The vista issue 2

The Vista

Notre Dame Academy * 3535 W. Sylvania Ave. * Toledo, OH 43623* Vol. 66 Issue 2* Nov. 18, 2015

Student Voting in 2016 General Election Ellen Buerk

Although November 8, 2016 seems far off, the presidential race has already begun heating up for the general election next year. Political debates have multiplied with each passing week and more attention has been given to potential frontrunners. With a full class of eligible voters about to graduate, getting informed about the election should be a top priority.

“It is a fallacy to think that young people don’t know enough to be a part of the democratic process,” government teacher Mrs. Susie Huffman said. “The views of the young are just as important as those who are old.

Voting at a young age sets a precedent for the future.”

In order to vote in the upcoming election in Ohio, a student must be registered to vote at least 30 days before the election date. Registration can be completed through the County Board of Elections in person or by mail only. The Voter Registration and Information Update Form, found on the DMV website, must be filled out to register.

Information about important voting issues, elections, registration, and sample ballots can be found at myohiovote.com.

“I think it’s important for students to be involved in politics so they can make educated decisions of their own,” senior Molly Walton said. “I think that being educated about the world around us is imperative to make the world a better place. By keeping up to date on current events you can form your own beliefs on issues.”

A good place to begin researching is a candidate’s website. Sites like iside-

Greek Life Page 2

with.com and selectsmart.com help to pair students with a political candidate that best supports their beliefs.

“Voting can change the situation of our generation if we stay involved and educated because we could be the ones that make a difference in the political issues of our government,” senior Caitlin Spielvogel said. “We could be the ones that contribute to some huge solution to long-term problems in our country.”

KNOW THE FACES An important part of deciding who to vote for in the upcoming elections is recognizing who the leading candidates are. Here are the faces of some of the leading presidential nominees in the Democratic and Republican races so far listed in order of their current poll ratings.

Bernie Sanders

The Republicans:

Donald Trump

The Democrats: Ben Carson

Hillary Clinton

Marco Rubio

Martin O’Malley

In This Issue: Mythbusters Page 6

Although the polls are likely to change between now and next Novermber, these candidates currently hold the lead for either parties in winning the presidential nomination.

Harm of Biological Warfare Page 6

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News

Netflix Prices, Popularity Rising on TV Kari Toncre Netflix is a popular service used to stream movies and TV shows from a laptop, tablet, phone, and television, especially for today’s teenagers and adults.

Over 60 million subscribers have access to a variety of movies and TV shows right at their fingertips or mailed to their house.

With the easy accessibility and low cost of $7.99 per month, Netflix has replaced cable and satellite television in most homes.

“My family likes watching Netflix more because there are more movies and TV shows available than on our basic cable that only has a few good channels” senior Catherine Coulter said.

Netflix made an announcement in May that a one dollar price increase was in the works for customers who had their Netflix accounts for less than 2 years.

This is the second time Netflix has raised their prices. Many

Senior Felicia Rose watches Netflix on her iPad. Photo by Kari Toncre.

people dropped their subscription the first time, but the company has learned since then.

To avoid another catastrophe, Netflix has carefully presented their idea to the public and allowed older users to continue paying the old price. The current viewership is expected not to drop dramatically.

Netflix will continue being a popular way to watch TV and movies. New films and shows to watch are being added every day.

“When I have time or on the weekend, sometimes I will stay up for at least 3 hours, watching a TV series because it is so good and I cannot stop watching it,” senior Kaitlyn Oberski said.

Binge watching is what many teenagers tend to do on daily basis. This is the watching of Netflix for one or more hours in one sitting.

Normally a single show is watched on episode at a time, instead of watching every episode all at once.

Netflix makes binge watching an easy task since most shows have multiple episodes and seasons that can be watched at the viewer’s convenience.

Overall, Netflix is quite popular for movies and TV shows and the price increase will most likely not affect the number of customers.

“It is the best thing that’s happened since sliced bread,” junior Victoria Thompson said.

Greek Life Reputation Varies on Campus Caroline Crescenzo Greek systems at colleges all around the country are looking to give themselves a new image in society, different from the image that the media has created of them.

In almost every college movie, the Greek scene has been associated with the wild students and crazy parties. In reality, the purpose of these organizations is the exact opposite.

In order to be a member, the student must pay fees every semester and maintain a high grade point average.

If the student is caught in any mischievous or illegal activities, he or she is typically discharged from the group immediately.

