LeJournal October 2025

LeJOURNAL

Notre Dame de Sion High School | Volume 48 | October 2025

EDITORIAL: PAGE 17

PHONES ARE VITAL FOR OUR SAFETY

ON THE COVER: PAGE 12

THE GROWING PHONE BAN MOVEMENT

A&E: PAGE 19

K-POP DEMON HUNTERS TAKES OVER THE CHARTS

New P.E. alternative

Food deserts and Urban wildlife

No Signal: A look at phone policies that are sweeping the nation

Members of the Sion community find peace in birdwatching Katherine Kennedy is a champion dog shower

Class of 2029 experiences their first Sion traditions

K-Pop Demon Hunters takes over the charts

This year’s phone policy is unnecessary Love Island fans got too obsessive last season Vivi Drosos beats the Midwest beach volleyball stigma

Sion introduces a new speech debate course A quarter wrap up of Sion sports

Recession music is a trending topicbut what is it?

The best fall drinks to try around KC Kansas City is becoming more of a cultural hub

editor’s ink

Hi everyone! We’re your 2025-2026 Le Journal editors-in-chief: Daniella Johnson and Sophia Thomas. It has been so great working on this first issue of the year, and we’re excited to bring more to you throughout these next eight months. This issue, we wanted to focus in on the major policy change this school year: the phone ban. Throughout this past quarter, the Le J staff has been hard at work researching, interviewing, writing and designing all that goes into the phone ban, how we interact with the world through our phones, and so much more.

and 25 for a glimpse at how living in the Midwest affects a student’s beach volleyball career.

Delve into our cover story on the phone ban to read a deep dive on the founding texts of Sion’s ban, how teachers are enforcing this new policy, and student and faculty opinions (pages 12-15).

We hope you come away from this issue with a more rounded view of the ways we see the world through our phones and how we can step away to enjoy what is around us in the moment.

SION SAFETY

Go to page 16 to see how obsession can lead to cyberbullying– especially in the case of the popular show “Love Island.” Check out pages 10 and 11 for a feature on a freshman who is nationally ranked in a distinctive event, or if sports are more your thing, look on pages 24

Take your time with this issue, allow the words to sink in. Grab your favorite fall drink (perhaps one that was rated on page 20) and get cozy. We hope you enjoy it. Finally, we want to thank the entire staff for their dedication in putting together this first issue, and especially want to thank our new staffers: Luella Mook, Addison Porter and Claire Steiner. It’s been so much work, but it has paid off; you’ve all killed it and shaped this paper into what it is. Thank you all for reading!

In light of what happened in Minnesota, Sion has reviewed safety and security protocols to see if there are are any changes needed, according to Director of Facilities & Operations Daniel Stapf. Current precautions include a sophisticated camera system, automatic locking doors, student and faculty safety training and armed campus officers.

“Keeping the bad

guys away is basically the overall goal. If there’s any type of potential violence I’d go out there and try to prevent it with as little force as possible,”

School Protection Officer Jared Westbrooks said.

“[Following national school shootings] there are a lot of extra precautions that I’ll take but you won’t know about. I’ll increase my patrols. I just make my presence felt more outside the school than inside.”

School Protection Officer Jared Westbrooks monitors the outside and inside of the school.

news in brief

A

wrap up of the quarter’s major news, both locally and internationally.

BY SOPHIA THOMAS CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

whodunnit?

The fall play, Clue, took place at a new time and at a new venue, Park 39, this year. The production included 17 cast members and 13 crew members. “There was a couple things to work around with an older venue,” senior Heidi Nance, pictured backstage, said. “But it was really beautiful, and I had a great time.”

strike a pose

The Mother Daughter Luncheon took place at the Overland Park Sheraton Oct. 12. The tradition also brought in local vendors and a runway show. “It’s very sweet,” principal Ellen Carmody said. “[The mothers and daughters] come together.”

storm stomp makes a change

The former basketball tournament and fundraiser, Storm Stomp, is now a combination of an obstacle course, field day and color throw. This year’s event, titled “Storm Stomp 2.0”, is a major departure from previous years, where Storm Stomp was a three versus three basketball tournament.

“We just wanted to have more engagement with all of the students,” Storm Stomp Committee co-chair and senior Lola Shirk said, “Student feedback led to the change.”

The change was prompted because

what to do in kc

ready, steady, debate!

Seniors and debate pair Janice Palmer and Peyton Preuss won third place at the Kansas City Parliamentary Debate League. The Sept. 24 event hosted at Rockhurst was Palmer and Preuss’ first one. “We weren’t expecting it,” Palmer said. “It was really exciting.”

international

charlie kirk assassinated

making a melody

the Committee wanted more people to participate, and therefore did not want to exclude people who didn’t play basketball. This change breaks a long time tradition of basketball that was started by seniors in 2003, which has stirred questions and interest with students.

“It’s kind of split,” committee member and junior Lucia Cucar said. “People were saying ‘We don’t want it to be basketball,’ but there’s also ‘We would play if it was basketball.’”

However, some things about this year’s event are remaining the same. Storm Stomp 2.0 is still a fundraiser for student scholarships, there will be hype videos, and there will still be teams.

“I think the hype videos makes for more people to be involved,” Shirk said.

The popular political activist was at the first stop of his “American Comeback” tour when he was assassinated in Utah. It renewed calls to stop political violence and the importance of free speech. Kirk was 31 years old at the time of his death.

young and saintly

The first millennial saint was canonized by Pope Leo XIV in early September. Carlo Acutis, also known as “God’s Influencer,” along with Pier Giorgio Frassati, were made into saints on Sept. 7.

tiktok deal signed

Software company Oracle will be taking over the new American TikTok’s data and algorithm in a deal announced by the White House in late September. The deal came after talks with China and another ban deadline extension from Trump.

Learning to Lift

Students are gaining strength and self confidence in Sion’s new power lifting, PE alternative.

BY LUELLA MOOK REPORTER

Laughter and cheerful chatter fill Sion’s previously underutilized weight room as girls rush in in their shorts and T-shirts, ready to start class. The room buzzed with excitement as the students began learning new lifts and practicing familiar ones, which include squats, dead lifts and bench press. They are ready to begin another day at Strength and Conditioning, pushing themselves to try heavier weights and unfamiliar skills.

“I love it. I think [the new class] is great,” junior Iva Hoskins said. “I figured this would be something that would educate me more and get me on track to lifting by myself”

The class is led by math teacher Ben Wright. Wright has been involved in weight lifting since college. When Wright began his power lifting journey he was very interested in lifting the heaviest amount of weight possible, but as time has passed he’s come to realize that’s not what’s truly important when it comes to weight lifting.

semester-long version of the course.

“It’s really nice that it’s something active that the girls are doing,” Wright said. “You’re up and moving, you’re not just sitting at a desk listening.”

Juniors Kate Suter and Hoskins both enthusiastically shared their enjoyment of Strength and Conditioning. Despite their differing experience levels, learning new lifts is providing both girls with increased confidence.

“I really enjoyed it. It’s something now that’s both a physical activity for me, but it’s also a means by which I can spend time with friends and older guys who are further along in life than I am,” Wright said. “It’s nice to do something with them and learn some helpful things along the way.”

He brought his love of weight lifting with him to Sion. The idea for a power lifting class came after Wright’s Life Beyond Sion session.

“There seemed to be a lot of interest in [weight lifting], but I didn’t think it would ever become a class.”

Principal Ellen Carmody saw the passion the girls had for a strength class and the benefits it would bring to the community. She reached out to Wright, asking if he would be willing to teach a

“I’ve never done some of this. The reason that I’ve never done it is because I was too scared to do it,” Hoskins said. “Now that I’ve done some of this stuff I’ll be able to carry it over into my personal time in the gym.”

Suter, who has more experience lifting on her own, still has a lot to learn from Strength and Conditioning. She has dabbled in lifting due to her experience with martial arts, but has always been afraid of getting injured doing a lift improperly.

Strength and Conditioning is helping her prevent that from happening.

“For me [the class] brings confidence in my form,” Suter said. “Being able to focus on form and getting to heavier weights in class helps my confidence.”

