2025 December Corette

THE

S E N I O R S C O O P

Lorelei Cioffi ‘26 & Brooke Rodden ‘26

Hey CJ! Welome back to The Senior Scoop! This is your go-to spot for tips and tricks to survive high school. As the semester comes to an end, and the excitement of Christmas takes over, it is important to take a step back and focus on what needs to happen before the celebrations can begin: the dreaded exams. Whether it is your first time taking them or your last, we want to help you ace them while keeping a positive and relaxed attitude.

Q: What are the best places to study or do homework?

A: The best place for you to study or do homework is wholly based on you! Certain study spots may be the best place for you to lock in, but others in those same spots may have trouble! Outside of school, I would recommend going to spots like your local library, coffee shop, Barnes & Noble, or a favorite nature spot! In Cor Jesu, there are plenty of excellent spots. If you like the outdoors, head to the patio next to the Student Learning Center. If you prefer a quiet space but still want a good view, the comfy chairs in the very back of the library are the best! If you're a fan of organized chaos, snatch a table in the

Q: How do I study if I’ve never taken exams before?

A: As you go through school, it is important to make sure you find the study techniques that fit you the best. If you enjoy studying online, Quizlet, Kahoot, and Blooket are great ways to practice vocab terms. However, if you like taking a break from your laptop and prefer to study with paper, I recommend making flashcards with information you need to memorize Try putting the flashcards into 3 piles: terms you know 100%, others that you are unsure about, and the rest that you don’t know at all. This allows you to quickly glance at the terms you remember while also focusing on the others that you need to work on. For the other subjects where it is more important to understand the terms rather than simply memorizing them, my best advice is to practice, practice, practice!! Unlike history or language classes, both math and science require you to understand the concepts and apply them to other problems. Luckily, most teachers provide an exam review guide, so as you look through it, make sure to mark anything that you are uncertain about. Go back through old worksheets and homework to practice those harder concepts If you still don’t feel confident, take a small break from studying, go do something relaxing, and when you come back, try to figure out where the problem is occurring. Now, you will feel more confident in yourself because confidence is key to acing all your exams!

Q: How do I start studying and stay motivatedwhenIfeeloverwhelmed?

1.Breakitdown–Don’ttrytostudyfor3hours straight Instead,studyfor15-30minutesata time. Eventually, these smaller sessions will addupandyouwillfeelmorefocused.

2.List – If you feel overwhelmed, write everything down in order of importance and time it will take to complete Start with the smallest item to just get started. After that, if you have more motivation, try moving to somethingthattakesalittlelonger

3.Environment – Make sure you are in a comfortableenvironment.Cleanoffyourdesk toavoiddistractions,grabasnack,andgetall yourmaterialsready.

4 Reward – Set goals for yourself and once you accomplish them, reward yourself! Take a smallbreakbuttrytoavoiddoom-scrollingor other things that may distract you for too long.

5.Remember the reason – Yes, it always feels good to ace an exam, but there should be more to it than that. Maybe it’s the sense of accomplishmentandprideyoufeel,ormaybe thefactyoucanbragaboutbeinganexpertin something. Find whatever motivates you and rememberitalongtheway

Q: What are the best ways to deal with anxiety before/during/after an exam?

A: Test anxiety before, during, and after tests is difficult to deal with but 100% doable with practice. As a person who has certainly struggled with all types of test anxiety, I understand how it feels. Usually, anxiety can kick up the night before the test If this happens, you need to take a deep breath, tell yourself that everything is going to be ok, and then lock in and study the material for your test(s). You’ll be ok, but to make sure you feel comfortable, you need to study! That being said, DO NOT PULL ALL-NIGHTERS. These are awful for your health and will not benefit you on the actual test. Study to the best of your ability the night before, and then go to sleep. With a good night’s sleep, your brain will process all the information you’ve studied and will leave you waking up refreshed and knowledgeable. Anxiety right before the test is totally normal. At this point, you know everything that you need to know. Last minute cramming is not going to be especially helpful. Take a deep breath and understand that you know what you are doing. You are prepared! During the test, if the anxiety picks up again, and you feel like you won’t get done or you can’t do this, STOP. You can do this, and you are prepared. Put your pencil down, take a drink of water, and take a deep breath. If you are still stuck, circle the question. Answer it with your best guess and fill it in. If you have time at the end, go back to the circled question and review it. If you realize you answered wrong, then fix it. Just ensure that you don’t leave things blank A guess is going to be better than leaving it blank! After the test, do not stress. You performed to the best of your ability. It is over now and you can’t do anything about it, so just relax. Congratulate yourself on being done and reward yourself for all that hard work! Overall, tests are certainly anxiety-inducing, but using these tips will help them to feel like smaller obstacles and will keep you calm throughout the entire process

