The Shield Easter Issue
Tommy feels the effects of quarantine
Tommy is doing a good job following quarantine orders, but he’s been a little bored. The Shield is here to help! Photo by Rachael Lawler.
Volume 32
Staff Members Adviser I Matt Hallauer Editor-in-Chief I Rachael Lawler Senior Reporter I Brennan Schroeder Reporter I Alycen Ellwanger Reporter I Anabelle Goone Reporter I Anna Stoll Reporter I Hailey Krumm
Volume 32
The Shield Saint Thomas Aquinas High School
Reporter I Maria Palazuelos Reporter I Moorea Gailloux Reporter I Connor Klocke Freelancer I Rose Kindred Freelancer I Lorelei Teddy Freelancer I Lydia Saunders
The Shield
Social Media
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M I S S I ON S TATE ME NT The Shield is the student’s’ voice of Saint Thomas Aquinas High School. Published by students for the good of the whole Aquinas community, The Shield serves as a source of information and as a spark for productive change. Student reporters learn about the world of journalism while practicing ethical, holistic reporting practices. The Shield staff is responsible for the content published, striving to share information accurately, objectively, and completely for all members of the Saint Thomas Aquinas High School community. A DV E RTIS ING The Shield sells advertisements to help with publication costs. All ads will be subject to the same scrutiny as stories. The Shield will not print any obscenities or any ads promoting products illegal to those under the age of 18. For advertising, please call (913) 319-2418, send an email to mhallauer@stasaints.net, or visit www.stasaints.net/shield S UB S CR I P TIO NS Subscriptions to The Shield are $3 per issue. Subscriptions can be sent to Saint Thomas Aquinas High School c/o Matt Hallauer. Digital subscriptions are free and sent via email monthly. Orders can be sent to mhallauer@stasaints.net L E T T E R S P O L ICY Letters may be accepted by The Shield, provided that they are signed and do not contain libelous statements. The Shield reserves the right to edit the letters for grammar, obscenity, or space consideration, and also reserves the right to not print a letter.
Volume 32 I February Issue
CONTENTS
5
6
8
Saints Step Up
Social Spread Survey Spread
Spring Break Scramble
10
12
14
Charting New Territory
Boomers & Zoomers
Earth Day
18
20
22
On a Mission to Papua New Guinea
Cereal Smackdown
Gaming & Sports
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In Light of
Corona
Letter from the Editor
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ow, Saints! It’s been a completely wild few weeks since the last issue of The Shield came out. Who knew I, along with the rest of the staff, would be working on this Easter Issue at home because of social distancing? I definitely didn’t. Honestly, I still can’t believe it at times. School is now completely online, and many major events of the spring season have been postponed or canceled. It feels as if it’s the beginning of a postapocalyptic film, or at least, it all seems so surreal. To all the seniors who read this, I want you to know that even though you may have lost the last season of your spring sport or that big event for your activity you were looking forward to, you made it this far, and that is remarkable. Yes, it may not have ended how you wanted it to and you are extremely disappointed, but that just means you had the strength to love and care about something, which is more powerful than we often give it credit for being. Please don’t hate me for saying it, but as Tennyson once wrote: “it is better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all.” I know that was horribly cliché, but I don’t regret it. It may seem cheesy, but I am so proud of each and every one of you for how much you’ve grown as
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individuals, and also for how much we have grown as a class. And as for the juniors, sophomores, and freshmen, I expect you to make up for the lost time and make the 20202021 school year the best yet. I don’t know when quarantine will end or really anything about what the next week will bring, but I do know this certainty: we will overcome it, even if we have to shed some tears and/or have a small breakdown in the process. This issue is about so many different topics, from sustainability at Aquinas to the state wrestling champions Akin and Simma to even a story about Ms. Kennedy’s current mission trip in Papua New Guinea. That is just some of what is in store for readers in this issue of The Shield. I hope this issue of The Shield is able to bring some levity to you in selfisolation. And yes, we will be having a senior issue of The Shield! Stay classy Saints and make this day count! P.S. If you have any life updates or potential story ideas that you would like to read while in qurantine, please email rlawler20@stasaints.net
Rachael Lawler Editor-In-Chief
PandemiC Fundraisers
With so much
uncertainty and concern in the world right now, it’s easy to feel helpless. In efforts to combat this helplessness, a couple of people from the Aquinas community have taken it into their own hands to try and help people who have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Mrs. Jordan and Mr. Curran have both organized fundraisers in efforts to help people in our own community who are being affected by this crisis. Mrs. Jordan initiated a fundraiser with the Aquinas teachers and staff to show support for staff members that could be laid off due to the school building being shut down.
