Central Focus October 2012

focus central { } francis howell central high school | volume sixteen | issue two | 10.26.2012

delve 3-8 | sweat 9-13 | in focus 14-19 | the scene 21-26 | be heard 27-30 | interact 31 | aperture 32

FOUR {mapping out college} Still trying to figure out plans for once you leave high school? Check out the serious, but fun, guide inside to figure out where you should wind up once you graduate.

SEVEN {hours add up} Many students have begun fulfilling the tutoring requirements that come along with their participation in the A+ program at district schools.

TEN {shuffling the deck}

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payton ellis

An athletic season is often filled with changes to the lineups and rosters; find out how students react when the shuffling begins on the field.

TWENTY-TWO {musical chairs} Spotify. iTunes. Pandora. Which is the right music service for you? Learn the ins-and-outs of digital music services and choose the one which strikes the right chord.

THIRTY {you won’t read this} mr. john kozlowski

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blockbuster

opening shots | october 26, 2012

6

As the Nov. 6 election nears, a small group of students are passionate about politics, while the majority remains apathetic to decisions that affect their everyday lives.

{delve}

Push play Teachers who flip classrooms put learning in hands of students photo illustration by abbey schneider and kelci davis

By James Pugh copy manager

In two of Francis Howell Central’s foreign language classrooms, students are learning in an all new way. Rather than learning in the classroom, students do their “homework” in class and learn at home.

Welcome to the flipped classroom.

According to French teacher April Burton, the name says it all.

“A flipped classroom is a ‘flip’ of the traditional classroom. In a flipped classroom, students learn the information at home, through videos or with the use of a textbook, and they practice the material in the classroom,” said Burton.

This style of teaching is also used by Ms. Katie Lozano, a Spanish teacher at FHC. She got the idea from Mrs. Burton, who learned of this technique last October.

Burton decided to use this method in hopes

of improving scores among her students. “[Last year] our PLC was looking at the numbers of D’s and F’s that we had and trying to come up with an action plan for a way to reduce those numbers. I saw the flipped classroom as a way to help reduce my D’s and F’s,” said Burton.

Students took this change with mixed reactions.

“I like it because we don’t sit in class and listen to [Ms. Lozano] lecture, and we can do more projects,” said freshman Amanda Erb. Erb is a student in one of Lozano’s Spanish I classes.

“I hate it. It makes the class harder because you can’t ask questions and learning takes twice as long because you constantly have to pause to take notes,” said sophomore Zach Pugh, a student in one of Burton’s French II classes.

Regardless of student opinion, however,

both Burton and Lozano see positive results.

“Test scores have really improved,” said Lozano. Burton saw a change not only in test results, but also in overall grades of her students.

“Last year, at mid-quarter, 19 percent of my level II students had a D or F. This year, after implementing a flipped classroom, five percent of my level II students had a D or F at mid-quarter,” said Burton.

Although this technique seems to work out perfectly in the student’s favor, the real disadvantage is for the slacker, according to Burton.

Those who used to be able to skip out on homework and take a bad grade are now faced with total confusion in the classroom if they did not watch the lesson at home.

Even though Burton agrees that this is a disadvantage, she says that students are able to get around this issue.

“If a student doesn’t watch the video, he/ she can’t really participate in class the next day. But, students can watch the video and get caught up so that they aren’t completely lost,” said Burton.

Despite the video learning concept being versatile, Pugh still thinks it complicates learning too much. “[The lesson] is not explained to you.

Concepts are harder to understand because you have to learn them by yourself,” said Pugh.

Lozano admits that even though the teaching style may have many positive attributes, there are still issues on occasion.

“The technology doesn’t always cooperate,” said Lozano.

For an idea of how the lecture videos used in a flipped classroom work, visit Burton’s website at mrsburton.com, keyword flipped classroom.

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where do

YOU belong?

The changing colors of the leaves and the growing number of Christmas decorations are both signs that fall has arrived, and with it, seniors, and even juniors, begin their search for the college of their dreams.

After receiving mail from schools like Mizzou, Missouri State, and every nameless college in between, the time has finally come to select where you will call your home for the next four-plus years. In order to relieve the stress of this situation and simplify the process, the Central Focus staff has compiled a list of area schools and popular colleges at FHC and constructed a flow chart that will guide you to the college that is right for you.

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delve | october 26, 2012

START HERE

St. Charles Community College It’s a football thing.

I don’t care.

We feel ya there.

Community college Do you like to drive?

SCC

Yes St. Louis Community College

SEMO

Yes

No UMSL

Aww, we’ll miss you No one likes Missouri.

How about Iowa?

1

2

UCLA

SLU

No Why is it called Washington University if it’s in St. Louis?

We don’t know.

Answer the question.

Truman State Central Missouri State

Sorry

Tuition: $8,501/year Average financial aid given: $4,568/year Number of full-time students: 26,553 Location: Columbia, MO Tuition: $6,692/year Average financial aid given: $5,393/year Number of full-time students: 5,595 Location: Kirksville, MO

Lindenwood

Tuition: $13,540/year Average financial aid given: $6,957/year Number of full-time students: 8,002 Location: St. Charles, MO

University of Central Missouri

Tuition: $6,585/year Average financial aid given: $6,511/year Number of full-time students: 8,115 Location: Warrensburg, MO

Sure

We don’t know much about Iowa.

Find an obscure school there on your own.

Lindenwood Amen

3

How about no?

Tuition: $6,276/year Average financial aid given: $4,527/year Number of full-time students: 15,090 Location: Springfield, MO

Truman State

Yes

No

Can you handle a religious school?

Did you want to go to Washington University but couldn’t afford it?

Webster

Do you like to drive?

No

No

Pick a number.

Don’t peek.

University

Missouri State

Mizzou

Do you like Missouri?

University or community college?

ART INSTITUTE OF ST. LOUIS

Tuition: $6,225/year Average financial aid given: $4,130/year Number of full-time students: 7,529 Location: Cape Girardeau, MO

Mizzou

Do you want to go somewhere where there will be a lot of other FHC kids?

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

University of California Los Angeles Tuition: $30,935/year (out of state) Average financial aid given: $8,060/year Number of full-time students: 38,430 Location: Los Angeles, CA

St. Louis Community College

Tuition: $3,690/year Average financial aid given: $1,457/year Number of full-time students: 12,020 Location: St. Louis, MO

Art Institute of St. Louis

it’s the bomb

Are you the second coming of DaVinci?

Yes

still need help?

Yes

Do you like the SEC?

check out collegeprowler.com

No

Southeast Missouri State

The what?

Missouri State

Do you want to stay in St. Louis?

Tuition: $2,832/year Average financial aid given: $1,642/year Number of full-time students: 4,159 Location: Cottleville, MO

Tuition: $5,700/year Average financial aid given: unreported Number of full-time students: est. 500 Location: St. Louis, MO

University of Missouri St. Louis

Tuition: $8,631/year Average financial aid given: $4,404/year Number of full-time students: 7,000 Location: St. Louis, MO

St. Louis University

Webster

Tuition: $31,342/year Average financial aid given: $15,142/year Number of full-time students: 9,852 Location: St. Louis, MO Tuition: $21,748/year Average financial aid given: $10,673/year Number of full-time students: 4,159 Location: St. Louis, MO fhctoday.com | delve

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Crossing borders, breaking barriers Josefine Oskarsson, Luise Schulmayer reflect upon challenges, victories of living abroad

By Erin Schroeder Staff Reporter

For a high school-aged kid, even moving across school borders can be a dramatic change. However, senior Josefine Oskarsson and sophomore Luise Schulmayer, have welcomed the change.

Not only are these students thousands of miles from home, but coming to the U.S. forced them to acclimate to a major shift in culture. Donned in full-out Wacky Wednesday gear, Oskarsson described the change in the school climate she has experienced.

Instead of sports being sanctioned by school alone, younger students aged 14-15 participate in teams closest to them, and then later choose based on school level.

“Sports are split up into districts, so there’s no school spirit,” said Oskarsson.

Both Oskarsson and Schulmayer have tried their best to tap into this newfound spirit and get as involved as they can. This includes joining DECA and attending sporting events for Oskarsson.

“The idea of a good time is different here [in America.] You go to football and soccer games, but we don’t really do that. I’m trying to be there at the volleyball and football games and be involved,” said Oskarsson.

She seems to be fitting in well, as told by senior Katie Gerler.

“I think she’s doing good,” said Gerler. “She went to Homecoming with us and we invite her to football games. We just try to make her feel included, because it would be really hard to go to a foreign country ... I can’t even imagine it.”

Schulmayer takes a different approach to being a part of the school, finding a place in a group of friends.

“I think [students] really accept me... It hasn’t been hard to find friends,” said Schulmayer.

Along with this is a alteration in Oskarsson’s home life. Coming from a household in Norway consisting of her and her mom, Oskarsson is now living with six others, including fellow exchange student Schulmayer. Similarly, Luise came from a smaller household in Germany, with just one sibling.

This opportunity was not simply handed to the two girls. As Oskarsson describes it, getting

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delve | october 26, 2012

accepted into the program, ERDT Share, was a rigorous process. It includes both written and spoken English tests, questionnaires, interviews, and submission of academic and medical records.

“They asked me about my interests so they could find a suiting host family,” says Oskarsson.

Learning and using a completely new language is no small feat. Fortunately, Oskarsson was able to utilize Norwegian media in working towards this.

“I learned it by TV shows like Pretty Little Liars and Desperate Housewives. In Germany, shows are in German, but in Norway, they’re in English with Norwegian subtitles,” said Oskarsson.

Her nearly flawless English can leave strangers without a clue that she hails from Oslo. Despite this, perfecting her English is a goal of Oskarsson’s.

“People have been really nice and complimenting me on my English. I want to fluently speak [it],” said Oskarsson.

In their two or so months here, the students have viewed their time as difficult but worthwhile.

“I would recommend i t to those who want an adventure and a change in your life. You’ve got to be kind of strong and tackle the homesickness.

The challenge itself is pretty much to go. It’s hard to not be around the people you love.”