The goal of these organizations is to promote a high academic standard and they are centered on their philanthropy events that raise money for whichever charity is affiliated with that particular sorority or fraternity.

“Coming from a sisterhood like NDA, it was so great to jump into a similar sisterhood once I hit college.

Parlor room inside the Phi Mu Mansion at the University of Kentucky is part of Greek life. Photo Caroline Crescenzo.

I could not have asked for a better experience so far,” 2014 NDA alum Lexi Brady said.

With that being said, the media is not the only reason this community has been associated with a negative stereotype. Hazing has been a prevalent issue since the beginning, and since they are primarily “social” orga-

nizations, often times they contribute to the college party scene.

NDA alum Sarah Gardner (Class of 2015) wrote a news article for the college paper about the Indiana University chapter of Alpha Tau Omega being shut down following the release of a sexually explicit video. The IU police department is investigating the incident.

It is a big decision to make, and a lot of seniors this year are strongly considering whether it is something they would want to be a part of or not.

Everyone has different feelings about it.

“I probably will not go, it just does not seem like my scene. I like as much diversity as possible and I do not want to limit myself to anything,” senior Jayme Parker said.

Just like everything in life, it is different everywhere. It has good and bad aspects. It is a personal decision that many college students will make at some point.

Fall Sports Bring Home Many Victories Caroline Crescenzo NDA Fall athletics had a knockout of a season, helping NDA win the Three Rivers Athletic Conference All Sports title 12 years in a row.

Varsity tennis won the TRAC for the fourth year in a row, and then went on to place fourth in the state, which was a huge accomplishment considering they only had 2 returning top 7 players.

Alicia Nahhas made it to states as an individual all four years of high school.

“I’m definitely proud of it. The nerves got a lot easier as I got older, and it always felt so good to represent my school at the state level. I loved my experience on this team. I loved getting closer with new people every year. It is always more fun to play for the team, rather than just for yourself,” Alicia said.

The crew team also had a great season, concluding with the honor of having a boat race at a regatta in Boston.

“It was really fun, and such a cool experience because I had never been to Boston before. We watched races all day Saturday and then raced on Sunday. It was way colder than what we were prepared for. We did not race as well as we had hoped, but it was still a great experience,” senior Olivia Skelding said.

Cross Country had another great season. They won the TRAC, districts, and placed at regionals, qualifying them for states.

For the last 3 years, senior Stephanie Sherman has qualified as an individual, but this year, she had the 6 other varsity runners by her side. Qualifying for states was a huge accomplishment for the team.

“Stephanie has carried the team effectively for the past three years, and it is going to be very hard to let her go,” head coach Brannon Wurster said.

The NDA community is proud of these athletes, and is hoping for the best for the winter and spring seasons.

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Sports Snapshot napsh

Sports

Freshman Madeline Vining on the home stretch of the state race in Hudson, Ohio. Photo by Caroline Crescenzo.

Healthy for the Holidays LAUREN SASALA Thanksgiving meals tend to be unhealthy, however, here are two healthier options.

Healthier Green Bean Casserole Ingredients: 2 1/2 pound green beans, trimmed and cut into 1- to 2-inch pieces 2-3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided 1 medium onion, thinly sliced 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour 3/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon white or black pepper 2 1/2 cups low-fat milk 1 1/2 cups fresh whole-wheat breadcrumbs Preparation: Preheat oven to 425 degrees Toss green beans in 1 tbsp. of olive oil, then roast (20-25 minutes stirring occasionally) until tender In large saucepan, place 1 tbsp. of oil and cook onion until soft and golden brown (5-8 minutes) Add flour, salt and pepper, and milk while stirring until the mixture is thick and bubbling Once green beans are done, transfer them into a baking dish and spread sauce over them Combine breadcrumbs with remaining oil, and place crumbs on top of green beans

Place dish back in oven (5-10 minutes) until the crumbs begin to brown.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies Ingredients: 2 cups whole-wheat flour 1/2 cup flaxseed meal (optional; if omitted, add 1/2 cup flour) 1 teaspoon baking soda 3/4 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice 1/4 teaspoon salt (optional) 1 1/2 cups sugar 1 stick of softened unsalted butter 1 cup canned pumpkin 1 egg 1 teaspoon vanilla 3/4 cup dark chocolate chips Preparation: Preheat oven to 300 degrees Whisk flour, flaxseed meal, baking soda, baking powder, pumpkin pie spice and salt together in mixing bowl. Set this aside.

Beat sugar and butter together with mixer, until light and fluffy. Add pumpkin, egg and vanilla, while mixing until well blended.

