RRrebel rouserNotre Dame High School St. Louis, MO

Volume 24 Issue 2 February 2011

Inside this issue: How to Make A Sport’s Team* College Edition* Pro Life March*

Valentine’s Day 2011

Say You’ll Be Mine

Random Acts of KindnessGive Prayer The faculty and staff decided that they would give Mary Godefroid (Religion) a “spiritual bouquet” to comfort the family after her granddaughter passed away. Paper flowers were set in the faculty/ staff lounge, and they were in-vited to write a spiritual gift on a paper leaf, which was then put in the flowers. “You want to feel like you’re doing something but you don’t know what would help the most. Prayer is sometimes the best thing you can give,” said Amanda Meehan (Library).

Life Really MattersThe following is an article written by Rebecca Molner (12) who went on the 2011 Pro-Life March.

Day 1: A bus full of anxious ND girls left Notre Dame at 4 pm, ready to get to DC to March for Life. But first we made a stop at Our Lady of the Snows with the entire Life Really Matters (LRM)group from St. Louis. About 1,500 teens from the St. Louis area went with LRM and another 500 teens with a different group called The Way, The Truth, The Life (WTL). We had our first speaker of the weekend, Melanie Pritchard. She told us the story of how she died last summer due to an amniotic embolism while giving birth to her daughter, but she was re-vived. She also talked about how much of a miracle it is that she is alive today. After her talk, we had Mass, and then it was time to board the buses.Day 2: After the long night on the bus, we finally arrived at the hotel at 3 p.m. Later that night, we had another speaker. This time it was Jaime Thietten. She shared her gift of her voice with us and how God allows her to use this gift as a way to speak out against abor-tion. Her voice was beautiful as were her songs.Day 3: Sunday morning we had Mass before we all set out in our individual groups to go touring. The bus dropped us off at the Na-tional Mall and from there we got

RebeccaMolnerguestwriter

Winter Remix The annual Winter Dance came back from the dead this year after last year’s cancellation. Unfortunately the “Blast From the Past” themed dance last year was called off due to low par-ticipation. Stuco made several changes to this year’s dance in order to catch the interests of fellow students. Not only was it changed from a semi-formal dance to a mixer, but students were allowed to bring two dates. Outfits for the mixer were also up to the students’ discre-tion considering there was no dress code. Al-though the Barbie-themed mixer did not meet the expected attendance, students still came dressed in pink and ready to dance.

ReneeMolnerReporter

Give Gifts This year, the ND Players decided their service project would be to send gifts to the Fischer House. The Fischer House is a place where veter-ans and their families can stay while the veterans recover. Paper ornaments with needed items written on them were hung from a Christmas tree. Students took an ornament and brought back the item. “I gave to the Fischer House because it felt good to give to other people, especially around the Christ-mas season,” said Taylor Layton (9).

Math Contest

Give Blood On January 14, a blood drive spon-sored by the National Honor Society was held, with 59 units donated. That means that Notre Dame saved 177 number of lives. “Giving blood was amazing; I’ll definitely do it again. Although I couldn’t give the full amount, I knew I was helping other people and that’s all that mattered,” said Linda Epley (12). Below: Kaitlyn Shannon (11) is all smiles after giving blood.

LizFlowersReporter

Performing Arts Week

Quill and Scroll

It is ten o’clock on a Saturday morning, the scratch of pencils reverberates through the hallways as sixth and seventh grade girls hastily answer the last few questions.The fourth annual Math Field Day, held on January 15, hosted fourteen teams from nine different grade schools, with Holy Infant from Ballwin pulling away both first and second place overall. The day began with an indi-vidual test contest consisting of basic proportions, per-cents, and the like, with a puzzle team contest following.

The Quill and Scroll Society is a world-wide honor so-ciety for dedicated high school journalists. It current-ly has more than 14,000 members with chapters in all fifty United States along with forty-five countries. There are various qualifications one must meet in order to join Quill and Scroll. A student must be in his or her junior year before accepted, have a 3.0 GPA, and worked as a member on the school’s publications for at least two years. On February 7, Notre Dame inducted 13 new members into their chapter of this honorary society. The inductees include Gretchen Freund, Anna Holdener, Sarah Mey-er, Olivia Ossola, Laura Seier, Rebecca Talley, Michelle Auer, Jessica Bayens, Hope Burbes, Sydney Pourcillie, Mary Kabbaz, Kristen Kenney, and Claire Zimmerman.

