April Spirit Issue

Spirit SCHOOL NEWS

When is Congé?!

By Grace Sutton ‘26

When is Congé going to happen?

This is a question we all ask ourselves regularly, but the question now is, will Congé come sooner or later? Many of us were speculating Congé would come on one of the days leading up to spring break, but now that spring break has passed, Congé is bound to happen soon. Right?

Congé is a sort of celebration that is a part of every Sacred Heart school’s tradition. It is a day when students can dissolve the stresses of work and come together to enjoy fun activities as a community. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the term congé means “ a formal permission to depart.” In that sense, Congé at Sacred Heart is a formal permission to depart from the stresses of everyday student life and take a much-needed break.

(Continued on page 4.)

Lent in the Upper School

By Genevieve Fitzpatrick ‘27

As the Sundays of Lent pass and April begins, it seems like Lenten resolutions are something forgotten by now, but at the Convent of the Sacred Heart, many are still pushing through with their promises From meat to sour candy, most students gave up different kinds of food for Lent

The first day was described as the hardest. Many were hit hard with withdrawal and cravings. One student who gave up pasta explains, “I thought I was going to die when my mom brought out zucchini pasta ” Another student explained that while holding back sugar cravings, she “opened the fridge three separate times” to admire

the nutella cookies that had been bought the day before. Most students described watching others indulge in what they couldn’t as another difficult part of the first week of Lent. One student who gave up beef describes having challenges when seeing her brother order a steak on vacation

However, as the 40 days progressed, every student I interviewed explains that they learned something as a result of their sacrifice. One student who gave up candy (but not chocolate because she says that doesn’t count) explains how she has just found a substitute in chocolate covered fruit Some even saw some positive effects (Continued on page 3 )

Trending: Traditions

By Elizabeth Matheson ‘26

As we return to school, recentering our lives around our academic institution, the Convent of the Sacred Heart, we return to learning about the different trends and traditions at other academic institutions in our vicinity. This week I interviewed Luke and Olivia Harris, who are siblings and a junior and freshman at Trinity When I asked, “What’s your favorite tradition at Trinity?” Luke replied without hesitation, “Senior skits ” Developing on this Luke explained, “Every year the seniors do in-person and video skits for an assembly at school and it’s pretty funny. I’d say about half of them are making fun of teachers ” The teachers at Trinity must have good senses of humor However, that’s not all, since according to Luke, “the other half are just good old SNL type skits in general.” Each year, each senior class brings a different spin to the assignment as “there was one kid this year who took off his shirt and just flexed There’s certain people in the grade who might have special skills or whatnot ” I’m sure Trinity is full of highly talented students with special skills beyond flexing, not to diminish the time and skill it requires to build muscle, as many athletes know. When asked, “what was the best skit this year?” Luke recalled one skit which consisted of “ a student scrolling through Trinity TikTok and there were different TikTok shorts by different teachers played by students (mocking them).”

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Again, the Trinity teachers must really be good sports as Luke said somewhat less assuredly, “I think the teachers were okay with it though ” On the other hand, as a freshman, Olivia protested, “I don’t know any of the traditions.” Traditions are fun as they stick around for a while, and over her next three and a bit years at Trinity, Olivia, as well as the ninth graders in our own community, will get to be a part of old and new traditions at school However, trends can be just as fun to participate in Luke was eager to share that the boys’ lacrosse team has been “making a lot of diss tracks recently of different lacrosse teams.” He then offered a sample of one diss track, featuring an original rap by the Trinity boys’ lacrosse team While I was initially skeptical, this led me to rethink the definition of a trend A trend does not have to be very widespread or admired, it can even be niche, as long as it inspires joy in the present to a group of people. So go out and start your own trends or maybe even a tradition or two!⬥

VSP Diaries: Part 3

By Marie Trennert ‘27

I have made it to Nantes, France! My voyage started on March 22 as soon as I arrived at JFK airport with two massive suitcases like a true New Yorker I made it through security and then boarded my flight, thrilled to have a window seat I landed in Amsterdam and boarded a connecting flight to Nantes. The flight to France included some of the most nerve-racking hours I have ever spent. Without any entertainment, I was left alone with my thoughts; the anticipation crept up on me but followed with an outpouring of excitement After what felt like an eternity, I touched down in France. I picked up my two bags and finally greeted Alaïs and her wonderful family: her mother Veronique, her father Christophe, and two sisters Manon and Jade After a restful Sunday, it was time for my first day at the Lycée I was anxious about getting lost in classes, not finding my way around the buildings, or not having anyone to talk to. (Continued on page 4.)