“The amount was not much to really make an impact but it did show we cared and acknowledged what was going on for each of them.”
Mrs. Jordan She went on to say how “sixteen people received $100 price chopper gift cards: Six part time maintenance employees, four day care employees, and six employees in the kitchen. The
employees in the kitchen are not STA employees, they are Treat America employees. But they do provide a great service and are in our building everyday, so we wanted to reach out to them as well.” Mr. Curran created a fundraiser that is helping employees who work at Tanner’s Bar & Grill who are losing paychecks.
“I don’t know how far it will go for all their employees, but I wanted to give it a go as a small gesture and hope it picks up steam.” Mr. Curran
“I designed a t-shirt specifically for Tanner’s that I’m selling for $22 in my online shop https://threekcclothingco.com/. For every Tanner’s shirt sold I’m giving $6 to Tanner’s for their employees.” Mr. Curran currently has $528 to give them and he hopes to get more in the next few weeks. Mrs. Jordan and Mr. Curran are providing the community with much-needed support. In times like these, it’s important that we stay positive and help one another through this together. Mrs. Jordan said it best: “We are all called as followers of Christ to be servants and to be generous. There are certainly greater ways to help others right now and if we are able, we should.”
Maria palazuelos Reporter
Easter Issue
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Top Four Flowers: Roses Sunflowers Tulips Lillies
Survey spread Flowers 8. 5%
Sunlight and Longer Days 39. 7%
Warmth 20. 6%
Moorea gailloux
Rainstorms 31. 2%
Reporter
Easter Issue
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Spring Break Scramble Aquinas students and group leaders had to react quickly as coronavirus lockdown news emerged. The COVID-19 virus has impacted our world tremendously. One of these effects is the spring break plans of many, including students from Aquinas. Many students had to postpone or even cancel trips to places with a high risk of the virus. Many school trips also had to be canceled, like the Rome trip and the rugby trip to Ireland. The Rome trip is a great Aquinas tradition for seniors. Many students wait for their senior year spring break so they can travel with their friends and experience new culture, art and make some amazing memories. Unfortunately for this years’ seniors, the Rome trip didn’t go as planned. One of the organizers of the trip, Campus Minister Sarah Cretors said the Rome trip cancellation was caused by “Italy shutting down,” along with “more information [coming] out about travel restrictions.” President Trump’s travel ban impacted the decision of the Rome trip greatly. Many people were involved in the decision for Rome. Cretors said they “made a group decision between the administration, chaperones, archdiocese, and travel agents.” The situation was carefully examined and the result was in the students’ and chaperones’ best interests to keep everyone safe. The rugby team has a trip that
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“We were all upset about the trip, especially the seniors.” -Grant Willis on the rugby team’s trip to Ireland being canceled they go on every four years. It is a huge deal for the team and each individual as a player because they only have one chance in their high school career. Junior Grant Willis said the trip is important because “[Aquinas’] club is respected enough to be invited and [they] get to experience and play rugby where it came from.” The team plays in a tournament in Ireland which is an honor to not just the team, but the school as a whole. Like the Rome trip, the cancellation of the rugby trip was because of President Trump’s travel ban. Willis says that “the international travel ban to Europe was issued from the Trump Administration the night before [the team] left.” This was truly upsetting for the team but they were able to throw
together a last-minute trip to the Gulf Shores as a backup. Other than school trips, many students’ personal trips had to be canceled. Junior Kennedy Oliver had to cancel her trip to Italy. Oliver said that “the virus was so bad in Italy, we would’ve had to be tested as soon as we got off the plane.” Another big concern of the Oliver family was their chance of being quarantined. At the time of spring break, many cities in Italy were being put under quarantine. The Oliver family didn’t want to take the risk so they canceled their plans. The travel ban was also being issued at the time around spring break, so their decision was final. The Olivers had a backup plan for their spring break. Oliver says that “[her] dad thought about spring break as soon as the outbreak occurred and booked a hotel in Cancun as a backup.” They then waited until the news discouraged all U.S. citizens to fly to Italy. After that, they decided as a family to go to Cancun instead. Though the Coronavirus has effected us much greater than just spring break, at the time it was devastating news. That was just the beginning of a spreading virus that is changing the world day by day.
