March 3, 2017 - The American Dream

NORTH | STAR FRANCIS HOWELL NORTH | ST. CHARLES, MO | 03.8.17 | VOL. 31 ISSUE 06

n a c i r e dream Am the

PAGE 21

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The American Dream Immigration has been a popular topic for debate in 2017. In this issue, we show the faces of immigrants in our school and in our area.

ON THE COVER

Our country is full of diversity and people who come here to achieve the American Dream.

(Illustration by Carolynn Gonzalez)

WE’RE SOCIAL,

ARE YOU? TWITTER

3

Club Penguin

5

Club Penguin is shutting down soon due to a popularity decrease.

ENTERTAINMENT

Movie Review The fantasy and mystery film, “The Great Wall” was released last month.

@fhntoday

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SNAPCHAT

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A new bill is being voted on that could provide more rights to student journalists.

fhntoday

INSTAGRAM

Journalism Bill

NEWS

Betsy DeVos Betsy DeVos’ new education policies may have an affect on FHSD.

@fhntoday

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FACEBOOK @fhntodayfan

Sports Store

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Senior Drew Lanig was inspired by playing sports to get a job in a sports store.

FEATURES

Retail Store The owner of Renewed Treasures donates proceeds to Christian missionaries.

TUMBLR fhntoday

YOUTUBE fhntoday

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Spring Preview Here’s some previews to the upcoming seasons for the Spring sports and teams.

SPORTS

37

Past Players This infographic lays out what sports the staff of FHN played during high school.

PINTEREST fhntoday

SMUGMUG fhntoday

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43

OPINIONS

CONTENTS | FHNTODAY.COM | PAGE BY CHRISTIAN WITTE

The Press Donald Trump has been under fire for recent comments about the media.

44 Chicken Strips These are the top eight places to get chicken strips in the metro area.

ANOTHER TEENAGE DAY yg

Why did you pinch me?

Got ya!

g My necklace is made from recycable bottle caps, which is enviromentally “green.”

Because it’s St.Patricks Day, and you’re not wearing green.

Umm... Sorry?

(Comic by Jake Price)

WOULD YOU RATHER? STUDENT OPINION “I would rather be a teacher because then I could just send students to the office.”

- Sam Harris, 10 “I would rather use white boards because people can’t squeak their nails on chalk boards.”

- Karis Skaggs, 12 “I would rather be famous for a talent because more people would pay attention to talents rather than sayings.”

- Claire Huss, 10

“I would rather come to school five days a week for seven hours because after nine hours I wouldn’t focus.”

- Colby Winner, 11

“I would rather wear black because it kind of matches everything.”

- Aric Montgomery, 9

“I would rather miss a week of school because that’s always better than going.”

- Brendan Schmidt, 11

Have Trump as your principal?

OR

Have Hillary as your principal?

Be a teacher for a day?

OR

Be the principal for a day?

Use a chalk board?

OR

Use a white board?

Have a 30 minute nap time at school?

OR

Be famous for a talent?

OR

Come to school for five days a week for seven hours?

OR

Come to school for four days a week for nine hours?

Wear your class color for the rest of your life?

OR

Wear black for the rest of your life?

Never go to math class again?

OR

Never go to history class again?

Go to Mizzou?

OR

Go to Missouri State?

Have a 30 minute snack time at school?

Be famous for a saying?

ENTERTAINMENT | FHNTODAY.COM | PAGE BY OLIVIA FETSCH

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THE RISE AND FALL OF Follow this link to hear students talk about their thoughts on Club Penguin shutting down: goo.gl/peLnSF

THE DECLINE OF CLUB PENGUIN 100

WADDLE ON

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Club Penguin is currently hosting their final party, titled the Waddle On Party.

80 70 60 50

This party is a celebration of the history and community of Club Penguin.

40 30 20 10 0 2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

Numbers represent the search interest at the given time. A 100 means the term was searched the most that it ever was. A 50 means the term was searched half as much.

(Source: Google Trends)

I think it’s going to be very sad that my favorite childhood game is closing.

[Club Penguin closing is] like a sense of loss. It’s one of those nostalgic things of my daughter’s childhood.

At this party, members can collect an Alumni Jacket and nonmembers can collect an Iceberg Tipper hat and various backgrounds.

I’m so sad to see a part of my childhood go. I grew up with it always being a popular website.

Anna Pardo, 10

21

Steve Willott, Teacher

MORE DAYS

On March 29, a game that is known and loved will be closing its doors for the last time. Club Penguin has decided to transition to a new platform, discontinuing the current game on mobile and desktop devices.

Lauren Wolosyk, 12 Their new platform will be known as “Club Penguin Island” and will be available on mobile devices at a later date. More information can be found on their website, clubpenguinisland.com. (Graphic by Aly Doty)

5

THE TOP 5

HOT SPOTS

4

2

3

1

2 THE PLAZA

1 THE IGLOOS Everybody on Club Penguin is given their own igloo. Igloos can be decorated and hold various Puffles, Club Penguin’s version of pets.

An igloo comes with a backyard and people can come view other’s igloos.

Igloos can be given “likes” by other players. Many people often use their igloos to host game shows and fashion shows.

The Plaza holds four main buildings: The Pet Shop, the Puffle Park, the Puffle Hotel and the Pizza Parlor. These buildings all have various games where coins, the game’s currency, can be earned. The Pizza Parlor is one of the most famous buildings in Club Penguin because of the Pizzatron 3000 game and the social atmosphere that it offers.

3 THE TOWN

4 THE ICEBERG

The Town is the main gathering area in the game. Many people go there to chat and advertise their igloos.

It’s typically the first area people enter when first logging in. The Town holds three main buildings: the Coffee Shop, the Clothing Shop and the Night Club, where people can shop for clothing and play games.

The Iceberg is a wellknown large floating chunk of ice in Club Penguin. For nearly 12 years, it was rumored that if enough people stand on the tip of it, the iceberg will tip over. On Jan. 31, that rumor was proven to be true for the first time. It was once a hidden place on the map, meaning if you hovered over it, the name wouldn’t come up.

5 THE DOJO The Dojo is a building located in the mountains of Club Penguin. Just like the iceberg, it was once a hidden place on the map.

People can go here to play Card-Jitsu, a game where people can battle each other and earn various colored belts, and eventually become a ninja when they master all of the different colored penguin belts.

12 YEARS IN REVIEW 2005

2007

2008

$$ Club Penguin goes live for the first time.

Club Penguin agrees to sell both Club Penguin and its parent company to Disney.

2010

2015

X

Wii Club Penguin: Elite Penguin Force is released for the Nintendo DS.

Club Penguin: Game Day! is released for the Nintendo Wii.

2017

Club Penguin shuts down the German and Russian versions of the site due to their decline.

Club Penguin closes down for the last time.

What Cartoon animal are you?

Ever wonder which animated animal you are? Take this personality quiz to find out which animal suits you the most

THE GREAT WALL IS A BIG, BEAUTIFUL MESS

by Jake Price

japrice024@gmail.com | @dragonjake158

“The Great Wall” is a fantasy, action film about a warrior who discovers the secret about the Great Wall Of China and why it was really built. Along the way, he learns the true meaning of trust, deals with the betrayal of the ones closest to him and faces terrifying creatures.

From a visual standpoint, the film was great; however, the editing and script could have been so much better.

The best thing about the film was definitely the production design. The sets were not only well built, but they were so beautiful and authentic to Asian architecture. The overall look of the film was really satisfying.

Speaking of everything being authentic, the costumes and props were amazing. The attention to detail going into the design of the costumes and props was spectacular, and it was nice to see the costumes come from Asian culture; it made the setting more believable.

All of the actors and actresses did a mediocre job. Matt Damon, who plays the main character, did a good job, but he could’ve gotten into the role a little bit more.

Throughout the movie, Damon barely gave any emotion to his performance, which made him boring to watch.

The editing of this film was sloppy. It didn’t have a good pace, and the scenes cut to other ones at the most random moments.

For example, there was a funeral scene taking place with amazing visuals and beautiful music in the background. After the scene ended, it just automatically cut to a scene where two characters are planning to steal weapons from the wall. The edits just didn’t flow right.

The editing wasn’t the only bad thing about this movie: the script was poorly written. The script had really unimportant subplots, and the dialogue was very bland.

Even though the script and editing were very weak, the film, overall, was very entertaining.