Despite these obstacles, both girls have overcome them and are taking full advantage of their time here.

“I think it was a good d e c i s i o n to come here.

I’m happy,” said Schulmayer.

“I would recommend it to those who want an adventure and a change in their life.

You’ve got to be kind of strong and tackle the homesickness.”

Josefine Oskarsson {senior

+ A&beyond

Students find enjoyment while earning money for college through A+ program Alison Comfort

at Warren Elementary over fall break, looking after the kids at vacation station.

“I didn’t really want to do it at first. But For many students, one of the top worries they have is how they are going now I’m actually kind of excited to work to afford college. Fortunately grants with little kids,” Cook said.

Junior Kaylee Lunsford also and scholarships are available, and can provide students with relief. One such volunteers at Warren Elementary’s program is taken advantage by many at vacation station from 4-6 p.m. during the week.

FHC. “I volunteer there because I used to The A+ program is an opportunity that many students use to gain free go there and I really like the teachers,” tuition money at St. Charles Community Lunsford said.

Junior Megan College. This involves Boedeker wanted to several requirements, one of which is 50 hours “It was really fun. The get her hours out of the way early instead of of tutoring that can be first graders always waiting for senior year. fulfilled in many different made my day. It really She will be helping out venues, such as after just makes you want at Castlio Elementary, school in elementary schools, during school to keeo coming back taking care of kids after school. at middle schools, and because it was so “I wanted to help being teachers aides at fun.” there since I used to go the high school level. there,” Boedeker said.

The tutoring has not { Jesse Simcox } senior “Plus, I live right behind started for many, as the school. I’m doing students wait a few weeks beyond their Jesse Simcox is one of many students partici- this mostly for the credit, pating in the A+ program, which is designed but I also want to be a initial orientations before to help students pay for a designated A+ school. Students must participate in tutoring teacher when I get out beginning their tutoring outside school and meet the requirements of school.” hours, and others use Senior Jesse Simcox fall break as the time to fill their hours. However, most students did her hours last year, and worked at Castilio Elementary after school. have been to an informational meeting.

“It was really fun. The first graders One of these is senior Nick Jones. He chose to work at Saeger and help out always made my day,” Simcox said.

“It really just makes you want to keep mentally handicapped children.

“I didn’t really care where I did it. When coming back, because it was so fun.”

Simcox wanted to give some advice to I signed up it was one of the last spots open. I just didn’t want to work with little incoming A+ students as well.

“If you don’t like little kids, don’t do kids. I’m still not sure what I’m going to it,” Simcox said. “You have to put on a be doing,” Jones said.

Senior Vanessa Cook decided to happy face, even if you’re not having a do her hours over fall break instead of good day.” after school. She is going to be working staff reporter

A+ PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS enter into a written agreement with your high school prior to graduation attend a designated A+ high school for 3 consecutive years immediately prior to graduation graduate with an overall grade point average of 2.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale have at least a 95% attendance record overall perform at least 50 hours of tutoring or mentoring maintain a record of good citizenship and avoid the unlawful use of drugs and/or alcohol beginning with the high school senior class of 2015, have achieved a score of proficient or advanced on the algebra I EOC

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Kozlowski commended for continued excellence

By Kyle Pyatt iFocus editor

During a classroom debate on whether or not radiation should be applied to meat products, Mr. John Kozlowski makes a point to students participating in the discussion.

Mr. Kozlowski was honored with an Emerson Excellence in Teaching Award at the start of October, for his committment to education.

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delve | october 26, 2012

photo by brittany thomsen

On the morning of Oct. 2, Honors Chemistry students received a greeting that varied noticeably from the usual “Good morning, first hour.”

Sitting on Mr. John Kozlowski’s desk was a vase of flowers, an unusual decoration when viewed alongside the assortment of periodic tables that hang from the walls.

However, Mr. Kozlowski’s students were not the only ones surprised at what they saw, as Kozlowski himself was caught off guard when he was told he had won the Emerson Excellence in Teaching award, with which the flowers were included.

“They came into my room and handed me some flowers, which I’m going to give to my wife, and a letter of congratulations,” Mr. Kozlowski said.

The Emerson Exellence in Teaching award, which Kozlowski was honored to receive, is presented to

educators, from kindergarten teachers to college professors, whom are examples of excellence in their field.

Mr. Kozlowski was nominated, along with Ms. Sandra Hendricks of Fairmount Elementary School, by the Francis Howell School District for commitment to education.

While he was given very few details on the nature of his award, Mr. Kozlowski does know that, alongside an engraved Tiffany apple, he is to receive a monetary grant, which he plans to spend on new supplies for his classroom.

The awards presentation, where each recipient will be recognized, will be held on Sunday, Nov. 9 at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Clayton.

“I’m honored, I get a dinner at the Ritz-Carlton and some money to buy supplies with, so what could be better than that?” said Kozlowski.

{sweat}

Spread too thin?

Between sports and studies, student athletes are caught in a time crunch Cody Jones sweat editor

From 7:20 to 2:20, students’ minds are being pounded with information and knowledge that betters their understanding of the world.

In order to fully grasp the concepts taught in class, students are often required to spend time at home furthering the depth of their studies. Unfortunately for 866 students, the extra study time is restricted by self-inflicted athletic involvement.

Sports and homework aren’t exactly foreign in the minds of students. The elusive factor is how students find the time to balance the time spent on the practice field and the time spent in the books. This gets especially blurry when a student-athlete has a barrage of advanced placement or honors level courses to prepare and study for.

“It’s really hard to manage. It’ll keep you busy.

By the time you’re finished with homework and practice it’s time to go to bed and do it all over again,” senior volleyball player Grace Wade said. Wade’s volleyball commitment is

accompanied with four advanced placement classes (Psychology, Stats, Spanish, AP Literature and Composition) and Anatomy.

Having such a large workload was not something forced upon Wade, but rather something she desired.

“It’s kind of a pride thing. I want to hold myself to a higher standard and stay at that,” Wade said. The pride comes with a cost.

According to Wade, her days consist of little to no free time. She normally comes straight home from practice, around five or six. As soon as she gets home, Wade spends approximately three to four hours on homework and studying.

By the time she’s done, she is burnt out and ready to hit the hay. Yet Wade never mopes around or begins to feel sorry for herself due to her schedule. She knows she is not the only student-athlete dealing with a hectic after school life, and that each of them have a responsibility.

“We [student-athletes] took it upon ourselves, so we are accountable. We wouldn’t have

taken these classes if we weren’t capable of it,” she said.

Senior swimmer Alison Strickler has developed her own way of coping with the workload once the school swimming season starts. Strickler already deals with swimming for the Rec-Plex all year long, two-and-a-half hours every night, but when school swimming comes in, her practices schedule spans from 4:30-10 p.m. Add that on to the workload that comes along with advanced placement statistics, psychology, and art history, plus anatomy, and the common consensus would be that she has a lot to manage.

“It’s my fourth year of this. I have a schedule down. I usually have a time set so I can do my homework. I definitely fall asleep in class though,” Strickler said. Strickler finds time between Rec-Plex practice and school practice to work on school related assignments, effectively leaving her life filled down to the second. Despite those factors, Strickler actually prefers it this way.

“I do it because I have the knowledge, too.

School is too easy if you’re not being challenged in a class,” Strickler said. The challenge is there. According to junior linebacker Jonah Greco, who is enrolled in advanced placement chemistry, honors trigonometry, and honors spanish three, student-athletes do not get any special treatment because of their schedules.

“Teachers expect the same thing out of everyone. Especially so in the harder classes,” Greco said. Strickler said that sometimes it depends on the teacher.

“Mrs. [Jessica] Rowe was really understanding about my situation. Typically though, I don’t get a lot of wiggle room because I have a meet,” Strickler said.

“I appreciate when students challenge themselves,” Mrs. Rowe said. “It’s hard to find that balance, even for adults. With extracurricular activities, sometimes it’s hard to find time for homework, or even sleep.” please read more: SPREAD, PAGE 10

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Soccer team scores with

By Evan Pagano staff reporter

jump from page 9: SPREAD

The importance of receiving a quality education is not a concept laid to waste by student-athletes.

Having success in class, according to Greco, comes before sporting activities.

Grades are the most important thing, if you don’t keep them up you can’t play,” Greco said.

The required GPA for athletes dwells at a lowly 1.5, which a mixture of D’s and C’s can achieve.

However, that is actually a more lofty bar than the state regulated GPA rule. The Missouri State High School Activities Association, or MSHSAA, only requires a student-athlete pass six classes: a GPA that works out to .86. The Francis Howell School District rules require nearly double the state minimum.

“The district requires a higher standard than the minimum, and I’m in favor of that,” Activities Director Scott Harris said. “I think the school believes in setting higher standards for all our students, not just athletes. By having a higher mark, we are encouraging and hoping our athletes will strive for more than a minimum.”

In the cases of Wade, Strickler, and Greco, missing out on sports because of lack of effort in the classroom is a distant worry. An unfortunate trip to Mr. Harris’s office is not on their minds, and because of their successes in the classroom, the Activities Department has special ways to acknowledge their hard work.

According to Mr. Harris, there are three academic awards student-athletes have their eyes set on: the Ultimate Spartan Award, given to the student with the highest GPA at the end of their sport’s season, the MSHSAA Scholastic Achievement Award, given to any team that can maintain a cumaltive GPA of 3.0, and the Activities Director Achievement Award, given to the team with the highest total GPA at the end of the year.

Even with the awards attainable for performance in school, student-athletes still want to accomplish high marks in their sports. According to Strickler, the best way to stay focused on the task at hand is to keep school and sport separate.

“I try my best to keep [sports and school] separate in my brain. Obviously, I can’t be doing my anatomy homework in the pool, and I can’t be practicing technique in anatomy,” she said. Having a responsible dividing line calls for everything an athlete has to offer Wade said.

“It’s really hard. I have to tell myself my game is later on, my focus needs to be on this, and vice versa. It takes a lot of discipline,” said Wade.

According to Wade and Strickler, finding a solid balance might be the key to a successful academic career as well as success in athletics.