Slowly add dry ingredients until mixed evenly.

Use a large scoop to separate the dough and place on cookie sheets.

Bake for 20-24 minutes or until golden brown.

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Opinion & Editorial

Social Media Joins, Isolates People Selfies Creating an Egocentric Culture

Crosstalk

Ellen Buerk Selfies, status updates, hashtags, and tweets: as more and more millennials begin to enter the workforce and mainstream society our culture has been reduced to such egocentricities. For the majority of people, the biggest concern is the number of likes they received on a post or how many people thought their selfie was to die for. Although seemingly harmless, this new behavioral trend is radically changing the mindset of the American people.

Some may argue that a few selfies and a funny tweet are completely harmless and those who say they are not are simply being melodramatic. There is no disagreement here.

There is nothing wrong with sharing a beautiful photo or trying to make your followers laugh. In many ways, these concepts unify and globalize our world like never before in a positive way. The problem lies in the fact that these simple indulgences rapidly dissolve into an obsession with social media and extreme egocentricity.

The American culture is becoming increasingly individualized. While this is a good thing to a certain degree, emphasizing personal promotion and success, when taken to excess, it can detract from the community.

Human beings are so consumed by their own virtual realities, by how many followers they have, how many likes that they got, that serious issues are being blatantly ignored.

Apathy has reached epidemic proportions and the selfie has become less about self-expression and more about participating in an egocentric culture.

It is time to turn the camera around. A selfie every now and then is harmless, but America needs to start capturing the world around us.

Our phones need to come second, as tools for communication and innovation, platforms for future success, instead of objects for personal promotion. The problem is not technology itself, but the reality of its use.

The Vista Staff Volume 66 Issue 2 The Vista is a publication of Notre Dame Academy by the Journalism II and III students. The office is located in Room 113 of the school.

Unsigned editorials represent a majority vote of the newspaper staff.

Editor in Chief: Ellen Buerk Adviser: Mrs. Julie Sells First Year Reporters: Grace Collier Caroline Crescenzo Lauren Sasala Kari Toncre

Selfies Becoming Tool of Success Caroline Crescenzo

Over the past few years, social media has evolved drastically from a revolutionary way for people to communicate to a platform for self-promotion.

What started out as sharing pictures and status updates with a few close friends quickly turned into an easy way for people to create an image of themselves that they want the whole world to see.

And thus the “selfie age” was born.

At first, the foreign concept of someone posting pictures of him or herself seemed conceded and unheard of.

What could possibly be the point of someone showcasing himself or herself in this way?

It is no secret that there are some people out there that abuse the system, posting unnecessary photos of every aspect of their day.

However, this is not always the case, and to shame the system as useless means one has most likely have not seen the good side of it yet.

Many people have used their profiles as a way to start a business, gain national standing, and to share their feelings or beliefs regarding important controversial topics with others.

Some people have become so popular over the Internet that they have been able to make a brand name for themselves.

When businesses go to hire people, one of the first things they check out nowadays is social media. They can find exactly what they are looking for, and exactly what they are not looking for, based on what is posted online.

People are encouraged to think twice before they say something derogatory about the social media movement.

Instead of immediately rejecting the idea, consider what it can do to help people advance. There is a big difference between a pastime and a resource.

Editor’s Corner Here we are again!

With Thanksgiving right around the corner and a long several weeks behind us, I don’t think I’m alone in desperately needing a break.

In recent weeks, conversation in the halls has predominately consisted of the mountain of work piling up for those short five days at the end of November. As I contemplate my own work load, that precious break seems all the more essential.

It’s close but it’s not here yet, however, and, although I too am tempted to rush through these last few days, it shocks me just how fast this year is flying by. Christmas will be here before we know it and second semester looms close on the horizon. Enjoy these moments, NDA. They’ll be gone in the blink of an eye. ~ Ellen

Opinion and Editorial

Front Page Meant for Good Celebrities are all over the news and are huge role models for children and teenagers of all ages. Their actions can be influential towards young adults. What seems to be in the news however, most are the bad choices these celebrities are making.

The Kardashians seem to take the spotlight a lot as well, yet they do nothing of importance except for have a reality TV show that promotes a false and unrealistic lifestyle.

The good and effective actions celebrities are taking nowadays are neglected in the news and are rarely talked about. These actions are what people should care about and deserve to be in the news.

Emma Watson has been using her fame to spread awareness about feminism.