Just two weeks into the school year Hoskins is already achieving goals.

“Today I did over 100 pounds [on back squats],” Hoskins said. “And I never thought I’d be able to do that.”

Before Strength and Conditioning, Hoskin’s time at the gym mainly consisted of scrolling on Instagram while walking on the treadmill, simply since she didn’t know

what else to do.

Hoskins also said that at many points she’s felt hesitant with heavier weights.

“Wright has been really hearing me and listening to the information that I’m giving him to improve my experience in the class,” Hoskins said.

Suter and Hoskins believe that Strength and Conditioning can be for anyone, no matter their experience level.

“I think lifting is for everyone,” Suter said. “It makes you feel better. It makes you feel confident. It gives you something to do. It makes you feel like ‘wow I did something’.”

Hoskins and Suter shared that they both know they’ll be sore the day following class, but the aches are worth the feelings of accomplishment that comes with it.

Both students are so glad that they decided to take Strength and Conditioning and they want others to be able to get the joy they get from it too.

“If you’re thinking about joining, or scared, just do it,” Hoskins said. “You’ll make really fast friends. Even if you’ve never lifted a single weight in your life, you’ll learn.”

IT’S NO DEBATE

The speech and debate program is headed into its second year and undergoing a significant change.

BY DANIELLA JOHNSON CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Following its first season after returning as a dormant program, Sion expanded its Speech and Debate program to include both a semester and year-long speech and debate academic course.

“I’m so happy they have a class. Doing it after school was hard because it’s a lot of work. Having a class gives us time to work in school which is super helpful,” sophomore Grace Bendon said. “I hope the program continues to grow because I really enjoy speech and debate and it teaches a lot of really good skills.”

Last year, there were over 15 students who competed in at least one event. One student, Bendon, qualified for State, while many other members placed in tournaments. This year, the program has continued to expand and has gained growing interest.

“This year, students who are taking the class are probably getting a slightly more thorough instruction just because there’s more time to give them information,” Speech and Debate teacher and coach Caleb Westbrook said. “With that class, we just automatically have more people involved so we’re seeing that kind of growth in the numbers on our team.”

At each meet, students are able to participate in up to two speaking events and one debate event. In order to do debate, you must take at least one semester of the speech and debate course. Here, the “basics” are covered which include how to structure an argument, technical skills, and the step by step timing

Surriya Quddus, Katie Bishop, Abby Gural, Grace Bendon and Lucia Cucar competed in the Pembroke Hill Valentine Spectacular Novice Speech and Debate tournament Feb 16, 2025. Quddus placed third for Informative Speaking and Gural and Bishop placed third for Public Forum Debate.

Abby Gural, Grace Bendon and Becca Houlehan are pictured and competed in the Liberty North Novice Eagle Eye-Invitational in January 2025. Houlehan and Gural placed fourth for Public Forum Debate and Bendon placed fifth for Original Oratory.

of how to compete. However without taking the class, students can still join speech as an extracurricular activity.

“Preparation for the tournament is a combination of skills, prep, research and running some practice rounds,” Westbrook said. “We have access to different resources which people have already put together with different arguments and evidence. It isn’t just finding research from zero.”

Students that participate in speech and debate develop confidence while speaking, dialogue strategies, and overall communication skills. Mastering these can set students up for life long success beyond their time in high school.

“I would recommend it if you really want to improve public speaking or just normal speaking,” senior Malaika Imran said. “I feel like everybody can relate to that. Speech and debate is really good because it helps you kind of develop away from that speech scare.”

Finally, at the end of prolonged hard work and preparation come the event students have all been waiting for: the tournaments. These are typically Friday and Saturday commitments, and the season runs from late October to early spring.

“There’s just something fun about going to a tournament. It can be intimidating but you can just go with zero expectations.” Westbrook said. “I think somewhere in there, usually the competitive juices kick in, and people walk away with ‘okay, I know what I need to do

to prepare for the next tournament.’ That makes students really excited.”

The National Speech and Debate Association divides the speech events into two major sub-categories: Interpretation and Public Address. In total, there are over 15 speech events that fit under these categories.

“My favorite part is when you go up there and you have to have this really long speech memorized.” Bendon said. “If you go up and you don’t make some really huge mistake, you’re really relieved and proud that you didn’t completely mess it up,”

In addition to the skills students gain, they also form friendships and connections with their teammates and even participants from other schools. Over 140,000 students (including high school and middle schoolers) and over 3,000 high schools were recognized by The National Speech and Debate Association as participating members. By joining Speech and Debate, you automatically set yourself up to build meaningful relationships and partake in a network of interconnection.

“Getting to spend a whole weekend with your teammates is kind of this magical weekend away that people can’t fully understand until they’ve experienced it.” Westbrook said. “When you spend that much time with other people, kind of venting with them, debriefing after each round, celebrating the wins, and grieving the losses, it just builds this camaraderie.”

Grace Bendon, Abby Gural, Katie Bishop and Sydnee Peghee are pictured and competed in the Blast Novice Tournament at Raytown South in December 2024. Gural and Becca Houlehan were semi-finalists for Public Forum Debate.

ALL PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY

CALEB WESTBROOK

FOOD DESERTS

BY CLAIRE STEINER WEB EDITOR

Food deserts have been affecting people globally, even in the Kansas City area.

The Hen House Market in Merriam was a staple grocery store for over 20 years, where people living near by would shop for their necessities. However, when it closed down permanently in 2018, shoppers like sophomore Vivi Lukas and her family became worried about where they would purchase fresh produce.

“They closed the Hen House in Merriam, which is where I lived and then they closed the Price Chopper,” Lukas said. “There were no grocery stores with in a 4 mile radius.”

Her family had to drive an extra 15 minutes to get to the nearest grocery store. This is just one local experience. Over 55 percent of people in Kansas City are affected by food deserts, and one in every eight people in the entire United States.

Food deserts are areas in which there is not a good quality grocery store nearby. This causes people living in these areas to travel extra miles to find a store that meets their needs while spending money and time that they can’t afford. Therefore, some individuals skip the fresh produce and stick to foods with less nutrition which

ultimately puts their health at risk.

One way the Sion community is helping with this issue is through Food for Thought. By participating in this food drive, which starts Nov. 12-21, Student Council president and senior Maeve Riley said we help Redemptorist Social Services and the community they serve.

“Food For Thought is helping people that don’t have food security,” Riley said. “We are giving all our cans to Redemptorist to then give out to people.”

This includes purchasing nonperishables, grabbing some from the pantry, giving cash donations and going canning. Here is a step-by-step canning tutorial from junior Grace Baggott.

“First you need to assemble a team. This past Halloween, I went canning with my friends, we pulled out a wagon from the storage, and rather than going around asking for candy, we asked for cans that people are not going to use and then we donate it to the school and the school gives it to Redemptorist,” Baggott said. “I see it as a way of giving back to the community.”

That’s not the only way students

URBAN YET WILD

addressed this issue.

Last year’s seniors Terryn Ford, Molly Blount and Addi Bowes set off on a mission to help their community in the class Designing Real World Impacts. These students saw that homeless and low income residents of Kansas City lacked the resources needed to live a healthy lifestyle, especially in regards to nutrition. This poor diet leads to increased health risks including cardiovascular disease, obesity, and diabetes.

Therefore, they created meal plans designed to fit individual budgets as they took into account food stamps, and put together recipes for people in food deserts all over Kansas City. They called it The Purposeful Plate.

“The Purposeful Plate was a project centered on nutrition and education, with our amazing partnerships guiding us the entire time,” Bowes said. “Our purpose was to bring more awareness to affordable healthy living in the KCMO area.”

BY DANIELLA JOHNSON CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

There have been growing instances of urban human and wildlife interactions which can unintentionally lead to harm.

In May, a black bear was spotted around the Kansas City area.

Freshman Aurora Galler was on her way from gymnastics in Martin City when she spotted the bear five minutes south of Sion on Wornall Road.

“We just thought it was a big dog,” Galler said. “Then on the news, they said there’s a black bear in Kansas City. We were like, ‘Oh, that was a black bear.’”