On January 5, students gathered in the gym during activ-ity period for a performing arts presentation. The African dancing group “Creative Pandemonium” performed danc-es, songs and told stories. They also got the students in-volved in many ways. Students clapped to the music and were invited to dance or play the drums with the group. “I learned a lot from it and didn’t realize that type of dance still existed,” said Ellyn Farkas (12).

ReneeMolnerReporter

LizFlowersReporter

RoseMarinaroReporter

2News February2011Notre DameRebel Rouser High School

Winter Mixer This year’s winter mixer attracted many Barbie girls. Shown above are Kelsey Mack (11), Jennifer Burghoff (11), and Jessica Brennan (11).

Photo Courtesy ofYearbook Staff

Photo Courtesy ofYearbook Staff

Photos Courtesy ofLiz Flowers, Claire Zimmerman, and Liz Miller

Pro-life March Hun-dreds of thou-sands of people come across the world to Washington D.C. in order to fight for life each year.

Photo Courtesy ofRebeccaMolner

to walk around seeing monuments and Smithsonian museums. One of my favorites was the American History Museum because it had all kinds of cool exhibits, like Julia Child’s kitchen and the first ladies’ inaugural gowns. Back at the ho-tel that evening we had our final speaker, followed by Eucharistic adoration. Gianna Jessen was quite the motivational speaker, telling the story of how she survived her mother’s abortion attempt. Un-fortunately, she still had to live with the health issues caused by it. Though the doctors said she would never be able to lift her own head due to her cerebral palsy, on April 30, 2005, she completed her first marathon. I, personally, took her message of “never give up” to heart and thought about it during the march the next day.Day 4: We packed up all our things and got back on the bus first thing Monday morning. The bus dropped us off at Arlington National Cemetery where we spent the morning watching the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and see-

ing John F. Kennedy’s grave. We took the Metro back into the city where we ate lunch before meet-ing up with the LRM group and the WTL group. We all entered the march together and began walking up Constitution Avenue. Thousands of people came to-gether from across not only the nation but also the world to work for a cause that is important to us all. My favorite part of the march was when we reached the top of Capi-tol Hill, and I could turn around and see thousands of people be-hind me Marching for Life. After the march was over, we walked to Union Station where we had dinner before boarding the bus for the long trip home.Day 5: We woke up on the bus to find out that we would be arriving at Notre Dame at 10 am. Once we pulled into 320 E. Ripa, we practically ran off the bus, eager to get home to sleep in our own beds. The pilgrimage may have been a rough one, but maybe saving just one life made it com-pletely worth it.

the

Ramen Noodles: $0.17College: $20,000

Higher Education: PricelessThere’s a lot of things in college you can’t buy.

For everything else, there’s ramen noodles.

issueCOLLEGE

Where Are They Going?

• St. Louis Community College- Meramec• Plans to major in nursing

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• St. Louis Community College- Meramec• Plans to major in Physical Therapy

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• Missouri State University• Plans to major in Nursing and Medical Social Work

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• Missouri State University• Plans to major in Education

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• St. Louis University• Plans to major in Nursing

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• Jefferson College• Plans to major in Psychology

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• University of Missouri - Columbia • Plans to major in Forestry

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Whether you are going away or staying close to

home, everyone’s college plan is unique.

I know that for many the ACT is one of the most daunting tasks of the college process. For those who want to get the best score possible, here are a few tips to help you do your best on the ACT.

1. “Read eveRy night befoRe you go to bed,” said Laura Hanneke (Language Arts), English and Reading instructor for the ACT prep class. According to Hanneke, daily reading can help you greatly on the reading portion of the ACT.

2. take an aCt pRep Class. “Prep classes can range from $25 to $700 [in price], depend-ing on where you go,” said Hanneke. Every ACT program provides a series of tests. Re-gardless of where you go, a prep class can help you with the individual tests of the ACT, and can even raise you composite score a few points.

3. get a good night’s sleep the night before the test. Did you know that our bodies need nine hours of sleep per night? While that’s nearly impossible for the average teenager, shoot for seven or eight hours the night before the test. More sleep will allow you

to focus better on the test and retain more of the information you have learned in prep classes. Besides, I’m sure the last thing you want is for that cute guy sitting next to you to see you drooling during the Math test.

