Search Results

Here at Viz, we have some special athletes that make up a part of our school community. I wanted to highlight two specific students that had a very extraordinary summer full of soccer triumphs. Freshman Alex Pfeiffer and sophomore Grace Restovich play in the Elite Clubs National League for Saint Louis Scott Gallagher ECNL 2006 Navy together. Alex is born in 2007 and plays up a year with the SLSG '06 ECNL team. Together they shared a memorable summer winning the ECNL National Championship for the 2006 age group in July of 2022. "This summer was full of so many cool memories that will last a lifetime," says Grace. "We had a really amazing summer because we won a national championship," says Alex. The run started in Seattle, WA where they played and won 4 games to then reach the Final Four. In Richmond, VA, they played 3 tough games, winning one in penalty kicks. The final game, played against Colorado Rapids ended in a close 1-0 victory. Grace was fouled hard in the box, resulting in a penalty kick for her team. Crazy enough, it was Alex who finished the PK and scored the only goal of the game to give her team the lead they would need for the rest of the game. "Winning this championship was a testament to how hard my team worked all year, and hearing the final whistle blow was the best feeling that I have ever felt. The journey was unreal for my team and I. It brought us all together because we were a part of something bigger than just ourselves, and we now share a piece of history together," says Grace. These Vivettes put their talent on show and shared a meaningful experience, while also being crowned National Champs together. Out of hundreds of players competing for one championship, 2 of these champions came out of Visitation Academy. That’s pretty special, I would say. On top of this success they shared, each had their own United States Youth National Team experience. Alex was named to the United States U15 National Team and Grace was named to the United States U16 National Team. Alex recollects on her experience saying, "I was very fortunate to get to play for my country this summer. In June I traveled to the Netherlands with the US U15 team and we played against Netherlands and Germany. It was awesome to play European teams and I scored a goal against Germany. While being in Europe I made some really great friends on the team. In early July I found out that I had made the CONCACAF team to play in Tampa for the U15 championship. I left on July 20th and came home on August 8th. This was the best experience ever, not only getting to compete and play against other countries, but also getting to spend time with some really good friends. I’m grateful for this experience, especially being able to learn from so many great coaches and I hope to do it again soon." Grace adds that her USYNT experience started "at the end of May when [she] was chosen to represent the u16 USA Youth National Team in Sweden." She says, "We played and won three matches against Norway, France, and Sweden. The trip was an amazing experience where I was able to learn from my teammates from all across the country and grow as a player, while competing against the top players in Europe." These two girls shared an experience of a lifetime together, while also undertaking their own personal feats, representing the United States. They will always have the commonality of being Viz girls: being who they are and being that well. Just highlighting 2 of hundreds of girls that make Viz who we are, we are proud to recognize the talents and successes of Alex Pfeiffer (9) and Grace Restovich (10).