The celebration after a big victory ends when the pen hits the paper, as athletes strive for the same success in the gradebook. With separate dedication to both crafts, student-athletes can set themselves up for nonstop success.

The celebration after a big victory ends when the pen hits the paper, as athletes strive for the same success in the gradebook. With separate dedication to both crafts, student-athletes can set themselves up for nonstop success.

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sweat | october 19, 2012

For some people, sports are a pastime.

For others, they are merely a tool to get a parking pass. For a special breed of athlete, however, sports are a way of life. Sophomore soccer player Justin Stinson, who joined the varsity squad nearly halfway through the season, falls into that category.

Stinson’s hard work and dedication have surely paid off— he made the varsity squad as just a freshman. His sophomore year, however, he played for the St. Louis Scott Gallagher (SLSG) Soccer Club, gaining recognition by TopDrawerSoccer.com as one of the top 150 boys soccer players in the nation, and number six in the area.

After his flip flop from SLSG Academy

back to the varsity team, Stinson has picked up right where he left off. This, his coaches say, is due to his persistent love of the game.

“Justin is a soccer player, that’s the best I can put it,” said Assistant Coach Nick Beckmann. “He loves the game of soccer.

He wakes up thinking soccer and he goes to bed thinking of soccer.”

Stinson, who has been playing the game since he was four years old, wholeheartedly agreed.

“Yeah [I think about soccer all the time],” Stinson said, laughing. “It’s just fun to play with your good friends, and it’s very competitive.”

The competitiveness in high school soccer compared to the Academy is completely

different, Stinson said. Competitiveness, Stinson explained, is one thing that sets the two apart.

“It took me a bit to get accustomed to high school soccer again. It’s a bit of a lower pace, but much more aggressive,” Stinson said. “The players are also bigger.”

Size and aggression, Beckmann said, is what Stinson is currently adjusting to at the varsity level. In Academy, Stinson was used to playing with kids near his age; as a Sophomore on Varsity, however, he is younger than most.

“When he gets bigger and more physical, he’ll really benefit,” Beckmann said. “He’s playing kids two years older than him right now, and it will make him better in time. This is good for him.” These concerns, however,

Stinson’s return

topping off a dominating season. take nothing away from Stinson’s They now look forward in hopes raw skills.

“Justin is a soccer player, of a state championship.

“He’s a pretty special talent,” “Coach Beckmann said we Beckmann said, smiling. “He’s that’s the best I can put might be the best team to come a creative player, and he’s good it. He loves the game through this school,” Stinson said, on the ball. He’s got good vision of soccer. He wakes up “and I honestly feel like we are a and can be a very special player thinking soccer and he good enough team to win the for us.” goes to bed thinking of state title. It would mean a lot.”

And Justin wants to be special, soccer.”

And according to Coach and strictly for Howell Central. No Beckmann, Stinson can be a part more Academy for Justin, and { Nick Beckmann } of the teaam’s success for years that is the way he likes it. assistant coach to come. “[High school soccer] is much “He has great skill,” Beckmann more fun,” Stinson said, assuredly.

“I like the fans, I like the whole environment, and said. “Once he can get bigger, stronger, and faster, he can be a great player.” we’re having success.”

And if you go by his work ethic, it may be only a Great success, actually. The varsity team recently defeated Timberland to win the GAC South title, matter of time.

Revamping rosters Teams constantly face change due to injuries, poor grades

By Jeremy Karp

under different circumstances, he is up to the challenge.

“It’s unfortunate as to what happened to Every year, sports teams set their roster lineups in hopes of having a strong season. Payton Ellis, as well as the other players who Each year, however, sports teams are forced got injured, but I have a chance to prove to adjust when certain players get injured, myself on the varsity level, and I have to take benched, or not eligible to play due to poor advantage of every chance I get,” McCoy said. grades.

Mid-season roster changes occur for other Injuries can make or break a team. Some reasons besides a starter teams struggle if a key getting injured. If the player player is injured, but other academically struggles, teams may thrive. For “It’s unfortunate what which is less than a 1.5 the varsity football team, happened to Payton Ellis, who have lost a starting as well as the other players GPA, by MSHAA rules, linebacker and offensive who got injured, but I have they are not eligible to play.

Volleyball coach tackle, among others, a chance to prove myself Mark McAfee says that no they’ve already begun on the varsity level, and I matter what the issue is, he making adjustments. They have to take advantage of will play who he believes have suffered key injuries every chance I get.” are the best players. within the past couple “I’ve benched players weeks. Sophomore Corey { Corey McCoy } who were actually very McCoy was moved up to varsity football player good, but I benched them the varsity level due to a because their attitudes fellow teammate’s injury.

“While it is stressful at times, it is exciting were detrimental to the team,” Coach McAfee for me because I could get a better shot at said.

Coach McAfee said he’s benched players reaching a Division I college,” McCoy said.

He also said the coaches explain things due to lack of performance, poor attitude, better and clarify formations to him. While he and academic stuggles. Mr. McAfee also wished the opportunity to play varsity came has played many sophomores on the varsity staff reporter

squad in the past.

“I will play the best players we have, even if they are sophomores,” Coach McAfee explained. When it comes to determining which players start over others, the issue of favoritism arises. People who believe they are good don’t get a good chance to play, and that upsets the athletes. Coach McAfee, however, doesn’t play favorites, no matter how well he knows some of the players.

“While I do believe that favoritism can very well exist in all sports, none of the decisions I make are based on favorites,” McAfee said.

“They are based on which athletes I believe give the team the best chance to succeed.”

Sometimes, mid-season roster changes come off as a surprise to athletes. For one of the players on the girl’s tennis team, it wasn’t appreciated at all. Seniors Kourtlyn Adams and Alex Wilson were moved down to the No. 2 court in doubles competition during the middle of the season to make way for seniors Maddie Wilson and Katy Gerler to compete on the No.1 court, and Adams was not happy about it one bit.

“I was so mad at first, I actually almost quit the team,” Adams said, who felt angry and unappreciated inside when the announcement was made.

“It was five minutes before I had a match

and my coach came over and told me that I along with one of my teammates were being moved down to the No. 2 court in doubles to allow two of my other teammates to compete at a higher level,” Adams explained.

Adams says that mid-season roster changes don’t happen that often in girls tennis, and when they do, the competition really heats up for those spots. She said her coach told her it was because he wanted the other two girls to get more competition in double’s matches.

Adams, who will be competed in varsity districts this year, knew that since she still was on varsity, she would continue to compete at the best of her abilities with each chance she got.

“Even though I got moved down in one spot in doubles, I still was on varsity, but I focused more on singles competition,” Adams said.

She knew that roster changes occur in every sport, and also knew that she still had opportunities in singles competition.

Roster changes happen in every sport in one form or another, and players and coaches have to find ways to adjust to the changes.

Whether it’s because of injuries, grades, or poor performances, teams have to overcome those adjustments, and work to become a better team.

a broken season Payton Ellis’ senior year of football comes to a sudden halt after his leg is broken in practice.

By Blake Beck delve editor

photos by elise thomas

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sweat | october 26, 2012

It was a routine play, but the result was anything but routine.

The Spartans were practicing a screen pass, a play in which the receiver catches the ball behind a screen of blockers. The tackle was made by a multitude of defenders, and appeared to be nothing out of the ordinary. It was catastrophic.

“Everybody within a 10-foot radius could hear the crack of his bone,” senior wide receiver Jack Dickens said. “It didn’t sound like shoulder pads, it sounded like an actual broken bone.”

What Dickens and his teammates heard fracturing was senior Payton Ellis’ tibia, the shin bone, and fibula, which runs alongside the tibia.

Due to the amount of players involved in the tackle and the ensuing pile up, the cause of Ellis’ injury was unclear. Dickens, however, believes the injury was unintentionally caused by junior John McGoon.

“Ellis made the tackle and McGoon’s helmet hit his [Ellis’] leg when he came up to clear the tackle,” said Dickens.

According to McGoon, Ellis let out a loud groan upon impact. McGoon, his teammates, and his coaches instantly knew something was up. This prompted Coach Donald Lober, one of the first responders, to assist the immobile Ellis. Despite the unpleasant situation, Ellis managed to keep a level head, Coach Lober said.

“I did not know so I was unwilling to think about what [the injury] could be and I just waited to see what the trainer said,” Coach Lober said.

“Just kind of how he was laying there you could tell he was in a great deal of pain.”

This was a new kind of pain.

“I was in an extreme amount of pain,” Ellis said. “It was like nothing I have ever felt before.”

Still, despite what Ellis was going through, Coach Lober noted that he kept his cool throughout the situation.

“He was composed, but that’s just Payton,” Coach Lober said.

Though he had a calm demeanor, Ellis was doing what just about any other teenager in his situation would do: fearing the worst. In his mind, Ellis was thinking of the possibilities stemming from his predicament.

“I was thinking of Homecoming and if I would be playing the rest of the season,” Ellis said. “I thought I would not be able to play other sports either.”

With Ellis unable to move, the coaches quickly called for the trainer who examined Ellis’ leg.

It was determined that there was indeed a possible break, and Ellis was escorted to the hospital via ambulance, according to Lober.

That night, Ellis underwent surgery on his right leg.

“They cut my knee and ankle open and stuck a titanium rod and four pins in it to keep my leg stable,” Ellis said, explaining the surgery that kept him in the hospital for almost three days.

With the slice of his leg, Ellis’ short-lived season was officially over. Occurring just days removed him from the Spartans’ third game of the season, making the timing of the injury was inopportune and unfortunate.

Through three games, Ellis, the starting outside linebacker, had a statline composed of 26 tackles, two of which were tackles for a loss, according to stltoday.com. These statistics do not adequately reflect Ellis’ improvement, according to Coach Todd Berck. “[Ellis] was starting to really pick it up and starting to make a lot of progress before the injury,” Coach Berck said. “[Ellis] moved from safety to linebacker, so it was an adjustment moving closer to the ball.”

Shortly after the surgery, the football players discovered the severity of their teammate’s injury. According to Dickens, when the team learned Ellis would be out the rest of the season, things got emotional.