According to KCTV5, in the last sighting of the bear it appeared injured although it is unknown what ultimately happened to it. In instances like this, animals are exposed to foreign environments. They are put at risk from cars and humans as neither us, nor them, are prepared for an encounter.

“I think that’s actually been a big issue,” science teacher Rick Knowles said. “One thing we don’t realize is

that it’s not necessarily the animals moving into urban areas, it’s urban areas moving out into the wild.”

In the past 70 years, the human population has grown nearly six times in size. This population growth has caused an increase in both construction and the need to build out into undeveloped countryside. These quickly developing communities push wild animals out of all they have known. This forces them further into developed areas and destroys their homes and ways of life.

“As we develop, if you look at the same places like Olathe and Smithville up north or out west [people are] moving out into areas that used to be more wild,” Knowles said. “People and wildlife are becoming more in conflict.”

Another explanation for escalated animal activity in urban areas, especially places that have been long

developed, is an increase of animals lower on the food chain. Animals such as squirrels and rabbits have undergone a rise in population, largely due to more ecosystem friendly improvements like designated forested parks and safer fertilizers. As food is a primary motivation for species, many animals may find themselves eating well in residential neighborhoods.

“Yesterday, my mom was on a walk and she saw a baby fox. They’re just kind of all over, like I was driving back to my house, and there’s one running down the road,” sophomore Violet Hrabe said. “There was a fox mama and she had all her babies in Brookside so now all the babies are running around. We see them quite a lot.”

Hobbies Take Flight

Bird watching is on the rise, across the nation and in our community, as new tools are making the joys and mental health benefits of bird watching more accessible.

BY REPORTER LUELLA MOOK

Sophomore English teacher Megan DeLaurier began bird watching when she was just a little girl. From family road trips, to flipping through nature magazines, or going on a stroll around Walden Pond, DeLaurier has been tuned into birds, ever since her older brother, Matt Gearheart, first read an article about Bald Eagles. This article sparked an interest so intense the whole family got involved.

“I have strong memories of being in the backseat of our parents’ car, and I would be reading Anne of Green Gables while my brother would be pouring over bird books,” DeLaurier said. “We had feeders in our backyard and he would teach me the birds’ names.”

Gearheart went on to teach DeLaurier tidbits of what he was learning. She has since carried this interest and knowledge with her through high school, college and into adulthood. Today bird watching

DeLaurier said.

Whenever someone takes part in bird watching they are taking part in a hobby that has been around since the 1800s. According to Smithsonian Magazine the study of birds, known as Ornithology, began as firearms became more accessible in the 1800s. Increased access to firearms enabled researchers to obtain more specimens to study.

This practice may seem cruel today, but it contributed vastly to increased knowledge of birds. The more research that was completed in the field of Ornithology, the more empathy for birds grew.

Today there are still strides being made in the field of Ornithology. One example is the Merlin Bird app, a free app designed by The Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Merlin helps users identify birds by picking up on birdsong through phone speakers, or by analyzing images submitted by the user.

and over the past couple of years I really got into birds,” Roberts said. “Birds are hard to spot, so when you finally see one it’s really, really, exciting.”

Like many students, Roberts is involved

“I get my energy back if I can be outside and breathe fresh air, and notice nature, notice my surroundings. It helps me feel reconnected.”

-Megan DeLaurier

Principal Ellen Carmody, who said she’s still a beginner birder, utilizes Merlin to help grow her interest and knowledge in the subject. She found the app made bird watching more accessible. Merlin helped her learn to identify more birds and bird calls, especially when she was just picking up the hobby.

“It would pick up a bird and I would be like ‘oh I didn’t even hear that’ and the next time I can be like ‘oh I know that.’ Having a little more knowledge is helpful,” Carmody said. “I got all excited about what things I was finding. I’ve just gotten fascinated.”

During the pandemic, populations were facing increased stress, more free time and new online tools, such as Merlin, that made bird and plant identification more accessible. These elements combined to create the perfect scenario for the rise of outdoor hobbies, in particular, bird watching.

Today 96 million adults in the United States identified as birders. That means one in every three adults partakes in bird watching. We see this statistic reflected in our community. Many faculty members, and a small portion of the student population, spend time bird watching.

Junior Sophia Roberts

in extracurriculars, works a job and is in several AP classes. The avid dancer is lacking in free time, so bird watching helps her make the most of it when she has it.

“It does help you reconnect with nature,” Roberts said. “You don’t want to scare away the birds so you’re outside and you’re just quiet and you get to just feel the nature around you.”

This may sound like an inconsequential experience, but taking a moment to breathe fresh air, experience nature and watch birds can have actual health benefits.

According to National Geographic, listening to bird song decreases stress, lowers heart rate, and vastly improves mood. When birds are singing it signals to the most fundamental parts of our brain that everything is right with the world. When birds are quiet it's a sign that something dangerous is in the area, so when they are chirping happily it tells our subconscious it's safe to relax.

DeLaurier has seen the benefits of getting out into nature and in particular bird watching, in all parts of her life. Alongside being enabled to notice more details, DeLaurier also finds bird watching a refreshing tune into the natural world after a long day at work.

“I love it. It makes you more in tune with the world and it makes you more able to notice details in other areas of life when you can notice those details around you in nature,” DeLaurier said. “I get my energy back if I can be outside and breathe fresh air, and notice nature, notice my surroundings. It helps me feel reconnected.”

In an era where devices are so central

to our day to day lives, hobbies that help connect us to the outside world are dwindling. According to the CDC, 50 percent of teens, ages 12-17, have more than four hours of screen time each day. After being on MacBooks all day at school, DeLaurier said that bird watching is a great way to unplug.

“I think there's something to be said for a hobby that is relaxing, that you’re constantly learning more about,” DeLaurier said. “There's not an end to it, you can always learn more. I love that it's something you don’t have to spend a lot of money on. It's not something you have to buy or have money to do, it's just getting outside.”

Spot ‘Em!

Feeling inspired to try bird watching, yet still in need of a little help? We’ve got you covered! These are the most common Missouri birds that could be spotted in any adventure outdoors.

Red Winged Black Bird: songbirds can be found in Missouri at all times of year! They travel in flocks, gather around feeders and crops, and have a variety of different songs. Keep your eyes peeled for flashes of red and black darting between trees.

House Sparrow: native to Missouri, this English bird can be found anywhere and everywhere. The next time you step outside take a second to notice these fast footed little brown birds.

Mourning Doves: These round, gray, love birds are found in Missouri countryside, suburbs, and cities. They travel in pairs and can be heard cooing

Tufted Titmouse: This adorable gray and white song bird, sometimes called the scolding bird for its distinctive call, is a common backyard spot.

FAVORITE BIRDS:

American Robin: This iconic bird is known for its red breast and brown body. The return of the robins is a classic symbol of the start of spring.

Now grab a friend, a pair of binoculars, and maybe a pumpkin spice latte (see page 20 for suggestions) and get bird watching!

BY DESIGN EDITOR NORA GEDNEY

D g DYNASTY

Katherine Kennedy shares her experience with being a champion dog handler.

Freshman Katherine Kennedy is a part of the world of dog shows.

This all started when Kennedy and her family decided to adopt a very rare breed of dog, a Swedish Valhund. This meant they had to go through a very long process of paperwork, travel to other states, and even an application process to get Ruby. Originally, Ruby was supposed to go to another family but somehow they couldn’t get her so Kennedy and her family packed their things and went to Minnesota.

After they were done with the long adoption process, Kennedy decided to start training Ruby. Her mother, Julie, said that showing Ruby was Kennedy’s idea and dream. Julie said Kennedy had watched all the dog training shows and read books to gather as much information as possible.

“We contacted our breeder for advice,” Julie said. “She was super supportive of Katherine and gave us a lot of good advice like recommending that Katherine

take conformation classes at a local American Kennel Club. She even helped us locate one in Kansas City.”

