The Vista Issue 3 of 23-24

The Vista

In This Issue:

Give the Girls

What They Need (p. 2)

Crosstalk: Term Limits (p. 4)

Editorial:

Does the Minimum Wage Work? (p. 5)

Meet Mr. NDA (p. 6)

Roving Reporter:

Hidden Talents (p.8)

Juniors Elizabeth Heban, Addison Gordy, Sierra Kolcun, and Abigail Weaver sit in the courtyard on a sunny day. (Photo credit to Cricket Lindsley)

Menstruation Products—Necessity

Sammie Paris

As privileged women in this society, we are lucky enough to have the opportunity to reach in our purse and pull out necessary items we frequently need, such as period products. However, many women around the world do not have this same access.

We are members of a society so focused on trying to progress our own lives, that it is easy to move past the women who do not receive the same opportunities. In this way, they are denied what they need, such as the nonnegotiable accessibility to menstruation products.

As we all can know and relate to, period products are a vital component of our everyday lives, providing us with the opportunity to properly maintain our health and well-being.

“Menstruating is a basic fact of human existence. Menstrual hygiene products are necessities, not luxuries, and should be treated as such,” Doctor Huma Farid in Harvard Health Publishing said.

For many however, the latter is trueperiod products are considered a luxury to roughly 500 million menstruating individuals enduring the global phenomenon of period poverty.

Period poverty simply stated is “described as having insufficient access to menstrual products, education, and sanitation facilities, meaning that millions of women are subjected to injustice and inequity due to menstruation,” according to The National Library of Medicine.

This issue has been increasingly exacerbated by the effects of Covid-19. The pandemic left many without jobs, and therefore without the proper funds to buy necessities, such as period products.

The National Library of Medicine says, “When they were required to manage and use money only for essentials and important needs, menstrual products were not included in the list of essentials. Women needed to find other ways to use sanitary pads during their periods. All of this happened because they needed to use the money for other important things and the pad was not counted as one of the essentials that they need to buy.”

This insufficient access has left countless women across the globe with the only option available to them being

dirty rags or clothes to stop the bleeding. Poor hygiene during this time of menstruation can lead to serious health risks, such as reproductive and urinary tract infections, yeast infections, and countless others.

“Additionally, for menstruating children, not having access to these products often leads to them missing weeks of school or dropping out of school altogether. Without the proper products to efficiently stop their bleeding, people cannot leave their homes for the whole day in fear that they will bleed through clothes – and this fear/ embarrassment is worsened with intense social stigma and the spread of misinformation about menstruation,” Women in International Security said.

Ultimately, the cost of menstruation products is the root cause of the inaccessibility for women across the globe. Due to this, policymakers need to first and foremost eliminate the taxes on period products.

This ‘tampon tax’ is a very real and occurring issue in many states across the nation that make it impossible for some women to properly care for themselves. The American Medical Association has urged for these items to be exempt from all sales taxes and for the Internal Revenue Service to recognize menstrual products as “healthcare necessities.”

The government should also be collaborating with other organizations to provide free menstrual products in all public places, such as public bath-

rooms, schools, and workplaces to reduce the amount of women being marginalized for their inability to purchase proper products for themselves.

We can take action against this critical issue and help those around us, in our very own city, as well as around the world.

The Menstrual Equality For All Act of 2019 would allow homeless people, incarcerated people, students, and federal employees free access to menstrual hygiene products, but unfortunately, was never even brought up for a vote. It is time to take action by calling our legislators and ensuring bills like these are passed and instated.

PERIOD - The Menstrual Movement, is another fantastic organization that has a chapter right here in Toledo.

“This is a great organization that involves local high school students and allows them to work together to truly make a difference in their own community by supplying low income individuals with adequate period products they need,” President and Co-Founder of PERIOD Toledo, Siona Naik, said.

PERIOD donates products in bulk to over 400 organizations across the country, and across the world, who directly serve menstruating individuals. PERIOD’s 200+ chapters work in their own cities to help promote menstrual equity, in turn, eradicating period poverty and stigma in their own communities.

