By Brayden Ehrman '27

The weather can be a determining factor of who wins and loses a sporting event.

Martin Stickney '27 said, “For ultimate we switch our strategies and play a game with longer throws so the wind can't mess up the shorter throws.”

Whether it's high winds, storms, dangerously hot or just simply raining, athletes have to adjust to weather during outdoor games. Cancellations and rescheduling have to happen for sporting events. For instance, certain sports have dirt which mixed with rain makes the field muddy and not able to be played on due to unsafe conditions for the players.

Stickney '27 said,  “One baseball game we had was delayed an hour and a half due to 80+ mph winds and torrential downpour, but we waited it out and finished the game after all the chaos settled. Personally, I think its more fun and unpredictable.”

Baseball and softball especially have these issues because of the dirt field and the open area could make players vulnerable to lightning. 

Outdoor sports have these challenges and there is no way to improve these issues except for planning for weather and making sure scheduling coincides with what the weather throws at us.

On May 14 a group of sophomores and freshmen went on a field trip sponsored by the International Poetry Forum to a Literature Festival at The Port in Lawrenceville. 

Students were warmly welcomed from Serra Catholic High School, Aquinas Academy, Seton LaSalle, and Saint Joseph High School were brought together by poetry.

Students split into three groups with the opportunity to socialize with people from other schools. In the first group students got to bring their own twist on poetry by writing a free verse poem with Professor Gary Jackson. Professor Jackson teaches Creative writing at the University of Pittsburgh. 

In another Group students got the opportunity to analyze the poem “God's Grandeur" by Gerard Manley Hopkins. Students got to practice breaking down and finding the deep meaning of a piece of writing with Professor Ryan McDermott, from University of Pittsburgh English. 

In a final station students in group setting learned about the importance of descriptive writing with George David Clark from Washington & Jefferson College. Students broke down a poem then wrote their own poems describing something they find beautiful.

After lunch students were given the opportunity to read their writing to everyone before wrapping up the day.

By Brayden Ehrman '27

Cologne is more than just something you spray on; it's a personal scent that shows off who you are and it lingers with people.

Liam Johnson '27 said, “The first cologne you buy should be a good all- rounder, but it should also be unique.”

A big thing when buying your first fragrance is that you shouldn't let social media or popularity flair with your decision when purchasing. The fragrance community is massive on social media because of the amount of options and different scents that are on the market. 

People's recommendations shouldn't always have a high impact on people's opinions when spending their money.

Mia Andring '27 said, “I change my perfume by seasons to fit the time and scent.”

People say that cologne and perfume define people's days, attitude and what other people think about them, because other people will start to give you compliments and remember your signature scent.

Paul Hoffman '28 said, “I usually spend around 180 dollars on cologne.”

It's also a good thing to remember to test and look at reviews before buying or even buy cologne in person too see first hand what you like. You can also go and test cologne and perfume with friends and it's a fun way to spend time together.

Overall cologne and perfume is a great way to have an impact on your mental status and it can honestly enhance every aspect of everyone's day. 

By Courtney Mentecki '26

Beyond the athletic, creative, and academic abilities, students at Saint Joseph High School have talents that go unnoticed.

Vanessa Schneider ‘28 said, “My hidden talent is that I am able to make my tongue the shape of a clover.” 

Schneider figured out she was able to do this talent as she saw other students in her elementary school doing it.  She tried it one day and it worked. 

Lily Mitch ‘27 said, “One thing that most people don't know is that I'm really flexible and I do aerial silks.”

Mitch has always known she was flexible and when she was younger, she watched a lot of circus acts which convinced her get into aerial silks. 

Another student who was willing to share his talent of dirt biking is Liam Johnson '27. 

Johnson said, " I've always had an interest in motorcycles since I was young because my dad would take me on rides. One day he asked me if I would like to ride dirt bikes, and I said of course! That's when I got my first bike, a Kayo 230. I figured out I was getting good when I reached 70 mph going down a straight and hitting a large jump." 

Johnson has been continuing his talent for three years now. 

There are many more students that have hidden talents that we often do not know about each other. Sometimes we can feel shy and hesitant to share them, but as a school it is important to encourage students to share what makes them special and unique. 

We learn something new about someone everyday and it might be surprising what you can find out about a person that can even bring you closer to others.

By Chole Damico '27

As summer and special events like graduation are approaching ,teenagers want the glow of a tan on their skin.  Some teens are exposing themself to different types of UV radiation increasing the opportunities to come in contact with health risks.

