With her bag slung over her shoulder, she opens the door and walks into Sion at 7:30 A.M. She swiftly walks through freshman hallway, briefly stopping to chat with some friends. Turning at the end of the hallway, she reaches her locker. It’s decorated in blue and orange polka dotted wallpaper. She pauses, and thinks about her combination then whips open her locker. Sophomore transfer student AnnaLissa Redmond does it all with a smile.
“I’ve seen her in the hall and she is a sweet girl, always smiling,” counselor Erika Ellwanger said.
Redmond always knew she wanted to go to Sion. Last year she finally got the opportunity to come. Redmond transferred from Derrick Thomas Academy, a Kansas City, Mo. charter school. She went to Derrick Thomas Academy fifth through ninth grade but always had the idea of coming to Sion in the back of her head.
“I wanted to come here, the people were so nice,” Redmond said.
When Redmond applied and was accepted in May 2012, it was perfect timing. Redmond’s old school came under fire for financial woes and low test scores. A letter from the University of Missouri, Kansas City, the charter school’s sponsor, described the school as financially stressed. This letter circulated throughout the school causing around 20 members of Derrick Thomas Academy staff to leave their jobs to look for other work according the the charter school’s principal Dr. Terita F. McCauley.
Despite the claims the media made about the school closing, McCauley said, “We have no desire of closing. The letter caused us to rework some aspects of our school but Derrick Thomas is not closing. We are up and at them and ready to have a great year.”
But Redmond noticed changes in Derrick Thomas Academy as time went on.
“It was such a tiny school and there were too many people in it. It just got really hectic,” Redmond said.
Sion and Derrick Thomas Academy are, in Redmond’s opinion, different in about every way. But different in a good way she said.
Redmond is still having to get used to the bells and having lockers because at Derrick Thomas Academy they had neither.
She is also getting used to the idea of a single sex education.
“I had good feelings about Sion, but it was a lot different. I was trying to wrap my head around the idea of all girls, but I liked it a lot when I shadowed,” Redmond said.
In addition to adjusting to single-sex education, Redmond also had to get used to the differences in academics. Even though the academics can be challenging at times, Redmond is glad that she now goes to a school where all of the students are as determined as she is.
“It’s a lot easier when the people around you care too,” Redmond said.
This is one of the reasons why Redmond and her family were drawn to Sion.
“They knew about the college preparatory education and decided to pursue it.” Sharon Radovich, Director of Admissions, said. “They were also interested in the idea of a single sex education.”
Redmond had mixed feelings about leaving Derrick Thomas Academy but knows that Sion was the right decision for her.
“I was sad because I was leaving my friends, but it was something I had to do for me and my future,” Redmond said.
Redmond said that she is looking forward to finishing high school at Sion, and it is evident in her facial expressions.
“I’m definitely excited for the years to come, but it’s hard. I’m still getting used to everything, but I just try to push myself because I know it will get a lot better,” Redmond said while, of course, smiling.