January Issue of the Globe Newsmagazine 2013

GLBE January, Vol. 84 Issue 5

CONTENTS

PANORAMA

OUR GREYHOUNDS GO FOR A SHOT UPFRONT

MEET THE NEW PRINCIPAL ALL-STATE BAND ACCEPTS CHS STUDENTS AP LANGUAGE’S TECH SURVEY FEATURES

SMALL BUSINESSES IN CLAYTON HOW IMPORTANT IS BREAKFAST? DIFFERING PERSPECTIVES BOOKSTORES GO DIGITAL COVER STORY

EUDORA OLSEN INVESTIGATES STUDENT DEPRESSION SPORTS

WHICH ONE OF YOUR TEACHERS HAD AN ATHLETIC CAREER? REVIEW

RED DAWN KE$HA: WARRIOR ALBUM LIFE OF PI LES MISERABLES THE HOBBIT INCOGNITO THE CASUAL VACANCY COMMENTARY

CHS AND SPORTS THE PRESSURE OF TESTING GUN CONTROL STAFF ED

GUTCHEWSKY’S INFLUENCE DEPRESSION Q&A

Q & A WITH SHEILA COHEN

COVER STORY: DEPRESSION CHS students are coping.

What signs should we be looking for?

get creative.

T H E

G L O B E

C A P T I O N

C O N T E S T

LAST MONTH’S WINNER “This may not be my pool, but you have got to admit I rock the floaty and sunglasses.”

- Abbie Kohmetscher (Junior)

SUBMIT YOUR AMUSING CAPTION AT CHSGLOBE.COM Editors in Chief Meredith McMahon Katherine Ren

Photo Editors: Olivia MacDougal Willie Wysession

Senior Managing Editors Eudora Olsen Parker Schultz Shiori Tomatsu Arya Yadama

Editors: David Androphy Peter Baugh Abraham Bluestone Rachel Bluestone Chris Cho Neil Docherty Emma Ehll-Welply Jeffrey Friedman Jessica Jancose Nina Murov Peter Shumway Christopher Sleckman

Webmaster: Dan Zeng Senior Web Editor: Addison Leong Graphic Editor: Audrey Palmer

Business Managers: David Behrend Ben Diamond Richard Simon Distribution Editor: Steven Zou Web Editors: Peter Shumway Varun Chakravarthy Reporters: Sophie Allen Zach Bayly Rebecca Polinsky Peter Schmidt Daniele Skor

Bridget Boeger Gabby Boeger Jeffrey Cheng Gwyneth Henke Sierra Hieronymus Audrey Holds Joseph Katz JiHyun Kim Rebecca Stiffelman Phoebe Yao Albert Wang Eunnuri Yi Richard Simon Claire Lisker Photographers: Sierra Carrel Noah Engel

Seth Lewis Megan McCormick Hanna Park Regine Rosas Margaret Schedl Alexis Schwartz Dana Schwartz Alessandra Silva Rebecca Stiffelman Patrick Butler Graphic Artists: Matt De La Paz Cherry Tomatsu Victoria Yi Christina DiFelice Rachel Han

The Globe Newsmagazine exists to inform, entertain, persuade, and represent the student voice at CHS. All content decisions are made by the student editorial staff, and the Globe is an entirely self-funded publication. Not every story that our reporters write is published in the print newsmagazine. Visit www.chsglobe.com for additional stories and photos, and for more information about the Globe itself. For more information about advertising and subscriptions, please contact our office: Clayton High School Globe 1 Mark Twain Circle Clayton, MO 63105 (314) 854-6668 Fax: 854-6734 globe@claytonschools.net

EDITOR’S LETTER

SENIOR SWING My biology class is composed of juniors and seniors. Thus, this time of the year, it is obvious that our class is split … in, well, you can say “state of mind.” As the final grades are entered in for first semester, you can notice the senior class begin to dance to a slightly different rhythm. It is actually quite fascinating that at the exact same time each year, the graduating class falls victim over winter break to the infamous plague of senioritis.

That is not to say that all seniors stop trying; nevertheless, every January brings a couple more relaxed smiles back to the halls of CHS. One by one, you begin to see the Facebook posts all with letter counts of fewer than 30, revealing where someone will spend the next four years of their life. And then just as the years prior, the warm weather will soon lure the senior class out to fill the quad so that they may bask in the warmth of their forthcoming freedom.

Writing this almost brings a smile to my face, as I remember the past two years that I’ve witnessed this euphoria expressed among the seniors who could have sworn they were relish-

ing in the happiness of a perennial spring. And then I realize that I have just said two years, which bleakly reminds me that I am still merely a junior.

And although I can’t deny that witnessing the graduating class become infected by the glorious symptoms of senioritis each year pains me to the very core of my not-yet-qualified self, their jubilation oddly still delivers a sliver of happiness to me as well.

I think it is because in their happiness, I see their hope. While most recognize that their bliss comes from lowered stress levels, a notion that is often overlooked is the energy that invigorates them also springs from their optimism in the future.

These people are finally given the pen to write their own endings and to begin their new chapters. These next six months serve as a window of time for them to reminisce. They can reread the superb sections they have written, laugh at the parts they wish they could have scratched out and ultimately congratulate themselves for completing another chapter so

that they may embark on their journey of writing a new one.

I regret to say that it has taken me two years of observation to finally realize that how the seniors spend their second semester should be how everyone spends every semester.

Minus the possible slight alterations in their work ethics, everything else about the “second semester senior spirit” should be embraced.

Don’t be afraid to take risks. Utilize every minute to build relationships as if this semester would be your last chance. And ultimately, stop stressing about the little details and realize that when you’re actually a second semester senior, you’ll be your own story’s fondest critic.

So, this year, may we smile a little more, laugh a lot more, and catch the spirit of senioritis. 

Katherine Ren Co-Editor in Chief

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Cover photo by William Wysession

PANORAMA Dec. 4, 2012

In The Driver’s Seat On Dec. 4, the CHS varsity basketball team beat rival MICDS 55-51 to improve to 3-2 on the season. After winning the district championship two years ago, the Hounds are hoping to advance to the state tournament with first-year head coach Mike Nelke at the helm. Captain and senior A.J. Joseph (left) anticipates an eventful end to his high school basketball career. At the time this issue went to press, the Hounds had just won their 10th game.

PHOTO BY PATRICK BUTLER

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HERE TO STAY The Board of Education unanimously approved Dr. Dan Gutchewsky to serve as permanent principal of CHS after he served as interim-principal for six months. His new job has been effective since Jan. 1, 2013.

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by PARKER SCHULTZ n Dec. 18, at the CHS staff luncheon, Superintendent Sharmon Wilkinson surprised the staff with a highly anticipated announcement - that Dr. Dan Gutchewsky would serve permantly as the CHS

principal.

After the sudden and somewhat shrouded resignation of former CHS principal Dr. Louise Losos last year, the School District of Clayton was left looking for someone to step into her role for the remainder of the school year.

Shortly after Losos’ resignation, the CHS Assistant Principal, Gutchewsky, was named

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interim-principal. Now, after leading the high school for several months, Gutchewsky has been appointed principal of CHS. The interviewing process for appointing Gutchewsky wasn’t the normal one for the Clayton School District, but then again, neither were the circumstances.

Gutchewsky, having served several months as interim-principal, had the interim tag removed by the Board of Education.

“As I’ve been interim-principal since last April, it’s kind of been an on the job interview,” Gutchewsky said. “People felt comfortable with me in the role and liked the direction we were headed, and I feel very validated that the work we’ve been doing, that I’ve been doing, is mov-

ing us in the right direction, and that both the superintendent and the Board recognized that.”

Gutchewsky originally applied for the position when Losos was hired. At the time, the District followed the more traditional route for hiring a building principal. Large scale searches were held, including an advertisement placed in Education Week.

“They did a formal search with multiple rounds and multiple constituents,” Gutchewsky said. “They did a full-blast interview process.

This time, I was fortunate that the superintendent made the recommendation to the Board and the Board appointed me. There wasn’t a traditional interview process in the same way that there was in previous years.”

UPFRONT A client-based survey was sent out to the CHS staff for Gutchewsky, and although the new principal has not directly seen the results, he believes they were positive.

“I assume from the fact that they [the Board] removed the interim tag that [the survey results] were very positive,” Gutchewsky said. “In my conversations with Dr. Wilkinson she referenced a few anecdotes, just a few quotes from some of the client surveys and indicated that they were very good. I was happy about that, I won’t say that I was surprised, but it’s good to know that people are recognizing your work and feel good about the job that you’re doing.”

While the difficult task of earning the principal position is now behind Gutchewsky, the greater challenge of guiding the school lies ahead. Despite the overwhelming role of being both a key administrator and community leader, Gutchewsky has an optimistic outlook for Clayton. And he has strong values that he feels are particularly adapted to Clayton’s unique size.

“Clayton is a small community,” Gutchewsky said. “The community is very much intertwined with the school district itself, and with CHS. When you have a community that’s that small, relationships become very important.”

Gutchewsky has taken many steps to develop these relationships at Clayton. He greets students outside before the school day starts, and personally delivers birthday cards to each student. Gutchewsky says that establishing relations fosters a better learning environment through creating a positive legacy.

“Legacy is the history of the community that you are a part of,” Gutchewsky said. “Being aware of that legacy and being aware that you’re part of something special, and being aware that you are a part of an organization that has done great things or a community of learners that have done great things, I think is something to be proud of, is something that instills pride, and then also goes to the entire climate of the school and that sense of allegiance to the community.”

Gutchewsky appears to have a clear, strong vision of how he wishes to improve CHS. Emerging from last year’s leadership issues, Gutchewsky’s optimism is well received by the community. The new principal’s final comments were full ofgratitude and a hope for a bright future at CHS. “I’m glad that the Board and the superintendent and the community has had faith in me and have been so supportive,” Gutchewsky said.

“I look forward to many great years here and I think we’re going to do great things.” 

Dr. Gutchewsky stands outside and enthusiastically greets students before school every day. (Olivia MacDougal) 9

BLOWING THROUGH THE COMPETITION

by ALBERT WANG

Freshman Cherry Tomatsu playing her violin. Cherry received first violin in All-State Orchestra. (Hanna Park)

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n Dec. 1, 2012, freshman Kentaro Umemori rode in a car for over two hours from St. Louis all the way to Columbia, Missouri for his AllState audition. After signing up, he hung out with other Clayton students who were there and practiced for three hours. Finally, Umemori was called to audition.

“I thought I did okay, but my reed was a little dry, so I couldn’t do my best,” Umemori said.

“They called me back like 20 minutes after my audition, so I didn’t even have time to be nervous.”

All students who the judges thought did well were called back to allow the judges to hear them again.

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Hundreds of high school students from all over Missouri had very similar experiences auditioning for All-State, but only a small fraction were as lucky as Umemori to actually make it in.

The All-State Band and Orchestra are two of the best performing opportunities that high school students can participate in, also making them two of the most difficult to get into.

From the CHS students who auditioned, a total of 16 students made it into All-State Band and Orchestra. For flute in All-State Band, freshman Leah Peipert was placed second chair, freshman Maddy Goedegebuure was placed sixth chair, senior Sakurako Oyama was placed 11th chair and sophomore Risa Umemori received an honorable mention. Sophomore Ethan Leong made it as first chair oboe in band.

Lastly, as for percussion in All-State Band, senior Isaac Illivicky is first chair timpani with senior Dan Fan as the alternate for timpani, and

junior Jeremy Glik received an honorable mention for snare drum.

In All-State Orchestra, freshman Cherry Tomatsu was placed in the first violin section and sophomore Raymond Li in the second violin section. Sophomore Adam Garrett, senior Meredith McMahon and freshman Nuri Yi are all in the viola section. Senior Allison Peipert is in the cello section. All orchestra members in All-State Orchestra will be auditioning again for their seating at All-State.

Band members were able to choose to be in All-State Orchestra instead of band. Junior Shiori Tomatsu will sit first chair flute and freshman Kentaro Umemori will sit second chair clarinet in All-State Orchestra.

“I would have gotten second chair in both band and orchestra, but I chose to go to orchestra because there are less band members,” Umemori said. “Each band member is more im-

UPFRONT

AP TECH

by CHRIS CHO

Last school year, after much contemplation, Emily Grady’s AP Language class was interested in researching how race may affect the achievement gap in classrooms, more specifically in regards to the African-American population at CHS in comparison to the white population.

After performing numerous surveys and interviews, her students found evidence suggesting that the problem lies both inside and outside of the classroom. The achievement gap has troubled students and faculty alike for decades and the research promoted proactive decisions by the district to encourage dialogue about African-American achievement, not just in terms of the standardized test achievement gap, but also in respect to the classroom experience, student-teacher relationships and honors and AP enrollment.