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Start Do you like Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck or Goofy?

Would you rather be best friends with Yogi Bear or Fred Flintstone?

Goofy

Yogi Donald Duck

Fred Do you prefer The Lion King or Beauty and the Beast?

Mickey Mouse

SpongeBob

Nope

Beauty and Lion King the Beast

Do you like Looney Tunes?

Neutral

Phineas and Ferb

Yes

Would you rather binge watch SpongeBob, Phineas and Ferb or Fairly OddParents?

Fairly OddParents

Scooby-Doo

Bugs Bunny

Perry The Platypus

Garfield

You are loyal, kind, funny and you care very much about your friends and family. You tend to worry a lot about the little things, but this is what makes you so respectful, caring and sensitive.

You are loud, outgoing and you like to have fun.

You are always joking around, which makes people think you’re immature, but at least you have a heart of gold and a sense of humor.

You are protective, quiet and shy. You tend to keep to yourself, and you are most likely the most intelligent one in your family. Although you are introverted, you are a very talented individual.

You never get annoyed and you tend to be much less busy than most people. This lack of stress causes people to think you are lazy and lonely when really you are just independent.

“Not surprised since I am “[Scooby] seems a lot like very loud and annoying at me because I care about my home, but not so much at family and friends.” school.”

Marcus Carpenter, 10 Peter Bennett, 11

ENTERTAINMENT | FHNTODAY.COM | PAGE BY JAKE PRICE

“I feel like the shy, quiet “I am definitely chill, but part is wrong, since I am things do tend to annoy me very loud person.” sometimes.”

Makayla Koester, 11 Brittany Zylka, 11

FHNTodayTV Featured Videos AllALLFebruary Videos MARCH VIDEOS goo.gl/UGhzxy https://goo.gl/sl18H3

Quick and Easy Fudge Watch here: goo.gl/z5m3p8

• Step by step process on how to make fudge in a short amount of time.

• Requires only three ingredients to make.

(Video By: Kali Skikias and Madi Shinault)

FHNTODAYTV’S MOST RECENT PODCAST Watch here: goo.gl/Rs8eyL In this edition of FHNtodayTV, anchors Kelsey Decker and Nathan Williams revisit their times at snowcoming while showcasing five things to do at Steinberg Skating Rink other than ice skating, compare four different ice rinks around the St. Louis

area, feature Francis Howell North interpreter Thomas Skinner and his work with hard of hearing students, as well as take a trip to Klondike Park to share some of visitors’ favorite memories in the park (Podcast by: Taylor Sherdian)

Main Street Lost Graveyard Watch here: goo.gl/zJ2pkE

The Lost Graveyard is located in between Old Time Photos and Bathhouse Soapery. What’s now a compact building, used to be a small graveyard with about 320 people buried in the nine square foot space until the town decided to move it in 1863. Most bodies were moved out of the space but some still remain (Video By: Taylor Perry)

Varsity Basketball SCW at FHN

Watch here: goo.gl/sBDRVR

• This doubler header stream was senior night for boys and girls basketball.

• Game announced by Jacob Lintner.

(Streamed on the FHNtoday YouTube Channel)

Anime Club Works to Expand Reach Watch here: goo.gl/8wsBqv People Featured: Jenny Rice and Emily Butler

Anime club is a monthly meeting club at FHN who encourage interested students to join them in watching varioius animes after school. Many members find themselves making new friends and watching new animes. The club will occasionly host events to draw in even more members and remains a steady growing club (Video by: Lily Sontheimer)

The Katy Trail in 360

Watch here: goo.gl/gYK3p5 • Features Cole Wilkinson and Wil Skaggs pennyboarding along the Katy Trail.

• Video is filmed completely with a 360 camera.

(Video By: Wil Skaggs)

ENTERTAINMENT | FHNTODAY.COM | PAGE BY KELSEY DECKER

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UPCOMING EVENTS Friday

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March

What: Awaken Project Assembly Time: 8:30 a.m.

Place: Gym

Jeff Mozingo and Joe Richardson will be taking the Awaken Project to FHN. The team travels around the country in an effort to educate students about drug prevention, using music and visuals.

This school-wide assembly will consist of Mozingo and Richardson using their personal Saturday

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March

What: MCCGA Winter Guard Festival Time: 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Place: Gym

Winter Guard will host their annual MCCGA festival at FHN. The event is a fundraiser for the guard and band program, with the funds going toward next year’s marching band and winter guard seasons. Tickets will cost $7 for adults and $5 for students, and anyone can attend and view the performances.

Thurs.-Sat.

6-8 April

experiences of witnessing the effect of drugs, specifically heroin, on loved ones to help teach students about the dangers of drugs.

“I saw them perform at Hollenbeck,” sophomore Chloe Platter said. “They are really entertaining while also being really educational.”

(Brief by Paige Prinster)

This event will include winter guard performances from around the area competing against one another, and an exhibition from FHN. “I just love performing at North because there’s no pressure because it’s just an exhibition,” Theresa Winkle, junior Winter Guard member, said.

(Brief by Paige Prinster)

What: Spring Play Time: 7 p.m.

Place: Auditorium

Drama club will perform “Grease” for their spring production, with tickets costing $10.

The musical has been in production since February, with a new production team completing larger and more complicated tasks such as costumes and the regular crew helping with more

regular tasks such as props and set to prepare for the production.

“I’m most excited about getting to see how well all of our hard work in rehearsals pays off,” crew member Jordan Milewczik said. (Brief by Paige Prinster)

STUDENT CHOICE AWARDS KOE started Student Choice Awards Each teacher is given a certificate in February. Each month, students for their nominations, but the teacher can fill out a Google Doc nominating who receives the most nominations their favorite teacher. At the end of the is the winner. The teacher that wins month, KOE sponsor will also receive a certificate Kristen Johnson goes and be announced at the through the nominations end of each month during Vote for your favorite and writes certificates announcements. teacher here: for every teacher.

“I’m excited to find out goo.gl/gQG8gF “We always have who wins the award,” Rasha

VOTE

staff member of the month,” KOE sponsor Lindsey Scheller said. “We wanted the students’ perspective this time.”

Shaker, sophomore and KOE member, said. “I’m sure they worked very hard for it.” (Brief by Sydney Wise) Joe Brocksmith talks to his third hour class, Environmental Studies, as they work on vocabulary.

Brocksmith was announced the winner of the KOE Student Choice Award for this month. This month was the first of the Student Choice Awards. (Photo by Sarah LaLonde)

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NEWS | FHNTODAY.COM | PAGE BY PAIGE PRINSTER & SYDNEY WISE

SPINNING THROUGH A NEW SEASON Winter Guard started off their season with two second-place wins, something they weren’t quite expecting. From losing members to having money issues, the season wasn’t looking great in their eyes toward the beginning. They expected to do better, but they’re still hoping to do well the rest of the season.

“Our goal last year was to make it to the top five in competitions,” junior Theresa Winkle said. “This year we just hope to make it to finals.”

Despite these setbacks, guard is still working to improve. They went to WGI Indianapolis in Indiana, an international competition, on Feb. 17-19, where they placed ninth out of 11. They also went to WGI Omaha, another international competition, on Feb. 24-26 and got third. Their last WGI competition will be April 6-9, which is also their biggest and last competition of the year.

“Performing feels like a whole bunch of people are watching you, but it also feels like you’re the only one on the floor at the same time,” sophomore Essence Green said. (Brief by Sydney Wise)

UPCOMING GUARD EVENTS

Winter Guard performs their routine for their friends and family in the gym on Feb. 16. The team performed to raise money for their competition in Ohio. “I enjoyed being able to show off to my friends and family and really express how I feel about guard and how much I like it,” sophomore Kaleigh Levins said. (Photo by Kamryn Bell)

Bowling Green Kentucky Competition March 24

WGI Championships April 6-9

MCCGA Championships April 1

Fall Guard Tryouts April 24-26

BAND SETS EYES ON HOLT Band students in Brass Choir, Symphonic Band and Woodwind Choir will go to Holt High School tomorrow for their annual large ensemble competition. Band Director Rob Stegeman will bring these groups with him to compete against other schools in Missouri and get a rating that consists of one to five, with one being the best.

Band students in Brass Choir, Symphonic Band and Woodwind Choir practice months before the concert to perfect their music and make sure everything is on note and ready for the judges’ critiques at the competition.

