but didn’t return until nearly 20 years later.

PHOTO | RICH CLARKSON | SPORTS ILLUSTRATED

4 | LE JOURNAL

The second Christmas football game, between the Miami Dolphins and the Kansas City Chief’s, remains the longest NFL game in history.

The most watched Christmas game is the 2023 Raiders versus Chiefs, gaining 29.2 million viewers.

review

KITCHEN OF HOPE

Thelma’s Kitchen is a local organization that provides healthy, low-cost meals to those in need, while delivering a comfortable and delicious experience to anyone who comes through the door.

BY PRINT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ADDIE DOYLE & MANAGING EDITOR ELLA SATTERWHITE

T

he holiday season is filled with biting winds and drifts of snow, thawed only by cozy blankets and the idea of sweetly spiced pumpkin pie. Many residents of Kansas City, however, have no access to such comforting meals. On Wednesday, Nov. 20, the staff of Le Journal set out in a school van to review and report on one local restaurant striving to fill a few more stomachs with the warm comfort of holiday food.

Thelma’s Kitchen, located on the corner of Troost, was founded to continue the work of Thelma Altschul and her husband, Father Alexii Altschul decades ago. The organization’s mission as written on its website is to “cultivate a community seeking reconciliation to transform Troost from a dividing line to a gathering place, revealing the strength of all.” To accomplish this, they have innovated a unique strategy to combat hunger in the Kansas City community, an open restaurant where guests are invited to pay what they can. The money of those who can give extra will go directly towards feeding those who don’t have the money for a full meal.

When our staff visited, we entered a cafestyle atmosphere housed within a modern-looking building. White walls with wood accents give the space a modern and chic twist.

Wide windows illuminate the Garden Salad With Homemade Dressing space, making it PHOTO | ELLA SATTERWHITE feel welcoming and bright. We were immediately greeted by a local priest and an employee. We were told that a meal was $15, but we could pay whatever was in our budget, with a minimum of $3. If those $3 weren’t feasible, we would still be given a bowl of soup to tide any hunger.

The woman behind the cash register was extremely friendly and flashed a kind smile before taking our order. Above were three TVs; one showing how close they were to the daily donation goal, another presenting the three meal options, and a third explaining a little more about the operation. The three options that day were a turkey brie sandwich, a pork plate and a garden salad. The staff was also extremely accommodating, helping each staffer receive the food they wanted. For example, you could order sides from the pork plate even if you got a salad, a great option for those with dietary restrictions. We did our best to sample each combination and plate of food. As we went through a line, a woman encouraged us to purchase the unique broccoli cheddar turkey rice soup with our turkey brie plate. At the end of the line, a young man handed me my spread with a smile, a cookie and an empty water cup.

Looking down at the plate, there was a sandwich with slices of turkey and cranberry-infused brie layered in between two hearty pieces of bread colored with toasty grill lines. A small bag of crackers sat next to a mid-sized bowl of soup. The

soup was rather thin and had small chunks of broccoli. To finish the plate off, there was a chocolate chip cookie in a bakery bag.

To our right was a brown salad bowl filled with an assortment of colors and a small cup of homemade dressing. To the left, a piece of tender pork, a perfectly shaped scoop of mashed potatoes and Turkey Brie Sandwich & carrot Soup gravy, and the PHOTO | ELLA SATTERWHITE same chocolate chip cookie. Le Journal advisor Valerie Crook had nothing but good words to describe her carrot soup, which had a creamy texture and resembled a butternut squash soup in flavor profile and consistency. These, along with other combinations of meals around the table, brought smiles to staffers’ faces, and we had no complaints.

The sandwich was one of the very few meals containing brie we have ever enjoyed eating. We were slightly skeptical of the soup’s texture, but after a bite, that misconception was quickly fixed. Staffer Mary Kate Lillis noted the tenderness of the pork slice and the flavor in the mashed potatoes, which tasted as rich as they looked. The salad was also wonderful and very hearty for what can often be considered an appetizer. The cookie had a crunchier texture but didn’t lack in flavor.

After our delicious meal, Tanya and a young busser took any trash from our table with an amiable smile and engaged in conversation with us about our school and the food. The priest, who was a regular at Thelma’s, came to speak to us briefly about the volunteer opportunities they have. If you are interested, you can fill out a quick two minute info page that will take about two minutes, then pick your work shifts ranging from one hour to five.

Overall, it was a very accessible process.

We left Thelma’s with full bellies and the walk back to the van (which was parked nearby in free street parking) felt just Pork Plate with Mashed Potatoes a little warmer.

PHOTO | ADDIE DOYLE We can not recommend highly enough taking a trip to Thelma’s sometime this holiday season for a hearty meal, some easy companionship and a chance to make a difference.

DECEMBER 2024 | 5

news

what’s in a name?

Student Council changed the name of Sion’s sock, underwear and can drive, which ended Nov. 18, but all grades combined still only reached about half of the all-school goal.

BY COPY EDITOR AMELIA BEDELL

S

ocktoberfest, Sion’s new sock and can drive to benefit the Redemptorist Center, ran from Oct. 25 to Nov. 18. The drive fell short of its goals of five tons of canned goods and 5,000 pairs of socks and underwear, continuing a trend from previous drives.

Socktoberfest is new this year, a combination of Sion’s Food For Thought and Sock it to Poverty drives.

Students could bring in socks, underwear or cans, SENIORS SOPHOMORES but the variety of goods the drive accepted may have caused confusion.

JUNIORS FRESHMEN “I think it’s easier for people to focus on one thing at a time,” sophomore class president Cecille Kowalewich said. “It would have been easier to say bring cans this week, bring socks this week.”

Other fundraisers and school costs like Storm Stomp, Kairos, junior ring orders, graduation dress orders, the Cash Raffle and various bake sales occurred around the same time as the drive, and students 0.47 TONS donated less to the drive than in previous years, which 0.32 TONS may have been due to these extra costs.

“There’s a lot of things we’re expected to buy or 0.57 TONS donate coming up now,” junior class vice president Maeve Riley said. “I don’t know if it was the best idea 1.31 TONS to combine the two drives.”

In addition to the financial expectations students faced during Socktoberfest, a lack of education about the items being collected and the organization being helped led to a slow start to the drive.

GOAL: 5 TONS “People don’t really understand how much a ton is. It’s 32,000 ounces,” student body president Addi Bowes said. “And if you go to Walmart and pick up a can of green beans, it’s like 15.25 ounces.”

STUCO implemented a variety of incentives to persuade students to donate. Some incentives were individual, such as allowing students to wear out-of690 PAIRS uniform clothes if they donated a certain amount of cans or socks, while others, like a day off from school, 648 PAIRS would benefit the entire school if a certain threshold of donated items was reached.

785 PAIRS “We’ve had a lot of incentives, like sweatshirts and out-of-uniform days. I feel like those are the most effective,” 1,473 PAIRS Riley said. “The junior class also made sweatshirts, which ended up making like $300 to spend on cans and socks.”

Other STUCO members attempted to move away from incentivizing donations to the GOAL: 5,000 PAIRS drive, instead preferring to

FINAL TOTALS

2.7 TONS

3,596 PAIRS

“Lord, Prepare Me” Linking arms, participants in the Socktoberfest senior skit sing along to “Sanctuary” as senior Francie Keithline strums a guitar. Keithline played the part of theology teacher Stephanie Pino-Dressman in the Class of 2025’s senior skit, part of a longstanding tradition at Sion. “My favorite part of playing Pino was that I got to sing ‘Sanctuary,’” Keithline said.

“Pino is also my maison leader, so that’s one of the reasons I signed up to play her.”

PHOTO | AMELIA BEDELL

6 | LE JOURNAL

emphasize the importance of the work Redemptorist does and their need for donations. Redemptorist relies heavily on donations from outside organizations like Sion to stock their pantry.

“I think our biggest thing was trying to focus on helping people at Redemptorist, rather than bringing in cans for incentives,” Kowalewich said. “You should be bringing cans, not thinking, ‘Oh, I want to wear this sweatshirt tomorrow.’ [Instead] think, ‘Oh I want to help people.’”

The incentive system had the desired effect of getting more donations from students of all grade levels, but it reportedly gained more attention from students than the drive itself, according to Kowalewich.

“People were asking for more incentives,” Kowalewich said. “We were like, ‘This isn’t for us to be able to wear sweatshirts. This is for people who need a meal.’”

To learn more about the work Redemptorist does, a group of freshman STUCO members went to the center on the Freshman Day of Service, Oct. 16, to package food and household goods.

“You wouldn’t necessarily expect that packaging chicken nuggets could serve people,” freshman class representative London Porter said. “It was an overall good learning experience for us. You don’t know what people need, so just do good to benefit them.”

By Nov. 15, the intended last day of Socktoberfest, the entire school had collected 3,372 pairs of socks and underwear and 1.73 tons of canned goods, far below the original goals that had been set. STUCO decided to extend the drive until Monday, Nov. 18 at 4 p.m., and by the end of that Monday, the school’s new total was 3,596 pairs of socks and underwear and 2.7 tons of cans.

“I think it’s good that we had that extension,” Bowes said. “We had that weekend where the senior class really dug in and was like, ‘Okay, guys, we need to get a bunch of cans and work together and collaborate on doing this.’”

opinion

transforming Hearts

The idea of service cultivated by Sion focuses more on incentives than empathy.

