The Strength of Women (p.
Crosstalk: We Need All of Our History (p.
Editorial Eagles Want Warm Legs (p. 5)
Mr. NDA Interview (p. 6)
The Rant: Women Want to Be Safe (p.8)
Every year the President of the United States gives a State of the Union Address, describing the positives and negatives of the country. In this issue, the members of The Vista Staff are investigating the state of women.
Discrimination is still heavily shown against women, especially in areas of the workplace, medical care, and education.
The gender pay gap, while it is smaller than it used to be, has still not reached an equal.
The gender pay gap has remained stable for the past 20 years in the United States, and in 2021, full-time, year-round working women earned, on average, 84% of what their male counterparts earned, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
According to the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, in Ohio, women earn only 76 cents for every dollar a man earns.
However, it can vary state to state. In Massachusetts, women earn 81 cents for every dollar a man earns.
While some states, have a closer range between the gender pay gap, it is still around a significant 20 cent deficit, adding up quickly when speaking of numbers and money.
Some wonder why this hasn’t been fixed already.
“Finish fixing the problems that are already there and should have been dealt with, such as equal pay, equal job opportunities, equal education, and overall more respect towards women,” sophomore Payton Gluca said.
Gender bias is evident and persistent in the healthcare field.
“One in five women say they have felt that a health care provider has ignored or dismissed their symptoms, and 17% say they feel they have been treated differently because of their gender—compared with 14% and 6% of men, respectively,” as shown in a survey conducted by TODAY, found in Duke Health.
Encouraging discussion of this top-
ic and the discrimination that persists in health care can help those working in the field receive proper training on how to handle situations without bias.
Education is yet another major area of gender bias with discrimination against women evident.
“Girls around the world are experiencing gender discrimination from the age of just seven years old, with one in ten primary schoolgirls reported being unhappy being a girl, doubling to one in five by the time they reach secondary school,” said a study published by the Global Campaign for Education.
The study concludes that the schoolgirls’ reasoning for wishing to change are due to the feelings of a lack of freedom and opportunities, with also a prominent fear for safety and the higher possibility of harassment.
Some improvements have been evident in this field as well. About 61.9% of the 930,000 students enrolled in master’s programs in the U.S. in the 2021-2022 academic year are women.
“I would love to see equal pay in every career and no marginalization for little girls as they should never feel less than a little boy,” said jun-
ior Nora Bullimore.
While developments have been made for equality in the United States, it is evident that much more needs to be done to ensure everyone is on an even playing field.
“The state of women in the U.S. is complex. There have certainly been strides made towards greater equality, but in other regards have experienced what some would classify as setbacks. For example, the U.S. still has a shockingly high Maternal Mortality Rate compared to other similarly developed countries, with Black and Hispanic women having an even higher MMR still,” social studies teacher Mrs. Natalie Morgan said.
Even young girls can do so much to improve the marginalization and discrimination shown against them on a daily basis.
“Speak loudly! Be brave, become leaders. Choose a cause that is important to you and fight for it. LEARN. Empower yourself with knowledge and develop confidence! To quote our Women's History Month speaker, Sara Abou Rashed‘If you don't do it, someone braver than you will.’
“Nike has it right- Just Do It!” said Mrs. Morgan.
Mad for Plaid is Notre Dame Academy’s biggest fundraiser event of the year, and everyone benefits from the proceedings.
This event has been ongoing for at least ten years and raises money for much of the NDA community, some of which being money for tuition assistance, building improvements, campus ministry and professional staff developments.
“Anything and everything that the school needs is being supported by this annual signature fundraiser,” Advancement Event Coordinator Mrs. Nikie Kunz said.
This event also honors the newest Hall of Fame inductees, those women who have graduated from NDA and shown the world their bold, brilliant, beautiful, and blessed qualities.
There are two categories for the Hall of Fame: the Service Leadership Award or the Professional Achievement Award. To be recognized with either of these honors, an NDA alumna must be nominated by someone who completes an application form describing why this alumna should
be chosen for the award.