“All that hard work and dedication

is just so surreal and amazing in my eyes,” Stegeman said. “I just want to pass on what I teach to them so they can take it with them when they are ready to perform in front of many others by themselves.”

Senior trumpet player Dan Mulawa has been in band for every year in high school. He plays the in the basketball band and in the Symphonic Band and looks forward to the Holt competition.

“The music we have is pretty tough because it’s grade five and grade five is the second-hardest to grade, but I know we are ready and will push through,” Mulawa said. (Brief by Ashya Roberson)

The Symphonic Band practices one of their two songs that they are taking to contest on March 9.

The band will perform “Joropo” and “The Immovable Do” at the large ensemble competition. The contest will also include a sight-reading portion. (Photo by Rachel Kehoe)

NEWS | FHNTODAY.COM | PAGE BY PAIGE PRINSTER & SYDNEY WISE

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Sophomore Wil Skaggs films a an interview with Sohail Jchaj for a story on Jchaj’s future career in music. Skaggs has been a member of the FHN Publications Video Staff for almost a full year. The FHN Publications program is a student-led program that does not currently work under prior review from the administrators. (Photo by Alex Rowe)

New Voices, New laws A law giving student journalists protection against censorship is the in process of being passed

by Sami Schmid

saminiccole102@gmail.com

9

The Cronkite New Voices Act is in its second go at being passed by the Missouri legislature. New Voices is legislation that gives student journalists freedom from censorship and undoes the effects of the previous decision made in the Hazelwood V. Kuhlmeier Supreme Court case.

“Any bill that can negate Hazelwood is a win for scholastic journalism programs,” Mitch Eden, Kirkwood High School journalism adviser and president of the Missouri Journalism Education Association, said. “We need it because we need to make sure students know their voice matters and their voice is important, and we need to really have legislation that protects their First Amendment rights.”

Robert Bergland, journalism adviser at Missouri Western University, is the leading advocate of the bill in Missouri. In 2016, he contacted both Rep. Elijah Haahr to sponsor the bill and Eden for support from the Missouri Journalism Education Association.

The previous version of the bill passed through the House and went on to be passed by the Senate Education Committee, but did not get brought before

NEWS | FHNTODAY.COM | PAGE BY MIA KRISTENSEN

the Senate. This year, the bill has passed the House Rules Committee and is now moving on to the full House for a vote. Before this point, they continued to work on the bill with a new sponsor, Rep. Kevin Corlew, and made some revisions to it that gained the endorsement of the Missouri National Education Association. The revisions include protections for schools, colleges, administration and advisers from legal liability for their students’ speech in schoolassociated publications.

“Honestly, I think the process had just made the bill stronger,” Frank LoMonte, executive director of the Student Press Law Center, said. “I think it’s actually been improved by the input of those who commented at the Senate committee.”

Due to the Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier Supreme Court case in 1987, administrators are allowed to determine what content is acceptable in school-affiliated press.

Many states are in the process of changing that standard, and 11 have already passed legislation giving student journalists more rights. The most recent movement started when North Dakota passed the John Wall New Voices Act.

NEW VOICES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES

States that have passed legislation protecting high school students States that have passed legislation protecting high school and college students States that have a campaign to introduce legislation protecting student press States that have not passed any legislation protecting students against censorship (Source: New Voices U.S.)

“I think that we’ve seen a generational change in the people running state legislatures, and people who have grown up using the internet have realized the futility and uselessness of censorship,” LoMonte said. “I think that’s the single greatest asset that we have: much more tech-savvy legislators that realize it is not possible in the 21st century to keep people from talking about the issues they care about. You can’t hold that ocean back with your fingers, and it’s a much better educational practice to invite the discussion of sensitive issues into the supervised and accountable newsroom.”

The Hazelwood case involved a school principal having students leave stories about teen pregnancy and divorce out of the newspaper due to concerns about privacy for the pregnant teens and appropriateness of the subjects. Students from the school took the situation to court, saying their rights were violated. Cathy M. Frey (Kuhlmeier), one of the students who went to court in the Hazelwood case, stays active in fighting for student journalists’ rights. She believes the Supreme Court’s decision would have been different had there been a different

lawyer on the case and if more of her story had been brought to the justices’ attention. According to Frey, the students whose privacy the principal questioned had both given parent consent and had written consent to be quoted in the paper. They also changed the names of the students in question and the same topic had previously been published in their paper seven to eight years prior.

“I found it strange that it was OK to run those articles before the new administration at the school said it was not OK,” Frey said. “I think had those things been brought up to the justices I really think they would have had a different opinion. A lot of those things aren’t in those textbooks that you’re reading or lectures that you’re hearing.”

Many people involved in student journalism such as LoMonte, Frey, Eden and Bergland advocate for the bill and are dedicated to getting it passed in Missouri.

“It would send a really strong symbolic message to the rest of the country that Missouri has decided to leave that old outdated standard in the dust,” LoMonte said.

CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVE

Representative: Depending on the area you live, your representative will be Phil Cristofanelli or Chrissy Sommer Phil Cristofanelli Phone: 573-751-2949 Email: Phil.Christofanelli@house.mo.gov Chrissy Sommer Phone: 573-751-1452 Email: Chrissy.Sommer@house.mo.gov State Senator: Bill Eigel Phone: 573-751-1141 Governor: Eric Greitens Phone: 573-751-3222

NEWS | FHNTODAY.COM | PAGE BY SAMI SCHMID

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Teachers, principals and other staff members of FHSD listen as the board discusses the agenda of the last meeting. The meeting room and even the lobby were packed with teachers in anticipation of learning what the proposed budget cuts could be. (Photo by Jared Kinnard)

Education in the nation Betsy DeVos wants major changes in schools, which could affect districts across the country, including FHSD

by Ronald Joel

ronaldtjoel@gmail.com | @Tombstone_C

The U.S. has a new secretary for the Department of Education, Betsy DeVos, and she is expected to make changes from the policies of previous President Barack Obama’s secretary of education. School districts all over the nation are wondering what changes they might see. There could be few to no changes or major ones.

“Across our nation, anything can be changed in the education field, which is highly important to all of us,” FHSD Board President Mark Lafata said. “Knowing how there’s a new secretary of education, we could be seeing a difference in anything soon.”

According to a December Washington Post article, many people expect DeVos to push for expanded school choice around the country, much as she did during her two decades in her home state of Michigan. Some parents don’t believe that a one-size-fits-all model of learning meets the needs of every child, so they advocate for other options, including magnet, virtual, charter, home, faith-based schools or any combination. Knowing this, DeVos supports voucher programs. Vouchers let

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NEWS | FHNTODAY.COM | PAGE BY MCKAYLA BOGDA

parents spend public tax money on private or parochial schools. According to the same article, President Trump pledged during the campaign to provide $20 billion in federal support for charter schools and vouchers.

While the potential effect of these policies on FHSD is uncertain, DeVos’ support for charters, which are publicly-funded schools that operate independently, is the subject of particular scrutiny because of their performance. According to a 2014 Detroit Free Press report, 75 percent of public schools in Michigan performed better than charters did, and charters had some of the weakest oversight in the country.

“The voucher system would be detrimental to [public schools],” Hollenbeck administrator Woody Borgschulte said. “There needs to be some kind of accountability. Vouchers will just ruin it by increasing the money budget greatly compared to public schools.”

At her hearing in January, DeVos said she does not support the federalized approach for Common Core in schools. Despite the fact that Common Core is voluntary, Obama’s Every Student Succeeds Act, which states for all students to have equal opportunities and achieve their goals, prohibits the federal

QA &

CHATTING WITH THE CANDIDATES

Meet the candidates for the board of education election coming up on April 4. There are five candidates, two of which are incumbents, running for three open positions that are three year terms

Q: Mary Lange

Patrick Lane

government from requiring states to adopt or change their standards. DeVos, however, believes it is the job of states to set those standards. Some members of Congress have also made it clear that they don’t believe there should be a federal role in determining standards, but others believe that the federal government should have more oversight.

“There has to be a curriculum, whether it be Common Core or not,” Borgschulte said. “Without it, it’ll be chaos. How can you measure a student’s growth without having anything to measure with?”

DeVos got a vote of 50-50 to be the secretary of education, and the tie was broken by Vice President Mike Pence. The new policies DeVos wants to implement into the education field have the potential to affect many school districts across the country in areas like the Common Core and school choice, but it’s still uncertain.