“That week, everybody was real upset, especially the seniors,” Dickens said. “We had played with him for so long and his season was ended so suddenly on a tackle.”

Ellis’ teammates showed their support for their fallen comrade by visiting him in the hospital. Some, most notably senior captain and offensive lineman Joe McDevitt, showed their support through social networking sites such as Twitter.

“Can’t imagine what I’d do if I had a season ending injury... today really made me think. #StayStrongMan,” McDevitt tweeted.

Seniors were not the only ones distraught over the injury. Some underclassmen, specifically McGoon, were also affected by the injury.

“I felt bad that one of my players was injured because of me,” McGoon, one of the players in on the tackle, said.

Ellis found the support and comfort received from his teammates very encouraging. “[The team] really supported me to get through

it,” Ellis said. “They visited me in the hospital and told me everything will be all right.”

Both the team and Ellis continued to recover from the injury, and while Ellis would be absent on defense, he would not be completely removed from the team. To this day, the team continues to allow Ellis to stand on the sidelines, watch practices, and attend other team-related activities, such as team dinners, according to senior Jeff Desir.

“We are all good friends with [Ellis] so we still talk to him,” Desir said. “And he’s still at every game, so it’s like he never left.”

On the sidelines, in the locker room, and at the dinner table, Ellis may still seem like a member of the team. But, on the field, he is nowhere to be seen, and with that, the Spartans had to find a viable replacement for the two-year starter.

These replacements have been sophomore Corey McCoy and senior Devante Mitchell, two inexperienced players.

“Anytime you lose one of your senior starters it leaves a hole,” Coach Berck said. “It made us put somebody in Ellis’ spot with not a whole lot of experience in the position, and Mitchell is one of those players that has played very well [in Ellis’ absence].”

The Spartans understood that the team would have to continue to playing as if the injury never happened.

“We just gotta keep playing, keep moving,” Desir said. “Life goes on.”

Coinciding with the team’s recovery, Ellis has began to rebound from the injury as well. Ellis is determined to recover in time for the basketball season, which is approaching. In order to do this, Ellis will have to undergo physical therapy once his cast is removed.

However, because of the six to eight week recovery period, Ellis will likely be unable to return until mid-season. Despite his eagerness to return to athletics, Ellis is cautious.

“I’ll be able to fully recover, but I won’t be ready to go until winter break,” Ellis said. “I just need to take it slow and play it safe.”

As Ellis dreams of layups and draining three’s, he must overcome the fact he would be unable to finish his senior season of football, much like his teammates had to overcome his injury.

While the reality of this situation has been hard to swallow, Ellis has accepted it.

“It’s kind of heartbreaking, but you can’t do anything about it,” Ellis said. “Knowing that I’m not going to be able to play and the pain made me really, really sad.”

photo illustration by kelci davis and dohen gallagher

Taking on the big dogs

By Kaela Henry staff reporter

At age 14, standing 5 foot 6, freshman Eva Mich is the lone freshman on this years’ varsity volleyball team. She plays as the team’s outside and left back, and is the first freshman moved up to varsity in five years according to girls varsity coach Mark McAfee.

Not many students achieve varsity standing their freshman year, but every once in a while comes along a standout player who breaks the status quo.

The privilege of being bumped up to the varsity level is an honor for those select individuals. Along with that honor comes great responsibility and pressure.

This year, freshman athletes are proving themselves worthy of varsity positions in multiple areas from cheerleading to volleyball.

For most students, freshman year is already a challenge having to adjust to a new environment.

Along with this challenge, the ninth graders who make varsity sports must face the long hours of practices and games, maintaining their grades, working with older teammates, and dealing with the pressure that a varsity contest brings.

This rigorous schedule would take its toll on any individual, and Mich admits that the pressure can be intense.

“I feel like I have a lot of pressure on my shoulders,

having to act like I have far more experience than my older teammates,” said Mich.

Freshman athletes on varsity teams take on the challenge of having to work twice as hard to keep up with their older teammates. They also have to deal with fitting in and being accepted by the seniors. Freshmen

“I feel like I have a lot of pressure on my shoulders, having to act like I have far more experience than my older teammates.” { Eva Mich } freshman

sometimes face great amounts of animosity between themselves and their veteran senior teammates.

Coach McAfee acknowledges these challenges, having a senior heavy volleyball team of nine seniors and three underclassmen.

“I think Eva does an excellent job [handling the

pressure]; I think the kids have really taken to her,” he said. “For a freshman to walk in and take a starting position shows that she’s handling the pressure great because she’s leading our team in several categories.”

Freshman cheerleaders are also excelling this season. The varsity cheerleading squad includes freshmen Kaitlyn Strausser, Emily Salge, Megan Craven, and Riley Walsh. So far this year, the cheer squad has placed second at regionals and are gearing up to take on the state competition.

Senior captain of the squad Renee Sanford is very confident in her team and believes that the freshmen are a great addition to the team because they bring their skills from competitive cheerleading to the team.

Sanford also is sympathetic to the girls because of all that they must handle.

“It’s a challenge for the freshmen because at competitions there’s a lot of pressure on them to compete and not let their nerves affect how they perform,” said Sanford.

Although these freshmen face many difficulties being on varsity teams, they are willing to cope with the pressure and learn from the experience. They continue to put their best foot forward, to improve, and to continue working toward their own individual goals of victory. It may become overwhelming at times, but these students are up for the challenge.

fhctoday.com | sweat

}13

FREE

PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION No.57 BRACE YOURSELVES. A STORM IS BREWING.

DEBATES ARE ERUPTING EVERYWHERE...

A NATION IS TURNED ON ITS HEAD.

BUT WHY?!

Every four years, candidates criss-cross the county, raising money, talking to every day people and debating each other, all in a valiant attempt to procure one of the most valuable commodities in the world: your vote.

14 }

infocus | october 26, 2012

OCTOBER 2012

.

Characters

Where do students get their views?

Parents? Friends? School? Twitter?

A

fter any major political event, the marketplace of idea becomes a forum full of opinions from all sides, many of of which are increasingly coming from younger, fresher generations.

High school students are often just beginning to form their own unique views as they progress through school, according to social studies teacher Brian Cissell, after having them initially be influenced by family and friends.

F o r m e r government teacher Mr. Brian Cissell explains this as a transformation from a parent/ community view, to something all their own.

“Students basically parrot their parents’ opinions first, friends’ opinions second, and as they start to understand the issues, they will only then form opinions differently from others,” said Mr. Cissel. “There has to be a starting point from which independent thinking grows”.

Senior Kelsey Mason agreed with Mr. Cissell, adding his class in particular made a difference in her opinions.

“I’m starting to form my own opinions now. As I’ve gone through high school I’ve seen more, and taking AP Government made me realize how I should view things. Mr Cissell was a great teacher and we discussed how the government really works, without bias,” said Mason.

Although students do like to claim they have formed their own opinions and think independently, government teacher Mr. Nick Beckmann says students do realize they are influenced by these means. “[We] always talk about their parents.

Just through class discussion, you see that most students are a product of the environment in which they grow up in,” said Mr. Beckmann.

Cissell stated allowing students to make these sort of realizations is not only part of such discussions, but the duty of a those in his position.

“Our job in education is to enhance maturity and present thoughts that cause students to analyze the basic beliefs that they have obtained from said means,” added Mr. Cissell.

With the election right around the corner, political c a m p a i g n commercials, signs in every yard and all along streets, and snarky bumper stickers all begin to appear. This also brings to mind how much influence the community one lives in might affect how they have formed their political beliefs.

Junior Justin Allen believes this has a lot to do with the area one lives in, because of social class.

“If you come from a family of wealth you’ll believe differently than someone without wealth, How you see the economy, one of the biggest issues right now, would totally depend on your social class,” said Allen.

Mason, however, doesn’t believe this to be an issue in the St. Charles area, instead seeing it as not only socially diverse, but also politically.

“I don’t see where I live as being onesided, I see it as pretty equal,” said Mason.

With an increase of media coverage on social issues in politics, there is a high possibility that this increases student awareness and promotes a formation of beliefs.

“Drugs, gay marriage, search and seizure matter most to students because these are the hot-button issues in society. They are also the issues that kids are around the most,” said Mr. Beckmann.

Mr. Cissell also finds these issues get more attention for a different reason. “[Social issues] are easy to understand.

Abortion, First Amendment issues, education, or anything connected to students’ rights can get an immediate reaction. Issues that involve some background understanding is when I find students simply parrot information they have heard from their parents, or gotten off a sound bite on TV,” said Mr. Cissell, who also sees no difference in youth interest, regardless to a focus on topics they care about most.

“I think every generation believes they are more politically conscious than the previous generation. In reality, you still have the ‘masses’ that are apathetic and a small percent who start taking an active interest,” said Mr. Cissell.

Although Mr. Cissell believes there hasn’t really been any change in youth interest in politics, Mr. Beckmann sees the interest dropping.

“Today’s youth are interested less, according to statistics. Kids simply love other things,” said Mr. Beckmann, adding, “This is the reality TV generation. ‘Honey Boo Boo’ beat out convention speeches.”

Mr. Br ian Cissell

KELSEY MASON, 12

JUSTIN ALLEN, 12

MR. NICK BECKMANN

Cissell, the veteran teacher of Government and American History, fights to educate students to form their own beliefs

Having made it through the notoriously demanding AP Government course, Mason is stepping out of the shadow of her parents’ beliefs.

Taking what his parents and community have taught him, Allen goes forward with an open mind to build upon his beliefs and figure things out.

Beckmann is newer to the teaching game, but seeks to make students aware of how they are being influenced by everyone around them.

fhctoday.com | in focus

}15

a story filled with intrigue

the intern political passion leads to internship

By Jessica Mugler

S

The Scene Editor

enior Annie Nohava lets her passion for politics show through participation in political groups and volunteer work in the community.

Nohava is an involved member of Youth in Government at FHC and all throughout Missouri, and she also volunteers at the Missouri Democratic Office twice a week.

Starting as an eighth grader, Nohava became involved in the Civic Leadership Institute at Saeger Middle School, paving the way for her to join Youth in Government (YIG) in high school. Now she is the chief of staff for the Missouri Youth in Government’s governor.