Hello Vivettes! Welcome to the series where we feature some of our fellow St. Louis senior athletes all around town. Here are the wise words of SLUH Soccer Captain, Kevin Cooney. He sure has a big senior season ahead. Enjoy this special insider to his life as Captain of the soccer team. Rounding off the 2021 SLUH Varsity Soccer season with a loss in the district finals, I felt accomplished with what I had put into the season. First of all, without starting a single game over the course of 26 games, I was able to score 12 goals and 6 assists. Prior to the season, my coach said to me, “If you can score 5 goals this year, that would be huge”. Not only that, the friendships I made with both players younger and older than I was, we’re long lasting. Aside from the season, I had realized that being a captain of the team next year was a possibility. Over the summer, before my senior year season started, I took the steps to get a shot at being captain. Most would describe a captain as a player who holds himself and the team to a high standard and gives 100 percent effort at every event. I, on the other hand, described it as being the player who takes control over the whole team, as I wasn’t aware of the real attributes a captain should possess. This mindset was something I had engraved into my brain in which I needed it to be changed. Instead of trying to have all of the players be held to a standard, in other words, the fluctuating level in which I played, I aspired to reflect on what it really meant to be a captain. That is, encouraging others to perform at their best, communicate and build relationships on and off the field, and most importantly, be the player that others can go to when they need it. This mindset helped me a lot to become the player I wanted to be. Later, about a week into the 2022 season, I had been voted to be one of the two head captains of the team. Players were asked to give a reason why they picked so they picked. One that stood out to me the most, was from a teammate that said, “I think [Kevin] should be captain as he is one of our strongest players skillfully, and thus, [he holds] much respect from me, as well as he has a distinct friendliness off of the field”. Another was from a teammate that said, “Kevin because he is a really strong player who works really well together with other players on the field. He is really starting to take initiative this year and I can tell he is all in/giving his full attention to the team. I can see his growth from last year and I think he is going to be a really good leader this year”. Although these comments were undoubtedly heartwarming to read, they also set a high standard for myself. It was a realization that the team would now be looking up to me. Through this past week, I have been lacking the attributes that I previously noted a captain should have: “[giving] 100 percent effort at every event”. I have noticed that being a captain becomes most difficult when you aren’t giving what you have to offer, no matter what might be going on with your life. In the first 3 games of the season, we won all of them. For me, they felt like losses. Being a captain of the team created too high of a standard that I put myself to. That standard being, scoring every game and being the star player of the team. Although I am currently averaging .5 goals and assists per game, I wanted more. I have been encouraging myself to take a step back and apply my standards to the team. Soccer is a team sport, not a “me” sport. A captain shouldn’t get upset that he is not holding himself to his unreasonably high expectations. Instead, he should focus on creating an environment where the whole team can be held to the same standards. The End. See you all next time!

As summer comes to a close, and if you are looking for a new hobby to hook you in, you've come to the right place. Throughout the summer, I have found a love for fishing. Whether it's an afternoon fishing session, or watching the sunset as I hook some bass, I am always down for a good fishing session. I even had a two week fishing streak. Whether it was deep sea fishing or catching some large mouth bass by my house, fishing is a good mind clearer and study break, too. While high school can be a stressful time, there are always ways to refresh your mind. Finding your hobby and one that is good to relieve stress can be hard, but it is not impossible. If you are looking for a good fishing buddy, don't be shy to hit my line (no pun intended). I always have a rod in my car in case I find a good pond nearby. The calm environment is good for the soul, and finding a good hobby as a stressful student is a great idea. So the real question is, what hobby will hook you in? Here are few suggestions: Reading Listening to Music Yoga Working out Baking Drawing Journaling

As many of you have heard at the recent assembly, this year's Fall Fest theme is This or That. In honor of this theme, Jessica Martin and Claire Riley will now take you through a Viz-themed This or That competition. Mascots: Owl or Vivette Owls have has a long history at Visitation Academy beginning in a 1920 acedemic record of The Crescent, the Viz publication at the time. The owl has represented wisdom and cresents throughout our schools rich history. As well as these many traits the owl represents, it is an animal and therefore a concrete alternative to the question “What even is a vivette”? The Vivette is just a classic thing about Viz. First of all, I know no one made it through ninth grade English without Mrs. Hadlow referencing Vicky Vivette. On top of that, it is unique so we know there is no chance of another school having the same mascot as us. Where else can you look at a mascot and know exactly what school it belongs to? Visitation Vivettes rolls off the tongue is clearly the better choice JBD or Field Day JBD or Just Because Day has been a tradition at Viz for years. One day out of the year at random, student council announces that it is Just Because Day. There are bouncy houses, face painting, photo booths, activities, and more. The entire day consists of these activities and the school even provides lunch for the day. Just Because Day’s hype, free food, and fun activities all lead to it being the better choice. Field Day is one day of the year when the adrenaline levels at Viz are at their peak. From the intensity of tug of war to the nonstop cheering, the Viz community really bonds through our overcompetiveness on Field Day. It is also a mark that the end of the school year is quickly approaching, which everyone looks forward to. The energy at Viz is field day is simply unmatched which obviously makes the it better choice. Cass Comons or Menard Deck Cass Commons is conveniently located between the lunch room and Buder Gym next to Viz Station and the Jesus Circle. This supreme location is perfect for snacks as within a twenty-foot radius, there is an abundance of delicious treats to enjoy. Its large windows make it well-lit, perfect for focusing on homework, studying, or any strenuous task at hand. Its red comfy couches are perfect for comfortability whether it be for sitting or taking a quick nap during a free. Overall its location, vibes, and comfortability all lead to it being the better choice. Menard Deck is located right next to Campus Ministry where you can get free snacks or hot chocolate at any time, talk to the campus ministers about literally anything, or take a nap on the couches. It is also conveniently located right next to the library so you can print things with ease. It is generally quieter than Cass Commons so it is ideal for focusing on work or studying. In addition that all of that, Menard Deck also has a variety of seating including fun circular chairs that spin and you can adjust the height of. All of these things, including the fact that none of the seating in Menard Deck has questionable stains unlike the couches in Cass Commons, just simply make Menard Deck the right choice. Written by Jessica Martin '23 and Claire Riley '23