“Parents need to have some choice for their children,” board member Sandra Ferguson said.

“Yes, we should have things that private schools have in public schools, but we need to listen to our community, and make sure we do what our community wants.”

Stephen Johnson

Mike Sommer

How long have you been in the district?

Incumbent

What do you think are the biggest challenges the board faces for the coming year?

What are you most looking forward to if you are elected on the board?

“We have been in this district since 2005.”

“I want to be on the board just to be a voice in the community.

I’m a parent, I’m a mother, I am a concerned community member. I want us to remain a top district, and I want to do my part in achieving that.”

“The biggest challenge is definitely our finances. I do believe, though, with a more unified board that we can easily overcome that obstacle and work together, find some better solutions and solutions that will have a minimal impact on our students and our staff.”

“I am looking forward to just getting the community more involved, the staff more involved, focusing on the actual children of our district and our community. It’s about them, it’s always about them and they need to be put first and we just need to continue to give them the best education possible. We are one of the top school districts in Missouri, and we need to stay that way.”

“I’ve lived in Francis Howell School District for 30 years, and my children, all four, graduated from Francis Howell North. I think that would be 1989-2009, so they were there their entire educational career, and then presently my granddaughter is at Hackmann Preschool.

She’s 3.”

“I was co-chair of the Prop Howell committee, and I want to maintain those curriculum standards that we already have in place, as we know and see all the time the high success of our students that graduate from Howell. At the same time, I want financial stability for our area, and then of course I want to make sure we address the needs of our students, that we continue to maintain and meet those needs they have, either individually, as a group, as a building, and you know if they are well taken care of they are going to do well in school.”

“One is finances, maintaining a balanced budget within state guidelines. Two, to continue providing a high quality academic program. And then of course to attract and maintain excellent teachers.”

“I [have worked for] 33 years in education and I was a teacher for 21 years and a principal for 12 years and I like living in and working in the educational arena.

At this time, although I respect the board members, we do not have an educator on the board and I think we need someone up there that understands teachers’ and students’ needs that have been in the trenches.”

“We have been in the district since 1987, so 30 years.”

“I believe I can bring my previous three years of experience and my business background and be an asset to the board of education and also build a bridge between the taxpayer and the Francis Howell Board of Education.”

“The biggest challenge the board faces is a financial one. As much as there have been cutbacks at the state level, on transportation and there’s been an, in my opinion, overspending in excess of revenue, which has caused the district to be in a poor financial situation. I think that is the most critical thing going on right now.”

“I’m looking for calm, peace and leadership to be new aspects of the 2017 board of education.”

“Currently where I live, I have been there 14 years.”

“I think I can use my experience, being on the board of education for 12 years.

There’re academic challenges and financial challenges, and I think I can use my expertise to continue to make Francis Howell one of the successful districts in the metropolitan area.”

“The biggest challenge is going to be to continue the academic success we’ve had in the classrooms based upon the financial challenges that we’re facing as a district. We make decisions, at least when I make decisions, where will it least affect the students in the classroom. “

“The best part of being on the board is graduation every June. I always look forward to that. That’s really the goal of going to school K-12, is graduation, so that’s the best part and I look forward to it every year.”

“I was born and raised in St. Charles and I’ve lived in the Francis Howell school district for 25 years. Prior to that I lived kind of off Zumbehl, so in St. Charles. I’ve put three boys through the Francis Howell system.”

“So I’m wrapping up my first term and I’ve truly loved it, most of the time. And what I mean by that is that the school district is the foundation of our community and so its success reflects on the entire community, and being able to help drive that direction is very exciting. I think that I am a critical thinker and I like to analyze information and I like to think strategically, so helping provide the vision for our district is important to me.”

“Finances. We’ve tried for two tax increases, which I personally worked to try to help pass, and we haven’t been successful yet. We have continued cuts in federal and state funding, so [we’re] looking for alternative ways for our public schools to still perform at the level we want in Francis Howell.”

“The strategic planning and providing the vision. I want to take our school district to the next level and that’s going to be really hard to do in our financial system, so I believe in finding a way. And one of the things I think I’m good at is finding a way, so if we do have limited resources how are we still going to take Francis Howell to the next level because our environment is changing so fast. I want to make sure our students are ready for that.”

Incumbent

Rene Cope

Why do you want to serve on the board?

(Q&A by McKayla Bogda)

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HIP-HOPPING TO A GREATER TALENT Alumnus Rana “Sohail” Jchaj continues to pursue a talent in rap music he found in high school

by Keegan Schuster

keeganschuster98@gmail.com

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fter making waves in the school community with his vocal skills, alumnus Rana “Sohail” Jchaj continues to pursue rapping as an outlet to showcase his creativity. Known for starting classroom rap battles and freestyling throughout the halls of FHN, Jchaj now spreads his music through the campus of UMSL. With plans to release new music in April, he set out to take his hobby to the next level in multiple ways.

“I’m most proud of being able to do what I want with my music,” Jchaj said. “I was always formulating rhymes in my head as a kid, and I just started off by free styling. It’s such an enticing culture and I love being a part of it.”

By the time Jchaj graduated in 2016, his main Sohail Jchaj talks achievement as a hip-hop artist was the release of his first about his plans for the future: mixtape, “I’m An Only Child.” Looking ahead, he felt that the goo.gl/f2Qgsb next step in becoming a rapper was to play his first show at a concert venue. After receiving a message from rapper Jess Jones, he was finally able to do so in August 2016. Impressed with his energy and ability to win over a crowd, Jones offered him a 15-minute opening slot for his show at Fubar. The event served as Jchaj’s first gig, and helped boost his motivation to further his talent in rapping and continue making music.

“It’s definitely a very fun and competitive talent,” Jchaj’s friend Chase Jefferson said.

“I find it very interesting, and the energy that Sohail puts into it is amazing.”

With a mixtape and a show under his belt, Jchaj made an effort to expand his knowledge of hip-hop. In addition to writing lyrics and rapping, he began learning how to record, produce and mix his own songs. After countless hours spent behind a microphone and computer, he can now complete his own songs from start to finish with ease. He has since put his skills to use, appearing on two songs made by local artists and performing a verse on stage with prominent rapper Hopsin.

“I think rapping can give a student like Sohail a lot of self confidence and speaking skills,” Jchaij’s former teacher Brian Santos said. “It’s nice to see students use creative outlets like this to express themselves.”

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Sohail Jchaj poses on a set of steps on Main Street in Historic St. Charles. Jchaj plans to distribute his mixtapes for free before releasing his first full-length album. (Photo by Alex Rowe)

CONNECTED BY ENGINES

After her grandfather passed away, Devilyn Bedwell and her family received two Corvettes

by Alex Lane

alexlanehockey@gmail.com | @ProdigyLane

Freshman Devilyn Bedwell’s family inherited two Corvettes from her grandfather.

The two Vettes are a Z06 and a 1974 C3. Bedwell’s uncle, Chris, now owns both and they sit in his garage.

“In a way, I like to think the car resembles [my grandfather] and his worth as a person,” Devilyn said.

Devilyn’s grandfather got his first Corvette in 1975. He fell in love with the designs of the cars after his first one, and he needed to see more. After the first Corvette he got, he decided to start trading the one he had to possibly get a better and newer one.

“He could never settle for enough,” Devilyn’s grandmother, Kay said. “He always wanted more and more. I thought it became his main hobby soon after he started.”

His next Corvette was a 2008 Z06. With the Z06 package, the car is made for power. The car has a jet black exterior and a tan interior. The next car he added

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was a standard 2012 Corvette. Unlike the ‘08, the car does not have the Z06 package. This means the car holds fewer liters in its engine and ultimately has less horsepower.

“The Z06 package is so neat,” Devilyn said. “The little details to the car it adds just make the car more unique, and I love the little things like that.”

After Devilyn’s grandfather passed, the Corvettes needed to go somewhere or be passed on. Since Devilyn doesn’t have her license yet, the Corvettes couldn’t be registered in her name. Chris and Kay decided that the cars would be handed down to her uncle, Chris.

“We both knew the cars would suit him more, seeing how he loves to drive more than me,” Kay said. “Maybe one day he’ll start collecting and carry on the tradition.”

The Z06 and C3 Corvettes now wait in his garage. The Bedwells decided to get rid of the 2008 Vette as it just seemed to take up room in the garage. Chris enjoys the Z06 as a daily driver.

