The Mandolin April Edition! (1)

St. Francis Catholic High School April 2026

"Spread the word."

Issue 137

What's Inside

Conformity Gate is Real.......................................2 Neha’s Nook: Books Are Out ..............................3 Farm Animals Visit School...................................4 Word Search...........................................................6 April Fools’ Day.......................................................8 Spring Musical: Hadestown................................8 Bonjour, Quebec!...................................................9 US Hockey Teams Capture Gold.......................11 Things to Do Over Spring Break ......................12 Women’s History Month.....................................14 History Of St. Patrick's Day................................17 Neha’s Nook: Spring Books................................18 April Recipe: Lucky Charm Cookies................20 Lemon Brownies...................................................21 Acknowledgements..............................................18

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April Fools’ Day

April 2026

Conformity Gate is Real

BY DESLYN GALANG ’28 After a final season riddled with disappointment and failed expectations, the “Stranger Things” fanbase thought it was over. The only hope they had was the theory of Conformity Gate, the real finale episode that would explain the overall failure of “Stranger Things” Season 5. But all those late-night theories and tears finally paid off, because Conformity Gate is real.

Conformity Gate is a fan conspiracy that the audience of the show was also put under Vecna’ mind curse, which would explain why “Stranger Things” 5 was significantly worse than the other four seasons.

It’s perfectly understandable why the fanbase would be disappointed after waiting years for a finale that didn’t end up meeting expectations. After all, the Duffer Brothers are show-runner masterminds. How could they let such simple inconsistencies like demogorgons being entirely absent from the final battle in the final cut of the show? They had a vision for the ending of “Stranger Things” from the very beginning. This couldn’t be it.

Fans began to band together to address all the inconsistencies present in the final season. The entire fanbase began to compile evidence, such as set differences, odd parallels to Vecna’s high school life, and number symbolism to come to the only reasonable conclusion: the Duffer Brothers intentionally made the season bad in order to release the real, better finale on a later date.

People called believers of the theory “crazy fans” who “couldn’t accept that their beloved show had failed to stick the landing.”

However, all of the doubters are about to be proven wrong. After the initial fires of Conformity Gate, more important information has recently come out.

The main cast of “Stranger Things” have been posting on their social media accounts to “Be Prepared for Something Big.” They couldn’t just post something like that obviously. Users have to hunt for numbers and secret ciphers hidden in their recent posts, perfectly on brand with the marketing stunt for the finale episode.

Even the documentary, “One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things 5,” was all a big cover-up to make Conformity Gate the greatest, and most welcome, surprise of 2026.

“Stranger Things” Season 5 Flyer PHOTO COURTESY OF OMNIVOROUS

Note: Content in this April edition is satirical and intended for humorous purposes only.

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April Fools’ Day

April 2026

Neha’s Nook: Books Are Out

BY NEHA VASANTHAN ’28 BREAKING NEWS! Books are out! Books are a waste of time, money, and thought.

They are boring, useless, and not worth the effort. It’s much smarter to switch to screens. Who wants to look at words printed on a page?

Books are time consuming to no end. At the average reading speed of 183 words per minute it would take 464.5 minutes to read 85,000 words, which is the average number of words in a book. It’s a complete waste of nearly eight hours! Not only does it waste time to read books, but it also wastes time to write them, as it can take months or even years for an author to finish a manuscript.

Then there is editing, and publishing, printing, binding, marketing, and selling.

After all this, the customer needs to spend good money on the book.

Why waste money on books when you can watch hundreds of movies a month with a Netflix subscription that costs the same as a hardback novel? Books are expensive, and in this economy? It’s just not worth it. The book business as a whole is a huge money scheme, and all the money goes to the publishers instead of the authors anyway.

Forget time and money, books are a waste of thoughts!

It takes mental work to turn the ink on pages into castles and conversations in one’s mind. All that work for a likely fuzzy idea of what the author is trying to describe, and chances are it’s not even accurate. A reader has to create sounds, smells, feelings, voices, settings, colors, tastes, and emotions in their head, but there’s a much better way to experience stories.