4. eat a good bReakfast. Our doctors don’t say, “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day,” for nothing. Eating a good, substantial breakfast allows you to stay focused on the test instead of your growling stomach. Hanneke recommends avoiding foods high in caffeine and sugar. “Save those for the break,” said Hanneke.

5. aRRive eaRly to the test CenteR. Try to show up half an hour before the call time. De-pending on where you take the test, there can be long lines at the registration table, and nothing is more awkward than being the last person to trudge into your testing room.

6. Come pRepaRed. Make sure you have your ID in your wallet, your number two pencils sharpened, and your calculator full of bat-tery life. You might also want to bring an eraser and a watch to help pace yourself.

Being prepared for the test can help you re-main calm and relaxed.

7. don’t be afRaid to guess. If you don’t know an answer, The ACT doesn’t penalize you for wrong answers. Guessing gives you a one in four chance of getting the question right, so be sure to fill in your favorite bubble for each question.

8. RelaX. It is important to stay calm throughout the test. The test is not de-signed for you to know all the answers. Don’t psych yourself out; the more relaxed you are, the better you will do on the test.

9. eat a snaCk duRing the bReak. In the ten or fif-teen minutes between the Math and Read-ing tests, a small snack can boost your en-ergy and keep you focused for the last half of the ACT.

10. seCond…oR thiRd time’s a ChaRm. The ACT is offered six times per year. If you didn’t get your goal score the first time, don’t fret. You can take the ACT again. Therefore, repeat steps one through nine for success on the ACT.

10 Tips to Improving Your ACT Score

Turn your college thinking

inside out.

Inside the classroom,outside the classroom-You’ll engage in every aspectof your college experience.

westminster-mo.edu - Call Susie Stuerman 636-300-9700

F U LTO N , M I S S O U R I

POV: A College Admission Interviewwith Rachel Wease

4college February2011Notre DameRebel Rouser High School

After an hour of answering probing questions with my dad the night be-fore, my mother and I showed up at the Sheraton Hotel early on Saturday morning. Walking through the door, I had no doubt that I was prepared for my Uni-versity of Denver interview, but I should have known that things wouldn’t go the way I planned. My dad had been very adament the night before about making sure that I was prepared to answer questions. He asked me about my heroes, my expe-riences, and for my thoughts on mul-tiple subjects. There was only one thing that we didn’t think to practice - the introduc-tion. The DU staff member came out of the room and said “Rachel?” When I stood up, she held out her hand and intro-duced herself. I said, “Nice to meet you. I’m Rachel.” Then I realized what I had just said. The next thing to come out of my mouth was a semi-intelligent “um.” Obviously I made an excellent first impression. Honestly, I didn’t expect to have a perfect interview. I knew that I would slip up, but did it have to happen the minute I met her? Upon entering the interview, I freaked

out a little more. All of my well re-hearsed answers flew out of my head, and I got a little panicky. I didn’t know where to sit and ended up floundering around for a moment. One upside to all this, though, was I didn’t need to remember any of the answers I had rehearsed because I wasn’t asked a single question from my previous pseudo-interview. The questions ranged from “What do you think of diversity?” to “What can you contribute to DU?” to “Describe an argument you had with a friend or fam-ily member and how you solved it.” All of these questions I think I was able to handle competently, but I did slip up a bit when they asked, “What are your values?” That wasn’t a ques-tion that I thought about a lot, but I was able to come up with an answer quickly enough that it didn’t seem too bad (to me at least). At the end, they asked whether I had any questions. I asked about their study abroad program and whether or not my interviewers had ever gone abroad to study. They hadn’t, but they, like my-self on some of their other questions, did try to improvise an answer. It was obvious that I wasn’t the only one disconcerted about not having the right answer, and I have to say, that

was probably the most reassuring part of my interview. Upon leaving the interview, my mom and I chatted with the admissions counselor and then made our way out of the hotel. I may not have made the best first impression, and I may have slipped up a bit, but I had come out of my in-terview feeling confident. I may have been nervous then, but it wasn’t nearly as bad in hindsight. Of course, that’s just my opinion; we’ll have to wait until March to find out if I was right.

