By Emma Blackburn '25

On Friday, May 3 the juniors and seniors celebrated prom together at Hillcrest Country Club. The Fairytale-themed evening was filled with friends, laughter, and memories.

While some students went with a date, others arrived with groups of friends, walking in promenade together. The juniors were excited because it was their first prom, and they did all the planning.  The tables were decorated in purple and gold with lanterns and fairy lights for the centerpieces.

Junior Violet Hill said, “I enjoyed prom very much. It was very exciting and I had looked forward to going for a long time. I appreciated having the opportunity to have fun with friends.”  

The night consisted of dinner, dancing, and lots of pictures. The DJ played all types of music throughout the evening such as hip-hop, pop, and rap.

Classes were cancelled for the upperclassmen.  Senior Kalyda O’Connor took photos in Oakmont before the promenade.  She met up with family and friends to share in the excitement of the day. 

“It was very nice to all be together for pictures and capture this special day," O’Connor said.

For the senior class, the evening was a bit emotional.  Since it was their last formal occasion together, they wanted to make it special and enjoy every moment together.

Senior Nick Sarno said, "The night was memorable, but also sad because It was our last one. My table was fun which made the evening unforgettable."  

By Emma Blackburn '25 

As summer approaches many students are looking for jobs to get experience and earn their own money. Some high school students enjoy relaxing during their time away from school, while others choose to keep busy.

A student's summer may consist of many different plans, but one thing that you can be sure of is that teens will spend some of their summer working at different places.  This may be encouraged by parents or of their own choice.  

Junior Meredith Zendarski works at the Leechburg Area Pool. 

“Teens should be given their own responsibilities, and earning your own income is great for a high school student,” said Zendarski.

Another thing that a teen can gain is understanding how the hiring process of a job works. That way when they apply for jobs post-college there is an understanding of the interview process, so that they can go into it feeling a bit more confident. 

The hiring process for any job can be nerve wracking, but also exciting. Often training is involved as well.

Sophomore Courtney Mentecki also works at Hillcrest Pool as a lifeguard.

Mentecki said, "The hiring process consisted of a training class and getting certified.  It was a two day training with a final test."

As a part of our curriculum, all students select an available elective to round out their schedule.  I took Journalism this year as my elective and I enjoyed it. Journalism is very laid-back elective. Electives are classes for students to boost their GPA, and have some fun while learning about a certain subject, and relax.

Not all students found electives that sparked their interests, and while the school offers a handful of unique subjects, some want to see electives that cover topics that students see themselves enjoying.

Kayla Black ‘26 said, “I think we should have a music class so that students can learn new instruments. Music class would really enhance teamwork and promote self-expression.”

Saint Joseph High School currently doesn’t offer classes that teach students life skills.

Courtney Mentecki ‘26 said, “I would like to see a personal financing class because it would prepare students for adulthood, and it helps the understanding of our future.”

Other life skills classes, such as acting or cooking, are currently not offered. These classes would be a welcome change.

Emma Blackburn ‘25 said, “I would like to see Home Ec because I’m going off to college soon, and I feel under-prepared to move on and live on my own.”

By Jamie Noonan '24 

As the seniors are ready to say their final goodbyes, some of them took the time to look back at their years in high school. Here are 10 tips from the seniors to help underclassman navigate their way through high school. 

10. Do your work on time 

Sometimes it can be a drag to get your homework done. However, spending 20 boring minutes doing an assignment is better than getting a zero on an assignment which can hurt your grade. 

9. Don’t burn bridges 

St. Joe's is a super small school. Once you find a friend or a friend group try to keep them around. 

8. Learn time management 

Sometimes the workload in school can become overwhelming. It is crucial that students learn how to manage their time wisely in order to get all their work done. 

7. If you plan on going to college, take CHS classes 

CHS classes are great to take, because they provide you with college credit and they are much cheaper than courses once you go to college. If you take enough CHS classes throughout high school, it can sometimes take off a semester or even a whole year of college. 

6. Enjoy your time in high school (live in the moment) 

These four years go super fast. Try to enjoy every moment, even though it can be hard sometimes. 