BY GUEST WRITER HEIDI NANCE ‘26 DESIGN BY WEB EDITOR-IN-CHIEF BRIDGET BENDORF PHOTO | PEXELS

Y

ou made it through the day alive, which is an achievement in itself with the rush of the second quarter. Things have moved so quickly that you’ve learned to tune them out if they aren’t immediately necessary to your own survival.

Now, you can go home and get a little sleep just before you’re back in the car on the way to school again. Time moves fast, but all is well.

All is so well that you do not offer even the slightest glance to the man on the other side of your window on Wornall with the cardboard sign- the side of the window where time moves slowly and hunger burns. For you, all is well, and when you pass him by, you can leave him there in the rearview mirror. You don’t have to think about him if you don’t look at him.

What would change if you had to think about him, though?

What would change if you came to school and up on the projector for everyone to see was that man’s face? Would you regret not helping? Would it make you want to help? Ultimately, what would change if you had to see?

Sion does an excellent job at creating opportunities for students to be involved in solutions to problems in their community, whether that be a trip to Micah Ministries or ‘Socktoberfest,’ our new yearly drive for Redemptorist Center.

What Sion does not do so well, however, is making sure its students have a meaningful push to do those things.

Seeing people suffer makes us feel bad, and nobody likes to feel bad, but what if that was what it took for us to want to take action? In order to want to make a difference and to inspire real fundamental change, we have to be uncomfortable with the way things are, and to get uncomfortable, we must see the suffering of the world. Seeing inspires doing.

So, what can Sion do better? Sion needs to take large strides in being okay with making students uncomfortable, and students need to remain open to that change. Next year, it can start with Socktoberfest.

Class competitions, raffles and out of uniform days are the main motivators for students to take action and donate. The truth is that most of the time, they succeed in getting donations.

The other part of that truth is complicated though; too many fun motivators take away the true message of the drive. We, as students, end up getting wrapped up in only donating when it benefits us when the true purpose of the project is to be helping others. How are we to expect people to want to donate when they can hold off until it gets them a raffle entry? It must be made very clear to students what the meaning of the drive is, or else it will become yet another game instead of a project oriented in justice for our community. As of now, we do not take enough time to make clear our intentions, and they seem to get lost in the game of fundraising.

Socktoberfest also holds the longstanding tradition of funny skits reflecting on the drive. These skits are time consuming, taking up much needed planning time from STUCO members as well as even more direly needed time from the assembly where skits are performed. This valuable time could be used educating students on what’s actually going on at Redemptorist Center and why they need our help so badly. While the skits may be entertaining, they are of no true value to the drive. They do not significantly increase donations, and they certainly do not inspire empathy motivated action. In short, they inform students about the drive in a way that makes us comfortable- a way that lets us laugh it off.

Is this what we, as a community, want for our students?

Is our utmost priority our own comfortability, or our part in being champions of truth and justice? This is what we must ask ourselves as we proceed with doing charity work in the future.

Strides in our community like this to bring in newfound empathy and justice are by nature self-replicating. As Sion begins to take them, we can only expect further and further progress towards the justice oriented community we strive for. We only must see, learn and try.

DECEMBER 2024 | 7

feature

Finding Purpose

A group of Sion seniors works with children in unstable situations to bring them holiday joy.

BY COPY EDITOR AMELIA BEDELL

S

eniors Annie Sullivan, Molly Blount, Greta Grossman, Kate Schneeberger and Charlotte Zender are members of the Purpose Crew, a service group for high schoolers in the Kansas City area that primarily works to buy children presents during the holiday season.

“Annie Sullivan was in [the Purpose Crew] before me. I joined the year after, and then I dragged everybody else in with me,” Blount said. “We’re the only seniors, but they’re always looking for younger kids to carry it on, especially when we graduate.”

The Purpose Crew is composed of about 15 high school students from various private and public schools across the city, including the five Sion students that participate.

“The person who runs it is good friends with my family. She reached out to my mom saying that she was going to create a service group,” Sullivan said. “Then Molly moved in right next to her and started spreading the word to people [at Sion].”

The group primarily works with KVC Niles, a branch

KVC Smiles Huddling together, senior Molly Blount and members of the Purpose Crew from other schools across the city pose for a photo at KVC Niles.

The organization recently changed its rules to only allow volunteers that are of 21 years of age or older, but interactions with the kids at KVC Niles during the holiday season remains the most impactful part of working with the Purpose Crew for Blount. “Sometimes we see kids asking for toothbrushes, and we buy a lot of racecars and Nike hoodies,” Blount said.

“Anything that you would put on your Christmas list, because they are from 7 years old to 18 years old.”

PHOTO SUBMITTED | MOLLY BLOUNT

8 | LE JOURNAL

of a children’s mental health provider and nonprofit called KVC Missouri.

“It’s a place where kids can go if they are in a troubled home, need an education or just need a place to live,” Sullivan said. “We first started doing Christmas presents, so buying them presents and then giving them a stocking and a tub full of clothing and hygiene kits.”

In addition to holiday gifting, the Purpose Crew organizes events throughout the year for the children at KVC Niles.

“We fundraise and buy gifts on the Christmas lists of the kids at KVC Niles, and we get together and wrap them and deliver them,” Blount said. “Sometimes we throw them parties for different holidays.”

These holiday parties allow Purpose Crew members to connect with the children year-round, not just during the Christmas season.

“One of my favorite memories was last year, we had a Valentine’s Day party and we played musical chairs,” Grossman said. “I noticed there was a kid who looked really sad, and she was sitting alone. I went to talk to her and we had a lot in common. I saw her face light up, and it was really special for me and for her, hopefully, too.”

The children who KVC Niles serves are often a part of the residential mental health treatment program, and their abilities to see their families are often limited for mental health reasons.

“We got to go in with the kids and play games with them and make Valentines. To one of the kids we were talking to, somebody said, ‘Oh, you can take [the Valentine] home,’” Blount said. “And the little boy was like, ‘Oh, I don’t go home.’

It was just really eye-opening that such little kids are staying there and relying on that service.”

KVC Niles recently changed their policies so that only people over the age of 21 can interact directly with the children staying there, but those interactions remain the most impactful experience from the Purpose Crew for Sullivan.

“I feel like before, I never really worked with kids,” Sullivan said. “So I think getting to talk to them on a personal level, and getting to know them emotionally, because they are going through such a hard time in their life, and this is the only thing that they can look forward to, did broaden my perspective.”

This service fosters genuine human connections between those serving and those being served, and participants in the Purpose Crew have found deeper meanings to serving others through their work at KVC Niles.

“I’m very fortunate for the life that I live and the opportunities I have,” Grossman said. “And I think working with children who don’t have that really puts it in perspective and makes me grateful, but also excited to help them and give them a safe space.”

news feature

Scholarly support

This year, Sion’s chapter of the National Honor Society created a new program designed to pair students in need of academic help with tutors.

BY MANAGING EDITOR ELLA SATTERWHITE DESIGN BY WEB EDITOR-IN-CHIEF BRIDGET BENDORF

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ion’s chapter of the National Honor Society (NHS), led by NHS president Caroline Deacon, introduced a new tutoring program this semester. The program brings together members of NHS with students who want extra academic assistance.

“It was Caroline’s idea, and then she asked, ‘How can I make this possible? How can we do this?’” NHS vice president Ava Wickenhauser said. “And then we worked on the next steps to make it happen and make sure that everyone would be interested in it too.”

Deacon arrived at the idea after learning that Sion used to have a tutoring program around five years ago.

Since tutors frequently already took the same class with the same teacher as those looking to be tutored, they are uniquely positioned to provide support.

“Learning from a peer, they already took this class and they already know what to do, versus a teacher is kind of like this is my first time teaching you guys this,” freshman Ciel Magaña-Mora said. “I just feel better with someone who already took the class.”

Students can request a tutor through the NHS OnCampus resource tile, which is about midway down the page and has an image of a torch. Once on the tile, the left column has a section labeled NHS tutoring with a link to the request form. Once the requester has filled out the form, they will be matched with a tutor based on subject and availability.

“The form for tutors and for the students who need a tutor are really similar,” NHS sponsor Tracy McNair said.

“We compile that and try to search through, ‘Okay, the student needs Algebra I, and they’re available Monday mornings.’ Then we search the database of tutors to see if we can find someone that closely matches, and even if we don’t find an exact match, we’ll still email both students and say, ‘Hey, this is what we’ve come up with. Can you guys work something out from here?’”

Scheduling and tutor availability is one of the major challenges for connecting tutors and students together. Often, tutoring times overlap with other practices or one particularly difficult subject is being requested an unbalanced amount.

Ciel Magaña-Mora ‘28 “You get stuff done and you make a new friend through the process. I made a new friend through it and she kind of helped me understand more, mainly on my French and my math.”

“There’s some subjects like math and science where I feel like we have a high demand for tutors and sometimes not enough tutors,” McNair said. “So that’s another challenge that we have in the future to look at.”

Anyone in NHS can tutor. Members of NHS can sign up to tutor through the NHS group topics page, accessed by clicking groups then NHS then topics. Some may need to click more groups under the groups dropdown to find NHS. The topic tile labeled NHS tutoring contains links to the tutor interest form and the service hour log form.

“Really it’s not that scary because I thought I was going to feel so dumb,” junior tutor Ella Meraz said. “I thought they were going to be like, ‘Who on earth does she think she is?’

But it’s sort of a team effort to figure it all out. You need the other person to be listening to try and figure it out while you do it too. When we finally figure out how to do something, like when we both have an ‘awe’ moment, that feels so good.”