In 2013, the objective of Grady’s AP Language class will be quite different. The students enrolled in the course have decided to research a topic that is still relevant to students: How has the advancement in technology (i.e. computer, smart phones, Facebook and Twitter) affected the study patterns of students at CHS? Senior Jack Klamer first proposed the idea to his classmates with the understanding that although technology may have beneficial effects, it also has adverse effects that may alter

portant, allowing me to get more experience.”

The All-State auditions in Columbia give everyone a different experience. Freshman Lemuel Lan is one such example.

“It’d be both good and bad if there was no one there that you knew,” he said. “It obviously makes you go and find people to make new friends with, but at the same time, you feel uncomfortable and a bit left out, almost making the trip not as enjoyable as you’d wish.”

To those who are planning to audition next year Lan gave a little advice.

“Obviously practice. Don’t stress too,” he said. “Honestly, whatever happens happens.

And just take it. If you do make it, congrats, if you don’t, then just work hard for next year.

It’s nothing you should worry yourself over or cry about it. There are other orchestras too. AllState isn’t your life.” 

one’s potential for academic success.

“I realized that I had become a victim to the habit of constantly checking my phone and Facebook,” Klamer said. “My performance was being hindered, even though my grades have gone up through high school, as I’ve become more addicted to my phone and Facebook.”

Grady had only positive things to say about the chosen topic.

“This year, we have a very broad topic and it’s going to be highly informative,” Grady said. “We are at the beginning of a realization because there hasn’t been a lot of research associated with this topic.”

To kick-start the research campaign, Klamer acknowledged that there is scientific evidence suggesting that “the brain can get chemically conditioned, like a real addiction, to the checking of Facebook and phones. As biological beings we are social animals and are chemically rewarded for social interaction; by checking Facebook and our phones we get a chemical release and can become addicted to that release.”

In talking about her expectations for what this research may bring, Grady hopes for coexistence between the advancement in technology and studying. “As we understand new things, we may figure out how to let go of what we used to do and embrace what we can do.” 

A student’s phone lies on top of their textbook, set on Facebook after a brief studying break. (Erin Castellano)

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RUNNING A NEW IDEA Beginning next fall, the P.E. department will be offering two new courses for CHS students to choose from.

by DANI SKOR

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CHS P.E. students run sprints during class in Stuber Gym (Sophie Allen).

HS health and P.E. teacher Melissa Hobick is excited about the two new classes that will be offered by the P.E. department next year, 5K/triathlon training and crossfit.

In order to decide what classes to offer, the department’s teachers went through a process to figure out which classes would be most effective.

“We started by looking at our current curriculum and started asking students what they would like to see,” Hobick said. “After all of our research, we thought these two new courses fit into our ideas of fitness for life.”

One of the offered courses will be the 5K/ triathlon training class. The class will involve training in how to prepare for and run five kilometers, and how to train for a triathlon.

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Students enrolled will use indoor and outdoor tracks, spinning bikes, the indoor pool and Shaw Park for their workouts.

Both classes are semester courses: 5K/triathlon training will be offered both first and second semesters, and crossfit will be offered second. Each course will be a fourth of a credit, just like all P.E. classes at CHS. Students taking the course will have to run two 5K races throughout the semester class, and the class will end with a triathlon (swim, bike and run).

In addition to the 5K/triathlon course, there is another option that is not quite as competitive, the crossfit course. Crossfit will offer a variety of workouts, involving aerobics, anaerobics, strength training and plyometric training.

Instead of focusing on one specific type of exercise, crossfit involves a “workout of the

day” (WOD) tactic to provide fitness for all students. The class will be varied and intense, and those taking the class should prepare themselves for a high-intensity workout.

With the addition of the two new courses, two current classes will be discontinued as of next year. One of the team sport courses will be eliminated, and aquatic fitness will no longer be offered.

Although next year is a pilot year for the courses, Hobick does believe that the courses will be here to stay.

“We will see what kind of response we get, but they should be permanent courses,” Hobick said.

Students hoping to add one of the courses to their schedules should contact their counselors or a member of the P.E. and health department for more information. 

SAVE THE STRINGS? Should the Elementary String program be one of the needed budget cuts?

Hava Polinsky (above) went through the strings program that Clayton currently offers to elementary school students.

(Becca Polinsky)

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omething is going to be cut. With all the confusion surrounding the District’s recent budget situation, where 1.7 million dollars of spending will be eliminated, this is one thing that is clear. So what will stay and what will go?

One recommendation Clayton Superintendent Sharmon Wilkinson provided the Board of Education is the idea of cutting the position in charge of the Elementary Strings Program.

According to the report created by Wilkinson with recommendations from the District buildings, the program currently offers a beginning strings program in 4th and 5th grade, which includes instruction twice a week in a pull-out program.

In the proposed changes, the program could be offered before or after school through a costneutral, fee based program.

In response to this possibility, there has been an outcry from some of the Clayton community. Through a large Facebook group of around 700 members, the students, with the help of Orchestra Director Julie Hoffman, who is also a member, have made their voices heard.

Hoffman and music teacher Ann Geiler have been running the strings program for over a decade. And Hoffman, who was just named Missouri’s Strings Teacher of the Year, is upset by this matter, and is against the proposed changes to the program.

“Our strong orchestra comes from a strong foundation, and that is our elementary program,” Hoffman said. “String players need to begin younger to be competitive and better musicians by high school.”

CHS students who participated in the program in elementary school have been standing up for the program.

“The Elementary Strings Program offered me so many opportunities in life that I would

by ARYA YADAMA and PETER BAUGH have never been able to enjoy had I not decided to join because it was available for me,” sophomore Adam Garrett posted in the Facebook group. “I can’t think of anything that has become such an important part of my life. This program enriches too many lives and is special to so many people.”

Meramec Elementary School violinist Belle Gage also has positive feelings about the program. “I’ve learned that violin is one of my passions,” she said. “I would have never tried it without this program.”

Aside from students and teachers directly impacted by the program, Clayton parents also feel strongly about its importance.

Belle’s mother, Amy Gage, is one such parent.

“She really has taken this on independently,” Amy Gage said. “She practices without my encouragement because she knows her teacher expects it of her, and because she wants to keep up with her classmates.”

Despite strong feelings the community has for the program, the issue of keeping the program is not as clear as it may seem. The brutal truth facing the District is that budget cuts must be made. Something will have to go.

“Our District is healthy financially, and we want it to stay that way,” Susan Buse, Vice President of the Board of Education said. “But over the last few years our expenses have started exceeding our revenues.”

Buse clarified the real implications of the recommendation being considered.

“The administration has recommended we stop the Elementary Strings program as it is currently constructed,” she explained. “Strings could . . . possibly be fee based, or it could be discontinued. Nothing has been decided, and this was not a recommendation to stop elementary music.”

She also said that the goal of the Board was to protect the District’s core values. Thus, they will deeply consider what parents, students and teachers have to say on this issue, as well as other budget recommendations coming before the Board.

Another issue is that of time allotment for the program.

“Elementary strings is a program students ‘opt into’ and the students are ‘pulled out’ of regularly scheduled class time to participate in Elementary Strings,” Board of Education President Jane Klamer said. “The time set aside for instruction at each elementary school may, for some students, cause them to miss instruction in core classes like math or science. This interruption of core learning is a problem.”

Everyone involved in this decision is interested in protecting the core values of the School District.

“Clayton is known for their support of the arts as well as an academic educational environment,” Hoffman said. “I am leaning on the students and parents to share their concern and value in keeping this program a part of our District.”

Klamer did not state her personal opinion on the matter, but has explained the reasoning behind the possible cut.

“This change would result in cost savings to the District and will result in less disruption in elementary school classes,” Klamer said.

These opinions and the future of the strings program are going to be considered at the Board meeting on Jan. 23, where the budget will continue to be addressed.

Both sides of the issue believe that community involvement is most important, as it is the students of Clayton that are being directly affected by this decision. 

LOCAL CAMPAIGN

by PETER SCHMIDT

In an age where it’s easy to drift towards larger and cheaper chain stores, it’s important to remember the value and personality that local businesses add to a community. Buying locally is important in order to keep these businesses alive and thriving.

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very time a CHS student orders a cup of hot chocolate at Kaldi’s Coffee or a pound of mango gummy bears from Oh Lolli Lolli, they are certain to be in for a treat. But what they may not realize is that by supporting locally owned businesses, students and residents are helping make Clayton a stronger and more close-knit community.

Michelle Harris, a Clayton parent and member of city council, is at the front of the Clayton Buy Local campaign.

“When we support local business by shopping there, we support those retailers who have invested in our community, who are paying taxes and rent, and who employ people in our community,” she said.

Harris defined local businesses as businesses that are owned and located within the two and a half square mile area of Clayton.

Harris also noted that the Clayton community is bound together by a web of economic interdependence.

“Those tax dollars pay for street paving, trash pick-up, paying policemen, turning on the street lights and everything else we need to run a city,” Harris said, as well as supporting the Clayton School District and the Center of Clayton.

When Clayton residents spend $100 at a local Clayton business, $68 dollars stay in the

community. In contrast, out of every $100 spent at a non-locally owned business in Clayton, only $43 dollars benefit the local economy and infrastructure, according to a study by Civic Economics in 2008.

Although $25 dollars may seem like an insignificant sum, it can make a resounding impact in the community. “Keeping our dollars in the community means more sales tax dollars that help pay for the city services that we all count on,” Harris said.

In addition to benefitting the Clayton economy, small businesses form special relationships with their customers.

Jennifer Rich, the pharmacist and owner of Jennifer’s Pharmacy, has formed an especially strong bond with the community during the Pharmacy’s 21 years of service. “Our customers are like family,” Rich said. “I’ve had kids that, when we first opened the store, were in diapers.

Now they come here and are married with their own kids.”

Rich also believes that local businesses can provide a higher degree of personal service for their customers. “There are certain customers who I know to make special orders for because I know that they will like specific items,” she said.

As if to prove her point, Rich paused during our interview to personally greet an elderly woman named Phyllis and to retrieve her pre-

scription without being asked.

CHS junior Griffin Reed has personally experienced the pharmacy’s welcoming dynamic.

She described visiting the pharmacy’s soda fountain with her brother. “[My brother] Brendan always pretended to be shy, but they would always tease him about it, and it was really great to have that connection ... it’s very intimate,” she said.

The strong relationships that Reed described occur in local businesses across Clayton.

Helen Trower, the dining manager at Cafe Manhattan, has had nine years to connect with the community.

“I know all of the customers that come in here on a daily basis by name. I know a little bit about their families as well,” Trower said. “They send me birthday cards and anniversary cards and I have a couple of families that come in just to see me. It’s a very special feeling.”

Trower herself is a living testament to the value of small businesses in customer’s personal lives. When she was married four years ago, she bought her wedding cake, flowers, invitations and wedding dress from various small businesses in or around Clayton. Cafe Manhattan, of course, catered the reception.

Trower’s reasoning? “When you’re supporting a small business you’re supporting a family,” she said.

FEATURES Clayton residents have privileged access to many local establishments that are recognized on a national scale. One such business is Pastaria, a new restaurant created by nationally acclaimed chef Gerard Craft which was reviewed in the Globe’s November issue.

In an interview with St. Louis Magazine, Craft described his goal for the new restaurant.

“Pastaria will be a special experience … I see this as a kind of town hall — a lively, convivial place where people see their friends and neighbors and will get up to go visit with them,” he said.

The national restaurant blog eater.com named Pastaria one of the 33 most anticipated restaurants of 2012, according to the St. Louis Business Journal.

Similarly, Clayton’s eclectic Kaldi’s Coffee was recognized by Food and Wine Magazine as being “One of America’s Best Coffee Bars.”

Kevin Hough, the lead barista at Kaldi’s explained that part of the coffee shop’s success comes from their connection with other local businesses.

“We sell beer from companies in St. Louis like Schlafly [and] Urban Chestnut. We get our gooey butter cake and our bread from Companion Bakery [in Clayton]. We do a lot of partnerships with other businesses as well,” Hough said.

Hough also noted that Kaldi’s strives to support and enrich the community with which they

collaborate. about who you are supporting.”

“We actually pay a higher price for the [cofAs a Clayton alderman and resident, Mifee] beans than what the market calls for. That chelle Harris is working to improve Clayton by way, the farmers actually have enough money supporting local businesses. She recently startto live and grow their crop. It also allows them ed a local group called the Clayton Shoppers. to invest in a higher quality crop,” Hough said.

The Clayton Shoppers congregate every FriIn addition, day and visit three Kaldi’s Coffee was or four local busiWhen you’re supporting a small nesses in Clayton. one of the top fundraisers for business you’re supporting a family. Their single rule is St. Louis’ Bike MS that every memcharity fundraisber has to buy at Helen Trower least one item at ing event.