5. Keep up with your grades all 4 years, one bad year can hurt you 

Colleges look at your grades from all four years, so you have to try your best to keep up with your grades. Not to scare you, but one bad year can keep you from your dream school. 

4. Join clubs/ sports 

Joining a club or a sports team can be the easiest way to make friends, especially if you do not know anyone going into high school. 

3. Make time for friends 

School can be hard, but you have to find a balance. Take advantage of class time or study halls, especially on Fridays. You want to try and get your homework done, so that weekends can be used to relax and spend time with friends. 

2. Challenge yourself 

If you don’t challenge yourself, you will never know what you are capable of. Take a course that is going to challenge you, especially your senior year to get you ready for college. 

1. Don’t dwell on small things 

Do not let one bad grade define you, because it does not. You are much more than letter grade or a percentage.  Move on after a bad test and make the best of things.

By Giovanni Certa '27

The freshman class hosted the seniors on a trip to Top Golf in Bridgeville on May 28.  All year, the seniors have extended kindness toward the freshmen and this was a way to for the freshmen to show their appreciation to them before they graduate.  

Known affectionately as F & S Day, the trip was made possible by the fundraising efforts of the freshmen class.  

Students gathered for Mass and then boarded busses to take them on the excursion.  While the tradition of F & S is long-standing, this venue was a new activity.  

There were 6 golfers in each bay, which included pairs of freshmen and seniors.  After each golf ball was hit, a digital display recorded the speed and trajectory of the ball.

While there was a wide variety of levels of experience in playing golf, everyone had lots of fun. 

By Kayla Black '26

The sophomores and seniors took a trip to the Carnegie Museum for the day, spending time together before they graduate.

To begin the exciting day, the sophomores prepared a delicious breakfast for the graduating senior class. Donuts, fresh fruit, coffee, and much more were provided. 

After the relaxing bus ride, they arrived at the Carnegie Museum in Pittsburgh. The classes were split up into groups of their choice, and were able to explore the museum for a few hours. There were plenty of different exhibits to visit in the museum, including art, dinosaurs, and other animals. 

During lunch time, they took a trip to Schenley Park in downtown Pittsburgh. It was a warm and breezy day, perfect for a picnic. The sophomores and seniors enjoyed their lunch together, walked around the park, and appreciated nature.

Then, it was time to pack up and head back to school, arriving back just in time to go home. 

The sophomores and seniors had a great time together, a perfect end of the year trip. 

By Courtney Mentecki '26

Students from all around the world regularly miss school because of anxiety, depression, and overall stress. 

Mental health is overlooked by many as it is not always easy to notice when someone is struggling. It is easy to hide feelings and put on an act so no one worries about you. 

School is a common struggle for students. Exams, homework overload, and competition in education are a few main reasons that can affect the mental health of a student. 

Students also have a fear of being judged, and school is the kind of environment where comparisons happens the most.

Low motivation can be a sign of depression. A cause of this for a lot of kids is the COVID-19 pandemic. Schools being online was a start for students' mental health to get more serious. 

According to the EdWeek Research Center in 2023, 16% of students missed school to take a day off and it was not for physical reasons. 12% of students said they were too depressed to make it to school.  

Some ways to improve mental health include being social, improving sleep, seeking help if needed, and to stay close to the ones you love and find someone who you trust to open up to. 

May is mental health awareness month and October 10th is world mental health day. 

If anyone struggles with any sign of mental health getting worse, it is important to find someone you trust and tell them how you feel.

By Kayla Black '26

There are many different impacts that social media makes on young minds, some are positive, some negative. Different platforms offer things like community building, and good connections, while others heavily risk the wellbeing of children.

Young people are beginning to excessively use social media platforms like TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, and many others. These excessive uses can lead to low self-esteem and confidence, as people compare themselves to others. This can also lead to cyberbullying and a lot of pressure to be like the people they see online.

Yet, not all people are affected negatively by social media, as some find it as a place of comfort, support, and like a get away from reality. 

Safer options are apps that are created for young children, like messenger kids. Children are supervised by their guardians, so they have a safe experience. 

It is very important for guardians to keep in mind what their children are exposed to on the internet.  Parents must make sure that their children are responsible enough to use these platforms.