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Okay Vivettes! Christmas Is just around the corner and I'm sure everyone is looking for the perfect gift idea for your friends for your gift exchanges coming up. I know that most of you were either feverishly online shopping last Friday or even went to the mall all day in order to get the best black Friday deals. If you could still not find the perfect gift for your viz bestie, here are some affordable and cute gift ideas! Bath and Body Works I have ALWAYS loved bath and body works. Everyone loves the seasonal winter Christmas scents weather its perfume, body wash, candles, or lotion. This gift is perfect because every girl loves to smell amazing during the holidays. If you don’t have a store near you, try a bath bomb or new soap from a store such as Target or LUSH as an easy and highly useful gift. SLIPPERS You know what the best part of the winter is, cozying up with a comfortable pair of slippers. I know every Viz girl will love a fluffy new pair of slippers to wear watching Christmas movies or on their Starbucks run. These don't have to be expensive UGG ones either, Amazon often has very affordable and cute ones that will come in time to gift to your friends. These are also perfect for a VIZ senior to wear the rest of the year! Water Bottle I'm sure you have all seen many girls walking to class carrying their beat up metal water bottle throughout the day. This is one of my favorite gifts to get someone because I know every viz girl will love a new water bottle/ cup to keep hydrated throughout the school day. You can even get your friend her favorite color, get her stickers to personalize it, or even buy a personalized water bottle with her name on it. My favorite brands are hydro flask, swell, and yeti which keep ice cold all day long! Phone Case A new phone case Is such a useful Christmas gift! I often shop on Casetify, apple, amazon, or Bauble bar for a personalized one! A phone case is something almost everyone uses and if you have a friend who is constantly dropping their phone, a protective case is a great gift for them! Jewelry This is for sure one of the most basic Christmas gifts for a Viz girl, but it might be the one that is used the most. Most viz girls love to wear jewelry and it is such an easy gift for a friend based on their style. There are so many options such as earrings, necklaces, rings, and bracelets. My favorite store for jewelry is Kendra Scott or there many different local boutiques have unique jewelery that you can buy to support a small buisness! You can even get them jewelery with their name or initial on it for a personal touch.

During the first weekend of November the class of 2024 had the opportunity to travel as a class to Washington DC. The Viz faculty and parents supported the junior class on this trip and wanted the best bonding experience for everyone. The juniors arrived at the St. Louis international airport at 7 am and were off to the east coast bright! As soon as the juniors landed, they visited the capitol and the library of congress. Afterwards, the class made it to the hotel! The next day was filled with sisterhood. Our Viz juniors visited the Visi juniors at the Georgetown visitation. They got to take their classes, shop at their book store, and even have a wonderful tour of the campus. Then, the juniors were sent lose in Georgetown. The girls went shopping, explored, and even visited the college campus of Georgetown. Then, it was dinner time! The following day the class of 2024 traveled out of DC to the battle grounds of Gettysburg, they got to explore and learn about the battle and understand more about the upcoming of the United States. The learning did not stop there, because after their travels to Gettysburg, the class visited the holocaust museum where they had the opportunity to learn as a class of the war and brutality that surrounded it. On the last day, the class went to mass at the beautiful basilica and visited the National Museum of African History and Culture. Lastly, the class had the amazing opportunity to pay their respects to all of the soldiers and hero’s buried in Arlington cemetery, and even witness the honorable changing of the guard at the tomb of the unknown soldier. Then, the class of 2024 was back in St. Louis! This trip was an amazing experience for the junior class and all the bonding they missed was fulfilled while in Washington DC!

The last week of October our Visitation Academy ninth graders embarked on their annual academic explorations to the southern cities of Memphis, Tennessee and Birmingham, Alabama. This trip revolves around research and studies on the American Civil rights movement covered throughout the ninth grade curriculum. Noor Huda interviewed Zoha Huda, a student who went on the trip, and without further ado here are her takeaways! N: What was your favorite part of the trip? Z: I really liked the civil rights museum In Birmingham and seeing all the exhibits really broadened my mind to how large the civil rights movement was. I think the part that stuck out to me the most was one wall in the museum which said “Birmingham the world is watching” this was a headline in a newspaper after the children’s march on Birmingham. To me it was so sad but empowering how despite their struggles and setbacks the children kept marching for equality. It made me think more about what I can do to change the world. N: What is your favorite memory from the trip? Z: It may seem weird but there is a huge bass pro shop in Memphis that we loved. I almost bought a stuffed alligator and there were real alligators in this tank too! The best part was the view of the whole city from the top. Another fun stop was the Stax record museum, that opened my eyes to music I’d never heard before and overall I will remember the Tina Turner exhibit with her dress. N: What is one thing you wish you could have done? Z: I wish we had gotten a chance to visit the St. Jude’s children’s hospital, which didn’t allow visitors because of Covid. If I’m ever in Memphis again I’ll try to volunteer there!