The program also can help students make connections across grades and meet new people. In the poll sent out to all students, multiple tutors and tutees reported meeting new friends through the program.

“One of our goals was to help NHS members be more out in the community, making a difference and doing service for others, and then also to help our Sion sisters,” Wickenhauser said.

Since the program is still new, more development is always occurring. For example, a form was sent out recently to begin to prepare for group study sessions just before finals.

“Since it’s the first semester we’ve done this, we’ve discussed a lot about how we can improve it for next semester and for next year,” McNair said. “Is there a more efficient or faster way to match students who need help? A lot of times when students are asking for help they probably need it right now, so that’s something that I think that we could improve on in the future.”

Rin Campbell ‘25 “Coming into school early can be a drag, but I find tutoring enjoyable so it kind of makes up for it. I’m also seriously considering teaching as a job. I like learning how other people learn and I feel like through tutoring, I can really tailor the learning experience to an individual person.”

DECEMBER 2024 | 9

feature

s i h H T o l e i d v ay Season i G o T w o H

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MS WILLIA AVERY ER REPORT

Single Mom Kc

We all have clothes in our closets and drawers that we’ve either outgrown or dislike, but they all have value. Why not clear out this excess to create space for your new winter wardrobe, while also sharing with women in difficult circumstances?

Single Mom KC is a local organization that serves women in multiple ways, one of which is providing high-quality, donated clothing in a store called, Clothed with Dignity. Moms can shop for free while their children are cared for by volunteers, giving them a break and also providing them with something they couldn’t afford on their own.

Angel Tree

The Angel Tree through the Salvation Army has partnered with Walmart to create a way for children who otherwise wouldn’t have that opportunity to receive Christmas gifts. At each Walmart, there is a tree ornament with a child’s name that shoppers can pick up and then purchase those gifts online using the Sparks Gift Registry. Once those gifts are received, the Salvation Army distributes them to the families directly.

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Love For Our Elders

Not all service requires any money to be spent, or at least as little as the cost of a stamp. Love for Our Elders is an organization that shares love by sending personalized cards to seniors, who are often very lonely. Their family members create a profile for them on the Love for Our Elders website, so people can choose who they wish to write to.

The website even includes helpful information on how to write a letter to a stranger. Imagine the joy someone might experience discovering a handwritten card from someone in another state wishing them well. Who knows, you could even become pen pals.

feature

How Does He Do it?

One night, seven continents, over seven billion people: a recipe for a mission failure, yet every year Santa is successful. An area of great questions, how does he pull off such a task.

BY PRINT EDITOR IN CHIEF ADDIE DOYLE DESIGN BY WEB EDITOR-IN-CHIEF BRIDGET BENDORF & PRINT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ADDIE DOYLE

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claus’ cookie of choice

“Our Elf on the Shelf is hilarious. He gets in trouble with mom sometimes, especially when he made powdered sugar snow angels on our counter.” 5-year-old Lena Doyle said.

art of Santa’s fuel is, undoubtedly, his cookies. Children often put out cookies and milk for Santa as a thanks for the gifts and a treat for his long night. The question is what type of cookie is Santa’s favorite? Based on 33 responses from Sion students, sugar cookie is the most popular with honorable mentions to gingerbread, chocolate chip and one believer that he is “an oatmeal raisin guy.” Although Claus wasn’t available to give his statement on the matter, the undeniable truth is that the cookies are essential to Operation Christmas.

ILLUSTRATION | BRIDGET BENDORF

ILLUSTRATION | BRIDGET BENDORF

T

santa’s little helper

hese elves are so beloved to the Christmas “how” that they deserve their own section. The Elf on the Shelf department is special because these tiny spies are a physical sign of Santa throughout the holiday season. Their job starts early with their arrival at their family’s house, surprising the kids one day with their smiling face. Each night, they must come up with their new hiding spot so that the kids will search for them in the morning, usually with a bit of havoc. Their day job, a bit more serious, is to observe and report back to Santa how the kids are behaving and what they want for Christmas. Better not steal your sister’s dessert off her plate when the elf is home. A direct connection to Santa, your Elf on the Shelf is a way to ensure Santa has an idea of your Christmas wishlist and knows that you opened the door for little Billy yesterday.

PHOTO SUBMITTED | ADDIE DOYLE

operation north pole

A

ny big scale operation like this requires a team and a lair.

Santa has his surely combat skilled and well trained army of elves helping him around the year to keep the magic of the holiday high. He also has Mrs. Claus by his side assisting him through every decision and helping to oversee the toy making and delivery. We can only wonder what the hiring process is like and how competitive the titles must get. The North Pole, a location undisclosed to the population, is stationed in a remote secret location to maintain a focused workspace. The team couldn’t get all of their work done if people were visiting constantly. It is important that the magic surrounding the North Pole and the elves stays top secret.

“I love Santa, but it’s kind of freaky that he’s always watching because then when I bother Lena I realize he saw it, or my elf did,” 7-year-old Barrett Doyle said.

ILLUSTRATION | BRIDGET BENDORF

DECEMBER 2024 | 11

editorial

BEYOND THE BOW Due to continuously growing overconsumption rates, it is important, now more than ever, to focus on more ethical and sustainable gifts rather than giving into the pressures of overconsumption.

T

hroughout the years, there has been a major shift not only in the focus of holidays, but the items that are produced and consumed during the gift-giving season. Due to numerous factors including advertising being more accessible to youth, overconsumption rates have tremendously increased.

Originally, the holidays were a time to prioritize giving back to the community and enjoying time spent with family. Now, people are primarily focused on making the most extravagant Christmas list with the best items they can find. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Americans produce roughly 25% more waste during the holiday season, running from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day. In hopes to combat this excessive waste, giving gifts that can be reused or don’t give into the pressures of fast fashion creates a much more ethical and sustainable gift for both the community and the environment.

“With teenagers there is so much importance in buying the newest clothing trends, and that is completely understandable,” senior Kate Schneeberger said. “With kids it’s the same thing, because they want the newest and coolest toys.”

Television and social media ads make it increasingly easy for consumers to buy items. This specifically occurs during the holiday season because ads pop up everywhere in order for companies to bring recognition to their products.

“One thing I’ve noticed is that phones tend to listen to what you say.

For example, maybe you’re telling your friend about a pair of shoes you wanted,” sophomore Summer Bannigan said. “A day or so later, I’ll get an advertisement on Instagram about those shoes. Or, you’ll Google something, and soon enough you’ll be seeing ads popping up based on that question. Media essentially panders to our interests and makes us want to buy and buy even if we don’t actually need those things.”

Apps like Tiktok and Youtube have allowed people to upload Christmas hauls that continue to promote items to viewers.

These hauls include an extensive amount of items, which often make people reflect on their own “hauls” in a negative manner.

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“I’ll see my gifts and I’ll be like wow this is so much but then the high wears down of just having these gifts and tearing open the wrapping paper and you realize that you don’t even like everything,” Schneeberger said. “That has really kind of tainted gift-giving, because you’re so worried about gifts and you’re not actually enjoying the fact that somebody thought of you when they picked the item out or just spending time with your family.”

In the past few years, there has been a large movement to lower the rising consumption rates by purchasing more sustainable and ethical gifts. Junior Jae High’s grandmother had a tradition of sewing her dresses every Christmas, which has influenced High to make the same heartfelt gesture in others’ lives.

“Something I used to do a lot for the holidays was crochet for my family and friends, specifically hats or blankets,” High said.

While not everyone has the artistic skills to crochet their own clothing, there are still easy ways to gift sustainable items. For example, consider going to antique stores or thrift stores to find gifts for your friends.

“Antique stores can be so overwhelming but you can end up finding such amazing gifts in there,” Schneeberger said. “Knowing your friends and family and what they like really helps you nitpick when you go into an antique store to choose a more sustainable item.”

Overconsumption is so much more than just purchasing some extra gifts or food. On a global scale, it strips the Earth of natural resources, which can then ruin habitats and even collapse entire ecosystems. On a more individual level, those making overproduced items have to suffer through unbearable working conditions with little to no pay.

“Since these workers are ‘far away’, it’s easy for some people to turn away and stick to the ‘easier’ way of overconsumption, despite it hurting both humans and our planet,” Bannigan said.

Within the Sion community, religion teacher Paul Kramschuster is having his sophomore students do a research project to give them inspiration on ethical christmas gifts they can give their family members this holiday season.

He is specifically having them focus on

B Corporations, Fair Trade and Local Stores, three distinctions which mark sustainability, to discover a gift intended for a specific family member.

“One of the things you see in Hebrew scriptures is laws and rules around what type of food the ancient Israelites could eat and what type of clothes they could wear,” Kramschuster said. “Although we no longer as Christians follow those, I think it’s important to have ethical standards or laws around the things that we spend our money on.”

In Christian belief, it is taught that it is a citizen’s job to give back whatever they can to others. During a time that is religiously significant for Christians, the core beliefs of Christmas have gotten lost among believers.

“If there’s a fight between Santa Claus and Jesus over the meaning of Christmas, Santa Claus has definitely won,” Kramschuster said. “What you have now is not so much a celebration of Jesus being born a savior into the world but rather you have a celebration of consumer capitalism.”

Kramschuster has even made a commitment in his own life to give more ethical and meaningful gifts to his loved ones. One year, he made his sister a scrapbook out of all the cards she had written for her mother on various holidays and occasions to remind her of her younger years.

“When she opened it she couldn’t stop tearing up because it was so cool for her to see the things she had written at such a young age,” Kramschuster said.

