December PCH Corral

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Parkway Central High School 369 N. Woods Mill Road, Chesterfield, MO 63017 Volume 60, Issue 3 Dec. 17, 2015

Hand lending a

pg. 12

Operation 350 works to reduce consumption pg. 3 New athletes contribute to winter sports teams pg. 10 Trendy gifts for the holidays pg. 19

contents

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Photo Issue of the

Juniors James Kim and Claire Huang test their balance in AP Physics on Dec. 10.

Read more online at: parkwaynews.net/ corral

the

contents

Ballroom Dance Club gets off ground pg. 8 What’s the point of Fantasy Football? pg. 15 Alex’s Appetite: Battle Edition pg. 18

Review ‘from the Bridge’ Choir works to take audience back in time pg. 23 pg. 6

Frisbee team hosts alumni game pg. 21

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news

Environmental club fights to end plastic bottle usage

News Tidbits

PIPER ROTHER Entertainment Editor @thepiedPIPER26

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limate change, greenhouse gases and landfills are problems we are all aware of in today’s world, but one organization is trying to actively do something about it -- by building a tower of plastic water bottles in the commons.

Operation 350 is taking a stand against plastic in landfills by making the student body aware of what their lack of recycling looks like.

“Recycling has been a focus of our group since its beginnings,” sponsor Beth Karfs said. “However, we’ve realized that even though we have gone to single stream recycling -- which should have made us more effective at sorting trash -- we are not very good at putting our refuse in the right bin.”

The neglect to sort trash into the right bins has caused the group to find new ways to make people aware of their waste, such as a sculpture of water bottles as high as the ceiling, demonstrating the 600 bottles that are discarded in the building each week.

“We are trying to start a conversation about this problem,” Operation 350 leader senior Lucas Shanker said. “Our ultimate goal is to ban all plastic bottles at our school, and this is our first step: to get students aware of the issue and to help support our cause.”

The group’s mission is to reduce, if not eliminate, the sale of plastic bottle on campus in order to limit the amount of recyclables that are sent to the landfill.

“Most students will not want to lose the perceived convenience of disposable bottles because they are not thinking beyond their immediate comfort and/or don’t think it makes a difference,” Karfs said.

Despite this perception, the group wants to bring attention to the hydration stations around school where students can fill up their water bottles with the same clean, cold water that would come in plastic bottles.

“We’re encouraging others to use reusable bottles and not buy as many bottles,” senior Emma Roberts said. “We are also trying to get the vending machines to stop selling plastic bottles.”

Even though Operation 350’s goal is only targeted for the school, the group is also hoping that the movement will spread throughout the district.

“Ultimately, the beverage bottle contract is a district agreement with Coca-Cola, and we would like to end it at the district level,” Karfs said. “We realize that students have not been very good at sorting trash, so it seems more effective to just reduce trash rather than sort it.”

The group researched other schools that had banned plastic bottles and the effort showed positive results.

“It worked well for Washington University; they didn’t see any negative effects on revenue,” Roberts said. “We were hoping to raise awareness of the issue and to get people behind the issue so that we can show the school board that people not

sophomore Jane Wang

Students named to All-State music groups Ten students were selected for the All-State music groups after practicing scales and etudes and performing their audition pieces in front of judges. The following students will perform at the state music conference in Tan-Tar-A in January.

All-State Orchestra: Josh Adams - cello Amy An - cello Sharanya Kumar - viola Gajan Kumar - violin Liya Liu - violin Anusha Manjunath - violin April Moon - violin Jinghang Zhang - violin

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All-State Choir: Chris Gu - tenor All-State Band: Josh Adams - trombone Jane Wang - flute

Seniors raise money for charity

1. Junior Tony Chen and senior Emma Roberts attach layers of plastic bottles to stack onto Operation 350’s Tower of Consumption on Dec. 4.

2. Senior Jake Liebman helps Mrs. Beth Karfs anchor the top of the tower.

3. Junior Luis Ocampo signs the petition to end the use of plastic bottles on campus. part of the organization are behind us to and that they want something done about it.”

While showing the students the amount of bottles the school goes through in a week is eye opening, the group acknowledges the likeliness that everyone will stop using plastic bottles altogether is close to none. The only way to get through to the student body is to take away access

to disposable bottles.

“Reaching every kid in a way that helps them make a good choice every time is a difficult task,” Karfs said. “Stopping the flow of disposable beverage bottles into the building for sale can be an easy task. We end the contract to remove the point of sale, and we have made a functional difference while sending a powerful message.”

Members of Senior Men and Senior Women collected $2,095 for Old Newsboys Day beginning at 6 a.m. on Nov. 19. Students stood at the corners of Woods Mill Road and Olive Boulevard and Woods Mill Road and Ladue Road to distribute the Old Newsboys edition of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and collect donations from passing drivers.

School resumes Jan. 5 on A day Winter Break runs from Thursday, Dec. 24 through Monday, Jan. 4. Students will come back to school on Tuesday, Jan. 5 to an A day. The rest of the week’s schedule is a late start B day on Wednesday (no academic lab), an A day on Thursday and a B day on Friday.

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news

Dec. 17, 2015

Stringing it

Together

Junior Matthew Whay strums the ukulele during academic lab behind the music wing. “I hope to be able to spread the beautiful sound and good vibes of the ukulele throughout the halls of Parkway Central,” Whay said.

Photo by Jeffrey Eidelman.

Ukulele Club opens up opportunity to showcase unique musical talent JEFFREY EIDELMAN Managing Editor @jeffey44

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ttempting to find the right chord, junior Matthew Whay recently started the Ukulele Club in hopes to improve the school climate.

“My belief is that if more people in this world played the ukulele, then this world be a happier place,” Whay said.

Whay used this mission to begin a formal organization.

“I started the club because I knew a few of my friends already played the ukulele, and I thought it would be fun to teach each other songs,” Whay said. “I hope to be able to spread the beautiful sound and good vibes of the ukulele throughout the halls of Parkway Central.”

Andrea Anderson, an English teacher who also sponsors the Creative Writing Club, will be the sponsor of the new club.

“A couple weeks ago Matthew approached me about the idea for the club,” Anderson said. “I thought it sounded like fun, and I thought it sounded totally like a Matthew thing.”

The club plans on meeting every other Thursday starting next semester. As of right now, there are more than six participants, and Whay hopes the club will continue to grow.

In order to become a sponsored club, Whay needed to gauge interest, describe what participants would do at each meeting, find a staff sponsor, and then turn that information in to principal Travis Fast.

“After Matt approached me with the idea of a ukulele club,” Fast said, “I thought about going out to get a ukulele.”

Whay accidentally became interested in playing the

“I hope to be able to spread the beautiful sound and good vibes of the ukulele throughout the halls of Parkway Central.”

- junior Matthew Whay, founder of Ukulele Club

ukulele one day after his brother had left for college.

“My brother moved into his house at college and forgot his ukulele at home,” Whay said. “I found it and said ‘Hey, I should teach myself how to play this.’ Then I bought another one -- and then another one.”

Freshman Danni Schneiderman is one of the members of the ukulele club and has been playing the instrument since October.

“My sister is friends with Matthew Whay, and I’ve been playing for a while so it just made sense to join,” Schneiderman said.

Schneiderman said she appreciates being able to have a structured hobby to add to her schedule.

“I play volleyball a few days a week, and the other days I’m not doing much, so I decided to find something to do,” Schneiderman said.

Whay said he has aspirations to find more members and eventually take this club to another level of performing in public.

“I have hopes and dreams of their being at least 10 people by the end of this school year,” Whay said.

“Then tune in at next year’s pep rally -- that’s the dream.”

Math teacher named faculty member of year by peers Sarah Whalen Staff Writer @skatherine123

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eing elected for teacher of the year by your colleagues is a huge honor, and this year math teacher Tom Schaefer takes the award home. His students are not surprised with the honor.

“He’s really helpful and whenever I’m in class,” junior Madison Brown said. “I really understand the information he gives us; he really makes the information really knowledgeable.”

Schaefer teaches AP Calculus BC, College Algebra and College Prep Math. He is also the sponsor of Senior Men and the boys and girls varsity volleyball coach.

“He puts focus on each student, and it’s the same in volleyball,” senior Matthew Kane said. “He just wants to make everyone better, and he really simplifies it for you so it’s easier for you to understand so you can learn and grow.”

Schaefer is very humbled by this selection, but he

doesn’t think it affects his teaching.

“I’m very honored to have been selected by the staff to represent Parkway Central this year; we have a lot of very well qualified teachers who could have held this position,” Schaefer said. “It doesn’t change anything about my job and how I do my job, but it’s nice to be recognized by your fellow teachers and receive that honor.”

His students hope that he will continue to assist them in all the ways that made him stand out to his colleagues.

“I always go in to ask for help, and he’s always there to support me and always wants to make sure everyone does their best,” Brown said. “He’s really understanding and he knows what he’s talking about; also he really makes the class enjoyable.”

Tom Schaefer teaches WHAT CLASS during eighth block on Dec. 11. Schaefer was named the 2015 Teacher of the Year by his peers.

Photo by Sarah Whalen.

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don’t forget to Buy your 2016 Yearbook today! www.YearbookOrderCenter.com Order #17225 Only $55 Now! Prices go up Jan. 1!

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features

bridge from the

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Theater Department presents Arthur Miller’s “A View from the Bridge”

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5 1. Senior Nathan Dettlebach, as Marco, explains the journey from Italy to Brooklyn to sophomore Aletha Bastin, playing Beatrice during the teasers performed during school on Nov. 18, Photo by Trasean Stepney.

2. Rodolpho, played by senior Matthew Kertzman, and Katherine, played by freshman Skylar Droege, dance together despite the controversy surrounding their relationship and his immigrant status. Photo by Trasean Stepney.

3. Lawyer Mr. Alfieri, played by junior Will Harold, narrates the play, providing context and background information between scenes during dress rehearsal on Nov. 17. Photo by Jessie Piles.