“At the end of each day, I still think it’s fascinating to have two Corvettes in the garage and to remember who they came from,” Devilyn said.

Senior Drew Lanig helps a customer look for a Cardinals t-shirt at Fan Cave Sports. Lanig was offered the job unexpectedly when he walked into their Mid Rivers location. “I chose to work at a sport store because I knew it would be perfect for me and I would absolutely love it,” Lanig said. (Photos by Kyra Peper)

WORKING UP A PASSION Senior Drew Lanig works at a memorabilia shop, which continues to fuel his love of professional sports and creates exciting experiences for him

by Heidi Hauptman

heidihauptman9@gmail.com | @HauptmanHeidi

Ever since he was little, senior Drew Lanig has had a strong love for sports, and he is still a passionate sports fan today, typically attending 10-15 Cardinals and Blues games per season. This has led him to get a job as a sales person at a sports store, Fan Cave Sports.

“I really love my job,” Lanig said. “My favorite part about it would definitely be being able to meet and talk to professional athletes. I also really enjoy being able to talk to people about sports all the time since it is one of my biggest interests.”

Because of his strong passion for sports, Lanig has chosen to work at Fan Cave Sports, a memorabilia shop located in the St. Louis Premium Outlets. He started working at the Fan Cave Sports location in the Mid Rivers Mall in August. However, the franchise opened a new store in Chesterfield in early October and decided to close down the Mid Rivers store because it didn’t get as much business, and Lanig followed.

“Drew’s knowledge about sports really makes him a great [addition] to the store,” manager Ryan Houston said.

“He definitely knows a lot of information, and I can tell he really enjoys what he does. It is good because he is a great help to the customers.”

At his job, Lanig sells memorabilia, novelty items, clothes, hats and other sporting items. He also talks to people to see what they’re looking for and makes sure the customer’s needs are met. Along with his job, he gains a large number of benefits. When an athlete comes to the store, employees can get anything they want signed for free, but customers have to buy tickets to meet the athlete and pay to get their item signed. Lanig also gets the chance to meet professional athletes such as Robby Fabbri, Ryan Reaves, Colton Parayko and others.

“I think it’s really cool that Drew works at the store because of all the sports stars he meets,” senior and friend Brenden Mollett said. “It’s a really good fit for him because he really knows a lot about the Blues and Cardinals and can talk to all the customers about the teams and gets to meet some of his favorite sports stars while being paid.”

Lanig bags a foam wall logo for a customer at Fan Cave Sports.

FEATURES | FHNTODAY.COM | PAGE BY HEIDI HAUPTMAN

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Sumi Chen and her mom speak in Chinese at their kitchen table. Chen worries about how her mom will do without her. “I mostly learned English from going to school and my cousins,” Chen said. (Photo by Elise Gordon)

BREAKING BARRIERS Freshman Sumi Chen helps her Chinese-speaking parents overcome language difficulties

by Mia Kristensen

mnj.kristensen@gmail.com

Talking on the phone, making appointments and going shopping all have one thing in common. These are all ways that freshman Sumi Chen helps her mom, who speaks very little English. Her mother, Wenchuan Lin, was born and raised in Taiwan and speaks Chinese.

Chen was born in Missouri, but her family moved back to Taiwan when she was about two months old, which is where they lived until moving back to the U.S at the end of Chen’s second grade year.

“Not being able to communicate with the doctor when I’m sick is the hardest part because some feelings are hard to express,” Lin said, translated through Chen.

The English language can be difficult to learn if it’s not someone’s native language. It has many rules, exceptions to those rules and other difficulties. Chen’s parents have both tried to take classes, and their daughters also try to help them navigate through the confusing language.

“My accent is very heavy and I don’t know a lot of vocabulary, so not many people would be able to understand me,” Lin said. “The way things are pronounced is really different in Chinese. We have no past or future tense.”

Chen’s parents are quite dependent on their daughters. They can go to the store and do other things that don’t require a lot of talking, but if they need something specific then Chen or her little sister needs to go along with them.

“People are really understanding, but there’s always going to be that one or two that get frustrated when I’m translating,” Chen said.

“When I was growing up and translating there was times I didn’t want to do it. It’s hard, it’s a lot of work. You just have to get over it.”

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Uma Upamaka poses with her trophy in one hand from the St. Louis Post Dispatch Bee, and in the other hand she holds the word “pruritus”, which was the toughest word’s from that bee. “This is one of my favorite’s because this is the last one from this competition that I competed in, and it was the third year in a row of me winning. Upamaka said. (Photo illustration by Riley McCrackin)

SPELLING SUCCESS

Freshman Uma Upamaka has been spelling competitively for years and has ranked nationally in spelling bees across the country

by Rebekah Maye

rebekahmaye@gmail.com | @RebekahMaye1

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er name is called, breaking the silence on the quiet stage, and she stands up, number 132 swaying around her neck. A judge sitting before her assigns her a word more complicated than the last, and she thinks about it carefully before saying each letter. She spells it correctly, to the relief of the anticipating audience and judges, and advances to the next round.

“There’s really nothing like it,” Uma Upamaka said. “People play sports to get their hearts pumping, and there’s nothing like that adrenaline rush when you get a word that you don’t know. It’s sort of like sports except for people who can’t play sports.”

Uma began competing in spelling bees in second grade. Since then, she has placed second at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch Spelling Bee in 2016 and 11th in the MetLife South Asian Spelling Bee Nationals in New York in 2015. She has competed in 1012 competitions since she started and plans on competing in the HOSA Medical Spelling Bee on March 27. To prepare for spelling bees, Uma practices with her mother, studying the roots of words and their spelling patterns.

“Uma showed a lot of interest in reading,” Uma’s

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mother, Archana Upamaka, said. “She showed a lot of interest in spelling and what words meant, and when she got into spelling competitions, it was very critical to understand the etymology of the words.”

Uma’s success is not only credited to years of practicing words and how to spell them, but also to her proficiency in etymology. Etymology is the study of the origin of words and the way in which their meanings have changed throughout history.

While it is impossible to memorize the spelling of over 476,000 words in the Merriam Webster Learn more about Third New Unabridged how spelling Dictionary, the dictionary affects Uma Uma uses to study for Upamaka’s life competitions, learning their now: roots and origins will help a goo.gl/YFpucR contestant advance to the next round.

“I think spelling is a skill that you just need to learn how to do, as it takes a lot of practice,” Uma said.

“There are so many words out there and lots of weird exceptions because English doesn’t usually like to behave.”

With this unique skill, Uma plans to go into the field of medicine, as knowing the roots and origins of foreign terms will help her advance in her studies.

“Spelling has been a part of my life for a very long time, and while it’s not a part of me, it is a part of who I am,” Uma said. “I enjoy words, and that composes part of my personality.”

Clearance belts hang in front of men’s pants for customers at Renewed Treasures, a resale store off of Droste Rd. Besides clothing, Renewed Treasures also carries used CDS, DVDs, and various household needs and “renewed treasures” for consumers who stop by. Some of the treasures can even be found unopened such as art supplies. (Photos by Bernadette Kornberger)

Donation destination

Owner of thrift shop Renewed Treasures sets up programs to help people with the cost of Christian missionaries

by Sammie Herr

sammieherr17@gmail.com | @ouchthatherrt

R

enewed Treasures in St. Charles sells all kinds of donated items, ranging from clothes, knickknacks and trinkets. Founder Cynthia Besselman owns the store and volunteers every Saturday apart from her job as a nurse. One of the main purposes for the store is to donate money to Christian missionaries.

“I do have a goal,” Cynthia said. “We started off small and we only had around two missionaries. Now we’ve got a lot more people. My goal is pretty simple. I’ve got to keep it simple. In life, as a nurse, as a Sunday School teacher, as a mom, as a cashier at our store, owner of our store and as a human being, my goal is this: to share the love of Jesus to whomever I meet.”

“Share the Gospel of Jesus” is their mission statement. The programs that they work with help people across 65 different countries. After all the taxes and bills are paid for the store, the rest of the proceeds go to these Christian missionaries.

Learn about how Missionaries are programs the owners connect with volunteers, where volunteers help people workers and suffering across the world, customers: whether it’s from food, water or goo.gl/vTPDut lack of quality education. Some volunteer programs consist of helping orphanages, teachers and students, hospitals and just cities and villages in general.