Movies are filled with visuals and sounds, and they take a lot less time to watch than

most books take to read. Movies have clear images, and the watcher can just sit back and relax. There’s no need to exercise that brain, because watching movies is an escape. While watching a movie, the watcher can finish up homework, eat a snack, or do chores; however, it’s much harder to multitask while reading, because a book needs to be held and paid attention to for any hope to understand it. Most good books also have a movie version. The “Harry Potter” and “Hunger Games” movie franchises are wildly popular, and movies like “Jaws,” “Jurassic Park,” “The Godfather,” and “The Silence of the Lambs” have movie adaptations that are more popular than their book counterparts.

“The Godfather’s” movie flyer vs. book PHOTO COURTESY OF FRAGMENTEN UIT HET SCHMERLAND Additionally, if one wants to read a good book, there is still no need to actually read a physical book. Audiobooks are much more practical. They are more cost-effective, able to be played on 2x speed, and can be listened to while doing other things. One can listen to an audiobook while driving or in public.

Note: Content in this April edition is satirical and intended for humorous purposes only.

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April Fools’ Day

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Neha’s Nook: Books Are Out cont’d There are so many forms of media nowadays, and the truth is that books are the least practical, least cost-effective, least entertaining, and least immersive form. Even doom-scrolling is more immersive and more entertaining! Think of all the dopamine.

Human dopamine receptors are simply much more reactive when in front of screens.

Essentially, screens equal happiness. Screen dopamine hits skyrocket, while book dopamine hits plateau.

At the end of the day, books are overrated and old news. They’re prehistoric.

Books are only a step up from ancient Mesopotamian clay tablets, and those are over 5,000 years old. It’s time to modernize, so sell all shares of those Barnes and Noble stocks because books are officially out.

“Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone” book vs. movie flyer (which looks so much more fun than the actual book already) PHOTO COURTESY OF THE MATCH

Hooves in the Hallways: Farm Animals Visit School

BY ALEXANDRA SPITZER ’29 As the weather drifts out of the cold of winter to a surprisingly warm spring, Troubies are feeling more encouraged to be outside and connect with nature - the perfect mood for the upcoming on-campus holiday, Farm Day! On Farm Day, a new addition to the Saint Francis calendar, teachers are required to bring a farm animal into their classrooms while they teach. During lunch, the soccer field will be filled with farm animals - horses, goats, cows, sheep, chickens, ducks, and even llamas, for students to pet and feed.

PHOTO COURTESY OF KATIE KOO

Note: Content in this April edition is satirical and intended for humorous purposes only.

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Hooves in the Hallways: Farm Animals Visit School cont’d Remember to remain calm around the animals, and avoid making sudden movements so they are not startled.

Students may even bring food to the animals! Be sure to check upcoming emails for more information on the event and specific guidelines for food, and other details.

All Saint Francis students’ names will be entered into a randomized selector. The twenty students chosen will be required to come to school the following Saturday from 3-7 PM to help clean up the soccer field and classrooms. Students who are chosen will receive an email a week prior.

So where does this fun holiday originate from? This celebration actually goes back decades, to when free public education first became accessible. When schools became available to children from families of all wages in the mid 19th century, many Americans still relied on agriculture from their own farms to survive. Fundamental agricultural knowledge was very often taught in schools’ core curricula, as the school years originally revolved around the agricultural seasons, with children helping their families farm after school and especially during the summer.

Later, when American families no longer needed to rely so heavily on their own personal agriculture, bringing farm animals to school for students to see in person became a tradition to honor the beginning of public education and the history of agriculture in the United States.

Arguably the most fun thing about this holiday, however, isn’t just that students can bring food or interact with the animals.

There will also be games, including needle in a haystack, horse limbo, and the most fun of all… chicken race! Specific details will be provided in upcoming emails. If you wish to participate, a sign-up form will be sent out.

Overall, Troubies can expect this upcoming holiday to be one of the most fun and memorable at Saint Francis. So Saint Francis students get excited because on Wednesday, April 1, a farm itself will be brought to school for everyone to experience.

Troubies enjoying Farm Day PHOTO COURTESY OF MERCY COLLIER

Note: Content in this April edition is satirical and intended for humorous purposes only.

April Fools’ Day

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April 2026

BY CHARLOTTE HWANG ’29

Spring season

WORD SEARCH

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Can you find the words hidden in the puzzle?

SPRING FLOWER HAPPINESS

PICNICS DRESSES SUNSHINE

SPROUT POLLEN HATCHING

BLOSSOM BIRDSONG REFRESH

ANSWER KEY ON NEXT PAGE Note: Content in this April edition is satirical and intended for humorous purposes only.