“Going to Iceland, I had no idea what was in store for me I expected it to be beautiful, but I wasn’t even close in my expectations The landscapes are covered in lush green moss that is contrasted perfectly against the gray sky It is safe to say that as soon as I can, I will be returning to Iceland ” - Jillian Eichhorn ‘26

Jesu Corette page designed by Amanda Missey

N D 2025

“Crisp.” That is how I would describe the first breath of air I took after getting off the plane at blank airport. Leading up to this trip, I had never been anywhere out of the country before. I was thrilled to begin my first international experience, and with that first breath of air, I could already tell that it was going to exceed all of my expectations (Amanda Missey ‘27).

“The only thing I wished we would have done that we did not do was to see the Northern Lights. I know we can see them (partially) here in St. Louis, but seeing them in Iceland would have been truly an out-of-thisworld experience,” says Olivia Steffens ‘27. “I guess I will just have to go back!”

Julia Niemann ‘27 and Gretchen Keutzer ‘27 signed up for the Iceland trip together. “I didn’t know what to expect—I had never been to Iceland before. I was very excited to go with one of my close friends, Gretchen,” says Niemann. Safe to say, Iceland exceeded all of her expectations.

“No bugs. No mosquitoes. Nothing. That was until last year. I got bit by a bug and went to the hospital. I had never had this experience before,” was what our tour guide, Kolfinna, told us while we were on the bus one afternoon. Olivia Steffens ‘27 and I looked at each other with disbelief, questioning her sanity. However, it then dawned on me that I hadn’t seen or felt any pesky bugs at all during our trip. It happened to be just our luck that at our next stop, the geothermal bread-baking facility, there was a massive swarm of gnats right outside the bus doors

After arriving in Iceland, I quickly found out all of the hidden wonders it contains Our trip covered more waterfalls than I could count, and each of them was as breathtaking as the last We were also able to venture into lava caves, experiencing the pitch-black darkness of the Earth, as well as the Blue Lagoon, notably the most relaxing place in Iceland Fun fact: Icelanders love geothermal baths

In addition to their love for geothermal baths, Icelandic people also love their sagas The Icelandic sagas contain meaning much deeper than just a mere story; they represent the culture The sagas are proof of the Icelandic people “ being the oldest literate culture in the world and [having the ability to] trace ancestry back so far that everyone can find their relatives in a story ”

“It's an incredible story,” says history teacher Jennifer Ahrens ‘87, coordinator of the Iceland trip. “They are a tight-knit community because they celebrate their heritage and have been there for thousands of years. They know their roots, and they can trace them.”

The Icelandic people pride themselves on how much they value their culture, especially through their language. Whenever there is a new word that comes into circulation, Icelanders are quick to incorporate the word into the Icelandic dialect They do this because “they want to preserve their culture and language, and they are protecting their culture by doing so,” says Olivia Steffens “It was incredible how everywhere we went, we saw some form of culture being celebrated ”

Olivia decided to go on the trip because she saw beautiful images of the lush, green landscapes, but she came back home with far more than just a few pretty sights She described her initial thought after stepping off the plane, saying, “The air was so fresh I could take a deep breath of pure, clean air ” Coming back to the United States, the luxury of quality fresh air was gone, much to our dismay One of her favorite memories from the trip, and I would agree, is when our guide told us that we may have to evacuate and run from the Blue Lagoon if a volcano were to erupt However, in our favor, the volcano erupted after we left

TR I P

“Closer than Hawaii!” - Jen Ahrens

Iceland is in fact closer than Hawaii, which makes it a perfect family trip. There is plenty to do, yet not an overwhelming amount where you have to pick and choose. If you decide to travel to Iceland, be sure to believe in elves, or else.

1. Visiting Rekjayvik

The first part of our trip consisted of visiting Reykjavik, Iceland’s capital, located in the Southwestern part of Iceland. We were able to walk all around, visiting countless shops and even The Icelandic Phallological Museum a very interesting concept for a museum. One of the coolest parts was visiting Hallgrímskirkja, the church pictured above. The inside is just as awesome as the outside, featuring an organ player when we went in.