“I love [Renewed Treasures],” Mike Murphy, volunteer and former Rams player, said. “I know the work it’s doing, and it makes me feel better. Volunteers are super nice, and doing work like this makes me feel full.”

People from the age of 3 all the way up to senior citizens can volunteer here.

No matter what’s going on in their lives or what been going on, they have a

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sort of safe haven when they go to volunteer there.

“We want families to learn serving, helping and volunteering,” Cynthia said. “There are people who have had it bad with heroin, or have had a DUI, and they just want to work off some community service hours. We all work together and it’s amazing, and it’s for a good cause.”

The idea of the store goes back to when Cynthia’s son was younger and he helped out with missionaries. Over the years, she learned that raising the funds to help people and to travel the world to help these people costs a lot of money. This is why she set up the store.

“I like how Renewed Treasures has a number of ways to change the world,” Cynthia’s husband Tom Besselman said. “I also like how people get to come up and tell their stories all while helping our missionaries in the process.

FEATURES | FHNTODAY.COM | PAGE BY SAMMIE HERR

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Delicious doughnut facts Doughnuts are universal treats that come in many different shapes, sizes and flavors. Here are some interesting facts about the famous pastry and its history

THE HISTORY OF DOUGHNUTS Doughnuts became popular during the 19th century when the Dutch began making treats known as olykoeks, which is a word meaning oil cakes. They were called this because they were rolled into balls of cake and cooked into pork fat until they were brown.

The name of doughnuts were debated very often, causing speculation of where doughnuts originally got their names.

Some believed that it came from the dough knots and others speculated that it originated from the uncooked centers.

When the centers of the dough became uncentered, they began stuffing different treats like fruits and nuts in the middle to solve the problem. Sometimes to deal

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Over 10 billion doughnuts are made each year.

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The largest Doughnut ever made was 1.7 pounds.

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In the U.S., the doughnut industry is worth $3.6 billion.

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There are 10 people in the world who have the last name Doughnut or Donut.

CALORIES OF MOST POPULAR DOUGHNUTS IN AMERICA

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Boston Creme Types of Doughnuts

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(Sources: Shipley Donuts, Krispy Kreme, VeryWell, CalorieLab, MentalFloss)

Original Glazed

National doughnut day is Jan. 12.

If a person ate a doughnut a day, they would gain a pound every 10 days.

with the gooey center, Hansen Gregory decided to stick a hole through it to eliminate the stickiness.

When the Dutch soon came to America, they continued to create their olykoeks and different cultures were fascinated by them and became involved and designed their own versions of the olykoeks.

Doughnut production was slow until the year 1920, when Russian immigrant, Adolph Levitt created an automated doughnut machine. Since then their machine was something everyone used and soon enough doughnuts became one of the most famous worldwide treats making the well known stores like Krispy Kreme and Dunkin Donuts.

Chocolate Glazed

Chocolate Sprinkles

Chocolate Long John 50

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ar y ) Sam C (Pho tos b y

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Being American isn’t always easy. Neither is becoming an American. Whether they’re met with open arms or closed doors, immigrants inevitably face struggles when coming to the U.S. From overcoming a language barrier to making sense of a new culture, these newcomers often realize that the American Dream can come with its fair share of sleepless nights. The past might be painful, the present can be confusing and the future may seem uncertain, but these are the faces of some of those immigrants. These are their struggles, their dreams.

This is their story.

(Design by Carolynn Gonzalez)

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Several hundred protestors gather on the departures deck of St. Louis-Lambert International Airport on Jan. 29 from noon to 4 p.m., joining groups across the country in response to President Donald J. Trump’s executive order barring immigration from predominately-Muslim countries in the Middle East. “There’s strength in numbers,” protestor Lizet Dickinson said. “It’s important to keep fighting.” The demonstration happened in cooperation with airport administration without any effect to landside or airside airport operations. (Photo by Chase Meyer)

a nation caught in an immigration war

The new Trump administration has made restricting immigration a forefront policy objective, and some of their policies have been challenged by people across the country

by Chris St. Aubin

cgs8833@gmail.com | @chris_staubin

T

he U.S. has forever been a place where immigrants come to start a new life, gain an education and even start a new family.

Immigrants have sought refuge not just within the borders of the U.S. but also within the embracing comfort of those who accept them. However, throughout its history, the U.S. has had a pattern of not letting people enter this country for a large spectrum of reasons. At this moment, the status of immigration is very vague and ever-changing due to recent actions on immigration by the Trump administration, including what some have called a “Muslim ban.”

“It is very disheartening,” sophomore Eve Abuazza, whose father immigrated from Libya, said in regards to President Trump’s actions on Muslim immigration. “My family is very upset that this new president is so close-minded. He is blindly seeing ‘the vast majority’ as harmful people. Many people from those nations are looking to escape and new opportunities. I understand safety, but those people also want safety.”

Last month, the Trump administration also announced its plans about illegal immigration. The new actions that the president announced are not a change in law, but an increase in enforcement of the current law. The working theory of congressional Republicans is that increased border enforcement results in a discouragement to enter the U.S. illegally.

This stance differs from both Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, who sought for stricter border policies while balancing the humanitarian needs of immigrants. Under past presidents, people residing in the U.S. without legal permission were not usually deported unless they committed a crime, but now, under Trump, these people are

always able to be deported at anytime, and will be sought out to be deported. Trump has described this force to be of a military nature. The new measures do not attack the DREAMers initiative created under Obama that did not punish children of immigrants living in the U.S. illegally.

Furthermore, in order to increase the security of the nation, the Trump administration tried to decrease the ability of immigrants to travel to the U.S. from certain countries. To do this, on Jan. 27 Trump signed an executive order that banned immigration for a period of time from seven Middle Eastern and North African countries: Iran, Iraq, Yemen, Libya, Sudan, Syria and Somalia.

“It is completely overboard,” attorney Contessa Brundridge said. “It applies to lawful permanent residents and those with visas. It is unconstitutional on this basis, and it is a restriction of due process. It also shows a religious preference, which presents an interesting argument of religious discrimination.”

Many people pride themselves on being American after immigrating to the U.S., including Eve’s father, who immigrated to the U.S. from Libya.

“He told me about how coming here, he felt welcomed here, but he was just worried of failing,” Abuazza said. “He knew three words in English before coming here. He was interested in learning new things and starting a new life. He was more excited about that than afraid.”

After an increasing number of protests nationwide and legal challenges to the executive order, multiple courts struck down the ban within the weekend. There was a protest at Lambert St. Louis International Airport on Sunday, Jan. 29 where people from the St. Louis area gathered to stand in solidarity with those affected by the actions of the Trump administration.

“There were over 1,000 people there and it was incredibly peaceful,” Brundridge said. “There were chants that were of a positive nature

about supporting immigrants and refugees and demonstrations to support these people while opposing the Trump administration. It was interesting to see people of all ages there. Every walk of life, demographic was represented at the protest.”

These wins in court for the pro-immigration force were not left unchecked by Trump. After the Trump administration asked for an emergency reinstatement of the executive order, the Ninth Circuit Appeals Court denied it and upheld the ruling of the earlier district court.

“This executive order was morally wrong because the U.S. is a country that welcomes refugees, and they already have an extensive process that is over two years of vetting for these refugees,” Brundridge said. “This seems to be un-American.”

It is also important to understand where Trump’s policies come from: genuine worry for the nation’s security. Therefore, the administration has called these measures extreme vetting.

“It helps some people feel more secure and safer in their own country, but then there are people who disagree and protest against it,” Ryan Woods, junior Young Republicans member, said. “But it also harms the United States by creating conflicts that cause people to butt heads on opinions and what they think about it.”

Since the beginning of U.S. history, different groups of people have been persecuted for immigrating to the U.S. It used to be the Catholics, the Irish, the south and eastern Europeans, the Chinese and other minority groups. To some people, someone, from somewhere, is somehow threatening the American way of life, and the government may try to restrict those people from coming in.

The future may hold a more progressive society as evident by various protests and legal reforms around the country, or it could hold quite the opposite. It could also see increasing security concerns and, therefore, further restrictions.

IN-DEPTH | FHNTODAY.COM | PAGE BY CAROLYNN GONZALEZ

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Sophomore Alex Pintor follows along as another student in the class reads an article from the Easy English News February newspaper by Elizabeth Claire. Each month Freeman’s class reads a new newspaper discussing the topics.