The recipients this year are Ms. Wendi Huntley ’83 for the Service Leadership Award and Ms. Ray’Chel Wilson ‘15 for the Professional Achievement Award.
Ms. Huntley never expected to receive this award, but she has shown she is deserving and dedicated to serve people.
She is the President of the Connecting Kids to Meals nonprofit ministry, which fights childhood hunger by providing hot meals to kids at no cost in lowincome areas in the community.
“I would tell a young woman today to dream big, to stay faithful, to do something that she’s passionate about. At the end of the day, it isn’t about money –you want to feel fulfilled in your soul,” Ms. Huntley said.
Ms. Wilson is a teacher extraordinaire, educating children about holistic financial wellness and closing the racial and gender wealth gaps. She also created Raise the Bar Investments, a company that provides young people of color with skills necessary to build generational wealth and will be Notre Dame Acade-
my’s youngest alumnae ever to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
This event goes out to NDA’s entire database, meaning around 10,000 people, but only 250 can join the festive night.
This night includes cocktail hour, socializing, dinner, and silent auction.
The silent auction includes items such as parking spots and tickets to the fall musical, along with around 50 other various items.
Fundraising happens all night and as text messages go out, the Mad for Plaid barometer goes up; at the end of the night, the total amount raised will be revealed.
NDA has received around 40 sponsors for this night, with Designetics being the signature sponsor and agreeing to match $25,000 for this signature event.
The entire NDA community can get involved with this event, including the students who are vital components to making this event such a success. Students can receive service hours for attending Mad for Plaid and serving the guests.
NDA President Mrs. Kim Grilliot announced on WNDA that $200,000 had been raised at the gala.
Keeping our bodies active and hearts healthy is one of the most important things people can do, but if ever there were a problem with our heart, NDA has students covered with various AED devices around the school.
AED stands for Automatic External Defibrillator, and if ever one of NDA’s a student’s or faculty member’s ’s heart goes out of its rhythm, the device will shock and reset their her heart to get it back to normal.
According to NDA nurse Mrs. Kris Beeks, this device is not anything to be scared of, and an AED device immediately becomes less scary when a person knows how to use it.
If there ever were a case where someone is unconscious and not breathing, Mrs. Beeks says the first step is to call for help, meaning 911 and an adult.
The next step is to start CPR while someone else acquires the nearest AED device, several of which there are numerous located around the school.
When the AED device is acquired, turn it on and listen to the audio instructions.
Remove all clothing surrounding the patient’s chest, including the bra, and apply the electrode pads to the person’s bare, dry skin. The AED device’s instructions will tell you exactly where to put these pads, but will be in the general area of below the chest on the left side and above it on the right.
Allow the AED device to analyze the person’s heart rhythm and make sure no one is touching the person when the AED delivers a defibrillation shock.
From there, the AED device will give out audio instructions telling you exactly what to do and how to handle the situation.
Above all else, stay calm and listen to the instructions the device gives you so that you are able to save a life for someone in the blessed NDA community.
While sometimes a person has no chance in stopping their heart from going out of rhythm, there are still ways to help avoid this from happening and keep bodies healthy.
Many things can lead to heart disease and the buildup of plaque in the arteries,
including high blood pressure, too much cholesterol, smoking, or too much sugar. When plaque blocks an artery, it is hard for blood to flow to the heart which then causes it to stop and go out of its normal rhythm. These issues should be treated by a doctor.
To avoid this disease and buildup of plaque, people can eat healthy, especially fish such as salmon, tuna, and trout, lean meats, eggs, nuts, soy products, and various legumes.
Getting active is another major factor in preventing heart disease, especially cardio-based exercises. Keeping control of cholesterol and blood pressure by eating a healthy diet will also significantly keep a person’s heart safe and protected.
“Fruit, veggies, drinking enough water, getting enough cardio exercise, and overall taking care of yourself is the best way to keep yourself healthy and happy,” Mrs. Beeks said.