Hailey Krumm Reporter
NO SAINTS IN THE SQUARE
Pope Francis gives a blessing to an empty St. Peter’s Square on Sunday, March 15. Italy shut down schools on March 4 and locked down the whole nation on March 9. Restaurants were closed on March 11, just a day before Saints started spring break. Photo courtesty of the Vatican Press Office.
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What's Next? As a result of COVID-19, Aquinas students and faculty are wondering what the future holds for our school community. Spring break plans have been canceled. Sports Leagues have called off seasons. Schools across the world have switched to online. Many people are losing their jobs. Aquinas students and faculty are shocked at these changes to our community. Unfortunately, though, this is our reality, stuck at home under quarantine hoping we do not contract COVID-19, the new villain of 2020. We’ve seen what this virus has done to the world in the past few months, but many people are asking, what’s next?
never seemed more appealing to students than right now. Students around the U.S. have switched to an online video-conference application called ‘Zoom.’ Zoom allows students and teachers to meet at a set time over video chat and discuss curriculum and do what normally is done in the classroom. Although this new form of face-to-face learning from home may sound perfect, there have been some problems with Zoom ‘bombers’ that may lead to problems in the future. A Zoom ‘bomber’ is someone “The company said 200 million who comes into a class people used the app on a daily that they are not apart of. A few school districts basis in March, up from just 10across the nation have million in December. But that decided to stop using Zoom because of this security newfound popularity is issue. In an April 4 story for
bringing new scrutiny.” Shannon Bond, National Public Radio
the Washington Post, Valerie Strauss wrote, “The New York City Department of Education, which runs the largest school district in the country, said teachers should no longer use Zoom and should instead work through Microsoft Teams.” Though some Zoom ‘bombers’ may seem innocent enough, there have been some disgusting instances where hate speech and explicit images have been portrayed. In an April 3 story for National Public Radio, Shannon Bond wrote about Dennis Johnson, the first person in his family to graduate college, who was giving his doctoral dissertation over a Zoom video conference where his family and friends were watching. A Zoom ‘bomber’ displayed an explicit drawing and wrote
One of the biggest changes for the youth across the globe is the switch to online schooling. Continuing the constant routine of going to school every day and interacting with your classmates and teachers has
ZOOMING THROUGH TRAINING
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Aquinas teachers learned about Zoom and how to continue teaching online. Photo by Maddie Huigens. The Shield
racial slurs on the screen. After this experience, he stated how he was feeling. “I couldn’t even, like, communicate. I had to just walk out [of] my house. ... I didn’t want to talk or see anybody.” They never found the culprit of this ‘Zoombombing.’ It’s stories like these that caused the FBI to make a statement about Zoom security. Kristen Setera from the Boston Branch of the FBI stated that “the FBI has received multiple reports of conferences being disrupted by pornographic and/or hate images and threatening language.” Despite these security problems around the country, Zoom is running very smoothly in our school community. Principal Craig Moss is excited about how things have been going, and said, “The Zoom platform lets us see each other face-to-face, and although there have been some tribulations with bombers, I think we will all emerge from this experience better than we went into it. It isn’t the same as having students in a classroom, though, and I miss that. Moving forward, students and teachers will have new skill sets, and perhaps we will all appreciate what school really means to us a bit more.” As for the rest of our school year, everything is up in the air. The only thing we do know for sure, though, is that we are online until May 20. On March 17, Kansas governor Laura Kelly ordered that schools should shut down
and switch to online for the remainder of the school year. Academic Principal Brian Schenck stated how he felt when he heard this. “My heart dropped when I heard the decision from the Governor. My first thought was for our seniors. Yes, this will be memorable; however, the traditional memories our seniors were hoping to make with prom, senior Mass, and graduation are gone or majorly changed. I feel for all our students because one of our strengths at Aquinas is our community.” This may be a very sad time for students and especially seniors. As for prom, graduation, and other spring activities, nothing is certain yet. To prevent the spread of the virus, we should stay home and practice social distancing. The future of our school community is unclear right now. Between Zoom and the cancellation of spring activities, everything is pretty new and different. Although we may be unsure of what the future holds, the Saint Thomas Aquinas community will continue to stick together through this time.
What could have been...
Prom was scheduled for Saturday, April 18. The theme was ‘Roaring 20s.’