So Kennedy entered Ruby into classes and began training as much as she could on her own. During training classes Kennedy said it was tough. Ruby was very new to classes and a group environment. One day in class she pooped during the lesson. She also escaped from her leash. Ruby ended up failing the class. This ended up motivating Kennedy even more to push past this set back and come out of the other side better and more knowledgeable.

“When I started taking training classes, many people said that Ruby could never compete in dog shows because she was too crazy and I couldn’t handle her,” Kennedy said. “I really wanted to prove them wrong.” She also had to get Ruby to be within the standards of the breed. Every dog has a breed standard, which is a document that states the ideal

appearance of the breed. These requirements factor into the judging and scoring during the shows.

For the actual shows Kennedy and her family mostly have to travel outside of Kansas City because the dog show scene here is not very prevalent. According to the Heart of America and Leavenworth Kennel Cluster Dog Shows website, in 2024 there was

only one dog show in Kansas City. So Kennedy has traveled to places like Nebraska, Minnesota and St. Louis.

“It’s become a really fun mom/daughter bonding activity, it’s kind of “our thing” we do together,” Julie said. “Probably one of the biggest things she’s had to learn is how let things go when things don’t go smoothly. There are things outside of her control and even though it can be very frustrating, she’s learning to let it go. Each ring is another opportunity and each day is an entire new show with new judges.”

But all of this travel and hard work paid off. Ruby was the #9 Owner-handled Swedish Vallhund in the country in 2024 and was invited to the AKC National Championship which is a huge show where over 5,000 dogs from around the world compete. Ruby is also currently the #1 Ownerhandled Female Swedish Vallhund in the United States.

In 2023 and 2024, Kennedy was the #1 Swedish Vallhund Junior Handler in the United States. Junior Handling is a competition for people under 18, and it is based solely on the handling skills, not the quality of the dog, according to Show Chairman and judge, Julie Lux.

“Junior shows are also used to measure wins so that one can be eligible to enter bigger shows like The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show,” Lux said.

Kennedy said she looks forward to her shows. Her experience and story are unique and she loves to help others learn about the world of dog handling and showing competitions.

“Seeing all the other dogs and knowing my dog has a chance is the best feeling,” Kennedy said. “I love how competitive it is, and I love the feeling of accomplishment after I walk out of the ring with a ribbon.”

are freshman Kathleen Kennedy and her Swedish Valhund, Ruby. Left, they won 2nd in the ownerhandler herding group and 4th in the regular herding group. Below right, features the pair immediately after winning the entire owner-handler herding group. Below left, the enjoy a nice Topeka day. Opposite page, Kennedy is stacking Ruby on the table, waiting for the judge and walking Ruby at the correct speed for her breed so the judge can evaluate her gait.

No Signal

A look into the new phone ban and why Sion, as a private school, chose to follow the new state law against phone’s in schools.

STORY BY RILEY PINTADO, NEWS AND SPORTS EDITOR AND CLAIRE STEINER, ONLINE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, DESIGN BY NORA GEDNEY, DESIGN EDITOR

while doomscrolling through TikTok on a hot summer’s day, shocking news hits your FYP. In red caps the video said: THE PHONE BAN BILL PASSED. You keep scrolling only to find more and more videos over the phone ban. Can this be real? Soon enough, it’s August, and you check your inbox when you learn that indeed, the phone ban policy has been implemented at Sion. This means students will be detached from a device they use everyday.

Whether students found out through social media, friends, e-mails from the school, or simply by walking into school to find the policy in place, some were left upset while others were quietly pleased by this ban.

Studies conducted by the Pew Research Center have found that the United States of America is more politically split presently than it has been since the country’s founding nearly 250 years ago. As tensions continue to rise nationwide, citizens from either major political party struggle to see eye to eye on any government-based policy. Although the divide between the two is only expected to increase in the foreseeable future, there is one fact that both Democrats and Republicans can agree on: objectively, phones are bad for kids.

“It’s got a lot of bipartisan support, which is interesting in our world right now. It’s probably one of the only topics where people are able to come together,” Principal Ellen Carmody said. “Ultimately, we care about students, and we care about how they grow up, and we care about how they contribute and connect with one another.”

Nationally, the ban was felt by every student across the state. However, the movement to enact phone bans began in the state of New York and was initiated by Gov. Kathy Hochul back in January. Slowly, throughout the year, the movement continued to grow more popular in schools around the country. This successfully influenced many state legislators to make the decision many students would dread once they came back to school in the fall.

Bill 1481 was passed by the Missouri Senate in May of this year and stated that by July 1, all public schools within the state were required by law to implement a phone policy that restricted overall device use. In addition, the bill mandated that by law these restrictions had to include rules that completely limited possession and use of cell phones on school property, at school functions and during instructional time.

As of September, out of 50 states, 31 have enacted some kind of a phone ban. While many state legislators demanded that districts enforce a ban on devices only during instructional class time, others left it up to the individual schools to develop their own policies. However, out of the 31, Missouri is one of only nine states that completely cracks down on phones during the day.

However, because they do not operate under government funding, private schools on both sides of the state line were given the option.

“Bishop Johnston actually reached out to all of the Catholic schools in the diocese at the end of the spring last year and suggested that he was concerned about the impact of cell phones and social media on our youth,” St. Michael the Archangel High School Vice Principal Anne Wright said. “When we heard that the public districts were following the Missouri law, we decided to follow it.”

Phone ban or not, students have always found ways to entertain plus distract themselves during the school day. A bad habit many teenagers struggle with, some private schools like Saint Thomas Aquinas have implemented more laid back policies

regarding phones and other mobile devices in order to teach students the restraint and discipline that they will need once they reach the real world.

In an email, Saint Thomas Aquinas Assistant Principal Lori Gresson said, “We believe it is important to teach students how and when to use their phones correctly. Cell phones are not going away, so we teach this through the virtue of temperance.”

At Aquinas, Gresson said that students are prohibited from the use of cell phones during class time, and the device must remain in their locker or placed in the classroom holder. However, students are permitted to use their phones during their 10 minute passing period as well as lunch. Cell phones are never to be used in the locker room, bathroom, or other places that demand privacy. Failure to comply with this policy will result in their cell phone being confiscated and the student will receive a detention. After the third offense, the principal, in addition to confiscation, may ask you to leave your phone at home, in your car or at a designated place in the office.

“I think the biggest reason why schools have no phones from bell to bell is because it is really hard to get everybody on board with the idea,” Gresson said. “I don’t think we should avoid teaching students moderation just because it makes it hard to enforce. It would be easier to say no phones ever, but if everyone does their part then we are helping our students be successful outside of the school day too.”

In contrast to the lenient policy of Aquinas, other private schools like Pembroke Hill have taken a more extreme crackdown on mobile device use, even exceeding that of the bell to bell ban that Sion follows. This year Pembroke introduced the YONDR program to their student body. This phone free movement has been chosen by thousands of schools across the county and includes a magnetic pouch for students to lock their phones in during the day.

“In July 2024 we launched the Cell Phone Free School Day. Our first year was a success, yet we knew that in year two we wanted to make some intentional shifts to ensure our goal of higher engagement in learning and the school experience were met,” Pembroke Associate Head of School Tiffany Kelly said in an email. “We are committed to a better student experience and we truly believe that removing phones from the school day has supported our intentions. As we complete our sixth week of school, we are noticing an increase in Yondr pouch usage and therefore a decrease in cell phone usage. This continues to support the science behind the negative impacts constant cell phone usage can have on teenagers”

states with bans

States With Phone Ban

States Without Phone Ban States With guidelines for phones in schools

Doctor’s Note

While there are perspectives and opinions from schools, there are also views from health professionals on health and phone use.

There are many problems that arise when talking about phone use in teenage minds. Phone usage for teenagers has increased the amount of anxiety and stress that they feel, especially when involving social media. Many issues like peer pressure, depression, unnecessary comparisons and the struggle of mental health often occur. In a 2022 survey by Pew Research Center, 22 percent of teens felt that their mental health was negatively impacted by social media. Additionally, the American Academy of Pediatrics states that over 50 percent of individuals using social media feel worse about themselves in general when using it.