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APRIL FOOLS! Note: Content in this April edition is satirical and intended for humorous purposes only.

April Fools’ Day

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April 2026

April Fools’ Day

BY MERCY COLLIER ’26 Hey Troubies!

We hope you’re enjoying the April edition of The Mandolin so far. If some of the stories seemed a little suspicious, that’s because they were — APRIL FOOLS! We couldn’t resist adding a little April Fools’ fun to this month’s issue.

Let this be a friendly reminder to not believe everything you read…even your school newspaper.

From here on out, the rest of the articles in this edition are completely factual and prank-free. We hope you have an amazing Spring Break and a very Happy Easter.

Thanks for playing along with us!

Spring Musical: “Hadestown”

BY CORINNE ATKINS ’29 “Hadestown” is a musical written by Anaïs Mitchell that started in 2006 as a sungthrough version performed in Vermont. In 2010, a concept album was released and two years later, Anaïs Mitchell and director Rack Chavkin reworked the album into a stage production. It wasn't until 2016 that the show premiered off-Broadway, running from May 3rd to July 31st, starring Damon Daunno as Orpheus, Nabiyah Be as Eurydice, Patrick Page as Hades, Amber Gray as Persephone, Chris Sullivan as Hermes, and Lulu Fall, Jessie Shelton, and Shaina Taub as the Fates. In 2019, the show was brought to Broadway, starring Reeve Carney as Orpheus, Eva Noblezada as Eurydice, Amber Gray as Persephone, Patrick Page as Hades, Andre de Shields as Hermes, Jewelle Blackman, Yvette Gonzalez-Nacer, and Kay Trinidad as Fates.

Today, the show continues to run on Broadway with a multitude of talented performers playing these iconic roles.

The musical is based on the well-known myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. Eurydice was bitten by a snake and taken to the underworld because she died.

PHOTO COURTESY OF HADESTOWN Heartbroken, Orpheus makes a deal with Hades so he could get Eurydice back.

Orpheus uses his musical abilities to charm Hades into allowing him to travel into the underworld to get her. There was a catch though, if Orpheus looked back to see if Eurydice was behind him,

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SCHOOL NEWS

April 2026

Spring Musical: “Hadestown” cont’d she would vanish into the underworld forever. As Orpheus reaches the upperworld, he looks back and Eurydice disappears back into the underworld. The musical also includes the myth of Hades and Persephone.

Persephone is the daughter of Demeter, the goddess of harvest while Hades is the God of the underworld. Persephone is out in a garden when Hades arrives. When Hades sees Persephone, he is entranced and takes her down into the underworld to be his bride. Persephone and Demeter were also very close and when her daughter was kidnapped by Hades, she was heartbroken, causing the plants to start withering. Zeus tries to negotiate with Hades to let her go back home and Hades agrees but only if she has not eaten anything in the underworld.

However, she ate 6 pomegranate seeds.

Because of this, she must spend six months in the underworld with Hades and six months on Earth with her mother. This myth was told to explain the changing seasons winter when Persephone

is in the underworld, and summer when she returns home. This story in modern interpretation is often told as a love story and that is far from the truth. “Hadestown,” while having Hades and Persephone as a side plot, doesn't shy away from the toxicity and hard truths of their relationship.

Everyone involved in this year's musical has worked tirelessly to get it complete, overcoming many obstacles along the way, but ultimately pulling through to make an amazing show. Senior Lucy Lederer (‘26), who played Eurydice said, “Working on ‘Hadestown’ has been so incredibly fun and rewarding! Anaïs Mitchell's writing and music inspires me so much and it's been an absolute dream come true to be able to work on one of my favorite shows my senior year.

We have such a hardworking and talented cast, crew, and artistic team and I am so very excited for everyone to see this story come to life!” The musical is also a joint production with Cristo Rey High School, making this a show that reflects harmony.

Bonjour, Québec!

BY HADLEY BARNES ’29 St. Francis’ annual trip to Québec has just celebrated its 20th anniversary! This trip is an option for students in upper French Language and Culture classes. The Québec experience offers many opportunities such as speaking French with native speakers, learning Québec history, experiencing the Québec Winter Carnival, and so much more.

French teacher Madame Picca plays a significant part in this exceptional trip.