Make sure you talk to your doctor about your specific health needs before making any lifestyle changes.
Black History Month, celebrated from February 1 to March 1, originated in 1926 with the celebration of “Negro History Week,” which became “Black History Month.”
This celebration began with the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), who sponsored a national “Negro History Week.”
By the late 1960s, with the help of the Civil Rights Movement and a growing awareness of Black identity, “Negro History Week” evolved into “Black History Month.”
The month was officially recognized in 1976 when the public was called upon to “seize the opportunity to honor the toooften neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history,” President Gerald Ford declared.
This month is to focus attention on the legacy African Americans have given to the United States, from the enslaved peoples first brought over from Africa in the early 17th century to African Americans living in the U.S. right now.
Today, Black History Month is a time to honor the sacrifices and contributions of African Americans throughout society and U.S. History. This time of recognition is critical in the world as Blacks still face discrimination and mistreatment.
It is of the utmost importance that the U.S. celebrates Black History Month and takes the time to honor not only those strong African Americans who have been marginalized in the past, but also those still fighting for their rights.
The nation must continue the discussion of Black people and their contributions, while also studying the achievements made and understanding that they are people too.
Everyone must understand that race does not make one different. We are all human beings who deserve kindness, love, and respect. Black History Month is one way for people to come to this conclusion quicker.
Volume 72 Issue 3
The Vista is a publication of Notre Dame Academy by the students of Journalism II and III.
The office is located in room 113 of the school.
Unsigned editorials represent a majority vote of the newspaper staff.
Co- Editors:
Gina Napoli
Sammie Paris Adviser: Mrs. Julie Sells
As March rolls around each year, we celebrate the achievements of women around the world and promote women’s rights.
It started as International Women’s Day in 1909 and later evolved into National Women’s History week in 1978. The week eventually became a full month celebration.
Although every woman has accomplished something worth recognition, there are several who went above and beyond for women’s rights in society.
Lucretia Mott and Sojourner Truth are two well-known abolitionists who sacrificed their lives for women’s rights and gender equality during social reforms in the 1800s. More recently in the 21st century, Malala Yousafzai has proven to be an influential role model for women all over the world. After she survived being shot in the head at age 15, she wrote her book I am Malala and began a life of support, fame and prosperity.
Here at NDA we are an all-girl’s school for a reason. The ability to go to an all-girl’s school is a gift because we are able to celebrate women all year long, especially during the month of March when students come together and lift each other up with love and kindness. We show support for friends and recognize each other's accomplishments. Being within this supportive environment allows us to be a strong community of women.
While women do continue to make great strides toward equality, we must recognize there are still areas within the United States and the world that need advancement to achieve true equality for women, such as the gender pay gap, education, business ownership, political leadership and more.
It’s time for everyone to understand that women should not be limited. Women are ready to decide the paths they want to journey, and no one should stop them.
The Vista Staff is incredibly excited to share this third issue with you. We are also ecstatic about the incorporation of Journalism I students, Cece and Abi’s, work into this issue.
With fourth quarter and the end of the year approaching, it is almost time to say goodbye to this year’s team, but with that also comes the addition of new reporters to the staff :)
We wish you all a peaceful and happy Spring break, and will see you soon to continue reporting!
With love,
Your Vista Editors, Gina and Sammie
The students of Notre Dame Academy are only allowed to wear solid black or navy tights under their skirts, as stated in the Student Handbook. What good do tights do in the bitter Ohio months of December through March, though?
NDA students should be allowed to wear solid black or navy leggings under their skirts during the timespan of December 1 - March 1 each year.
Tights are made of a spandex material that can be almost see-through, clearly doing very little to actually keep students warm.
Leggings, on the other hand, are described as a “cross between nylon stockings and sweatpants, made of material that’s appropriate for tight fitting yet comfortable garments.” This is exactly what is necessary for NDA students to wear in the harsh winter.