“[Phones have] increased people’s comparison of each other and feelings of inadequacy. And it has definitely made people more isolated and less involved with people around them,” Dr. Diane Sheuer, a family physician with the University of Kansas Health System, said.

Students often become engrossed in the subjects on their phones, paying them more attention than school work. This lack of focus during class, as well as disruptions from alerts on these devices, can be a hindrance to students in school.

“I would say that phone usage in school can be a major distraction if used to not participate in what you’re doing,” Sheuer said. “If somebody’s in a class that they are not particularly interested in and they’re utilizing their phone, then they might miss out on learning opportunities.”

“Ithinkthebenefitisthatit canbuildcommunity.” -PaulKramschuster, religionteacher

However, there are many advantages to using phones. People use phones for quick problem solving like looking up some information on the internet. Students at Sion continually voice their complaints about the new phone ban policy and how it has affected them.

“It has made it impossible to quickly contact my parents for ride changes and questions,” sophomore Savannah said in a poll response. “Overall there are a lot of things on my phone that I need throughout the day which I have been unable to use because of the ban.”

Phone communication has become a necessity. The ability to contact each other in a split second is challenging to detach

“So many people use their phones to collect other data,” Sheuer said. “Diabetics use it to monitor their blood sugars. People use it to remind them to take medications. People that have jobs that are outside of school have to be able to be contacted for their work, or siblings

that have to be picked up and providers of those transportations have to have ways to get contacted quickly. So having a phone available has become part of our society.”

Often, students need a trusted person to talk to because they are having a bad day or need some advice.

“Those people that really felt secured by having an access to being able to say, ‘I’m overwhelmed’, and don’t want to go to the front office to say, ‘I started my period’ ‘I don’t feel well today’ or I’m anxious today,” Sheuer said. “They might want to text somebody to help them.”

However, the phone ban might not be as helpful as some think. Maturity level and age are a factor. In an AAP article published in 2024, a study shows that the average age of receiving a phone is between 11 and 12, which is the age of middle schoolers. Depending on the child, most are beginning to learn responsibility and maturity while high schoolers tend to have a higher level of these qualities.

“As phone usage begins in younger kids, it has more of an impact on them because they don’t have as much experience to know how to reset. So a sixth grader is going to have more trouble turning off a game and doing something than a high schooler,” Sheuer said. “A phone ban in elementary and middle school makes more sense.”

While high school students might be more mature than a middle school student, they are still learning and growing. This restriction of use of high school students’ phones would also restrict their ability to learn more responsibility.

“Taking that away makes it hard for adolescents to learn to manage some of the things that are going to be expected in society,” Sheuer said.

Having a structure is a solution, Sheuer said. Social media can cause many issues, especially with teenagers, that should be addressed. Eliminating phone usage in school might not fix issues with phones but instead pushes these issues to times outside of school. When there is a structure in school, where students are able to learn how to deal with these problems, she said it might be more beneficial.

“We didn’t set up enough supportive structure to make the phone bans good for people because it will not address the major problems, which is that we’re still going to have the same social media isolation,” Sheuer said. “I think that the effort should be more on teaching people the benefits, and getting people engaged in the benefits of in-person interaction and making that where that’s what people want to do, so that it’s going to help more long term.”

Sheuer also mentioned the necessity for building community and interaction between students. While taking phones away might eliminate distraction, it might not teach people to interact with one

another. By building in ways to bring people together through communication, they could also be able to connect with one another.

“Unless we figure out ways to constructively create social activities for kids to learn to interact with each other during the school day,” Sheuer said. “I think that banning it, social media, during the school day is just going to further isolate large groups of kids.”

Officially Disconnected

As a private independent institution, Sion is not legally required to follow the ban. However, like many schools in the area, Carmody and Assistant Principal Jennifer Brown-Howerton made the decision to update our phone policy to follow the bell to bell ban.

“We strongly feel this law is a good one,” Carmody said. “I think in our time teaching, we’ve seen a disconnect for kids, as they’re much more comfortable being on their phone than in the real world. With all of the mental health challenges that go along with excessive screen time, it helps when they’re distracted.”

Many students had reservations regarding the phone policy coming back from summer break. A poll taken by Sion Student Media revealed that of 119 students who responded, 85 students were against the phone ban, and 34 were for it.

“I believe it wasn’t necessary at all because most people were usually not on their phones during class, unless they asked permission to use it,” junior Hadley Ryan said in the poll. “Plus, if they were on their phones during class, that’s on them for not wanting to pay attention. Usually private schools don’t even have to follow the district standards because private schools operate independently in Missouri. So I think it’s a lame excuse just to keep us off our phones.”

Sion’s 24-25 handbook stated that the previous phone policy was as follows: “Students may not use their cell phones or electronic devices during class, Maisons, Mass, or other all-school activities, without permission. If used inappropriately, the phone or device will be turned over to the Assistant High School Principal and an infraction will be given. If parents need to contact a student, they should call the front office.”

Many believed this past policy would benefit our students greatly, as similarly to Aquinas’ reasoning, it would teach teenagers self-control and discipline. Therefore, this new ban policy was not entirely accepted without slight pushback from the community, as students and parents alike grappled with why they had to stay off their phones completely.

“I understand the habits that they are trying to build and I think overall it’s a good thing,” junior Lucia Cucar said. “But I don’t see the point in the ban during passing

period. I completely agree with during class, I understand lunch and school events, but I just don’t understand passing period.”

Other concerns students had for their disconnected day included limited communication with parents and guardians outside of the classroom in case of an emergency, capturing funny memories with friends on camera, catching up with friends during the day, and communicating transportation home with friends as well as other plans one may have after school.

“I have many issues with it and none of them have to do with me not being able to scroll during class,” sophomore London Trahan said in her poll response. “I’ve noticed that a lot of people can’t buy from the vending machines because they usually use Apple Pay. I can no longer check the time during passing periods and lunch to see how much time we have left and also during the first couple weeks of school I would use my phone to see what class I have next. There are also major issues with communication with your parents or friends.”

However, as the year has progressed, some have begun to change their minds. This is due to the benefits towards not being chained to a device becoming more evident to the student body as a whole. Students have been able to see the impact of phone usage on their daily lives.

“I think it requires students to build relationships through interacting with peers instead of on phones,” junior Sophia Roberts said in her poll response. “School, besides learning, should be for fostering relationships with classmates.”

Different takes On Phone Bans

Following are local private schools’ varying policies for daily usage.

“Without my phone I’m more present in the moment and i’m not distracted throughout the day.” -Maria Carson, 11

1. the pembroke Hill school

“We are committed to a better student experience and we truly believe that removing phones from the school day has supported our intentions,” Tiffany Kelly, Associate Head of School said.

Cell phones are not permitted during the school day, including the dining hall during lunch periods. The phones must be turned off and stored in a Yondr pouch when students arrive at school.

2. st. teresa’s academy

“They can only be on their phones in the classroom if it is part of their learning plan for that day in the class. But they can be on their phones during activity period,”

Administrative Assistant Katie Turley said. “There is a lot more attentiveness and joining in and participating in the classroom.”

Students are able to use phones when part of class activities as well as free period.

3. st. thomas aquinas

“Drawbacks, as with all policies, students try to figure out a ‘work around.‘ However, once they know they lose their phone for the entire day, they don’t do it again. At least they haven’t yet. Honestly, the parents feel better,” Lori Greeson, Aquinas Assistant Principal, said.

Cell phones may not be used during classrooms or during the STA period.

4. rockhurst

ROCKHURST- “As of now, we have kept in place our policy of restricting phone use during class and passing periods between classes,” Fr. Stephen Kramer, principal, said.

Each student is required to place their phone in a cell phone holder upon arrival in each classroom. They are also allowed to use their cell phones during lunch and activity period in certain locations.

Love

Hate

BY A&E EDITOR ADDISON PORTER

Love Island USA was the hit show of the summer, leaving fans glued to their TVs to the point where they became addictive, obsessive and toxic.

to watch with friends and maybe family, but people need to remember this is a show. Not fictional characters, but real people that have emotions just like us. Let’s be honest, it wasn’t necessary to invade comments and posts about islanders when you don’t even know the full story. “Love Island” producers only show a teaspoon of what happens within the Villa. Before you make a post about someone on “Love Island,” think about if you’re being toxic.