In 2014, Watson gave a speech to the United Nations about a new campaign called HeForShe whose purpose is to unite the men and women to become one.

Since then, she has continued to speak to businesses, companies, and universities to encourage people to join the movement and support the campaign.

Jennifer Lawrence recently wrote

an essay about unequal pay between men and women and her experience with the problem.

Lawrence writes about how she was paid less for her role in The Hunger Games then the male actors in American Hustle.

This essay brings some much needed attention to sexism in Hollywood.

It is not very fair to the women in Hollywood that men are getting paid much more money.

The Hunger Games Series made over 1 billion dollars worldwide while American Hustle only made 257 million dollars worldwide.

Bradley Cooper, star of American Hustle, is a great actor, but Lawrence is also a great actress, so they should be paid the same.

Stories like these should be on the front page for everyone to see rather than useless information about another celebrity breaking the law or getting in trouble.

Both Watson and Lawrence fit the definition of a good role model who are effectively bringing up the problems of today’s society with the hope of younger generations wanting to jump in and help.

Here’s hoping they find readers.

Cheers and Jeers 

Cheers to “No shave November” to raise money for cancer prevention.

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Jeers to the widespread E. Coli outbreak at Chipotle.

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Cheers to a teen’s organization “Ears for Years” to help deaf children receive hearing aids.

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Jeers to the recordbreaking Hurricane Patricia.

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Cheers to the Royals winning the World Series.

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Jeers to ISIS violence, suspected of planting bomb on a Russian plane, killing 224 people.

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Everyday Deserves a Holiday Grace Collier “Happy holidays” is a term used in November and December, when everyone is excited for Thanksgiving and Christmas and New Years.

Christmas decorations show up in stores like Target and Costco weeks before Halloween arrives.

While the holiday season is certainly “the hap-happiest season of all,” there are so many special days that most people don’t even know exist.

There is some sort of holiday for every single day of the year. There are silly Holidays like “Step in a Puddle and Splash Your Friends Day” (Jan. 11).

These days are such a fun a carefree way to make random days of the week not random at all.

There are inspirational days like “World Kindness Day” (Nov. 13), and the all too relatable “Punch the Clock Day” (Jan 27.) My alltime favorite days are “Look up at the Sky Day” (April 14) and the amazing “Wave All Your Fingers at Your Neighbor Day” (Feb. 7).

There is always a reason to smile, and having a holiday everyway is a good one.

While these days are not as major or important as Thanksgiving or Christmas, they are such a fun way to make every day a good day, even if it is “Have a Bad Day Day” (Nov. 19).

If you’re feeling stressed (there’s a day for that too) or you’re wondering what it would be like if your pets had thumbs (that’s March 3), it’s nice to remember that there is a reason to celebrate all 365 days of the year.

The day doesn’t have to be warm or cold, raining or snowing. It is a gaurentee that there is something unique to be thankful for.

When a friend is feeling down, feel free to remind them to “Cheer up, it’s Houseplant Appreciation Day” (January 10).

This holiday season, with the stress of the end of the semester, take time to relax and enjoy “National Lemon Cupcake Day,” (Dec. 15).

You never know, it might be great!

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Feature

Biological Warfare Still Present Today Kari Toncre Veteran’s Day is celebrated across the nation on November 11; veterans are honored for their service and risking their lives in fatal attacks that include biological warfare.

Biological warfare is a war tactic used in modern warfare around the world. These weapons included bacteria and viruses used to kill or hurt people in war. They can be simple or complex and cause a threat to a certain area where the chemicals are exposed.

“For a very long time, people have been using knowledge of the bad effects of chemicals on other people.

From Native Americans dipping spear tips in toxins from snakes or leaves, to the Japanese testing civilians in Manchuria, to ‘see what would happen’ and what chemicals could be used as a weapons,” biology teacher Mrs. Jessica Beaverson said.

Toxins are exposed to the enemy through explosives, the mail,

The American Flag is symbolic of Veterans everywhere. Photo by Kari Toncre

aerosol sprays, chemicals hidden in food or drinks, and skin to skin contact with the poison.

To avoid exposure, masks, clothing, medical protection and antibiotics are essential.

People who are exposed to biological warfare should go to see a doctor and be diagnosed and treated. If not, medical problems could potentially occur later in life.

Different toxins like Agent Orange have been known to cause prostate cancer and Anthrax affects the lungs and chest cavity. The plague, smallpox and cholera are more diseases linked back to biological warfare.