“Annie comes to all the YIG meetings and works with novices so they know how to write a bill and what goes in it,” Mrs. Margo Hoffman, the YIG sponsor, said.

According to Mrs. Hoffman, Nohava always wanted to be involved and is an active YIG member, not a passive member.

“I don’t have to encourage her; I just laughingly encourage her to be a Republican,” Mrs. Hoffman said.

In August, Nohava began volunteering at the Democratic National Convention as an intern.

She received this opportunity through Mrs. Barb Riti, who believed she possessed political potential.

“I could tell by having her in class

16 }

in focus | october 26, 2012

that she was interested in politics,” Mrs. Riti said. “She was opinionated and not shy about sharing her thoughts.”

This stood out to Mrs. Riti because most students are not as politically informed as Nohava. She is an oddity: a student who is politically active in and outside of school. “[Students] should have more knowledge in politics because when they get the chance to vote they don’t know what the election is about,” Nohava said.

Nohava suggests students do research, follow campaigns and watch speeches on TV to gain more knowledge on elections.

“She is very passionate about politics, which will contribute to a full political career,” Mrs. Riti said.

“She’s already had exposure to politics that others have not.”

Nohava’s interest in politics stems from her belief that every person should take the opportunity to participate in government if given that freedom.

“If you’re given the chance to change something, then do so,” Nohava said. “Don’t just talk about it; actually go out and change it.”

According to Nohava, her motivation for her political activity goes further than her high school career.

“I’m big into politics,” Nohava said.

“I want to be a business lawyer in the future and someday run for office as senator or house representative.”

packed with heartfelt beliefs about the

e people

you bump into in the hallways each and every day at fhc

building their beliefs senior looks to dive into political world Strauser seeks volunteer chance with Republican Party

By Ben Morrison staff reporter

A

long with many high schoolers, senior Brendan Strauser is getting absorbed into the heat of the upcoming presidential election.

Strauser has a pretty strong opinion on the subject, and tries to be involved with his political party.

Strauser affiliates himself with the Republican Party.

“I’m a pretty strong conservative, mainstream Republican,” said Strauser.

Unlike some of his peers, Strauser’s opinions are his own. While his parents are also conservative, Strauser does not see eye-to-eye with them on every subject.

“I’m well read on the stuff, I’ve been looking into issues,” said Strauser. “My parents are more

lgbt issues come to fore for corrigan

social conservative, while I am more economic conservative.”

Those who are economically conservative tend to believe in cutting costs and taxes to lower the deficit, while their liberal counterparts believe in spending on programs to boost the economy.

“You have to think about [the economic situation] like it is a person,” said Strauser. “If a person were in debt, they wouldn’t spend more money to get out of debt, that doesn’t make sense, they would cut costs to eliminate their debt. I find it to be the most reasonable option.”

Since Strauser is strongly opinionated, he wants to get involved and volunteer to help the Republican Party’s efforts.

However, due to scheduling conflicts, he has not been able to

By Ryan Silver staff reporter

W

ith the ever heated political season on everyone’s doorstep, it’s no surprise that there are several students with strong stances on various politically related issues. One such student is senior Destinee Corrigan.

Last year, her interest in LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) rights was peaked by a group known as the Human Rights Campaign, or

do much in the way of support.

“I’ve not yet volunteered for anything,” said Strauser. “I’ve been to the campaigns for Santorum and Ron Paul when they’ve been in town. I’ve wanted to go down to the Republican headquarters down in St. Charles, but I have not yet found the time.”

However, despite his strong opinion and attempt to get involved, Strauser is subject to a phenomenon that plagues most high schoolers and causes them to be unable to express their opinion.

This phenomenon is called Amendment 26, which restricts the right to vote to those over 18.

“I am short of the deadline by seven months,” said Strauser. “I’m disappointed with not being able to vote, and not being old enough to get involved in politics.”

HRC, of which she is now a member.

Corrigan said some of their t-shirts had been among the things that caught her attention, which feature most notably a yellow equals sign on a navy blue background.

This was also around the time the Westboro Baptist Church, a group of Christian radicals known for their anti-gay message, had announced they were going to visit St. Louis.

A flame inside Corrigan was sparked and along with joining the

HRC, Corrigan has also joined FHC’s Gay-Straight Alliance in the last year.

She said that seeing the Westboro Baptist Church really opened her eyes to the volume of the anti-LGBT voice in the country and explained her beliefs.

“I think everyone should have the same rights,” said Corrigan.

Since her involvement in the LGBT community, she says she has become more accepting of other people and their beliefs.

fhctoday.com | in focus

}17

PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION No.57

poll

T

demographics

he FHC Publications Poll is a survey of students from Missouri, Indiana, California, Nebraska and Iowa. For the statistics you see on this page, 151 students particpated in the poll. In races other than the presidential race, participants only voted on races specific to their state. All information was kept anonymous and will continue to be. If you would like to participate in the poll, please go to infocus.fhctoday. com to vote.

18 }

Are you eligible to vote in this election?

Yes

26%

No

74%

What is your gender?

Male

57%

Female

43%

in focus | october 26, 2012

President of the United S Abortion President Obama believes a woman’s health care choices are personal decisions, best made with her doctor—without interference from politicians.

Economy Before President Obama took office, the economy was losing 800,000 jobs a month. There has been 31 consecutive months of job growth and 5.2 million new private sector jobs. U.S. manufacturing has added 459,000 jobs since January 2010—the most growth in a decade.

Education By doubling funding for Pell Grants and establishing a college tax credit, President Obama is putting higher education within reach for millions more Americans. President Obama understands that education is not a topdown, one-size-fits-all issue—that’s why he has given states the flexibility to create their own ambitious plans for reform.

Environment Under President Obama’s watch we have more than doubled production of renewable energy from wind and solar, while investing in over 15,000 clean energy projects across the country.

Equal rights President Obama was the first sitting president to publicly announce his support for marriage for same-sex couples, and has always believed LGBT Americans should be treated fairly and equally. President Obama repealed “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” President Obama endorsed the Respect for Marriage Act and signed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. Health Care Obamacare is making health care work better for all of us, even if you already have insurance. It puts the health of your family first—ensuring access to free preventive care and protecting consumers from insurance company abuses.

Immigration President Obama refuses to give up on the DREAM Act. He believes that young people, who were brought here through no fault of their own, should be able to earn citizenship through military service or the pursuit of a higher education.

Pres. Barack Obama (D)

Source: BarackObama.com

Which issues

are most important to you?

54%

Other

What year are you in school?

Freshman

27%

Sophomore

17%

Junior

24%

Senior

32%

OCTOBER 2012

U.S. Senate

States CANDIDATE PLATFORMS Gov. Mitt Romney (R)

Which party best reflects your political beliefs?

13%

32%

Abortion Gov. Mitt Romney is pro-life. Romney believes that life begins at conception and wishes the laws of our nation reflected that view.

Economy Reducing and stabilizing federal spending is essential, but breathing life into the present anemic recovery will also require fixing the nation’s tax code to focus on jobs and growth. To repair the nation’s tax code, marginal rates must be brought down to stimulate entrepreneurship, job creation, and investment.

Education As president, Gov. Romney will pursue genuine education reform and will take the unprecedented step of tying federal funds directly to dramatic reforms that expand parental choice, invest in innovation, and reward teachers for their results instead of their tenure.

Environment Gov. Romney will make America an energy superpower, rapidly and responsibly increasing our own production and partnering with our allies Canada and Mexico to achieve energy independence on this continent by 2020. This will require genuine support for increased energy production, a more rational approach to regulation, and a government that facilitates private-sector-led development of new energy technologies.

Equal rights The values Gov. Romney learned in his home have enriched his life immeasurably.

Marriage is more than a personally rewarding social custom. It is also critical for the well-being of a civilization. That is why it is so important to preserve traditional marriage.

Health Care On his first day in office, Gov. Romney will issue an executive order that paves the way for the federal government to issue Obamacare waivers to all 50 states.

In place of Obamacare, Mitt will pursue policies that give each state the power to craft a health care reform plan that is best for its citizens.

Immigration As president, Gov. Romney will implement a national immigration strategy that bolsters the U.S. economy, ensures our security, keeps nuclear families together, addresses the problem of illegal immigration in a civil and resolute manner, and carries on America’s tradition as a nation of legal immigrants.

U.S. Rep. Todd Akin (R) 8% Sen. Claire McCaskill (D) 15%

Other

77%

Mo. Governor

Source: MittRomney.com

How closely have you been following the 2012 election?

1 = Not closely 2

Governor Jay Nixon (D) 17%

30% 11%

3= closely

27%

4

22%

5= Very closely

10%

Dave Spence (R) 7%

Other

76%

fhctoday.com | in focus

}19

Welcome back students! visit our newest location at 308 Mid Rivers Mall Drive in St. Peters 636.278.2605 Contact us about fundraising opportunities: marketing.orangeleaf@gmail.com!

FHC Spotlight Players Present...

The Boys Next R D

November 8,9,and 10.

Door open at 6:30 show starts at 7:00

$7 at lunch $8 at the door For more information email michelle.moll@fhsdschools.org.

Analysis.

Polling.

Thursdays 7:00 pm The REALM

Information.

Get everything you need for the November 2012 election at infocus.fhctoday.com 20}

advertisements | october 26, 2012

{the scene}

Secret cinemas

Obscure theatres are brought to light

By Amy Sweeney copy manager

For casual moviegoers and diehard cinephiles, there are several diverse venues to choose from for the special occasion of seeing a new film. There are some great, affordable options in the area, and with a little additional gas money for a drive into St. Louis, there are some hidden gems to be discovered. Now showing are three of the most unique theaters in St. Louis: the Moolah, the Tivoli, and St. Andrews Cinema.