The newspaper contains articles about upcoming events in the month, news and history that the students look forward to reading. (Photos by Riley McCrackin)

Out of Many, One Language Barrier Regardless of their origins, immigrants often face linguistic challenges when trying to fit in to life in the U.S.

by Noah Slaughter

reader524@gmail.com | @noahslaughterr

T

hough they may leave behind vastly different worlds, newcomers to the United States usually share one experience: learning English.

This task can sometimes be challenging, but not learning the language can make life even more difficult, according to Shelley Thomas-Benke, who tutors a family from Syria. Everything from getting a driver’s license to making friends requires a minimal understanding of the language. Even more pressing, not knowing English can complicate students’ schooling, putting them behind their American peers.

“For them, it’s sink or swim, and they’ve done a good job trying to pick up English as quickly as they can,” Thomas-Benke said, speaking of the family she tutors. “If you want to become an American, you have to do it and you have to do it quick, and they’re not going home. They’re trying to become a part of America as quickly as they can.”

To help with this goal, FHN has a program known as ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages).

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Teacher Anne Freeman and a team of paras guide their 41 students through the English language and provide the support they need to be successful in all of their classes.

Most of these students take Freeman’s class as an elective for one hour a day, but they also take other classes like any other student. To ensure that the language barrier doesn’t keep them behind in their other subjects, paras go to certain core classes with them and help them understand the content.

“If the students didn’t have these services, then they would more than likely not be successful in their classes,” Freeman said. “They probably would drop out of school and, even if they were in a class, they’d be struggling the whole way. They wouldn’t feel successful and their regular teachers wouldn’t feel successful either. They would know a student is struggling and they would not have the extra help to be able to get that student extra support.”

Teaching immigrants or refugees of any age can sometimes be difficult, Thomas-Benke says. Many tutors are volunteers who have little to no formal training: Thomas-Benke, for example, doesn’t speak Arabic and often relies on Google Translate. Even

IN-DEPTH | FHNTODAY.COM | PAGE BY CAROLYNN GONZALEZ

teachers who work with immigrants full time, like Freeman, must usually stick to simple language and hand gestures because their students come from such diverse linguistic backgrounds.

Experiences abroad can also make it harder for immigrants and refugees to learn English. For example, the brothers Thomas-Benke teaches, the oldest of which is only 14, had to survive the Syrian Civil War before coming to the U.S. “They’ve been through a lot of trauma, and when you’ve gone through trauma, your brain takes in information differently,” Thomas-Benke said. “It’s literally, truly, medically difficult for kids who have undergone this kind of trauma to learn. Their brains are constantly on alert and on the defensive.”

Despite the difficulties and occasional setbacks, Thomas-Benke and Freeman enjoy seeing their students continue to push themselves to learn English, hoping to one day feel fully integrated into life in the U.S. “They’re very motivated,” Thomas-Benke said.

“They want to become Americans and get completely into American culture. The desire is there and the work ethic is there.”

Sophomore Kanish Patel reads the newspaper to the class.

The students each take turns reading the articles and paragraphs. When the students are done reading they call on each other to read the next paragraph.

NEW LAND, NEW OPPORTUNITIES Janitor Sandy Sebastian moved from the Philippines to the United States in hopes to provide better life for her family

by Christian Witte

christianwitte2@gmail.com | @reader524

Anne Freeman calls upon sophomore David Mason to answer a question she asks about the vocabulary words that are listed on the board. Freeman’s classes have new vocabulary words each week and get tested on them at the end of the week.

After the final bell rings and the students are let out, Sandy Sebastian starts her work as a substitute nighttime janitor for FHSD after completing a full-time lead machine operator job at Rx Systems. This heavy workload is all in the hope of providing a better life for her family by sending money back to them in the Philippines.

“I’m used to working hard,” Sebastian, who was a principal of a school in her country of origin said. “I always make sure it’s done. And not only done, it should be done well.”

Sebastian moved to the United States in April 2008 to help support her family financially. In the Philippines, Sebastian’s job as a teacher and school principal only left her with around $300 per month.

This meant that she could not send her daughter to college and support her son and the rest of her family, so she moved to the U.S. and started to send money back to the Philippines.

“She puts in her hard work,” nighttime custodian Terezee Stewart said. “She’s very nice, a people person.”

When Sandy first arrived in the U.S., she worked as a nanny in New Jersey for two years. She then moved to Missouri and started working for Rx Systems and got promoted to a lead machine operator. And for six years, Sebastian has been working for the district as a substitute janitor. She recalls that she has never called in during all of her time working here.

“She benefits the workplace by filling in when others aren’t here,” lead custodian Jeff Tindell said. “She’s a dependable custodian. You can always count on her to

do anything you ask her to do.”

Sebastian originally applied for a tourist visa. She was approved right away after her interview and received a 10 years multiple visa. This meant that she could go back and forth from the United States and the Philippines for 10 years. Sebastian later applied for permanent residence in 2012 and received it.

“It takes time to do it and it’s a lot of work,” Sebastian said. “I think about trying to be here so I can have more money and send more money [back to the Philippines.]”

Results from Sebastian’s hard work are starting to show, as her daughter arrived in the U.S. in 2013 with a green card and then went back to finish school. Her daughter then returned to the U.S. in September 2016 and brought along her brother, Sebastian’s son. Sebastian’s daughter now works at Mercy Hospital and her son attends Barnwell Middle School, where he is an honor roll student.

“I’m in the process of getting my mom,” Sebastian said. “So she can help me because I work days here and nights, make my son breakfast in the morning, make lunch and I have to make dinner. And then I have to work again. I’m not used to having kids for eight years now. It’s really really hard right now, but I have to do it.”

Even though she has faced language and social barriers, long workdays and little sleep, Sebastian is still proud to say she is an American.

“Of course I am proud to be an American,” Sebastian said. “It is really hard to be an American. It takes a lot time, money, patience, determination and strength to handle this stress. It’s really an achievement to be an American.”

IN-DEPTH | FHNTODAY.COM | PAGE BY CAROLYNN GONZALEZ

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600Students 50Countries

Tenth grader Abdulkadir Hussein asks a question to his math teacher on Feb. 14. Students at the Nahed Chapman New American Academy take classes that all high schoolers would take, as well as extra English classes. The administration at the school make the day as close to an average day for American teenagers as possible to help them adapt into American society quickly. (Photos by Sam Cary)

25Languages

OneIncredible Goal

Nahed Chapman New American Academy prepares refugee students for American public schools

by Sarah Zimmerman sarahezimmerman8@gmail.com

T

enth grader Abdulkadir Hussein strides into the middle and high school building to start his day and is greeted with a smile and a “good morning” from each teacher. A few steps into the hall, he starts to walk under the many different flags of countries that line way above him. As the flags hang proudly from the ceiling, some are reflected down Hussein’s left arm in seven of his many colorful, beaded bracelets, each showcasing a different country’s flag.

With the representation of many countries in his daily wear, Hussein still understands his opportunity for education lies in the country of one bracelet specifically: the United States. Among the other 600-plus students from about 50 different countries in the Nahed Chapman New American Academy located on South Grand, Hussein has a past unique to most in the St. Louis metro area, but common among his classmates.

With a Swahili mother, Somali father, three brothers and two sisters, Hussein is not alone in his transition to living in the United States after leaving Mombasa, Kenya. Their “normal” life on the other side of the Atlantic was stricken with violence. As the fighting arose, Hussein’s family confronted new obstacles from thievery to death. Hussein began to face these horrors first-hand. He was robbed and stabbed, leaving scars that show the injuries he obtained from the violence there.

“Our homes, the thieves would come through the window and take everything, and if you said ‘Don’t take anything,’ they could kill,” Hussein said. “That is why we had trouble. It is horrible and terrible.”

In the Nahed Chapman New American Academy, all teachers and staff understand that the school is full of students from different backgrounds.

Backgrounds that can include many students receiving little to no education due to their country being in turmoil or due to the conditions of refugee camps. Either way, because of these circumstances, the teachers all realize they must respect their students’ past experiences. While regarding all their students’ previous struggles, the teachers guide the students to learn what is acceptable in American society and schools.

With the student population speaking more than 25 different languages, the academy is surrounded with the richness of culture. For example, Hussein himself can speak six languages, including Somali, Swahili, Spanish and English. With such a variety of language and cultured atmosphere, students and teachers alike are able to face the exciting and challenging task ahead: preparing for American public school within two years.