Remember the time when you had your first period. You probably went to the bathroom, realized what was happening, and then freaked out. You may have cried to your mom and watched your dad speed away and say that they had to go "get something" awkwardly. Luckily, your mom assured you that "you’re a woman now" and "everything's going to be okay." Still, it doesn't feel like it’s going to be okay. Why do you feel gross? Should you feel ashamed? What are you going to do when you go back to school? Reimagine that situation, but instead of using a tampon or pad, you have to use a rag or skip school and stay at home with your only pair of pants, because feminine products are not in your family's budget. Sadly, this is the reality for more girls than you think. This struggle is also known as period poverty, or the inability to afford products such as pads, tampons, or linings to manage menstrual bleeding. According to the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics, up to 500 million menstruators are living each month in period poverty. Because of this, 1 in 5 girls end up missing school due to the lack of menstrual products, according to the University of Michigan Public Health Department. Without access to tampons or pads, menstruators must resort to using rags, paper towels, toilet paper, or cardboard, which can increase the risk of infections. The reason why period poverty is so prevalent today is because of the enormous cost of period products, including the pink tax, and the shortage of feminine hygiene product materials. In many states, the government offers no financial assistance for menstrual products, which leads people to choose between groceries for the week, or a box of tampons, as stated by the University of Michigan Public Health Department. No one should ever feel guilty over taking care of their body and personal hygiene, which is why period poverty needs to be addressed. This can start by government officials taking off any sort of luxury tax on feminine hygiene products, or even making them free. Items like toilet paper and soap are provided freely in public restrooms, which begs the question: why aren't period products? All three things are a necessity to hygiene, so all three should be provided freely in public spaces. Furthermore, period products need to be included in financial assistance programs like food stamps and SNAPS. By creating these changes, every woman or menstruator can go through that time of the month without worry or self-inflicting pain because of their lack of hygiene products. However, the assistance does not have to just be in the law, it can also happen in your community. In the upcoming months, the Peace and Justice Club will be hosting a feminine hygiene product drive and will be donating all the products to local diaper banks and shelters for women in need. You can also spread awareness throughout your community and educate yourself on women’s health issues. Help women and girls stay healthy and happy by donating to prevent anyone from experiencing unnecessary pain during their cycle.

As the end of senior year quickly approaches, I am very anxious to be over with many of the cumbersome things that come with high school. Many chapters are closing, bringing me great sadness, and finishing my year as project manager of the Vivette Times might be the most tragic one yet. Over the past two years, I have put countless hours into creating content for the site, hyping the site up over announcements, writing articles, and editing videos. This year specifically, I had the opportunity to lead a phenomenal team of 14 hard-working, driven, and creative students who drastically improved the Vivette Times. Our articles and podcast view counts reached new highs (reaching up to over 1,000 views on Emma Winter's "The Real Hype of Chick-fil-a" article) and the site and social media were refreshed with cute graphics, frequently updated photos, and eye-catching posts that popped up in our feeds. Each of these girls put in great effort, and I am truly grateful to all of them. For me personally, I learned a great deal from my position of leadership. Working in a professional environment with classmates so close in age and friendship proved to be a much bigger challenge than expected. With Mrs. Andrews as my mentor, I was able to navigate smoothly and gain many valuable skills that will benefit me greatly as I begin my adult(ish) life. Although I did not have a chance to create as much content as I did last year, I was able to create Maggie in the Halls. This not only got me recognized by various students and parents in and outside of school but created a stronger sense of community in which girls were excited to both be featured and view the latest episode. Even our principal Mr. Murray appears in a few episodes! I've been so blessed to have such a good group of girls this year and a supportive moderator. I am very sad to be leaving the Vivette Times behind, but I am excited for my new chapter next year at Baylor to begin!