One option is St. Andrews Cinema, affectionately referred to by frugal families and students alike as “The Dollar Show.” Tickets to any show are only $1, regardless of the time of day. They can afford to charge so little for admission due to the fact that the films they screen are being shown several months after their original release date. Marvel’s “The Avengers” is still offered, nearly five months after its May 4 premiere. St. Andrews generally plays the big blockbuster films that have already had their run in the mainstream chain

theaters, such as Wehrenberg and AMC. This is not the place to go to catch an indie flick, but if the objective is keeping up with movie trends or just getting out of the house for an affordable price, St. Andrews Cinema is a perfect option.

While the Dollar Show is a St. Charles gem, there are many more excellent theaters to be discovered with a little bit of additional gas money. The Tivoli theater sits in the center of the Delmar loop between Skinker and Big Bend. The beautiful theater first opened to the public on May 24, 1924 and was described by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch as having “luxury and splendor eclipsing that of any other St. Louis theater” and “the piece de resistance of glorified beauty.” After having closed in 1994, the owners of nearby restaurant and concert venue Blueberry Hill purchased the Tivoli and spent upwards of $2 million in renovations.

The Tivoli reopened in May of 1995 as a three-screen theater. With its ornate ceilings, wooden stage, lush burgundy curtain, and display cases of St. Louis memorabilia, the

theater is not only a venue designed for screening movies, but wowing visitors with grandeur and history as well. The Tivoli is a Landmark Theatre, meaning that members of the Landmark Film Club receive perks such as free screening invites, notices of filmmaker appearances, and other events. The theater primarily features indie films, while also hosting midnight showings of classic films, such as “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” and “Pulp Fiction.”

General admission is $9 with $7 tickets for any show Mon-Fri before 6 PM. The Tivoli is a stunning theater that provides entertainment both on- and off-screen.

A short drive down Delmar Boulevard and two turns will land you in front of one of the greatest spectacles of St. Louis. Regal stairs lead to the entrance of a massive brick building built in 1912 by the Moolah Shriners as the 28th Shrine Temple. In 2004, $17.2 million was spent renovating the urban palace, and it is now a popular venue for moviegoers and bowlers living in the St. Louis area. Meet the Moolah Theatre. The Moolah

is a single screen theater with 30 or so lush leather couches, traditional stadium seating, as well as balcony seating. Outside, there is a traditional concession stand and a bar serving all sorts of adult beverages. The Moolah screens new releases, such as Ben Affleck’s recently released political thriller, “Argo,” as well as showing retro flicks, such as “The Labyrinth” and Halloween favorite “Hocus Pocus.” Tickets to a Moolah show run $9 with $7 tickets for shows before 5:30 PM. The Moolah also features ‘Wacky Wednesday’ $5 ticket prices for any Wednesday showtimes.

In addition to an amazing theater, the Moolah also houses the “Moolah Lanes: St. Louis’ Bowling Temple,” a retro-styled bowling alley with eight lanes, pool tables, and a grill. The Moolah offers so many opportunities for a great night out without leaving any remnants of the secret desire to still be curled up on the couch with a blanket and snacks watching a classic movie. All this and more is available at the Moolah. Watch a great movie, bowl a few frames, then go for a walk in a truly great city.

fhctoday.com | the scene

}21

select your

SITE iTunes “The products are easy to use, and it usually has good sound quality. It’s kind of restrictive. Each song is so expensive, so it’s better to do CDs through it,” sophomore Jason Vogel said. “iTunes used to be cheap and it was easier to just buy the songs I wanted. Now it costs more and it’s frustrating.” senior Madison Hubbard said “I don’t dislike iTunes, I just prefer not downloading all my songs,” sophomore Tony Militello said.

Staff reporter Dylan Gerding talked to students about their favorite music service, finding out the pros and cons of the three major ways for you to gain access to the tunes you have to have with you

Pandora “It gives you alternate results. It’s stupid how you can’t skip more than five songs an hour in my opinion,” Militello said “It plays the same hit songs over and over again. You want a certain artist, but it won’t let you listen to them. It forces you to listen to things,” Vogel said.

Spotify “It actually gets you the songs you like, instead of giving you different results,” Militello said.

“The massive amounts of commercials and ads bother me.

It’s dumb that you have to pay for it to be mobile,” Vogel said.

“I use all three, but it’s my favorite.

They give money to the artists and bands you listen to,” Hubbard said.

“It has so many options and I love all kinds of music,” sophomore Danielle Robbins said.

Important yearbook dates to know Nov. 16: Senior photos must be taken at Prestige Portraits. Contact them at 314.963.1414 to set up your appointment.

Dec. 7: Price of the yearbook increases to $65. Buy before this date and save $10.

Dec. 14: Senior remembrance ads MUST be submitted to Room 139.

22}

the scene | october 26, 2012

Mumford & Sons

Babel builds off previous album’s foundation Babel

Reporter Ben Sandfort reviews anticipated second offering from Mumford & Sons

Mumford & Sons 1

Babel

2

Whispers in the Dark

3

I Will Wait

4

Holland Roads

5

Ghosts That We Knew

6

Lover of the Light

7

Lovers’ Eyes

8

Reminder

9

Hopeless Wanderer

10

Broken Crown

11

Below My Feet

12

Not With Haste

By Ben Sandfort staff reporter

After what seemed like an eternity, Mumford and Sons have finally released their follow-up to 2009’s monumental album “Sigh No More.” “Sigh No More” sent a wave of folk music through the music world in a way that hasn’t been done in years. This album beat the odds and proved that a banjo and an acoustic guitar can still outdo a synthesizer in a world of computers and autotune.

Their second album, “Babel,” strives even harder than before to bring folk back to the world of radio. The first song on the album, “Babel,” delivers a much rowdier than usual Mumford & Sons, with lead vocalist Marcus Mumford delivering a rougher and rawer vocal tone.

The second song on the album, “Whispers In The Dark,” shows off a different side of their songwriting. It starts out with some ambient soundscapes playing alongside an acoustic guitar and reminds me of acoustic/indie band Sleeping At Last (which is a mix of Death Cab For Cutie and Copeland). The song

builds up into a barrage of banjo at the chorus.

“Ghosts That We Knew” is the fifth track on the album. It is a very sweet and melancholy song. The way Winston Marshall plays his banjo is also very enjoyable; it accompanies the vocals in a quick pattern that fits the song perfectly.

I also find the way they worded the song very interesting: “But I will hold on/with all of my might/Just promise me that/we’ll be alright/but the ghosts that we knew/ will flicker from you and we’ll live a long life.”

Track eight, “Reminder,” is an almost singer-songwriter styled piece with only Marcus Mumford playing guitar and singing. The song perfectly transitions into the piano intro of “Hopeless Wanderer.”

Quiet piano is switched for a flurry of hard-hitting guitar chords before breaking into the chorus of the song.

The high point of the album for me would have to be the tenth song, “Broken Crown.” I just love the eeriness put into the song, as if it was written by a ghost.

The lines, “I will not speak of your sin,

there was a way out for him/The mirror shows not, your values are all shot,” add to this haunting sound as the song builds up to a folk instrument and piano melody.

The final lines of the song were written almost as his last words to someone, “In this twilight, our choices seal our fate.”

The deluxe version of the album contains three new songs; the first, titled “For Those Below,” reminds me a lot of folk musician Chuck Ragan’s work musically, mainly because of its quick speed and violin led sections. The second extra song is a Mumford & Son’s version of the Paul Simon song “The Boxer.” The song also features Paul Simon playing an acoustic guitar solo near the end of a song, a very nice finishing touch. The last of the extra three songs sounds like it was straight off their last record “Sigh No More.”

I highly suggest that anyone who is a fan of folk, country or indie music check this out. The album shows off the different sides of Mumford & Sons in a way that “Sigh No More” did not, but still delivers some great songs that could’ve been right off their debut album.

fhctoday.com | the scene

}23

playlist

Political Vibes

by Dylan Gerding

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

“The New Underground”

by Guster A song written from the point of view of fed up citizens.

“Stars and Stripes”

by Rooney This track taught me that fixing the country will definitely take some cooperation.

“Revolution” by the Beatles The name says it all. Start a revolution. To me, this song makes politics cool.

?

“Ize of the World” by the Strokes

Sound, or

This is a song about how ego corrupts our leaders, and we often don’t realize this until it’s too late.

silence

“Riot Van”

by Arctic Monkeys This slow ballad puts a comical spin on cops and what they do.

“Sunday Bloody Sunday”

by U2 This tune told me that war only leads to loss and sadness.

“So Says I” by the Shins This song provided me with an insight into the framework of our society and how it developed.

“Be (Intro)”

by Common

This is a melodic rap that tells the story of our country’s war on racism.

“Politik”

by Coldplay

What I learned from this song is that people are always focused on their specific needs when it comes to elections.

“Uprising” by Muse This track is all about revolutions and what it takes to start them.

24}

the scene | october 26, 2012

Efficacy listening music while working depends student Efficacy of of listening to to music while working depends onon student

By Alex Layton staff reporter

Class begins; junior Courtney Bateman puts one headphone in. The teacher begins the class with an individual work session; the second headphone goes in.

Bateman, an active listener of music, states that music keeps him motivated and actually makes him think more than he would if he wasn’t listening to music.

“It helps me think; it keeps my mind active and it’s nice to have something in the background,” said Bateman.

According to the studies of scientists such as F. F. Cripe, L. Morton, J. Keshner and L. Seigel, music can have many beneficial effects on students, such as a repetitive, beat-reducing muscle tension (which reduces hyperactivity), a boost in short-term memory, and most importantly, it reduces distractions for the student while he or she is listening to music.

“Most of my teachers think that students can’t focus [with] earbuds in. For instance, they think students aren’t able to read and

listen to music at the same time. It’s the opposite for me; it helps me block out other noise,” Bateman said.

Senior Summer Ohlms portrays the other side of the spectrum; she absolutely cannot focus while listening to music.

“I can’t listen to music; if I try I’ll get caught up singing the songs instead of reading or writing. I even fell asleep in one of my classes when I tried to listen to my iPod. Depending on the music, it either distracts me from the work or makes me so relaxed that I’ll get tired and fall asleep,” said Ohlms.

Ohlms is somewhat of an atypical case.

After asking 98 students whether they listened to music while they worked and if it helped, 73 students said yes, 10 said sometimes and 15 said no.