KristenKenneyco-editor

ND ACT PREP CLASS

Test Dates: April 9 and June 11Prep Class Dates: Held three weeks

prior to ACT dateClass Includes: Two sessions per

week in rooms 207 or 115 from 3:15-5:45

Cost: $150Materials Included: Skill reviews in Math and English; strategies for Sci-

ence and Reading reasoningClass Instructors: Laura Hanneke (Language Arts) and Joyce Sevem

(Math)

Typical Interview Questions:

1. Who are your heroes?2. Describe yourself in 3 words.3. What were you involved in in high school; what do you hope to be involved in here?4. Tell me about a current event.5. Why are you looking at our college?6. What are some of your strengths and weaknesses?

Rachel WeaseReporter

ever, my fears and anxieties all went away the moment I moved down to Mobile, AL. As I am venturing my way through sophomore year, I can honestly say that choosing to step outside of the St. Louis norm and my comfort zone was one of the best decisions I have ever made in my entire life. I have had the opportu-nities to travel to places that I would’ve never been able to do had I stayed in Missouri. I also have made amazing friends with people from all over the world. I’ve been able to experience new people, food and lifestyles. I’ve expe-rienced all of this because I choose to step outside of my comfort zone. I challenge anyone who has the opportunity to go to a school outside of the Missouri area to go for it. The oppor-tunities I have received, the connections I’ve made and the new life I’ve created for myself is out of this world. In the words of Jonathon Larson, “Forget regret or life is yours to miss.” Don’t let the opportunity of a lifetime slip through your fingers. Take a chance.

Selecting a college is one of the most emotional times of your life. Trying to decide where to go, if you will make friends, what it will be like liv-ing all on your own? All of these questions, plus hun-dreds more, flying through your mind and making your decision ten times more diffi-cult. I experienced this emotional roller coaster. I was scared out of my mind, and I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life or where I wanted to go to school. I applied to over ten schools and hoped for the best. I had applied to several schools in the Missouri area because that is what I was ac-customed too. After visiting some of the instate schools, none of them had excited me. One day, I re-ceived a pamphlet in the mail from a small, Jesuit school in the South, and I was sold. The students went to the beach on the weekends and enjoyed warm weather 85% of the year. After visiting the school, I feel in love with it, yet I was terrified to move ten hours from home to attend a college where I knew absolutely no one. How-

Take a Chance: Be Bold

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MaryRies, ‘09Spring Hill College

Notre Dame Ambassadors, Mar-thas-in-Training, Shalom Club, Musicals, Dance, Powderpuff and many other things. That is just a short list of the many activities and groups that I was involved in when I was a student at Notre Dame. Clearly, I was the type of person that thrives on stress and con-stantly has to have something to do. Therefore, the minute I stepped onto Missouri State’s campus, I be-gan seeking out things to get involved in. Luckily, during my senior year of high school, I had been accepted into a leadership program called Hutch-en’s Centennial Leaders. I felt like that was a good head start to my in-volvement in campus life. As my first semester went on, I continued my search for extracurricular activities to be a part of. I rushed and joined a social sorority, Gamma Phi Beta. I also became a University Am-bassador. That was something that allowed me to use my training from being a Notre Dame Ambas-sador. I was a pro at giving tours. College life has so much to offer an individual. There are numerous opportunities that young adults will have the chance to partake in. No matter what one may want to do, there will be something that suits each and every individual.

It is so important that new college students get involved on campus. It makes the transition infinitely easier. Going off to college is a huge step for a young person. It is often the first time that they are away from home. It can be very hard for some people. That is why I think it is so important to get involved on campus. That is the number one way to get to know a lot of new people at one time.

Alum Advice:

Be a leader,Get Involved!

February2011 5collegeNotre DameRebel Rouser High School

MichelleBoyer, ‘09Missouri State University

Cartoon Courtesy of Julie Bonk, ‘10Webster University

Apps We Wished They Made: College Edition

Truman State University Two students chat on the Truman campus. Once you select your college it’s important to get involved in activities on and off campus.

6College February2011Notre DameRebel Rouser High School

Choosing a Collegein 3 Easy Steps***MaryBuhr

guestwriter

Step 1: Take action your freshman and sophomore years

Create a four-year plan by looking ahead at your classes to make sure they meet college entrance require-ments. Discuss your interests with your advisor, parents, and counselor. Begin to identify a type of job you may like by shadowing someone in that field. Taking the assessments on Missouri Connections can help you to zero in on majors that may appeal to you. Also, the PLAN test you take sophomore year will help predict your ACT score and identify academic areas that need improvement. Review information from the results to help direct your college search. Also remember that although you’re just a freshman or sophomore, take school seriously. If your junior year comes around and you haven’t put in your full effort, you will regret it. Study hard and stay focused all four years .