The Reality of School

Burnout: How to Avoid It

by Isabelle O’Reilly ‘27

I am sure that we have all experienced the feeling of academic burnout, particularly during the winter and spring seasons when assignments are piling up, deadlines are approaching, tests are looming ahead, and our minds are on the verge of complete exhaustion and craving the warmer months of summer. The mistake that many of us make is believing that the solution to this feeling of burnout is to simply give up, setting aside our tasks and duties to couch rot, and scrolling through social media for hours on end In reality, the few moments of bliss we receive from this will do nothing to combat the stress and pressure that we will eventually face when we return to our work. So the question remains: How should we withstand burnout? In this article, I will combine results from multiple resources to curate the perfect guide for you to remain stress-free and thriving in an academic environment. 1. Cultivate the perfect routine for you (it is all about balance!)

As I was combing through different websites searching for the answer to our question, the same piece of advice was repeated and emphasized: Create a routine around your own schedule. Although this might sound cliché, building a routine based on your own needs and desires can create the perfect balance between academics and enjoyable activities, providing a support system when burnout seems inevitable.

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By establishing certain times that you can let your mind and body rest without neglecting your tasks, you can thrive under a work-reward system Taking breaks is important! As your routine becomes more second nature, you can find peace knowing that you can rely on your schedule to allow you time to complete everything on your to-do list. Along with a general everyday routine, it might be helpful to also establish a study routine Different study habits are littered everywhere across the internet, so finding the best tactics for you will be easy, making your work the most effective it can be while also being mindful of time. Often, when we sit down to study without a specific strategy that we mean to follow, we find ourselves not fully optimizing our time and not understanding the material to the best of our ability With a set routine, you can build better study habits as well as learn and memorize more information in a shorter amount of time, allowing you to put the rest of your day to more enjoyable activities. (Continued on page 6 )

Lent in the Upper School

Continued from page 1

People who gave up sugar began to see clearer skin, people who gave up pasta began to realize they “didn’t need to eat pasta for every meal”, and those who gave up candy were saving more money. These unintended positive consequences kept people going and made them realize the importance of giving something up It is learning and proving your strength to yourself.

April 2025

Learning about what people were giving up for Lent at Sacred Heart gave insight into what Sacred Heart students are addicted to Starbucks and Blank Street were the most popular items given up More specifically, the Strawberry Acai Refresher from Starbucks sworn off my many students until Easter.

In addition to the more general things that were given up, some were more specific One student gave up ketchup for Lent and found it especially challenging I asked her why and she described to me her love of ketchup explaining that she ate it on every meal as a child and continues to add it to fries, tuna, rice, apples, and bananas. She explained it was difficult for her seeing her friends eat fries while she had to “be sad with her dry fries ” She described how she will appreciate ketchup more from now on The most shocking thing she told me was that this was her eighth year giving up ketchup. However she said that this year was still very challenging.

Overall, students at Sacred Heart have learned a lot about themselves from what they gave up for Lent For the last two weeks of Lent I wish all the students participating good luck and strength until Easter. ⬥