Even though tanning beds come with personal benefits such as darkening your skin and feeling more confident with yourself, along with this there are many health risks.

Recent studies show that 55% of young adult university students and 19% of adolescents have used indoor tanning at some point in their lives. 

While tanning beds have a lot of benefits there are also a lot of overlooked risk factors. Indoor tanning is a very time efficient tanning way of UV exposure. According to the World Health Organization studies link indoor tanning to a significantly increased risk of skin cancer, particularly melanoma.   

According to the Advanced Dermatology and Skin Cancer Center after tanning for long periods of time, whether it's indoor or outdoor, people have a growing risk of developing a psychological dependence on tanning referred as 'tanorexia'.

As we approach the summer months, people are getting excited for their new summer tans. Tanning outside is a natural and cost free way of bronzing the skin, that in some ways can be very beneficial. However, even though tanning outside stimulates Vitamin D which helps with your immune function and mood regulations, it comes with uncontrolled UV exposure.

Even though there are clouds, weather conditions can change in a matter of minutes which can make it harder to regulate your exposure and avoid burns. Tanning outdoors strongly increases the chances of skin cancer and can accelerate aging. 

By Gabriella Carvens '28

No matter your age, peer pressure is an all-around, never-ending cycle. From wearing trendy clothing to going to parties on the weekends, peer pressure always seems to find a way into our everyday lives. Most of the time, it is seen as a bad aspect of life, but no one talks about the good side to it.  Can students influence each other for the better?  Can friends push you to do what's right?

As a high school student, especially one who came from public school all my life, I have undoubtedly dealt with both sides of peer pressure. I know from experience that peer pressure has its downsides and benefits. I believe that the type of peer pressure you face depends on the people you surround yourself with. In public school, I didn’t choose to surround myself with the best of people. I felt like I always had someone in my ear telling me how I should be dressing, who I should be hanging out with, or how I should look. I was always insecure about who I was, and felt like I could never truly be myself. I always had a facade on, pretending to be someone who deep down, I just wasn’t. It was tough living like that because when you know that you can’t be yourself around people who are your supposed friends, it can really take a toll on a student's mental health. When I moved to Saint Joes, I was afraid it would be the same repetitive cycle, but the people here proved me wrong. 

I instantly clicked with this group of girls, and they truly brightened my outlook of life. They encouraged me to strengthen my relationship with God, and even helped me realize that I don’t need people to like me to enjoy life. Even now, being friends for about half a year, they never fail to make me smile. One of the girls in particular, I consider my best friend. We hang out together, but the hangouts are never forced, and they never revolve around doing things that teenagers shouldn’t be doing. We go for walks to clear our mind, we have heart to heart conversations, and we even do crafts together. She brought out a side in me that I felt like I hadn’t seen in years. She helped me see the best in myself, and I truly have seen real progress in myself because of her positive influence. If I ever mess up, even if I get down on myself and have a bad attitude for the rest of the day, she makes sure I know that I have what it takes, and she doesn’t ever stop doing so until I’m back on the right track. 

Meeting these girls I feel like I now understand the benefits to peer pressure, because before them, I thought that peer pressure was bad. Yes, we may all have people who try to convince us to do things we know are wrong, or things that we just don’t want to do, but I also realize we all have people who help us do right. Whether it be teachers, friends, coaches, or family, just remember to appreciate them for being the reason you have a good outlook on life, and always try to be that person for someone else.

From viral dances to affordable fast fashion hauls, teenagers don’t just consume trends — they drive them.  With these fleeting fads, teens take in social media at a much higher scale than even they realize. Here’s a list of some memorable trends that crossed our 'For You' pages this year. 

By Isabella Thomas '27

In the age of technology, most students have stopped reading books. However, according to the National Library of New Zealand, “children who are the most engaged with literacy are three times more likely to have higher levels of mental wellbeing than children who are the least engaged.”

“I enjoy being able to leave reality and go into a different world with different stories when I read,” said Vanessa Schneider ‘28.

Reading can also help teens in other ways. According to Google, it expands vocabulary and improves sleep, focus, and memory. It also teaches valuable moral lessons.

Schneider ‘28 said, “reading gives you more empathy because you know how a character feels, so you can apply it in real life.”

The decrease in teens that read is due to many factors, but the biggest factor is the rise of social media. The American Psychological Association says “less than 20 percent of U.S. teens report reading a book, magazine or newspaper daily for pleasure, while more than 80 percent say they use social media every day.”

“Social media makes you feel insecure. Reading makes you more sure of yourself because you read about characters that are like you,” Schneider ‘28 said.