“It's time to stop treating people with a uterus as second-class citizens,” Dr. Farid said.

Period Toledo members packing necessary supply bags to give to those struggling in the Toledo community. Photo submitted by Siona Naik

Small Steps Lead to Better Environment

Cece Crandall

Many issues in the environment are caused by Fortune 500 companies with little policies to protect and sustain resources. What people fail to realize is that these issues can be resolved through changing their own practices.

To reduce environmental footprints, each person’s individual actions matter, but it cannot be done alone. The notorious Great Pacific Garbage Patch, between California and Hawaii, is now twice the size of Texas, around 620,000 square miles. Many creatures have found a habitat on it and had to adapt to the floating landmass of trash and plastic.

To better help the environment in your own way, The Center for Biological Diversity recommends the following: buying secondhand products such as clothes or plastic items, looking for products made from reusable goods, and trying minimal packaging and shipping when importing or exporting. Examples of this could be replacing packing peanuts with newspaper sheets or clothing.

Another example they recommend is to try organic foods from local businesses

instead of relying heavily on stores that use pesticides in a damaging way. Also, conserving water can be managed by having timely showers and organizing water uses around each other so there is not a strain on the supply.

Lastly, carpooling with friends whenever possible or conserving gasoline by riding a bike or walking is better for sustainability. It reduces the use of fossil fuels, a nonrenewable resource.

It is critical to start thinking of ways to help the environment now as it takes a lot of time and effort to reverse the unhealthy effects already occurring.

“World population is expected to increase from 7 billion today to over 9 billion in 2050. A growing population is likely to increase pressures on the natural resources that supply energy and food,” The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development said.

Additionally, “Air pollution is set to become the world’s top environmental cause of premature mortality, overtaking dirty water and lack of sanitation,” The OECD said.

Most population-dense cities already have high amounts of air pollution that damages their health, but taking a special interest in environmental sciences is another way to help the environment as having this vital knowledge to help the earth is power.

“I want to study environmental science because I want to help the Earth as a whole. We’ve already seen extreme weather events, and the climate crisis is only going to get worse with no action. This can eventually cause displacement, extreme droughts, and the spread of diseases. I not only want to help people, but also the plants and animals that have been here much longer than us, and can’t help themselves,” senior Angel Morgillo-Zunk said.

There are countless ways to help the environment even though it sounds like an enormous task.

“Individual, small changes might not seem like much, but they very often lead to bigger changes, and when combined with thousands of others, it can make a difference,” science teacher Mr. Steve Coppens said.

Women in Politics Key to Making Changes

Abigail O’Neil

With so much happening to keep students busy, politics is one of the least likely topics to cross their minds. However, political involvement at this age is important to continuing the democratic process.

Student Council is one of the most accessible ways to be involved. The student council representatives, officers, and cabinet members all have the job of making sure the student body is represented. This is much like the real government where there is a sort of hierarchy of roles; however, they all share the same goal: to make sure the needs and wants of the people are met.

“Having this position has helped me feel very connected to my classmates. I think my leadership and communication skills have developed more than they would’ve been able to without this role,” Senior Class President Ella Peppel said.

Government is a required course in the state of Ohio because being informed is the first step before taking action.

“AP Government allowed me to see politics on a deeper level and to understand how past, present, and future issues are the foundation of our society,” Ella said.

At Notre Dame, there is a required project where students have to attend meetings or be involved in election campaigns in order to get first-hand experience with the local government.

Attending city council meetings is a way for citizens to be educated about current issues and also to have a chance to speak at the meetings in order to bring attention to issues they are passionate about.

“The project has always been intended to get young people to become involved in their community and the democratic process develops long lasting skills and habits,” Government Teacher Mrs. Susie Huffman said.

When old enough to do so, registering to vote is extremely important in order to ensure the ability to participate in such an essential democratic process.

Another way to be involved is advocating for policies, laws, or actions on specific issues. For the teenage and young adult age group, one example is Students Demand Action. Students Demand Action is a nationwide organization of young activists that advocate for the end of gun violence.