Dining Manager of Cafe Manhattan each store.

Recently, however, local busiHarris exnesses have expeplained her intenrienced a troubling decrease in popularity due tions for the group. “We want other people to to the rise of “big box stores,” national corpo- understand the impact of buying local on their rations which provide services at a perpetually community,” she said. decreasing price.

The year 2013 marks Clayton’s one hunJennifer Rich lamented the disappearance of dredth anniversary, an event which has caused the many family owned businesses she encoun- many residents to reflect on the city’s history tered during her childhood. and look to its future.

“When I grew up, we had hardware stores, Harris believes that the success of Clayton and we had office supply stores and you don’t as a city and a community can be attributed in see those anymore. So every time you shop at part to the variety of locally owned businesses a big box store ... the independent [businesses] that connect residents and support each other. disappear,” Rich said.

Harris also insisted that every resident can Rich fervently hopes that Clayton residents help strengthen the community and point the understand the relationship between local busi- Clayton community towards a bright future by nesses and the Clayton community. “And you embracing one very simple strategy: Shop loneed to think, when you go to a big box store, cal. 

Top left clockwise: Kaldi’s Coffee, Cafe Manhattan, Chill, Oh Lolli Lolli Photos by Hanna Park and William Wysession

THE MOST IMPORTANT MEAL CHS junior Laura James starts off her mornings with eggs, cereal, coffee and orange juice - the kind of meal typically only seen in commercials for breakfast foods.

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by JESSICA JANCOSE ames has the time to make a breakfast feast because she is willing to wake up early every morning. “I usually wake up at around 6 o’clock,” she said.

However, for many CHS students, the idea of hitting the snooze button is far more appealing than the thought of getting out of

bed and into the kitchen to make a meal.

“I never really eat breakfast on school days,” freshman Felix Evans said. “Usually I have to leave for school and there’s no time.”

No matter how early one wakes up, many students also run into the problem of not being hungry in the mornings. Some students even report feeling nauseous as a result of eating breakfast.

Senior Julia Bui says that she ends up feeling worse on days when she eats breakfast.

“It ends up making me feel pretty sluggish,” she said. “When you eat when you’re not hungry it just kind of sits in your stomach.”

Given all of these factors, skipping breakfast on a daily basis is a common practice for children and adults alike. Unfortunately, many underestimate the importance of this first meal of the day.

According to Connie Diekman, Director of University Nutrition at Washington University in St. Louis and immediate past president

of the American Dietetic Association (ADA), “scientific studies show that having breakfast before a day in the classroom improves verbal fluency, hand to eye coordination, attendance and scores on tests.”

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics supports these findings, additionally reporting that eating breakfast can improve math, reading and standardized test scores. It can also aid in memory, performing problem-solving tasks and can help students pay attention.

While the cause behind this relationship is still under review, the existence of the correlation is evident. Diekman speculates that the correlation could possibly be due to elevated blood sugar levels which aid with performance and energy levels.

In addition to the mental benefits of eating an early morning meal, the physical benefits are well documented.

“Breakfast eaters also seem to have healthier body weights and lower blood cholesterol levels,” Diekman said. “While more research is needed to assess how these outcomes occur, it is felt that starting the day with a meal improves blood sugar thus aiding in control of appetite. Studies indicate that breakfast skippers miss more essential nutrients and tend to make poorer food choices.”

According to Diekman, skipping breakfast can sometimes lead to a higher BMI and weight gain.

CHS alumni Anna Shumway, who is a registered dietitian and recieved her B.S. in dietetics from Brigham Young University, argues that lack of time is a poor excuse to skip breakfast.

“I don’t know anyone who is too busy to eat,” Shumway said. “If you’re too busy to peel an orange or bite into an apple there’s some problems that need to be worked out. It’s very important to not skip meals and eating is important if you want to be strong and active.”

If you don’t have time in the mornings, both she and Diekman recommend grabbing something quick before leaving the house.

For those who say they simply aren’t hungry in the mornings, Diekman explained that this may be due to the body having adjusted to the habit of not eating breakfast.

“If someone struggles to eat first thing in the morning, start with something small - yogurt, toast with peanut butter, a hard cooked egg or dry cereal and dried fruit to munch on while heading to class,” she said.

Shumway emphasized the importance of a balanced diet for students wishing to do well in their classes. “Getting nutrients is really important for your body, and if you’re not feeding your body how can you honestly expect your body to feed your mind?”

In the end, in seems James is one of those lucky individuals that is able to wake up early in the mornings and make herself a delicious and filling breakfast. However, for most CHS students, the idea of sleeping in continues to be very appealing. 

FEATURES

DID YOU KNOW? According to the Food Research & Action Center: + By eating breakfast, students also get more of important nutrients, vitamins and minerals such as calcium, dietary fiber, folate and protein. + Children who eat a complete breakfast, versus a partial one, make fewer mistakes and work faster in math and number checking tests. + Girls who eat breakfast are more likely to have a lower BMI than girls who skip breakfast.

As an Independent Party The Globe endorses Breakfast Our support is seen in... >> Hosting pancake breakfasts >> Providing cereal for Globe members >> Having a coffee, tea and hot chocolate machine

Globe co-editor in chief Katherine Ren cooks M&M pancakes during a morning Globe meeting. Photos by Seth Lewis (left) and William Wysession (above).

VARYING PERSPECTIVES

by Peter Shumway with reporting by Audrey Holds Disclaimer: Our goal in this story was to provide contrasting perspectives on what we know to be a very charged topic. There are a number of varying views on the Israeli and and Palestinian conflict, and although we recognize that the perspectives shared here are not the voice of an entire community, they are the voices of some of the members of these communities. We tried to present to different perspectives of this issue and as journalists we have reported these perspectives accurately and we hope that in some small way they make such a complicated issue a little bit easier for all of us to understand.

O

ver 100 independent nations have been formed in the first 50 years after Israel’s creation.

Despite this, “Israel’s [creation] is the only one that can be fairly called a miracle,” said historian Paul Johnson.

The creation of Israel has ignited much discord and conflict. And it may take many more miracles to keep this nation alive.

In recent months, new aspects of these problems have again become complicated as the Palestine Authority was voted by the United Nations (UN) to earn the status of statehood.

While the United States was firm in keeping the Israeli viewpoint in mind, the rest of the world had a different perspective. The vote of approval for the Palestine Authority to become a state was 138 votes in favor, nine against and 41 abstained.

In light of this new Palestinian recognition, we have written this article to clarify the different perspectives surrounding this controversy.

Israeli Perspective For thousands of years the Jewish people have been continually persecuted. Historical examples of these tragic events include Russian, French, German, Roman and Spanish pogroms where the Jews were systematically killed or exiled. The Holocaust is only one example of the horrors that the Jewish people have had to endure. Despite these well documented atrocities, there are many who claim that these events never occurred. Therefore, the Jewsish people believe that they deserve a place where they can live, and contribute to the world around them.

As the Jewish people have achieved their goal of creating a Jewish state, they have been recognized as more of a world player. Rabbi Gershie Meisel comments on this change of global opinion towards Israel. He advises the CHS Jewish Student Union.

“Israel has been [previously] looked at as an underdog … over the last 40-50 years that has

drastically changed,” Meisel said.

This loss of the title “underdog” has changed the amount of sympathy and support Israel receives. This was seen when Great Britain and France abstained from the recent UN vote on the Palestine Authority’s statehood. This is surprising as the Israeli government is clearly against the Palestinian Authority being a state and Great Britain and France are traditionally allies with Israel.

Israel’s formation and policies should not be questioned. It was never the Palestinian’s land, but instead the Ottoman Empire’s land.

When the Ottomans were defeated in WWI, the British Empire created a British protectorate. The British went to the United Nations and proposed the 1948 partition plan. At that time the Israeli government voted for a peaceful two state solution. Yet Palestine never signed this agreement, consequently never creating an official country.

“To presume that Israel has a responsibility to return the land to a people who did not own

FEATURES are neither allowed to own land nor hold many jobs. Many Palestinians in 1991 were forcibly exiled from Kuwait and Palestinians in refugee camps who lived in Syria suffered as their camps were shelled by the Syrian government.

Israel’s generosity is seen in international affairs. For example, Israel often accepts Sudanese refugees. These refugees that face assault, rape and even death come to Israel, as they know their best standard of living exists within its borders.

Additionally, Israel’s modern technology, infrastructure and transportation networks prove their durability, and desire to contribute to the world around them.

“Israel is a stable country, and a democracy in the Middle East which unfortunately there aren’t many of,” CHS senior David Iken said.

Israel is not an agitator, but instead the exact antithesis of that. It serves as a beacon of light in peaceful international politics.

Palestinian Perspective

After an airstrike on Monday, November 19, 2012, smoke rises in the southern Gaza Strip.

(Eyad Al Baba/APA Images/Zuma Press/MCT)

it is intrinsically flawed,” Meisel said.

Israel also feels that their generosity towards others proves their desire for peace.

“Arabs have more rights in Israel than they have in their own countries,” Meisel said.

According to the non-government sponsored organization Human Rights Watch, Meisel is accurate in this description. Also, Human Rights Watch reported that Palestinians who live in Arab countries experience “appalling social and economic conditions.”

When Israel was formed, thousands of Jewish people were similarly forced out of Arab countries. Israel accepted the Jewish refugees that wanted to join Israel.

The difference still today is that Palestinians who have become refugees are rarely accepted by their “brotherhood” of Arab nations. Therefore, racism against Palestinians is actually created by Arab nations and not Israel.

And this ongoing racism against Palestinians is prevalent in Arab nations.

Palestinians often living in Arab countries

For Palestinians this topic encompasses their dear homeland that they inhabited for a time before Israel was created. People who are Christian, Druze and various sects of Islam claim the title of Palestinian. This diversity has made it difficult for them to have a unified political voice.

Efforts for statehood were held hostage for nearly 50 years by Yasser Arafat who refused to compromise and allow for the co-existence of the Israeli state. Current political parties of Hamas and Fatah continue to battle for power and have conflicting political agendas in the direction of Palestinian self determination. Regional Arab states have also benefited from this disunity.

With more intense media coverage, Israel’s injustices have become increasingly clear to the outside world. Israeli military attacks have claimed lives, and the now-publicized limitations on Palestinian citizens have made people wonder where the line between defense and offense of a country lies.

The Israeli West Bank Barrier limits rocket and terrorist attacks in Israel but also has a profound disruptive effect of lives of ordinary Palestinians.

Palestinian refugees, from the creation of the Israeli state, are one of the many Israeli injustices Sandra Tamari, a member of the St. Louis Palestine Solidarity Committee, described. Tamari’s parents are also from Palestine.

“When Israel was founded in 1948, 750,000 Palestinians were forced out … including members of my family,” Tamari said. “That is the injustice that I speak of.”

In the 1948 partition plan, the UN hoped to create a place for both Jewish citizens and Pal-

estinians. Although the Jewish Zionists accepted this partition plan, Palestinians did not. So, an Arab country for Palestinians has never been officially created. Yet, local Palestinians had been the most recent inhabitants of this land.

These foreign countries created a colonial country. What right do foreign countries like Great Britain and the U.S. have in meddling in another people’s affairs?

Since Israel’s formation, Israel has also been known to restrict the movement of Palestinians due to security concerns.

“From a Palestinian perspective [this] puts them in a second class role,” CHS history teacher Paul Hoelscher said.

Throughout Israel there are roadblocks where Israeli soldiers slow down any internal movement. Tamari’s family used to be able to travel from their hometown to Bethlehem in 15 minutes. Yet, due to these roadblocks this trip now takes up to 6 to 7 hours.

This second class role is felt even in international travel. According to the U.S. Consulate, “Those whom Israeli authorities suspect of being of Arab, Middle Eastern, or Muslim origin ... may face additional, often time-consuming, and probing questioning by immigration and border authorities, or may even be denied entry into Israel or the West Bank.”

This regulation is often based solely on the person’s ancestry or religion, and not on their true intentions.

The restrictions of movement are not the only restrictions that are placed on Palenstinians.

“There are tens of laws … that privilege Jewish citizens of Israel, and discriminate against the Palestinian citizens of Israel,” Tamari said.

According to The New York Times, “although Palestinians make up about 20 percent of Israel’s population, the 2012 budget allocates less than 7 percent for Palestinian citizens.”

Israel’s failure to see its fiduciary responsibility toward helping other people in their country is a clear signal of fiscal discrimination.

A Palestinian country should be established so that this group can have true freedom.

Conclusion “We are subject to what the media covers” Hoelscher said.

Our responsibility as citizens of a democracy is to seek out the opinions of both parties.