4. As Eddie Carbone, junior Anthony Blatter teaches Rodolpho, played by senior Matthew Kertzman, how to fight. Rodolpho impresses with his natural fighting skills during dress rehearsal on Nov. 16. Photo by Jordyn Tobias.

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5. While taking down the set, freshman Jeremy Alport, senior Joanna Kolker and freshman Megan Baris remove screws from remnants of the namesake bridge on Nov. 22. Photo by Kate McNeal.

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features

aking adrigal agic

1. Junior Will Harold and senior Ben Scissors playing Italian insurance salesmen in the Madrigal performance on Dec. 11.

2. Sophomore Mitchell Broddon is carried in as the boar head with an apple in his mouth.

CHOIR CLASSIC REVAMPED TO CAPTIVATE RETURNING AUDIENCE MEMBERS

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PIPER ROTHER Entertainment Editor @thepiedPIPER26

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t ’s the most wonderful time of the year; with the weather getting colder, the food getting warmer, and freshmen dressing in tights, everyone knows it’s time for the Madrigal Dinner.

“The Madrigal Dinner has served a variety of purposes,” choir director Ben Silvermintz said.

“First, it allowed our students to perform a winter concert without a Christmas-specific focus. Second, it offered the choir program an opportunity to fund-raise without washing cars or selling chocolate and third, but perhaps most importantly, it brought together the entire choir program for one largescale production.”

Having a performance of this size can be tricky to organize because there are so many different components coming together.

“You have to work with the confines of the commons, which is not setup for an acoustic performance,” senior Adam Cohen said. “One challenge is that they already installed a preset sound system that is very poor quality, so we have to override everything.”

In addition to the technical struggle, it can be troublesome to get everyone on the same page.

Until everyone is able to do a run through, it is hard to predict how the performance will go.

“Coordination and logistics are the primary challenges of bringing groups together,” Silvermintz said. “We can rehearse our songs for hours and talk about the pacing and spacing of the show, but until we put it together on Thursday, it’s still just words.

Then, we add in the food element of the actual dinner the variables become even greater.”

Even with the struggles of making everything perfect for show time, the dinner is still something students look forward to every year.

“It’s fun to get together and make this huge performance and set up the commons,” senior Ashley Wilson said. “I’m excited for the last one, it’s always a struggle, but it pays off.”

The dinner always focuses around a general theme. It usually includes a king and queen sitting on the stage at their table with different performances happening before them. However the

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Hiding under a table isn’t the best way to watch a play, but junior Ariella Mahoney finds it to be the best spot to listen in on people’s conversations. Photos by Tara Stepanek.

students do have to audition for their role, unless you’re a freshman then you’re a server.

“The audition process varies,” Silvermintz said.

“Some years, we have had lengthy auditions before school or during academic lab. With this year’s smaller cast, we simply asked students to read a few excerpts from the script and interact with others who were auditioning. It usually becomes pretty clear who will have good on-stage chemistry.”

Seniors have always been chosen to be the queen and king for the show. This year Ashley Wilson and Josh Rudman were crowned.

“I’ve been in choir every year so I’ve known who the queen was and how important she was,” Wilson said. “So it’s always been a dream of mine.”

Like Wilson, Rudman had seen the show many times and always had the dream to be the main role.

“My brother went here so I’ve been watching it for about 8 years and I’ve always seen the different kings and I never thought that would be me,” senior Josh Rudman said. “I always thought it’d be really cool to be king because that’s the part everyone looks at.”

Madrigal has become a tradition now to some but there has been some speculation going around that this year will be the last Madrigal performance.

“We are always looking for ways to improve our efficacy in two primary areas with this event: curriculum (the musical element) and community involvement (the middle school or elementary school ensembles and audience attendance),” Silvermintz said. “If we think there is a better way to do the Madrigal Dinner that is better for kids, families, and our choir program, we’ll do it. The worst reason to continue traditions is ‘because that’s the way it’s always been done.’ We have myriad considerations including the calendar, time and our ability to really perform at a high level at every concert.”

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3. Senior Josh Rudman sits majestically on his throne as king, while eating flaming hot Cheetos.

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entertainment

Ballroom dance club takes first steps LIBBYARCHER Staff writer @libbyarcher1

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aining traction among students, the new Ballroom Dancing Club is picking up steam after its first meeting on Thursday, Nov. 12 in the history commons.

“It was my idea actually,” sophomore Jackie Blasini said. “I had been taking lessons over the summer, with a family friend, and I had interest because my mom had taught me a few steps when I was younger. I wanted to take my dancing to the next level.”

Blasini is the founder, president and treasurer of this growing club. Members of the club are taught by a professional ballroom dancing coach as well as his partner, who is also a family friend of Blasini’s.

“They know what they are doing,” sponsor of the group Lori Turnage said. “We have an instructor coming in and showing the students how the dance steps are done.”

Turnage applauds the organization of the meetings.

“It’s just a really well-run machine, so the kids can really learn something,” Turnage said.

Blasini had the idea to ask Turnage to be the sponsor of the club after reading about her experience competing in ballroom dancing in the newspaper last year.

Turnage said that students will be able to quickly pick up on steps like she did and advance their abilities.

“It’s just learning one thing at a time, and it builds,” Turnage said. “Eventually you’re able to perform a really well-crafted dance that you can take out onto the dance floor.”

The first meeting had a turnout of 14 students from the school but only three boys. Foreseeing the lack of male interest in the

club, the instructors invited four high school boys from Blasini’s church to attend and act as extras partners.

“I would definitely like to see more members so we don’t just have to bring in guys from different schools,” sophomore member Alexis Morkisz said.

Blasini set up the club,not just to help out aspiring dancers but also as part of a service project her church does.

“In my church we have this thing called ‘Personal Progress,’” Blasini said. “It’s separate values where there are experiences and projects you do to pass them. The projects are 10 hours long, and you have to do something in your life to develop those values.”

Blasini had the idea to start the club last year, so she is relieved that her efforts are finally paying off.

Blasini and the other members of this new club hope to see the club flourish in the coming months, encouraging as many people as possible to join no matter the dancing ability.

“There’s really nothing to be intimidated by,” Turnage said. “If you can walk, you can dance, really.”

Sophomore Jackie Blasini and one of the volunteer students from Ladue practice steps for the salsa at the first meeting of ballroom dancing club on Nov. 12. Both had little to no experience ballroom dancing prior to the first meeting.

SENIOR SKIP DAY OPINONS CLASH

Robert Shifrin and sierra downing Sports Editor and Staff Writer @brightfuturerob and @sierraerra__

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Want to see your club or organization featured in the Corral?

Drop your latest organization news by Room 948 or email pchcorral1@gmail.com

fter a four-day weekend in early Novemember, students returned to a late start C day with 34-minute classes -- most of them anyway.

Opinions stirred on Nov. 4, when seniors were faced with the decision to either skip school and gather together with their peers or go to class like any other normal school day.

Senior John Randall felt strongly about his participation in senior skip day.

“You’ve been in high school for four years,” Randall said. “You deserve a day.”

With the three-day week and the late start C day, teachers were forced to adapt their lessons.

This influenced some seniors to opt out of the chaotic day.

“We talked about it as a class, and we decided it was a good day to skip because there wouldn’t be a lot of makeup work to do with 34-minute classes,” Randall said. “It’s not like a block day where you could actually get behind.”

Due to the skip day occurring during tryout week for winter sports, student athletes were unable to skip class and still be eligible to participate in their sport.

“As seniors, we expect our girls to be role models for the rest of the team,” math teacher and girls JV basketball coach Heather Beal said.

“You can’t be an example if you’re skipping class.”

Some teachers expressed their belief that stu-

Seniors who skipped (47%)

did you come on senior skip day? based on responses on a Facebook poll Seniors who came to school (53%)

dents shouldn’t have chosen to extend the break.

When seniors returned to class on Thursday, these teachers shared that they favored a skip day toward the end of the school year or perhaps no skip day at all.

“When some of my teachers were in high school, the tradition was to skip in May when you’re almost done,” senior and student-athlete Shannon Flynn said. “They thought that it was disrespectful to skip first semester, especially after having four days of break.”

Although most seniors wanted to skip and continue the tradition, others felt the need to attend class and considered the long term effect of skipping.

“It’s a great year to take advantage of AP classes and try to get some college credit,” senior Kara Stark said. “I want to make sure I’m here now so I can have a lighter workload later.”

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features

Assessing the Assessments

standardized tests bring differing opinions

Leaders experience sixth grade camp

DANIEL ROMAN and MIKE CONGER Staff Writers @danielroman1999, @mikeunifish

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lagued by the questions, “How will this help us in the ‘real world?” and “Do my grades even matter?” Students and teachers are equally frustrated by the education system that places more emphasis on memorization and standardized testing over truly teaching students and making the “learning experience” enjoyable and effective.

“To me, grades are an unfortunate part of our school that we feel like we have to have,” science teacher Beth Karfs said. “They’ve become like a gateway to get to the next level.”

According to many students - and even some teachers - school, grades, and standardized tests are simply stepping stones on the path of success. With college acceptance on the line, students have little time to focus on the content of exams. Instead, students worry about the mark they will receive.

Like Karfs, many students are frustrated with the current system that rates their knowledge and so heavily influences their plans after high school. GPA and standardized test scores are key when applying to universities, and the stress to succeed not only at college, but in careers, is extremely overwhelming, according to sophomore Matthew Oppenheim.

“You can learn a lot in a class and get a really bad grade or learn nothing in a class and get a really good grade, but colleges don’t see how much you learn, they only see the letter grade,” Oppenheim said. “It’s frustrating, but that’s how it works.”

The main factor in the hostility that arises towards the school system is the intense memorization for tests and weighting of grades, which could result in a good test grade raising your overall grade by maybe one percent, or a mediocre to bad test grade dropping the overall grade a decent amount.

“The weighted grades are good for when you excel in a certain class because your tests will help boost your grade,” sophomore Charlie Rodgers said. “But on the other hand, if you don’t do well on a few assignments or tests then it puts you in a hole that’s very hard to get out of.”