During Senior Mass, the senior class gets to celebrate Mass together one last time.
Anna Stoll Reporter
Spring Olympics is an event where each class competes against one another in different games and challenges to win points toward the day-off. All photos by Michele Gress.
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Moorea Gailloux Reporter
T H E While the
don’t know that we have ever worked so hard as we COVID-19 outbreak has been affecting each aspect have in this process, and the fact that the target was of busy lifestyles, we have constantly moving made it relied on technology to extremely challenging.” keep us all connected. They chose Zoom Aquinas academic as our learning platform to principals Brian Schenck meet as a class and learn in and Craig Moss were our own homes, but these challenged with finding mechanisms have not come a plan that successfully easy to all of us. connected the classroom The administrators environment with the teachers as places started to and teachers spent majority of their Spring Break be shut down. developing new ways to Craig Moss said, “I teach without facing the
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students in person. This included learning about Zoom and configuring different applications to post assignments and lessons on.
“Teachers have to be learners every day or we’re not doing our job right -- and so this situation is giving us the opportunity to learn, learn, learn!” Becky Akright
MaryAnn Zande, one of our theology teachers at Aquinas, runs a very discussion-based classroom and she has noticed that students are not as comfortable speaking over the computer.
“As teachers, we care about our students so much and want to do what is best for them, giving them the education they deserve; yet the online classroom does not allow us to teach, in most cases, the way we feel is best.” MaryAnn Zande Comfortability has not been established over this platform yet. In addition, WiFi has been an arising complication for students and teachers combined as everyone is using the networks. Many students have experienced their internet lagging due to multiple members of their family also being on the network at the same time. Freshman Ally Sarver said, “Zoom has lots of little glitches during almost all of my classes, where the screen freezes, audio cuts in and out, etc.”
Have you had WiFi struggles or other tech issues?
Yes 38. 9%
None At All So Far 21. 7%
Very Minor and Barely Disruptive 39. 4% Not only do the “Sometimes it’s hard technology problems arise, because I feel like teachers time management is seen in are assigning students a new light. With our new schedule of Zoom meetings all of the classwork we Monday, Wednesday, and would usually do...and Friday with workdays on also homework we would Tuesday and Thursday, students have been faced with usually be assigned and it can be overwhelming.” a shift mid-semester. Junior Eileen Healy states how “overwhelming [it Maddie Huigens is] to teach yourself a whole new schedule in order to get Despite these all of your work done.” challenges, as a community, In responses to the Saint Thomas Aquinas has Shield survey, students agree been adapting with new that the the work load has skills very quickly compared been increasingly greater than to other schools around the before we switched to online nation and is blessed to have as well. the staff and resources we As it is a difficult time do. Moss agrees that “when for all of us, students would we look back at this in June, like teachers to understand we will see a community that that we are not lounging really pulled together and around the house inactive produced their finest effort in each day. a difficult time.” Easter Issue 13
B Ranch [ “We are stewards not masters of ,
our earth . Each of us has a personal responsibility to care for the precious gift of God’s creation.” -Pope Francis ]
This Could Cause a paper cut This stack of printer paper is a comparison to Francie’s assignments. This image demonstrates only part of the average amount of paper consumed by Aquinas students. Photo courtesy of Francie Roberts.
“But man is a part of nature, and his war against nature is inevitably a war against himself.” -Rachel Carson
Logging Off
Senior Francie Roberts has spent part of quarantine going through her school items. This stack of papers is a summary of most of the assignments Francie has gotten over the course of her high school career. Photo courtesy of Francie Roberts.