Through our understanding we will be better able to contribute to the world as we will know where these opinions originate. Our knowledge will mean there is one less person falling victim to simply going with the most popular opinion, but instead having an educated one. Through these small changes we have the ability to make lasting changes that can maybe someday lead to peace. 

19

Where Are Headed To??

The Publishing Industry Turns a

New Page as it Ventures

into the Realm of ONLINE

BOOKS. Brick and Mortar Retailers are Now Struggling to STAY

Some are Faring Better than others.

AFLOAT.

by SOPHIE ALLEN

20

A

customer browses through the idea that readers should be able to read a digipages of a hardback novel in a tal book on any device. With over 2.5 million charming store stacked from floor eBook, magazine and newspaper titles in their to ceiling with books of every vari- digital library, Kobo provides booklovers with ety. A small bell chimes as another the resources to read about nearly anything. shopper enters and exchanges “We knew we wanted to provide our readers words with the owner. Later that night, an au- a choice of reading styles and the Kobo partnerthor will be coming to speak about their work, ship seems to be working out,” von Plonski said. an event hosted by the store. These are the exBut Subterranean’s paperback market periences that only a small bookstore can offer. doesn’t seem to be going away.

Small bookstores, with the dawn of the digital “Paperback books are our bread and butage, are on the verge of death. Or are they? ter,” von Plonski said. “Runner-up in frequency With the recent invention of the digital or bought are hardcovers with electronic editions “e” book, it has become infollowing way behind.” creasingly difficult for small But at least the options shops to remain in business.

There is something to be are there. According to von According to the latest this past December gained from the human Plonski, U.S. federal statistics, over has been the best month of 1,000 bookstores closed be- interaction than what the sales they’ve had since opentween 2000 and 2007, leaving computer-generated rec- ing 12 years ago in October around 10,600 still in operaommendation algorithm of 2000. The fact that they tion. have both a digital library provides.

Borders, one of the largand a physical library apest bookstore chains to sweep pears to be helping their -Kelly von Polonski sales. the nation, completed closing all of its book “superstores” The biggest threat to an Manager at Subterranean in the summer of 2011. What independent bookstore, or Books hope does this give to St. Louany bookstore, is Amazon. is’ independent companies com. With the introduction with only one location? of the Kindle in November of 2007, they’ve beNeil Jaffe of Booksource, a former distribu- gun to take over book sales all over the world. tor to independent bookstores, thinks that the With the ability to sell cheaper physical books best hope for independents is to join the revo- and eBooks, Amazon.com can cater to any readlution. “[They need to] evolve to stay relevant,” er, anywhere in the world, without coming into he said. contact with the buyer.

Subterranean Books, a small bookstore in “There is something to be gained from the the St. Louis’ Loop district, is trying to do just human interaction than what the computerthat. generated recommendation algorithm pro“We had been selling eBooks through Google vides,” von Plonski said. “Something that, I for about three years until [they] stopped al- guess, we’re getting right.” lowing outside retailers to sell their products,” The biggest thing small bookstores can do Kelly von Plonski, a manager at the bookstore, is stay ahead of the game. With technology adsaid. vancing so quickly, it’s hard for a small business Subterranean recently partnered with Kobo, to keep up. The introduction of Kobo, continua company that’s providing small bookstores ing to form friendships with customers and with the materials that bigger, chain stores can keeping the personal “we know exactly what use to gain customers in the eBook market. you’re looking for” feel that only a small bookKobo is owned by Rakuten, a Tokyo-based store can provide, is essential to keeping the in“eCommerce” company, and is focused on the dependents alive in this digital age. 

21

“I WAS

JUST BOMBARDED

SO MANY BY

THOUGHTS A Look into Depression

By Eudora Olsen Photos by William Wysession and Alessandra Silva

S

T

D

Y

S

n

n a

IN 10 2 TEENS ARE DEPRESSED

Twenty percent. The average classroom at CHS has 20 students. This means that at least four students in every classroom are suffering from depression or a mood disorder - most likely in silence. “We are trying to demystify mental illness,� twelfth grade counselor Mark Snyder said. At what point does stress turn into chronic sadness? Is too much education on mental illness a bad thing? The Globe delves into the issue to do just as Snyder suggests. The answers may surprise you.

M

ood disorder. Dysthymia. Low Affect.

Whatever you call it, depression is a disease that plagues 20 percent of teens before they reach adulthood. This percent drops to nine when teens reach adulthood.

Therefore, teens ages 15-23 are the most susceptible age group to develop depression.

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the national trend for those seeking outpatient treatment for depression is upward. Here at CHS, the community reflects a similar pattern.

“I definitely see a higher rate of identification,” twelfth grade counselor Mark Snyder said. “With a heightened awareness, you see more incidences of diagnosis.”

The “heightened awareness” that Snyder describes is a state in progress. The last time the administration organized a professional development day systematically designed around anxiety and depression was two and a half years ago.

Although the administrators are thinking of holding a similar meeting in February of this year, the plans are tentative.

The Chair of the Professional Development Committee and Psychology teacher at CHS David Aiello says focusing the faculty’s attention soley on depression is harder than it seems.

“Usually unfortunately it takes sort of a crisis-like incident,” Aiello said. “There are so many things that we as a faculty want to direct our attention to.”

For senior Shaina Crall, it also took a crisislike incident for her to realize she needed help.

“I do not know how it all started,” Crall said.

“I was just bombarded by so many thoughts.”

Crall started experiencing symptoms of depression the summer before her junior year. She felt uncomfortable around her friends whom she had had for a long time, and she took more naps and stayed at home. It was only a matter of months before she entered treatment and was diagnosed with clinical depression, without knowing the true cause of her feelings.

Dysthymia v. Severe Depression “A person with dysthymia has normal ups, but prolonged downs,” Aiello said.

“If the person has these “downs” for long periods of time, say a year or two years, then we might say that person has a mood disorder.”

The Facts: • Dysthymia is a mood disorder • Affects about 9 percent of all adolescents • Considered “Mild Depression” • Characterized by long period of low affect

Crall went through a series of group therapy sessions and eventually went on anti-depressants, but one thing was the most helpful for her recovery: a stress ball.

“I carried the stress ball around for several weeks after treatment,” Crall said. “It was great.

I would put all of my cooped-up energy into the ball and I always felt a lot better.”

Although Crall could easily get a stress ball on her own, she had to convince her parents to let her go on anti-depressants. After several pleas, Crall’s parents finally recognized the severity of the problem and allowed her to go on medication.

Psychiatrist Robin Androphy, an adult psychiatrist who works with high school and college students occasionally, sees the interaction between the parents and patient of adolescents to be the biggest challenge of working with a young age group.

“Guidelines have to be addressed,” Androphy said. “The rights of parents to know certain information has to be balanced with safety issues.”

Androphy suggests that teens who have lower self-esteem, more negative thoughts and a high rate of depression within their family have a higher risk of being depressed. But this is not to say depression looks the same everywhere.

“The way depression presents itself here is as varied as the diverse student population we have here,” Snyder said. “You may see somebody out playing frisbee in the quad, and have no clue that they may be going home and carrying a backpack full of anxiety and depression or ideas of self-harm.”

Suicide is the third most common cause of

death among adolescents. As Androphy said, attempts of suicide are actually a major indicator that they may commit suicide in the future. Androphy sees more women than men, but men who are depressed generally require more serious preventative actions.

“More girls attempt suicide,” Androphy said. “But more boys tend to succeed because they choose more violent methods while girls tend to overdose.”

THE

7 SIGNS

1. You can’t sleep or you sleep too much 2. You can’t concentrate or find that previously easy tasks are now difficult 3. You feel hopeless and helpless 4. You can’t control your negative thoughts 5. You have lost your appetite or you can’t stop eating 6. You’re consuming more alcohol than normal 7. You have thoughts that life is not worth living (Seek help immediately if this is the case) Information from http://www.helpguide.org/mental/ depression_signs_types_diagnosis_treatment.htm

STRESSORS Stressors, such as the loss of a parent or

breaking up with a girlfriend or boyfriend, play a major role in depression. Over 50 percent of the patients who present to Androphy with an acute episode of depression have had a significant stressor in the past six months. In fact, Crall started feeling symptoms of depression after her grandmother died.

Along with stressors within the personal life of students, the competitive academic environment at CHS could play a role in the frequency of depression among the student body.

For those students who may already have low self-esteem and prolonged negative thoughts as Androphy describes, the stress of high school can be too overwhelming.

As a faculty member and a parent of a high school student, Aiello often reflects on his role in adding to the stressful environment at school.

“My experience of being a parent has made me much more aware of the effect that the teachers here have on the students at home,” Aiello said. “I ask myself this as a teacher: what’s our role in increasing the frequency and severity of anxiety and depression among the students?”

Aiello is not alone in his thinking. Snyder faces the challenge of considering both the academics and emotions of students on a daily basis.

“It’s a challenge to be in a competitive academic environment when it’s at odds with having a solid social and emotional well-being philosophy,” Snyder said. “I think that sometimes those two run counter to each other.”

MOVING FORWARD

With the help of group therapy sessions, medication and a new and supportive friend group, Crall is doing much better.

“The one thing I would suggest for anyone who is feeling depressed is to surround yourself with people you are comfortable with,” Crall said. “I have an entirely new friend group now than I did last year, and I can be myself with them.”

Snyder sees the friend network as the first line of defense, along with a trusted adult.

“If they come in here, we can talk about cop-

ing strategies to challenge the depression and research in depression and anxiety. Such ideas acknowledged the problem,” Snyder said. “I as “No-Homework Weekend” have been implewould also suggest that they get help from an mented to acknowledge the mental health of outside professional.” the students. But Aiello sees the progress at Androphy agrees that a strong friend net- CHS as a fight against long-standing stigmas. work is key to recovery, but realizing the support “There are some people who still believe that is there may be hard for someone who is severe- mental health is not as important as physical ly depressed. health,” Aiello said.

Sometimes this “We are swimming line of defense upstream here.” is not enough.

College coun“You may see somebody out selor Carolyn Blair “[If someone is severely agrees with Aiello playing frisbee in the quad, depressed] it and Snyder that and have no clue that they doesn’t matter there is no limit to that other peo- may be going home and carry- the amount of eduple care, that cation the school ing a backpack full of anxiety can provide on the their friends are calling, that issue of depression. and depression or ideas of other people are Along with edulooking out for cating the student self-harm.” you. It’s what body and staff, you’re feeling Aiello describes Mark Snyder yourself,” Anthe Psychology drophy said.

Club’s role in raisTwelfth Grade Counselor “So people need ing awareness on to look out for issues of mental people.” health.

If you suspect your friend might be deWith an increasing awareness comes inpressed or considering self-harm, Aiello urges creasing identification. There is no limit to the you to take the initiative and ask. amount we can educate. The key, according to “If they were thinking about doing it, that Androphy, is to keep things in perspective. may be all they needed to get some help,” Aiello “Happiness now and anticipated success in said. life should not be based on whether you achieve The other critical piece of defense is educat- a high mark in an AP course or whether you get ing the teachers. Snyder believes that the adults into your first choice of colleges,” Androphy model the behavior for the students. Aiello said. “The most important thing is to have a balworks to educate the staff on the most recent ance.” 

OLD SCHOOL ALL-STARS

by PETER BAUGH Photos Courtesy of Teachers

Throughout CHS, there are successful athletes whose stories are not often heard: teachers. From nearly making the Olympics to receiving full rides to college, some teachers have excelled in sports, playing at all different levels across the country. These teachers serve as a testament that athletics can take people to places they never imagined.

David Kohmetscher In the world of swimming, two hundredths of a second is a lot. So, when CHS math teacher David Kohmetscher finished third in the 50-meter freestyle at the 1988 United States Olympic Trials, two hundredths of a second off of making the Olympics, he was not disappointed.

At the Olympic Trials, only the top two swimmers in each event compete in the games.

Had he made the 1988 Olympic team and swam in the 50-meter freestyle with his time at trials, Kohmetscher, ranked third in the world, would have finished in third place and would have received a bronze medal.

Though some would blame the Olympic sys-

tem for only taking the top two swimmers from each country, Kohmetscher buys into the concept of the games, that it is a world event, not a place where only one nation excels.

“It’s not supposed to be all the best [athletes] from one country,” Kohmetscher said.

Kohmetscher began swimming with his family at the age of ten, and was a dominant swimming force by the time he was a senior at his Michigan high school.

“My senior year, I swam the 500 [yard freestyle] and the 50 [yard freestyle], won them both [and] set state records in both,” he said.

In college, Kohmetscher swam for The Ohio State University before transferring to Michigan State after an injury. He did not swim at Michigan State, intending to quit the sport. A

year later, Kohmetscher regained his interest when his brother began swimming at the University of Iowa, and he transferred to join the Iowa squad.

While at Iowa, Kohmetscher was a six time All-American swimmer, setting a team record in the 50-yard freestyle that lasted until last year.

