The Vista - Issue 5 of the 2020-21 School Year

The Vista

NOTRE DAME ACADEMY*3535 W. SYLVANIA AVE.*TOLEDO, OH 43623*VOL 70 ISSUE 5*May 26, 2021

May Crowning 2021 In This Issue: Under the Sea (P. 2) Mrs. Zimmerman Looks Back on First Year as Principal (P. 3) Crosstalk Summer Classes?

(P. 4) Seniors Reflect on Time at NDA (P.6) Roving Reporter Senior Edition (p.7) Senior College List (p.8)

NDA celebrated May Crowning on Friday, May 14. Photo By: Kaitlin Shiple

The Vista

Page 2 News Under the Sea

How Commercial Fishing Affects Environment Kaitlin Shiple There are many environmental problems like forest fires, climate change, and plastic pollution that are often mentioned on platforms around the world.

One that has not been mentioned as much, but still has a major effect on the environment: commercial fishing.

Popular ways of fishing in the industry, such as bottom trawling and the use of gillnets, result in a large percentage of damage to the oceans. Bottom trawling happens when a fishing boat weighs a net until it reaches the ocean floor, then drags it across the floor. This results in the decimation of the habitat of many deep sea species. Coral reefs and other plants that live on the ocean floors have been severely damaged due to commercial fishing.

Biology professor from the University of Hawaii Dr. Les Walting stated that bottom trawling has been “the most destructive of any actions that humans conduct in the ocean.”

Some species are being harmed from by-catch, overfishing, or from being singled out for a specific market. Catching an animal that was not the targeted species results in by-catch. Commercial fishing boats bring the by-catch on board to kill it if the animal has not already died, and then throw it back overboard into the ocean.

According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FOA), around 25 percent of the world’s captured fish ends up being thrown overboard from being caught unintentionally, are apart of the illegal market species list, or do not meet the size and weight qualifications from fisheries.

The FOA also states a large portion of animals caught this way include endangered and over exploited species, of which 95 percent are thrown back overboard.

Overfishing is also a problem that is resulting in species of fish dying out.

According to a study from the International Union for Conservation of Nature, five out of the eight types of tuna are at risk of extinction due to overfishing. Overfishing occurs because fish are being captured faster than they are able to reproduce, which results in the depletion of the species. Over time, overfishing has become a bigger problem due to the advancements of technology, such

A "super trawler" spends weeks or months out at sea. It catches, processes, and freezes the fish all on that same boat. Photo From: Mr. Steve Coppens

Forming Your Opinion Being educated on different topics is something I never really thought about until I was a sophomore. I started my first Journalism class, which taught me about the news and led me to the importance of finding out information on different topics and informing my own opinions.

Social media has been really prevalent, and I have noticed how much information can be on there. A big problem that is occurring from the information being there is people becoming so reliant on learning about events and world issues on Twitter or Instagram, but a large majority of the posts they are seeing are probably not true. It’s very easy to lie on social media, which means that seeking out your own sources and doing your own research is so much more important than before.

Before, people only had the news.

While there was fake news, there weren’t so many different sources that could be publishing false things.

If there is a topic you are interested in learning about, don’t just rely on a thread someone posted on their story. A lot of people talk about trusting certain threads because there are sources attached.

Have you looked at the sources?

Have you double checked that it’s right? Actually make an effort to be educated and fact check everything.

When in doubt, trust the experts.

Don’t look to celebrities. Find the doctors, find the scientists, find the people who know what they're talking about.

as GPS. “A good fraction of the world’s population rely on seafood as a part of their diet, and the amount of wild fish that we are harvesting is increasing every year, to the point where fisheries that used to produce tons of fish have completely crashed,” said Mr. Steve Coppens, a NDA science teacher who is also head of the school’s Environmental Club.

There are benefits from commercial fishing as well. Many people rely on seafood for health reasons, and commercial fishing supplies the demand.

Commercial fishing also provides jobs for over 200 million people, which makes more than $80 billion a year.

There are more than 135 different shark species on the IUCN’s list of endangered species, with more being added each year. While sharks are affected by by-catch, they are also targeted by commercial fisheries because shark fins sell for high prices in the Asian food market. This results in fisheries capturing sharks, and cutting off the fins, only to put the sharks back into the ocean while they are still alive.