hinG O ut [Some Simple Recycling Tips ] In case you need a refresher
[Tip 1]: A lot of gift wrapping/wrapping paper cannot be recycled,, so it is better to use gift bags and tissue paper or decorative boxes. All of those items can be reused [Tip 2]:Batteries can be recycled at community collection events (Overland Park has one every year) or in-store. [Tip 3]: Check to ensure your glass can be mixed together because some facilities require it to be separated. [Tip 4]: DO NOT DUMP USED MOTOR OIL DOWN THE DRAIN, EVER! Lots of garages or auto supply stores will accept it. [Tip 5]: Try to buy products made from recycled goods. Information courtesy of the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) For more information & recycling tips, check: https://www.epa.gov/recycle/how-do-i-recycle-common-recyclables#pla
The journey to greater sustainability at Aquinas
I
n recent years, there has been increased debate about the ways in which we, as humans, interact with the environment and the natural resources present in our world. Some of the most used words, phrases, or ideas include sustainability, climate change, and the 3 R’s (reduce, reuse, recycle). Because of their repeated use and the sometimes controversial nature of the discussions revolving around them, there seems to be a dismissal to the true meaning of these words and the impact they can actually have on our lives. So, what better way to broach some of these ideas than to take an active look at the practices of Saint Thomas Aquinas High School. Aquinas does do a good job in terms of having recycling bins located in most, if not all, classrooms throughout the building, but the commons seems to lack the same assurance of a recycling bin. Although the commons does have a recycling bin, due to the sheer size of the space, it can be difficult to find that recycling bin. In fact, of all the ideas students had for The Shield’s survey question about how Aquinas could become more environmentallyfriendly, the sheer number of students who said adding more recycling bins, especially in the cafeteria during lunch, was particularly noteworthy. After all, lunch produces a large portion of both trash and recyclable goods, which is obvious considering that over 900 students and faculty members eat there each day, so the fact that the recycling bin is not easily available makes it much easier for recyclable goods to be thrown away. Often, just having a recycling bin around could produce better results, but a study conducted by a Boston College marketing professor may show an even better option. According to the study done by Gergana Y. Nenkov (the aforementioned marketing
professsor), the best way to get people as a whole to recycle is through a term called product transformation salience. This basically means that when a consumer actually thinks about what their recyclable good can be turned into in its “second” life, they are more motivated to recycle. This is obviously much more effective than the strategy of negative reinforcement many recycling campaigns take (i.e. if you do not recycle, you will lead to the end of the planet, etc). In fact, this negative reinforcement strategy causes people to recycle goods that are actually not recyclable, which actually hinders the recycling process. By actively thinking about the goods that are being recycled, Aquinas can become more “environmentally-friendly.” Aquinas will see tremendous results, not only by adding a few additional recycling bins in the commons but by also promoting the product transformation salience. This could easily be done through the use of signs on the recycling bins or video announcements at the start of each semester. Another way to cut down on the waste at Aquinas is a reduction in the number of products used. This path can be utilized in two-fold. First, the cafeteria uses a lot of paper and plastic products for student lunches. If Aquinas were to invest in reusable trays and/ or products, the waste that comes from lunches would be reduced substantially. This effort is also supported by over half of the students who filled out the survey. The second is a reduction in the amount of paper used in classrooms. On the first page of this story are two images, and those two images show only part of the amount of paper used by an Aquinas student throughout their high school tenure at Aquinas. That visual representative does not factor in papers that were solely used in the classroom, already removed or that were not pictured.
Obviously, it is quite startlingly to see, especially when confronted with the idea that most grades have over 200 students. And when surveyed, many students thought it would make sense for more and more of classes to go digital, and therefore, use less paper overall. Some other interesting options to consider that were proposed by students include rewards for carpooling (i.e. free parking, or some sort of discount in the spirit shop, etc), gentle reminders that are not in everyone’s faces (like a few posters and occasional announcements), planting both trees and flowers throughout the campus and possibly starting a garden or greenhouse, reusing the materials used in hallway decorations during Homecoming week, and having hand dryers in the bathrooms. Perhaps, the most fascinating proposal was by a current sophomore who wrote that Aquinas could offer “an agricultural-based science class for upperclassmen. Kansas is a state of agriculture and many students come from families that have a history of farming. Learning about how to take care of God’s creation, how the food industry runs and how our actions affect our own bodies and the rest of the world would be an incredibly valuable class to have at Aquinas. I know this may be difficult because Aquinas already requires Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. But I think many other students and teachers would agree that offering more hands-on classes would be beneficial. Creating a new, unique, helpful science course would bring Aquinas positive attention from the public.” Saint Thomas Aquinas’ official colors may be blue and gold, but it’s more than time enough to add some green to the equation.
Rachael lawler Editor-in-Chief
a World Away A Former aquinas teacher is taking the pain in her life to bring joy to others. Kat Kennedy, former math teacher and swim coach at Aquinas, has been overseas in Papua New Guinea on a mission trip. She decided to go on the trip because of a large life-altering event last semester. “I knew I couldn’t just sit at home and sulk in my loneliness, I wanted to get out and do something for the good of others.” She is currently in the town of Vanimo and is there with the Servadora sisters. Their mission is to evangelize the culture. She says“the difference between evangelizing the culture and evangelizing the people is that the sisters and priests meet the people where they are.” Together, the sisters and priests learn the
ALL Smiles
Kat was greeted at the airport by some of the girls that she would be helping with.