Since the “No Child Left Behind Act” of 2001, standardized testing has come under scrutiny for a variety of flaws, including the idea of “teaching the test,” which raises test scores in some cases, but not the retention of knowledge.

Nine high schoolers volunteered their time at Camp Lakewood as a counselor for sixth graders.

Top, from left: Daniel Catan, Gabi Martin, Michael Caradine, Robert Shifrin Bottom, from left: Hannah Klepper, Chloe Grant, Melanie Wilmert, Allyson Segall, and Olivia Currington

KAYLA BENJAMIN Features Editor @pchcorral

C With President Barack Obama’s signing of the new “Every Student Succeeds Act” on Dec. 10, this emphasis on test scores is likely to decrease, however, there will still be an emphasis on student learning.

“Learning provides a foundation for a career, learning is the foundation for a lot of career paths,” Dr. Susan King said. “But learning also teaches your to think for yourself, use context, and analyze, so I think it’s vital life skill for whatever you go into.”

However, the problem doesn’t stop at testing and memorization. The goal of school is to prepare students for the real world and real-world situations, but the influence of social media and messaging instead of talking has had an impact on how society functions and communicates with each other now, making the preparation for the real world that much harder.

“There is actually a report by CEOs that said the No. 1 thing missing from their employees was not the intelligence, not the degree, but the ability to communicate with each other,” math teacher Heather Beal said. “I’d say communication is the number one thing we need to work on because nobody talks anymore. You all text through your phone, you tweet and don’t use real English; you don’t call someone and ask them through the phone.

“Colleges don’t see how much you learn; they only see the letter grade.”

-- sophomore Matthew Oppenheim

You’re not used to answering the phone when it’s not for you. So, we need to practice communication skills.”

The practicing of communication also ties into the learning experience of many subject areas, but as Beal says, if students are not communicating effectively, that will transcend into the workplace, creating issues in our society.

“So, in math, the problems that you hate are the ones where we make you explain the answers you get; but that’s the whole point of doing a problem: to know what your results mean,” Beal said. “When you go to the real world and you’re doing a presentation and you have all these statistics and you don’t know what they mean or why you’re the best person for the job, then there’s no point of having that data, so you have to explain your answers.”

Standardized tests, while irritating, do have an important function in how our school works, but that may be the flaw.

“In general I think that the government and the state to get any funding has put so much emphasis on testing, that we have to make you memorize stuff so you can pass those tests,” Beal said. “Do I think that’s the most important stuff that you need to know to be successful past high school? No, but in order to keep our school up and running and have a place for you to come to school, we have to.”

The stress of school is an issue long debated, and will continue to be debated for a good amount of time. Opinions will form freely about how it must be run and what the negatives of the system are.

ounselors that went along to sixth grade camp this year enjoyed a new experience in leadership and responsibility as they worked with groups of young students at Camp Lakewood.

“Sixth grade camp was really fun because I’ve never gotten to be in a responsibility role before,” junior Hannah Klepper said.

The programs throughout the four-day trip were made up of activities that the participants might not get to do in typical day to day life.

Much of it was geared towards learning how to adapt in the wilderness.

“We did a survival night where the kids learned how to survive if they got lost; they made their own shelter and fire,” Klepper said. “They learned how to use a compass, too. There was just a lot of skills that you would use while you were actually camping.”

But it wasn’t all so serious. Horseback riding, campfires, and zip-lining were also on the trip’s agenda.

“We also did a lot of really fun stuff,” junior Chloe Grant said. “We did a water unit, and all the kids really enjoyed that.”

The counselors were sometimes able to participate in the activities alongside the sixth graders, but they also needed to take on leadership roles during these programs.

“I was a little bit more of an authority figure, but I respected [the sixth graders],” said Klepper. “I got to learn about how to be a good, kind leader.”

This could be a real challenge for some, especially because each cabin of kids presented a distinctly different experience for its high school counselor. “[My cabin] had problems listening to me,” junior Melanie Wilmert said. “Even if I had a cabin that was kind of troublemaking, I still loved meeting the girls and interacting with them.”

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sports

FRISBEE TEAM STARTS THANKSGIVING TRADITION Robert Shifrin Sports Editor @brightfuturerob

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he ultimate frisbee team was reunited this Thanksgiving, coming together to play a scrimmage game between last years graduated seniors, and the returning team members.

“I was really excited to play against the guys and be together again,” senior Doug Ryterski said. “It felt like a family reunion.”

Having bonded over the course of the 2015 season, many of last years players expressed their appreciation for the Thanksgiving day game.

“When I saw all of these people again that I formed relationships with, it was such a good time and it made the holiday that much more important to me,” sophomore Emily Cooper said.

The graduated players brought a lot of athleticism, presenting a challenge for returning players and newcomers. ”They totally kicked our butts,” Cooper said. ”It was very competitive. But it was a fun atmosphere, a fun type of competitive.”

Not only was the Thanksgiving game a cherished reunion of past teammates, but also a preview into the upcoming season, which head coach and science teacher Mr. Gunasingham feels very positive about.

“I’m excited because they all seem really enthusiastic to grow, and I think they realize the loss that we had with our skilled players graduating but I think that’s just made them even more hungry to get better,” Gunasingham said.

Gunasingham viewed the game as a representation of what the ultimate frisbee team is all about.

“It was just a reminder that it’s a great program because it gives those athletes a chance to exhibit that, and it’s also a really great group of guys,” Gunasingham said.

Ryterski is hopeful going into the new season.

“We’re starting early and getting new people into the game, refreshed and ready to go,” Ryterski said.

The positive attitude and desire to improve shared by this years team gives Gunasingham hope for the future of the program.

“I’m excited because I feel like we’ll have a program of serious athletes for the next coming years, and then we can just build on that continuously,” Gunasingham said.

Senior Doug Ryterski fully extends as he lunges for the frisbee at the Thanksgiving Day game.

Photos by Tara Stepanek.

Winding up to launch a frisbee, Jonathan Gunasingham aims downfield to his receiver over the head of alumnus Jonathan Samuels. “I’m excited because I feel like we’ll have a program of serious athletes for the next coming years, and then we can just build on that continuously,” Gunasingham said.

Current and former ultimate frisbee players rejoice following the Thanksgiving Day game.

UNDERCLASSMEN GET FEET WET IN WINTER ATHLETICS Robert Shifrin Sports Editor @brightfuturerob

John Kim (10) I really enjoy interacting with my teammates,” Kim said. “We always support each other.”

Role Model: All of our upperclassmen “I admire how they work hard and never give up.”

Olivia Stephens (9) “I usually bring up the ball and make sure we execute our plays,” Stephens said.

Role Model: Shannon Flynn (12) “She’s really put together on the court.”

Kenneth Fischer (9) “By the end of the season I’d like to become a leader,” Fischer said.

Role Model: Stanford Coleman (12) “I like how hard he works during practices and games and I think he’s a pretty good player.”

Marissa Brady (10) “I was hesitant at the beginning of the season because I had never done it before,” Brady said. “I found that everyone is really nice and hardworking.”

Role Model: Shelby Ripp (10) and Kate McNeal (12) “They work really hard and they’re very nice people with positive attitudes.”

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powder puff participants prep for event Sarah Whalen Staff Writer @skatherine123

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atching the junior girls go against the senior girls in flag football on Nov. 23 has become a tradition, but many of the spectators don’t know the planning and practicing that occurs before the ladies take the field.

“First we warm up, stretch, do jumping jacks, and then we split up into different positions,” junior quarterback Morgan Brody said. “We have a different coach for each position, and then we put it together and run plays.”

Both Brody and senior Emily McCann had to learn the plays as quarterbacks for their respective teams.

“I honestly feel fine because once I throw the ball, my job is done I just stand there,” McCann said. “So I let the defenders do what they’ve got to do, and then I’m just throwing the ball and getting out of the way.”

Brody didn’t have such a laid-back attitude about her position.

“Because the quarterback has to make decisions based on what they think is right, and it’s scary if you make the wrong decision,” Brody said.

Planning Powder Puff takes a lot of work and is a huge time commitment.

“I’m on Student Council, and a lot of planning and

hard work goes into Powder Puff,” senior wide receiver and safety Katie Heitz said.

Heitz noted that the time commitment before the big game ensures that the event goes smoothly.

“You have to go to at least two of the four possible practices to be eligible to play, but it’s worth it in the long run.”

One of the reasons is to ensure that participants who haven’t played football before.

“My brothers played and I’ve cheered for it for the past four years, but I still don’t know a lot about it,” Heitz said.

On the sidelines, the student coaches and cheerleaders learn that their role is simply to support their counterparts on the field.

“Usually Ethan Guller yells and gets everybody excited because he’s the class president, so he’s good at that,” junior coach Michael Caradine said.

The girls said the excitement they felt playing on the field under the lights was the incentive to keep up this yearly tradition.

“I think it’s a fun way to organize all these girls that play a bunch of different sports,” McCann said. “It’s all inclusive and it’s fun because the guys are cheering for us.”

Junior Hannah Gaehle makes an open run for the end zone at the Powder Puff Game on Monday, Nov. 23. Photo by Anthony Zuanich.

Fantasy teams gain popularity among students Sammy Weber Staff Writer @webers8817

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ost students have some sort of hobby that they do to get their mind off of things: reading, playing music, playing games, etc. But some sport-loving students at school have found online fantasy sports as way to kill time and give them something to do. Even a small group of friends can make a fantasy league and compete against each other weekly.

“Some friends told me that they were making a league and it was $5 to buy in, so I thought it was worth a shot,” senior Spencer Nathan said.

Nathan has had a fantasy sports team for the past couple of years and considers himself an avid fantasy sports player.

“For this year, my record is 7 and 3, so I would say I’m pretty good,” Nathan said.

The teams are made at the beginning of the season by doing a traditional draft style of picking players. An individual player gets points during his weekly game and the points from each player are added up to a team score. Nathan isn’t the only student at school who would consider themselves a good fantasy sports player.