Kavya

VSP Diaries: Part 3

Continued from page 2

Luckily, all my worries disappeared as soon as I stepped foot at La Perverie I was overwhelmed, in the best way, by Alaïs’ friends and how kind and welcoming they were. They made it feel like home instantly. Shortly after, I met with Madame Du Vignaux who showed me around campus and familiarized me with the French floor numbering system, which was a concept surprisingly tricky to adjust to I then headed to lunch and was amazed to learn how most highschool students enjoy at least an hour and a half for lunch every day. I also discovered French students have a two week vacation every six weeks and noticed how stylish everyone was dressed For the rest of this week I have spent my time attending classes and trying any French food I can find First, I tried, you guessed it, a baguette. Of course it was delicious. Additionally, I tasted a pain au chocolat, croissant, grenadine, a lot of espresso, steak frites, foie gras, steak tartare and profiteroles My favorite meal I had so far was the steak frites not only because it was exquisite, but because of the atmosphere I dined in On Friday night Alaïs, her friends, and I headed to the L’entrecôte restaurant in town. It was the highlight of my week as we caught up, talked about the differences between American and French highschool, and got to know each other much better The following day I explored the Nantes city center and its rich history. I went to the Musée d’arts de Nantes and saw

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paintings by Claude Monet, Henri Martin, and various other French artists Looking back on this first week, there were a few cultural differences that stood out to me For example, in class you cannot eat, drink, or even go to the restroom. Another difference is how long mealtimes are here. Meals last at least an hour to even upwards of three hours Next was how the French view America It was interesting to see people’s reactions when I told them I was from New York City I received a lot of political questions, which led to me noticing how culturally aware everyone is. I realized in France it is very common to watch the news with your family and discuss current events

Overall, my time in Nantes so far has been full of exhilarating new experiences, great food, and time well spent with Alaïs and new friends. I have already learned so much, not only the language but even pop culture, lifestyle, and cultural habits. I am eager to visit even more of France In the remaining weeks of my stay, I am especially looking forward to going to Château de la Loire and Paris!⬥

When is Congé?!

Continued from page 1

However, the term congé originally comes from the French verb conger, in which it translates to “leave” or “farewell” In the context of school, Congé refers to the tradition of surprise days for school communities, which goes back to the earliest Sacred Heart schools according to Bill Hulseman.

April 2025

The original intent of Congé was to offer relief during a busy period of time, but the Sacred Heart schools make sure to add extra layers to this meaning In our Sacred Heart community, Congé is a day that encourages us to think more deeply about our community. It allows us to recognize how much we let ourselves be driven by one assessment or project. It also allows us to come together as a community and see each other outside of the context of our school work Teachers, faculty, and students can see each other and themselves as more than just a grade on an assignment. Above all, Congé is a gratifying time for the community to relax and enjoy each other’s company

As for Congé predictions, Congé is almost always on a day that X period occurs, so day 1s and day 4s are likely days on which Congé can occur Additionally, it is likely that Congé will occur on a day with little to no assessments, as it is easier on the teachers and students. Congé also sometimes occurs around breaks, however, the only breaks left in the year are Easter break and Memorial Day weekend, yet this is usually a lesslikely occurrence. None of these signs are explicit indicators that Congé will occur; they are just indicators of when Congé has occurred in the past. As for predicting the actual date of Congé, it is very hard as the student government does a very thorough job of concealing the date of Congé; however, this can be favorable, as who doesn’t love a fun surprise? ⬥

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OPINIONS AND EDITORIALS

Lockdown Procedures Should be Updated

By Elizabeth Matheson ‘26

Both teachers and students have been trained for the possibility of a lockdown and know to take this possibility seriously. However, many classrooms on the third floor including 322, 308, and more, contain print out lock down procedures which are outdated and should be removed. These sheets refer to the Lower School Gym, and other classrooms which no longer even exist with the completion of the Future Lab in the basement. While it is unlikely that Sacred Heart students would be confused by references to nonexistent classrooms, there is no good reason for these instructions to remain posted, and in the case of a real lockdown, there is only the possibility for them to cause harm. In their place, new regulations could be posted, but whether or not that is deemed necessary, the old regulations should be removed ⬥