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language and the culture so they can best assist the people. A large part of their mission and Kat’s kindness is helping out with the Girls’ Home and their education. The Girls’ Home helps young women between the ages of 2 and 28. It is a safe environment for the girls to live and study in. “I wanted to take this trip to do good and show myself that I am still such a strong human being.” She said that she “wanted to show Christ’s love in this world and live out God’s mission for [herself].” This trip has positively affected Kat in so many ways. She said “people would always talk about the gifts and graces they [had] received from God and I never really
New friends
Kat with some of the children from the girls home.
She is thankful that “God has gifted is currently on the second week of this quarantine. [her] with the gift of His grace and joy.” She is unsure of when she will This trip has helped her realize that she return because they have has so much to appreciate. “This trip has given me shut down all airlines. She “Yes, my life hasn’t turned out the way I had planned, more than I could have is currently in quarantine with 3 sisters and 20 girls but God has such a great ever imagined and it has been such a large plan for me and these girls Kat Kennedy blessing in her life. have helped me to realize “These girls have that.” helped me realize that I have such a Before the pandemic, Kat was planning on staying in Papua New Guinea beautiful chance at life still,” Kat says. for 60 days. About a week ago there was “This trip has given me more than I one confirmed case on the island. The could have ever imagined.” entire island went into quarantine and she
Alycen Ellwanger Reporter
Arrival
Kat is greeted at the airport by the sisters and locals.
Easter Issue
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Akin and SimmA the story of their road to state
W
hen Jared Simma and Johnny Akin met, when they were around the age of 6, they had no idea that by Junior year they would both be winning state. Most people grow up playing their favorite sport, but not everyone starts at the age of 4 or 5 like these two men. Both Simma and Akin found the love for the sport through their dads’ past with wrestling. According to the wrestlers, who have played other sports, nothing compares to wrestling. “What makes wrestling different is the mindset. When you go out to wrestle it’s just you and no one else. If you lose you have no one to blame except yourself,” according to Simma. Akin says that, “people don’t realize how hard it is and how much you have to dedicate yourself to it to be good.” Wrestling isn’t a sport that you can do very well in if you don’t work for it everyday. Jared and Johnny took no days off this year. They knew just how much dedication it would take for them to get where they wanted to be. Jared would wake up around 5:20 in the morning to go to the gym. And Johnny, who isn’t much of a morning person would workout after practices. Both boys put in the extra work to go all the way this year. Jared shared that freshman year he ended up making the state finals, “which no one thought I would.” He didn’t end up winning that year, but that gave him motivation to come back and win state sophomore year. However he ended up losing in the state finals once again. This year, he was determined to win his state title. That meant, “Putting a lot of extra work in to achieve my goal. A lot of lonely days were spent, but it got the job done.” However, they could not be where they are now if they didn’t have their one of a kind coaches. Most people
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victory smiles
Juniors Johnny Akin and Jared Simma holding up their winning brackets.After a long day of wresting, the boys came home as state champs. Photo courtesy of Johnny Akin.
already admire and look up to their coaches, but not like these boys do. “Our coaches are special because they know our capabilities and push us to be better everyday even when we don’t feel like getting through a workout.” Although getting the state title they deserved didn’t come easily, their moment finally came. Making all the hard work throughout the year worth it.
“Winning state was an unreal feeling that I’ve dreamed of for awhile and it definitely wouldn’t have felt the same if we didn’t win together,” Johnny Akin
johnny on his stage
Johnny Akin takes the wrestling mat. Prepared to do what he came there to do. Photo courtesy of Johnny Akin.
“Johnny wrestled before me and once he won, I knew we were both going to win it. That night was our night and everything went out our way,” Jared Simma
If you even think that winning state will slow these boys down, you are very mistaken. They plan to come back next year and do the same exact thing. Jare made that clear by saying, “Next year we will be going back to back and no one is going to stop us.” These boys are unstoppable and the whole Saint Thomas Aquinas community is so proud of what they acomplished this year and can’t wait to see how next year plays out. Jared is planning on wrestling for the Univeristy of Northen Iowa after his high school career is over. And Johnny plans on wrestling in college as well, but isn’t sure where yet. We can’t wait to see what else these boys will acomplish in high school, college and beyond.