Rather than continuing to prioritize the newest trending items that are across social media, make an effort this holiday season to prioritize sustainable presents that hold memory and meaning. Simple gifts such as cookies, a thrifted item or just a handmade card hold just as much significance as an extravagant item.

“If you can support businesses where you can buy more sustainable or ethical ways of being as opposed to a fast fashion or as opposed to someone who’s trying to make money then I think those are faithful responses that Christian people of goodwill can make today,” Kramschuster said.

editorial

GIFTS THAT GIVE BACK During this holiday season, here are a few sustainable and ethical items that would be a perfect addition to anyones christmas list.

NEED

WANT

WEAR

PHOTO | GIFTS FOR GOOD PHOTO | MADE TRADE

Snuggle Waffle Linen Bathrobe

Get Together Duo Bluetooth Speakers

PHOTO | MADE TRADE

Swirl Necklace

PRICE: $190

PRICE: $65

DESCRIPTION: Created by a women-owned company out of sustainable and vegan materials. Made out of a linen and cotten blend.

DESCRIPTION: Crafted with natural bamboo, eco-friendly REWIND® fabric and REGRIND™ silicone, recyclable aluminum and delivered in 100% recyclable packaging. Each purchase plants a tree.

DESCRIPTION: Handcrafted out of 100% Brass and Sterling Silver by fair wage master craftsman in Nepal.

PRACTICAL

WRITE

PRICE: $62

FAMILY

PHOTO| HUGER MUGER

Para Rubber Yoga Mat

PRICE: $25 DESCRIPTION: This mat is composed of natural, sustainable rubber which comes from non-Amazon sources. The Para Rubber Mat features two sides with two different grippy textures.

PHOTO | UNDER THE CANOPY PHOTO| INTELLIGENT CHANGE

FIVE MINUTE JOURNAL PRICE: $29 DESCRIPTION: A 100% plastic-free, fully recyclable, and compostable that is FSC certified and bound in 100% natural fabric.

Organic Everyday Towel PRICE: $4-$54 DESCRIPTION: A towel with 100% organic cotton, grown and woven in India. These towels are vegan and no harsh chemicals are used in the production process.

DECEMBER 2024 | 13

cover story

Hearts larger than the world The holidays are typically considered a time of joy and comfort spent with those we love, but not everyone in Kansas City has this luxury.

BY REPORTERS MARYKATE LILLIS & RILEY PINTADO DESIGN BY COPY EDITOR AMELIA BEDELL PHOTO | AMELIA BEDELL

W

hen we think of the holidays we typically think of ornaments hanging from light-strung Christmas trees and tables full of food and laughter. Most of all, we reminisce on the quality time spent with family and friends. What we fail to remember is how the holidays are viewed through the eyes of every single human being in Kansas City. Everybody’s holidays look a little bit different, and every difference possesses a story that deserves to be told.

Loneliness is an epidemic that has spiked specifically during the holiday season. According to Texas Health Resources, 55% of Americans experience holiday loneliness. Organizations like Uplift and The Veterans Community Project work to decrease this percentage specifically during the holidays, and bring Christmas cheer to the community of Kansas City.

Lifting Spirits

Ucompletely by volunteers. They mainly work as a plift is a local non-profit organization run

mobile street outreach program for the homeless in Kansas City. Their mission is to “acknowledge God’s providence and fidelity to his people, especially those in poverty, and dedicate their efforts towards the support of those who are homeless.”

“The first time I went and served there I genuinely fell in love,” sophomore Maddie Westmeyer’s father Jeff Westmeyer said. “I remember thinking, ‘Wow, this is it, God has called me my whole life to do this and this is where I am supposed to be.’”

Jeff Westmeyer has been driving for Uplift for the last six years after being introduced to the organization by a family friend. Three nights a week, volunteers load up four sprinter vans packed with essentials like food, clothes, hygiene products and more.

“My dad is very involved with Uplift, and last Christmas he told us we would be sponsoring a Christmas for a family and delivering it to their house,” Maddie Westmeyer said. “I think what made it the most impactful was my Dad’s bond with the person that we hosted.”

Uplift is designed to be a hands-on service

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experience. By directly interacting with every human being they serve, volunteers and drivers get to connect and build relationships with the homeless population/people they serve.

“You can really connect with the people you are serving because you are right there looking them in the eye and giving them food,” Jeff Westmeyer said.

“I have made many friendships, and sometimes I find myself just driving downtown and visiting them on my own to continue those relationships.”

One relationship in particular took Jeff Westmeyer by surprise, eventually leading him to sponsoring the family’s Christmas.

“I built a friendship with a young man named Eric, and I told Eric that we would deliver a Christmas to all his friends and his girlfriend and even his dogs,” Jeff Westmeyer said.

On Christmas Eve of 2023, in the midst of a bitter cold, the Westmeyers packed up their car and met Eric and his family where they were staying underneath a bridge in downtown Kansas City.

“I think [my dad] saw himself in Eric, like the fact that he also grew up in St. Louis, and was super ambitious and young and successful,” Maddie Westmeyer said. “Drugs completely changed Eric’s life. He went from being a J. Crew model to living on the streets with basically nothing and no one.”

Jeff Westmeyer knew that Eric was different from anyone else he had served, there was something more than just a unique connection between them.

“Eric was different, he reminded me a lot of myself when I was younger. When I served him for the first time I saw myself in him,” Jeff Westmeyer said. “He was very lost. I don’t know what made our connection unique, but I think sometimes God brings two very unexpected people together for a reason.”

Jeff Westmeyer’s goal in hosting a Christmas for Eric was not only to help his friend, but to help his daughters build a new lens with which to view the holiday season.

“My goal for them was to build empathy, to understand that life isn’t about serving ourselves but serving others,” Jeff Westmeyer said. “It was an impactful day that left our family with a different perspective on the holidays.”

Maddie Westmeyer had experience riding in the

cover story

DECEMBER 2024 | 15

cover story

How can you serve your community?

1. volunteer at local organizations Channel your hobbies or passions into helping others. Finding a local organization that can help you use your talents for good is a great way to spend some free time and support your community.

2. donate to charities whenever possible Remember, you don’t just have to donate money. Donate gently used, unwanted or unneeded clothes and household items to shelters and donation centers across Kansas City.

3. share your knowledge with others Use your own experiences to mentor others. Sharing your wisdom through anything from tutoring to coaching can make an impact on other community members.

4. Be an advocate for change and stick up for your beliefs Let your passions drive change in the community, and fight for what you believe in. Serving your community includes standing up for its improvement.

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Uplift vans with her dad, but never met Eric face to face in his own home. The experience she had on Christmas Eve had a major impact on her outlook of the holidays, forcing her to look at things from a broader point of view.

“All I can remember from that day is that on the way to Eric’s I was in such a bad mood. I didn’t want to go out in the cold, especially on Christmas Eve,” Maddie Westmeyer said. “But on the way back all I could think about is how I never thought about what other people’s Christmases may look like compared to mine. It didn’t make me ‘grateful’ or ‘more appreciative,’ it just gave me a massive perspective shift. There are so many other people who are living in this world besides me.”

Although serving through Uplift has touched the Westmeyers’ life, it has also had a significant impact on other families in the community. Sion graduates Catherine and Anna Frecker’s mother Nikki Frecker also serve through Uplift.

“Uplift is unique in the experience of the people who volunteer and also the people you are serving,” Frecker said.

“Everyone is there to dedicate their night to not themselves but to others. They are there to put other people above themselves and see God in the face of those they are serving.”

Uplift has been able to offer many people the chance to connect with the people they serve or the people who are serving them and better understand the purpose of serving in the first place, as can be seen in Frecker’s and the Westmeyers’ stories.

“The holidays are a time that is so exciting for some people but so lonely for others,” Frecker said. “I think Uplift provides the opportunity to look the person you’re serving in the eyes and to let them know that they are not alone.”

Holidays For those who served

LUplift, there are many other people in this world who

ike the people the Westmeyers and Freckers served through

experience loneliness during the holidays. For example, veterans, used to being surrounded by peers, can feel incredibly alone during the holidays.

The Veterans Community Project (VCP) recognizes these former soldiers and actively works to provide them with the kinship they otherwise would not be able to experience during the holiday season. Co-founded in 2015 by a group of four veterans who served in various branches of the military, VCP is a village of tiny homes established in Kansas City that provides former soldiers not only a stable environment to reside in but also an in-depth support system that allows homeless veterans an opportunity to get back on their feet at their own pace.

“We actually started VCP for the simple fact that we wanted to do more for veterans,” VCP co-founder Brandonn Mixon said.

“No matter what they’ve been through or what they’re going through right now, we have their back. I felt compelled as a former soldier and Christian to go on the streets and say ‘I’m done leaving my brothers and sisters behind, no matter what, I’ll have your back, so let’s figure this out.’”

There are many reasons why a person would choose to join the military. Whether it be for the education benefits, financial stability, carrying on a family tradition or just simple patriotism, the decision to serve this country is never taken lightly. However, the sad reality of many military recruits is that most future soldiers enlist because they have no money, no family and nowhere else to call home.

“Truthfully, I was actually homeless my junior and senior year,” Mixon said. “I needed a way to make ends meet, but I was also looking for that brother and sisterhood the military provided as I didn’t have any other family.”

Three Sion seniors Lily Krumm, Elizabeth Vance and Emerson Kraus recognize veterans’ struggles. They are working to incorporate another veterans’ organization, St. Michaels Veteran Center, into their project for the Designing Real World Impacts class, a senior-level semester-long class where students collaborate on creating solutions to pressing issues in

cover story the community.