3. Geysers

Towards the end of our trip, we visited the geysers. Iceland is known for its geothermal energy, mostly due to the massive amounts of hot springs and geysers that it has. We were able to see Strokkur, a very famous geyser that erupts every 5 minutes and shoots extremely far up into the sky. Near the geysers was also the rift that is between the tectonic plates, which we walked along.

2. Glacier Lagoon

We also got to visit Glacier Lagoon, which is in the southeastern part of Iceland, adjacent to Diamond Beach. We were able to go on a “truck-boat” cruise to see the glaciers even closer. I learned that the black parts are from the volcanic ash trapped inside them. We were also able to see some seals on our journey, which was awesome!

4. Whale Watching

Our very last day was marked with the most peaceful activity: whale watching. We got on the three-story boat and set sail arguably one of the most lulling experiences of my life. We were suited up in red, waterproof, insulated suits to keep us both warm and dry. We saw so many whales, which are such beautiful creatures, and it was amazing to witness them in their natural habitats.

Favorite Christmas present? A Gameboy from Santa Claus and a Donkey Kong game from her parents.

Ms. Koch

Favorite winter activity? She loves to go sledding and drink hot cocoa.

Favorite tradition for family? When she was a kid her family always went to mass and then came home and stayed up late opening Christmas Presents. One of her favorite traditions from her husband’s family is that at Christmas dinner everyone has to give a toast before they leave the table.

Favorite Christmas movie? Elf

Favorite Christmas song? “Oh Santa!” Mariah Carey

When does Christmas time, officially start? Christmas starts after Thanksgiving.

AVORITES A V O R I T E S

Addison Schloss ‘28

Mrs. Larrabee

Favorite Christmas present?

Mrs. Larrabee doesn’t have a specific present but she has a favorite Christmas. One Christmas when Mrs. Larrabee was a little girl she was sick. That Christmas a stranger showed up at her front door with many gifts.

Favorite tradition for family? One tradition that her family participates in is baking a birthday cake for Jesus and inside is a little baby Jesus.

Favorite Winter activity?

Going skiing.

Favorite Christmas movie? The 2018 animated The Grinch

Favorite Christmas song? Any version of “Silent Night”

When does Christmas time, officially start?- Christmas starts the day after Thanksgiving. No sooner or later than then.

FRESHMAN TEA FRESHMAN TEA

The Cor Jesu Freshmen have many amazing teachers, but which one do they like the best? To uncover the truth two of CJ’s very own freshmen went undercover and the results might shock you

WHY THESE TEACHERS?

“Mrs Reynoldsisalwaysunderstandingwhenyouforget an assignment and has taught many great ways to be productive and organized during my first year at Cor Jesu”

“Mrs Reynoldsisalwaysinagoodmoodandputsasmile onmyface!”

”Mrs.Reynoldsissupereasyandflexible.Sheisreally goodatexplainingconceptsandcheckinginwithuson howwearedoing”

”Mrs Reynoldsissosweet,andisalwayskindenoughto listentoourthoughtsandopinions.”

”You can tell Ms Ahrens has a passion for what's teaching. She makes sure that the events of her teachings are accurate and if we don't understand something,she'llactitoutforus!”

”Ms Ahrens actually makes history class interesting Beforeher,Ihatedhistory,butnowclassisexcitingand neweverytime”

”Ms Ahrens history class in very energetic and always makestimefly”

”EverytimeIstepintoMs Ahrens’classroomsheisso bright and happy, her classes are always so fun. Her classesareespeciallyfunwhenshetellsusastoryand sometimessheactsitout.Overallsheisjustasuperfun teacherandIreallyenjoyherclass.”

”Mrs. Baxendale is nice, talks with the class, connects withtheclass,andunderstandsusashumansnotjust students”

”Mrs Baxendalemakestheclasssuperfunforeveryone, andIalwaysenjoylearninginherclass.”

”IloveMs.Baxendalesomuch,sheissoincrediblyfun, wealwaysstartclassoffwithafunquestionandsheis alwaysunderstanding”

”Mrs BaxendaleisliterallythesweetestpersonI'veever met.She'soneofthoseteachersyoufeelcomfortable askinganything,schoolrelatedornot.”

Mrs. Andrea Reynolds

Mrs Reynolds is a freshman Intro to Composition and literature teacher here at Cor Jesu For high school she did not attend Cor Jesu but instead went to Lutheran South which is not too far from us She has taught here for over 20 years Before coming to Cor Jesu, she taught in a detention center at Lindbergh School district, as well as taught 8th grade.