Islander Vanna

These islanders have families, friends just like us. It needs to be said, treat people the way you want to be treated.

Einerson shared on “The Viall Files” podcast that the vindictive comments about her looks made her break down in tears. Einerson said it created new insecurities for her. This is a prime example of viewers getting obsessed with the islanders, and not thinking before posting.

Another islander, Huda Mustafa, had backlash when fans said she wasn’t a good mother and wanted her kicked off the island. Things got to a point where her ex-boyfriend, Noah Sheline, posted on Instagram: “At the end of the day I hope everyone remembers we’re human. She has a daughter and a life.”

Maybe it’s the fear of missing out. Or maybe it’s a parasocial effect because viewers think they know the islanders like the back of their hands. Or maybe the villa is just an escape from reality. Or maybe it’s an addiction.

“Love Island” is strategically designed to be addictive. Having daily episodes, cliffhangers, and giving the audience participation leaves them always wanting more.

At the end of the day, publicly calling someone a “mean girl,” making them the villain, or pointing out insecurities crosses a line. Yes, the show is created to reel people in, but people can forget it’s up to them not to let obsession turn into cyberbullying.

This summer was full of laughter, drama and memes. “Love Island” fans went too far this summer and need to remember to think before they post.

safety screens in

Phones are embedded in our lives now. They’re our main source of communication with friends and family, house the news, assignments, calendar, social media, everything. But when you take all of this away, it can result in students feeling distant, disorganized and most importantly, unsafe.

Just two months ago in late August, Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis experienced a school shooting. Two children died and 21 others were injured. On Sept. 10 at Evergreen High School, southwest of Denver, another school shooting occurred. Two teenagers were injured.

“There’s a chance that [school shootings] can happen,” freshman Madeline McCluskey said. “If school shootings weren’t happening so often, then maybe I would be a little less concerned.”

According to a survey from the National Parents Union, 78 percent of parents polled said the reason they wanted their child to have a phone at school was so that their child could use their phone if there is an emergency at school. Clearly, there is an importance for both parents and students to have phones due to safety concerns.

Phone bans have not been implemented in other areas in the country because of safety concerns. New York City did not enforce a ban in 2024 for this reason. The New York City Public Schools Chancellor at the time, David Banks, cited concerns with parents not being able to reach their children as a primary motivation for nixing the ban.

In an interview with Fox 5 New York, Banks said, “Parents were saying that ‘if an emergency happens, I need to be in touch with my child.’”

These comments came after a false alarm of a gunman entering a school in the New York City Public Schools, where, when a lock down was enacted, parents could not contact their students. As a school that has received shooting threats

The new phone policy does not take into account students’ safety concerns and made unnecessary changes from last year.

within the past year, there should be some understanding of why students are so concerned with the phone ban. With easy and accessible communication, stress is reduced around potential violence. Students have the peace of mind that if something did happen, they would be able to contact their parents and law enforcement.

When we have a phone ban in place, students will either not be able to use their phone in case of an emergency, or feel reluctant to grab it for fear of getting in trouble.

This applies to non-emergency situations as well. Students will feel more comfortable and safer when they can easily communicate with their parents about small, everyday things. Being able to contact your parents about last minute changes to practice times, needing help, feeling sick, or being able to talk to them about something going on are simple, and healthy things to do. According to a National Institute of Health study, “Fostering parent-adolescent connectedness fosters healthy adolescent development, which in turn leads to better health and well-being.”

Taking away quick, accessible communication in both serious and non-serious events is a negative allaround. Students will feel less safe, and less comfortable in our day-to-day lives, which can be easily solved. With an easy solution readily available, students feel like their voices and opinions are not being heard.

“I don’t think that they’re listening to the students’ perspectives as much as they are basing [the phone policy] off of what they think,” McCluskey said.

In addition, students are just averting the ban in different ways. You can see this in the classroom. Students instead use their computers for all manner of things, which blocked websites and apps cannot control. When you become stricter with these phone regulations, students will simply look to other ways to use technology.

The solution is simple: Bring back the old phone policy. Last year, students were not trying to avoid the policy because they were allowed adequate time in between classes and during lunch to use their phones when needed. Phone usage in class was extremely minimal and did not distract students in a significant way.

In a survey response, freshman Marion Shaw said, “I don’t think it will fix any problems. There will always be distractions, and I don’t think students really have trouble with being on phones in class anyway.”

This editorial reflects the views of the entire Le Journal staff.

On Aug. 25, the University of Arkansas had a false shooter alert on campus. Some students had siblings that were affected by this. Junior Emma Kreamer had two siblings there that day, and didn’t find out about it until after school because of the phone ban.

“it was really stressful because I didn’t know what happened. I was honestly really scared.”

- Emma Kraemer, 11

ILLUSTRATIONs|RILEYPINTADOANDNORAGEDNEY

Stock Market Symphonies

BY SPORTS EDITOR RILEY PINTADO AND DESIGN EDITOR NORA GEDNEY

Many believe the pop-craze of the late 2000s was sparked by the depressing state of the worldwide recession. People on the internet have sparked conversation about “music recession theory” as they fear for their financial future.

in Manuel Miranda claims he finds his muse through his culture and family, while Taylor Swift is known to pull inspiration from her past relationships. Often artistic vision is drawn from both our own lived experience and the climate of the world around us. Therefore, it’s only natural that the recent resurgence of pop music reflects what could be the declining state of our economy.

“There’s a cliché that music is faster and more upbeat and consoling in difficult times,” professor of film studies and screen culture at University College Dublin Diane Negra said in an interview with CNBC.

The phenomenon now known as “recession pop” was first coined during the 2008 financial crisis. The era many refer to as the great recession gave rise to household pop stars such as Lady Gaga, Katy Perry and Kesha. Many people found escape and distraction from their depressing situation through these artists’ fun and carefree albums.

The key element of music produced from 2007-2009 that drew listeners in was the recognition and communal relatabilty of the economic struggle the artists portrayed in their songs. For example, in the pop hit “Down” by Jay Sean and Lil Wayne, Wayne raps the bar, “And honestly, I’m down like the economy.” Also, in the club classic “Time of Our Lives” by and Ne-yo, Ne-yo sings “I knew my rent was gon’ be late about a week

ago I worked my [butt] off, but I still can’t pay it though.”

Recently people on TikTok have discovered this same lyric trend resurfacing in pop songs released over the past few years. This has lead to the adoption of the “recession theory” which leaves many to believe that our economy is once again entering another recession.

Beyoncé, who has referenced worker burnout before, also tapped into the recent malaise in her “Cowboy Carter” album: “Hardworkin’ men ain’t got no money in the bank,” she sings in “Ya Ya.” said reporters Jessica Dickler and Ana Teresa Sola in their story “‘Recession pop’ is in: Why so many listeners are returning to music from darker economic times” for CNBC. “On Taylor Swift’s latest double album, “The Tortured Poets Department,” one line in her song “I Can Do It With a Broken Heart” deeply resonated with listeners: “I cry a lot, but I am so productive, it’s an art.”

Despite people’s recent dissatisfaction with their financial standings, we are not currently in a recession yet. With inflation still on the rise, as well as unemployment rates on the rise, economic experts and analysts have suggested significant cause for concern.

“It’s too early to see whether this is a trend,” said professor of economics at Georgetown University and a fellow at the Brookings Institution, Harry Holzer, in an interview with ABC News. “The likelihood of a recession went up because of these job numbers, but it could be a one-time adjustment or a bump down that avoids negative growth.”

K gDOM IN K -

BY A&E EDITOR ADDISON PORTER AND SPORTS EDITOR RILEY PINTADO

Netflix’s hit movie “K-pop Demon Hunters” is an East Asian cultural phenomenon that has taken the world by storm.

The fandom of K-pop Demon Hunters has unified the public where Hallyu, the entire K-Pop world, is now celebrated, rather than degraded.