I want to start off this article by thanking Hanlon for giving me the opportunity to guest write this article for the class that gave me a passion for leadership, writing, and the opportunity to tell the truth. Being half way through my fall semester of my sophomore year of college—and almost 20 for that matter—I look back on my high school years, especially my senior year with a nostalgia I did not know I was capable of feeling. To be truthful, I was counting down the seconds for graduation my entire senior year. What once was a place of refuge and fun turned a place of chore and to be quite frank, misery. I am not about to say that going off to college changed my entire life for the better and that I now sit here a year-and-a-half out unscathed, but I am saying that it is completely normal at this point in your time at Viz to feel isolated, alone, and wanting out. When I came to college a close friend from home told me the most important thing I have heard about the college experience and now I will tell it to you: in college you will experience your highest of highs and your lowest of lows, it is the best 4 years of your life but also has it hard parts that you have to overcome. I viewed college as an escape from high school, and in a way I was able to achieve that, however I do find it important to note that all of you life’s issues and problems do not magically disappear the second you step foot on campus come Freshman orientation and move-in. I also understand that Viz is a highly competitive environment especially when it comes to academia and the college admission process, I am here to tell you that once you get to college no one cares. No one cares that you got a 1540 on the SAT or 35 on the ACT. No one cares that you were valedictorian or won the health and fitness award. No one cares that you had a 4.0 average (100 if we are talking Viz terms specifically). You all go to the same place, your spot at the university was decided by a panel of adults that saw your credentials and knew you would fit in at the university, and that is that. My advice? Stop comparing yourself to your classmates, do not share your acceptances or where you are applying until you have made your decision, and take a big step back and a deep breath. You can ask any of my classmates they will be honest (I am sure of it) I was tightly wound when it came to my admissions process, I was paranoid about not getting into my dream school, Tulane, and as I sit on the fifth floor of the library after writing a 16 page political science paper in one sitting I laugh at how superstitious I was, at how cold I was, and how paranoid one wrong move would detrimentally set me back. Even if I had not gotten into Tulane the world would keep spinning, I would keep existing, and likely I would earn the same degree I am seeking now elsewhere and end up in a similar field. I know people that will read this article will think that I do not know what I am talking about and that I am telling you to lower your expectations but I am doing the opposite. Try your hardest, but remember your humanity. COVID ruined so many things for my senior year so really cherish all your time with your classmates. Throw as many class parties as you can, go to prom, have a massive grade-wide VizPriory afterparty and pre-party. You have one year left to really be a child and live life with almost no responsibilities so do not take life as seriously as I did.

Throughout the past four years, I've spent almost every fall day in Buder Gym practicing volleyball. It has been a wild four seasons, especially my junior year, when our season turned literally upside down after our coach took a leave of absence. Coming into my senior season, I was extremely excited; our new coach was not only respected throughout the volleyball community, but also not afraid to joke around from time to time. We jumped right into the season, starting open gyms during the summer to seek out our new prospective players. But before our season even officially started, we were already facing hardships, when my future co-captain, Giovanna Bonifacio, landed wrong at a summer open gym, tearing her ACL. Challenged to move on, we fell back onto each other, with our coaches establishing our "No BCD" (blame, complain, defend) mindset. Time and time again, we faced major challenges. Numerous foot and ankle injuries, minor concussions, and a season-long sickness plagued the program, but regardless of how recovered we were physically, our mental strength carried us through. Despite our sour conditions, we fought harder, with several players stepping into roles they wouldn't have ever imagined playing in. Time and time again, our resilience shined through, leading us to victories like St. Pius X, where our libero, Brooke Menke, and right-side hitter, Maggie Alexander, collided hustling for a ball, resulting in their early retirement from the game. With another set to win, it would have been easy to fold, but our backline accepted the challenge, with our 6'2 right-side, Mia Maddock, playing all the way around. The victory was incredibly sweet-- it proved to us that even when the scariest of moments, like your best passer getting injured, come to fruition, we had the ability to recover. This year, more than ever before, our practices and games were filled with laughter and unbounded joy. Screaming Pitch Perfect in the team room and Country Girl on the court gave us the energy to fight neck and neck with some of the top teams in the area. Even though our record might not reflect it, I am incredibly proud of our season. For those who have never played volleyball, it is hard to describe the relationships that grow within a season. With only twelve on a team, you get to know everyone on a deeper level than in most other sports which makes the end so much more emotional. Throughout my career, I have never felt so supported and loved by a group of girls, which is truly the reason why I am so sad to leave. It is hard to imagine my life without Viz Volleyball, it has shaped me into the teammate, leader, and friend that I am today. I always knew that my senior season was going to be something special, but with a new pair of coaches and an extra fun and excited group of girls, I will never, ever, be able to forget it.