According to the Dartmouth Journal of Science, overfishing has caused more ecological damage than any other human behavior on the ocean’s ecosystems. Because there is so little recorded data on the effects of commercial fishing, the impact from the damage has just been realized by experts.

Another problem related to commercial fishing is the dumping of fishing gear in the ocean. According to the ICUN, at least eight million tons of plastic end up in the oceans every year.

“You interact with plastic every day, you see it, there’s the sense that you can do something about it,” Mr. Coppens said.

When it comes to being educated, Mr. Coppens recommends finding the experts on subjects, and not trusting other sources.

“Anybody can post on social media. I think that makes it more difficult for people to make the right choice. You have so many options and opinions to choose from, and the average person doesn’t really know which one is based on fact and which is based on marketing or fear,” Mr. Coppens said.

The Vista

Page 3 Feature

Mrs. Zimmerman Reflects on First Year as Principal Chelsea Fall

Mrs. Andrea (Zobler) Zimmerman ‘96

Q. Were you nervous coming into your first year as principal?

A: “I was extremely nervous for the huge responsibility that I got with the position and was nervous because

I had Sister Carol when I went here, and I want to follow the same expectations she had from the school. But I was very nervous and called my brother who is a priest, and we talked and prayed through what I should do that would be best for the girls.

I also was nervous coming in because I wanted to be a good role model, but I received a phone call from a mother who was glad that I took the position so that I could show the girls that it is possible to be a mother and have a career.”

Q. What were you most excited about coming into this year?

A: “ I was most excited coming into this year to learn more about the girls and

to build a relationship with them and create a bigger family within the community.”

Q. What were some of the biggest challenges that you faced that were unexpected?

A: “I didn’t expect masks and social distancing to be as big of a problem as it was, but also going virtual in November and having to call parents and have them come pick up their daughter if she had to quarantine.”

Q. What is a memory from your first year as principal that you will never forget?

A: “I really enjoyed getting to see everyone back in school because we weren’t sure that it would be a possibility this year, as well as getting to have a prom and hearing form the girls how much fun they had after. Another great memory was getting to call down Brooke and Isabel and tell them that they were the Salutatorian and Valedictorian because I got to see them call

their parents afterwards and see their joy once they knew.”

Q. What were your expectations coming into this year? How did the year compare to your expectations?

A: “I wanted to become an instructional leader and wanted to keep us on a schedule and make sure that we kept everyone afloat and that we still paired to academic excellence.

“Although we had struggles, I believe that the year was great, and next year, I hope to do the same while also creating a closer relationship with the current freshman and current JA girls.”

Q. What are you most excited for as you continue into next year?

A: “Well, I hope that we are not only finally out of Covid and we can have a normal year, but also I want to develop with the classes and build a relationship with the student body and listen to them so that we can learn together.”

Sunscreen Needed to Safely Enjoy the Sun Regan Carnes Sunscreen, especially during the summertime, is necessary each day to keep the body healthy and protected.

Whether you are swimming at the beach or simply standing outside, it is important to use sunscreen every day. Even when it is overcast, sunscreen is highly recommended.

“Sunscreen is still important on cloudy days. The sun’s UV rays still pass through the clouds,” science teacher Mr. Steve Coppens said.

The earth’s ozone layer plays an important role in protecting the body from sun damage. Ozone absorbs the majority of the sun’s ultraviolet radiation. However, according to National Geographic, this ozone layer is gradually decreasing in size. This means that, more than ever, sunscreen is essential to healthy skin.

Everyone needs sunscreen regardless of one’s skin tone, as it prevents many diseases and conditions. Skin cancer deaths are often caused by melanoma, which is a form of cancer from the sun. Properly using sunscreen lowers the risk of skin cancer.

Sunscreen also protects the body from sun poisoning and overexposure to ultraviolet rays. Preventing sun poisoning additionally prevents inflamed skin.

Sunscreen can prevent more than just sun damage. By protecting the skin from sunburn, sunscreen also prevents conditions such as heat stroke or exhaustion.

Ultraviolet radiation also prematurely ages the skin, and use of sunscreen can prevent this. Sunscreen also prevents hyperpigmentation, which results in a patchy skin tone.