There are many different genres of books that are available. Some like The Hunger Games incorporate elements of science fiction and dystopian fiction, while others are based on true stories, like Killers of the Flower Moon. There are many more genres out there.

Schneider ‘28 said, “Reading has a bad rap but I feel that when you get a good book you will fall in love with reading.”

By Courtney Mentecki '26

Students gather at Hillcrest Country Club for prom 2025 creating an unforgettable night filled with music, memories, and dancing that will be remembered for a lifetime. 

Veronica McCarthy ‘25 said, “My favorite part of prom was dancing with my friends. These last moments of senior year are very special and my favorite memory from the night was when the DJ played the song “The Spins.” It always makes me think of my class because all of us love that song so much.” 

Prom is one of the last events of school when the senior class can come together and bond and make many memories. As a senior, it is hard to come to terms with knowing that college is right around the corner. However, to make the night even more enjoyable, there was a DJ who played amazing songs.

“I thought the DJ was fantastic.  He did an excellent job making sure the songs were school appropriate while being good for dancing. He also did a great job balancing slow songs with upbeat songs. Overall, he had a really good sense of what type of music we liked and wanted to dance to,” McCarthy said. 

Before going to prom, it is very popular to wake up early and spend the morning getting ready with friends. 

McCarthy said, “My friends and I went out to get smoothies in the morning. It was really fun and we were able to film our TikTok prom transitions. After that, I went to my hair appointment, got ready, met up with my friends for pictures, and we were able to finish our TikToks.”

Getting ready with friends is something to definitely look forward to whenever prom season comes around. In addition, a new event took place at the prom.  The student body voted for a prom king and queen. 

“I liked having a prom king and queen. It was fun to have something new,” McCarthy said. 

Veronica McCarthy was named prom queen and David Schratz ‘25 won prom king. It was such a magical night for the students with stunning decorations and the theme of The Great Gatsby.

By Gabby Carvens '28

According to explodingtopics.com, on average, during the school year, teenagers in the United States of America spend anywhere from 7 to 9 hours a day on some type of electronic device. Now that summer is approaching, students acquire more free time to do what they please, so will the average increase? What do students spend their summer break doing?

“I know that I spend way less time on my phone in the summer. My summers are normally super busy, so I don't have much time,” said Marrissa Heath ‘28. 

Many high school kids, depending on their birthday, get their first job usually in their freshman or sophomore year. During summer, students have more time to work, without worrying about missing assignments or homework. 

Meredith Zendarski, ‘25 said “As a senior, I have two summer jobs. I manage at the Leechburg pool, and I am also a waitress at a bar and restaurant.”

During the summer, a popular activity is going on a family vacation. Whether it be out of state to an air bnb, or to the beach, family time is a big thing for many students over the summer.

“Family time in the summer is a big thing for me. I spend a lot of time with my dad, helping him at his job, and doing other things. I also get to hang out with my cousins a lot, and go on vacations with my family,” said Liam Johnson, ‘27. 

Other than vacation, there are a variety of other summer activities that teenagers do, either alone, with friends, or with family. 

Reagan Fesz, ‘28 said, “My favorite summer activity is riding horses. I don’t own any, but I have like four different horses that I use.”

Some students' time is taken up by a different genre of activities, such as sports, or other out of school clubs. 

“I am really busy this summer. Between volleyball open gyms, and other activities I do, this summer is pretty full,” said Emma Monaco ‘28. 

So remember, that just because school is out and you may not be as busy, don’t let that screen time get too high. Take time to spend with your family, or go for a walk. People love summer for its weather, so never forget to enjoy it while it lasts!

By Kayla Black '27

Half-day Fridays are unique part of the schedule here at SJHS. Every Friday, students are able to get out of school early, a little after noon.

Courtney Mentecki '26 said, "I love half-day Fridays. It is my favorite day of the week. I enjoy being able to spend more time with my friends during break, gym, and a few study halls. We have more time to do things after school as well, because of the shorter school day."

Even though Fridays are a favorite of a lot of students, sometimes others want more variety within half-day Fridays. Having the same old classes and schedule can get a bit boring.

Brayden Ehrman '27 said, "I enjoy half-day Fridays a lot, but they are a little repetitive.  I wish we could mix up classes every week, instead of having the same ones, such as with a block schedule."

Even though we have a half-day, we are still served lunch during our break which is super convenient, so we are not starving when we leave school. 

We are very lucky to have half-day Fridays here at our school. We are able to spend more time doing what we like, get extra help from teachers, or schedule appointments, rather than being in school until 2:30 each Friday.