A New Snow White: Review

By Elizabeth Matheson‘26

After much talk, mostly centered around Rachel Zegler, who takes the titular role in the 2025 version of Snow White, the movie, directed by Marc Webb and written by Erin Cressida Wilson, is finally in theaters Calling this movie live action is a stretch While actors play the main characters and two horses

are real, the dwarves, all other animals, and much of the scenery is CGI. Much of the landscape, especially the forest, looks like something Canva AI image generators would give me with a prompt of “magical forest with a pink glow.” This made the appearance of real trees and forests in a new fight scene shocking, as I wondered if Snow White was still in the same forest as she had been previously. The movie includes original songs by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (Dear Evan Hansen, The Greatest Showman), such as “A Hand Meets a Hand,” “Princess Problems,” “Waiting on a Wish,” and “All Is Fair,” a new villain song, that are worth listening to even after the movie is over The characters break into song throughout, and while Rachel Zegler did this naturally, when Andrew Burnap breaks into song for “Princess Problems” it is initially laughable. Notably, “Someday My Prince Will Come” was left out, and so was a prince altogether In the place of a prince, Jonathan, a “ common thief” is the one to wake Snow White with a kiss. However, in many ways, Snow White herself replaces the prince as she realizes she must take responsibility for the change she wants to take place With regards to the controversial sleeping kiss, consent is even worked into the song “A Hand Meets a Hand,” where both she and Jonathan tell each other they would want the other to wake them with a kiss.

This addresses the fact that kissing someone who is unconscious should not generally be acceptable, however, I wonder if this single line was enough to make that point to younger audiences. Jonathan, played by Andrew Burnap, is a much more complex and developed character than the original prince who is never even named The theme of added complexity continues throughout the movie as Snow White grows into the role of queen, Dopey is more than what meets the eye, and the conclusion is not one of riding into the sunset Snow White is much more empowered in this version of the tale, learning to stand up “speaking with a fearless heart” to the Evil Queen, played by Gal Gadot. However, her empowerment comes at the expense of the dwarves who are robbed of their moment of glory in the 1937 version when they kill the Evil Queen Overall, the movie does not compromise the integrity of the original, and changes make it fit 2025. It is a cute movie, worth watching, whether you are a diehard fan of the original or never saw it, but not destined to make the same historical impact of the animated 1937 Snow White ⬥

The ideas and opinions expressed in this paper are the sole ideas and opinions of the authors and are not supported or endorsed in any way by the Convent of the Sacred Heart.⬥

The Reality of School Burnout: How to Avoid It

Continued from page 3

2 Fixing your mindset and motivation

A positive mindset is one of the most important things when it comes to prospering academically without feeling burnt out.

Speaking from experience, when you find yourself looking at an assignment or test with a negative outlook, you are cutting yourself short According to ScholarWorks, studies have shown that “students that had a growth mindset with some fixed ideas had an average grade that was 7.3% higher than students with a fixed mindset, and 4.4% lower than students with a strong growth mindset ” Boosting your motivation can also be helpful, especially when you feel that the hard work that you are putting into your assignments is pointless to yourself and your future. My favorite way to inspire myself to work is to set out my goals visually for me to see every day. Although it may feel silly, making a vision board has proven to be the most helpful for me Being able to wake up in the morning and see your inspirations in front of you makes it easier to put the time into your tasks, and creating the vision board is a generally enjoyable task during which you implement your artistic skills. Lastly, take care of yourself!

As we talked about previously, setting time aside for yourself in your hectic schedule is vital Without time to recuperate, it is almost impossible to combat burnout. Indulging in self-care is easily the most enjoyable and helpful thing that you can do for yourself!

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While this includes taking luxurious baths, applying face masks, and creating a nightly skin regime, it also means exercising daily and prioritizing sleep! According to the American Psychological Association, 53% percent of teens say they feel good about themselves after exercising, 40% say it puts them in a good mood, and 32% feel less stressed after exercising On the other hand, 21% of people reported higher stress levels and worse academic performance after getting less sleep. I hope that these three pieces of advice will support and guide you throughout the academic year, when weariness and fatigue often prevail Although it is sometimes hard to avoid, spending some time implementing these tactics into your life will hopefully help you combat school burnout!⬥

Forensics: The Grands/ Mini-Stuy Tournament

By Julia Luo ‘28

On March 15th, the Forensics team participated in both the Grands and Mini-Stuy tournaments at Stuyvesant High School for a chance to compete at Nationals and States respectively. Sacred Heart ultimately won 5 qualifiers to Nationals and 3 more qualifiers to States, bringing a powerful team to dominate at Nationals and States this year A few winners shared their experiences during the competition, their excitement for the upcoming big tournaments, and their reflections on finishing the year with a bang.