Step 2: Stay on track your junior year

When registering for your junior year courses, strive to maintain an excellent record. Once your junior year has begun, come up with a plan of action. Figure out what colleges you are interested in, and start doing some research. When trying to figure out where you want to go to college, ask yourself: “What are my goals?” Speak to the college reps that visit Notre Dame. Don’t be afraid to ask

questions. Take the spring ACT and/or SAT to assess areas of strength and weakness. Sign up for ACT prep class-es. These will help you gain confidence when taking the test. Attend college fairs or visit college campuses over breaks and summer vacation to get a feel for the campus. You can never ask enough questions, so remember to ask as many questions as possible! It’s bet-ter to have more information than less.

Step 3: Tie up loose ends

Once you’ve reached your senior year, visit colleges and keep notes on each school so you can remember its pros and cons. Also, keep a bro-chure on each school and be aware of requirements for entry as well as deadlines for applications and schol-arships. During the first four months of your senior year, begin applying to choice colleges. Admissions officers will look at your grade point average, difficulty of your high school course-work, ACT and/or SAT scores, class rank, application essays, extracurricu-lar activities, recommendations and interviews. All colleges have different selection processes, and some fac-tors are given more weight than others. In January or February of your senior year, apply for financial aid and have mid-year transcripts sent out, if need-ed. In April, review your financial aid award letters and decide on a college.

Dancing with Diana: Living Life on the BeatClaire Zimmermanreporter

There are moments in life when one asks, “What if?” For Diana Sucher (Dance Teacher), the “if” in life is not so far off. These realiza-tions are what make her believe “every-thing happens for a reason.” It all began when Sucher started taking dance lessons at 4 years old. Though she hadn’t always pictured her life focusing around dance, her 8th grade memory book from St. Margaret Mary Al-acoque gives an eerie look into her future occupation. Under the question future occupation, it reads, “dance teacher.” During her time at Notre Dame, a series of events led Sucher to choreograph the musicals. In both Sucher’s freshman and sophomore year, senior Amy Kern had been asked to choreograph the shows. When accidents beyond her control left Kern unable to do the job, Sucher stepped in and has stayed since. Sucher totals 17 shows at Notre Dame. “Well of course, I was honored, and [at

How to Make a Sport’s TeamMary Kabbaz&ClaireZimmermanco-editor/reporter

the same time] scared out of my mind because as a freshman I was teaching seniors what to do,” Sucher said. Con-sequently, she noted the dancing in the show “was not so great.” However, dance was not Sucher’s first idea of a possible career. Her experiences while working at Dier-berg’s during high school led her to go into business her first year of college at UMSL. It didn’t last long. “I could not stand sitting in those boring business classes,” she said. With that, Sucher decided to go back to what she loves. Sucher graduated with a degree in El-ementary Education and began teach-ing dance as an afterschool program in grade schools and at Notre Dame. After four years, Sucher finally suggested put-ting dance in the school day. “They didn’t even blink [at the idea],” she said. Today, she could be dealing with 50 to

60 numbers a semester. To choreograph an advanced number, it may take about an hour to create one minute of dancing. Her work isn’t something to force, though. “If I’m not feeling creative that day, then I don’t choreograph that day,” she said. “It’s not like it’s black and white and com-ing out of a textbook.” Besides Notre Dame, she still teaches dance at grade schools and is also the choreographer for Missouri Baptist Uni-versity. “I am just so blessed. Not only do I get to do what I love and what is my passion, but I get to do it with every single age level,” she said. In the end, Sucher credits Kern for life as a dance teacher. “If those [events] wouldn’t have hap-pened to her, I could have gone in a whole new direction,” she said. “I think it just proves that sometimes you have to be in the right place at the right time.”

Sports Update

BHighlight of the year: Michelle Auer (12) passed her 1000 point mile mark on December 8 vs. Westminster. Gabby Reppell (12) and Abby Gasperoni (12) led the basketball team in rebounds.Next game: 6:00 p.m. vs. Villa Duchesne February 15.Thoughts of the year: “We’ve competed very well against a very difficult sched-ule,” said Athetic Director Ed Behr.