Anabelle Goone Reporter
post win hugs
After Jared wins his match, he runs over to hug his # 1 suporter, his dad. With pure joy on his face he jumped into his fathers’ arms. Photo courtesy of Jared Simma
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CEREAL SHOWDOWN Food critic Connor Klocke sacrifices his own health to determine the best cereal.
I
consider myself a bit of a cereal junkie. On an average day, I consume around 4 bowls. Cereal is not only my go-to breakfast option, but also my go-to snack. I don’t usually buy the higher sugar varieties (well… my mom doesn’t usually buy them for me if I’m being honest), but when I do, the box is likely empty less than two days after I open it. I am crazy about cereal, to say the least. I won’t say that I have loved every minute of being stuck at home because of COVID-19, but it certainly has been nice because I have more time and excuse to indulge (more than I already do) in my cereal habit. I figured I wasn’t the only Aquinas student who loves cereal, so with the help of my fellow Shield writers, the student body was surveyed on their favorite cereal. I then took those results and tried the Top Ten, back to back to back to back to back to back to back to back to back to back, and ranked them accordingly with the help of my extensively trained cereal palette.
classic cereal so they deserve to be on the list. I just feel that there are a lot better cereals out there. But maybe I’ll wish I ate more of them if I have heart disease someday.
9th Cookie Crisp The last time I can remember having a bowl of Cookie Crisp was quite awhile ago (kindergarten, if I remember correctly), so I was hit with a wave of nostalgia on the first bite. It was overall pretty good, but not as good as I remember it being. If you approach this cereal as it is described on the box, “The Great Taste of Chocolate Chip Cookies and Milk,” you might find yourself slightly underwhelmed. I don’t think it quite reaches the level of chocolate chip cookies and milk. That said, the taste is still quite pleasant, and an interesting point to consider about this cereal is it tastes just as good with or without the milk.
8th Lucky charms
Disclaimer: Food rankings will always be a matter of personal preference. I am in no way insinuating that I have the definitive and infallible cereal ranking. There are a myriad of reasons why one or more of the cereals on this list may not be to your personal taste, including sensitivities or allergies to peanuts, dislike of certain flavors or textures, or fear of raisins. I simply wish to give my personal ranking and recommendations so that you, as a valued reader of The Shield, can have the best cereal experiences possible.
Lucky Charms are generally a good cereal choice- but I must mention that they aren’t always consistent in their goodness. Depending on the balance of the contents of the box, or if you have younger siblings that pick out the marshmallows, once every few bowls you might not have many (or any) marshmallows, and at that point you may as well just have a bowl of Cheerios. That aside, it’s hard to beat a good bowl of Lucky Charms
10th Cheerios
7th Fruit Loops
I’m a little bit disappointed. I’m not saying I hate Cheerios by any means, but I just can’t fathom it being my favorite cereal. Do you really mean that, out of all the cereals out there, you would choose some small oat circles over everything else? Ok, Mr. Heart Healthy. In all seriousness, Cheerios are a
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if the marshmallows aren’t lacking.
I personally think a bowl of Fruit Loops from time to time is enjoyable. However, there is such thing as too much of a good thing. I start to get a bit get sick of them after a couple of bowls. I also forever will be disappointed in fruit loops (despite their great taste) because I can still very vividly recall the summer
of 2009, when fruit loops ran a promotion for Nintendo, claiming that you could win a DS if you bought a box. I probably ate my weight in fruit loops that summer, and not one box turned out to be a winner. Maybe I let my rocky past with Fruit Loops color its placement on the list, but hey, I added a disclaimer for a reason!
6th Raisin Bran Raisin Bran is one of the more nutritious options on this list, and in my opinion the nutritiousness doesn’t take away from the deliciousness. Once you have a raisin bran raisin, you’ll never see raisins the same again. Raisin Bran Two Scoops is quite a game changer as well. I especially enjoy Raisin Bran after a workout or before a day full of tests. 6.7 grams of fiber and 4.6 grams of protein… times two since I eat two bowls (at least) makes for a great way to start the day. (Unless you have a fear of raisins, of course.)
5th Reese’s Puffs What could possibly be better than a reeses or a bowl of cereal? Both in one. Reese’s Puffs were put onto supermarket shelves for that very reason. The rich flavor of Peanut butter and chocolate combined with the crunch of cereal (slightly moistened by milk, preferably) is excellent. If you have a peanut allergy, please stay away from these. If not, definitely have a bowl if you haven’t or if it’s been awhile since you have.