Now, Kohmetscher is a math teacher at CHS and the assistant girls’ swim coach to Katelyn Long, a fellow Iowa swimming alumni. Now that he is a coach, he has taken a lot from his swimming days into how he approaches coaching. “[I]t is not really about becoming the best in the world, best in the state or whatever,” he said. “It’s about doing the best that you can at any one thing and improving yourself.”

Susan Teson Though she would be the first to say she has bad knees, English teacher Susan Teson may be the most widely decorated athlete at CHS. If a Clayton student were to play varsity sports year round for four straight years, he or she would finish with twelve varsity letters.

Susan Teson finished with eleven at Parkway South, playing varsity softball, basketball and track.

Teson competed in a wide variety of athletics growing up, softball being her primary sport.

She began playing when she was eight years old with a small softball team. Soon, though, the small group of girls became very serious, playing over 100 nationwide games a summer by the time she was in eighth grade.

“We traveled all over the country to California, New Mexico, Florida to play in tourna-

ments,” Teson, who played shortstop and pitcher, said. “It was incredibly intense.”

Her sophomore year, the team finished ninth in the nation.

Teson also played for Parkway South, and still holds the state record for hits per game and was named to the All-State team.

Teson got interested in track and field when she was approached by the track coach after he saw her play in field hockey.

“I was pretty fast, and he asked me if I would come out for track,” Teson said. “And so I did, and I was a sprinter, oftentimes the only white girl on the line.”

Teson helped the Parkway South team finish eighth in state in the 4x400 meter relay, despite rainy conditions the day of the state meet.

Teson’s excellence in sports and academics made her the first female scholar athlete to be named from Parkway South, along with getting her inducted into the Parkway South Sports

Hall of Fame.

Ultimately, it was her softball skills that led both Northwestern University and Iowa State University to offer her full rides to college, but she turned both down.

“I didn’t take them because by that time I was just done with softball,” she said. “It dominated my life for so long, but I really wanted to try something else.”

Teson attended DePauw University, a small liberal arts school in Indiana. She ended up coaching softball, track and basketball at Kirkwood High School before getting married and teaching at Clayton.

Overall, Teson’s coaches were her biggest influence.

“I think about the people that helped forge my character,” Teson said. “My high school softball coach, my select team coach and my track coach were just really, really special men who encouraged me to just be my best.”

Melissa Hobick Whenever Melissa Hobick played a sport while growing up, she wanted to play it right.

This attitude led Hobick to make varsity golf for Edwardsville High School as a freshman, despite only beginning to play at age 13.

While she played in high school, the Edwardsville team competed at the state tournament Hobick’s freshman, junior and senior years. Her junior year Hobick finished eighth in the state and led the team to a third place finish.

Though the sport led her to many unique experiences, Hobick feels the friendships she made in high school were her favorite part about golfing.

“The girls on the team and I were very tight, we were very close,” she said. “In fact, I am still friends with some of them.”

Hobick’s superior golfing earned her a scholarship to Illinois State, which was a wonderful but consuming experience for her.

“I think a lot of people should know that when you get into college sports it’s intense and sometimes you may not have the exact same college experience as somebody who doesn’t play sports,” Hobick said.

She continued to excel in college, as Illinois State won the conference tournament her junior year.

However, Hobick began to tire of golf, at tending SIU Edwardsville after playing golf with Illinois State and taking a break.

She did not play golf for two and a half years, but when she interviewed to teach health at Clayton, Hobick felt her passion for the sport return. “[T]hey didn’t have a girls’ golf team when I started here, which shocked me, so I approached the athletic director at the time and said, ‘I’d really, really like to start one’,” Hobick said.

Taking the job at Clayton sparked her interest again, and changed her philosophy on the

Mike Nelke One of the most exciting sporting events of the year is the NCAA Men’s Division One Basketball Tournament, commonly known as March Madness. Mike Nelke, activities director and head basketball coach at the high school, participated in the tournament, playing with Valparaiso University his sophomore year of college.

Nelke, a St. Louis native who attended McCluer High School, was a four year varsity starter for the McCluer High School Comets, who play in the Suburban North Conference.

Nelke started playing in his elementary school days, competing with a very successful church team.

“I think from second grade to eighth grade we probably lost five or six games in those six or seven years,” Nelke said. “We won a ton of games and I got to play with kids around my community.”

In high school, Nelke’s team got as far as the state quarterfinals. He left McCluer as the all-time leading scorer, but the record has since been broken. His outstanding performance led many schools to recruit him. Nelke ended up choosing to attend Valparaiso, and he looks back fondly on his time there.

“I only stayed there two years, we won a ton

game. The athletic director agreed to let her coach golf, and Hobick has since led the Clayton girls’ team to two Ritenour Ryder Cup titles.

“I started loving the game again … I want the girls on my team to love this game,” Hobick said.

“It’s a lifelong sport, it’s not something that you are just going to do in high school like a lot of the [other] high school sports are. It’s something you can do for a long time.”

of games and had some very, very talented guys that played,” Nelke said. “Overall it was a good experience.”

In his sophomore year, the Valparaiso squad faced off against Kentucky in the NCAA tournament, but fell short of advancing to the next round.

Following his sophomore season, Nelke transferred to Southeast Missouri State, where he played for two seasons.

Over the course of his basketball career, Nelke played against many players who made it to the NBA. These players included Kurt Hinrich, Tayshaun Prince, Keith Bogans and Luke Walton.

After finishing college, Nelke considered playing professionally in Europe, but ended up deciding to stop playing basketball. He has now coached for seven years, currently moving up to the head coaching job for the Clayton team.

In his experiences with basketball, Nelke has put in a lot of effort. Though he was very committed to basketball growing up, he never saw it as work.

“To me, when I played basketball it wasn’t work. I loved going to the gym, I loved going to the weight room, I loved playing,” Nelke said.

“So looking back on my high school days and middle school days and college days, to me it was never work, it was fun.” 

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ATHLETE PROFILE

Elliott drives to the hoop in a Clayton victory over MICDS. Elliott is playing in his second season on varsity. (Patrick Butler)

MAKING AN IMPRESSION

Although he is the youngest player on the squad, sophomore Mitch Elliott is one of the basketball team’s best players.

A

s a basketball player, Mitch Elliott can do a little bit of everything. Only a sophomore, Elliott, a guard, has proven his value to the Clayton squad.

Head basketball coach Mike Nelke describes Elliott as a “high character kid,” feeling he leads by example both on and off the court.

“He is very nice, he is great in the classroom, he is great out of the classroom, he comes to practice every day and just works,” Nelke said.

“He is one of those silent leaders ... he is one of those guys you can always point to and say, ‘you know, he is doing everything we ask him to do.’”

As a player, Elliott has been on the varsity squad since his freshman year, earning an allconference honorable mention in his first season. Although receiving praise from coaches and teammates, freshman year was a growing experience for Elliott, as he saw his basketball responsibilities drastically change from when he was in middle school.

“Because we had two really good seniors last year, I went from more of a scorer in eighth grade to a passer and role player [freshman year],” Elliott said.

by PETER BAUGH This adjustment stands out to Justin Gell- mates even if they have had a bad game,” Elliott man, a sophomore on the JV team, as the most said. striking quality Elliott has shown.

His defense also stands out. Nelke feels he “What impresses me about Mitch is that he can have Elliott guard other team’s top players. went from just playing eighth grade basketball, “I think he accepts the challenge [of guardplaying against kids his own age, to playing ing good players],” Nelke said. “He looks foragainst kids that ward to it, I think are 18-years-old,” he enjoys playing Gellman said. defense, which, “He is one of those silent leaders ... he for a lot of high Initially, Elliott thought the transischool kids, that is one of those guys you can always tion would be diffiis not easy to say.” point to and say, ‘you know, he is docult, but he credits As for Elliott’s ing everything we ask him to do.’” past seniors for basketball future, making it smootha lot is still undeer and being helptermined. Nelke Mike Nelke ful. believes that, due Head Basketball Coach Now Nelke feels to his work ethic that Elliott is a vetand skill, Elliott eran, and that players in the basketball program will play somewhere if he wants to in college, are beginning to see him as a leader. but does not yet know at what level. Elliott him“I think this year kids in our program know self wants to play for as long as he can, but has that this is his second year on varsity, and as not begun to think about the college process. a sophomore that is pretty impressive,” Nelke No matter where Elliott ends up after his said. “I think kids throughout our program, time at CHS, Nelke views him as an asset on young and old, look up to him.” the Clayton team, and trusts his abilities as a Elliott works to be a positive influence on player. fellow players which is a reason why he is seen “I always feel very safe when Mitch is on the as a team leader despite his young age. floor,” Nelke said. “I know he is going to do the “I try to be supportive [and] help my team- right thing out there.” 

LOOKING AHEAD

SPORTS

Experienced coach Tom Redmond will be taking over as girls’ soccer coach this season.

by GABBY BOEGER

G

irls’ soccer will have a short meeting after school in Stuber health room B,” was heard over the intercom after school on Dec. 11. The girls’ soccer team had been anxiously anticipating the announcement of their new coach.

For the past 11 years, history teacher Paul Hoelscher coached the girls, and for five years before that, he headed the boys’ soccer team.

“Coaching is a wonderful job and I loved every moment of it, but it takes a lot of time away from your own family,” Hoelscher said, citing it as the reason he resigned.

Hoelscher believes in the positive impact that soccer gives the girls.

“In one week at school (within just three days), I received a handwritten note from a player who graduated last year, an email from an alum who was selected to be a White House intern and a phone call from a professor who had just interviewed a former CHS student for a prestigious post-graduate scholarship,” he said.

“All of these communications had one thing in common - the three individuals all played girls’ soccer at CHS and cited the experience in our program as a significant aspect of their personal growth.”

An exciting experience for Hoelscher was seeing how his team came together last year.

“It was amazing watching one of our toughest defenders, Katie Marvel, become a goalkeeper because of an injury to Stephanie Avery,”

Hoelscher said. “I didn’t see that one coming. I really enjoy when a team rallies around adversity.”

With Holscher’s resignation the search for a new coach commenced and ultimately Tom Redmond, the current coach of the CHS boys’ team, was given the position.

Bob Bone, athletic director at CHS, has positive feelings about the transition.

“We felt he [Redmond] was the best fit for our program,” he said.

Redmond has been involved with soccer his whole life. He began his coaching career at Indiana University for two seasons before coaching at University of Missouri St. Louis for 14 years.

Redmond has also coached youth soccer, including a girls’ select team for the Metro Strikers Soccer Club.

Besides coaching soccer, Redmond also played at Meramec Community College when they won the Junior College National Championship his freshman year. Then he played for two years at Indiana University.

After college, Redmond played four years professionally, two in Chicago and two in Indianapolis. He has been the boys’ coach at CHS for

the past three years, which he has enjoyed.

Not only does Redmond have a strong soccer background, but he enjoys the game for its uniqueness.

“I love the challenge of coaching a sport that is virtually impossible for a player to have a perfect game ... but yet we coach and play the game striving for perfection,” Redmond said. “As a coach, I still leave a lot of room within a system of play, to let players be creative and innovative.”

With clearly a great deal of experience, Redmond is ready to start the season with the girls’ team.

“Coach Hoelscher has really done a great job for many years with the team, and I know that he has provided a great foundation for the girls to be successful both on and off the field,” Redmond said.

Redmond is excited about his coaching opportunity, and plans to keep the girls’ team competitive.

“I have said this to the boys’ team and parents. Coaching at CHS is a privilege,” Redmond said. “It is one that I do not take lightly, and I will commit to the girls’ team that same dedication and respect for the privilege as I have for the boys.” 

Redmond (top) will start as the girls’ coach this spring. (Globe Archives) The girls’ team (above) huddles before a game last season. (Emma Vierod)

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R

WARRIOR

EVIEW

by NINA MUROV    

Ke$ha likes to have a good time. She’ll sing about it in her songs, over and over again. But isn’t that what makes Ke$ha, Ke$ha? The dollar sign in her name would be out of place if her songs were about growing up and becoming well, boring.

“Warrior” is Ke$ha’s new album. The themes of her songs aren’t very different from her past songs — they are about having a good time, regretting it the next morning, and then doing it all again the next night. But what makes “Warrior” stand out from her previous albums is the fact that Ke$ha seems to be actually trying to improve her vocals.

The first two singles off of the album were “Die Young” and “C’mon.” Both are heavy electro pop songs about making the most out of every day. They are up-beat dance anthems that pop radio stations love to play. Ke$ha’s vocals on “C’mon” are a little more digital than they are on “Die Young,” but both songs are more of

the pop star actually singing, rather than talking.