Halloween is a beloved holiday, loved by children and adults. Though not many people know where Halloween came from. Halloween is from the festival of Samhain that stems from Ancient Celtic traditions in Northern France, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. All Hallows Eve was a festival in which they would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off bad spirits. The Ancient Celts believed that on All Hallows Eve the barrier between the spirit world and our world disappeared for the night. The festival signified the end of summer and the beginning of the harvest season. It also signified the darkness of winter and how they believed the winter season brought death. There was also the belief that with the veil between the worlds being blurred for the night that it made it easier for some to see the future. We don’t know where the tradition of handing out candy to children came from. Though there are three different speculations on where that tradition came from. First is the German American Christmas tradition “Belsnickeling.” Kids would dress up and go around their neighborhoods having the adults guess who each kid was in their costume. It’s said the kids were rewarded with food or treats if their costume tricked the adults and the adults could not guess who they were. Another theory is that giving out candy came from a Scottish practice where children and adults took up a collection of money and food for prayers for the dead. Eventually the prayers were dropped in favor of non-religious practices like songs, jokes, and tricks. Lastly there is the idea that originally with the Samhain the Celts would leave out food for the spirits to make them happy. The traditions of Halloween goes back centuries and has changed into the fun Holiday we know and love.

Halloween is in 6 days and the countdown to find a costume officially begins. Whether you are planning on trick or treating, going to a party with friends, or staying in to watch a scary movie, a creative costume to wear will always put you in the Halloween Spirit. If you are unlike me who has been planning my costume for a month now, you may still be searching for the perfect outfit to wear on halloween night. Don't worry, I am here to show you a few of my favorite costumes that are easy to find last minute. A Punny Costume If you are planning on going solo this halloween, then these pun costumes are perfect to wear. Pun costumes are a great way to show off your creativity while using costumes you may already have at home. Holy Cow! This costume is a play on words, and you create it using a cow and angel wings/halo. For this costume, all you need is a cow print shirt outfit and some angel accessories. You can even cut black spots out of felt and glue them onto a white tee shirt to wear. I'm sure angel wings can be easily found on amazon, or they can be borrowed from a friend! Its Raining Cats and Dogs If you are an animal lover, then this costume is perfect for you. Print out multiple pictures of cute puppies and kittens and tape them to strings attached to an umbrella, for an adorable costume. You can even wear accessories such as rain boots or a jacket to pull off this adorable costume! Iconic Duos If you and your best friend are still struggling to find something to wear, dressing up as your favorite pair is the perfect idea for you! Woody and Buzz The iconic friendship of Buzz and Woody from the Disney movie Toy Story is a super easy costume! One friend can dress up in a cowboy outfit with boots to look like Woody while another can rock a space themed outfit with colors purple and green to look like Buzz Lightyear! Peanut Butter and Jelly There is nothing as fun as dressing up as the most well known duo, PB and J. This costume could be as easy as a purple and brown t-shirt, but you can get creative with it by adding a tutu or even buying a costume of your half of the sandwhich on Amazon! This easy costume will show everyone you are the perfect pair! Triple Threats If you and your 2 friends are still searching for a costume, try dressing up as your favorite trio from a TV show or movie. Powerpuff Girls If you have heard of this spunky cartoon, you know the powerpuff girls are 3 best friends who love fighting crime together. For thus costume, you and your friends can each dress in Green, Pink, or Blue outfits! You can add accessories such as a pink bow for Blossom or pigtails for Bubbles! Stranger Things While searching for a costume, dressing as characters from the hit TV show Stranger things is perfect for any friends. My favorite trio is Dustin, Robin, and Steve and you can even recreate Steve and Robin's scoops ahoy uniforms from season 3. Dustin is usually seen wearing a baseball cap along with a silly cartoon shirt and a jean vest. I hope one of these costumes gave you an idea of what to dress up as this Halloween. If you need more outfit inspiration, I suggest searching on Pinterest for pictures of these costumes, or even visiting Party City for accessories. If none of these costumes are what you were looking for, you can always go back to the basics and dress up in the classic halloween costumes such as a ghost, witch, or pumpkin in order to still participate in the fun of dressing up on halloween night!