With leggings, students would be able to actually feel comfortable and pleasant throughout the school day, and with all the classrooms having different thermostats and never knowing what to expect when walking in, leggings are the answer for all problems.
Students who wear tights under their
skirts are just trying to stay warm, but they are unable to do so because they find themselves more concerned with the cheap fabric ripping and finding a seat farthest away from the air vent than actually being able to keep warm.
A Cornell University study found that when temperatures in the workplace were low, employees committed 44% more errors and were less than half as productive as when temperatures in the workplace were warm.
“Cold employees weren’t just uncomfortable, they were distracted,” said Cornell University Researcher.
The addition of leggings in the dress code would keep Notre Dame Academy students cozy and happy throughout the day, without the stress of cheap, tights material ripping and ultimately being more of a burden than a helpful addition to the uniform.
Leggings would be a most helpful addition however, and it is certain that many more students would be in an overall happier and more productive mood when being kept warm and comfortable throughout the school day.
Cheers to only one more quarter to go for this year! Keep up the good work!
Older generations preach the importance of real-life homework, but with Home Economics classes on the decline, younger generations are left unknowledgeable about how to manage home life.
High schools should be required and funded by the government to have a Home Economics class so that students can learn to become responsible citizens.
Home Economics, more commonly known as Home Ec, is a class that has recently been on the decline. Without a Home Ec course, young adults do not know how to properly set up a home.
It gives students a start to learning about managing their own homes and prepares them for the day they move out of their guardian’s house.
Budget is the main reason why schools stopped offering Home Ec. With the increasing number of students, schools have had to stretch funds in order to support their increased student quantity.
The government should require public high schools to have this class out of opportunity and fairness to all students. They should also provide funding that way each school has a budget that can support a high quality of education for the class.
While private schools have different requirements for their classes, it would be to the benefit of their students to offer Home Ec.
Jeers to new high sugar cereals marketed as a bedtime snack to help you sleep.
Students learn personal skills such as homemaking, managing finances, parenting, and home maintenance. They also learn about nutrition, food preparations, and wellness. Practical skills such as sewing, laundry, housekeeping, and interior design are also covered. On top of all of those valuable lessons, Home Ec also teaches employment skills.
Cheers to spring buds already starting to sprout!
Spring allergies!
Cheers to speaker Sara Abou Rashed reminding us to tell our stories!
Jeers to countries that prohibit females from pursuing higher education.
While some may say government funding would be wasted on this program, students would learn necessary skills that would help them down the line. The government has a responsibility to support its students as they are the United States’ future. There are not many opportunities where students can take time to learn besides school.
The government should fund and require high schools to have Home Ec classes so that every high school student has the beneficial opportunity to learn skills necessary for her future.
Why did you want to be Mr. NDA?
I wanted to be Mr. NDA because I am a competitive person. But overall, I just wanted to be a part of the show, winning was just a nice added bonus.
How do you plan to stay involved with NDA throughout the year?
I plan to stay involved with NDA by coming to support sports. My sister runs track and then I have friends that play lacrosse so I will definitely be coming out to support athletics.
Your talent for the show was to play the guitar. How important is music to you?
I love music. It can say what words can’t. I love playing guitar because I can create music for myself.
Do you know where you want to go to college and what you want to study?
I’m not sure where I'm going to attend college, but I am leaning towards going into either the finance or the accounting field.
What is your favorite pastime?
I honestly probably couldn’t name a favorite pastime. Maybe summer just because that’s when I'm with the people I
love the most. But honestly Mr. NDA was such a good experience I would put that on the list. It felt so short.
What was the most nerve-racking part of being in Mr. NDA?
The most nerve-racking part of Mr. NDA is right before we went on for the first time. After that the rest felt easy.
How did you hear about Mr. NDA?
I heard about Mr. NDA through my sister, when she did the show her junior year.
What was your favorite part of the show?
My favorite part of the show was just hanging out with the cast. This year was such a fun group and I had so much fun just being with them and talking with them.