“There are 11 students in this specialized class and at the beginning we wrote out a bunch of problems in the Kansas City community like homelessness, childcare and lack of education,” Krumm said. “Me and my small group decided we wanted to work with veterans while also doing something to promote better mental health. I had a cousin named Cody who was a veteran and took his own life a year ago, so it is important to me.”

According to the National Institutes of Health, Veterans are more likely than civilians to face social isolation, which can lead to depression and sickness. This is largely due to the post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety and depression many former soldiers face due to the loss of comrades or combat they may have experienced.

Furthermore, the social adjustment to a less structured environment can cause difficulties in finding a job that aligns with their experience and transitioning into regular social norms. Additionally, most veterans will undergo an identity crisis after losing the feeling of belonging they experienced while being in the military. Many also suffer from physical health issues such as chronic pain from injuries sustained during service, hearing loss and exposure to toxins which can affect their long term health. Vance also had a grandfather

“

the holidays are such a hard time for veterans and i am really hoping that this will be a positive change” Lily Krumm ‘25

who experienced PTSD and passed away after serving in the military. The small group worked to diminish this pressing issue and create a website as a reflection guide for veterans.

“We found St. Michael’s Veteran Center because some students had gone there for service projects. We met with the people who worked there and kind of told them who we were and what we were doing and they had a bunch of ideas for us,” Vance said. “We landed on helping them with a website that would serve as a ‘reflection guide’ for a memorial

garden that they’re working on. The reflection guide has testimonies from veterans who are residents at SMVC. They also have reflection questions and poems written by veterans.”

The small group is hoping that this website will decrease the factors that play a role in the strained family relationships some military families experience due to withdrawal from a veteran. The worry the family members have for the former soldier can also drive rifts in the family dynamic. The high stress from these situations and the need to escape the pain of the horrors that these brave men and women have faced often lead to substance abuse, which in turn leads to not only high divorce rates in the veteran community, but also veteran homelessness.

“We hope this website benefits the Kansas City community,” Krumm said. “The holidays are such a hard time for veterans, and I am really hoping that this will be a positive change.”

At VCP, case managers work closely with each resident to help them make lasting improvements in areas like health, education, employment, financial stability and building a support network. When the veteran is ready, VCP assists in finding a long-term housing solution, such as a market-rate rental, homeownership, or subsidized housing. In addition to taking everything in their tiny house, veterans also continue to receive ongoing support from the Village as they transition to their new living situation.

“Most people don’t know this but a discharge status of any kind means you don’t qualify for certain benefits once you leave the military. As someone who struggled after being medically discharged after being injured in Afghanistan, I wanted to make sure my fellow brothers and sisters have everything they need,” Mixon said. “Obviously we have different residents battling everything from sexual trauma, abuse, to drug and alcohol addiction. Here at our program we try to come together around the one common feeling of love and compassion we feel for each other. Most residents here aren’t healing for themselves, they’re healing for their battle buddy in the house right next door.”

Each story gives a different perspective on the holiday season. The Sion community has worked to shine light on those perspectives like the Westmeyers giving their Christmas to Uplift, or the Designing Real World Impacts group working to help veterans struggling with loneliness during the holiday season. It can be difficult to truly understand the hurt and struggle another person is experiencing during the holiday season. The Westmeyers and the Designing Real World Impacts group serve as a great example of what the holidays should really mean, not only opening up our hearts to our own communities, but also to all those in the world who may TADO Y PIN be struggling. | RILE O PHOT

DECEMBER 2024 | 17

EDITORIAL

Thank You...

In our busy worlds, it’s easy to forget how much certain people have meant to us. We’ve asked each member of our staff to reflect on someone who has made an impact in their lives.

DESIGN BY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF CAROLINE DEACON

Iand I am so grateful to have had them to help me ’ve known my two best friends for 2/3 of my life

Mof my life. I hold fond memories of summer days

rs. Priest lived behind our house for the first 10 years

through everything in life. Meaning all the happy and sad moments and every school year from kindergarten to now. I got even closer with them in middle school and it’s been one of the best things to happen to me my whole life. They are so sweet and kind but most of all goofy and I love spending time with them even if it’s once a month.

Walways wanted to be: curled in the comfy hen I was younger, there was a place I

chair of my school’s tiny library bathed by a certain beam of light. Looking back, I can’t begin to express my gratitude for that precious space carefully curated by my teacher, Ms. Brooks. I will always remember her smiling face as she brought me a cup of tea or surprised me with the next book in a series I was invested in. Her quiet kindness built me into who I am today and I will never forget her.

Fhave guessed that I would end our years ago, I never would

up at an all girls-school, and never in a million years would I even have expected to love it as much as I do. Sion has not only molded me into who I am today, but given me friendships and opportunities I never would have been given before. I love my little school.

running to her pale blue back porch for whatever treats she’d have waiting. Although she wasn’t a large part of my everyday life, she was a constant source of love for years.

Even though I took it for granted then, I’m forever grateful for the love she poured out to me. Her kind soul is one I will always treasure and aspire to emulate. Thank you and you are remembered with love.

Iaway from home and all of my friends in less than t’s starting to become real that I will be moving

a year. I’ve been dreaming of college since freshman year, and now that it’s almost here, I’m terrified.

Every day, I sit with some of my closest friends on the floor of the pub lab for lunch. We grab blankets and pillows and lean our backs up against the wall and talk. Everyday I get to do this with my friends.

Next year, we will be living all across the country.

It’s a privilege to be surrounded by the people I’ve spent the last four years of my life with, and I cherish every second I get with them, knowing that our time is limited.

Rconscience thank one person. From the breakup eflecting on this semester, I can not in good

M

y older sister Ashley has always been my builtin best friend. We spent almost every second together growing up, but we were complete opposites, and fought constantly. But as she and I grow into adulthood, and she moved away from home, it has brought us closer together. We have gotten closer through the distance and I cherish every moment I have with her.

I

’m so grateful for my parents. They have got me through my highs and lows and have always been there for me. They helped me reach my important milestones, first days of school, getting my incense, and many more things. My mom has always helped me stay organized when I am feeling like a mess, and my dad never fails to make me laugh. I have always looked up to them for guidance and I am forever thankful for them.

MI’ve ever wanted for years. At any y mom has given me everything

TYouth Group! I genuinely don’t his year I’m grateful for my

know how to put into words how much I love them. You guys are crazy sometimes, but you make my life so much more enjoyable.

Thank you for all the laughs and late-night discussions, and the after-youth group Chick-fil-A runs.

We have created so many memories together and I’m soaking up every last moment.

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moment I needed her she would come running, everytime I called she picked up. Growing up I thought everyone had a mom like mine, a mom that was always present, always smiling, and would drop everything to be there for me if I needed her. I appreciate my mom more the more I have grown, and I strive to be like her everyday.

baskets to hugs on a rough day, Sion has gifted me with my forever friends. My teachers have shown great love towards me and my education. None of this is possible without my INCREDIBLE parents who push me to try my best, and fund all of my life activities and schooling. Lastly, my little sister who I couldn’t walk through life without. I love you all!

MEven though I don’t say it nearly enough, you don’t om, you might be the strongest woman I know.

know how much Jackson, Cameron and I appreciate everything you do for us. Nobody ever said raising three kids all by yourself was easy, yet you face every challenge head on, and that’s something I’ve always admired about you. You know everything about us, and you make us feel seen. Everyday I see how you positively impact the lives of every person around you, and it makes me want to be a better person too. You are so hard-working, dedicated, funny, and smart. I consider it a compliment anytime someone says I act just like my mom. As a family we have been through so much together, so thank you for always being there for us and for continually making a bad situation seem a little more bearable.

Ibecause as I’ve gotten older, I’ve ’m thankful for my parents

started to realize how great they’ve done raising me and my brother.

My mom has always taught us to be kind and honest, and my dad has emphasized the importance of knowledge. They’re both great parents, and I’m thankful to have them in my life.

feature

A story about how sophomore Maria Carson is able to spend time with her family and make irreplaceble memories.

BY REPORTER NORA GEDNEY

S

ophomore Maria Carson comes from a big family, and spending time together is very important in their household. During the holidays, about 100 of Carson’s family members will get together to share memories, eat good food and give gifts.

Food is an important aspect of the holidays in Carson’s family. One of the family’s staple dishes is “mole,” a spicy chocolate sauce made with ancho chile peppers. The mole recipe in Carson’s family has been passed down all the way from her great grandma, and the family has a whole tin of recipes from her that they continue to use. For the holidays, the family will usually have ham or turkey, plus lots of side dishes. The preparation for this food starts a week before, where the family will ground up Mexican chocolate for the mole sauce. Then about three days before the celebration, they will prepare the rest of the food.

“The morning of,we wake up and drive down to my aunt’s house, and get everything out into these humongous crock pots,” Carson said.

Since Carson is one of 32 cousins, she has a lot of people to spend time with. One of their traditions is to have anyone who is under the age of eighteen sing Christmas carols for the rest of the family. This tradition helps bring everyone together.

“I just love the family time that I get,” Carson said.

Merry Maria Some of Carson’s family will come visit for the holidays from out of town as well. Maria describes her family in generations, with the first generation having 32 people in it.

“I’m a first generation, and my oldest cousin is going to be sixty this year,” Carson said.

Since her mom is the youngest child, most of her first cousins are much older than her. Her first generation cousins are more like her aunts and uncles since they are so much older than her. The second generation is the kids she grew up with cause they are more her age range.