“Sunscreen, when used appropriately, can block UVA and UVB rays from the sun that can damage skin and increase the chance of skin cancer,” science teacher Mrs. Chapman said.

“Sunscreen reduces aging,” Mr. Coppens said. It is easy to incorporate sunscreen into the daily routine. It comes in a variety of easy application methods, including sticks, sprays, and lotions.

Look for the phrase “broad spectrum” when purchasing sunscreen as well. This means that the sunscreen protects from both UVA and UVB radiation. To use

sunscreen effectively, reapply every two hours or immediately after swimming.

Mr. Coppens suggested a lower SPF. “I would recommend SPF 30. With an SPF above 50, sunscreen’s benefits begin to reduce,” Mr. Coppens said.

According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, any SPF, or skin protection factor, between 15 and 50 is acceptable. High SPFs are misleading, as SPF 30 blocks 97% of the sun’s UV rays, SPF 50 blocks 98%, and SPF 100 blocks 99%.

Because of this, high SPF sunscreen gives users a false sense of security. This results in an increased risk of burns.

Know that using a high SPF does not mean the protection will last for longer .

“I am a lifeguard in the summer, and I use SPF 30. I always make sure to reapply, because I am out in the sun for several hours,” junior Tori Barkhimer said.

Using appropriate sunscreen daily needs to be an essential step in the everyday skincare routine. Not only will it help to maintain smooth and healthy skin, but it also protects the body from fatal cancers and other dangerous conditions.

The Vista

Page 4 OP-ED

Summer: Time to Relax or Get Ahead?

Crosstalk Make Next Year Easier Make Time to Relax Chelsea Fall

Mary K. Gryzbowski

While we are ending our school year soon, it's important to think about the options that girls may have for classes over the summer or next year. Notre Dame offers classes in June that are three weeks long that can be taken to gain credit for classes that would have otherwise been taken in the school year. This offers benefits to girls that help throughout high school.

When transitioning from summer into the school year, sometimes it can be hard to make that switch to a daily schedule; however, these classes offer a year-round routine.

Some girls can fall back because they feel overwhelmed by the amount of work that comes in once they start school, so taking classes over the summer can help keep consistency.

Consistency is key for most children, especially in a learning environment.

According to the U.S Health and Human Services department, “Keeping a child on a routine can help kids feel secure and can help them engage more in class.” Following a routine of school throughout the whole year can help keep you engaged in your classes.

Most summer classes can help girls gain credits during the year. The more summer classes that girls take can open up their schedules to be filled with classes that are easier to take during the school year so they're not as overwhelmed.

Overall, staying on a year-round consistent schedule, staying in a learning environment, and continuing school to lessen the school year’s workload has shown to lessen stress and keep focused during the school year.

Being able to strengthen skills over the summer and stay on a yearly schedule will not only strengthen girls’ school work and participation in classes, but it will also set the next school year up so that it is not as stressful.

With the end of the year approaching, many students are considering taking courses over the summer. While this can feel like a good idea, there are many downsides to consider.

Students struggle for the entire year to finish work and deadlines, and this year has been especially difficult. Towards the end of the year, many students face burnout --losing interest in their work and procrastinating. The summer can be a good time for these students to relax before the stress of next year begins.

Additionally, summer classes, being a condensed version of a class that should be spread throughout one or two semesters, can be difficult to keep up with. Teachers will expect students to do more work, and faster. For an already-burnt-out student, this can be difficult to handle. Additionally, if the class teaches essential material that could be built upon in the future, it is important to have a good grasp on the concepts.

Some summer classes may focus on central concepts, but brush over the intricacies of the subject because of time constraints. A good summer class will balance all the work, but it is difficult to know which classes those will be.

High-achieving students or students who want to get into elite colleges may feel summer classes are the best option to demonstrate their hard work. However, they are missing a central opportunity that summer gives: free time. Students should use summer as an opportunity to more deeply explore their own passions or practical skills. This could be through internships, passions projects, volunteering, or developing skill in a hobby -- all things that the school year doesn’t usually allow for and can be equally or more impressive Instead of filling up the summer with more school, devote time to the things that you enjoy, and come to school next year feeling ready instead of run-down.

The Vista Staff Volume 70 Issue 5 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.