Students on this year’s Québec trip PHOTO COURTESY OF MORGANE BERTRAN

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Bonjour, Québec! cont’d She started this annual tradition twenty years ago and has planned and attended every year since, missing only 2021 due to the Covid epidemic.

“I wanted the students to have a chance to be able to use their French outside the classroom, and there is no opportunity in California,” she says.

When asked why she settled on Quebec, Picca considered cost and time.“I wanted something affordable for students. Europe is very expensive, and Paris is very expensive.

So I thought, let’s do something that is closer. Well, Québec speaks French and it will be more affordable, let’s go there!” So, what do Troubies do while in Quebec? SFHS’ recent Instagram poll ranked these as the top activities: Dog Sledding, snow tubing, and the Winter Carnival Madame Picca says fun is a top priority, “You have to think about what teenagers would like to do…These trips are tailored to teenagers, not adults.” Student trips are a key element of the education of students.

They have an opportunity to create memories with their friends that they’ll have for life.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MORGANE BERTRAN

Students tubing at Village Vacances Valcartier PHOTO COURTESY OF MORGANE BERTRAN Specific to language learners, Picca discusses how immersion into a different culture benefits learning, “Especially when it comes to language,” she says, “I think it is so important that students experience another language and another culture as early as possible. I think it’s really important that we meet people from different cultures and different countries.”

Over 20 years, the itinerary itself has not changed much. “You have the carnival, the dog sledding, the tubing. These are such classic things that we need to do in our four days in Quebec,” Picca says. “Because we only go for four days, it’s a very short amount of time, so we pack the most that we can into them.”

Troubies, it looks like this tradition is here to stay Madame Picca pledges that this trip will continue as long as there is interest.“I hope I can keep on doing that trip for a long time because it’s a wonderful opportunity for students to know another culture, to use French outside of the classroom, and to try things they have never tried before.”

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WORLD NEWS

April 2026

U.S. Hockey Teams Capture Gold at 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics

BY CAMERON DUNDON ’28 The 2026 Winter Olympics delivered historic moments for both the men’s and women’s United States hockey teams. The women’s hockey team won their third gold against Canada, and the men’s hockey team won their second ever gold since 1980.

As tradition dictates, the Games began with the Olympic torch relay across Italy before the flame arrived in Monza. This year’s torchbearers included musical artist Snoop Dogg, actors Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams, Formula 1 driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli and several former Olympic athletes.

The U.S. women’s hockey team secured gold with a dramatic 2-1 overtime victory over Canada.

The Canadian team was led by captain Marie-Philip Poulin, who is widely regarded as one of the best professional hockey players today. She currently plays forward for the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) Montréal Victoire and assumed the same position on the Canadian Olympic team this year. Milano Cortina 2026 was

U.S. Olympics women’s hockey team PHOTO COURTESY OF TEAM USA HOCKEY

Poulin’s fifth Olympic appearance since her debut in 2010. She has won three gold medals and two silver. During this year’s games, Poulin broke the all-time Olympic women’s goal-scoring record previously held

by Haley Wickenheiser. Of her 20 goals, two of them were scored during Canada’s momentous semifinal game against Switzerland, which advanced them to their gold medal game against the United States.

Also playing for team Canada in the games was goaltender Ann-Renne Desbiens who also plays for the Montréal Victoire alongside Poulin.

At the University of Wisconsin, Desbiens set the NCAA record for most career shutouts across all divisions and genders. Milano Cortina marked her third Olympic appearance and second silver medal. The United States was ultimately able to narrowly win its gold medal game against Canada, mainly due to the contributions of Captain Hilary Knight, a forward for PWHL’s Seattle Torrent and the 2023 International Ice Hockey Federation female player of the year. Her outstanding leadership and experience helped guide the U.S. team to victory.

Canadian team captain Marie-Philip Poulin PHOTO COURTESY OF OLYMPICS.COM

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U.S. Hockey Teams Capture Gold at 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics cont’d Defenseman Megan Keller scored the winning overtime goal that secured the United States the championship. Keller plays for the PWHL’s Boston Fleet, and previously competed as a defender at the collegiate level. She was a finalist for the 2024 Defender of the Year award.

The men’s tournament delivered a similar storyline. The United States team defeated Canada in overtime to capture its second Olympic gold since 1980, showcasing the abilities of the nation’s most talented players.