4th Cinnamon toast crunch Ah, cinnamon toast crunch. What a classic. Cinnamon Toast Crunch is one of those cereals that you can eat for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or midnight snack. Of course, the same can be said about many other cereals on this list, but there’s something about cinnamon toast crunch that makes it perfect for any time of day. It is definitely better when it is still crunchy though, so don’t make a bowl and forget about it.
3rd Captain Crunch Peanut Butter Crunch You might not think that taking the Chocolate Puffs out of Reese’s Puffs would result in a superior cereal. And you would be completely wrong. I can’t honestly explain why, but these blow me away every time I have a bowl. I can only describe them as a peanut butter party in my mouth. I would definitely recommend these. As with Reese’s Puffs, those with nut allergies should avoid these if that wasn’t already obvious because of the name. Yes folks, Captain Crunch Peanut Butter Crunch contains Peanuts.
2nd Fruity Pebbles I hadn’t tried these until recently… however they were GREAT. They have a very similar flavor to Fruit Loops, but they are flakes or “pebbles” instead of “loops”. I don’t seem to get as sick of these as fast as fruit loops, and I think that may have to do with them being “pebbles” instead of “loops”. And having Fred Flintstone on the box is a big plus. If Fred likes ‘em, you know they’re not gonna disappoint.
1st frosted flakes: What I love most about Frosted Flakes is that they are simple, yet delicious. They don’t try to be anything more than what they are, which is exactly what their name is: frosted flakes. I’ve been a diehard frosted flakes guy since I was 4 years old, and I don’t think that will change any time soon. Frosted Flakes are a crowd pleaser as well, they are much simpler in flavor than most of the cereals on the list. Some people may not like certain cereals because of their specific flavor (such as peanut butter, fruit, or cinnamon). Frosted Flakes seem to be an exception in most cases. For all you cereal lovers out there, I hope you gained some new cereal knowledge and perspective from these rankings. For all of you who are not so fond of cereal, I hope you come around.
Connor Klocke Award-Winning Food Critic
Easter Issue
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A natural 20 The RPG Tabletop Gaming Club is finding new ways to “meet.”
W
hen most people picture a die, they picture the classic six-sided cube, from games like Monopoly. In Aquinas’ RPG Tabletop Gaming Club, the most popular die is the icosahedron--that is, a d20. This twenty-sided die is most used very often in the game Dungeons and Dragons (D&D), a game which, while almost 50 years old, can also be very fun. The game of D&D is quite difficult to learn. There are numerous different characters able to be created, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. Any D&D “party” has at least four members, with a Dungeon Master to control the story, settings, and enemies. “Planning is definitely the hardest part,” said Calvin Wolf, an Aqunas senior with ample Mastering experience. “Sometimes, I spend hours coming up with a story, only for the players to accidentally ruin it!” This doesn’t deter Wolf, however, who said that his finest moments as a DM have come when he has had to come up with ideas on the spot. RPG/ Tabletop Gaming Club proves that struggles make success all the more sweet, and the promise of adventure motivates members to keep trying at everything they do, not just in D&D. According to senior Bret Johnson, the best part about the club is its laissez-faire nature. “I like that I can do pretty much anything I can come up with,” said Johnson. This lax nature makes it much more open to the members, as they are free to make decisions, such as who to fight, where to go, and what to do. “It’s always fun to make new friends [during the adventure],” Johnson
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said, “and mess with anyone that gets on your nerves!” Like most things about Aquinas, RPG/Tabletop Gaming Club has been greatly affected by the Coronavirus outbreak. Previously, club members got together outside of school to play. With the current policies put forth by the state and national governments, in person sessions (gameplay meetings) are no longer possible. Instead, club members use Discord to take their gaming online! “Online sessions with Discord are pretty cool,” junior Sam Stahl said. “They’re not as good as meeting in person, but are certainly better than not
meeting at all.” While members of the RPG/ Tabletop Gaming Club are unable to get together in person, that doesn’t stop them from having a good time. Through the medium of Discord, members can continue their adventures throughout the rest of the school year, and even into the summer. In a world where the Coronavirus has divided most of humanity, the RPG/Tabletop Gaming club stands together: Stong, Unified, and Determined to keep going.
Brennan Schroeder Reporter