Editors in Chief: Kaitlin Shiple and Chelsea Fall Second Year Reporters: Regan Carnes Mary K. Grzybowski Adviser: Mrs. Julie Sells

Editor’s Corner Hey NDA. It feels crazy that something I love and enjoy so much is already over. From J1 to being editor, I have definitely had a weird time. Especially with this year, it hasn’t been easy. I’m leaving Chelsea in charge after I’m gone, and I couldn’t think of a better fit. I look forward to reading other issues of The Vista next year with her as Editor.

-Kaitlin ___________________________________________ Hello everyone! I’m Chelsea, and I’m super excited to be the new editor next year. My editor Kaitlin has been wonderful this year, and I don’t think I could have gotten anywhere without her. I wish her well as she heads off to college, and I hope to follow her example and lead off into a great new year.

-Chelsea

Page

The Vista

5 Senior Section

Graduates Prepare to Spread Their Wings

Seniors pose for their class formation photo at the lacrosse field. Photo by Lifetouch.

Chelsea Fall

“I appreciate how they have handled disappointments with creativity and grace. They have rallied around each other to support friends and build each other up.”

Graduation Ceremony  May 27 at 7 p.m.  Rosary Cathedral

(By Ticket Only)

“I'm so proud of the Class of 2021 for persevering through this difficult year and for always using their voice to fight for good!

- Mrs. Kelly Wood

- Mrs. Amy Johns

Seniors Find Their Inspiration at NDA Chelsea Fall

“My biggest inspiration is Ms. Jackson because she has such a pure heart and kind soul. She has influenced me to go out into the world and accomplish my goals. I love her so very much because of all the things she has done for my class, even if it’s just bringing in roses for my senior class when we were struggling mentally. I will miss her contagious laugh and smile next year because it always made my mornings so much better.

She is 100% the most kind and

genuine teacher I’ve had in all my six years at NDA.“ ‐ Claire Szymkowiak “I think my biggest inspiration at NDA are the teachers. They are so brave, happy, and always willing to help! I couldn’t be successful without them!”

- Alexandra Simpson “My biggest inspiration at NDA is my cross country coach because she always taught me to stay strong and keep pushing even when I felt like giving up.”

- Samantha Heckman

“My biggest inspiration at NDA is all of my friends because all of them taught me so many things about life that I want to take with me to college and showed me that they always believed in me.”

-Emma Pelton “My biggest inspiration at NDA is all of my classmates around me because we all gave each other support and kindness throughout the year, and I know that they will be there for be whenever I need it.”

- Gabby Ravas

Page

6 Senior Leaders Reflect

Isabel Nester, Valedictorian

I think that NDA has completely unique academics that provide the right kind of challenge. I was able to join the orchestra as a pianist who had never played with other instruments, and I am able to IB classes, which is unique in our area.

Personally, I think I have grown as a musician, a friend, a Catho-

lic, etc. The wide variety of experiences I have been able to experience at NDA have allowed me to try new things and kind of really just see what I like, so I really think NDA has made me who I am today.

Academically, NDA has challenged me so much.

The example of my parents helped me because they really had to work to reach their goals. Once I established what I wanted my own goals to be, they supported me and gave a good example for me to follow.

Tina Maly, Senior Class President

I think one of the biggest struggles of being the president, especially this year, was trying to plan anything around Covid19 and the restrictions it came with. I feel like senior bonding and activities were not as feasible this year with these limitations.

If I could do one thing differently, it would have been to

establish a more open communication system with the NDA administration.

The position has helped me understand the importance of communication and collaboration. I feel like many people, myself included, try and do as much as we can alone, without talking or working it out with others.

Student Council this year has taught me that communication is the key to getting to understand and plan an event for others.

The Vista

Brooke Seelenbinder, Salutatorian

NDA has provided an environment for me to feel like I could do anything and given me the resources to do so.

I feel that being encouraged to pursue my wide range of interests has made my high school experience both excit-

ing and rewarding.

Because I was given so many opportunities to be heavily involved at school, I was motivated to push myself both in and out of the classroom, which ultimately made me grow as a person and student.

The teachers here taught me that struggling and asking questions is okay!

I know these are skills I will need going forward, and I am very grateful that NDA helped me acquire them.