The Jazz Club consists of a group of talented students that aspire to express themselves by playing fun music together.
The Jazz Club was formed last year after a selected group of students played at NDA’s annual Mardi Gras celebration. What was originally supposed to be an hour-long performance later grew into a club full of musicians who love to play together.
“The Jazz Club was an excuse for the Mardi Gras Band to run all year. Now we play at visitations and orchestra concerts,” Orchestra teacher and Jazz Club moderator Mr. Ryan Thomas said.
The Jazz Club practices regularly and is composed of students from all different grade levels and musical backgrounds.
Some student musicians have played for several years, and others are just beginning to play; however, all students are welcome to join the club.
“My favorite part of the club is helping other people grow in musicality and seeing improvement,” President of the Jazz Club and senior Eliana Peron said.
The Jazz Club not only has a wide variety of student participation, but the instrument range is also vastly unique.
There are students who play trumpets, others that play saxophones, a few pianists, and even a drummer.
“I have been playing the drums for eight years, but my favorite thing about Jazz Club is that I am comfortable around everyone and okay with making mistakes,” Asher Roth, a junior and drummer for the club, said.
Gina Napoli
Student leaders prove to be influential figures when around the intimidating yet exciting environment of high school and at NDA, there are several leadership positions.
These leadership roles include a set of student council members such as a president, vice president, treasurer, secretary, and a class representative for each TCB. There is also an executive student council group that consists of multiple cabinet members and an executive president, vice president, treasurer, and secretary.
These leadership positions are filled by all different grade levels and prove to be influential for students who want to explore outside of their comfort zones.
“Being a freshman class officer has helped me come out of my comfort zone by teaching me to assign tasks to others rather than trying to do it all myself. As an officer, I get to see how everyone’s specific skill sets can come together to achieve great things,” freshman class officer Karenna Badoni said.
Not only are there student council leadership positions, but there are also senior link crew leaders and ambassadors from
each grade level. The student ambassadors are interviewed and selected by Ms. Nicci Brown, the NDA Admissions Director, and link crew leaders go through an interview process during their junior year.
A student leader has several responsibilities. They help guide younger students and are seen as role models to those who need direction within the school environment.
The ambassadors have several jobs throughout the year at NDA.
“As an ambassador, I work primarily with prospective students and admissions events. I run tours, host shadows, and help out with activities such as open house,” Ambassador and junior Ally Westmeyer said.
Student leaders also have unique characteristics that make them stand out.
“I think a school leader is someone who demonstrates a good example of our school values in and outside of school,” sophomore ambassador Emma Viertlbeck said.
Not only do school leaders uphold the values of their school, but they aren’t
afraid to show school pride. Their confidence helps students who might be shy come out of their comfort zone and have fun.
“I have lots of pride in my school, and I want to share all the wonderful things about NDA with new students and their families. I love meeting new people and making them feel welcome,” Emma said.
School leaders also assist students who might need academic help. For example, the senior link leaders tutor the freshmen and help them study for tests.
“I tutor the freshmen in my Link Crew class by quizzing them on theology tests or helping them with homework they are struggling with,” senior and Link Crew leader Giana Pinardo said.
Through different positions and responsibilities, school leaders help others navigate around the sometimes scary parts of high school. Each leader has a unique personality that makes her stand out as a role model for students who need someone to look up to.
CeCe is a member of the Journalism I class and will be a reporter next year on The Vista.
NDA prides itself on educating young women in academics that prepare them for college, but not many students know how to safely protect themselves from criminals and employers of human trafficking. NDA should set up a mandatory self-defense class.
Ohio is the fifth state in the nation for human trafficking cases. For every 100,000 residents, 3.84 are victims, and it is only the fourth worst ratio in the country. Even though 98% of the victims are white females between the ages of 21 and 29, a class provided by NDA could help protect students for years to come and help them pass the information on to friends and family (etactics.com).