Mary Kabbazco-editor

R

SC

Highlight of the year: Mary Ann Foppe became the new swim coach for the 2010-2011 season.Next game: State MeetThoughts of the year: “They did good, they’re a young swim team andthey will improve,” said Athletic Director Ed Behr.

Highlight of the year: Working and earn-ing a competitive varsity team.Next game: State GamesThoughts of the year: “The varsity rac-quetball team is very competitive and we all support each other. We give each other advice for games so we learn how to play better,” said Tara Wright (10).

Highlight of the year: Samantha Inman (class of 2004) was the cheerleading coach this year.Next home game: 6:00 p.m. vs. Villa Duchesne February 15Thoughts of the year: “We worked harder this year and we have more stunts. I like cheering a lot more!” noted Abby Kemp (12).

Step One:Identify an inter-est. What do you want to play? Tennis? Cricket? Polo? Are there actually people that are interest-ed and dedicated to playing?

Step Two:Determine requirements.Get down to the nitty gritty de-tails. What’s the uniform? Is there a coach? When will the team practice?

Step Three:Discuss the money. How is your team go-ing to pay for the equipment needed? Is there enough money to pay the coach?

Step Six:Go play. Con-gratulations! You officially cre-ated a sport for Notre Dame. So go have some fun and do your thing.

Step Five:Finalize your plan. It’s okay if you didn’t have everything ready the first time, so use this step to get everything set in stone!

Step Four:Prepare a pre-sentation.Talk to Mr. Behr about your ideas and be pre-pared to answer questions. Be organized!

7sports February2011Notre DameRebel Rouser High School

The History of UniformsMary Kabbazco-editor

Just as the school uniform has changed, so has the athletic attire throughout the years. Can you guess what year these sport’s uniforms were from?

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Photo Courtesy of DianaSucher

Dancing Diva Diana Sucher began her dance career at the age of 4 years old. Sucher posed before her performance that would lead to her dancing career.

Answers: 1) C 2) B 3)C 4)A

Photo Courtesy of yearbookarchive

Love is in theAir

Good Gifts vs. lame Gifts

Gifts play a heavy role in Valentine’s Day. What one gets for someone special- or what they receive- can mean a lot. “My ex-boyfriend got me a chain that you clip on your pants and that’s why I broke up with him,” said Susan Roach (10). Sometimes a gift can feel like it may be good, but one can be totally wrong about that. “I got a teddy bear- but I was expecting more,” said Megan Radomski (10). Presents don’t have to be material objects. Sometimes the best gift is something that really comes from the heart. “I loved when my husband got me a spa certificate, but I also like when he just cooks me dinner and lights candles and he tries to surprise me,” said Anna Hutchin-son (Modern Language Department). Handmade gifts are just as good as store bought gifts, if not better. “I made my wife a picture frame one year and we still have it,” said Chris Livingston (History Department). Whether a gift comes from Walgreens or is made from scratch, chances are that special someone will think it’s really special.

fun date ideas Valentine’s Day can be a lot of fun, but there can also be a lot of stress involved. But don’t de-spair- there are plenty of adventures out there for you to try out with your special someone. You can go the traditional route: have a movie night and order pizza. For a romantic twist, ask the piz-za place if they will bake your pie in the shape of a heart. This is a great way to surprise your sweetheart. Another option is miniature golf at St. Louis Mills. They have black lights and neon-colored golf balls,

which adds a cool atmosphere to your date. If you and your date are an adventurous couple, you could have a Nerf gun battle at your house or his. It will bring out your com-

petitive side and you’ll feel like a kid again. Put your kitchen skills to the test and cook dinner to-gether. Pick a meal out of your mom’s cookbook and try to figure it out. When you finish the preparations, have a candle-lit dinner at home. You’ll get to spend time with your date and you’ll get a delicious meal out of it.

no boyfriend? no problem!