Grace Klausner, a junior who was entered into the Grands Tournament says, “I had a pretty good tournament with only a few blips here and there, so I was a smidge worried going into awards.” She ended up being the first place winner in Extemp and therefore qualifying for Nationals “I’m really looking forward to competing at Nationals! The best part about qualifying is that I get to compete against some of the best extemperrs in the nation, which will be an amazing experience.”

Another qualifier for Nationals, Anaeli Muñoz in 11th grade, who won fourth place in Original Oratory says, “I feel a mix of emotions about qualifying A major part of those emotions is excitement I have been doing Speech since middle school and being able to do so at a national level makes it feel as though everything has paid off.” Though she admits that one of the downsides of qualifying is “the added pressure from coming to Nationals it’s my first time competing at this level ”

However, participating in forensics is about more than just a title.

(Continued on page 9.)

St. Patrick’s Day Around the World

By Eliana Castillo Yee ‘27

Beneath the burst of green and the ring of bagpipes echoing through the streets, St Patrick’s Day was once a solemn religious day honoring the patron saint of Ireland, St Patrick The holiday marks the death of St Patrick on March 17, but today it has transformed into a celebration of Irish culture across the globe.

In Dublin, the streets are filled with parades, marching bands, and floats, attracting tourists around the world Zoe R A , a sophomore on exchange in Ireland, described the scene as a lively blend of music, dancing, and towering puppets, surrounded by a plethora of green-lit buildings.

In New York, the iconic St. Patrick’s Day Parade was first held in 1762, and it has since grown to draw over 2 million spectators The parade marches up 5th Avenue with around 150,000 participants, including students from Dominican Academy and Regis High School. Participants wear a trademark kelly green, a color once banned in Ireland but now a symbol of national pride.

In Chicago, the city dyes the river green every year using a secret recipe of orange, vegetable-based powder The tradition is backed by the Chicago Plumber’s Union, which originally used the powder to detect leaks in the city. Chicago holds four distinct parades, from Downtown to the Southside. In London, the St. Patrick’s Day Festival and Parade is focused on sustainability, with a variety of Irish arts, music and dance performances

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The celebration also features Olympian para-cyclist Katie-George Dunlevy and boxer Kellie Harrington, who will serve as grand marshals of the parade.

St. Patrick’s Day’s global reach from Ireland to New York City high schools, whether through grand parades, vibrant festivals, or longstanding traditions, unites people of all backgrounds to honor and celebrate Irish culture ⬥

Running the NYC Half

By Eriko Zaglio ‘26

On Sunday, March 16, I ran the NYC Half Marathon I had never run a race before, let alone a half marathon, and I was unsure how it would go I had applied to run it through Achilles - an organization that helps disabled persons participate in athletics and at which I had been volunteering for almost a year now - as a part of Team Achilles, which meant running on behalf of the organization without guiding an athlete I was on the waitlist for a while, then got cleared about a month before the race. As a result, I did not have a lot of time to train, and on top of that, I got sick the week before. I remember being so stressed those few days I was sick. I ran about three days the week of the race, and I was frustrated because I felt weak after I had not run for a week prior I had been on track to be able to run the whole thing, but now I was worried I would not be able to. But when that Sunday morning rolled around, I was surprised to find that I was not really nervous at all. I had an “it is what it is” mentality, which probably wasn’t the best, but I was glad I wasn’t about to throw up from

nerves

I really did want to run the whole thing - no matter how slow my pace was, it seemed to me to be the only way to actually feel accomplished afterwards. My dad came to drop me off, but after that, I was pretty much alone. Once the race started, I just tried to go slow because I’d heard so many warnings to not start out too fast, and I felt really good the first few miles - I was going at a comfortable pace, and the hills did not seem too bad. I also saw my dad a couple of times in Brooklyn, which was encouraging. As the Brooklyn Bridge approached, it was such an amazing view to see the World Trade Center and the other downtown buildings rising beyond the mist and the bridge into Manhattan It was here, around Mile 6 on the FDR, that I started to feel it a bit. I knew that we had to go a few miles, and it just seemed so long. At first, it was nice, looking at the water on the right, but it soon disappeared from view and became endless concrete Especially around the Mile 8 to 9 stretch, it was hilly, and I knew that we turned at the UN, but I could not see it, and my feet were starting to hurt. (Continued on page 8.)