“Crazy Kids” is yet another pop song about having a good time. “Tonight we do it big and shine like stars/we don’t really care ‘cause that’s just who we are.” But what makes “Crazy Kids” stand out is the vocals. Ke$ha delivers her best vocal performance on this song. She sings different pitches with a light guitar and whistle in the background. The chorus is a little heavier, but not overdone.

“Past Lives” is a song about a connection between Ke$ha and a guy. She sings, “There’s just something ‘bout you I know/ It started centuries ago, though/See your kiss is like a lost ghost/Only I would know.” This song is a lot slower compared to the other songs on “Warrior,” and Ke$ha’s voice is a lot deeper and calmer. It’s out of her comfort zone, but it ends up being a nice break from the wildness of the other songs.

“Warrior” has done well, and has kept Ke$ha in the game. Her fans (or animals, as she refers to them) have been loyal, and the pop star is now planning another world tour for 2013. If this album doesn’t put you in a good mood, at the very least it will make you laugh. 

Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain

THE CASUAL VACANCY

by JULIE KIM

  “The Casual Vacancy” is J.K. Rowling’s new novel, set in a fictional English town named Pagford. The book doesn’t quite measure up to Rowling’s hit series, “Harry Potter,” nor is it appropriate for her normal audience of youngsters as the themes touched upon are drugs, rape and physical abuse.

The novel starts off with the sudden death of Barry Fairbrother, a member of the council in Pagford, which causes a change in the small town and its inhabitants.

After his death, the main problem is whether the town should keep The Fields, a housing Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain

project where many financially troubled people live, as part of the town or whether The Fields should be a part of a local town, Yarvil.

Also, his death provides his rivals a chance to get his vacant seat in the council, which causes some of the other candidates’ children to write damaging messages about their parents.

Overall, this book didn’t meet my expectations for Rowling. Her “Harry Potter” series was much better this novel. It wasn’t as action packed and exciting, for one, and two, it was a little more adult than this high schooler was hoping. 

RED DAWN

by YOSSI KATZ

 In 1984, the first PG-13 movie hit the big screen. “Red Dawn,” starring Charlie Sheen, chronicled a group of teenagers’ response to a foreign invasion. 28 years later the remake has been released, starring Chris Hemsworth and Josh Peck.

Set in Spokane, Washington, a group of teenagers calling themselves the “Wolverines” conducts guerrilla warfare against the occupying North Korean army. They raid checkpoints, killing soldiers and stealing weapons.

The Wolverines, named after the local high school football team, become such a thorn in the side of the North Koreans that the occupiers are forced to hold a propaganda campaign demonizing the group.

LIFE OF PI

by GWYNE HENKE

     As I walked into a dark movie theatre showing “Life of Pi,” I was nervous. Yann Martel’s book, upon which the movie is based, is one of my favorites, and the trailers I had seen for Ang Lee’s adaptation seemed to me as straying from the plot and overdone.

After seeing Lee’s creation, however, my fears and misconceptions were swept away.

The 127 minute movie is a visual masterpiece from the start, so much so that the opening credits themselves could be displayed independently as art. The narrative of the story is equally rewarding, and the film rarely strays from the plot presented in Martel’s novel.

“Life of Pi” tells the story of 16-year-old Pi Patel (Suraj Sharma), the son of a zookeeper (Adil Hussain) living in Pondicherry, India. The beginning of the movie describes Pi’s childhood introductions to religion. Born a Hindu, Pi also becomes a Christian and later a Muslim, and his devout and pious nature helps Pi survive the trials which he faces throughout the film.

When Pi’s father decides to sell the family zoo and move to Canada to escape the failing economy in their town, Pi’s family must board the Tsimtsum, a Japanese freighter which also

Jed Eckert (Hemsworth) is a Marine on leave who keeps a cool head through the fog of war, while his brother Matt (Peck) is a soft-spoken high school star quarterback. This relationship between brothers is strained and tested for much of the movie, catalyzing Matt’s character development.

Despite the big-name cast and large budget “Red Dawn” is a flop. From the opening montage of clips, there are nuclear explosions that cause no physical damage, electronics that work when apparently no electronics work, and a motivated and not-starving North Korean military that can somehow project power into North America without Washington noticing.

If you’re looking for explosions, patriotism, explosive patriotism and patriotic explosions, this is your movie. If you’re looking for big name actors and a plot that barely applied during the Cold War, 28 years ago, this is your movie. But if you’re looking for a good movie, then we might have a bit of an issue. Skip “Red Dawn.” 

carries their zoo animals. The ship sinks in a tragic storm en route, and Pi escapes on a lifeboat with a zebra, a hyena, an orangutan, a rat, and an adult Bengal tiger named Richard Parker.

While excellently relating the terror that life at sea inspires, Sharma gives a stirring performance that constantly reminds the audience of Pi’s unwavering faith.

The movie’s narrative jumps back and forth between Pi’s aquatic struggles and an adult Pi (Irrfan Khan), living in Canada, who is being interviewed by a writer (Rafe Spall) looking for a story that will make him “believe in God.” These interludes help to comfort the audience of Pi’s survival, and because of their careful placement in the action they don’t detract from the flow of the story.

The movie’s stunning visual effects further add to the other-worldy nature of this brilliant film, and the 3D filming (which can be distracting in other movies) only adds to the beauty.

Not only did Rhythm & Hues Studios (the company which created the visual effects) create many of the breathtaking sea creatures which fill the movie, but they also took on the challenge of creating the Bengal tiger who costars with Suraj Sharma. While a real tiger was used for a handful of scenes, the majority of shots were digitized, taking visual effects to a realm of reality seldom reached.

Compelling performances, breathtaking visual effects and an enthralling plot make “Life

Photo Offical Movie Site/Public Domain

of Pi” a must-see in a season filled with fantastic movies, and it promises important lessons of life and religion fitting to the start of a new year. 

Photo Life of Pi Official Site/Public Domain

35

LES MISÉRABLES

by NURI YI

   

Tom Hooper’s movie adaptation of Boubil and Schönberg’s musical “Les Misérables” is emotional, grand and ambitious. The movie, set in 19th century France, follows the life of the convict Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman), who, after being released from prison and breaking his parole, vows to redeem himself and become an honest man.

Feeling responsible for the death of Fantine, a dismissed factory worker, Valjean raises Cosette, Fantine’s illegitimate daughter, and is pursued by the policeman Javert. Cosette falls in love with Marius Pontmercy, who is part of a group of students preparing to revolt against the conservative Orleanist regime, led by the passionate and charismatic Enjolras.

Like the musical, nearly all of the dialogue is sung, but the movie adaptation also makes references to Victor Hugo’s original novel.

Tom Hooper’s decision of singing live on set, instead of lip-synching and recording after, makes the movie more genuinely emotional and touching; the voices are not as strong as the musical versions, where the voices must fill an entire theater, but the decent singing is made more powerful by the subtlety of the acting.

Amanda Seyfried’s Cosette sounded pure and innocent, but warbling at times. Eddie

Redmayne was a fantastic Marius, managing to juggle both the lovesick boy and the revolutionary. Hugh Jackman gave a heroic performance as Jean Valjean.

While Russell Crowe’s Javert was one of the weaker links in the ensemble, he wasn’t terrible.

Anne Hathaway’s performance as Fantine is particularly heart-wrenching, especially in her rendition of “I Dreamed A Dream.” Aaron Tveit is a ruthless, zealous, and wonderful Enjolras.

The movie is more intimate than the musical, with the camera often focusing entirely on one person for an entire scene for one take.

This can feel claustrophobic at times, considering the expanse and grandeur of the plot.

Some lyrics and songs were cut or switched around in order to fit everything in, and the movie feels a little rushed, but considering that the book was nearly 1,500 pages, it seems unavoidable — the movie is 157 minutes long anyway.

Though the movie is not flawless and its differences from the musical may alienate some original fans, Tom Hooper’s adaptation of “Les Misérables” shows the fragility of people and their strength of hope through adversity, like the musical and the novel that came before it, and delivers the message powerfully.  Official Movie Poster/Public Domain

INCOGNITO: THE SECRET LIVES OF THE BRAIN

by JEFFREY FRIEDMAN      Textbooks, fiction, memoirs, you name it– reading was never really my thing. But I have finally found the book that makes learning fun.

My fingers were glued to the cover of “Incognito” for all 224 pages.

While it may seem as though the conscious mind makes up most of our existence, Neuroscientist David Eagleman argues that our lives are actually mostly governed by the unconscious mind. Most of what we do and think is far from our conscious control.

Eagleman provides the reader with a backstage pass to our own heads – one that allows us to understand the part of us that isn’t us.

On Eagleman’s interesting journey through the secret lives of the brain, the reader begins to understand the endless responsibilities held by the pink jell-o like organ.

36

There is so much to learn about the brain and human behavior, and Eagleman does an excellent job of including the most important overarching themes and simplifying them so the average human can comprehend. There is a true skill in doing so, and not only has Eagleman mastered this style of writing, but he makes the information fun.

“Ours is an incredible story,” Eagleman wrote. “As far as anyone can tell, we’re the only system on the planet so complex that we’ve thrown ourselves headlong into the game of deciphering our own programming language.”

“Incognito” takes advantage of this phenomenon by providing us with an opportunity to decipher the vast number of discoveries science has made on our most important organ and, to me, this is the neatest thing in the world.  Photo by Abraham Bluestone

DJANGO UNCHAINED

by CHRIS SLECKMAN

   

This extremely violent and incredibly entertaining film directed by Quentin Tarantino never backs down from an opportunity to create a disturbing, harrowing scene. Quentin Taratino loves to make movies with lots of blood and guts and this movie is no exception.

A man beats another man to death with a hammer, a pack of dogs chew apart a runaway slave, and throughout the movie, there is blood practically exploding from people’s chests whenever they are shot.

Set two years before the Civil War, “Django Unchained,” follows the journey of the freed black man Django, played by Jamie Foxx, and bounty hunter Dr. King Schultz, played by Christoph Waltz, as they connect with all sorts of interesting Southern characters.

Dr. Schultz pairs up with Django because Django can lead Dr. Schultz to his next bounty.

After this successful bounty, Django is given his freedom and can choose to leave Dr. Schultz if he so pleases. However, Django decides to stay with Dr. Schultz, hoping that Dr. Schultz can help

him find his wife, Broomhilda, who he is forcefully separated from.

Django and Dr. Schultz create a great bounty hunting team and their two very different characters help them be successful. Django is a man who is unafraid. He talks back to white males, which was unheard of at that time and has “the quickest shot in the South.” Dr. Schultz is an experienced bounty hunter, who finds a way to sneak out of almost every seemingly deadly situation. He is a relaxed character who does most of the talking for the duo.

After the duo successfully kills and collects bounties throughout the winter, they decide to try and find Broomhilda. Their search leads them to “Candyland,” one of the largest plantations in Mississippi, owned by Calvin Candie, played brilliantly by Leonardo DiCaprio. While Django and Dr. Schultz are on the plantation under false identities Candie’s right-hand man Stephen, played by Samuel L. Jackson, catches on to their plan and Django is forced to violently improvise in an attempt to save the love of his life. 

Official Movie Poster/Public Domain

THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED

by NEIL DOCHERTY JOURNEY   

“The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” follows the adventure of a hobbit named Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) as he is swept up in an epic quest to reconquer the dwarf city of Erebor from a dragon that stole it years ago, before the dwarves’ enemy gets there first.

The movie starts off slow with flashbacks of the past and establishes the characters and setting. The slow start to get the plot rolling can be tough for those without patience, but the graphics and imagination of the movie makes it a bearable wait.

Baggins and the dwarves with the help of the Wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen) fight their way through Middle Earth in hopes of recapturing their city. Throughout the quest, they face many obstacles. The goblins, a mortal enemy of the Dwarves, will stop at nothing to destroy

them. During the journey, the dwarves will learn about each other and learn the true value of friendship and trust.

While fighting their way from the goblins, Baggins meets a character unbeknownst to him that changes him forever. Baggins also acquires a possession that is linked to the fate of Middle Earth in ways that Baggins cannot fathom.

The middle of the movie is filled with action, mind blowing graphics as well as stunning scenery, but the action begins to fade near the end of the movie before they even reach their goal of reconquering Ereborn.

The movie has cliffhanger ending - in part to take in more money for the studio that has three Hobbit films slated. This is more than irritating because sitting for almost three hours

Official Movie Poster/Public Domain

deserves some sort of conclusion, which the movie doesn’t deliver.

Despite the lack of a proper closing and a slow start the “The Hobbit” is still an entertaining movie for older children and adults. If you do decide to see “The Hobbit” don’t go to the late showing, for you might find yourself nodding off at some parts. 

37

A PALESTINE ENDORSEMENT?

38

ets at civilian communities, Israel uses pinpoint airstrikes to minimize casualties. If Palestinians didn’t store their weapons caches in populated areas those few casualties would be zero.