Jade Spidel, Executive Student Council President

Overall, I feel as if my role as Executive President has helped me to better understand the inner workings of a Catholic school.

To get things done was a slower process than I would have liked, but it made me bet-

ter understand the idea that change is not instantaneous, but rather only a slow process to which we can do our best to contribute.

I hope that, at the very least, my time as president was able to contribute to that change in as beneficial a way as possible.

Being able to come to better understand and represent my classmates is always a bonus, too.

The Vista

Page 7 Senior Section

Senior Roving Reporter: What’s One Moment You Want To Revisit?

Mary K. Gryzbowski “I think I would revisit being on the crew team and rowing with all my friends freshman year.” - Bess Maume “The moment I would like to revisit is Mardi Gras. I had so much fun on that day.” - Bonus Sawangwisarn “I think a moment I’d like to revisit would be visitations my junior year. It was so much fun, and I missed having them this year.” - Carissa Kolcun “I wish I could revisit doing high school visitations, especially when I was in the orchestra! It was such a fun part of NDA, and the arts part of it is extra fun.”

- Isabel Nester “I'd like to revisit being with my swim team.” - Paige Chaffee “I would revisit my first visitations as an NDA student.” - Maria Evola “There’s so many, but one would for sure be my freshman year H English class with Mrs. Sutton! There were only 12 of us, and it was always so much fun (especially the surprise birthday party we threw her!!).” - Rachel Miller “If I could revisit any moment at NDA I would definitely go back to out Junior Induction when I had to stand on the stage with the other stuco officers and sing the alma. None of us knew the rhythm or the words, and it was such a big mess with everyone laughing! We still don’t know the words or rhythm, so singing it at graduation will be like part 2.” - Kareen Darwich “My favorite memory is when I face planted sophomore year during long jump in front of the entire SJJ, SFS, and Lima Senior teams at a track meet.”

- Ryen Langford “I’d go back to my first speech and debate comp being on the NDA team.”

- Simone Gilbert

The Rant:

My Last Rant

Teacher Roving Reporter: What Do You Like Best About This Class?

Kaitlin Shiple

Regan Carnes

Most of the time, high school is hard. Not only do you have classes and assignments to keep up with, but you also want to make new friends and live your life while you're young. Then there is the overwhelming thought about going to college and figuring out what you want to do with the rest of your life.

People often say that your years in high school are the best years of your life. Well, they shouldn’t be.

You shouldn’t try to make these four years the best of your life because you haven’t had a chance to live the rest of your life. I’m not trying to say that you should waste away while in high school, you should try to enjoy them, but you can only go up from here.

As a senior, I can promise you that it will get better. As a freshman, you’re scrambling to figure out everything going on around you in a new place with new people. I get it, but with changes comes new experiences, and you’ll end up getting some pretty great stories. Just make sure you aren’t doing too much, and eat the NDA cookies, that's something you don’t want to miss out on.

Something this year has made me realize is that I wish I went to more games and school events. I wish I did more to be involved. Now that it’s all gone, I didn’t realize what I had been taking for granted. Experiences are something you cannot replace. Go after them.

One thing that we take for granted is the people we are surrounded with. I didn’t meet my best friend until junior year, and that was by pure luck. Make sure you talk to people, even if they aren’t a part of your normal circle.

If there is something I have definitely learned while being here, it’s that kindness can get you a long way. You never know what anyone else is dealing with, and there’s no need for any drama. It won’t matter in five years what someone said about you while you weren’t there.

Just let it go and move on.

“They have great attitudes in spite of everything thrown at them this year, and they have managed to support one another.”

- Señora Alison Tansey “There's a real sense of sincerity and selflessness with this class.

What I admire most about many of them is how they always have the bigger picture in mind about putting others first and being deliberate with your relationships with others.

The Class of 2021 also has some wonderful minds in it, minds that challenged me to be a better teacher and opened up different perspectives that maybe I had not thought of. They are thinkers about what they are doing and take such unique perspectives on things.”

- Mr. Chip Smith “The characteristics I appreciate best about this class are gratitude, flexibility and determination. After the challenge of online learning in the end of the 2019-20 school year, the class of 2021 came into this school year determined and appreciative of their NDA education.