Spring Training: A Day in the Life

By Sahana Parasher ‘28

Over spring break, I went to Orlando, Florida, with Sacred Heart’s track team. Although the purpose of our five-night trip was to train as athletes, we also spent time bonding during downtime and afternoons at Universal All spring sports teams, except softball (which took a later flight) and badminton (which does not attend spring training), left for Orlando with an early dismissal at 1:00 p.m. to catch a 4:30 p.m. JetBlue flight from LaGuardia airport. Upon arriving in Florida, the team boarded a bus to Universal’s Cabana Bay Resort, a retro-themed hotel inspired by the 1950s and 1960s Although the days were all different, here is a day in the life of just one of them to provide insight into my personal experience: I woke up at 5:30 a.m. to shower and head downstairs for breakfast at 6:30 a.m. This morning, I had waffles and yogurt with fruit and refilled my water bottle before heading to the track in Orange County

At 7:00 a m , we boarded the bus to the track, aiming to arrive by 8:00 a.m. On the bus, my friend Hannah and I listened to music while I tried to sleep but couldn’t.

When we arrived at the track, we split into distance and sprinting groups for our separate workouts My workout included a 10-minute warmup jog, 2 x 200m, 2 x 150m, and 2 x 120m with active recovery jogs in between.

Afterward, I did a cool-down jog, strength training, and shot put practice

After leaving the track, I got lunch, refilled my water bottle, and napped instead of going to the pool like I did the day before because I was more tired.

At 3:45, our team met in the hotel lobby to catch the shuttle from the hotel to Universal’s Island of Adventure Many rides were closed due to rainy conditions, so the freshman and I left early at 6:00 p m instead of staying longer like we did the day before.

Back at Cabana Bay, I had dinner with my roommates, took my second shower of the day, and went to bed before 10:30, the earliest I went to sleep the whole trip The day was packed, and I still had two more days ⬥

I really wanted to start walking around there -my feet were killing me, and I just felt so tired - but the people cheering and the fact that at that point it was less than 3 miles encouraged me to go on

But those streets on 42nd and then 7th Ave were so hilly, and by the time I reached Central Park, my legs were just moving automatically. I just wanted it to be over at that point. But my mom was there at the entrance to the park, and seeing her gave me one last boost to keep going Once I entered the park, the last few hundred meters to the finish line were also so hilly that I was actually about to scream. But in the end, I forced myself to keep going and basically stumbled across the finish line, though at that point my legs were in so much pain In the end, it was a rewarding experience - I enjoyed running through New York into Manhattan, and in the end, I was able to accomplish my goal to run the whole thing. ⬥

Running the NYC Half

Continued from page 7 When I finally reached the UN, I had never been more glad to see a building But there was still over 3 miles to go However, as I entered the streets, I was overwhelmed by the number of people who were cheering us on. Especially around the Times Square area, I was amazed.

Recipe: Coconut Shrimp Curry

By Veronica Coats ‘27

As winter is coming to an end and bits of spring are beginning to peek out from behind the rain clouds, what could be better to celebrate this change of seasons than a delicious and complex- but easy to make- dish? This year, many students returned from India excited to share their experiences But if you weren’t one of the students who went and you were feeling left out of the trip, don’t worry. You can bring a piece of India right to your kitchen! This delicious coconut shrimp curry is guaranteed to satisfy your woes- and your stomach

For Shrimp Marinade:

1 pound large shrimp (peeled and deveined)

¼ teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon black pepper

¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper

2 tablespoon lemon juice For the sauce:

1 tablespoon coconut oil

1 medium onion (chopped)

3 cloves garlic (minced)

1 tablespoon fresh ginger (minced)

½ teaspoon black pepper

½ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon tumeric

2 teaspoon ground coriander

1 teaspoon curry powder

14½ ounces diced tomatoes

13½ ounces coconut milk

2 tablespoon cilantro (for garnishing)

Cooked rice for serving

Directions:

While the shrimp is marinating, heat the oil in a medium size skillet. Add the onion, and cook for 2 or 3 minutes until the onion softens and becomes translucent. Stir in the garlic, ginger, pepper, salt, coriander, turmeric and curry powder

Cook for another minute

Add the diced tomatoes with juices and all, the coconut milk, stir and bring to a boil. Cook for about 5 minutes stirring occasionally. Add the shrimp with the accumulated juices from the marinade and cook for another 2 minutes or until the shrimp is pink and cooked through.

Serve over hot rice and garnish with cilantro or parsley.

Forensics: The Grands/Mini-Stuy Tournament

Continued from page 6

“The encouragement I received from other competitors when I thought I failed a speech hit harder than [qualifying], and I’m so relieved that speech has such an inclusive and supportive community,” said Heide Flores in 9th grade, one of winners of the Mini-Stuy tournament and a new qualifier for States. She goes on to express how the tournament helped her see how much she has grown since the beginning of the year

“And I’m so grateful for the people who helped me realize that,” she said.

All the hours of preparation and the team’s hard work over the course of the whole year definitely paid off in the end as they won these crucial tournaments with flying colors Let’s congratulate the Forensics team for qualifying to Nationals and States and wish them luck as they compete in their future tournaments! FOF it up! ⬥

Spirit MEET THE WRITERS

Eliana Castillo Yee is in 10th grade. She is a member of the forensics team and a leader of the Bread for the World club. In her free time, she enjoys reading and going for walks with friends. Eliana is so excited to be writing for Spirit this year!

Elizabeth Matheson is in 11th grade and the editor of Spirit. Outside of journalism, she loves running and is a member of the Sacred Heart Cross Country team in the fall. She also is part of the JV basketball team and Varsity Track and Field. For fun she enjoys playing the flute and doing photography in addition to writing and reading.

Eriko Zaglio is an 11th grader in her first year at Spirit. At Sacred Heart, she is a part of Admissions Club and the Tennis and Swim teams. She enjoys listening to music and taking walks, as well as running in the park. She is excited to be part of Spirit this year!

Grace Sutton is an 11th grader in her first year at Spirit She is also a part of the Admissions Club at Sacred Heart and a member of the Varsity Cross Country and Varsity Outdoor Track teams She enjoys taking part in the service opportunities Sacred Heart has to offer, and in her free time, she enjoys listening to music and watching her favorite television shows

Marie Trennert is in 10th grade and a first-year Spirit member At Sacred Heart, Marie enjoys playing soccer and is a Finance and Investment Club member In her free time, she enjoys watching the latest movies and exploring New York City Her favorite subjects include History, English, French, and Art

Julia Luo is a 9th grader who enjoys reading and writing creative and analytical pieces She participates in Sacred Heart’s JV Extemporaneous Speech Team and is the Varsity Soccer team manager In her old middle school, MS114, Julia was a part of their school newspaper as an author and interviewer

Isabelle O’Reilly is a 10th grader at Sacred Heart, and this is her first year as a writer for Spirit.

Genevieve Fitzpatrick is a 10th grader at Sacred Heart, and this is her first year as a writer for Spirit In her free time, Genevieve likes to read and run

Sahana Parasher is a 9th grader, and this is her first year writing for Spirit At Sacred Heart, she is a member of Radio Club and Varsity Cross Country Her interests include baking, reading, and riding horses This year, she is excited to explore these interests at Spirit

Veronica Coats is a 10th grader at Sacred Heart, and this is her first year as a writer for Spirit

Veronica Coats is a 10th grader at Sacred Heart, and this is her first year as a writer for Spirit