She did not choose to become a teacher because she was an expert at Language Arts, but because she thought that being a compassionate person was equally as important in the career. She said that she is not the best at spelling, but she likes literature and poetry and that's why she chose her subject.

Her favorite part about teaching the freshmen here at Cor Jesu is that they have great energy and are always eager to try new things. She does not think that teachers have a favorite student and says that she could name all 70 of her favorite students. As for pets she has a 3-yearold, 50-pound lap dog named Rigby. You might also know that her husband has been working at Cor Jesu for about 5 years now.

CHER FEATURE CHER FEATURE

Ms. Jennifer Ahrens ‘87

Ms. Ahrens is a freshmen World History teacher at Cor Jesu. If you get the blessing of experiencing a class taught by Ms. Ahrens, you will know that she has a bubbly personality and makes the classroom fun! Because of this you might not be shocked to learn that she became a teacher because of her Fisher-Price toys, and she loved to play school as a child. According to Ms. Ahrens, even her kindergarten teacher noticed her love for taking charge She loves to teach history and has even taught world history every semester since 2002

That totals up to aroud 130 World History classes! Since she has taught so many classes you might wonder if she has any favorites, which she does She calls them standouts because they talk to her like a human She loves to teach freshmen because of their joy, excitement, and sense of humor.

Ms. Ahrens is just one of many Cor Jesu alumni on the faculty. She not only loves world history, but also theatre, Theology, law, and space. Before teaching at Cor Jesu she taught PSR (Public School of Religion) at Saint Catherine Laboure. At home she has two dogs, but she once had five dogs and a cat!

Some of you may know her as Ms Hoerner but freshmen know her as Mrs Baxendale because she got married over the summer! Mrs Baxendale is a freshmen Intro to Composition and Literature teacher at Cor Jesu This is her fourth year teaching here at Cor Jesu Before coming here she taught at Bishop DuBourg for two years For high school she went to Rosati-Kain, by the New Cathedral.

She was inspired by her high school experience so much that she became a teacher. She loved that her teachers encouraged her to discuss questions and not just come up with an answer. Her favorite part about teaching freshmen is because they are all at different points in their learning. She enjoys getting to know the students and their strengths and working with each class to help them become better She chose to be an English teacher because she loved the subject in high school She says that reading, decoding, and discussing literature are very important skills in life She does not think teachers have a favorite student and says she loves them all the same As for pets she has a one-year-old border collie named Gromit who loves to play fetch.

If you’ve spotted those adorable Patriot YAG sweatshirts around school and wondered, “Where do I get one—and what is MOYAG?” well buckle up. MOYAG stands for Missouri Youth and Government, a once-a-year takeover of Jefferson City where students jump headfirst into running a government of their own. Think debate, democracy, and just the right amount of chaos.

Whether you’re a legislator rewriting Missouri law, an attorney arguing real Supreme Court cases, or part of the media squad getting the scoop, this trip is packed—and we mean PACKED—with action. Election rallies? Check. Heated debate? Double check. A late-night mixer called the YAGster? Oh, absolutely.

The 2025 conference just wrapped, so here’s what you missed:

TheLegislature:Bills,Debates,and…aStateLabubu?!

Our legislative crew worked overtime crafting bills and debating those from other schools CJA’s own Elle Floodmen ‘27 wrote a bill on protecting registered firearms AND ran for Lieutenant Governor! She campaigned like a pro stickers,candy,passion,thewholedeal Andyes,one of the most intense debates of the weekend really was over a proposal for Missouri to adopt an official state labubu OnlyatYAG

TheJudicialSquad:SupremeCourtCaseShowdowns

Each year, YAG’s judicial branch tackles a real Supreme Court case This time, attorneys chose whether to defend Oregon’s law protecting public privacy or challenge it as unconstitutional Ourgirlswentallin

Kiera Fox ‘28 and Olivia Steffens ‘27 won Outstanding Attorney. Samantha Marr ‘28 made it to the semifinals an incredibleachievementrarelymet!

And when asked her favorite memory, Kaitlyn Loeffelmen ‘27 didn’t hesitate: “The rush of adrenaline oncewestartedsharingourargumentswiththejudge.”

The YAGster: Denim, Diamonds, and DanceFloor Energy

It wasn’t all work. On the final night, everyone changed out of courtroom clothes and into their finest denim and diamonds for the YAGster mixer. Think jorts. Think bedazzled jackets. Think mosh pit but like, a respectful government-themed one. Students also rated the food scene a 10/10.