There is a new Ohio House Bill (639) called the Student Protection Act that, if passed, will make selfdefense classes mandatory to graduate; it will not be enforced until July 1, 2023 (H.B. No. 639).
A self-defense class does not just teach people how to get away from an attacker; it also boosts self-confidence, teaches awareness and improves mental health. If someone was previously attacked, taking a class like this can be part of the healing process and make the student feel in control of her life.
A downside of this course is that it would take up a class in schedules that could be occupied by a mandatory class or cause the student to drop an elective she is really interested in.
Another downside is the course that the bill describes would be part of a health class; one-half unit of health is a minimum of 60 hours of instruction which NDA barely squeezes in. The time between the health and selfdefense classes is shared instead of split between two separate classes.
Instead of an actual course in the school day, NDA could administer the class on a day without school, or have a two-hour delay that would hold the self-defense course time. This means students can still participate and take all of the classes that they need to.
To further advance the skill set of NDA students, they should participate in a school-wide self-defense class.
“I would have to say ‘Run the World (Girls)’ by Beyoncé. It is one of those infectious songs that stick in your head, and of course, girls run the world and it needs to stick that way.” - Mrs. Kimberlee Williams
“Girl on Fire’ by Alicia Keys” - Mrs. Christina Adamson
“I have around 10 that I repeat all the time; one that I use in particular is ‘Fighter’ by Christina Aguilera, but I also always love ‘Survivor’ by Beyoncé. Those are definitely my top two at the moment. It is important to remember, however, that if someone does not have a song they use to hype them up, that is not a bad thing, and it just means that they haven’t endured too much hardship.”- Mrs. Angela Joseph
“Emmy Meli’s ’I Am Woman’ because it is a song about strong women that has nothing to do with men, as opposed to a song that compares a strong woman to a strong man. I appreciate that it is strictly about strong women with no comparison.” - Ms. Abby Meek
“Run the World (Girls)’ by Beyoncé. This is one of my daughter’s absolute favorite songs, and she loves to dance to it on a daily basis. It’s also fun because my daughter and I outweigh my husband with it and that annoys him.”Mrs. Lindsay Sutton
“Fight Song’ by Rachel Platten. This song shows that women can be tough and show their ferocity, so that they are able to stand up for themselves.” - Mrs. Allison Nicholson
“Independent Woman’ by Destiny’s Child. This song pays tribute to the women who are self-sufficient, selfmotivated, and self-made.” - Ms. Christiana Jefferson
“Brave’ by Sare Bareilles. Before I had surgery for my brain tumor, which I did not really want, this was my song. I listened to it every day, and it got me through my surgery, while also reminding me how I am a baddie and can do hard things.” - Mrs. Kris
Beeks“I think an ASL class would be a great addition to our school curriculum as a language credit as it can aid in a better, more resourceful society in which people who are deaf are able to communicate with a larger number of people.”Senior Ava Foor
“If possible, NDA should add the classes AP Macroeconomics, AP Microeconomics, and AP Seminar because these classes could provide an introduction to economics classes or business classes in college, and are overall good life skills classes.” - Junior Siona Niak
“I would like a financial life class. Just something to teach us bill management and responsibility. I think it’s important for us to learn this before we have to do it in the future.” - Senior Allie Magers
“I’ll say AP economics and an engineering class so that students can have more options to pursue for a career field they might be interested in in the future.” - Senior Katie Bissell
“I would like to see a cooking class at NDA so that I can learn how to make my own meals and bake in the kitchen.” - Freshman Josie Syroka
“A fashion class would be so fun because learning to make clothes is a way to express yourself.” - Sophomore Avery Lipstraw
“I think a woodshop class sounds interesting because I’ve always wanted to learn how to make a birdhouse.”Sophomore Sydney Mechling
“A drivers education class would be so informative because many students are learning how to drive as they are attending NDA.” - Junior Sydney Forcht
“A baking class would be fun because we could also learn about the culture and history of the food while making it.” - Freshman Lillian Phillips.