Canada’s roster featured Macklin Celebrini, a rising star who became the first male

teenager to be selected for the Canadian Olympic team at only 19 years old. The San Jose Sharks’ forward scored the first goal for his team against the Czech Republic and finished as the Games’ top scorer and second-leading overall scorer. Celebrini’s teammate Connor McDavid was named Olympic MVP for his fast skating, offensive dominance, and strong leadership as a secondary captain. McDavid assumed full leadership of the team after primary captain Sidney Crosby was injured, and he is the first player to have accumulated over 100 points in the 2025-2026 hockey season.

Ditch the Boredom: Your Ultimate Spring Break Survival Guide

BY KATHY DHALAI ’27 Spring break is here, a nice time away from school. But if you’re not careful, you might waste the weeks on your phone and miss out on fun. Here are tips for each grade so you can enjoy your break and have something great to share.

The Freshman Glow-Up Break: Freshmen, you made it through your first part of high school, and that’s something to celebrate. This break is a time for you to relax, try new things, and do something a bit out of your comfort zone.

Here are things to try: Explore a local trail, park, or a lake with friends. Fresh air will do you good and keep you away from your phone.

PHOTO COURTESY OF LOVE PAPER

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Ditch the Boredom: Your Ultimate Spring Break Survival Guide cont’d Besides, it feels great to breathe easy without homework on your mind. Try a new hobby! Want to learn guitar, draw or cook?

YouTube is a great place to look for tutorials.

It's free, and spring break is the perfect time for it.

Juniors deserve a break: Junior year is tough. You’ve been dealing with tests, tough classes, and meeting up with counselors about college. This break is for all juniors to rest. Things to try: Sleep in. Having no alarms allows your body to rest and be happy being a little lazy and also well rested.

Visit colleges; this break is a great time to go visit colleges with family and see if the college is a great fit for you. Write in a journal. Spring break is a perfect time to refocus on yourself and values, and what you want in life. Write down what is going well, what’s not, and what you want your senior year to be like for you, be honest with yourself.

PHOTO COURTESY OF SCENIC AMERICA

PHOTO COURTESY OF CITY OF GAITHERSBURG Seniors — it’s the last spring break of high school. This might be your last spring before things change. Whether you are going to college, taking a year off, starting a job, or still deciding what you want to do in life, this break is a special moment to take time to enjoy it. Things to try: Do something you have always wanted to do, like taking a road trip, surfing or visiting a country you dreamed of seeing one day. Just do it. Spend time with family and friends because things are about to change, so enjoy it while you can. Write a letter to your future self with the goals you want to accomplish for the year, seal it and open it at the end of the year to see what you accomplished. Lastly, celebrate your accomplishments, you have completed four years of high school. You did it and you should be proud. Celebrate in whatever way you like. In the end, no matter what grade you’re in, make it a break worth remembering.

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Women’s History Month CORINNE ATKINS ’29 Now that March is upon us, so is Women’s History Month! Originating in California, Women’s History Month began as Women’s History Week, coinciding with International Women’s Day on March 8. In 1978, the movement started to garner attention nationwide. President Carter first declared Women’s History Week in 1980, and Congress established March as Women’s History Month in 1987.

The designation works to commemorate the contributions of women in American and international history. Each year has a theme selected by the National Women’s History Alliance. This year, the theme is “Leading the Change: Celebrating Women Shaping a Sustainable Future.” Countless women throughout history have embodied this theme and shaped our futures. From science to politics, women have remained integral in advancing society, helping to change the world for the better.

Traditionally a male-dominated field, many women in history have helped blaze the trail for women to have a place in math and sciences. One such pioneer was Marie Curie. Curie was a Polish physicist and chemist who discovered radium and polonium. Curie was born in 1867 in Poland.

At the time, women were prohibited from attending college in Poland, so Curie went to college in France at the age of 24. While in university, Curie studied radiation, which led to the discovery of a new element that was 400 times more radioactive than uranium. In 1898 it was added to the Periodic Table as polonium. Curie later discovered an even more radioactive element, radium.

Another notable female scientist is Marie Maynard Daly. Daly was born in Queens, New York in 1921 and was the first Black woman to get a PhD in Chemistry. Daly attended Hunter College High School, an allwomen’s institution.

The all-women environment helped inspire and cultivate her interest in the sciences. Her work during college focused on how compounds produced in the body participate in digestion.