Olivia Steffens said her favorite part was “arguing my case, and trying new foods such as the avocado toast at High Rise Bakery.”

Junior Amanda Missey swore by the froyo run to Yo Yums where it’s $0.60 an ounce. Yes, that means a whole pound of froyo for $10. If that’s not tempting, we don’t know what is.

If you have any interest in law or want just a fun weekend to explore different occupations, look into Cor Jesu’s very own Youth and Government and experience the legendary weekend in Jefferson City for yourself!

WHYSNAPMATTERS WHYSNAPMATTERS

41 7 million people, per month This is a huge number that represents the amount of people that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) served in the fiscal year 2024. This number represents 12 3% of U S residents, with states such as Louisiana, New Mexico, Oregon, and Oklahoma supporting over 16% of the population (Economic Research Service)

SNAP has been around since 1964, when several pilot programs’ sucesses led President Lyndon Johnson to request a permanent Food Stamp Program to be enacted. The mission of SNAP is to provide nutrition benefits to elegible low-income households to help them purchase food. This reduces food insecurity which in turn is able to boost both local economies and improve health outcomes. For example, children who have access to SNAP are less likely to have developmental delays as they have a trusted source of nutritious food (National Library of Medicine)

Recently, the government shutdown has affected SNAP, raising concerns that benefits would not be send out for the month of Novemeber, as these benefits are paid for by the federal government through the Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Services Amid this scary time, many families had to question what they would do if their benefits ran out

According to the New York Times, who interviewed Latricia Williams, a 26 year old mother from Milwaukee, SNAP benefits are crucial to her life. She has a baby who was born with a heart defect that requires a special formula to not trigger his allergies, which Williams had been paying for with a combination of federal programs, including SNAP (Adelson)

SNAP benefits cover any food for the household such as fruits and vegetables, meat, poultry and fish, dairy products, breads and cereals, and more. Households cannot use SNAP benefits to buy products such as beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes and tobacco, any supplements/medicines, and any nonfood items. These limitations ensure that households use the benefits for what they are meant to help with, not other commodities that are not essential to leading a nutritious and healthy lifestyle (USDA).

SNAP also benefits retailors, as it is a major source of income for them due to the people who use SNAP to buy their groceries. Another perk of SNAP is that “It’s a very efficient program. There aren’t a lot of administrative costs, there’s not a lot of waste, fraud, or abuse,” said Julia Wolfson when interviewed by Morgan Coulson for the article “What is SNAP? And Why Does It Matter?” (Johns Hopkins Public Health).

Sources:

Caswell, Julie A, and Ann L Yaktine. “History, Background, and Goals of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program”Nihgov,NationalAcademiesPress(US),23Apr 2013,wwwncbinlmnihgov/books/NBK206907/

“Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): A Primer on Eligibility and Benefits” Congressgov, 2025, www.congress.gov/crs-product/R42505.

“Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) | USDA-FNS” Usdagov, 20 Feb 2025, www.fns.usda.gov/snap/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program.

“WhatCanSNAPBuy?|USDA-FNS.”Usda.gov,14Apr.2021,www.fns.usda.gov/snap/eligible-food-items.

“What Is SNAP? And Why Does It Matter? | Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.” Johns Hopkins BloombergSchoolofPublicHealth,29Oct.2025,publichealth.jhu.edu/2025/what-is-snap-and-why-does-it-matter.

What is racquetball? Is that even a real sport? Does Cor Jesu even have a racquetball team? How come I’ve never heard of them?

If you find yourself asking any of these questions, this is the article for you! Racquetball is an EPIC sport that is so much fun to play. As a 3 year player, you can quote me on that. It’s kind of like XTREME wall ball, so if you’ve ever played that game during middle school recess you’ve already got some of the basics down.

It IS a real sport and is recognized by the International Olympic Committee. If you find yourself thinking, “Wow! I wish I could play this epic sport and compete against local, state, and national teams for Cor Jesu glory!”, do not fret! Consider joining Cor Jesu’s very own Club Racquetball Team.

“Hereforthe

We meet once a week for practices and have games once a week, typically after school or on a Saturday. Our current roster includes students from every class, and joining is a great way to meet people younger and older than you.

RACQUETBALL RACQUETBALL

OURCOACHES OURCOACHES

Christina Moser, class of 2012, has been playing for 17 years. She started at CJA, then went to Mizzou where she played for six years and won Women’s Nationals TWICE. She says, “I love racquetball because it’s the longest sport I’ve played. I’ve formed long lasting friendships, and it’s a fun sport and a good way to get exercise in!” She also notes that, “I love being a lefty because it’s an advantage in the game.”