Senior Ally Westmeyer is the co-lead

for the Toledo chapter.

“In my role, I lead meetings and help plan any events or efforts we are participating in. I am also one of the key communicators between us and other organizations that we might team up with,” Ally said.

Advocating is a way to continue to take action beyond voting. Whether signing petitions, campaigning for a candidate, or educating about an issue, every form of activism is impactful.

In the United States, a woman has never been elected as president. In fact, it was only the most recent presidential election in 2020 where the first woman, Kamala Harris, held the role of vice president.

With women making up over half the United States population, that representation is not reflected in the amount of high -power political positions. Any involvement of women in politics helps to balance out this inequality; the more women who are involved, the more encouragement for women to go after higher power positions.

The youth of today are the future of America, so it's imperative to be well informed and prepared for the future of politics.

Does Democracy Call For Term Limits?

Term Limits Lead to Fatal Fallbacks

Sammie Paris

Why should individuals who fought adamantly for their position be reduced to just a few years in office?

Wouldn’t the impending doom of term limits make elected officials rush to get as much work done as possible, meaning it may not be the adequate work citizens deserve?

Wouldn’t term limits mean legislators not having enough time to settle into their positions, and in turn, get no work done?

Practice makes perfect, and if citizens do not allow those in positions of power with enough time to get agendas done, nothing will ever be completed, or will be completed poorly by the rush individuals are feeling by their impending term limit.

In this way, we would live in a world of mayhem where either no new laws or incredibly poor laws, are instituted and may lead to citizens being harmed by this reckless rush.

Presidential campaigning, for instance, can last over a year where candidates do nothing but tirelessly move from state to state vowing to individuals to meet their demands and fight for what they want.

If we asked all legislators to do the same and fight for their spots to stay every couple years, no work would ever get done.

Instead of doing the work, legislators would constantly be worried about staying in office after the next election. Therefore, making the wrong move or vetoing the wrong bill, can have fatal fallbacks for these individuals, making them feel as doing nothing will be better than doing the wrong thing.

“They’re not studying the issues. They’re not reading these thousandpage bills because they’re so focused on getting reelected. They’re so focused on keeping the job rather than actually doing the job,” Nick Tomboulides, Executive Director of advocacy group U.S. Term Limits said.

Citizens must also remember that legislators, those in the Senate and those in Congress, are doing the best they can with what they have. There is no training program for them before taking their positions.

In this way, we must give them an adequate amount of time to settle in and understand what is being asked of them, again suading against the idea of term limits, which would only allow these elected officials to think about how they have limited time in office and must get as much done as possible.

"When you term-limit someone, you are effectively cutting out their incentive to invest in learning how to do the job," Casey Burgat, Director of the Legislative Affairs program at George Washington University said.

The Vista Staff

Volume 73 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.

Editor in Chief: Sammie Paris

First Year Reporters:

Cece Crandall

Cricket Lindsley

Abigail O’Neil

Adviser: Mrs. Julie Sells

Term Limits Lead to Fresh Ideas

John F. Kennedy is well-known for his quote in his inaugural address that asks what one person can do for their country, not what their country can do for them. Term limits are a necessity to keep America flexible with changing ideologies.

According to Merriam-Webster, a term limit is “a specified number of terms that a person in office is allowed to serve.”

Many seats of power in the United States have a type of restriction on them, whether that be a time limit, or a need for reelection. This encourages the leader of that area to reflect on what the people truly want, and in turn, places power back into the citizens’ hands.

These leaders have the mindset to appease their people and deliver results so that they have a good image for their personal life and the next time they can be elected; therefore, people in power yearn to make good on what they say and govern with good faith. This also causes new generations to want to make decisions that help other people and not just themselves.

Another reason for term limits is that it will force the leaders to compromise and attempt to “reduce polarization.” This centripetal force will result in more decisions made for the common good and to help negotiate on friendlier terms.

Lastly, term limits make political transitions normal and expected. This results in rival parties not having the incentive to upset the political and governmental systems through illegal or terror-inducing ways.