“I have a family friend who is a veteran of the Vietnam War. He was

directly exposed to Agent Orange during his time in Vietnam, and now he has very serious health issues that are directly linked to that exposure. It impacts him and his family every day, even after all this time,” English teacher Mrs. Julie Sells said.

Today, most biological warfare is directed by terrorist groups.

ISIS attacked a city in Syria using mortar and artillery shells containing mustard gas this past August.

Mustard gas is a yellowish, mustard smelling toxin that irritates the body through skin contact.

Over 50 people reported to the local hospital with symptoms of coughing, vomiting, wheezing, itching and blisters from the exposure of mustard gas.

No one was killed from the attack.

Many of the victims were children.

“There is so much history on it, and we will see more in the future, as chemists and those who want more power investigate the uses of bacteria, germs and chemicals.” Mrs. Beaverson said.

Mythbuster’s Mixing Science and Fun LAUREN SASALA Best known as a television show since 2003, the Mythbusters staff has created an interactive exhibit which will be at the Imagination Station until January 10, 2016.

Mythbusters: The Explosive Exhibit, is for all ages and provides a learning experience as it is a way to tests myths using the scientific method.

“Adults learn as much as the kids do,” PR and Communications Coordinator Mr. Paul Morin said.

With over 10 different interactive stations, these activities can be as complex or simple, making this exhibit a place for all ages.

The exhibit begins in the “Blueprint Room” designed to look like the set for the show on television, and contains props hand-picked by the members of the Mythbusters team.

“Fans will enjoy all the props from the Mythbusters show, and those who have never heard of the show will still have a great time,” Mr. Morin said.

“The Workshop” is where visitors can

One of many experiments available at the exhibit. Photo by Mr. Paul Morin

participate in hands-on activities and are able to choose as many or as little activities to test.

Some activities include Killer Card Toss, where visitors can test their card throwing skills or Tablecloth Chaos which involves removing a tablecloth without causing any dishes on the

table to fall.

Other activities include Running in the Rain involving the differences between running and walking in the rain, Blind Driving tests how simple it is to drive without vision, and Big Bad Wolf, testing the different ways to build a miniature home to its maximum strength.

Before each activity begins, introductory videos, created by the Mythbusters team themselves, will be viewed to explain the experiment and pose questions needing to be answered.

At the end of each activity, videos will also be available to explain the results using scientific facts.

Visitors will be able to make their own conclusions with the help of science and experience the everyday experiments performed by the Mythbusters team.

For more information, go to imaginationstation.org.

Arts And Entertainment

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New Places to Discover in Toledo LAUREN SASALA

Grace Collier

Caroline Crescenzo

Whether it is a great team-building exercise, or a way to challenge the mind, Trapped Toledo is the place to go.

While locked in a room with 10-12 friends, groups must work together to find hidden clues throughout the room to be able to escape in 60 minutes or less.

Groups may choose between three different rooms to enter, each with a different theme. Each theme has varying difficulty, intensity, fun and team building levels to provide a personalized experience.

Whether it is trying to stop a zombie apocalypse or a bomb from exploding, Trapped Toledo provides a chance to put problem solving skills to the test.

Wildwood Preserve Metropark used to be the family estate of the Stranahan family, who bought the land and built the Wildwood Manor House in the 1930s.

The grounds and house are now open to the public.

The park has 6 main trails, for hiking and biking. These include the Jack Gallon trail, a hike through the forest, and the Prairie Trail, a flat walk through tall grasses. All unpaved trails are suitable for cross country skiing.

The Manor House is open to the public for free tours in the summer.

The house is also decorated for Christmas by 30 volunteers and is open the first week of December. The Manor House, is rentable for weddings or other events.

Downtown Sylvania is one of the best parts of the city with a lot of small town charm, but it is often overlooked.

Executive On The Main is one of the best diners in this area, and the family-run aspect gives it that small town feel.

There are also a variety of little boutiques, one of which is Chic Happens, which sell more unique cosmopolitan pieces than the more mainstream fashion that is sold at the mall.

Downtown Sylvania is also holds a variety of parades and art showcases, and farmer's markets every Thursday throughout this time of year.

If you are looking to find out more about these festivities and more, visit www.downtownsylvania.org.

NDA Girls Take to the St. John’s Stage Ellen Buerk Over the weekend of Nov. 6, St. John’s Jesuit High School put on a production of Archibald MacLeish’s J.B., a modern retelling of the biblical book of Job. In order to fill the cast appropriately, the all-boys school reached out to surrounding area high schools to find girls to try out. Several Notre Dame girls answered the call.