One of people’s favorite expressions to use when something complicated or time-consuming rolls around is “Well, it takes a village!”. I’m here to tell you that is absolutely, 100% true. This year’s thespian banquet was phenomenal, but it couldn’t have been done without the village that is the theatre program here at Viz. With only a few meetings to verify the plans, the junior and sophomore thespians took matters into their own hands. Groups worked on decorations, playlists, slideshows, writing letters to our lovely seniors, putting together gifts for said seniors, and even communicating with a catering business! After about 525,600 minutes of work, Viz’s Red Carpet Banquet was ready to strut its’ stuff! The banquet was a show-stopping success. When guests arrived at the door, they were greeted by a bouncer who, after verifying their names on the guest list, allowed them into the party. The guests then walked down the red carpet where our sophomores and freshmen acted like paparazzi, snapping pictures and yelling “Who are you wearing tonight?”. When they finally reached DeChantal, guests were encouraged to find a seat and the banquet began. The night was filled with tear-jerking speeches, delicious food, and comical awards. We laughed, we cried, and we celebrated Viz theatre’s incredible season! It truly was a night to remember.

As you may know, graduation is quickly approaching, and with this comes Maypole! Of course our seniors will be wearing their floor length white dresses, but those of you who have been asked to be ribbon holders may be wondering what appropriate attire entails. Pastels - with the seniors wearing white and red, try to avoid those colors. Go for a light pink, orange, blue, green, or purple (or any other spring-y color). Short dresses - obviously, the graduates are going to be wearing floor length dresses, so shorter dresses are the way to go! Florals - as Maypole will be taking place on May 19th, we are in the height of spring, which means florals! When looking for a dress, look for fun patterns and prints in pastels to really complete the look. Here are some examples!

As terrible as it is to hear . . . Junior and Senior exams are coming. But have no fear! Here is some study practices to help you prepare. 1. Start Early! This may be something you've heard a lot, but it really does help you in the long run. 2. Make a designated study space It is important to have an area, like your desk, that is quiet and place you can associate with studying. This helps keep you "in the zone" and makes it easier to start studying. 3. Make a handwritten study guide It has been proved that taking the time to handwrite either your notes or study material increases your understanding and memory of a topic. Basically the more time and effort you put it, the more likely you are to remember it. 4. Plan out your week Doing this would help you make time for studying around your other daily habits. 5. Breaks (and rewards!) Studying for hours nonstop may do more harm than good. It’s best to make sure you plan out breaks. They can be anywhere from 5-30 minutes. What works best for me is a ratio of studying for about an hour then a 10 minute break. Also, a good time to reward yourself is after finishing a long study period. 6. Stay away from distractions This may include your phone, the TV, your siblings, or even your dog. Staying away from these makes it much easier to "stay in the zone." If you follow these I’m sure you’ll crush these exams!