She went on to teach physical science at Howard University. Daly received a grant from the American Cancer Society, which pioneered new programs for funding scientific research at the time. Daly’s work was pivotal in understating cancer cell growth, and foundational to the development of cancer treatments.

Women have also played an important role in the field of space exploration. Ellen Ochoa was an inventor and engineer and the first Hispanic woman to go to space. She went on to become director of the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.

Marie Maynard Daly PHOTO COURTESY OF SCIENCE HISTORY INSTITUTE

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Women’s History Month cont’d Notable women in math include mathematician Ada Lovelace, considered to be the world's first computer programmer.

Joan Clarke was an English cryptanalyst and numismatist best known for her work as a code-breaker at Bletchley Park during the Second World War. Clarke’s work on the Enigma Project helped decode Nazi communications, aiding in the ending of the war.

Another significant area where women have made their mark — both nationally and internationally — is in government and politics. In the United States, there have been many contributions of women in politics. Jeanette Rankin was the first woman in the US House of Representatives in 1917, even before women had the right to vote nationally. She worked on the Committee on Woman Suffrage which laid the groundwork for the later passage of the 19th Amendment, granting women the right to vote nationally.

Ada Lovelace PHOTO COURTESY OF WIKIPEDIA

Shirley Chisholm was the first Black woman elected to Congress in 1968. Through her time in government, Chisholm helped to increase food assistance programs, helping to lay the groundwork for the current Supplemental Nutrition Assistance program for low income families, as well as creation of Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, specifically to provide food assistance to women and children. In 1971, Chisholm cofounded both the Congressional Black Caucus and the National Women’s Political Caucus, and became the first Black woman to run for President in 1972.

Shirley Chisholm PHOTO COURTESY OF WIKIPEDIA

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Women’s History Month cont’d Patsy Takemoto Mink was the first Asian American woman to serve in the House of Representatives. Mink was instrumental in the passage of Title IX of the 1972 Education Amendments.

This section of the Amendment prohibited gender discrimination in sports at institutions that receive federal funding, paving the way for greater participation of women in sports.

An important Native American woman is Isabella Aiukli Cornell, who used her prom dress to raise awareness for missing and murdered indigenous women across the country. The dress she wore was red to symbolize domestic abuse victims and had embellishments that showed her Choctaw heritage.

There are many women who have worked in advocacy internationally. One inspiring advocate is Malala Yousafzai, a Pakistani education activist. Her father was a teacher and had run a girl’s school until the Taliban banned girls from attending schools.

As a result, Malala became an activist, speaking out publicly on behalf of girls and their right to learn. In 2011, she was nominated for the International Children’s Peace Prize and awarded the National Peace Award for Youth in recognition of her bravery. She later spoke at the United Nations, calling for all children to have access to education. She received the Nobel Peace Prize in December 2014, becoming the youngest-ever Nobel laureate.

Kakenya Ntaiya is a Kenyan activist working to end child marriages and increase education access for women, and Zainab Salbi is the founder of Women for Women International, which supports female survivors of war.

Nadia Murad, an Iraqi human rights activist, advocates for survivors of genocide and sexual violence. She was awarded the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize for her work.

An innumerable amount of women across time have made immense contributions to hundreds of issues surrounding women and their rights. Women have remained an important part in the field of sciences, technology, politics, as well as countless other industries. The work of these historic women has been invaluable in our advancement, and their bravery inspires women across the globe to keep fighting to have a seat at the table in a variety of industries.

Patsy Takemoto Mink PHOTO COURTESY OF WIKIPEDIA

MISC.

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April 2026

The History of St. Patrick's Day

BY VEDA WAHNSIEDLER ’29 On March 17th, remember to wear green, but also remember the history behind St. Patrick's Day. This Christian holiday is celebrated throughout the United States and most famously in Ireland. While there are many ways to celebrate, there is a long history behind the holiday and its celebrations throughout America.

This holiday was started by fourteenyear-old British boy Maewyn Succat. At a young age, he was kidnapped and forced to Ireland as a slave. He escaped Ireland and later returned as a missionary bishop known as Saint Patrick. He established multiple churches throughout the country, converted many people to Christianity, and is said to have baptized over 100,000 people.