Abby LaChance, class of 2019, has been playing for 10 years! She continued playing at Mizzou and says she came back because “it’s fun and I think it’s fun to share what I learned from the coaches and share it with the peeps. Everyone should play because it is so fun!” And the #1 thing she hears from players is “I wish I started playing sooner”.

Libby Digman, class of 2014, has been playing for 15 years and started as a freshmen at CJA. She started a club team at her college (UPitt) and started coaching during COVID. She says that during COVID it was “hard to meet people” but racquetball was a great way to make new connections! Her favorite part of racquetball is the people she’s coached and played with over the years.

Maria Witt, class of 2016, has been playing for 13 years and started at CJA, continuing her raquetball career in college at Truman State. She came back to coach because she “wanted to give back and get involved” and “racquetball was something to do” during COVID. She started coaching the same season as Libby!

Coach Sarah and Coach Laura weren’t there the day I conducted the interviews but they are great coaches and deserve a mention.

FALL SPORTS FALL SPORTS

SEASON RECAP

AmandaMissey‘27

This fall, the Charger athletes had an outstanding showing of triumph and sportsmanship Many teams faced tough opponents, but ended up on top

Golf

The golf team, led by senior captains Nora Cooke, Rachel Karcher, Ali Geminn, and Eloise Riley, placed 3 at state. Nora Cooke placed 15 individually, earning an all-state recognition. The team also won districts, with notable performances from Molly McDonald ‘27 and Melanie Kalinowski ‘28. A big congratulations to coaches Mark Tueth and Tim Huether for this outstanding season. rd th

Tennis

For the 5 year in a row, the tennis team won districts in their typical fashion, a nail biting win For the 2 year in a row, Joanna Bull ‘26, was the final match that secured the win for the Chargers While the team did not advance to the state tournament, Angelina Hong ‘26 went individually, having a stellar performance and placing 4 , the highest that a Cor Jesu tennis player has ever placed in school history. She also took home the title of district champion, while sophomores Nealy Kohler and Bryanna Hong placed 4

Volleyball

nd th th

This year, as the host for their district, the volleyball team was able to show out, triumphing over Jackson, who they lost to in the regular season, to cinch the district champions title. Senior captains Lauren Ortwerth and Devin Bergan certainly brought the energy this season, with Ortwerth getting conference player of the year and Bergan receiving the GISL sportsmanship award.

Softball

Coming off of a record-breaking season in 2024, the softball team continued their outstanding preformance The season was marked by a 2 place districts finish The team also had the #1 GPA in the state for class 4, and who would expect less out of these girls. The team was led by notable players such as recently commited Grace Rasmussen ‘26 to Williams College and juniors Lauren Overbey and Beau Belz who took home individual region accolades. nd

Field Hockey

The Cor Jesu varsity field hockey team finished the season out with impressive accomplishments. Led by seniors Georgia Slinkard, Josie O’Brien, Dylan Breckenridge, and Gabriella Angeli, who all played in the senior all-star game, the team was knit together all throughout the season. The top goal-scorer was junior Olivia Steffens, who also recieved second team allconference for her outstanding season. Senior Georgia Slinkard was a key player on the team, as well as in the senior all star game where she was able to score her very own goal

Cross Country

The cross country team made a mark this season, with a sixth place state finish This began with a second place district finish Individuals Mary McKenzie ‘26 and Kaitlyn Loeffelman ‘27 had outstanding seasons, both taking home individual accolades McKenzie placed 2 at state and Loeffelman 17 Other impressive runners include Hannah Studer ‘27, Reese Luna ’29, and Ava Bognar ‘26 Overall, the team did wonderfully, earning every bit of their successes. nd

Golf:

2025 All-Conference:

1st Team All-Conference:

Ali Geminn ‘26 and Eloise Riley ‘26

2nd Team All-Conference:

Melanie Kalinowski ‘28, Rachel Karcher ‘26, and Molly McDonald ‘27

Sportsmanship:

Nora Cooke ‘26

All-State:

Nora Cooke

Tennis:

2025 All-Conference

1st Team All-Conference:

Angel Hong ‘26 (singles)

Bryanna Hong ‘28 & Nealy Kohler ’28 (doubles)

2nd Team All-Conference:

Angel Hong & Katie Reh ‘28 (doubles)

Sportsmanship:

Joanna Bull ‘26

2025 All-State

Angel Hong

Volleyball:

2025 All-Conference

Player of the Year:

Lauren Ortwerth ‘26

1st Team All-Conference:

Ginnie Normile ‘26 and Ally Pasagic ‘29

Honorable Mention All-Conference:

Saoirse Henderson ‘26 and Addison Lehman ‘29

Sportsmanship:

Devin Bergan ‘26

2025 All-District

1st Team All-District:

Ginnie Normile, Lauren Ortweth, and Ally Pasagic

2nd Team All-District:

Saoirse Henderson and Addison Lehman

2025 All-State

Lauren Ortweth

All graphics courtesy of Canva

Softball:

2025 All-Conference

Player of the Year:

Grace Rasmussen ‘26

Co-Pitcher of the Year

Alice Vogel ‘27

1st Team All-Conference:

Beau Belz ‘27, Aubrey Grimm ’27, and Lauren Overbey ‘27

2nd Team All-Conference:

Peyton Chambers ‘29, Zoey Mathews ’26, and Ella Swearingen ‘29

Sportsmanship:

Izzy Rohr ‘26

2025 All-District:

1st Team All-District:

Beau Belz, Peyton Chambers, Aubrey Grimm, Lauren Overbey, Grace Rasmussen, Alice Vogel

2nd Team All-District:

Ella Swearingen

2025 All-State/Region:

All-State:

Grace Rasmussen

All-Region: 1st Team

Beau Belz, Lauren Overbey, and Grace Rasmussen

All-Region: 2nd Team

Peyton Chambers, Aubrey Grimm, and Alice Vogel

Field Hockey:

2025 All-Conference:

1st Team All-Conference:

Avery Etling ‘28, Georgia Slinkard ‘26, and Dylan Breckenridge ‘26

2nd Team All-Conference:

Gabby Angeli ‘26, Corrine Conway ’28, Josie O’Brien ‘26, and Olivia Steffens ‘27

Honorable Mention All-Conference:

Claire Henderson ‘27, Jocelyn Legens ‘28, and Heidi Rolwes ‘28

Sportsmanship:

Josie O’Brien ‘26

Cross Country:

2025 All-Conference: Runner of the Year:

Mary McKenzie ‘26

1st Team All-Conference:

Kaitlyn Loeffelman ‘27, Reese Luna ‘29, and Lily Dougherty ‘28

2nd Team All-Conference:

Hannah Studer ‘27 and Josie Bader ‘28

Sportsmanship:

Sophie Pozzo ‘26

2025 All-State:

Kaitlyn Loeffleman and Mary McKenzie

SBEHINDTHELETT BEHINDTHELETT

Lucy Shepard is your “S” caper, and she received her cape from Emma Shields ‘25. Her favorite cheer is Nitro (Georgia chant), and her favorite thing about being a caper is “getting to bond with the other girls, especially on First Fridays when we get to eat lunch together and then do cheers with the school.”

P IGabriella Angeli is your “P” caper. She received her cape from Elizabeth Flannery ‘25, and her favorite cheer is also Nitro. She “[loves] being able to lead cheers with [her] fellow capers and [having] the ability to share and influence the spirit that Cor Jesu has.”

Josie O’Brien is your first “I” caper, and she received her cape from Molly Stutte ‘25, her field hockey teammate. Her favorite cheer is Wigalow and after cheers when everyone moshes, it is so loud she loses her hearing the rest of the day. She loves “to run out through the tunnel of cheering seniors with the drum loudly beating.”

TRLauren Ortwerth is your “R” caper, and she received her cape from Madi Beuligmann ‘25. Her favorite cheer is Wigalow, and Lauren often cheers so loud at big games and during First Fridays she loses her voice! For her, the best thing about being a caper are First Fridays because “[she is] responsible for hyping up the whole CJ school community.”

Emily Tran is your second “I” caper, and she recieved her cape from Addy Etling ‘25. Her favorite cheer is We Love You Chargers. She loves being a caper because “being in this position is a huge honor and it makes [her] feel like a core part of the CJ community.”

Devin Bergan is your “T” caper, and she received her cape from Maggie Alexander ‘25. Her favorite cheer is Boogie Down and Her favorite part of being a caper is “getting everyone hyped at First Fridays and other sporting events.” Devin is also the Spirit Commissioner on the StuCo Exec Board!

Eloise Riley is your “!” caper, and she received her cape from Addison Lowry ‘25. Her favorite cheer is Nitro, and her favorite thing about being a caper is “being able to unite the school in a shared experience of excitement, energy, and love.”