Teachers also had varying opinions on the influence of music.

“I think having music in the background when you work is great, it stimulates motion and motivates students to stay active. But if you’re reading? No. That does more harm

than good,” said Zobot and Biology teacher Mr. Patrick Reed.

Mr. Reed actually encourages his students to listen to music (if they score high enough grades on the quizzes, that is) by either letting them listen to their headphones or playing his own music selection for the students.

“It really depends on the students. I’ve turned on music before and students complained about the music, wanting it changed, and it just became more of a distraction than anything,” said Sculpture and Ceramics teacher Mrs. Judy Switzer.

However, not all teachers see it that way. Anatomy teacher Scott Dauve, for example, does not see music as beneficial.

“When students put their headphones in, they’ll work, but it won’t be as good.

Listening to music while working could be acceptable if the students were doing something like math. But when it comes to learning, it falls short in my opinion when students have their headphones in,” said Mr. Dauve.

Smart artists plan ahead Brittney Myers:

{ }

Major: Animation School of choice: Kansas City Art Institute Career of choice: Concept Artist/ Inbetweener

Pencil or charcoal has to be senior Karley Canova’s favorite medium, but despite that fact, Canova is getting set on majoring in interior design.

“I was thinking [about majoring in] interior design,” said Canova. “[Just] because most of my artwork is sketching and I don’t really see where I could go with that.”

According to Canova, art is all about the expression, simply because it’s not always written out for you to understand.

“I love the expression about [art]. Seeing how people manipulate the tools they have and use it to create what’s

Andrew Henke:

By Jerianne Harrison Staff reporter

Being a cartoonist means you have the ability to make people fall in love with a cartoon character that was created simply out of sketches, according to senior Brittany Myers. This is why Myers has decided to take on the task of animation as her major.

“I’m looking to go to Kansas City Art Institute, KCAI,” said Myers. “[And] I’m wanting to major in animation, with a minor of creative writing.”

on the inside of them,” said Canova. “And also how they show [their artwork] to others and how they interpret it [themselves] because artwork isn’t necessarily just saying, here it is and this is what it means; otherwise, they would have the answer written across the page.”

Canova is hoping to attend KCAI. She believes they have many available opportunities.

“I believe that [art school] is going to open my eyes to new ways to manipulate art and express myself,” said Canova. “And also show me different things to do with artwork to make it unique and my own.”

Wanting to be a film producer is never an easy career to attempt, but senior Andrew Henke is willing to take on the challenge. Henke is hoping he’ll be able to receive a scholarship based on his good grades.

“A lot of art students tend to not have good grades,” said Henke. “So since my grades are a little bit better, hopefully I’m going to get some scholarships for that.”

Henke’s college of choice is Columbia College, in the heart of downtown Chicago. According to Henke, it’s a visual arts school but also has theatre, music and film.

“I want to go to art school, not just because of the program, but because art schools tend to be more liberal in the teaching styles,” said Henke. “They are more

{ }

Major: Editing and directing film School of choice: Columbia College Career of choice: Film Producer/ Independent Film Maker

Karley Canova:

Recently, this last summer, Myers participated in KCAI’s Pre CAL (Pre College Art Lab) program and believes this will get her a scholarship.

“I did go to the Pre CAL program at KCAI so that should be getting me a scholarship,” said Myers.

Myers believes attending an art school is going to benefit her a lot.

“I’m looking forward to being able to get professional feedback on how to improve on my work,” said Myers.

{ } Major: Interior Design School of choice: Kansas City Art Institute Career of choice: Interior Designer/ Cartoonist

about branching out and getting a little bit of everything you’re into. That’s why it’s pulling in my interest. You don’t actually have to stick to your major basically.”

Henke’s favorite mediums to work with are ceramics, sculpture and graphic design.

“I haven’t done printmaking, but that is something I would enjoy learning how to do,” said Henke. “It’s a big part of making t-shirts and things like that.”

According to Henke, art is a way to express himself and also to express things that are hard to explain.

“I really enjoy art because it’s really a way to express myself and express things that are kind of hard to explain,” Henke said. “When art is put into a visual manner, it really helps to convey the message.”

Tune in to FHCtoday.com for Episode 2 of our broadcast

In the October episode, you will see stories on: Devastating football injuries.

Student voters & their political opinions.

Movie theaters across the county. fhctoday.com | the scene

}25

iPhone5 Specifications longer battery life, approximately five hours

Samsung and Apple are waging war against

each other, vying for your money and service contract. Which should you buy? Take a look to

15 percent percent lighter than the S3 and iPhone 4S

the side and below, to see what each phone has

Retina display, 1136p x 640p resolution

-Kellie Grezinger, staff reporter

Comes in black and white, with fourinch screen Camera Boasts 720p video, captures 1.2 MP photos from video Still photos captured at 8 MP Panorama mode Rear and frontfacing cameras Power Processor is supposed to be twice as fast as the iPhone 4S. Operating system All new iOS6, offering iCloud support Price 16 GB: $199 32 GB: $299 64 GB: $399

2 6}

Y

ou need a new smartphone. On the airwaves,

the scene | october 26, 2012

to offer and what 100 of your classmates think.

What type of smart phone, if any, do you currently own? iPhone No smart phone Galaxy S3

40% 33% 27%

If you could choose any type of smart phone to own, which would you choose? iPhone Other brand Galaxy S3

87% 7% 6%

Do you believe there is a large difference between the iPhone and Galaxy S3?

Yes No

67% 33%

How long ago did you purchase a smart phone?

Within 2 years No smart phone 3-4 years

54% 20% 26%

Which brand do you believe to be more reliable and better to own? iPhone Galaxy S3

80% 20%

“

The new Galaxy(Samsung) is so much cooler. I’d rather have that than the new iPhone. It seems like Apple just keeps coming out with the same phones.”

- senior Christa Huelskamp

“

I like iPhones more.

All the other smart phones just wish they could be iPhones. They can’t.

- junior Rebecca Spain

Galaxy S3 Specifications Larger screen: 4.8 inches Tougher made, more difficult to break Available in white, blue and gray 1136 x resolution Camera Camera 8MP captures video

640p

captures photos, 1080p

Rear and frontfacing cameras Can capture 6 still photos per second Power Improved power from the HTC One X Operating system Runs on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.

Has voice-activated control, much like the iPhone has Siri.

Price 16 GB: $199 32 GB: $279.99

Samsung

Apple

Smartphone showdown

{be heard}

Dragged down

S

ince kindergarten, there has always been that one kid in class who’s not necessarily “dumb,” but isn’t really anywhere near the same level of intelligence as anyone else in the class.

It’s not usually the dunce or class clown, as you might suspect, but the quiet kid in the back of class with his head down who never seems to know anything if the teacher calls on him. This is all generally speaking of course, as there are exceptions to everything.

By Ryan Silver But this trend carries staff reporter on through elementary, middle, and even high school, and in a traditional classroom setting, such as a basic level freshman history class, this is accepted and, sadly, even expected.

However, these things are also happening in AP and honors classes, which is a problem.

There’s always that one student with the only F in the class, which, granted, isn’t anyone’s

business besides that student’s. Not everyone is cut out for school, and that’s just a truth people have to deal with. What is a problem, however, is when this same disadvantaged archetype of student exists in an honors or AP class. Now, that last sentence may turn some of you readers off to this piece, which is fine, but hear me out first.

My angle is not “the snobby brainiac who thinks everyone who isn’t as intelligent as him is a waste of time and space.” Trust me, I know those people, and despise them.

My angle is “the kid who puts everything he can into a class in order to get everything he can out of that class.” I know that there are people who aren’t as good at a certain subject or even school as a whole as me, and I definitely know that there are countless people who are better at it than me.

This is not me running over people with a high horse, this is me calling it as I see it. For example, in my honors World History class sophomore year, there was a student who asked the teacher what the word “humanity” meant. Honors. Sophomore. Third quarter of

the school year.

The teacher then had to take time out of teaching their lesson to the class to define to a student a word that they should have known in the sixth grade, at the latest.

Do you see where the problem is? The rest of the class, whose diction was up to date, lost significant and valuable class time because the teacher had to stop to make sure everyone was caught up. This is fine for a basic level class. It is not fine for an advanced level class. Although this may seem a very finite example, I’m chocked full.

In my AP Lang class last year, a student pronounced the word “hyperbole” as “hyper bull” as in “What does hyper bull mean?”

And when the teacher replied, saying that the word hyperbole, that student still had no idea what it meant.

We not only learned that word the year prior (this student was also in my Pre AP English class sophomore year), we had reviewed it, along with many other important English vocabulary words, since the first week of school.

illustration by maddie wilson

Not every student who’s in an AP class belongs in one

Once again, my teacher had to take time out of their lesson in order to explain to a student a concept they should already have had previous knowledge of.

This same student also pronounced the word “sober” as “sahber.” I’ll admit that we all have off days, including me. I’ve said and done things and then have immediately facepalmed afterwards. However, these are only a few examples of the faux pas committed.

Things like these should not be happening in advanced level classes; it’s as simple as that. Students of a higher caliber deserve to be in high caliber classes with other high caliber students.

Maybe some students need exposure to these advanced classes, yes. But when simple vocabulary is a problem in third quarter, it’s crossing the line between needing exposure and needing a lower level class, and there’s no shame in that.

There are students who are on an AP level, and there are students who aren’t. Everyone has their place, and when that natural order is meddled with, problems arise for everyone.

fhctoday.com | be heard

}27

Blockbuster beats the Box

By Evan Pagano

staff reporter

28}

As the freezing rain and sleet falls through the frigid winter air, I quickly walk on the slick blacktop parking lot, bundled in my winter coat. Beyond my visible, icy breath lies that familiar blue and yellow oasis, its movie-lined walls and friendly workers inviting me in with open arms.

I take two careful steps onto the sidewalk, my hands buried deeply in the pockets of my coat, and I gaze back. Up the hill, a line of people dressed similar to me are standing outside in the cold, attempting to push the buttons on a Redbox machine. Should I help? Nah, they should have known better. I walk into the heated home-entertainment store knowing that I made the right decision.