“Madeline Bridges, who’s a freshman here, is my cousin. Her mom’s my first cousin,” Carson said. “And so her mom, I call aunt because I grew up with Madeline.”

There is also a third generation of cousins, but most of them are much younger so there are only about four of them. All of these cousins and family members can make for big family gatherings, and it can get a little crowded.

“We had a reunion at Saint Teresa’s a couple years ago.

People flew in from Mexico,” Carson said. “That was my grandpa’s side, so it was my grandpa and all of his siblings and their kids and it was a lot. We filled up that gym.”

She also describes the holiday experience. It can get very crowded with all of the family so there isn’t really a seating chart. People will sit anywhere: outside, on the floor, at the table.

“You get up, someone takes your chair,” Carson said. “We have a motto: ‘you move your meat, you lose your seat.’”

In Carson’s family, everyone has a role on Christmas Eve, which mostly depends on a person’s age.

“The first cousins, the older first cousins, do the dishes. I’m in charge of watching the little ones, and then the kids sing Christmas songs on the stairs,” Carson said.

Although there is a lot of preparation and planning involved, Carson loves the holidays because she gets to see family that she hasn’t seen in a while and cherish these moments with them.

“The kids all sit around the table and they are so cute together because they don’t see each other a lot around the year because some of them live further away,” Carson said. “And so, just seeing them talk to each other is the cutest thing ever.”

PHOTOS SUBMITTED | MARIA CARSON

DECEMBER 2024 | 19

OPINION

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Disclaimer to Those on Santa’s Good List: if you continue to read this story it automatically gets you on the naughty list, so close the magazine now.

BY LAUREN HAGGERTY REPORTER

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hile many people find Santa to be the magic of Looking back on my “traumatic” experience of Christmas, it often gets forgotten what Santa finding out Santa isn’t real, I mainly wish I had found out truly symbolizes. Originally, Santa was meant from a parent, because everything comes better when to symbolize gift-giving with no expectation it’s heard from your mom or dad. There are many ways of something in return, but now it has shifted to the that parents can word things that make the news easier mindset that Santa is Christmas. to bear and still preserve the magic.

Every family has a different version of Santa For younger children, a way of approaching this topic because each household has different traditions, funds that would lead towards the truth, but not fully reveal it, and beliefs. The issue with this,is when one family’s is to say that there are multiple “mini” Santas around Christmas looks like 50 presents and another family has the world who assign mommies and daddies to get gifts ten, it can make kids question things such as if Santa for the kids. This way, the kids know that the gifts are hates them. carefully chosen by their parents and they also think it’s While Santa is extremely exciting and magical, he cool that their parents are “helping” Santa. can be very confusing for children. This is especially true Parents don’t get enough credit for Christmas. when they start to question They put in their hard-earned him and find out he is not real. money, time and planning and I remember I was completely do not get a single bit of credit heartbroken because I believed for it. This idea gives them that Christmas would never be recognition, while still not fully the same without Santa. dismissing the idea of Santa.

Children often view Santa Another idea for if the kids as an anchor for the holiday are a little older is explaining season, and even as traditions that Santa is really a man change under certain roofs named Nicholas who made for various reasons such as it his mission to deliver gifts family struggle and financial to others during the holiday instability, they can find comfort season. Then explain that as in knowing Santa always shows parents it’s their responsibility up. With no anchor, all that’s to keep this tradition going.

PHOTO | PEXELS left is confusion. It also hurts This ideology focuses on the children who are in unstable financial the main purpose of Santa that has gotten so households and only have Santa’s lost through generations. It also focuses on the idea of arrival occasionally. community and giving back.

For me and many children, there is an attachment Additionally, I love the idea of Santa only doing to Santa because it’s hard to face the fear of growing children’s stockings so parents get credit for gifts while up. Santa represents a safe place to dream and imagine, children also still get to experience the excitement of and losing that causes a sense of grief that kids aren’t his arrival and of seeing what he brought. This adds equipped for. to the idea that parents are the ones who should I found out Santa wasn’t real when my cousins get acknowledgment for intricately selecting each trapped me in the basement and had an “interrogation”. child’s items.

They asked me about my naive beliefs and what I No matter how holidays are done, it is important thought about Santa and Elf on the Shelves knowing that to shift the idea of Santa from imaginary to logical in I believed in every ounce of the magic both those figures a considerate and productive way. Parents can always held. They then revealed the truth, which I was not ready frame Santa as a symbol for holiday spirit and giving to comprehend or accept, yet I had no choice in the back to others. matter.

20 | LE JOURNAL

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SANTA COMES CLEAN Every kid has to come to the realization that Santa isn’t real, but that shouldn’t take away all the memories they had back. while they still believed.

BY REPORTER EVELYN CRAMER

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She would also leave tracks on the floor with powdered sugar to make it seem as though reindeer had walked into their house.

The biggest thing she did, though, was on Christmas Day, when she would have a scavenger hunt for Bahora and her brother to find their biggest present.

“I remember one year, my brother and I made it a competition. Who could find our present first?” Bahora said. “So my mom would leave notes and be like, ‘Where do you eat dinner?’

And we’d run to the kitchen table and find the next note. It’d be like, ‘Where do you wash your clothes?’

So we just ran around the house finding all the hints and then we found our big present.”

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arents are the behindthe-scenes workers every year starting on Dec. 1 all the way until 3 a.m. on Christmas Day when putting all the presents under the tree and filling the stockings up to the top.

Many parents go the extra mile to make each Christmas morning as memorable as the last before their kids eventually discover the truth and these moments can no longer be replicated.

Senior Emily Bahora’s Mom is an example of going all out for Christmas.

Leading up to Christmas, she would elaborately make their Elves on the Shelves do crazy things like leaving them out on the front porch as if Santa dropped them off or having them fly in on balloons.

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The devastating truth

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he realization that Santa isn’t real can be one of the most traumatizing ideas to encounter. There are many events that can lead to that realization of the truth.

Le Journal sent out a poll to students and 51 responded to the question “How did you find out Santa wasn’t real?” The three most common answers, with 10 respondents each, were that they discovered it through some sort of proof like handwriting or wrapping paper matching their parents, a classmate or friend told them or their parents told them.

Another big reason given by eight people was that they eventually just stopping believing.

Four people also reported their siblings telling them. It’s always sad to find out the truth about Santa because it’s a part of your early childhood. It’s a lot harder to see Christmas from the perspective of a believer once you know the reality. While learning the truth can be devestating, what's even sadder is not believing in Santa to start. Three of the 51 that responded said that they never believed and that their parents never started the tradition.

“I think it’s a good story for the kids to believe in. It’s good, something to look forward to, and it’s fun,” said Bahora. “The best way to find out is your parents telling you because it’s kind of harsh when your siblings or friend tell you or you find out by accident. Being straight up is good.”

Different people find out at different times in their life. Some people find out when they’re in second grade and others in eigth. How and when you find out makes a big difference in how well you deal with it. Freshman Molly Roudebush looked it up one day and ended up staying home from school the next day while her mom explained it all to her. Sophomore Brooke Stewart was told by a kid in her class who blurted his newly found knowledge to the entire class including her.

“I asked my mom if she asked her parents whether or not Santa was real,” senior Becca Houlehan said. “She printed out a letter she found on the internet and put it on my bed the next day. It explained that while Santa wasn't a big fat old man, Santa was the magical feeling that you get on Christmas morning and the joy that you feel with your family.”

DECEMBER 2024 | 21

opinion opinion

All Ye Ye Faithful Faithful All

BY ELLA SATTERWHITE MANAGING EDITOR

Christmas, originally a deeply religious holiday, has lost much of its meaning and turned into a holiday without a clear cause.

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hristmas is having an identity crisis.

When you picture the days around Christmas, what comes to mind? For many, the imagery associated with Christmas is piles of presents under a green tree and strings of bright lights on rooftops.

The Nativity scene can get lost behind a jolly fat man in a red suit.

Even for those who maintain a religious connection with the holiday, the religious meaning of Christmas can feel separated from opening presents and leaving out milk and cookies for Santa.

“It’s kind of split because there’s the obvious element of Jesus, but I feel like it’s more of a gift-giving holiday,” senior Elwyn Patterson said.

“There’s the kind of Christmas you hear at church, and that is not always the kind of Christmas the actual celebration feels like. As a kid, I was not excited for Jesus’s birthday. I was excited to get presents from Santa.”

Santa and his elves at the North Pole are just one tradition that makes the holidays seem more gift-giving in nature. Carols about snowmen and cozy fires, hanging houselights while balancing on ladders, taking out trees and choosing sparkly ornaments, cooking lavish food and watching giftwrapping tutorials all come together to compete with the intended values of the season.

“In the liturgical calendar, we have four weeks of Advent leading up to Christmas, and Christmas doesn’t actually start until Dec. 25,” campus

minister Maria Milazzo said. “So if we are talking about decorations, when do those come up? It is more traditional to wait to put up a Christmas tree until right before Christmas Day to honor the meaning of the season, but Christmas decorations are out in July. We totally skip over Advent, this expectant waiting and longing. And then we’re almost done with Christmas when Christmas gets here and we lose its meaning. It becomes more of a marketing thing, consumption as opposed to its faith-filled meaning.”

Christmas has long been criticized as a holiday of excess and overconsumption. As Santa lore and making sure you get the “perfect gift” for mom drains the holiday further of religious meaning, this reputation becomes more and more alarming.

When the only symbolism of Christmas is presents, overconsumption becomes the concept being celebrated.