As of October, the global hit has amassed over 325 million views. Therefore, it reached golden status as Netflix’s most popular film of all time.

has become the first soundtrack in history to have four tracks simultaneously in the top 10.

With no sign of fall off in the near future, the global hit has been compared to the likes of Disney classics such as “Frozen,” “Encanto” and “Coco.”

Described by Sion security guard Jared Westbrooks as “the best original animated kids movie we’ve seen in awhile,” K-pop Demon Hunters spent a record breaking 12 weeks in Netflix’s top 10. Earning over 3 billion streams worldwide on Spotify, the soundtrack continues to chart Billboard’s top 100, and

“The music was 10 out of 10,” sophomore Nicole Kierspel said.“I literally wanted to keep rewatching it.”

However Anti-fans continue to put a negative light on Hallyu because they believe it is “cringe” and “manufactured,” or even go so far as to say, “it’s not real music.”

“I feel like people are too embarrassed to say they love

K-pop because it seems cringe, but it isn’t,” junior Jocelyn Moreno said. “People are quick to judge when they haven’t even watched “K-pop Demon Hunter.”

The K-pop fandom is increasingly getting more viewers. People are starting to be more interested. However some people still believe “K-pop Demon Hunters” is just another trend.

Moreno, Kierspel and math teacher Charity Coney said that they believe that people will forget about Hallyu and “K-pop Demon Hunters” in a matter of time.

““K-pop Demon Hunters” was the perfect blend of K-pop music, fans, fan girling or fan

boying, old men in the bathhouse, having it in north Seoul tower and layout, detailing and animation was spot on for Seoul,” Coney said.

For Coney’s sake kick your feet back, have some “couch time,” and just watch “K-pop Demon Hunters” because you are missing out.

“The number of [TikTok] edits I’ve seen is crazy,” junior Elena Vergara said. “It has absolutely blown up on the Internet. Arguably the soundtrack is better than most albums released this year,” Vergara said. “It stayed on repeat in my headphones.”

For Ya’ Falling

DESIGNED BY NORA GEDNEY DESIGN

EDITOR

BY

SANTINA BONINO COPY AND

SOCIAL

MEDIA EDITOR

Students and Le Journal staff review some of the new fall

“I Usually don’t go for PUMPKIN drinks but something about this year changed me”

- Elena Vergara 11

Swig Spice Queen

“These were so delicious. My friend introduced us to this mix while we were hanging out. It had notes of cinnamon and pumpkin. It tasted like if you mixed fall and Diet Coke and turned it into a slushee. One of my fav fall drinks!”

-Iva Hoskins 11

Starbucks non-dairy Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai

cinnamon was a bit bitter and jarring at first and has a bit of weird aftertaste. It’s not too pumpkinny but it’s just enough to balance out the cinnamon. Its also pretty sweet.”

-Riley Pintado 11

Vive Cafe Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso

“This drink was so good. It had just enough sugar and flavoring that it didn’t have too much of a coffee taste. It has a really good aftertaste and it was a pleasant surprise because I don’t usually go for espressos.”

-Sophia Thomas 11

“I tried this drink with almond milk and vanilla non-dairy cold foam. It tasted so creamy, the vanilla non-dairy cold foam really made the whole drink taste not very fall. Overall I don’t think I would get this again and it isn’t the best option for non-dairy girls.”

-Santina Bonino 11

“I just Love when All the fall drinks start coming out because it just gets me in the mood for fall.”

- Addison Porter 11

Nekter Pumpkin Spice Smoothie

“This drink was surprisingly good. I wouldn’t usually mix smoothie and a fall drink but in this it works. I also added vanilla protein powder which made it really fluffy and healthy. I also added coconut whip cream on the sides which was sooo good!”

-Nora Gedney 11

Dutch Bros Iced cookie Butter Chai

“I tried this drink with almond milk and no soft top. it was awful. The syrup was instantly super strong and completely overwhelmed the chai. I think if I had the soft top it would have been worse because of how strong the flavor of the cookie butter was.”

-Santina Bonino 11

Brighton Nutrition Apple Cider protein drink

“This drink was so good. The consistency was really good. It had these sprinkles at the bottom that would melt in your mouth and it was really cinnamony in a good way. Brighton Nutrition also has so many other good fall drinks so I would definitely recommend going there because they have something for everyone.”

-Santina Bonino 11

Starbucks Pumpkin Cream

“I really liked the chai with the pumpkin cream cold foam on top. I’m not usually a big fan of chai, but the pumpkin adds a really nice flavor to the drink. Overall it was really good and I definitely would get this again.”

-Sofia Camacho, 11

KC CENTRAL

Kansas City is growing more as a hub for cultural events including more concerts, more sporting events and even TV shows featuring the City of Fountains.

BY SOPHIA THOMAS PRINT CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Chappell Roan, the filming of Ted Lasso, the 2026 FIFA World Cup: these are just some of the cultural events happening in Kansas City. With nearly 300 upcoming concerts, 120 sporting events, and shows like “Ted Lasso” and “Wednesday” taking place in Kansas City, the City of Fountains is becoming more and more of a cultural hub.

“[The concerts] are very community based,” junior Abby Gural said. “You’ll be waiting in line and someone will come up and talk to you.”

Kansas City is known for its thriving arts scene. You can go to the Kaufman for live ballet and orchestra performances, or if you’re interested in visual arts you can stop by the historic Crossroads District for a vibrant art scene. But now, when popular artists post their tour list, you will often see KC listed as a stop.

“We’ve really been put on the map culturally,” senior Meredith Daly said. “A lot of people are moving here and looking at Kansas City as a bigger place.”

There are also world-class sporting events occurring in Kansas City. With the Chiefs having won two back-to-back Super Bowls, the first only women’s soccer stadium in the world, and with the most watched sporting event, FIFA World Cup, coming here, KC is not only just a musical hub, it’s also a sporting one.

In an email response, Pam Kramer, CEO of KC 2026, the non-profit running Kansas City’s World Cup management, said, “Kansas City has created great momentum over the last several years. FIFA has said that Kansas City just wanted it more.”

The World Cup will be the largest sporting event in Kansas City’s history, which will bring more than 650,000 people to the metro area. The influx of people will bring both positive and negative benefits. The amount of people can overwhelm infrastructure and the hospitality sector, but it can importantly mark Kansas City as an important location on the global stage.

“Although we’ve hosted big events such as the NFL Draft, we’ve never hosted

a global mega-event, so we’re creating the structure and processes to do that,” Kramer said. “The great news is that if we do this well – and we will – it should lead to more opportunities in the future.”

According to the Arrowhead Executives, the World Cup will put Kansas City on the map, which will lead to KC becoming a focus for travel and a place of cultural significance.

In a press conference Bruce Miller, the CEO of Populus, a global sports and entertainment company, said, “Hosting the FIFA World Cup is a once-in-a-lifetime event not just for the greater Kansas City area but for the entire Midwest region.”

Culture can take many forms, but Kansas City is growing its cultural significance and centrality through the music and sports scene. You can see this through more concerts and more sporting events. So stop by T-Mobile Center, or maybe Arrowhead Stadium, because there will be something there for everyone.

FRESHMAN Firsts

As the class of 2029 begins their first year at Sion, there are many new traditions and expectations that await them.

BY CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DANIELLA JOHNSON

Amajor change can be the work load and sports balance. Many freshmen transition from middle school having practice twice a week and only an hour or so of homework each night. If these skills aren’t already built up, the change can be difficult for some.

Each of us entered high school not knowing quite what to expect. Sure, we’d shadowed for a day, knew the classes we’d take, and maybe had a few friends from middle school, but we still began with an unavoidable mix of apprehension towards this new start. “Who will I sit with at lunch? How much homework will there be? Am I even ready to be in high school?” Yet through all the natural uneasiness that comes with change, we knew Sion was eagerly awaiting our arrival and would make the transition as easy for us as possible.

“Overall, I thought I was gonna be really unprepared but now I’m here and I’m like, hold up, I think I was worried over nothing. This is awesome and I’m so, so happy to be here,” freshman Zoe Kral said.