“My fantasy team is currently 7 and 3, which is a playoff bound record,” sophomore Matt Oppenheim said.

Most people watch all of the NFL games so it is be easier to track the players on their teams. Though sometimes you don’t have to watch all of the NFL football games, for some it’s just the luck of the draw to have a good online fantasy team.

“I really don’t have enough time to watch all the games so I just check my fantasy application once in awhile to see how my team is doing,” said Oppenheim.

Contrary to Oppenheim, Nathan likes to get an in-depth look on how his players are doing in the real game.

“Watching the games helps because it gives you a better knowledge of your players and other players in the league,” Nathan said.

Going to the application to check your team, a necessity to ensure your team is up to date, has been worked into students everyday schedule.

“I spend about 10 to 15 minutes of my day checking my team,” Nathan said.

Nathan and Oppenheim explain if they think it is hard to have good team when you don’t follow the sport.

“It takes a lot of research sometimes,” Nathan said. “You have to scout out many players in the league to know who you want.”

Unlike Nathan, Oppenheim is more laid back in his fantasy team and he just let the players and the application do the work for him.

“It’s not that hard to have a good team,” Oppenheim said. “I’m familiar with most of the good players in the league and the fantasy application keeps you updated on what’s going on with your team and how good your players are supposed to do.”

To keep them busy and to get more competitive, students might have more than one fantasy team, but according to some, it doesn’t match up to fantasy football.

“I have done fantasy baseball and basketball before but they’re not as fun as football,” Nathan said.

Like Nathan, Oppenheim has made other fantasy teams in different sports but he keeps his main focus on football.

“I have my fantasy football team and I also have a fantasy hockey team but I don’t really follow it that much,” Oppenheim said.

“I made it for fun and I actually only check it about once every 3 weeks.”

Unlike avid players such as Nathan and Oppenheim, some students have joined in on the fantasy sports action just for fun.

“My friends said they were doing it for fun, so I decided to join in,” sophomore Edye Hansen said.

As a beginning player, Hansen has not really gotten competitive with her fantasy team and league. She does not really spend time checking her team and watching the games as much as others.

“I only check my team about 10 minutes of the week,” Hansen

said. “I also do not watch a lot of the football games.”

For the kids who are in leagues with their friends, they could either make a money prize for the winner of the league or there could be no prize at all. But to make a team for the whole NFL season you really have to be determined. All in all making a fantasy team is just for fun even if you don’t win it all.

“It depends if you put money in your league, but in my leagues you don’t get anything but pride,” Nathan said.

12 corral Dec. 17 2015 pch

cover story

service benefits st KATE MCNEAL Editor-in-Chief @kateisgreat11

9,000

pounds of potatoes.

That’s what senior Rachel Givens, and other members of Se packaged for people in need when they worked at a local food b Senior Simran Panwar, Vice President of Ferguson Youth Tutoring, taught a girl the back to find that the girl had forgotten everything she had learned before.

Students participate in service organizations as a way to make a change in the comm themselves impacted as well.

roots:

Participating in service inside and outside of school, volunteers are exposed to a num lead.

Senior Josh Yang, the “pioneer” of Ferguson Youth Tutoring, created the organizatio tragic events in Ferguson transpired.

“I was looking at the current political and socioeconomic conflicts in the local comm that the best initiative I could take would be to start up the program,” Yang said.

The organization has expanded to include students from Parkway North and West, a fraternity at Washington University. They tutor at the Ferguson Municipal Library thre from the area can come in to get help.

“We have kids that are completely financially secure and are just coming in for extra war said, “and we have people from a homeless shelter or seniors who need help to lear can do their own taxes.”

Project Help, whose mission is “to provide support and outreach to the disadvantage national, and international communities,” recently finished Patriot. The program collected items to benefit veterans, an of Project Help’s executive board members, including junio According to Dotzel, members of the executive board m nize events once a week.

“In January, we’ll have the Cinderella project, which is Foster and Adopted Fare Fellowship,” Dotzel said.

Similar to Project Help, Senior Women and Senior Men specific to Central, like working the concessions at basketba freshmen at orientation, along with donating their time in “On Thanksgiving we served food to the homeless down of work at the St. Louis local area food bank,” Givens, a stud Women, said.

According to Givens, adding a service aspect to the prog purpose.

“It makes the organization more legitimate, and gives m to see some of the problems that are going on in the commu directly help them,” Givens said.

“I was looking at the current political and socioeconomic conflicts in the local communities and decided the best initiative I could take would be to start up the program. ” -- senior Josh Yang, creator of Ferguson Youth Tutoring the impact: ty.

helping

Because of these organizations, members have been able to see their ability to direct

This direct influence can be seen even on the smallest of scales.

“My favorite part is watching the kids grow and learn,” Yang said.

Tutors help this process along by forming one-on-one bonds with the students with helping them to overcome obstacles.

“You have to figure out creative ways to help (the students) understand things,” Pan which they learn things are different, so you have to get adjusted to each student.”

Beyond each separate person, there is a change that occurs simply by bringing peopl learning environment.

“I like the fact that a lot of people from different backgrounds come in for tutoring t feel like we’re actually making a difference.”

hands

corral 13 Dec. 17, 2015

pch

cover story

students as much as recipients

enior Women and Men, bank. e alphabet, only to come

munity, and have found

mber of opportunities to

on last fall after the

munities and decided

along with a group from a ee times a week, and kids

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ed and needy in the local, d their program, Project nd was organized by two or Myra Dotzel. meet to discuss and orgaa prom dress drive for the

n volunteer at events all games and helping community based service. ntown, and we do a lot dent organizer of Senior

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le together in a calm

there,” Panwar said. “I

“I like the fact that a lot of people from different backgrounds come in for tutoring here. I feel like we’re actually making a difference.”

-- senior Simran Panwar Vice President of Ferguson Youth Tutoring

While members of Ferguson Youth Tutoring see a more gradual impact, Givens said that Senior Women spent just three hours packaging the 9,000 potatoes.

“It was really cool to see how much our organization could do for the community in such a short amount of time,” Givens said. “By donating our time, we’re able to help people who might not get the service they need.”

The fact that busy high school students are willing to give up their time to help the community is exciting for Panwar, as she sees many people who are eager to help with Ferguson Youth Tutoring.

“I love the fact that everyone wants to do it, regardless of if they do it every single week,” Panwar said.

Dotzel also said that one of the reasons she enjoys participating in Project Patriot is being enabled to make a change.

“It helps me make the lives of others better,” Dotzel said.

back to the students:

Along with benefiting others, volunteers feel as if the work they do is an asset to them as well.

Givens, along with senior Kristen Stolte, works to remind members about service hour events, and after events they report the hours. Her role also involves reaching out to businesses and organizations that need volunteers. More than anything, Givens believes her time management and organization skills have improved as a result of leading.

“Senior women has 86 members and there are a lot of service events,” Givens said. “It’s important to stay on top of communication, and I’ve learned how to be more responsible and proactive in making sure all the information reaches the group.”

Dotzel also finds that volunteering extends her personal knowledge.

“It helps me gain insight into what’s happening in my community,” Dotzel said.

Although she is teaching others, Panwar also believes that tutoring has taught her.

“I learned that if you give them an incentive the students will actually do their homework, and if you create flashcards, that’s an easier way for them to study than just a sheet of problems,” Panwar said. “I feel like that’s really good, to work things out in that way and try to figure out things from someone else’s perspective, how it would be best for them to learn things.”

Contributed reporting by JP Byrne, Piper Rother, and Robert Shifrin.

14 corral Dec. 17, 2015 pch

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corral even if they can’t vote yet, Students Managing Editor Jeffrey Eidelman Features Editor Kayla Benjamin Sports Editor Robert Shifrin Entertainment Editor Piper Rother Social Media Manager Alex Lanson Staff Writers Libby Archer JP Byrne Mike Conger Sierra Downing Alex Kaiser Garrett Lierman Daniel Roman Sammy Weber Noah Weidner Sarah Whalen Graphic Designer Dean Randolph Business Manager Mac Rogers Adviser Ms. Tara Stepanek

The Corral is a student-written, edited and produced publication of Parkway Central High School, 369 N. Woods Mill Road, Chesterfield, MO 63017; 314-415-7978.

The Corral is given away free of charge to students and faculty. Subscriptions and patronships for one year may be purchased, starting at $20.

The goal of this publication is to provide accurate, informative and entertaining information in the true spirit of responsible journalism and to operate as an open forum for students, faculty, administrators and parents.

The Corral is created on Hewlett-Packard computers using Adobe Creative Suite 6 and is published by Missourian Publishing.

Unsigned editorials reflect the views of the majority of the staff. Signed columns and artwork reflect the views of that individual.

The staff appreciates comments and suggestions. Letters to the editor, guest editorials and other correspondence are encouraged but must be signed. The Corral reserves the right to publish or refrain from publishing, as well as edit, all submitted material.

should be politically aware

STAFF EDITORIAL @pchcorral

D

id you know that: - The Republican party proposes that mental health reform is the way to go to prevent shootings?

- All US military combat positions have just been opened to women, whereas previously there were some that were still off-limits?

- China recently got rid of their law that said people can only have one child?

- Just this past week, nearly 200 nations met in Paris to discuss climate change and what the world needs to do about it?

T

hese are the kind of things we should know. Even as high schoolers, a basic knowledge of current events is essential to our understanding of the world around us. With easy access to cell phones and the internet, we are all part of a connected global community; we cannot afford to stay blissfully unaware of all that goes on outside of St. Louis, Mo. But our school does not do enough to encourage global consciousness.

We have only one class which actively takes a role in informing us about the world’s current affairs: Comparative Politics, and it’s a) only one semester long, and b) only for students willing to take on the work of an AP class.

This is unacceptable. Even if you’re not a straight-A student or you do too many extracurriculars to take another especially difficult class, it’s still important to know about the world outside of the USA. But even within our own country, many high school students are not upto-date on some important issues.