“I wanted to see what would happen,” senior Alice Koeninger said.

Alice plays the role of Miss Mabel in J.B., a woman caught in the aftermath of a devastating bombing. “I liked the people in the cast, and I wanted to collaborate with them,” she said.

It can come as a surprise that Notre Dame girls would seek out other high schools’ arts programs considering the prestige of its own, but some felt that a musical was not the right fit for them.

“I have never had the coordination to dance in our musicals,” senior Mallorie Henderson said. Mallorie takes the stage as Ruth, one of Job’s chil-

NDA Girls rehearse with their castmates.

Photo by Ellen Buerk.

dren. “The people who can manage to perform such complicated numbers like ‘Step in Time’ possess more dancing ability than I ever will. By participating in the play, I still get that wonderful theatre experience, but I don’t have to show off my poor dancing abilities.”

Other girls decided they wanted to explore a new opportunity outside of their usual environment.

“I was originally going to do NDA stage crew and then heard about SJJ play and decided why not,” senior Bryttni Carpenter said. In addition to playing Mrs. Adams, one of the women left in the wake of the bombing and

a maid, Bryttni is one of the assistant student directors for the play. “It was honestly the best thing I could have done,” she said.

The St. John’s fall play has provided an outlet for girls seeking to meet new people and forge new relationships outside of school.

“I’ve enjoyed getting to meet and collaborate with people from other schools and getting the unique experience of seeing how they do theatre at different schools,” Mallorie said.

“Honestly, my favorite part is just all the new friends I’ve made.”

“I’ve come to think of the theatre at St. John’s as my home,” Bryttni said.

“I could not be more blessed with everything the directors have done and the cast.

It’s honestly one of the best things about high school and I’m really sad that it’s going to be over so soon. I think more people should go out for it because it’s such a great way to get to know other people from different schools that you may not meet

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Backtalk

Everyday Eagle

The Roving Reporter

Ellen Buerk Kari Toncre What are you thankful for at NDA? “Mrs. Sutton and her uplifting spirits.” - Junior, Diyepriye Ngo

“I am thankful for the teachers and their eagerness to teach.” Freshman, Katie Jackson

This issue’s Everyday Eagle goes to the NDA musical cast of this year’s production of Mary Poppins. All the show has ended, NDA will always remember the talent this cast put forth on stage. Photo by Ellen Buerk.

A Spotlight for Each Class Grace Collier On October 27, the sophomore class held their Sophomore Signing in the chapel, while the seniors took their class picture outside, the juniors practiced induction in the PAC, and the freshmen had class elections.

As the sophomores were signing their names and embracing the NDA spirit and the juniors prepared for “the rings that bind us,” none of the classes were doing much embracing or bonding with each other.

This year, the Class of 2018 did their signing alone in the Chapel. In previous years, sophomore signing has been a major event, one that the entire school attends, cheering on the class.

The only recognition this year were locker signs and a dress up day for the Sophomores the day after the signing.

Junior Induction and freshman elections were on the same day, seeming to signify that no e of these events were important enough for their own time.

On the contrary, all three are largely important and should be recognized school wide.

The very first line of the statement the sophomores sign is “We are the

girls of Notre Dame.” Sophomore Signing is a celebration of sophomores being part of the NDA family.

This should be a day for the school to embrace their class and make them feel like a part of the family.

Junior Induction is a ceremony recognizing the juniors as upperclasswomen and school leaders.

Freshman class elections are an exciting and important first for the freshman class. While the winners were still announced on the PA like in previous years, this time there was nobody left to hear it.

This takes away from the excitement of freshman elections, and is also not as special for the winners.

Next year, the juniors, sophomores, and freshmen should have their own days that the student body should be more aware of.

The school should continue to attend Sophomore Signing, and should be informed of the results of freshman elections.

Junior Induction should also receive more recognition, possible in the morning announcements.

Each event is important not only for each class but for the school itself, and each event deserves more recognition.

“I am most thankful for the friendships I have made and the love and support I have surrounding me everyday; I never feel alone!” - Senior, Hope Poolos “I’m thankful for the amazing staff keeping the school clean, educating the students, and making sure the school runs properly.” - Sophomore, Emily Goodyear “I’m most thankful for is the amazing arts program we have.” - Senior, Emily Kraus “The best coworkers and students who love learning.” Music Teacher, Mrs. Johns “I’m thankful that we can praise God throughout the day everyday and share in his beauty our gifts, talents and intelligence.” - Freshman, Ava George