It is with sadness in my heart that I deliver this news. Unfortunately, we have reached the time of the school year where burn out syndrome starts to run rampant through the halls of Visitation Academy. Now I know what you all must be thinking, how can this disease contaminate everyone so quickly. Well let me shed a little knowledge on this subject matter. It all starts with the classic case of senioritis. The seniors catch this viral infection and are out cold! Grades start to drop, assignments start to go missing, and the Portal shames them for getting senioritis. But you cannot blame the seniors for this, it is unavoidable. Once the seniors get it, the wave starts. Juniors get bombarded with work, gasping for air to stay afloat amidst all the assignments. Junior year is tough and burn out syndrome targets those that are stressing about college and are getting ready to fly away from home which is why the juniors and seniors are the main target. But don't discount the other grades, they are in close quarters with the juniors and seniors. Once the desks get drenched with the germs of burn out syndrome, there is no immune system that can withstand. Now you may have come to this article for some advice, so I'll give it a shot. We only have a couple more days of this school year left until summer. The most inspiring advice I can give you is to grind these next couple of days and before you know it, you will be soaking up some rad summer rays.

April showers and May flowers are here and so is the time to start cleaning. What do people usually mean by spring cleaning? They mean opening your windows, putting your bulky winter coats away and realigning yourself as the weather becomes nice again. Here’s a list of things you should focus on before the school year ends and summer starts! 1. Empty that closet! Whatever you haven’t touched or looked at within the past year needs to go, and I don’t mean in the trash. Goodwill and Salvation Army are the most reliable clothing donation sites to go to and there are plenty around St. Louis to choose from. Just make sure anything you are donating is clean and in tack. I know we all have dresses from dances laying around untouched, so instead of just ignoring them maybe make someone else’s day by donating it. 2.Cleansing your phone So much time and energy is poured into your phone and sometimes it just all needs to be wiped out. This could mean deleting pictures you don’t need anymore, revamping all 300 of your Spotify playlists, or even just changing your lock screen. We spend pretty much all our time with our phones and by renewing this source we can help our minds recenter. And if you really want to refocus try to but timers on all the apps you use every day, challenge yourself. 3. Sticking with a routine It’s almost been 5 months since the start of the year, and now is the period of time where stabilizing out lives is important. Nothing in this world is stable or neutral in the slightest, but easy steps like making a to-do can help alleviate this stress. You could even try making a meal prep every Sunday night, or journaling after dinner on the weekdays. You should be doing what you need to make yourself feel productive and okay. This season should be a time to reflect and seek balance. As the trees and flowers are starting to bloom again so should you. So pick up a new hobby, stop to smell the roses and take time to just be with yourself.

It's that time of year again: time for the biggest competition among kids out there. Whether it be at home, on the church lawn, at a park, or in the classroom, the one thing on every one's mind in the weeks coming up is how they are going to win this year's Easter egg hunt. Well worry no more because here are some amazing tips that will almost guarantee you first place at any Easter egg hunt you are a part of this year. 1. Speed: This is an obvious one. Easter egg hunts are no place for anyone who isn't a track star. The key to winning an Easter egg hunt is getting a good start and the best way to do this is to make sure you are going as fast yet as carefully as you can to make sure you do not miss a single egg. You also need speed to beat that pesky other person who sees YOUR egg at the same time as you. 2. Make a plan: Before the hunt starts you need to know what areas you are going to search first. Make sure you know a basic outline of the arena. Maybe you will go to the right first, maybe the left, or if you are feeling bold maybe run right down the middle first. Go wherever your heart desires in whatever order, just make sure you know this order ahead of time so you do not waste time thinking about what areas to search next in the middle of the hunt because time is precious and you cannot afford to waste any of it, especially if it can be avoided. 3. Start with the ground: I know it seems obvious, but this is usually where most of the eggs are hidden, especially if the hunt is outside. Bright colored eggs are easy to see but also make sure to keep your eyes peeled for colors that are similar to the ground, like greens. 4. Listen: While it is important to stay focused, listening to your opponents and spectators can make or break your hunt. Sometimes spectators will scream things like "to the left!" or "behind you!" and opponents will scream "I see one!" This is where speed comes into play again because once you hear one of these key phrases you need to look up, scan the area to see who said it, and SPRINT to get the egg. 5. Mindset: This is important in any sport. You need to go into the hunt feeling good and knowing you are capable of winning, but do not get over confident. Another thing is that you need to make sure you are not focusing too much on how many eggs your opponents have because then you will get into your head and it is all downhill from there. Stay clam, focus, and play like every egg has your favorite candy inside.