Pop quiz: How many 2016 presidential candidates can you name? There are 17 -- just from the Republican and Democratic parties. Even if we’re not voting yet, basic awareness of what’s going on is important so that we can have mature conversations involving informed opinions.

Politics is always a difficult discussion, whether it be with family, friends or strangers. Many people do not agree -- even within their own households -- how the government should legislate public education or what role the United States has in keeping peace overseas. Not many people enjoy getting in fights and therefore don’t often talk politics. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be aware.

Politicians run this country. Although we trust them, what if citizens forget to care and instead let politicians do what they individually think is best for the country without our oversight? How will the United States continue as a democracy? And if we don’t start paying attention now, we have no guarantee that we will remember to do so as voting adults.

It isn’t hard to keep up with the news, either. With the internet, the happenings of the whole globe are at our fingertips, if we take just a few minutes to look. There are even services, such as theSkimm, which will condense daily, weekly or monthly news into a short, easy-to-read blurb so that you don’t have to sift through endless news sites. Countless news digest apps will give you access to the top headlines of the world with one finger-push.

Continue to seek out ways to learn about the world around you. When driving to school by yourself or with a parent, put NPR on the radio instead of hearing the same five songs every day. Whether you’re half asleep, or an engaged listener, you’d be surprised what you might pick up.

Political Pop-Quiz!

1. Who is the Vice President of the United States?

2. Name five of the Republican presidential candidates.

3. Which Republican presidential nomineee is leading the Iowa caucus according to the polls?

4. Which Democratic presidential nominee, according to polls, is in the lead in New Hampshire?

5. What was the main message from President Barack Obama’s speech given from the Oval Office on Dec. 6?

6. What rebel group does the United States support in Syria?

7. Who was named TIME magazine’s Woman of the Year for 2015?

8. Which country is having territorial disputes with Russia during its civil war?

1. Joe Biden; 2. 14 to choose from; 3. Ted Cruz; 4. Bernie Sanders; 5. reaffirm the government’s efforts to avert terrorism and keep the country safe; 6. Kurds; 7. Angela Merkel, chancellor of Germany; 8. Ukraine

Editor-in-Chief Kate McNeal

We want to hear from you!

Tweet at us @pchcorral

corral 15 Dec. 17, 2015

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fantasy sports provide unique outlet for fans

JEFFREY EIDELMAN Managing Editor @jeffey44

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antasy sports. You either love ‘em, or hate ‘em. There’s not much in between when it comes to fantasy football. Whether it be daily fantasy sports such as Fanduel, or a generic fantasy team from ESPN and YAHOO!, a rift is gradually growing larger on the basis of the value in fantasy sports.

Fantasy sports consists of sports, money (betting), and lack of commitment - everything guys know and love. Most leagues, whether it be on or off the book, have some sort of wager.

Although some may dismiss fantasy sports as fantasy, there exists a redeeming value in that. Fantasy sports offers an unique outlet to the average Joe who goes through the motions of life: Wake up, go to school/ work, return home in evening, work a little more, make dinner, relax, go to sleep, repeat.

By no means should fantasy sports take up more than ten minutes of a day. It is always fun to choose players from different teams and place them on your own fantasy lineup. Personally, I’m in two fantasy football leagues and I now watch as many games as I possibly can. This is generally common practice around fantasy sports players, which exemplifies capitalism at its finest.

However, I see no problem in partaking in this. While there are entry fees for some leagues, many are free. Fantasy is a genius cre-

ation; you draft a team, you check your lineup which has ads on the page, and then you watch the games, which obviously has ads. The reason I specify that it has ads is that Fantasy is an important aspect of the NFL, MLB, NHL, and NBA. The amount of money involved in fantasy sports is limitless.

The things that Fanduel, Draftkings, ESPN, YAHOO!, Nfl.com, and even more websites have done is impeccable. They have been able to attract more and more people to this seemingly massive market. Props to these places for attracting this many people. According to a study, in Week 3 of the NFL there was a fantasy football ad playing every 17 seconds which shows how big the market currently is.

Fantasy sports, as mentioned earlier, provide an outlet. It allows discussions at lunch and at home to go beyond what you got on your math test, or how much you hate taking notes in english class.

Sports in general are unique. I don’t believe there is anything more unifying in a country than sports. Look at soccer in Spain, England, or any South American country. Look at football or baseball right here in America. People, weekly, monthly or yearly, have watch parties to enjoy sports with their friends. To add a layer, you have the capability to have your own team and cheer on specific players as they play for their specific teams. Ultimately, fantasy sports is an overall positive in America.

Focus time on more meaningful activities KATE MCNEAL Editor-in-Chief @kateisgreat11

S

...SHE SAID

HE SAID...

opinions

ports: a contest or game in which people do certain physical activities according to a specific set of rules and compete against each other (Merriam Webster).

Fantasy sports: an overrated way for fans to make imaginary teams following guidelines and rules that apply to combinations of players that would never actually compete against each other.

When someone starts talking about Tom Brady or Patrick Kane‘s plays at the game last night, images of grassy fields and cold rinks should come to mind, not phone screens of statistics. Watching sports should involve yelling at the TV out of frustration about your favorite team losing or the star player getting injured, with the motivation being enjoyment of the sport.

Worrying about losing standing in an imaginary bracket is a waste of time, but the possible loss of money presents an even greater problem. Someone has to lose in every bracket, and that means someone has lost money on an imaginary team. In order to increase odds of winning, spending more time is necessary, which can become excessive. Fantasy sports provide a strategic and glorified form of gambling, which can lead to addiction and bigger problems than just losing money on a bet.

Fantasy sports do provide a unique opportunity for fans to become more involved with their favorite players, but being stuck behind a screen tracking those players is a lot less cool than enjoying watching the players play just to watch them play. Athletes deserve recognition for their hard work and talent, and fantasy sports take the focus away from those skills and make it about objective numbers and scores.

Change lunch conversations from your fantasy team to an actual team: our school has 22 sports, and they all deserve more recognition than “#1 Swag Fantasy Team.”

16 corral Dec. 17, 2015 pch

opinions

In defense of the seven (parking) sacraments Alex Lanson Social Media Manager @wutangclanson

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ear Parents of Parkway Central, As high school students and parents of high school students, we must all find a way for our transportation to and from school to function correctly. This often is a struggle in a slow parking lot with one entrance and exit. Although we may not see eye to eye, we must coexist in order for all of us to be on time to our respective places. The following are the laws of the lot designed to make the parking experience fair and more efficient for all of us:

1.You have your lane, we have our lane, keep it that way.

When pulling into school every day, there are two lanes separated by a median. The right lane leads straight to an exit while the left one leads to the parking lot, then the exit. The right one is designed for everyone dropping off their kids while the left one is designed for students to pull into the parking lot. But many of you pull into the student lane, stop, and wait for your children to nonchalantly grab their bags and get out, holding up our lane in the process. As a general rule of thumb, if you are dropping someone off, you should probably use the drop-off lane. I know it may be hard for you to comprehend, but there are other people in the world besides you, and when you do this it slows all of us down, along with it having the potential to be dangerous. We understand that our lane moves faster, but when parents constantly let their kids off, it ends up just making both lanes slow. For now on, use the lane that is designed for you and we will use the lane designed for us.

2.You are not more important than buses.

After school every day, the morning student lane turns into the parent lane and the parent lane turns into the bus lane. However, some of you decide to bypass the parent lane and go into the bus lane in

order to get out quicker. While this may surprise you, your one or two glorious gifts to the world are not more important than a bus full of children. Also, if you think that your cute little minivan can go up against a bus, you’re in for a rude awakening.

3. Teachers may actually have to get out of the teachers lot.

Instead of waiting in the bus line or, god forbid, the parents line like you are supposed to do, many of you decide to pull in the teacher’s lot and wait for your kids after school. This would be fine if teachers could actually exit the lot designated for them, but unfortunately, they cannot because you’re blocking the exit. Also, do not wait on the road that connects the middle and high school and further clog up traffic of students and teachers leaving school. Though it might surprise you, a No Parking sign does not mean, “I’m going to wait here 10 minutes until my child gets out of school.” It actually means no parking.

4. Stopping for the pedestrian is kind of important.

Every day, students park their cars with relative ease then take the dangerous journey across the parent lane toward the building.

Many times you all are in such a rush that you ignore the law and speed through the crosswalk while making us come to a halt. Let’s not try to replace the hood ornament on your car with a high school student. It might be a difficult concept to not try to set speed records while escaping the parking lot, but I feel like you’re perfectly capable of understanding it: you can stop for students, or you can hit someone. You’re going to be the one paying the medical bills, not us.

5. Double Parking on a two lane road side doesn’t make for good results.

When trying to leave school, some of you decide it is a smart idea to park in both lanes while waiting for your

Why I love the new Google Cardboard

KAYLA BENJAMIN Features Editor

T

here’s a new piece of tech coming out. Okay, in our digital world, it seems like there’s a new digital doodad every other week. But this one… It’s amazing. Bordering on magical.

Everyone should know about it.

It also happens to be a cardboard box. A cardboard box with lenses. And, combined with a free app, this box transports you to a place where you can experience things that you would never encounter outside of it.

It’s called the Google Cardboard; it’s a virtual reality simulator.

You put the small box over your eyes (it’s got a little cut out for your nose), and stick your phone into a slot in the front, lining it up with the little plastic lenses inside; add a pair of headphones, and you’re ready for something incredible. Using 360 degree video, it makes you feel like you are really and truly in the car listening to a conversation, or on the field watching an airdrop in South Sudan.

But where could you find these interesting videos filmed with a 360 degree camera?

There’s an app for that! It’s called NYT VR (stands for New York Times Virtual Reality), and the whole app is devoted to a series of videos made specifically for virtual reality adventures.

Google partnered with the New York Times to distribute the Cardboard, as well as produce the app. Anyone with a print subscription to the NYT should have gotten a Cardboard for free with their newspaper delivery on Sunday, November 8th.