I’m making it a Blockbuster night.

My decision, however, seems to be becoming less and less common with the masses. According to the fact collectors at statisticbrain.com, Redbox — the movie rental kiosk outside of numerous establishments around the world — rents out 9.5 million movies per week.

Meanwhile, the former ruler of homeentertainment known as Blockbuster is struggling to retain its relevance. In fact, Redbox surpassed Blockbuster in 2007

be heard | october 26, 2012

for the most locations in the United States.

People want convenience, and Redbox supplies them with that. What they don’t receive, though, are two very important things: a good selection and a great atmosphere.

Unlike its competitor, Blockbuster has no shortage of movies or games to choose from. As a wee little tot, I would enter the movie-lined cornucopia, eyes wide at the sheer numerosity of the movies and video games throughout the store.

My mom would give me a two item limit, and the possibilities were seemingly endless. From new releases to any old classic imaginable, Blockbuster consistently had any title I wanted.

So after what seemed like years of contemplation, I had two plastic cases in hand (usually a wrestling video game and a DVD to go along with it), eager to check out. Compared to the selection at Redbox, this was night and day.

Selection, simply put, is an eye sore for young Redbox. Approximately 200 different movie titles are in your average kiosk, while Blockbuster has 200 DVD’s on each wall.

Many times, one of my family members have made the trip to our nearest Redbox,

only to walk to the Blockbuster down the street because Redbox’s selection doesn’t cut it— in fact, it hardly comes close.

The movies available are that ugly combination of semi-outdated and not very good in the first place; combine that with the fact that the rare good selections are likely to be out of stock, and you have an overall crappy movie renting experience.

And that’s where Blockbuster truly shines: the movie renting experience. Everything — the well-informed employees, the cozy feel of the store, the movie previews playing on televisions hanging above, a wide selection of candy, popcorn and beverages— contributes to a complete, comfortable feel.

To me, movie suggestions from a knowledgeable employee giving an honest take on a film are far superior to ones from a soccer mom rushing you along in the Redbox line, but hey, maybe that’s just me. To the same token, enjoying nice air conditioning in a Blockbuster is much more enjoyable than battling the elements just to rent an outdated movie. The feel, for me, is what makes Blockbuster the homeentertainment king.

For every king, however, there are peasants, and Redbox struggles to even

meet that status when it comes to the overall feel.

No friendly workers; in their place you get an inanimate, unresponsive red vending machine. No movie previews playing above; instead, you’ll get a bland description of the film ... if you can get the buttons to work. No candy, popcorn or soda... but I guess you can walk into the McDonald’s the Redbox sits outside of, right? You know what they say: nothing like a heart attack and a movie.

So, movie renters, I hope you can make the same choice that I make each and every movie night. With that choice, you’ll be guaranteed a few things: impeccable selection, educated assistance, and that inviting, comfortable feel that puts Blockbuster over the top as the best movie-renting option out there.

Or, of course, you could choose Redbox. It’s going to get cold soon, so bring a coat. If you leave empty handed, disappointed with the so-called selection, don’t say I didn’t warn you. Meanwhile, I’ll be inside that inviting blue and yellow haven down the street. Feel free to join me, and as Blockbuster says, “There’s more inside.”

Tuned out Students use headphones to block out the rest of the world, causing issues with others who see it as disrespect

Everyone’s got times when they wish they could just tune out the rest of the world. Luckily, with iPods and headphones, we can do that pretty much whenever we choose.

Hey, I get it, I really do.

But when is this actually

By Kellie appropriate? Everywhere Grezinger we look in the halls lately, staff reporter it seems like there’s a kid in his or her own world walking to the beat of some catchy song or another.

Then, it all unravels from there. When approached, the kid with the headphones doesn’t even seem to notice that there is a human being attempting to speak to them.

{

When they do notice, they take out their headphones with a slight roll of the eyes.

Sound familiar? I mean, how dare someone interrupt their song?

Or in class, when a teacher is trying to talk to the students (seeing as that is their job after all) there is always the kid who everso-disrespectfully takes out an earbud but leaves one in after being asked to turn off their music. Thus, leaving them to be half listening, and half respecting the person talking.

Subsequently, the person trying to talk to the plugged in kid is now insulted by the lack of general interest the kid seems to possess with every word they say, taking a whole second away from the song that they can listen to at literally any other point in time when not talking to people.

the box

This leads me to think about the actual dangers of this epidemic. Am I the only person who sees a plethora of health issues with it?

Hypothetically speaking, let’s say a kid is walking down the hall — music blasting — and can’t hear someone warning them that they are about to trip. Of course, they soon wish they could have been warned when face planting into the floor.

Or even more dramatically, let’s suppose one of these folks decide to listen to music on headphones while driving. An ambulance or car horn would be inaudible. Leave the rest to your imagination. What would happen next?

These things are merely possibilities but could actually happen. I haven’t even begun to mention the things every doctor and

grumpy old person thinks about teens’ over use of headphones.

Hearing loss in our generation is expected to be at an all-time high. I know all teens have heard it before.

However, maybe it’s actually important to pay attention to the warning, before you wake up one day to realize you can’t hear it anymore. Call me an extremist, but this really is something that needs to be watched closely and changed, fast.

It’s not that I think headphones and music are evil and should be banned forever and sent to purgatory. I just think it’s important to realize that there is a time and place for both of these things. Music doesn’t need to be blasting so loud and so persistently that it’s impossible to live a tuned in, safe, and social life.

cards repeat feat

wintery waltz

rivalry romp

They did it again. Once more down to their final strike, the St. Louis Cardinals pulled out another spectacular come-from-behind upset win over the Nationals to move on to the NLCS.

StuCo proposed another winter dance and left it up to the student body to vote for a formal or casual dance and traditional or Sadie Hawkins style. The verdict? Formal and Sadie Hawkins.

The Francis Howell Vikings came to visit Central on senior night Oct. 12 as varsity football lost 55-17 in a hard fought, but severely outmatched game between bitter rivals.

golden goals

red ribbon revelry campaign cavalcade

{

LOVE LIKE LEAVE Varsity boys soccer has three 2OT wins this season as they continue to face down nearly every obstacle in their way as they put together their best season yet.

The long-standing middle school spirit week is being transitioned to high school for the first time to promote drug-awareness when, arguably, kids need it most.

You can’t watch a 30-minute episode of “How I Met Your Mother” without running into no less than five separate campaign ads for candidates most of us could care less about.

fhctoday.com | be heard

}29

staffeditorial

Y

ou’re probably not going to read this, but it still needs to be written.

Granted, if you are taking in these words right now, you are probably wondering why you wouldn’t be reading this.

This is a newspaper, after all, a collection of words meant to be read.

So why are we so convinced you’ll lose focus just a few sentences into the future?

We’re about to talk politics.

Are you still reading? Or have your eyes glazed over? Have you begun to dart from word to word, skimming over the columns until you turn the page with a final, dismissive flourish?

If we are right, and you are fidgeting in your seat as you acknowledge this uncomfortable truth, then let’s cut right to the chase and ask the question we’d like to address: Why are students so turned off by politics?

There are a few answers that scratch the surface of the phenomenon.

30}

be heard | october 26, 2012

Politics is distant. It all seems to happen in a land far, far away, where old men argue over how many trillions of dollars we should spend on operations we will never see.

These same old men often seem insincere, a quality which sparks disgust among our generation of honesty. Policy is confusing. Most of us are too young to vote, anyway.

(Thanks for bearing with us up to this point. We’re getting to the good part.

Promise.)

It’s time to stop letting those reasons hold us back from stepping up and peeking out from behind our protective barriers. Whether we like it or not, we’re growing into adults who are going to have to live our lives alongside the U.S. government.

We will have to take out bank loans, and we will want them protected. We might want to get married. We might work in public sectors — maybe

schools just like this one — that rely on federal funding to get by. And unless we want to be wallflowers, we will have to make choices and stand up for them.

Even if we cannot “officially” make these choices until we turn 18, we are selling ourselves short if we completely avoid thinking about them. We are smart enough to understand. We know how to navigate the internet to find what we want to know (to our generation, it is practically second nature).

We have minds of our own that are more than capable of forming opinions. Just because the political arena is messy and confusing and frustrating does not mean we should shy away from it.

If you are still reading now, it means you have confronted a major truth of our generation: the things that are important are not the things that are easy. If we can step back from ourselves, we can see our resistance to politics, but we can also see all of the reasons why we should be diving in. We can see the power of politics.

And if you’re still with us now, you’re ready to pack a political punch.

want to relive the

homecoming game?

Experience the Spartans first victory of the season from a completely different perspective. Watch as the team prepares for a clash with rival Francis Howell North on homecoming night. Feel the emotion. See the plays up close and personal.

Relive the night.

see it NOV. 1

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the central focus, along with fhctoday.com, are student run publications which look to serve the francis howell central community through relevant, reliable journalism. the newsmagazine is meant to be have analytical outlook on topics and stories which matter to our readers. we are always looking to improve, and feedback is always appreciated. fhctoday.com | interact

}31

As her runners take off, Coach Michelle Breuer cheers on the cross country teams as they start the combined junior varsity race. For most of the runners, it was the final race of the season.

Fall break disrupts pace As the cross country season came to an end, both junior varsity and varsity runners rallied together over fall break for their GAC meet at McNair Park. The meet, however, ended in disappointment with the teams placing low.

As he rounds a corner, junior Taylor Stone strives to catch the runner in front of him. Stone joined the varsity team his freshman year.

photos by madi wagner

Junior Jake Plevnic doubles over in exhaustion after his race. Plevnic placed 36th overall in the boys varsity race.

“

I think everybody was just a little out of routine from break. I don’t think we had the same groove we do during school. We did all right. We can do better though.

32}

aperture | october 26, 2011

“

Jake Drnec sophomore

Alumnus, and former cross country runner, David Evans gives encouragement to Grumich before her varsity girls race.

Grumich placed 30th overall.

Madison Grumich, junior, attempts to hold her pace as her trailing competitor works to pass her.

Grumich has been on the team for three years.