A downside to term limits is that if there are one or two leaders, of whichever scale or party, who do really good things for their people, they may have to leave because their term is over This will upset the people and make them not trust in the system as much.

The 22nd Amendment was ratified limiting the President to two terms, originally intended to solve the controversy over Franklin Roosevelt being elected to four terms.

Term limits are an asset to the United States government and guide leaders to better decisions for their people.

Editor’s Corner

The staff and I are wishing you all an amazing spring break filled with nothing but mocktails, sun, and relaxation. Get ready to end the year off with a bang; I know you can do it :)

Love, Sammie

Is Minimum Wage Doing Its Part?

How can an increase in the state’s minimum wage cause such relief for some and such distress for others?

Most students who work outside of school and earn minimum wage but may not know that it was recently increased in the state of Ohio.

The increases are due to a constitutional amendment passed by Ohio voters in 2006 that ties minimum wage to the Consumer Price Index, also known as the federal government’s index of inflation.

With inflation causing issues, minimum wage in Ohio moved from $10.10 an hour to $10.45 an hour for non-tipped employees, and tipped employees of larger companies will see an increase from $5.05 to $5.25 an hour, according to the Ohio Department of Commerce.

Minimum wage increases do have regulations, as everything else, and employees of smaller businesses making less than $385,000 in annual gross receipts will still receive the federal wage of $7.25 an hour.

While this increase may seem like a lot and will be welcomed by employees receiving the new wage, it will not do much in aiding the increasing income inequality in Ohio.

A large number of Ohioans still lacks basic necessities. The U.S. Cen-

sus Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey in October estimated that 357,000 Ohioans often didn’t have all the food they needed.

There is much public support for raising the Ohio minimum wage to $15 an hour, but the Ohio Chamber of Commerce still remains adamantly opposed.

Efforts have been taken to work on raising the federal minimum wage, although no bill has successfully passed both chambers of Congress.

Proponents of an increased minimum wage argue it will lift millions out of poverty, and these changes are needed to allow individuals to keep pace with the increasing costs of living.

On the other hand, opponents of raising the minimum wage believe that increased wages could lead to increased inflation, making companies less competitive, and resulting in job loss.

The objective of this wage is to boost incomes and improve the welfare of workers at the low end of incomes, while simultaneously reducing inequality and promoting social and economic inclusiveness in the state.

Does the minimum wage really meet that objective?

Cheers and Jeers

Cheers

Cheers

The Early Eagle Gets the Best Choices

Cricket Lindsley

When you arrive at the first classscheduling meeting at NDA, they hand you a brightly colored sheet with all of the credits you will need to obtain throughout your four years at the school.

The sheer amount of work that needs to be done might seem overwhelming, but when you break it down and go about completing it responsibly, you will find there is nothing to worry about.

Aside from the standard subjects of Math, Science, English and Social Studies, NDA requires its students to have at least one art credit, 70 hours-worth of recorded service, a tech credit, two gym credits and a government credit.

In order to complete all of these requirements and some electives, NDA offers summer classes. These classes are held at Notre Dame and are taught by some of our teachers. These classes typically stretch on for 2-3 weeks and are often held in the mornings. Courses offered through this program are American Government, Computer Technology, Health, and even Summer Gym.

Another amazing thing about this is the opportunity to then participate in helping out with the NDA Summer Camps.

These summer camps are an amazing opportunity for you to gain lots of service hours, and there are many choices. No matter if you are more skilled at soccer or the arts, one can get almost a year's worth of service done over the summer without having to go to a second location.

Jeers

Jeers

Cheers

Jeers

After you’ve done all of the hard work your first couple of years, the world really becomes your oyster.

By taking all of your required classes early on, one’s schedule is left open to be almost fully customizable. Classes become more specialized, and you are really allowed to explore and fine tune what you want from not only your Notre Dame experience but what you want to do with the rest of your life. This unending avenue of discovery is a truly unique feature of the school.