Additionally, there is an Android camera app that allows you to take pictures designed specifically for the Google Cardboard. These pictures are taken in 3-D, and you can even add sound--so when you look at the picture with the Cardboard, it seems to transport you right back into that moment.

precious children. If you park in the left lane AND the right lane, then it is difficult to get out. Imagine you are one of the cars behind you and your kid came out early. You still have to wait in line until the child of the parent in front of you comes out. Does it really make sense to make you wait all that time? Of course not. So how about you wait for your child in one lane and pull out to leave in the other instead of making it an inefficient free-for-all.

6. If you get to school at 2:00 p.m., it’s time to find a hobby.

Although it is great that some of you care about your children more than anything else, there comes a point where it is crossing the line -- like waiting 30 minutes for your children to get out of school. Instead of waiting in your car, you can be doing more productive things in those 30 minutes. I hear scrapbooking is a fun hobby, and you can show your love for your children by spending time on a keepsake for them instead. Other things that would be more rewarding than sitting in your car include collecting stamps, knitting and watching paint dry.

7.You are not the only one in a rush.

Sometimes you have to wait your turn like everyone else.

Most of the problems stated are caused by inconsiderate parents rushing to work and home. What very few of you realize is that students are in just as much of a rush. As a student who refuses to get to school before 7:30 a.m., I tend to be in a rush to get to where I am going. Despite this, I never try to cut the line or do some…questionable things in order to gain a minute or two. If you really need to get to work on time in the mornings, I have a crazy idea for you: how about you leave home earlier? And if your child doesn’t like that, Parkway does provide a transportation service.

Sincerely, A Concerned Student

The device is about 3 dollars to buy online. And when you use it, it truly feels like you are on the scene of the video. If the movie is set on an open field, you can see the green grass and blue sky by looking up or down--just as if you were really there. When you turn your head, the scene moves with you, so you can look around the room. The experience is startling and exhilarating.

But even beyond just being really cool, the Google Cardboard also represents an important new development in the world of media. Virtual reality in this form--cheap, accessible, portable--could possibly be the next new thing when it comes to dissemination of news.

And it has the potential to inspire so much compassion. Humanity faces an issue in that we feel estranged from people across the world; it is often difficult to truly engage with and feel empathy for far-off places the way we do within our own communities. But with virtual reality, it is so easy to feel connected through news; so easy to remember that all the people of the world are truly human beings who need and deserve our humanity.

And that’s why I love the new Google Cardboard. I hope you get a chance to try it soon--it might just be the next big thing.

corral 17 Dec. 17, 2015

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entertainment 

with the FLOW 





W

Abominable Snowman Invasion EDITION

ith the education of students in the new 4E's response system to intrusion threats on campus, we bring you a fantastical version of events. This is not intended to make light of the new response system or any potential threat to student safety. It is simply to keep the 4E's in mind and enjoy a distraction from studying for finals.

JP Byrne Staff Writer @byrne_in_rubber

You make it to one of the predetermined checkpoints safely.

Alive

You call 911, and they have dispatched two officers to go to the school. You’re safe.

Multiple officers are Scissors dispatched to your location.

You are safe for the time being. A computer monitor However, the threat is still outside your door. You find an object to defend yourself with.

You pick up...

A paper clip

Open the door

With the door blocked, you feel that you now need a plan. You...

Panic

Knowing there is a threat outside the door, you...

Really?

After fearing the unknown and overthinking the situation, you drive yourself insane.

As you attack the figure, it grabs you and rips your arms off. R.I.P.

The white, furry figure breaks through the door's defenses. It looks like the...

Abominable Snowman? With a swift swing of his fist...well, I guess it likes human jelly.

Yes

Dead

No

Screaming like a little kid at a horror movie, you attract the attention of the figure, who turns and gives you a heart attack.

Stay where you are and wait

You stay where you are, and you get your head ripped off by the Abominable Snowman.

Stand behind a friend

Pass out

Freeze

You fall to the ground unconscious and are feasted on by the Abominable Snowman.

The person in front of you, like a normal human being not wanting to die, moves out of the way. The Abombinable snowman lunges toward you. Lunch is on you!

Scream

With the world around you spinning out of control, you...

Lock yourself in a tiny closet

Go back into the room You see a white, furry figure but he doesn't see Engage the unknown figure you. You...

With no plan, you don't know what to do when the figure breaks through the door. It appears to be the Abominable Snowman.

It picks you up and throws you into the wall. T.K.O.

The figure breaks through the door. It’s the Abominable Snowman! You take the monitor and hit the creature over the head.

Call 911

The Abominable Snowman breaks through the door. Because you did not respond to the threat, you are mauled.

While sitting in class,you hear a scream coming from nearby. You...

Knock over a nearby bookshelf to block the door

Ha! Thinking ahead?

What's that?

Start Here

Call 911

Retweet it

The Abominable Snowman breaks through the door. Because you did not respond to the threat, you are mauled.

Go on social media to educate yourself on the situation

You scan Twitter Escape the school see a Tweet that an Abomidable Snowman Favorite it is in a nearby hallway.

You...

You take the scissors and...well, you make it out alive. The Abominable Snowman does not.

18 corral Dec. 17, 2015 pch

entertainment Kim Cheese ribeye tacos

Ratings:

Food: Kim Cheese:

4.5

Seoul Taco:

4

Atmosphere:

Alex’s Appetite - Battle Edition

Kim Cheese:

2.5

Seoul Taco:

4

Overall: Kim Cheese: Seoul Taco:

3.5 4

Eateries compete in taste, vibe in Korean-style taco war Alex Lanson Social Media Manager @wutangclanson

I

n this special edition of Alex’s appetite I reviewed two restaurants with similar menu items: Kim Cheese and Seoul Taco. After eating and reviewing both, I compared them and made a decision of the ultimate Korean-style taco and dining experience.

K

im Cheese provides regular American cuisine with its own Korean twist. Their menu includes burgers, sandwiches, and tacos -- which I got. It provides Korean influence by using ribeye steak with a Korean marinade instead of traditional ground beef.

The ribeye steak had great flavor and complemented the sweet marinade. Melted shredded cheese on top went surprisingly well with the flavored steak.

The rest of the taco included beans, onions, tomatoes and corn. To top it off, it comes with salsa and a slice of lime on the side which, when squeezed on to the taco, adds a subtle taste that, combined with the many other flavors, creates the ultimate taco.

However, I do not suggest adding the salsa, as it not very fresh and has a bitter taste that competes with rather than complementing Kim Cheese ribeye tacos

the other flavors. Overall, the ribeye steak tacos are a marvelous mixture of traditional American cuisine and Korean flavor, which clearly can compete with any taco in St. Louis.

Less than a mile away from Central, Kim Cheese is a convenient lunch or dinner spot. The well-lit restaurant is relatively small, with few places to sit. Although slightly understaffed, the employees were very friendly, along with helpful in making order choices, and the food was made quickly and correctly. What they were not attentive to, however, was the ice in the soft drink dispenser, and I was forced to drink my water without it.

While soft music playing added white noise to the quiet, empty restaurant, the unfinished wooden tables and benches were slightly uncomfortable and took away from the positive dining experience.

Along with this, most booths, including the one I sat in, are next to a busy window with an unobstructed view of often-busy Olive Boulevard. If you went through the drive through or took it home you wouldn’t be missing much in the Kim Cheese experience.

S

eoul Taco, like Kim Cheese, provides Mexican cuisine with obvious Korean influences. In order to compare the restaurants accurately, I got beef tacos again. Seoul Taco also provided ribeye steak but did not have top-quality meat, and the flavor was not as good. The marinade was slightly sweet with a very spicy kick, adding a new dimension to the taco. Yet, the spiciness was sometimes overpowering and made it harder to enjoy the rest of ingredients in the taco: a Korean salad and a special Seoul Sauce.

While the salad did not add much in the way of flavor, the leafiness of the lettuce added an interesting texture, while also making the taco lighter. The Seoul Sauce was a savory, salty dressing on top that mixed well with the spiciness of the beef when it was not being overpowered. Although all of the ingredients did not harmonize perfectly, the flavors of the different sauces and marinades gave it an exotic taste.

In the Delmar Loop, Seoul Taco is located in a vibrant, urban area 25 minutes from Central. It is technologically advanced with video screens as menus and the newest Coke machines. Despite the advances, it was clearly the cooking was slightly unorganized.

The large bustling space was shared with another restaurant but

there were more than enough tables for all the customers -- college students and locals. The background music could barely be heard over the conversations of the other tables. The room was dimly lit but accented with color-changing LED lights wrapped around the ceiling and decorated with interesting pieces of pop art scattered around the restaurant. While the food was great, the restaurant was an experience itself that was worth the drive.

A

lthough it was a close battle, Seoul Taco inched out Kim Cheese overall because of the experience. The Kim Cheese tacos were great, and actually had slightly better flavors than those at Seoul Taco. Overall though, the Seoul Taco dining experience was much more fun than Kim Cheese, earning it the Seoul Taco steak tacos victory.

corral 19 Dec. 17, 2015

pch

entertainment Aloha Orchid Candle

Twenty One Pilots Cassete Tape

For Mom

$30.95 www.capribluecandles.com The Capri Bule Aloha Orchid Candle has a classic citrusy, tropical scent that every mom will love. Not only does it smell amazing, it also will last forever since it is 21.5 ounces.

$9.98 www.UO.com If your dad is as stuck in the past as mine he will really enjoy this Twenty-One Pilots “Blurryface” cassette! A perfect way to introduce him to the music you enjoy in a format he understands!

Stress Relieving Coloring Book $9.95 www.urbanoutfitters.com The Mindfulness Coloring Book is a fitting gift for the stressedout mom, designed to relieve stress and entertain your mom for hours. It’s a cheaper option that will show your mom you understand the stress you put on her and that you appreciate all she does.

Tile Keychain

Fill In the Blank I Love Dad Book

For Dad

$8.70 www.amazon.com This Cute “What I Love About Dad: Fill In The Blank” book will make your dad’s heart warm. It leaves room for inside jokes and is great for funny dads.