As fall continues, and October comes to a close, everyone is beginning to get into the Halloween spirit. Not just little kids, but everyone. One thing that I have always looked forward to is trick-or-treating. The problem I have with this fun activity is that it is not accepted by society to trick or treat past a certain age. You only see little kids dressed up on Halloween night, not adults or teenagers. I think that this is unacceptable. Even though it sounds silly, I think that having a grown man dressed as a dinosaur at my door asking for candy would brighten my day. By normalizing trick-or-treating for all ages, we can make the world a happier place.

This past weekend, the Viz theatre girls, along with some begged, borrowed, and stolen boys, performed The Pajama Game, a classic musical which they put on with some modernized twists! I have been a part of Viz theatre since I was in 6th grade. Getting to perform this hilarious and heartwarming show for my last Viz musical was a pleasure, and I am so happy to have gotten the cast we did. While those who are not theatre kids generally see sports as more of a team activity, and theatre as a very individual and "drama" filled activity, truly the most important part of each show is the friendships made. This was one of the closest knit casts I've ever been in, and I think that if you ask anyone else you may know in the show, they would agree. The rehearsal process was quick and a bit stressful, and while we had a messy final dress rehearsal, the show pulled together opening night to be a funny, energetic, and colorful musical full of different entertaining characters. For those who were able to come to the show, the entire cast and crew hopes you enjoyed it, and for those who didn't get the chance to, look out for One Acts and the winter play!

As we all know, we are in the final stretch of homecoming season. There are many important things that girls across the entire country consider for homecoming every single year. Should you bring a date? Where should you get your dress from? What color should you get your nails? Should you get a spraytan? How should you do your hair? This can add even more stress to a teenage girl's already stressful life. Here are my opinions about preparing for homecoming, or any dance, and how to make it as fun as possible. One of my favorite things about going to dances is meeting groups of new people. Even though it can be extremely awkward, especially when everyone meets for the first time to take pictures and eat dinner, there is always a special bond created with someone that you meet at a dance that is like no other. Sometimes, it is stressful deciding who to bring and spend an entire night with. Bringing someone from another school can always be a fun way to get to know someone better. If you can't think of anyone to bring, going with a group of your close friends can be just as fun. Another big stressor when it comes to dances is finding a dress. This can be super difficult. You want to find something that is cute but also appropriate for a school dance, which can be very hard to find. I try to look for dresses as far out in advanced as possible. First I look in person at places such as Splash and Cha boutique. If looking in person does not work, resulting to online shopping is the next best thing. Lulu's, Revolve, Lucy in the Sky, and Princess Polly can all be great options. If you order a dress online and it does not fit, borrowing from a friend could always work! As homecoming season slowly comes to a close, I hope that you can use my advice for help now and in the future. Homecoming and many other dances, like prom and winter formals, can create lasting memories. Hopefully everyone remembers the fun times they had and not the stress that occurred before. Since Viz doesn't have their own homecoming, take these tips and get a headstart on planning for VP!

As some of you know, our very own Viz Cheerleaders were on 5 on your side about a month ago. They took a red and white trolley downtown to the news station, where they went live with KSDK. They were in the background of the early morning news segment cheering and chanting outside. Additionally, they were in two live segments! In the begginging segments they did their “band chant” outside before recording the news for the day. Then for the later segment, the Newscaster, Mary, interviewed two cheerleaders from the team. Mary interviewed a freshmen, Liliana, and Katherine, a senior. They both talked about how the season is going and their big performance at Fall Fest! Visitation got their first Fall Fest promo on live television, thank you Katherine! After the interview, the cheerleaders taught the Newscaster one of our vary own cheers at Viz. It was a great experience for our Viz cheerleaders and a great way for them to celebrate national spirit day for Varsity sports! They ended the day by visiting the arch and having a team lunch!

As Viz students, sports are extremely important. They create a sense of community as we support our hard-working friends and classmates as they excel on and off the field. Going to sports games to elevate school spirit is detrimental to the success of any of our esteemed sports teams. One key element of school spirit is to dress like a Viz student. Maggie and I have come up with a few game day outfits for all of your sports spirit needs. Here they are: You could never go wrong with white and red! Go hard or go home! Bring on the owl! A Classic! Easy and simple! Perfect for last minute games! How to really stand out in a crowd! How to really bring the spirit! How to dress with some taste