“We just lose sight of its original roots. It becomes stressful as opposed to the spiritual goodness of what it’s supposed to do,” Milazzo said. “I know people after the holidays are glad that it’s over because they were stressed out. And it’s sad. We should have been enjoying it because it should be this beautiful season of waiting. And what does it mean to really wait, as opposed to running around and going store to store to buy gifts?”

Christmas has overdeveloped into an identity outside of its Christian origin, leaving its meaning muddled with consumerism.

“It just feels so American in a really weird way, like very CocaCola Santa. Images of Santa were popularized in advertisements,” Patterson said. “It’s a gift-giving holiday, but in your mind, it’s a receiving holiday, which feels kind of distant from either meaning of what the holiday should be.”

Regardless of your Christmas traditions, this year, take some intentional time to consider what it is you are celebrating.

When you buy or receive gifts, reflect on what you value and how you can promote these values through your festivities.

Do you have a passion for the environment? Emphasize sustainability in your gift-giving.

Do you not see your family very often? Take extra time to hang out and catch up with all the people you don’t see all the time and emphasize giving time instead of stuff.

Are you celebrating the birth of Jesus? Incorporate your faith beyond Mass and into your other activities.

“If there’s a tradition that’s meaningful to you, don’t change it.

But I feel like making the holiday mean more to more people, rather than just, ‘I’m going to get gifts from Santa,’ is important,” Patterson said. “Focus on just being with your loved ones, giving your time, using it as an opportunity to be in your community, or even go out to a social event, meet new people in your neighborhood. I feel like that could be a way to honor the charitable spirit of the holiday.”

PHOTO | ELLA SATTERWHITE

22 | LE JOURNAL

news feature

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and Light

BY RILEY PINTADO REPORTER

This year Hanukkah and Christmas happen to fall on the same day, reminding us how multiple traditions also celebrate during this season.

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s a uniquely interfaithful Catholic school, Sion offers many enriching classes in which we are able to learn about other religious traditions.

Hanukkah, which is Judaism’s festival of lights, has been celebrated since the early 2nd Century B.C., and commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem after a group of Jewish fighters liberated it from foreign occupiers.

Although Hanukkah is not considered one of the Jewish High Holy Days like Rosh Hashanna or Yom Kippur, the eight day celebration still holds momentous meaning to those who celebrate as it is a time for family, food and almsgiving.

“For me personally, Hanukkah is a time of remembrance and solidarity,” senior Maddie Patt said. “The season feels very peaceful because you are able to reflect on the lives of your ancestors as you spend time with your family and give back to the community.”

Traditionally celebrated by lighting the menorah, Hanukkah emphasizes the theme of bringing light into the darkness and the idea that even a small effort can have transforming effects. The lit menorah is generally kept in the windowsill or anywhere visible from the outside of the house to further demonstrate the spreading of God’s light to all nations. In addition to this, Jewish people are called

by God to make the world a better place through social work and donating to charity.

Other ways Hanukkah is traditionally celebrated includes Reading scripture, eating fried foods such as latkes, chanting blessings, giving gifts, playing dreidel, and singing songs. Hanukkah begins on

the 25th day of Kislev, which is the ninth month of the Hebrew calendar. This year that happens to fall on the same day as Christmas.

“Latkes are so delicious, they are similar to a fried potato pancake and people tend to have different toppings they use while eating them,” senior Greta Grossman said. “It’s a custom to eat foods fried in oil because of the original Hanukkah story. Our temples were being ransacked, and the only light our people had was an oil lamp above the Torah.

Miraculously the oil lasted for eight days, which is also why we celebrate Hanukkah for eight days.”

Despite being one of the more well known Jewish holidays, Grossman explains that because Hanukkah is not one of the major High Holy days it is not required by Judaic law to attend synagogue. Therefore Hanukkah is a more family focused holiday, where members of the Jewish faith try to spend quality time at home with loved ones.

“I feel as though our community comes together for our more major holidays like Rosh Hashannah and Yom Kippur,” Grossman said. ”During the High Holy Days I cannot describe the feeling I get from watching the community come together.

I love going to the synagogue during this time, listening to the canters and spending time with my dad feels like bliss. The prayers we say are close to 4,000 years old, and that’s really powerful to me.

Overall, it brings me closer to my family and my culture.”

According to the Anti-Defamation League, despite making up only two percent of the total population, hate

crimes against Jewish people make up 15 percent of all hate crimes nationwide, and 68 percent of reported religious based hate crimes. Even though the holiday season is supposed to be a time of peace and celebration for the Jewish people, anti semitic attacks are unfortunately expected to rise during Hanukkah “Fortunately, here at Sion I have been able to further embrace my faith, But I still like spreading awareness on antisemitism whenever I can. In modern day, most anti-semitism is media based, where people vilify the Jewsish community by spreading conspiracy theories. This is why it is important for us to combat those beliefs by teaching people the truth, as education is the key to battling ignorance,” Grossman said. “The threat is very real, especially after the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting. Even at my own synagogue we were granted money from the government to implement more security. I think for all Jewish people, there is always this underlying fear as anti-semitism always feels heavy during the holidays.”

In the face of oppression and antisemitism, the Jewish community has still managed to come together.

“The most rewarding part about embracing my faith, especially during the holiday season, is the bond you feel with your community,” Grossman said. “It’s one of those things where I can see a person wearing something traditionally jewish walking down the street, tell them I like their outfit, and even though we do not know each other, we know we’re both in this together.”

December 2024 | 23

feature feature

the gift of food Sion students explain their family recipes and holiday traditions.

BY BRIDGET BENDORF WEB EDITOR IN CHIEF

maeve glennon’s Chocolate Cake

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ach year, senior Maeve Glennon makes a twolayer chocolate cake for her family on Christmas.

Glennon got the recipe online and

makes it year-round, but it’s really special to her because it brings her closer together with her family.

“I’ve had this recipe for a really

long time and I’m just constantly making it,” Glennon said. “I kind of perfected it, I love the way when people try it and taste my cake their face lights up.”

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claire steiner’s Buckeyes

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ophomore Claire Steiner’s family makes “Buckeyes,” peanut butter fudge balls dipped in chocolate, each year to celebrate Christmas. Steiner’s family cherishes this recipe because of their shared love for peanut

butter and chocolate, and have been making them every year since she and her brothers were born.“Our family, especially on my dad’s side, loves chocolate and peanut butter so we just combined the two together and took a

little inspiration from my grandma’s recipes and made it,” Steiner said.

“My favorite part about this recipe is the tradition of making it with my family. It is such an easy thing to make but it has made so many memories in my family.”

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lily schultz’s Santa’s Buttons

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reshman Lily Shultz’s family makes their family’s “Santa’s Buttons” cookies every year to celebrate christmas. The cookies are made of pretzels topped with a hershey

PHOTO SUBMITTED | LILY SHULTZ

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kiss and an m&m. Shultz and her family have made them every year since she was a baby, and found the recipe online. “This tradition just kept going since we first made them when I was little,” Shultz

said. “I love placing the m and m’s on the hershey kisses when they come out of the oven. I also love laughing and smiling with my grandma when we make these.”

christmas in a community

opinion

Christmas looks different for everyone and the ability to see family is a luxury for some.

Residents of retirement homes have a different experience of Christmas than many.

BY ADDIE DOYLE PRINT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

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ime with loved ones is a predominant aspect of the holidays for many people around the U.S. Gatherings are packed with relatives, friends and food. Celebrations may look different for every family, but the enjoyment of being surrounded by loved ones is rather persistent. But what about those who have transitioned into a community of elderly living? What does their Christmas look like?

Brookdale Senior Living is spatially close to our school and emotionally close to my family. I vividly remember visiting the event space to celebrate holidays or talking to residents. The common room was always filled with Christmas music, seasonal dishes, and smiling people during parties.

“We visited probably three times a week and tried to go to as many of the events as we could,” my grandmother Kate Super said. “You could tell, especially around the holidays, that having kids running around or family members visiting uplifted the whole community.”

When an older woman approached my nana Rose Super and said, “You are so blessed to have family surrounding you for the holidays.” I realized how special having visitors is for the community and how it is common for elderly family members to feel lonely that day and sometimes reminisce on what it looked like in previous years. For those who can, leaving the building to go back to the comfort of a home can sometimes be a solution for any loneliness that holidays could bring.

“We take my great grandparents to a family member’s house for Christmas breakfast or dinner,” freshman Lily Bellasai said. “They go back after we celebrate, but it’s a chance for them to come see us.”

Many kids move their parents

into assisted living due to a decrease in mobility or ability to live on their own in general. This can mean leaving to see family members may not be an option.

Staff members work to plan events for anyone living in the community who may not have plans around Christmas. They organize holiday concerts, gift exchanges and anything festive for everyone to engage in.

“All of the people who work at my grandpa’s retirement home are really nice,” sophomore Sophia Roberts said.

“They really try to engage the residents even though that’s a struggle for some.”

Christmas decorations around living spaces are another way to cheer people up. My family and I would go around my nana’s floor, dropping off decorations at each doorstep to brighten up each

person’s room. As we made our way to her room, we got to see how residents would use our decorations, and some even came up to thank us because it made the holidays feel more like home.

“Sometimes we go up to visit instead of bringing him to our house,” Roberts said. “They host Christmas parties for the residents and even put up some festive decorations. We also brought up a Christmas tree for his room this year.”