They were excited to be back in the classroom, with one another, flexible with changes needed and determined to make this year the best year possible.”

- Mrs. Susan Kozal “What I like best about the Class of 2021 is their perseverance in the face of adversity. This class has dealt with a lot this year and they continue to push through.”

- Mr. Matthew Gruenwald “My favorite thing about the Class of 2021 is that, for the first time, I was able to have a group of them in freshman, sophomore, and senior English, and it has been wonderful to watch them grow.

Also, I had never met a Carissa before the Class of 2021, and now I know two great ones!”

- Mrs. Lindsay Sutton

The Vista

Page 8 Senior Section

Class of 2021 College List As Compiled By NDA’s Counseling Department Arizona State University Mackenzie Orchard Bowling Green State University Maya Card Colleen Culp Samantha Heckman Molly Kolodzaike Nevaeh Krontz Rachel Miller Sophia Mounts Jordan Nichols Kadence Nicholson Jillian Parker Emma Pelton Riley Shelnick Muriel Toerne Graciana Webb Carissa Zirbel Central Michigan University Maria Evola Columbia College of Chicago Riley Skinner Saja Stormer Embry Riddle Aeronau cal University Brynna Has ngs Gap Year Naysia Jamison Marisa Mack Charisma Villagomez Hope College Renee Mar ng Elizabeth Maume Indiana University of Pennsylvania Madeline Miller Kent State University Susan Shrader Lourdes University Rylie Howell Alexandria Wolfe Loyola University Chicago Aimee Jaggernauth McKenna Matson Natalie Suwinski Abigail Valen ne Marque e University Erin Burke Marymount University Natalie Bialecki Miami University Olivia Assenmacher Paige N. Howell Claire Hoyt Emma Hoyt Kaitlyn Marshall Jane Ryan Ellen Shern Allison Sosko Sydney Vargas Michigan State University Brooke Seelenbinder Madison Soulis

New Mexico Highlands University Alyson Ray New York University Shanghai Jade Spidel Northwestern University Miracle Burt Oakland University Olivia Sims Ohio University Lauren Hi s Hayden Kajfasz Morgan Lake Katherine Stapleton Ohio Wesleyan University Rachel Allison Elizabeth Darrow Owens Community College Nia Files Zoe Gibbs Purdue University Amanda Pawlecki Seyoung Ree Samford University Amanda Deku Siena Heights University Tialyn King Temple University Addison Crawford The Ohio State University Jenna Biedenharn Jaelyn Braden Kareen Darwich Elizabeth Garver Tina Maly Alison Myers Madelyn Piscopo Kathryn Seewer Kris na Sim The Ohio State University‐Newark Nadia Sonner The University of Arizona Julia Pe y The University of Findlay Kalina Conley The University of New Mexico Noelle Albright The University of the Arts Carolyne Giannini Trine University Chelsea Drummond University of Alabama Abby Korczynski University of California San Diego Lily Rieman University of Cincinna Kayla Holloway Ryen Langford Rayleena Manzanarez McKenna Meehan Sasha Perry Ainsley Pike

University of Dayton Madison Bell Jillian Cendol Audrey Kelly Sofia Marquez Halle Rindler University of Illinois at Chicago Pinyada Sawangwisarn University of Michigan Anna Busse University of South Carolina Gretchen Gmi er Kaylin Meneilly University of Toledo Chanita Alcaraz Nikki Aliakbarzadeh Madison Arndt Elyse Bell Paige Chaffee Jessica Chernock A’Liyah Davis Nicole Douaihy Natalie Doumet Kara Driver Hailey Firsdon Erin Fletcher Sierra Forrest Allyson Gibbons Journee Hall Sareena Harb Katherine Holmes Paige M. Howell Albany Jaques Jillian LaBeau Ava Lutz Olivia Lystad Isabel Nester Claire Ohns Maria Olvera Abigail Radabaugh Suha Rahal Gabriella Ravas Erica Sacoto Chris ne Mae Salcedo Jenah Sayed Kaitlin Shiple Jocelyn Shook Alexandra Simpson Maria Steinem Kacie Suiter Timberlin Wyse Julia Zigray Haley Zuccarell University of Toronto Simone Gilbert Vassar College Carissa Kolcun Xavier University Claire Szymkowiak Serena Villegas