T“I was really excited to meet new people, but I was really nervous, too. Everyone is new to high school, so it makes it easier.” genevieve griffiths, ‘27

he first “Sion experience” freshman have, even before their first class, is finding their lockers decorated with wrapping paper, balloons, stuffed animals and candy.

“Some of my candy got stolen but it was attached to magnets on the outside and then it had striped wallpaper with flower puffs on it. It matched my beanie,” freshman Genevieve Griffiths said. “It’s really sweet [of the seniors]. It also made the other two freshmen in my maison relatable.”

Even more popular than lockers though is the famed beanie tradition. Some of this year’s beanie themes included Kentucky Derby, light-up jellyfish, gumball machines and fish bowls.

Of the 49 freshmen who responded to the poll, 59 percent of them enjoyed Beanies more than any other Sion tradition so far.

“Mine was Kentucky Derby themed. It was cool because there are a bunch of different beanies because there are so many maisons,” freshman Mary Coleman said. “I think it makes it really cool because you know that a lot of people did it before you. Everyone tells you to look forward to it, and then you finally get to do it.”

class of 2029

favorite sion tradition so far

ORIENTATION PEP ASSEMBLY

PEER MINISTRY

“the most nerve wracking thing so far for me was my locker getting jammed in between classes. but other than that it's fine. it's awesome!” Zoe Kral , ‘29

Another perk of starting high school is the dramatic shift in freedom you’re automatically granted. No more lining up in a straight line to head down for lunch or constant reminders to be quiet in the halls. You just get to go where you need to during passing period, and can also grab a snack from the vending machine when needed.

“The teachers are a lot more relaxed. I was able to get up at lunchtime and visit a different table without being yelled at. You just have more freedom,” Griffiths said.

“do it because you love it, not because anyone else does it.”

Midwest Baller

She started late and lives far from the coast — but now junior Vivi Drosos is proving Midwest athletes can compete with the best in beach volleyball.

BY SANTINA BONINO COPY AND SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR

Like many of us during the summers of 2012, 2016, and 2020, junior Vivi Drosos grew up watching beach volleyball during the Olympics and thought it looked super fun. As she got older, Drosos wanted to give the sport a shot. However, with nowhere to play in Missouri, she decided on indoor instead.

“I really liked indoor club volleyball, but I always felt like there was something missing,” Drosos said. “Then I started beach and realized how much I felt at home.”

Competition in the Midwest, while challenging, is

extremely different in overall skill level compared to both the East and West coasts.

“When I’m down in Florida, the competition is so much harder than when I’m here. You can tell someone has been trained more than a lot of the people from much smaller places that lack beaches, such

as Missouri,” Drosos said.

“It’s hard because there are people who have so much more experience than you. It’s difficult to get on their level.”

“Everyone is committed and in Florida, beach volleyball is the most popular sport, so they’ve all been playing since they were around three years old.” Drosos said.

With college coming up, many athletes have begun searching for a place to play. Drosos’ dream is to go Division I, but she said that she would not be upset if she committed to a smaller school and then transferred to a higher division school. However, being a Midwest player, many challenges come with wanting to play on the West Coast.

“A lot of colleges like TCU, UCLA, and USC won’t even bother with looking at someone from the Midwest,” Drosos said. “Because they haven’t been playing for as long as the athletes from the coast.”

Due to the rapid increase in popularity, colleges around the Midwest have listed beach volleyball as an official program. This new addition has been implemented in schools such as Missouri State University, Wichita State University and Vanderbilt University.

“A positive about living in the Midwest,” Drosos said. “is that when colleges here started their programs, the coaches look for more local players so they have people who are used to the Midwest weather.”

In addition to beach, the rising sand volleyball star still plays indoor volleyball for Sion, and played indoor club until her freshman year, when she switched to play for a hybrid indoor and outdoor team.

“The hardest transition in indoor and outdoor is blocking, timing and defense. In beach we just go up, spread our arms and try to get a touch on the

ball,” Drosos said. “In indoor for defense you have to be completely stopped and in a certain spot, but in outdoor you kinda just go for the ball.”

Drosos isn’t only skilled but also is described as a positive and encouraging player on the court by her coaches.

“Vivi is the most flexible player,” Drosos beach coach Tori Gelles said. “She can play with anyone and be successful. She is so positive and uplifting. She is one of the strongest leaders on the team.”

Playing with someone and coaching them are very

different, but her teammates also speak very highly of her.

“Vivi is always a very uplifting person to play with. Players like her remind me why I play the sport,” junior Nora

Gedney said.

Having coaches and teammates talk so highly of Drosos shows her character, not just on the court but also as a person.

Drosos plays as a defender for Kansas City Prime Beach. In Missouri. She is ranked #1 in the Association of Volleyball Professionals, Beach Volleyball National Events and P1440. Nationally, across all age groups, Drosos ranks within the top 4 percent in AVP, the top 1.3 percent in BVNE, and the top 1.8 percent in P1440.

“My biggest advice for anyone starting a new sport is do it because you love it, not because anyone else does it,” Drosos said. “Beach has brought me confidence and has helped me branch out to become a more talkative person.”

CAPTAIN’S CORNER

Captains from all the fall sports recap the season.

seniors addison mcneive & reese johnson

“We started out the season really strong. We’ve had a little bit of adversity throughout the season, but everyone’s come together! We’re hoping to finish the season strong,” McNeive said.

seniors meredith daly & lucy gromowsky

“Despite our losing record, the team really bonded and had a lot of fun playing together. It has been a great season for learning, growing, and trying new things. We are so proud of our team,” Gromowsky said.

senior ava wickenhauser

“We have only had a few meets, but I think we are off to a great start. We have a lot of freshmen so it has been fun getting to know the new girls and watching the team grow,” Wickenhauser said.

senior janice palmer, junior claire henke, senior ainsley switzer

“This golf season has been going great so fa. We have played in many tournaments. Our JV girls have also done such a good job throughout the season and we are so proud of them,” Henke said.

seniors maeve riley, anna mcgeeney & audrey lockett

“I’m so so proud of how our tennis season went! All the girls did so amazing, not just on the court but off, too. We all got really close, had so much fun at practices, and really bonded as a team. I’m so proud of everyone,” Lockett said.

seniors adi prier, nora conway & evelyn kiewiet

“We have a strong varsity team eager to compete against new schools this season with a record number of games on the schedule ahead of us. We are so proud of this team and sad it is our last season playing,” Conway said.

ONE SPORTS WRAP UP

STORM WATCH

Looking ahead next quarter to major sports events happening.

OCT 18

DRESS UP

IThe cross country team’s mascot is both a source of joy and community for its members.

SPREAD BY SOPHIA THOMAS CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

f you’re a student of math teacher Reynold Middleton’s class, you may have seen the purple Teletubby sitting by his desk. Affectionately named Suzy because of Middleton’s infamous “Suzy Sion” math problems, the plush toy has an interesting history and new traditions coming her way.

“We found this garage sale and we stopped by,” sophomore Kelly Frank said. “We saw this big purple Teletubby and thought it would be funny to get it for Mid.”

Suzy was not the only item found on runs by the cross country team. Middleton says that a range of items have been brought to his classroom: a lamp, a gong and the Kung Fu Panda 3 poster hanging in his room among them.

“[The runners] can just hang out and talk while they’re running,” Middleton said. “They get to know each other

really well.”

Suzy holds the State and District trophies, she comes to every cross country meet and she accompanies the team when they get an award at the meets. She’s basically a celebrity within the team.

“She’s the number one runner,” Frank said. “I think her presence just brings us joy and support.”

Cross country’s unique set-up of practice allows for these kinds of finds and mascots to happen. The up to 9 mile runs each day allow for the team to talk with each other, spend time with the community, and see what’s going on in the Sion neighborhoods.

“We’ve made friends with some of the households around and they support us,” Frank said. “I think it’s cool to see the community while we’re running.”

Friday Night Lights

Sion Dance Team performed at the Rockhurst High School football game Sept. 5. They danced to a mash-up that included “Breaking Dishes” by Rihanna.

Below the Sion Dance Team kickline. Last year, they placed first at Nationals.

ALL PHOTOS | SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR SANTINA