$25 www.Tile.com Tile is a small keychain that connects to your phone through the iPhone and Android app. With the app, you can make your Tile produce a high-pitch sound to locate your keys. When you have lost your keys outside of your phone’s Bluetooth range, you can mark it as lost, and anyone with the Tile app you be searching your your keys’ location.

Holiday Gift Guide ANTHONY ZUANICH Staff Writter @anthonyzuanich

For Your Sibling

Apple Lighting Cable $25 www.apple.com Does your sibling steal your charger on a regulare basis? If so, this will be the perfect gift to show them your love but also that you hate it when they touch your stuff.

Happy Book $9.99 www.urbanoutfitters.com This book “Live Life Sunny Side Up” is a cheap fun book to get for a sibling of any age, filled with cute remiders and tips on how to find happiness and joy in the little things in life! It’s a great gift for a sibling but would work for anyone you know.

Funny Grandma Socks $8 www.uo.com These halarious socks read “Pimpin Ain’t Easy” in a grandma-esque design. These socks would be perfect gift for your funniest friend.

Manatea Tea Infuser

Harmonica

$10 www.fredandfriends.com This Manatea Tea Infuser is not only useful but also super cute. All you do is put loose-leaf tea, which can be found at many grocery stores (but I recomend Teavana for best results). You then put the tea inside the manatea and clip it to the side of your mug, and let the tea soak into your hot water.

$3.95 www.amazon.com A gift that you will regret giving immediately. Not only will this gift occupy your 3-plus-year-old sibling for hours, but it also won’t break the bank.

For Your BFF

20 corral Dec. 17, 2015 pch

entertainment

6-part serial

DANIEL ROMAN Staff Writer @danielroman1999

H

e awoke from the inky blackness of sleep, still dazed but somewhat regaining his composure. Hall’s mind raced to a thousand conclusions about his situation, but as minutes passed he began to remember what had brought him to be sitting on this hospital bed, bruised and sore from a hundred different points of pain. Suddenly, the door to his hospital room opened and Hubbard entered his sights.

“Here to finish the job?” barked Hall.

“What are you talking about?”

Hall stared at him intensely,“How long have I been here?”

“Around two days,” responded Hubbard.

“That means that two days ago, while I was out and off the job, a couple men who I assumed worked for you came up to me and asked about O’Brien and probably about the skull too, but I walked out before they could finish. Those same guys ended up knocking me out cold on the street later. So what’s this all about?”

Hall’s question pierced the air and Hubbard’s psyche.

“I’m promising you, those weren’t my men.”

“Well then it was someone else, which makes it worse doesn’t it? We’ve got a lot more to worry about now, since apparently things are slipping and info is getting out.”

“More like the population we’re dealing with back there is getting angry and took it out on you. Or at least wanted to know where we put the skull,” Hubbard stated bleakly.

“Well you better talk to those freaks

in the woods about letting us do our job, even if they don’t understand our methods. First they go and kill that girl, next they beat up a detective investigating that exact case? What even was that skull, sir? How am I supposed to explain this to my partner, because I’m finding it harder to keep him in the dark.”

Hubbard’s mind raced, but he attempted to be civil and keep the situation cool, for any second someone could walk in and the true nature of the entire police force could be revealed.

“Let me take care of the cult, you can figure out O’Brien,” Hubbard said as he attempted to assure Hall.

What the two men did not realize was that just outside the door stood O’Brien himself, his previously unfounded suspicions becoming reality. These two men were accomplices of some kind, and there was an even larger game going on in the woods. And in his own police department.

He had numerous ideas, but one stood out the most. He would have to trail Hubbard to the woods and see for himself who he was meeting.

Weeks passed as the healthy detective worked diligently in the company of no others, constantly haunted by the idea of a conspiracy underlying the whole task force. This was the predicament that only plagued Hollywood cinemas, yet it had weaseled its way into the real life situations of Officer O’Brien.

As he hunched over his desk, filling out paperwork and sorting out leads and suspicions regarding Katherine Greene, a chair scraped on the marble beside him.

“What’d I miss?” asked the disheveled Hall.

“Welcome back from the dead,”responded O’Brien, “Nothing much, still stuck on this case. Maybe now that you’re

M

3

Mike’s Music of the Month

Part 3: “The Disappearance of Katherine Greene”

Mike Conger Staff Editor @Mike_Unifish

back we can get the case moving again.”

Hall struggled opening his computer, the cast on his arm weighing him down.

“Yeah, I’ll try my best. I came up with a couple ideas at the Hospital.”

“Share,” replied O’Brien, cooly, trying to masquerade his disgust towards the crooked partner.

“We should go check out the High School,” said Hall. “Ziegler didn’t give us shit but we can figure some stuff out there, talk to some teachers, check out the woods, it’ll give us something.”

“Yeah we can do that,” replied O’Brien. “First thing tomorrow morning, we’ll head to the school, maybe ask some teachers some stuff.”

“Sounds good,” retorted Hall. “Go home man, get some rest, I’ll finish up the paperwork. You’ve been working really hard.”

O’Brien almost burst, but controlled his emotions. He knew that there was nothing at the High School, that it had nothing to do with the disappearance of the popular teen. This group of people were clearly in charge of everything that was happening and now Hall was asking to him to go home early? Something was bound to...

I’m known by many names: “Conger,” “Mix-Master-Mike,” “M.Dot,”, but most importantly, “Music Mike”. This is because I listen to more music, and know more about modern music than anyone you’ve ever met. You’re reading Mike’s Music of the Month.

Yung Lean

Hoover

Yung Lean, usually regarded as a joke among the hip hop community, has proved he is capable of making interesting, rugged music with his new single, Hoover.

With its harsh, metallic cymbals, and angry synth bass, Lean raps with more vigor than he’s ever shown. He has me anticipating his next full length project.

Enya

Only Time

Only Time, written by Irish Celtic singer, Enya, has recently made a resurgence in popular Vines and other online videos, and you may have been wondering where you have heard this familiar tune before. It was actually first released in 2000 to critical acclaim both worldwide and in the US. from her A Year Without Rain.

Missy Elliot

Where They From

To continue reading this chapter, go to www.parkwaynews.net/corral Stay tuned for part 4 in Febuary!

Missy Elliott may be the single most influencial female hip hop artist in history. After the rekindled excitment following her performance at the 2015 Super Bowl, many have been waiting for her to release more music.

Produced by, and featuring Pharrel, this song is sure to feed Missy Elliots new flame. This song slaps.

Ty Dolla $ign

PCHtv on YouTube!

Scan at your own risk.

Critic

Ty Dolla Sign, LA hip hop artist, released his new album, Free TC this November. The album is full of hard-hitting beats, and rhythm and blues vocals, with numerous features from some of today’s most popular artists like Future, Rae Sremmurd, and Kendrick Lamar. Credit is a song that represents everything good about this album: soulful singing, passionate lyrics, and catchy hooks.

corral 21 Dec. 17, 2015

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entertainment

Rapid Responses to Quick Questions ALEX KAISER Staff Writer

@AlexKaiser22

Name (grade)

If you had to give up one sense what would it be?

What’s one word you use to describe yourself?

What fashion fad would you bring back?

What’s the meaning of life?

That I would meet Will Peacock

Ball up

Camden Dunne (9)

Taste

O Dell

Melissa Finn (10)

Smell

Spunky

Silly bandz

That I would move to St. Louis

YOLO

Lit

Parachute pants

Girls cannot pull off cargo shorts

Pink Floyd

Baggy clothes

With girls, personality is the only thing that matters

To be happy, love, and treat people with respect

Turtlenecks

That climate change was such a big problem

Lindsey Wayland (10)

My Sixth sense of knowing where dead people are

Will Harold (11)

Sight

Josh Rudman (12)

Feelings on a Feature Film ‘Spectre’ presents spectacular finale to Daniel Craig’s tenure as Bond

Smell

Loquacious

Quirky

JEFFREY EIDELMAN Managing Editor @jeffey44

I

n an unclassical James Bond fashion, ‘Spectre’ provides a different kind of ending to a seemingly unchanging brand.

The opening scene of the movie begins during The Day of the Dead in Mexico City, Mexico. This scene very well may be one of the best opening scenes in Bond history, and possibly of all-time going next to the opening scene of ‘The Dark Knight.’ The acting and reality shown during this scene is impeccable and exemplifies what an opening scene of an action movie should look like. The plot, similar to many other Bond movies, combines plot points from all of the movies in which Daniel Craig acted as Bond.

Bond attempts to find and take down the organization that has been “the author of all his pain,” Spectre. This organization consists of all of the villains from the past few moives and the movie has references to them throughout the

Jorts

What’s one thing you wish you knew five years ago?

film. Meanwhile, Bond’s boss, M, is attempting to keep the double-o program alive because the government believes a drone is more useful and efficient than that of a person.

Daniel Craig, as with the other films, plays Bond spectacularly. Christoph Waltz, who plays the villain was absolutely flawless as his accent and witty comments always seems to keep the viewer wanting to hear his voice more. Although it seemed to me that there was some untapped potential in his role, the plot in which he was used was perfect. The two Bond girls, Lea Seydoux and Monica Bellucci, did not disappoint. Again, they did nothing that stood out, but the plot in which they were used was amazing. The movie itself is unconventional as, unlike other Bond films, combines more than one previous movie. In my opinion, this change up made this film much more exciting and intriguing.

Spectre exceed my expectations and by my standards, as an absolute lover of Bond films, is a must watch.

Go by your own definition

entertainment

Mobile FOOD Ordering SURGES

Other Order Methods

pch

22 corral Dec. 17, 2015 NOAH WEIDNER News Writer @FUTURTOPIA

S

tudent Bob is hungry. Student Bob wants food but cannot drive anywhere because he is on lockdown for finals week. Student Bob has an idea: he pulls out his phone and orders a pizza. He now can sit back, study, and wait for his delivery in 20-30 minutes.