So the next time you're looking over the colored sheet of classes available to you, look a little deeper and try stepping out of your comfort zone. You might just find a new passion, hobby or life skill that you would love to try.

to Spring break!

to spring allergies.

to giving assignments over the break.

to all the girls participating in March Plaidness!

to missing our seniors next year.

to registering for next year.

Mr. NDA Claims His Crown for 2024

Cricket Lindsley

Elan Liebenau, a senior at St. Francis De Sales, is this year’s Mr. NDA, with NDA senior Margeaux Allen as his escort.

“It was such a fun experience to get to do Mr. NDA with Elan! He is so much fun to be around and always makes me smile,” Margeaux said.

The annual competition was held Jan. 7 in the PAC.

Were you surprised to be chosen for Mr. NDA?

“Yes, I was not expecting to win with so much tough competition.”

How did you decide what talent to present?

“I’ve been doing dance my whole life, later I started to take interest in tap specifically because it’s something that I thought would be expressive enough to tell the audience a little bit more about me. Also, I just really like that form of dance!”

What’s one moment from the show that still sticks with you?

“When I was finally stepping on stage to perform my talent. I felt what I could only describe as the calm before the storm. It’s a feeling I often get before performing and is just a moment for me to put my anxieties aside and focus on performing.”

What was the most difficult part of Mr. NDA?

“Finally getting all of the moving parts together was definitely the most difficult part. Just trying to get transitions and costume changes done so you could get back on stage.”

What is something from St. Francis that you would like to bring to NDA?

“I would like more interactions because there are activities that do that but they are so specialized that not many people are able to connect with kids from other schools if you aren’t in the musical or sports. If SFS were to form a Speech

and Debate team or if the Dungeons and Dragons clubs united, I think we would be so much better off as a community.”

Do you think that the students of NDA embody our mission of being empowered women of vision, if so, how?

“Yes, and I couldn’t be more firm in my answer. I have met and heard about so many amazing people at NDA. The

people who go there are stepping up to fill positions that are so unique and powerful, and all while still being in high school! It speaks volumes that the people there are so passionate in what they do and are so well prepared to take that love as far as they can.”

Why would you recommend this experience to other guys?

“First off, I think everyone should do something that is involved with theater. The feeling of stepping on stage for the first time and knowing that you are here to perform and you can do it is something that can only be felt through firsthand experience. It is also just a bunch of fun, the guys I did it with are not ones you’d expect to perform, but that didn’t matter, everyone was just having fun.”

What is one of your biggest dreams for this summer?

“I really want to spend as much time with my friends and loved ones as possible. Just getting to be with the people I care the most about before we all leave to start our new lives.”

SFS senior Elan Liebman receives his Mr. NDA crown with his escort senior Margeaux Allen. Photo by Impulse Sports

The contestants put on their ties as they prepare for the show.

Photo by Impulse Studio

Mad for Making a Difference

Cece Crandall

Mad for Plaid is an elegant and cheery fundraiser that benefits all people involved with Notre Dame Academy.

Mad for Plaid originated in 2016 and was hosted off campus at a venue, before being restructured to better fit the Covid19 restrictions; it had been held in different halls prior to 2020. Before this, various fundraisers were held under different names, such as Heart and Soul. It is NDA’s largest fundraiser each year.

The goal is to raise $200,000 to $250,000 each year, and since 2016 they have raised $1,776,884.

Mrs. Nikki Kunz is one of the people who helps plan the evening; she said, “All proceeds support current and future students of NDA, through the following: tuition assistance, Campus Ministry, the IB program, athletics, the Arts, enhancing our building, and more!”

A few mini events within the night are a silent auction, sponsorship opportunities, and the 2024 Annual Alumnae Hall of

Fame.

The Alumnae Hall of Fame takes place every year and inducts two NDA alumnae who were selected that year. The process includes being nominated and voted for by a panel, and then giving a speech at Mad for Plaid.

This year the two alumnae are from the class of 1975: Sr. Mary Ann Culpert, SND and Edith (Taylor) Campbell. They will also be featured on a bulletin board outside of Fitz Commons with a small biography for the year.

Sr. Mary Ann Culpert, SND is receiving the Service Leadership Award and Edith (Taylor) Campbell will receive the Professional Achievement Award.