For example, The Jerusalem Post reports that the civilian casualty ratio of Palestinians is one civilian to every 10 or 28 terrorists, depending on the source. And for comparison, The New York Times reports that the global ratio since the mid-twentieth century has been 10 civilians per militant. Compared to the rest of the world, Israel is at worst 100 times better at minimizing civilian casualties.

Some manage to look past all of this evidence and blindly call for an immediate Palestinian state. But Palestinians have not held elections since 2006, as Hamas and the Fatah, the other Palestinian party which runs the West Bank through the PA, retain their grasps on power.

How can anyone support the creation of a state that - without any regard for Israel of its part in the peace process - would be made up of terrorists and corrupt millionaires who grease their palms with billions of dollars of foreign aid? Also, this proposed state would likely be undemocratic.

After decades of terrorism and rejection of massive Israeli concessions, the Palestinians do not deserve the right to unilaterally dictate the borders of Israel and a future Palestine. Any American, European or Israeli who supports this state is either completely ignoring the facts or is inherently biased against Israel.

The creation of “Palestine” at the United Nations is a disastrous move that threatens the real peace process - direct, bilateral negotiations. Join Israel and the U.S. in opposing it.  ry T om

ats

u

anti-American terrorists, and rejects any semblance of peaceful democracy.

When one “Palestine” is ruled by two rival factions, one of which is sworn to Israel’s destruction and the murder of Israeli civilians (Hamas); and the other publicly celebrates suicide bombers (the PA), Israel should feel no great need to make concessions.

When the supposedly moderate faction (once again the PA) steals roughly 40-60 percent of foreign aid and ranks among the most corrupt organizations in the world, Israel should feel no great need to make concessions.

When, according to the Israel Project 72 percent of Palestin-

her

n Nov. 29 a group of Palestinians led by Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas held a vote in the UN General Assembly on Palestinian statehood. A yea vote supported the elevation of “Palestine” to a nonmember observer state, equaling Vatican City in terms of influence.

The measure passed 138-9, with most notably the U.S. and Israel opposing. In a major embarrassment for Israel, many European nations expected to vote nay, instead abstained.

And so Palestinians celebrated.

In the West Bank and Gaza they held celebrations, waving flags and firing guns.

In 1993 Israel and the Palestinians agreed to the Oslo Accords, a treaty that laid the foundations of peace.

Brokered by President Clinton, Oslo brought the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) and Israel to the negotiating table for the first time.

Oslo formed the PA, which currently governs most of the West Bank largely without Israeli oversight.

Why is Oslo relevant? Because it clearly states that any future Palestinian state must be created solely through negotiations between Israel and the PA. Instead of honoring their previous commitments, the Palestinians have decided to take a unilateral approach to solving the conflict. They have torn the already weak tapestry of peace, leaving only threads of hatred.

Any serious path to peace includes a Palestinian state - I do not debate this. However, Americans cannot support a Palestinian state in this form. Why? Because “Palestine” is ruled by a combination of corrupt autocrats and jihadist

by C

O

Palestine is declared a state, but the U.S. and Israel stand together and against the declaration.

ians [endorse] the denial of Jewish history in Jerusalem, 62 percent [support] kidnapping IDF soldiers and holding them hostage and 53 percent [are] in favor of teaching songs about hating Jews in Palestinian schools, the world should not support Palestinian statehood.

Perhaps these terrorists are merely freedom fighters resisting the evil, racist, genocidal colonial occupiers? Do freedom fighters use human shields? Do they store weapons and house prisoners in schools, hospitals and mosques?

Do freedom fighters try to maximize their own civilian casualties for propaganda purposes?

Well maybe Hamas is evil, but Israel is just as bad, right? Wrong. While Palestinians fire rock-

- YOSSI KATZ

STAFF ED

DEPRESSION

COMMENTARY

I

nsecurities are all around CHS. Students are concerned with body image and keeping up with the newest trends. Though some of these emotions are common teenage worries, others are not.

When does a person go from having typical high school worries to something more serious?

When does it develop into depression?

It is impossible to cure depression without truly knowing what it is. And before it can be helped, the problem must be identified.

The Centers for Disease Control says that around one in every 10 Americans are depressed.

If this statistic holds true, that means that in every classroom of 20 students, two are suffering from depression.

Depression can range from self inflicted pain or having suicidal thoughts to just feeling sad. In some people’s cases, it is almost impossible to tell that they are depressed. In fact, many people suffering look and act just like their peers. No matter how much laughter, happiness or self confidence they display, only the individual knows how they are really feeling.

Though one in 10 people are said to have depression, there is no telling how many more cases are unknown. This has to change.

Depression is not something to be ashamed of. If a person is dealing with these emotions, it is important for them to realize that they will not be thought less of for confiding in someone else.

This responsibility goes two ways. Any friend, family member or doctor needs to be prepared to listen. Serious problems cannot be shrugged off.

Even if a friend presents an issue that seems normal, it may not be. Listen. Sympathize. If the person needs help, tell their parents or another trusted adult. By doing this, it can bring the person one step closer to getting the help that they need.

In this edition of the Globe, the cover story discusses the issue of depression. Students opened up about their experiences and the struggles they have endured, and the story looks into the medical perspective of the illness.

The Globe’s goal is not to solve the problem, but to identify it. There is no way to cure every case of depression, but simply being more educated about the subject, knowing the signs and what to do about them, can make a huge difference to a struggling individual.

Depression is not clear cut. We don’t always know how another is feeling. So we all must be ready to listen, talk and play the necessary role in making life for everyone a little bit brighter. 

39

CL-CLA-CLAYTON

While academics are rallied around at CHS, sometimes athletics go unappreciated.

A

thletes at Clayton dedicate a large percentage of their lives in order to excel in their chosen sport.

However, too much of the student body, this goes unnoticed, as students are too engrossed in their studies to appreciate the great student athletes Clayton has.

CHS has high academic standards which are broadcasted for everyone to know. Between banners in the commons and the school website, it is obvious that we are proud of our high test scores and rigorous classes, but do sports play a role in this?

As a student, can you name the sports that we excel at? The answer to that is most likely no. People are too wrapped up in their academic studies and their own lives to recognize the

40

Graphic by Christina DiFelice and Audrey Palmer sports scene, even at their own high school.

Look at the stands for any sports home game.

Football is the only sport which seems to draw even the slightest crowd. And this football crowd is not necessarily the same as other schools’ sports stands. Enthusiasm comes from a select few students while the rest use the game as an excuse to get out. Many teams get an audience of only a few parents who take time out of their busy schedules while students are too busy with their academic or social lives. What’s worse is there are some times when visiting teams have more fans than our home teams.

Only fall sports teams have the chance to perform at the pep rally and be talked about to their peers, but even that does not spark the interest of students to attend other sports games.

What about the winter and spring sports? They should get more recognition than the few seconds of fame they are given when they win a big

game and their accomplishments are read on the morning announcements.

For students it is understandable that your life is full of academics and your own sports as well as a play or two, however; it is necessary to make time to support your fellow classmates and attend other sports games or meets. Doing so can be a great way to take a break from your studies and cheer on your school.

It’s a chance to foster school spirit and have fun in high school which will be a time remembered for the rest of our lives.

Sports at CHS need to take a greater priority than they do now. Students should be cheering their fellow classmates on so that they too can feel what it’s like to have a sense of pride and accomplishment, and so that they feel the Clayton community is supportive of them. 

- BRIDGET BOEGER

COMMENTARY

Photos from bottom left, clockwise. A.J. Joseph plays for the greyhound squad (Patrick Butler), David Behrend works on an equation (William Wysession), Chris Cho participates in rocketry (William Wysession).

THE PRESSURE IS ON CHS students feel the pressure to do everything within their reach.

T

he pressure is on.

High schools everywhere tend to depict the perfect student as the kid who gets straight A’s and does every single extracurricular activity from sports to music to debate. Every student striving for acceptance to a top-notch college feels the weight of having to do everything and ace those rigorous classes, just like this kid.

But please, let’s take a step back and assess this situation. Is all of this really necessary?

It’s true, if everyone could be that kid, they would and it would be great. But where’s the fun in that?

And maybe the reality is that not everyone can be like that, so we shouldn’t focus on trying to do everything. Instead, let’s focus on our passions and stand out there. Wouldn’t that express yourself more than doing everything, even though you might not necessarily enjoy all of those activities?

It’s sad to think what this pressure does to us high school students. I know Clayton takes pride in their academic achievements and how outstanding each student is, but sometimes, I wonder: is it really worth something to be proud about if students lose sleep in order to take the most difficult classes their schedules can offer?

Is it really something we should crown if there are actually students resorting to cheating because they see that as the only way to get that perfect score?

If anything, I hope we’re not proud of that.

I definitely don’t think sleep deprived zombies are wonderful.

Yet, I think our school indirectly encourages this behavior from the students. Of course, everyone will say they don’t want to see their students wiped out. The fact is though, that some classes almost require that students study like maniacs and stay up… pretty late.

Here’s an example that our school seems very proud of: standardized test scores.

The beginning of this year, the school did not fail to announce that four seniors received

perfect scores of 36 on their ACT’s on the school administered test date in April. This is, as anyone can see, a huge achievement. But sometimes, it seems like our school puts too much emphasis on numbers. Does it have to be numbers? Numbers don’t tell us anything about what kind of person the student is.

And by emphasizing numbers, how does it affect other students? I don’t know how accurate my thoughts are, but I do believe that these numbers, these statistics, only pressure students even more to be, so to speak, perfect. And where does this lead back to? Our lovely perfect student syndrome.

I’m not asking for Clayton to suddenly stop caring about academics; I’m glad we have such an amazing program at our school. I’m only asking for reassessment in priorities; there is more to students than just grades, scores and course rigor. Let’s actually emphasize that instead of putting pressure on being absolutely perfect in everything. 

- SHIORI TOMATSU 41

PRO/CON

Books

by PETER SCHMIDT

BOOKS OR

NOOKS?

Graphics by Audrey Palmer

As I walked along the bustling streets of London, I discovered an ancient shop called Jarndyce Antiquary Books which appeared not to have changed in the past two hundred years.

Inside, the walls were covered floor to ceiling with thousands of leather bound and gold gilded tomes, some of which date to the age of Charles Dickens and Edgar Allen Poe. In recent years, the popularity of books and printed newspapers has been challenged by ereaders such as the Nook and the Kindle. Many people worry that progressing technology will render traditional methods obsolete.

But the very presence of that antiquated shop and the fact that even the oldest books are relevant in our changing culture is reassuring print lovers across the globe. Fear not, loyal readers: the printed word will never die.

Despite their convenience, e-readers present several problems. Most importantly, this new technology has blurred the definition of ownership. For instance, purchasing a paperback book gives you the legal power to lend, alter or donate that book. However, the red tape surrounding e-books prevents those casual literary exchanges that we take for granted.

According to the New York Times, the average adult spends 8.5 hours a day gazing at computer or tablet screens. Why should we add to our daily screen time by switching from traditional print to e-readers? The meditative process of reading a newspaper or book gives readers a much needed respite from our world of perpetually glowing interfaces.

Ironically, many e-readers are designed to distract their owners from actually reading. For instance, the latest Amazon Kindle Fire allows users to play Angry Birds, peruse Facebook or watch an episode of their favorite television show. It seems illogical to switch all of our literature to a medium that discourages reading and encourages mindless visual stimulation.

Many would disregard my argument as that of a hopeless romantic who is overly enamored with dusty literature. They say that the printed word will soon become as obsolete as vinyl records or horse drawn buggies. However, there is something alluring about the printed word that draws readers to bookstores again and again despite the convenience of new technology such as Kindles or Ipads.

Every book tells its own story. Before I could even read, I would sneak into my parent’s office and carefully unshelve the oldest books as if I were discovering some ancient trove of long forgotten knowledge.

On the inside cover of a yellowed copy os “As You Like It,” I found notes scribbled by a woman named Elizabeth Clifford in the year 1906. Although our lives occurred one hun-

dred years and two world wars apart, I felt a connection with history through the pages of that tattered Shakespeare play.

Unlike electronic literature, reading print is a sensory experience. The texture of the cover and the rustle of the turning pages, the soporific aroma of old paper and the worn corner of a page that has been thumbed again and again: these are the characteristics that imbue each book or newspaper with a unique personality.

There’s something inherently pleasing about flipping through pages simply for the sake of hearing their dry whisper.

Lastly, many books are objects of art unto themselves. Elaborately decorated manuscripts such as the Gutenberg bible and Book of Kells show us the artistic prowess and dedication of craftsman who made them.

In a culture which emphasizes technological progress and ruthless efficiency, it may seem that the printed word is doomed to become obsolete.