ERS:OURCAPERS ERS:OURCAPERS

Maybe you’ve seen them at spirit games, in photos, or on Instagram, but you’ve definetely seen them at First Friday cheers. Accompanied by their loud drum, cheers of students, and deafeningnoise,theCapersareanintegralpartofCorJesuSpirit.Theyinspireandleadusto come together as a community. Perhaps their most prominent spirit event is Funderwear, whicheachCaperproclaimedistheirabsolutefavoriteevent.Duringtheinfamousgame,the Capersarethebackboneofthetug-of-warandbasketballteam,givingmotivationandenergy toeveryCharger.SomethingsyoumightnotknowabouttheCapers:thecapeshaveallthe previous Capers’ names inside, the capes can not be washed, and all the Capers eat lunch togetheronFirstFridays.TheCapersputalotofthoughtandtimeintochoosingthecheers, and they like to further engage the audience by doing fun things like cheering barefoot or wearingwigs.MaketheCapershappybyshowinguptoFirstFridaycheersandFunderwear!

“I love my caper buds!!!” - Lucy Shepard

“I looked up to the Capers as an underclassmen, so it is so full-circle getting to actually wear a cape and step into that role as a spirit leader now!!!!” -Josie O’Brien

“The title and role of being a caper is a legacy of spirited and respected leaders.” -Emily Tran

CHRISTMAS CONCERTS CHRISTMAS CONCERTS

Christmas is always a busy time, no matter who you are or what you’re involved in. Gift shopping, decorating trees, building gingerbread houses, and all the other activities that come with the festive season. Some highlights of Cor Jesu’s busy Christmastime are the two Christmas concerts: the choir concert and the orchestra concert.

Anyalumnaeintheaudienceare invitedtojoininsinging“Christmas Blessing”withthethreechoirs.

This year’s choir concert is happening at Chaminade on Friday, December 5 at 7 pm. It will feature all four of Cor Jesu’s choirs: Freshman, Sophomore, Concert (Junior and Seniors), and Chamber (the audition-only choir). The Freshman choir will be singing songs such as “A La Nanita Nana” and “That’s Christmas to Me”. The Sophomore choir will singing songs such as “Once Upon a December” and “Winter Dreams”. Concert Choir will be singing songs such as “Jingle Bells” and “Sing We Now of Christmas”. Freshman and Sophomore choir will be singing “What Child is This” together and Sophomore and Concert choir will be singing “First Cradle” together. All three choirs will sing “How Great Our Joy” to open the concert and will end the concert with the long-standing tradition of singing “First Noel” and “Christmas Blessing”. Any alumnae in the audience are invited to join in singing “Christmas Blessing” with the three choirs. th

Cor Jesu Corette

This year’s orchestra concert is happening on December 11 at Cor Jesu at 7 pm The orchestra will be performing songs such as “Parade of the Wooden Soldiers” which is set to the Betty Boop video, “Christmas Eve / Sarajevo 12/24”, “March of the Dwarves”, and the rock version of “Mary Did You Know?”. Cor Jesu’s orchestra will be joined by the Handbell Ensemble and the Youth Orchestra

Even though the Christmas season can seem crazy and busy, taking time to support Cor Jesu’s hardworking musicians is a great addition to any holiday plans.

CorJesu’sorchestrawillbejoinedbythe HandbellEnsembleandtheYouth Orchestra.

GUESSWHO!

Mia Eickhoff ‘27

What’s the one thing you love about Cor Jesu? Well I’m sure these teachers loved that one thing so much, that after graduating from CJ, they came back to teach the next classes of CJA students. The following photos are from each teacher’s senior yearbook. Can you guess who each one is?

Fill out the form to the right to find out the answers (and be entered for a chance to win a prize)!

1

https://formsgle/tuCjtFg94Eauq4c97

JO & AUDREY’S JO&AUDREY’S

ULTIMATEHOLIDAYMOVIEGUIDE

There are so many Christmas movies out there, it can be hard to narrow down which ones to watch in the 24 meager days leading up to the joyous holiday. Look no further than this list! If you only have enough time to watch three, Christmas Vacation, Elf, and A Christmas Story are unskippable classics sure to put a smile on your face. If you find yourself bored over Christmas break or need a rest between studying for exams, check out the suggestions on the next page! Each movie is Audrey and Jo approved, and is guranteed to get you in the mood for the holidays. Photos courtesy of IMDB.

30 Cor Jesu Corette page designed by Audrey Sherman ‘26

MerryChristmas