Current students of NDA are also involved with the entire fundraiser and volunteer to hand out appetizers, serve dinner, and clean up.

“I enjoy helping out at Mad for Plaid because I feel like I learn so much about NDA! I love talking to the people who

contribute to NDA and have a huge impact on many of the school’s programs. The event presents a neat perspective of our school that you can’t really experience anywhere else, and it’s a great experience for any student,” junior Lily Ogrodowski said.

Another student has volunteered for a few years now, a sign of positive retention for this elaborate fundraiser.

“I have volunteered for Mad for Plaid for the past two years and I plan on volunteering again this year. My favorite part about volunteering is helping set up the event before everyone else arrives with my friends,” senior Gabby Bigelow said. “It’s so much fun to help decorate and see all of the bid items. All of the money raised goes back to NDA, so I think that it’s really important for the attendees to see how much NDA girls love their school.”

Mad for Plaid’s history of giving and receiving makes it one of the most joyous and fun nights of the year.

Girls Enjoy Food, Games and Jazz at Mardi Gras

Sammie Paris

Sophomore Student Council successfully pulled off one of the biggest days of the year at Notre Dame Academy - Mardi Gras.

This tradition of celebrating Mardi Gras started many years ago when NDA used to have ‘The Mission Fair.’

This event worked similarly to the Mardi Gras we have now in that it was student-led, enabling them to secure carnival food and activities, all to raise money for an NDA sister school in Papua New Guinea.

It soon segued into Mardi Gras, otherwise known as Fat Tuesday, recognized as a day for indulgence before the Lenten season begins.

In this way, Mardi Gras provides an opportunity for students to come together, enjoy festivities and strengthen bonds with one another in the school community. It allows those in the school to enjoy each other’s company and raise money for amazing causes.

Half of the funds raised still go to our sister school in Papua New Guinea, with the other half changing the lives of those right in our own city.

Sophomore Student Council came together this year to pick three of their top charities, and sent them out for a vote to the sophomore class.

“We decided on Ronald McDonald House, Mom’s House, or Sparrow’s Nest Women’s Shelter. Sophomore Stuco wanted to send these options out to a vote to our classmates because we wanted to make sure we got the input of everyone in the class and find a charity that really spoke to all of us,” Sophomore Student Council Treasurer Giada Terrill said.

Other changes that occurred this year were a few of the food vendors. Sophomore Student Council worked hard to find options that were balanced and allowed for everyone to eat something they wished, and had enough food for all to enjoy.

Activities are a hit every year, but this year came with a few subtle changes added to the activity list.

Sophomores decided to go with karaoke instead of the usual Just Dance, making for a most entertaining event if you found yourself on the PAC stage.

Bracelets were also a new addition this year, acknowledging that there was an activity available for every student to participate in.

“I had so much fun making bracelets with my friends! It was a nice calm activity if you needed a break from the Mardi Gras chaos,” senior Addy Clonch

said.

Jazz Club is always a fantastic, prominent feature at Mardi Gras with members showing off their musical talents for the student body.

“I love to perform at Mardi Gras because you get to see everyone interacting together and people’s reactions to the music we’re playing - it is always the best time when people get up and start to dance because they love it so much,” said junior Olivia Everly.

Baskets are always a hit at Mardi Gras, but especially this year with most clubs and class levels participating, bringing in $5,500 raised overall for the event.

Some of this money will go to The Sisters of Notre Dame ministry in Papua New Guinea, allowing the Sisters to continue their good work in education, Christian leadership and AIDS awareness and management.

Money raised has helped the Sisters of Notre Dame Academy give a high school education to more than 7,000 young women in the Papua New Guinea area.

The other half of money raised at Mardi Gras will help those at Mom’s House Toledo strive to break the cycle of poverty and achieve their educational goals, all while providing a safe place for their children to learn and grow.