He would use the shamrock to relate Irish culture with Christianity. The three leaves on the shamrock represented the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. His preaching and missionary work earned him the credit of bringing Christianity to Ireland.

He died on March 17th, 493 AD, and the people of Ireland decided to celebrate that day because of his religious accomplishments. After over 1,000 years, this holiday is still going strong and the celebrations are superior — truly showing Irish culture.

Ireland has been observing St. Patrick's Day as a Roman Catholic Feast, but they weren’t the ones behind the idea of a grand celebration. 400 years ago, the United States was the first to host a St. Patrick's Day parade in Florida.

Then on March 17th of 1761, Irish immigrants in New York wanted to show and celebrate their culture. They started another parade, and American cities and parts of the world followed, beginning to grow in their celebrations of St. Patrick's Day! Beyond wearing green and attending parades, St. Patrick’s Day includes many unique traditions and interesting facts.

Before the 18th century, people used to celebrate the holiday with the color blue, but they changed it to green to represent the Irish and their independence.

It is also common for people to eat corned beef and hash. The dish consists of chopped meat, potatoes, and onion, all cooked together. This is a very popular tradition that many people think is from Irish origins, but instead it is from the U.S.. Irish immigrants brought the dish over to Ireland from the U.S. over a century ago.

Another well-known tradition takes place in Illinois: dyeing the Chicago River. Every year on March 17th, an orange vegetablebased powder is dumped into the river, which turns the water green. They first used this powder to track illegal sewage dumping but now it is used to celebrate St. Patrick!

There are also superstitions that come with celebrating St. Patrick’s. Many people wear green so that leprechauns won’t see you and pinch you. In Irish folklore, only male leprechauns are short and mischievous– there has never been a female one in history.

So Troubies, when March 17th rolls around, remember to wear green, eat corned beef and hash, and celebrate this religious holiday in honor of St. Patrick!

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REVIEWS, RECIPES, POLLS

April 2026

Neha's Nook: Spring Books

BY NEHA VASANTHAN ’28 St. Francis has 16 days of spring break!

That’s 16 days to study for finals and AP exams, but it’s also 16 days to read. Get ready to pull out a book in between those study sessions because Neha’s Nook has the best spring books. Take those allergy meds, grab a chair, and bask in the California sun with a good story. Just be careful—it’s going to be hard to put these books down and get back to the studying grind.

“The Selection” trilogy by Kiera Cass takes place in late spring in a dystopian society. Prince Maxon is in need of a princess, and the longstanding royal tradition is a competition filled with 35 eligible bachelorettes from all over the kingdom. America Singer, the main character, finds herself caught in a love triangle between the charming Prince Maxon and Aspen, her secret boyfriend. In their society, caste is everything, and marrying Prince Maxon would bring her caste to the highest possible status—One. However, marrying Aspen would drop her to a lowly Six. The competition is televised, and the brash and brave America is already an underdog because she is a Five. While the trilogy is an enrapturing love story, it also contains social commentary, which is common in most dystopian novels. The three books—“The Selection,” “The Elite,” and “The One”—are all short binge-worthy reads. The trilogy is followed by two sequels, which may or may not be considered as part of the original series, depending on which fan is asked. “The Heir,” and “The Crown” follow the next generation’s princess, Eadlyn Schreave, who courts 35 men for the first time in the kingdom’s history. The books showcase

Cass’s signature ability to write romantic chemistry that will have the readers staying up late giggling. The books are appropriate for ages twelve and up and are easy reads, with each book being around 300 pages.

The simple language and writing style makes the time fly.

“The Selection” PHOTO COURTESY OF AMAZON “Five Survive” by Holly Jackson is on par with “The Selection” in terms of the perfection factor, but that is where the similarities end. “Five Survive” follows Red and her five friends who end up trapped in an RV when their spring break plans take a terrible turn.

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REVIEWS, RECIPES, POLLS

April 2026

Neha's Nook: Spring Books cont’d Red is on the trip with her best friend, her best friend’s older brother and his girlfriend, her secret crush and a classmate.

This, of course, means that there are six friends; however, the book is titled “Five Survive.” When the RV breaks down in the middle of nowhere and there is no hope for cell service, the characters realize the situation is not just some freak accident. The thriller unfolds in a single night and tensions rise as the friends struggle to identify who the traitor is. It’s safe to say this book will make one be careful about their spring break plans and who they choose to spend it with.