Little do some girls know, Valentine’s Day isn’t all about celebrating with a guy. This day of chocolates, dates, and smooching can also be a day of games, ice skating, and hugs. A girl does not need a boyfriend to complete her Val-entine’s Day, especially in high school. A girl has the rest of her life to celebrate February 14 with her boy-friend, so if there is no guy this year, why fret? Plan A: Family time. Try to get family members to take a break from their busy schedules and sit down for a little one-on-one time. Perhaps break out an old board game that everyone loves. Pop a big bag of popcorn and watch a good movie. Families do many generous things for one another, and Valentine’s Day is the perfect day to appreciate each other. Plan B: Girl day. On Valentines Day this year, Notre Dame has a half day. Take this time to drive out to Bread Co. and enjoy some bonding time with friends. While there, exchange cards. Homemade cards say a lot and are a fun way to celebrate. Steinberg Skating Rink in Forest Park is open until 9 p.m. on Valentine’s Day, which is a great experience for friends and family.

fill in those lyricsWe all love listening to songs on the radio, but some-times we don’t quite know the lyrics. Here are some popular love songs that often get misquoted. See if you can choose the right words!

1. “Oh, oh, I want some more. Oh, oh, what are you waitin’ for? _____________ my heart tonight.” - “Ani-mal” by Neon TreesA) Make it right for B) Take a bite ofC) Bake a pie for

2. “We run on fumes. ______________, like the sands of time slipping right on through.” - “I Run To You” by Lady AntebellumA) Your life and mineB) Your hand in mineC) Your lies and mine

3. “Before you met me, I was _______, but things were kinda heavy. You brought me to life.” - “Teenage Dream” by Katy PerryA) A wreckB) All rightC) A mess

4. “My love of my life, my shawty, my wife. She left me, ________. Cuz I knew that it just ain’t right.” - “Just A Dream” by NellyA) I’m tiredB) I triedC) I’m tied

alentine’s day is known nationally and global-ly as the official day for love. Most people have heard the story of St.

Valentine, the holiday’s namesake. The legend states that he was a priest in Rome during the third century. At the time, Emperor Claudius had outlawed marriag-es for young men, believing that soldiers fought better when they were not tied down by wives and children. When he heard about this, St. Valentine felt the rul-ing was unfair and continued to marry young cou-ples in secret until he was discovered and martyred. This is the story that most people are familiar with. However, there were three different men through-out history that were named Valentine or Val-entinus that the Church recognizes as saints. The first recorded Valentine’s Day card was sent in 1415 by the Duke of Orleans. On February 14, he sent a love letter to his wife from a prison in England. The card is currently on display at the British Museum in London. It is the oldest known valentine in existence. Since its origin, Valentine’s Day has become one of the most popular holidays in the world. In fact, Valentine’s Day is the second leading holiday when it comes to sending greeting cards, topped only by Christmas. An estimated 190 million cards are sent across the globe on this most romantic of days. Modern cards are usually a variation of Hallmark greetings and made with stiff paper. However, in the 1800’s, valentines were much more formal. In 1847, Ester Howland became one of the first manufacturers of valentines in the United States. Her cards were decorated with ribbons, lace and leaves. Throughout history, this romantic holiday has warmed its way into the hearts of millions. For those who celebrate it, and even those who don’t, there is no denying that Val-entine’s Day has become a large part of modern culture.

Valentine’s Day is a time for love, hugs, kisses... and sweets! If you’re looking for a treat this February, try this recipe out. It gives you an alternative to traditional cookies. These are made from cake mix, which makes them softer and chewier than your average cookie. Bake up a batch for your boyfriend, family, and friends!

CAKE MIX COOKIESIngredients:• 1 pkg of Betty Crocker cake mix (chocolate or yellow works best)• 2 ½ tbsp water• ¾ cup oil• 1 egg• ½ cup toppings (M&Ms, chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, etc.)

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.2. Place cake mix, water, oil, and egg in an electric mixer bowl.3. Put bowl on mixer stand. 4. Turn mixer on low and mix until smooth.5. Add the topping to dough and mix it throughout, using a wooden spoon.6. Scoop dough into hands. Roll into balls the size of a walnut. Make sure all rolled cookies are approximately the same size.7. Place on ungreased baking sheet. Bake 10-12 minutes.

Yields about two dozen cookies

Answers: 1) B; 2) A; 3) A; 4) C

1.Teachers receive the most valentines every year, then children, mothers, and finally wives.

2. 73% of Valentines flowers are bought by men.

3.15% of Americans send flowers to themselves on Valentine’s Day.

4.Only 10% of the 2.3 million married couples’ proposals occurred on Valen-tine’s Day.

5.Red roses are widely considered the flower of love because the color red stands for strong romantic feelings.

did you know?

February 14 serves as a way to remind us how much we really love... love.

MaddieSiebum&CarolinadeLegarreta reporters

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