This is the reality of our world, the world that never stops. The direction of our society has involved a move towards haste and efficiency. It is this that has pioneered fast food restaurants, delivery, and now, mobile and online ordering.

Companies such as Starbucks, Papa John’s, and Subway are some of the first adopters of this program, with their intention being to help eliminate wait times, open up their brand to more customers and to help entice people who would otherwise have time restrictions. These programs,

as a result, have had an impact on high school students with those time restrictions.

Hungry and wanting pizza, sophomore Drew Edelstein figured out a new way to quench his hunger through the prospect of online orders.

“It was ordering pizza like normal, except doing it on my phone,” Edelstein said about his Pizza Hut order. “The site was nice, the options I usually would get were there. It was well done.”

Although the order was good, the process is considered by some to be tedious and difficult over the pre-existing options.

Senior Niko Stamos said that he has ordered pizza using both mobile delivery and mobile pickup.

“If you give people an incentive to do it, they will,” Stamos said, adding that it’s a good idea, but notes there are several barriers to doing the ordering: making an account and orders not successfully being made.

This is not an isolated complaint either.

Others report similar frustrations with the order

process.

Sophomore Venkatesh Satheeskumar’s pizza order from Imo’s was entirely messed up one day.

“Since I’m a vegetarian and they put sausage on it, I couldn’t eat it,” Satheeskumar said. “I think mobile ordering is a good idea, but that order was really bad.”

Despite the drawbacks, mobile ordering is proving to be super efficient [when the actual product is delivered properly], requested and often admired by customers, and creates product accessibility.

Companies have said that these types of problems should be expected, at least for now, as they navigate mobile ordering platforms and adapting roles of their workforce to accommodate those orders.

These companies are, however, demonstrating their willingness to experiment and innovate as society moves toward haste and efficiency... like getting your five-topping pizza correct and on-time.

>>AMAZON DASH Amazon has introduced a brand new ‘pressto-order’ deliver system in time for the holiday season. Simply hook the device to your phone over Wi-Fi, and press the button when you need to restock any of your favourite products from Gatorade, Olay, Bounty, Tide, and a multiplicity of other companies. Every Push is only $5 and will make orders instant, simple and secure to make.

>>DRONE DELIVERY Companies trying to avoid congestion and reach customers with faster delivery times have began adoption of ‘Drone Delivery.’ Though the order methods vary from site to site, the idea applies similarly: simply order, select drone delivery, and keep an eye on the sky.

Falling Into Fashion as temperatures drop Alex Kaiser Staff Writer @AlexKaiser22

4

8 11

1 12 5

9

2

13

6 14

7

10

15

Kyle Cooper (10)

Tatiana Kobasa (11)

3 David Portillo (9)

1: Pima Cotton Half-Zip Sweater (Polo) 2: Khaki Twill Skinny Jeans (PacSun) 3: Original 2-Eye Boat Shoe (Sperry Topsider)

Kelsey Ware (12)

4: LA Hearts Slub Fringed Long Scarf (Pac Sun) 5: Iconic V-Neck Sweater (Hollister Co.) 6: High Rise Midnight Blue Skinny Jeans (Bullhead Jean Co.) 7: Zipplin Booties (Steve Madden)

11: Cozy Maroon Infinity Scarf (Wet Seal) 8: Navy Blue Half-Zip (Polo) 12: Army Green Jacket (Marshall’s) 9: Tan Cargo Pants (Pac Sun) 10: Conquest III High Duck Boots (Polo) 13: Striped Crew Neck Sweater (Forever 21) 14: High Waisted Skinny Jeans (Hollister Co.) 15: Faux Suede Booties (Forever 21)

corral 23 Dec. 17, 2015

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entertainment JEFFREY EIDELMAN Managing Editor @jeffey44

N

DEAN RANDOLPH Graphic Designer @deanrandolph17

ew words are being created and are becoming more common in teen vocabulary. Students and teachers to define particularly peculiar words mainly used by the youth and not understood by all adults.

Sliding into those DMs like...

Fire “Fire is something savage or otherwise similar, that leads to the destruction of the second party. These words became popular probably because I started using them.”

“When you think someone cute or bad, you like some pictures, comment on some posts, and then slide into those DMs.”

-Senior Max Baron

-Sophomore DeAndre Campbell

“The party was straight up bumpin to another level. Typically used on clothing I would say. “Dang those shoes - Fire.

That haircut, that is fire.”

“Being sneaky in someone’s messages.”

-Freshman Alex Edelman

Chill

-Senior Katie Heitz

“Someone who can relax and not get too stressed out or over the top about things. Go with the flow.”

-Math Teacher Ms. Gina Caruso

“I’d say it’s like being relaxed but it’s a little bit beyond just being relaxed. There’s different types of chill. You can just chill out at home, someone has a chill attitude.”

-Art Teacher David Jafari

Yeet “That word means nothing to me.”

-Art Teacher David Jafari

“Dodging a bad situation or an object, for example, I yeeted that chick that asked me out.”

-Freshman Alex Edelman

Fam “Your peeps.”

-Math Teacher Ms. Gina Caruso

“A close friend that is important to you or an actual family member.”

-Freshman Alex Edelman

(re)view from the bridge: fall play impresses with set, characterization

“Tuff-clutch; something good or great.”

-Sophomore DeAndre Campbell

KATE MCNEAL Editor-in-Chief @kateisgreat11

“Like solid, kind of comes from the reggae world like Bob Marley had an album called “Tuff Gong” and Tuff just means solid.”

T

he theater department presented Arthur Miller’s ‘A View From the Bridge’ Nov. 19-21, successfully using comedy, suspense, and conflict.

Set in Brooklyn, New York in 1953, “A View from the Bridge” tells the story of an American family, Eddie Carbone, Beatrice, and Eddie’s niece, Catherine. They take in two of Beatrice’s cousins, Marco and Rodolpho, who are illegal immigrants from Italy. Narrated by Mr. Alfieri, the play shows the conflict between Eddie and Rodolpho as a romantic relationship forms between Rodolpho and Catherine, hinting at an unusual dynamic in the relationship between Eddie and Catherine.

The play successfully portrayed many universal themes, including political and family conflict, romance and coming-ofage. While without much background knowledge the beginning was confusing, as the play went on, the plot became more clear.

Despite the slow start, the actors’ performance successfully engaged and interested the audience. Narration from Mr. Alfieri, played by junior Will Harold, was effective in breaking up scenes and informing the audience of upcoming events. Junior Anthony Blatter acted as Eddie, and his emotion and response created a lot of the suspense and comedy throughout the show.

Because of the setting in Brooklyn and other characters

Tuff

-Art Teacher David Jafari

After a dramatic twist, Catherine, freshman Skylar Droege, comforts Rodolpho, senior Matthew Kertzman while Eddie Carbone, junior Anthony Blatter, looks on. Photo by Trasean Stepney.

origins in Italy, various accents were used in the play. While overall they were well-practiced and added authenticity to the show, at times they were unclear and made it harder to understand the plot.

The set, including a bridge extending from one side of the theater to the other, was extremely well-built. Actors were able to utilize the entire space, adding to the mood and atmosphere by incorporating lighting changes across the stages.

Lit “Lit can be defined as something extremely cool, wild or rowdy, typically a party.”

-Senior Max Baron

“Something that’s awesome. If the party was lit, then it was bangin’, awesome, fun, crazy times had by all.”

-Senior Katie Heitz

pch

24 corral Dec. 17 2015

spotlight

Black belt Amy Morgan works toward spot on national taekwondo team KAYLA BENJAMIN Features Editor @pchcorral

W

hoosh, whoosh. For some, this sound might be made by a pen spinning aimlessly back and forth while trying to figure out a hard math problem. But for sophomore Amy Morgan, it is the determined noise of fists and feet striking through the air.

Through extensive hard work and lessons at Twin Dragons Taekwondo school, Morgan has earned her first degree black belt in Taekwondo and aims to make the US National team.

“I practice four days a week officially, but I practice at home every day,” she said. “I’ve definitely learned confidence, and self assurance that you can do a lot more than you think you ever can.”

To get where she is now, Morgan had to work her way up from the lowest (white) belt over a long time.

“I started doing taekwondo 8 and a half years ago, I was 7,” she said. “One of my friends actually took me to her class and they had ¼ inch boards that they had everyone break, and I thought it was really cool.”

With practice multiple times a week for so many years, Morgan’s Taekwondo lessons are kept from becoming monotonous by a rotating schedule.

“Certain days we do different things,” Morgan said. “One week might be padwork, where we have pads that we slam on to work on power. We have something called punsai, where you’re pretending to fight someone that’s not really there, so you’re focusing on presentation trying to look good, and also accuracy, which is what I compete with. And we have sparring drills, where you’re with an opponent and beating them up.”

On top of her own lessons, Morgan also puts in hours as an instructor.

“Typically every practice I have one class that I teach and one class that I participate in,” Morgan said. “Watching my students achieve is as good as watching myself achieve.”

And Morgan does have significant achievement to show for her toil, even beyond her high rank as a black belt. She received a bronze medal at a National Taekwondo tournament.

“I am a national level competitor, so I’ve been going to nationals for three years,” Morgan said. “My first year at nationals I placed 3rd. Two years ago I placed 9th. And this past summer I moved into the black belt World Class division and placed 21st.”

But Morgan has her sights set on a higher mark. She is soon to be testing for her second degree black belt, and also aspires to win a spot on the USA Taekwondo team.

“Now I’m a black belt so it’s a lot harder,” Morgan said. “If I were to medal I would make the USA team which goes around to different countries and competes, which is my goal.”

To help reach this objective, Morgan goes out of her way to learn new things outside of her usual taekwondo class.

“I travel to other states (last year I went to Illinois, Kansas, and Indiana) whenever there is an opportunity to do a seminar with one of the USA Team coaches and officials,” she said. “So I’m getting knowledge from those seminars and bringing it and back and then practice, practice, practice.”

Contributed reporting by Christine Butler

Photo courtesy of Amy Morgan