“Five Survive” PHOTO COURTESY OF AMAZON

A complete change from the thrilling “Five Survive” is the adventurous and hopeful classic “The Secret Garden” by Frances Hodgson Burnett. The story follows Mary, a lonely orphan who is sent from India to a gloomy mansion in England. There, she discovers a neglected secret garden and, with the help of her cousin and new friend, she begins healing the garden and herself along the way.

These spring books are the perfect reads for spring break. They are exciting, fun, and guaranteed to make the readers feel like they are competing for a prince or princess’s heart, desperately trying to survive through a night in an RV, or reestablishing a garden while healing their own heart. Happy reading!

“The Secret Garden” PHOTO COURTESY OF AMAZON

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REVIEWS & RECIPES

April 2026

April Recipe: Lucky Charm Cookies

BY DANI PAYANT ’26 As the spring season starts to bloom, there is nothing better than a fun and easy recipe that doesn’t just look cute, but also tastes delicious! These Lucky Charm Cookies are perfect for St. Patrick's day or any special occasion this month. Even better, for those of us with gluten allergies, they can easily be made gluten free with a few small modifications. Happy baking!

Ingredients for the Lucky Charm Cookies: ½ c butter, softened to room temperature ¼ c sugar ¾ c light brown sugar 1 egg 1 tsp vanilla extract 1 ½ c flour (sub gluten free)

¾ tsp baking soda ½ tsp sea salt 1 c white chocolate chips 1 c cereal marshmallows (Lucky Charms Baking Instructions Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. This should take about 3-5 minutes.

Add in egg and vanilla and beat to incorporate.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt. Add the flour mixture about a third at a time and beat until mixed in.

Gently fold in the marshmallows and the white chocolate chips Scoop (a 1.5 Tablespoon scoop) or roll into balls, arrange on a parchment paper-lined cookie sheet and bake in a preheated oven at 350°F for about 8-10 minutes.

Allow to sit on the cookie sheet for about 2-3 minutes after removing from the oven and then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely and enjoy!

PHOTO COURTESY OF FOOD NETWORK

REVIEWS & RECIPES

21

April 2026

Lemon Brownies

BY SAGE WITZGALL ’29 Hey, Troubies! With the weather warming up, spring is in full swing. If you need a good pick-me-up between the stress of the end of the school year and the anticipation of summer break, these easy lemon brownies are the perfect treat. These lemon brownies are soft and moist, with a bright citrusy flavor in every bite. The sweet lemon cake with the tangy icing creates the perfect balance of flavors. Every bite leads you into spring and sunshine. Enjoy!

Ingredients For the Brownies: 1½ cups all-purpose flour 1½ cups granulated sugar ½ teaspoon salt 1 cup unsalted butter softened 4 large eggs room temperature 2 tablespoons lemon zest 2-3 lemons ⅓ cup fresh lemon juice 1 teaspoon vanilla extract For the Lemon Glaze: 1 cup powdered sugar 2-3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice 1 tablespoon lemon zest

Instructions Preparation: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) Line 9x13 inch pan with parchment paper Grease parchment paper lightly Make Batter: Whisk flour and salt Cream butter and sugar (3-4 minutes) Add eggs one at a time Mix in lemon zest, juice, and vanilla Fold in flour mixture Bake: Pour batter into pan Bake 25-30 minutes Cool completely Glaze: Mix powdered sugar and lemon juice Add zest Pour over cooled brownies Let set 30 minutes Notes Use room temperature ingredients Don't overmix batter Test doneness with toothpick Cool completely before glazing

PHOTO COURTESY OF GOOGLE PHOTO COURTESY OF GOOGLE

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Writers

Editors

Corinne Atkins Hadley Barnes Mercy Collier Cameron Dundon Kathy Dhalai Deslyn Galang Charlotte Hwang Dani Payant Alexandra Spitzer Neha Vasanthan Neha Vasanthan Veda Wahnsiedler Sage Witzgall

Gianna Amerio Cassidy Butler Riya Chima Cate Harcos Kate Hwang Trinity Ito Katie McWilliams Miya Menza Julianne Nguyen Sophia Nielsen Madeleine Oberlies Sana Sakari Nives Schettini

Publicists

Graphic Designers

Savannah Hamilton Katie Koo

Savannah Hamilton Katie Koo

April 2026