But he printed word has told our stories for thousands of years. And as long as there are stories to tell and people to listen, the printed word will never die. 

E-Readers

by RACHEL BLUESTONE The first generation of the Amazon Kindle was released on Nov. 19, 2007. Within a matter of months, several other e-readers were released as well, all of them selling abundantly.

The Kindle’s success was not just a fluke, nor a thoughtless series of actions. In the very near future, the printed word will become nearly extinct, whether we want it to or not.

There are several problems with the printed word: it wastes materials, can cause injuries (such as back injuries) and denies people the ability to move forward and adapt to modern technology. The human race wants to advance technologically, and the continued distribution of printed words is counterintuitive to this end.

To print a novel, a newspaper, or a magazine, hundreds of pieces of paper are used. On these pages is ink, a precious resource that can be expensive. Hundreds of thousands of books are printed that have hundreds of pages and thousands of cartridges of ink, but they are never read. While the average ink cartridge has enough ink for about 190 pages, a novel’s pages usually far exceeds that limit. However, with e-books, there is no paper and there is no ink. Instead, there are words on a screen that, yes, requires materials to create, but it is used everyday. Books, however, are not. And while opposing opinions may argue that it is much more dangerous for e-readers to be made, and that the factories where they are put together in China aren’t safe, one must keep in mind the economical advantages that e-readers offer.

Not only do they help reduce unemployment in

China by hiring new employees to make the devices, they also allow millions of readers to buy one device and suddenly have access to hundreds of free books, as well as access to others that they can purchase at any time. Instead of paying money for a printed book, e-reader owners will likely find that they can download the book for free on their e-reader.

It is a commonly known fact that books are heavy. When you carry them around all day, they begin to feel heavier and heavier until you can simply not take it anymore. You need to get these books off of your back, because your back is aching from the weight. The burdens some carry can cause back damage, back aches, and other countless injuries. This problem is exceptionally troublesome for high school students: as the Globe found earlier this year, the average high schooler’s backpack weighs about 18.3 pound average. This is made worse by physical books, some of which can weigh several pounds.

However, e-readers have the same weight no matter what the length of the book is that is read. Many schools have acknowledged this and have begun to require that each student have an iPad, on which they will be able to read and annotate their textbooks for classes.

The greatest problem with physical books is that they deny people the ability to move forward and to adapt to modern technology. It’s not just books that have to acknowledge this: magazines and newspapers such as Newsweek and The New York Times need to acknowledge this as well, and that they have.

In the world of journalism, departing from the printed word may actually be an advantage.

It is quicker, easier, and cheaper to post breaking news stories on news websites, rather than waiting to print a full length story for the next issue. The New York Times alone updates their website several times an hour, providing an immediate report of what is going on in the world to places in the world that don’t receive the newspaper. Newsweek announced in October 2012 that they were discontinuing their printed magazine at the end of 2012, after 80 years of publication, in favor of a website. “Currently,” editor in chief Tina Brown in her article announcing the cessation of the printed magazine said, “39% of Americans say they get their news from an online source, according to a Pew Research Center study released last month. In our judgment, we have reached a tipping point at which we can most efficiently and effectively reach our readers in all-digital format. This was not the case just two years ago. It will increasingly be the case in the years ahead.”

This new website, Newsweek Global, features the same stories one would see in the magazine. The difference? There’s no additional cost, no additional weight, and the reader can read whenever, whatever, and wherever they want. In addition to their Daily Beast site, Newsweek is ahead of the curve.

While many readers hope that the printed

word will continue, it likely will lose popularity in the years to come. It seems that in the next few years, printed books might become the record player of this generation: available at antique stores, for whomever chooses to linger in the past. The departure of the printed word will be the arrival of a new phase of human history: a time of technological prosperity without the threat of injury and waste of material. 

MISSING THE MARK

When it comes to gun control, just not talking about it is not an option.

by KATHERINE REN Shortly after the Aurora, Colo. shootings of GunPolicy.org said. that took place July of last year, discussion reAccording to the Coalition for Gun Control, garding tighter regulations on gun control were adjusting for population, the U.S death rate by quickly criticized with calls to avoid “politiciz- firearms — which includes homicides, suicide ing” the tragedy. and accidents — was 10.2 per 100,000 people Since then, Jovan Belcher, a linebacker for in 2009; Finland, the closest developed country, the Kansas City chiefs, took his girlfriend’s life followed at a distance with a death rate of 4.47 before takings his own. In Oregon, Jacob Tyler per 100,000 people in 2008.

Roberts entered a mall holding a semi-automatIn addition, according to Time, 15 of the 25 ic rifle, yelling, “I am the shooter.” And, Robert worst mass shootings that occurred in the last Lanza fatally shot 20 children and six adult 50 years took place in the United States. Finstaff members after opening fire at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.

When the Columbine Massacre took the lives of 12 students and one teacher in 1999, proponents to loose gun control laws stated that it was “too soon” to discuss regulations. Eight years later, when Seung-Hui Cho shot and killed 32 people on the campus of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, discussions regarding tighter regulations were once again avoided.

Nearly 14 years after the Columbine High School massacre and six years after the Virginia Tech massacre, the familiar ring of “too soon” once again fills the air in response to those pushing for stricter gun control measures.

But discussing how to put an end to mass shootings in Drawing by Victoria Yi the aftermath of a string of mass shootings should not be considered “too soon.” In fact, it is much too land once again took second place, with two late. entries.

According to CNN, there are an estimated While, Israel and Switzerland are often 270 million guns in the hands of civilians in the brought up in defense of the notion that high United States, placing Americans at the top of rates of gun ownership don’t necessarily lead to the list for the most heavily armed people in the high rates of gun crime, it is important to note world per capita. Yet, according to GunPolicy. that these two countries have very different org, the United States may also be considered a takes on their gun control regulations in comnation with relatively loose gun control policies. parison to the United States.

“You [the United States] are basically the “For instance, in Israel, they’re very limited only country in the developed world that in who is able to own a gun.” Janet Rosenbaum, doesn’t license gun owners across the board an assistant professor of epidemiology at the and you are almost alone in not registering School of Public Health at the State University guns across the board,” Philip Alpers, a firearms of New York said. “There are only a few tens of analyst at The University of Sydney and runner thousands of legal guns in Israel, and the only

people allowed to own them legally live in the settlements, do business in the settlements, or are in professions at risk of violence. Both countries require you to have a reason to have a gun. There isn’t this idea that you have a right to a gun. You need a reason. And then you need to go back to the permitting authority every six months or so to assure them the reason is still valid.”

According to the Washington Post, while most killers in the last three decades obtained their weapons legally, states with stricter gun control laws have fewer deaths from gun-related violence.

While the disclaimer here is that correlation is not causation, it seems reasonable to say that maybe it is time to re-examine our current procedures.

Perhaps, the most critical place to start is to first recognize that guns, as a creation, do in fact fundamentally change the dynamic of violence, whether positively or negatively.

“That’s the weapon effect.

It’s not clear that guns cause violence, but it’s absolutely clear that they change the outcome,” Dr. Garen Wintemute of the University of California, Davis, Medical Center said.

To state that merely having a gun is all that contributed to the recent tragedies is certainly an oversimplification. And the enactment of tighter regulations would not have necessarily prevented them. However, it is important that we not shy away from having such discussions regarding gun control again.

The question of how to address gun control is a hard one to answer. Even more difficult is the task of coming to an agreement that will likely please both sides.

“We’re not going to get caught up in the notion that unless we can do everything, we’re going to do nothing,” Vice President Joe Biden said. “It’s critically important that we act.”

It is time for us to realize that now can no longer be considered “too soon.” 

STAFF ED

Dan Gutchewsky greets students before school in the mornings. (Olivia MacDougal)

THE GUTCHEWSKY INFLUENCE

W

hat makes a high school excellent can be a perplexing question. In the case of CHS, its special amalgam of motivated students, passionate staff members and abundant resources certainly do help make CHS the place that it is. However, what often can be overlooked is the school environment and relationships that are built at school that can really define it as excellent.

Principal Dan Gutchewsky has certainly succeeded in helping build relationships and create a friendly, positive environment. Gutchewsky can be seen everywhere, from greeting students in the morning at the front door before school to personally delivering birthday cards to them in classrooms. Not only has he physically been a prominent part of the CHS environment, he has also helped promote positive student-teacher relationships as well. At the beginning of the

school year, during class assemblies students were to write down the teachers they felt like they had a strong relationship with, and teachers were to write down the students they felt they had a strong relationship with. He also was instrumental in the project to beautify Clayton, which united community members with a common goal.

Many students are very supportive of Gutchewsky, and were excited to hear that “Interim” had been taken off his title. After the fact was announced, there was a small burst of Facebook statuses celebrating his official title. Senior Ravali Poreddy is just one of many students who feels positively about Gutchewsky.

“I really like Dr. Gutchewsky and how friendly and inviting he is,” Poreddy said. “Every day before the bell rings he stands outside and says good morning to the students when they get dropped off, and I think that’s just one example of how he really goes out of his way to get

to know and familiarize himself with all of the students.”

Gutchewsky has also earned overall support and respect from teachers. According to math teacher Michael Rust, Gutchewsky has been very open about staff goals at meetings, and has been successfully following through with the goals he has set.

“He’s earned the respect of teachers, students and parents,” Rust said. “Sometimes in those roles you demand respect, but he’s earned people’s respect. [He’s done that] in very little time too, so I’m impressed. He really gives us a vision, and we’re working toward a vision, [so] I think that’s something we didn’t have in the past.”

Overall, Gutchewsky has been a very positive influence at CHS, and we at the Globe heartily support his new title as principal. His openness and excitement to build relationships have made this year excellent, and we look forward to having him as principal in the long run. 

45

your words Every student at CHS will have a substitue teacher at some point, but most do not get to know much about them. Nevertheless, substitute teachers play the very important role of taking care of classes when their teachers are away. Sheila Cohen, one of Clayton’s most popular subs, speaks with the Globe.

Photo courtesy of Sheila Cohen

Q&A

Globe reporter Sierra Hieronymus interviews CHS substitute Sheila Cohen about her job at CHS. How long have you been a substitute teacher?

This was my 21st year. I was a permanent building sub at Ladue before coming to Clayton.

How long have you worked at CHS? This will be my 8th year with Clayton.

46

Did you have any major jobs before becoming a substitute?

in one day. That can be interesting, running all over the building. I get to wear a lot of different hats, as they say.

My major job was being a full-time [English] teacher, but I have done a lot of part time jobs. I have worked in sales.

What are some of your hobbies?

What is your favorite class to sub for and why?

I really like subbing for English because I feel the most comfortable and confident, I know the material pretty well.

What is the typical day for you?

Well, that’s a hard question because there’s never really a typical day. I don’t usually know what I’m doing until I get to work. I have learned that one of the most important things is to follow a teacher’s lesson plan, since they really don’t like when you stray from the plan.

Sometimes, when I’m subbing for an English class, and the teacher know it’s me, they’ll give me a little more freedom to teach the students.

Occasionally, though this doesn’t happen very often, I can teach in two different subject areas

I love to read books, I love to travel. I excercise, mainly by walking. I try to walk a lot. I have four grandchildren I try to be with, and I like to cook. I like to go to movies and plays.

What are some of your favorite things about being a sub?

It’s really interesting to me, I get to learn along students. I also get to see students all over the school, to see students with a variety of interests.

Do you have anything to add?

I love my job, I love teaching high school kids. I have a smile on my face every day on the way to school. I think Clayton is a fabulous place to be. Teacher and students always treat me with a lot of respect and I try to reciprocate. 

a valentine from chill

CHILL CLAYTON 7610 Wydown blvd.

Clayton, MO 63105 314.932.5010

CHILL DES PERES 11935 Manchester Rd Des Peres, MO 63131 314.835.9090

CHILL LADUE 9793 Clayton Rd Ladue, MO 63124 314.872.9090

Like us on facebook follow us on twitter@chillfrozyogurt

www.chillfrozenyogurts.com

GOOD FOR ONE!

Bring certificate into any Chill location FEB.11 - FEB.17 and fill up a *FREE CUP... with love from chill. *Value up to $3.00 Clayton High School

Exp. 02/17/13

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a valentine from chill

CHILL CLAYTON 7610 Wydown blvd.

Clayton, MO 63105 314.932.5010

CHILL DES PERES 11935 Manchester Rd Des Peres, MO 63131 314.835.9090

CHILL LADUE 9793 Clayton Rd Ladue, MO 63124 314.872.9090

Like us on facebook follow us on twitter@chillfrozyogurt

www.chillfrozenyogurts.com

GOOD FOR ONE!

Bring certificate into any Chill location FEB.11 - FEB.17 and fill up a *FREE CUP... with love from chill. *Value up to $3.00 Clayton High School

Exp. 02/17/13

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