The Rant:

10-year-old Girls Should Be Allowed To Be Just That

Cricket Lindsley

On Tik Tok, there is a rising trend of storytelling and skits about young girls that go like this: a young girl, about ten -years-old, enters a Sephora store with her mom, sister, or other caretaker, where she goes on to cause havoc by opening products, throwing items at workers and convincing their companions to buy them beauty products they don’t need.

These stories are usually being told by employees or other patrons wondering why these girls are acting like that.

The answer is young girls are not given the spaces they need to be kids and to experience the innocence of youth, so we eventually find ourselves with young women with more issues than they should have to deal with.

When you're little, it is expected that you look to those who are older than you for guidance.

As children are getting access to the internet when they are younger and younger, there is more exposure to different role models, those looking to sell beauty products.

Young girls specifically are having content pushed to them about beauty. They see models, influencers, and shoppers in Sephora looking at the latest trends in lipsticks, bronzers, nail colors, and more.

Even if they wear these products for fun when 10, by the time they blow out a few more birthday candles, they will want to start wearing the make-up to school.

The bottom line is that bad behavior in Sephora isn’t these little girls’ faults. Does that excuse their actions and words?

Of course not, but we must all acknowledge that these things are happening because of these kids’ exposure to the internet at such a young age, as well as the decrease in public spaces that are safe for children of the age to just exist in.

In order to stop the phenomenon of the “Sephora Ten Year Olds,” we must first look at ourselves and how we might influence those around us.

Teacher Edition: What is Your Hidden Talent?

Sammie Paris

“My hidden talent is remembering dates! If you tell me your birthday once, I will remember it forever. It's a blessing and a curse! I can also bend my elbows backwards.” - Mrs. Melanie Ogrodowski

“I’m really funny.” - Mrs. Diane Clark

“I am a clogger (a dance style similar to tap dance) and belong to a clogging group in Monclova. We perform at festivals and fairs in northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan.” - Sr. Colleen Marie Cousino, SND ‘79

“I am an epic Scrabble player.” - Mrs. Marisa Spinazze

“My hidden talent is one that few people know how to do anymore; I can drive a manual transmission (stick shift), and I enjoy doing so!” - Mrs. Jean Walker

“I have a really loud and awesome whistle....” - Mrs. Laura Gallaher

“My hidden talent is being able to find lost items! My family knows that ‘mom’ can usually find it!” - Mrs. Laura Firsdon

“I am a big Beatles fan, and I have a good amount of random Beatles knowledge.” - Mr. Gary Snyder

“My hidden talent is being able to play the guitar.” - Mrs. Tricia Dunn

“I can wiggle my nose like a bunny! I don't know how I figured that out, but I have done it since I was a little kid. ” - Mrs. Kimberlee Williams

“My hidden talent is that I can play the guitar. Although I haven't played in awhile, it's kind of like riding a bike, once you learn, it's something you just always know how to do.”Mrs. Kristin Busse

Student Edition: What is Your Dream Vacation, and Why?

Cece Crandall

“My dream vacation is Paris. I want to see the beaches and try all the food. “ – Freshman Lilly Heady

“Hawaii because it’s so pretty, and I’ve always wanted to go there.”Sophomore Reese Morehouse

“Dubai because it’s so different from the culture in America, and in Dubai, it’s a bunch of different cultures all in one place.” – Senior Kaelah Baccus

“The Bahamas because I love the warm weather and see the beaches and the atmosphere.” – Freshman Sammy Sandvik

“Disney World with my family because it was a lot of fun and we made a lot of memories.” - Junior Cecilia Kramer

“Bahamas because I like the beach.”Sophomore Corinne Bowe

“Hawaii because I want to see the ocean, and I just love warm tropical weather. I would also love to try the food.” - Junior Abby Leach

“Italy because my dad’s side of the family came from there, and I would love to learn more about the Sicilian culture and more about my family.” –Junior Aubreigh Wankowski

“Vienna during Christmas time because it is beautiful and rich in artistic culture.” – Senior Ava Morris

“Italy because I like the view and scenery.” – Sophomore Kizziah Armstrong

“Costa Rica because of all of the exotic animals, nice weather, and views.” – Freshman Izzy Godosky