People walk through their houses and don’t realize the impact of having a tree lit or a garland trimming a fireplace. It gives a homey feeling and declares that the holiday season has arrived. If anything, festive decor is something to break the redundancy in one’s routine and be a reminder of Christmas to come.

“A mundane floor transforming into one lit with bright lights and wreaths can really bring the mood up,” Super said. “It means a lot for the whole community to be surrounded by ‘happy’ things to help combat lonely or depressive feelings that may come about.”

I also remember walking in one day to find a man playing the piano at the entrance while another resident sang a carol to a crowd of fellow residents. This sight instantly brought back memories of other special activities I had attended in the past, and it was heartwarming to see the joy these continued to bring. Even though their Christmas looks slightly different than others, those in retirement homes have a large community to bring love and support.

“A lot of people would get upset from time to time. It’s frustrating to lose the comfort of home or the lifestyle you had your whole life,” Super said. “It is really beautiful to see the community watch holiday movies or celebrate together. Even if some can’t see loved ones or have a traditional Christmas, the community brings cheer and love.”

DECEMBER 2024 | 25

opinion

Alone for the Holidays

The holidays have their ups and downs for everyone, and it’s important to remember that the joyous holiday spirit may be difficult to find some years.

BY REPORTER GRETA MARTIN

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he holiday season is filled to the brim with positivity and cheer. It’s infectious to everyone, it seems, except you. This year, you couldn’t bring yourself to turn on the Christmas music.

You let your family pick out the Christmas tree without you, and instead of going gift shopping with your friends, you made up an excuse to stay home. You wonder what’s wrong with you, that “the most wonderful time of the year” has turned into a dreaded season of bitter weather and loneliness.

The joy and wonder of the holidays can lose their luster as we get older. The season once defined by letters to Santa and the Elf on the Shelf becomes one with jam-packed schedules, crazy inlaws and financial troubles. It can be hard to muster up that Christmas spirit when the season no longer holds that youthful magic. The reality for many people is that Christmas is stressful, and it’s not sugar plums and candy canes all the time.

Because family and friends gather to celebrate, it’s natural to think that loneliness decreases during the holiday season, but unfortunately, that isn’t the case. The that simply being around others is the way to feel companionship and belonging is a misconception. The feeling of loneliness is exacerbated around the holidays because people don’t feel understood or wanted by their loved ones. In a picture-perfect world, a family is supposed to be a tight-knit unit with unconditional love and respect for one another, but in reality, this isn’t the case for most.

Families are messy, and when they all gather in one place, it can lead to discord. Passive aggressive comments from one family member or arguing with another causes people to feel misunderstood or like an outcast amongst their loved ones. This leads to feelings of isolation, particularly for teens and young adults. There is often distance between them and their parents, simply because as high schoolers and college students, they are growing up and finding themselves, and they are doing it without constant parental guidance. It is the natural process of the world, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t hard, and it can put strain on parent-child relationships. Spending so much time with your family over holiday breaks often highlights this reality and it can cause both parent and child to feel alone.

26 | LE JOURNAL

Additionally, everyone experiences the loss of a loved one and often the holidays bring back memories and provide time to think about the people who’ve passed. Dealing with the grief while surrounded by jingle bells and Santa Claus can be especially isolating. Everyone is feeling the joy and cheer of the season and you are just remembering that you will never spend another Christmas with that person. People are in such high spirits that you don’t want to bring down the energy with your grief. This leaves people feeling like they are alone in their sorrow, but in reality, the majority of people are also missing someone a little extra during the holidays.

There are a lot of reasons the holidays can be hard, and it’s important to remember not everyone wants Christmas spirit crammed down their throats. Remembering to be empathetic to everyone, no matter their current mood on the holidays is crucial to helping people feel less alone. Tis the season of giving, and sometimes all someone needs is a space to be sad. To be appreciated. To be loved.

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very year, Sion’s Grand and Petite Choer travel across the busy Wornall Road to Brookdale Senior Living to sing Christmas carols to the residents.

“We go to retirement or nursing homes, and people who live in those communities crave interaction, especially with people who are younger, and Christmas carols are such a great way to find a commonality with people,” Director of Visual & Performing Arts Elizabeth Mulkey said. “Most people love Christmas songs. Even those who don’t celebrate Christmas as a religion tend to still come together with known Christmas

carols.”

The choir begins with one large showing and then breaks into groups and travels to the rooms of those who could not make it to the gathering.

“I think music can help emphasize the emotion you’re trying to get across in service,” sophomore Grand Chour member Finley Glennon said. “It’s really sweet seeing the old people because a lot of them aren’t able to go out and celebrate Christmas with their families anymore. So it’s nice being able to bring them that.”

O Sing Along Singing into her microphone, senior Aubrey Nichols plays a pop ballad on the piano during last year’s TriM recital Dec. 6, 2023.

All members of the club participate in recitals once a semester to benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities. “I love that we get to pick our own songs to perform at the concerts, whether it’s sung, played or both,” Nichols said. “It’s just such a fun environment to be around.”

PHOTO | CAROLINE HAMMET

Sion’s music club, TriM, holds biannual concerts to raise money for charities chosen by the club’s leaders.

BY MANAGING EDITOR ELLA SATTERWHITE DESIGN BY COPY EDITOR AMELIA BEDELL

n Dec. 11 at 6 p.m., Sion’s chapter of the Tri-M Music Honor Society will perform its 9th annual fall concert in the music room. The recital serves as an opportunity for students to demonstrate their skills and differs from other musical showcase in that the students pick their own songs.

“It kind of shows your self-expression,” junior Meredith Daly said. “A lot of people in TriM get to know you better based on your song choices and it also just shows your skill. So you can decide what skill level you’re going for. You can pick something incredibly easy, or incredibly hard.”

Additionally, the recital serves as a fundraiser for the Ronald McDonald House.

Money is raised through the $5 entry fee, voluntary donations, a song raffle and a bake sale.

“I have always, at all of my jobs, combined performing with service because it’s a nice pairing,” Director of Visual & Performing Arts Elizabeth Mulkey said. “When people come together as a community, music brings you together. And then you combine that with helping others, it’s just a natural fit.”

The recital is open to all students and parents willing to pay the admission fee.

All songs except those in the song raffle are performed solely by students without backing tracks. Songs in the song raffle, which allows audience members to buy tickets for the chance to select a song to be performed from a list of offerings, are generally more centered in pop culture and are sometimes performed with a backing track.

“We get to combine doing something that’s enjoyable for people to perform and people to watch while doing something productive with it,” TriM copresident Brooke Petro said. “Instead of just performing music for music’s sake, we’re also donating the money we get from it.”

Each year, the presidents of TriM choose the location they want to fundraise for. This allows personal

Many Merry Memories

news feature

good tidings Sion’s two choirs, Grand and Petit Choer, go Christmas caroling at a local senior living center every year

BY ELLA SATTERWHITE MANAGING EDITOR

connection to the cause the group raises money for.

“Me and my twin sister were born three months early unexpectedly in Florida,” TriM copresident Sophie Heidelmann said.

“We were very sick so we had to stay in the hospital for three months, and my parents stayed at the Ronald McDonald house. It was important for me to pick an organization that mattered to me for TriM, which is why Brooke and I chose the Ronald McDonald House.”

Beyond raising money through the recital, the entire TriM club goes to Ronald McDonald to serve the residents six times a year on weekends.

“We provided the food,” Petro said. “We went and bought food with our money that we raised, brought it there, and prepared, I think it was 50 meals so that the families there wouldn’t have to worry about getting food while going between doctor’s appointments and visiting their kids in the hospital.”

The trips help transform a purely practical fundraiser into direct contact with the marginalized.

“Being able to get money and help these families out with food, it’s really great to be able to go there and make everyone lunch, kind of see the smile on their faces,” Daly said.

Unusually, Ronald McDonald House has been picked by the leaders of TriM for the last three years. Regularly, a new service location is picked each year.

“Because they’ve done Ronald McDonald House for three years, you get a relationship going there,” Mulkey said.

“And then the other students who aren’t leading are more comfortable when they are leading if they’ve been to it before.”

This year, TriM is aiming to raise around $1,000 through their two concerts to fund the six trips to Ronald McDonald and encourages all students and parents to attend.

“I like the TriM recitals because they aren’t a lot of pressure. You can pick to do anything that you want, and you’re with your friends,” Heidelmann said.

“It’s important to support your peers.

It’s important to support your friends’ successes and talents, and it also is a good cause that raises money.”

DECEMBER 2024 | 27

TimelessTraditions

BY NORA GEDNEY Sion students share some of REPORTER

their favorite Christmas memories through photos.

ter, ger sis , youn ursing d a d my al n ur loc ing up ses “Grow uld go to o rbread hou o e ey w g h I in T d . g n a make living there t as we o t e n me hom erly excite ior he eld with t atching our ouses,” sen h w r d u e . o v lo said ated decor Tessa Lind

e nt to th ee nd I we a Tr y s il a m tm “My fa s Chris e in man P h d s in an ,” fre Pumpk r the holidays . id e a v s Farm o utman Grace L

“My friends and I had a whi I got the ga me Headban te elephant and ds but Paw themed. So Patrol , we went to Cul it together and had a gr vers and played eat time,” sa sophomore id Valeria Car ignan.

got d we the n a g do g in new layin got a of him p oe said. y l i eh to fam “My rable pho re Lucy K o o d m a ho this ,” sop snow

fore the night be p in my room ” ee sl h, nc gs ri in G bl e si th “All my r to watch to ec oj pr y said. and I use m Lucia Cucar sophomore