Inspiring Aspirations The academy is presented with the task of teaching immigrants, refugees and all ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) students the English language and culture. To do this, many elementary teachers use visuals, speak slowly and pull small groups, among other things. Students must also go through transition lessons to prepare for their next school which includes small tasks, such as opening a lock for a locker or learning to enter lunch numbers into a computer. Many of these daily tasks for American students must be learned by the Nahed Chapman New American Academy students

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IN-DEPTH | FHNTODAY.COM | PAGE BY CAROLYNN GONZALEZ

Abdulkadio Hussein shows his homemade bracelets off. Hussein started making bracelets back in Somalia. He makes them to sell and and a stress reliever.

as a lot of the students haven’t worked with numbers before.

Regardless of some students having little schooling, they have the same graduation requirements on top of three English classes and transition lessons. Even with all these classes, students may only stay two years at the academy before having to integrate into American public schools, and with a constant increase in students, the time cannot be extended.

Within these two years, students must undergo a complete transition including learning about proper hygiene, riding busses and making friends.

“Our students are every bit as capable as every other student in this country,” assistant principal Brandon Clay said. “They have all the abilities to succeed. They have the capabilities to do what everyone else in America can do and I think that that is vital that every single person knows that here.”

Doubling Enrollment At the beginning of the school year, there were approximately 300 students, including Hussein. When the presidential election neared in November, the school’s enrollment abruptly doubled to 600 students due

Two second grade boys pose for a picture in the hallway heading to music class. The teachers do everything they can to help students adapt quickly into American society. The students get two years, or until they feel suitable, at the academy.

Second graders at Nahed Chapman New American Academy walk down the halls about to enter their next class. The students do many classes outside of core classes in order to become well-rounded. Students do art projects, music class and gym.

Students in the eighth grade science class pose for a picture as they were learning how to use the camera. Students have many goals for what they want to do after they attend the Nahed Chapman New American School. Some students want to return home to help with the tensions there, others want to stay in the United States and start living new lives. Many students feel that the academy will help them get them on the path of achieving these goals.

to concern for policy changes. Because of this, the academy had to comfortable enough to not be at the front of the line.” quickly adapt.

While the transition to the U.S. can be a drastic one for many, As more students arrived, some classes had up to 50 students seemingly small efforts make a big difference for students in helping until more teachers could be hired. On top of that, the middle them get comfortable here. school upper floor had to be renovated to provide more classrooms, “They will serve rice and beans every day,” Moore said. “That is and middle school students had to eat breakfast such a staple of their diet in the Middle East that they in the auditorium since there was not space for all created a special menu for school. We will have pizza the students to eat breakfast in the cafeteria. This and chicken and all the other things the other schools increased enrollment has also stretched already thin have but we will also have rice and beans, every day. resources even thinner. Many students don’t even have When they come here there is so much change and so writing utensils and paper, which leaves teachers trying much different that it helps. There’s food they eat and to provide supplies with little to no funding from the are used to it.” district. Yet, even with a lack of staff and little funding, To see how the school overcomes cultural the faculty still stays optimistic and continues to work Emerging Opportunities differences, check out nonstop for their students.

Atop of small comforts like food, the school has this link: developed a few programs to help some students goo.gl/LvMQNz Facing Unusual Challenges adjust and channel any anger from the situations Want to find out more Social workers are made available to help students they have come to face, be it their previous country’s about the school’s new who have faced trauma and 100 percent of students struggles or be it the difficulty in learning a new soccer field? Go here: at the school qualify for free and reduced lunch. With language and culture. goo.gl/hnJ5ZU 90 percent of students never having been in school or For students who may require a bit of extra guidance, only having interrupted schooling, the students are a full bi-lingual staff is available in the office, with facing very different learning experiences in the United people who speak Spanish, Arabic, Swahili, Pahli and States than in their last country. Whether living in a refugee camp and French. To help students adapt to their new environment, some receiving no education, or obtaining only sporadic education, they all extracurricular activities have also been started. For Hussein, the have a bit to learn before assimilating into American public schools. soccer team is a good outlet to play and work hard with his friends.

One of the issues to occur was shoving in the lunch line.

Some of the other activities include a new a basketball program, “Lunch can get to be a little crazy, especially when kids first start intramurals and soon-to-be Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts. here,” academic instructional coordinator Kelly Moore said. “They Another group beginning is an art therapy group to help students tend to fight to get to the front of the line. We learned the reason they channel their feelings. The art that these students, along with all do that is because if you’re not first in many of these refugee camps, other students, create displays a message to all. This message of love if they’re not the front of the line, they may not be able to eat. That’s and hope is grown throughout the students’ artwork, which hangs part of the process, trying to get them to a place where they feel throughout the hallways of the elementary school.

WATCH

IN-DEPTH | FHNTODAY.COM | PAGE BY CAROLYNN GONZALEZ

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A 9th grade student smiles after getting an answer correct. Students come into the Nahed Chapman New American Academy at various levels. They get to attend the school for two years, or until they can adapt successfully into American society. Some students have no concept of numbers when they first get to the school, but the staff is able to get the students where they want to be.

“The teachers try to incorporate into their reading passages, their writing and their art about diversity and community,” Moore said. “I think it’s a beautiful thing and they come from all different places, but they’re in the same situation: not knowing a lot of English and this new environment and getting them to connect to all the kids that speak their language.”

Everlasting Friendships As this hope grows and students begin to flourish, new friendships form and a theme of peace, diversity and trust is born.

“Watching those friendships form is fabulous,” high school ESOL teacher Keary Ritchie said. “Where in the world would you have a girl from the streets of Honduras become close friends with a girl from Pakistan? Where does that happen? That’s a really beautiful thing to watch, arm in arm walking down the hall. It’s just about reconciliation. Watching them reconcile what they had going on before and learning to love one another and become friends.”

With students exploring their futures, and teachers working diligently to prepare their students, the future can be bright for both the students and the society they will have a part in.

“I feel like this school is a good representation of what society could be because you’ve got people here who are overcoming tremendous obstacles and they are being successful and they are getting along with each other,” Moore said. “They are getting along with people who are completely different from them and come from different backgrounds and I feel like that would be a good lesson for everybody out there and that, you know, we can all get along and we can all be successful.”

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Preparing for Success To help each student be successful once the two years are up, the high school students are taken on both college trips and visits to regular public schools to help adjust to what life will be like away from the Nahed Chapman New American Academy.

Meanwhile, younger students are taken on tours of the next public school they will attend.

“We do field trips and college tours,” high school counselor Danielle Carter said. “We like to do things they will experience at other schools...Coming from there with PTSD and high anxiety and a constant state of shock everyday, they need to know everything up front. We like to give them as much exposure as we can.”

While many students are focusing on just preparing for their next school, or on earning their high school diploma, Hussein sees the opportunity before him as something even greater.

“It helps us to learn more and to get more in the future,” Hussein said. “For me, when I come to school, I need to have a respect and we need to help each other. I help the people, and I like the school and will leave to another school...I need to finish all my school, to go to college, and to get a better future.”

For Hussein, college will be the key to success. After integrating into American schools and society, he plans to return to his country and give back.

“I look to become a police officer,” Hussein said. “I need to know more about the police officers here and what it is like. I need to be better for them, for my country. The school helps. If you become nice to the teachers and to the people, this school helps to be a good person and learn more English and learn more you need to know. I’m not thinking about anything else.”

IN-DEPTH | FHNTODAY.COM | PAGE BY CAROLYNN GONZALEZ

Selena and Silvana Wang pose with their family before a dinner. The Chinese culture has different traditions than American culture and Wangs’ parents want their daughters to experience both. (Photo submitted)

BEST OF BOTH WORLDS

Sophomore Selena Wang and freshman Silvana Wang live with a mixture of influences from both Chinese and American culture

by Heeral Patel

heeral.patel03@gmail.com | @HeeralPatel12 Each culture is a world of its own. Immigration often leads to two worlds coming together, which in turn leads to melding both cultures to get the best out of both of them.

Selena and Silvana Wang have faced their task throughout their lives as their parents immigrated here from China in the 1990s.

“I’m glad I have two cultures because, otherwise, my life would be super boring,” Selena said. “I get to experience two different things. Some people have to go to a different place to experience different cultures, but I don’t have to because I have two in my home.”

The family moved from Guangzhou, China, to New York City, and then to St. Charles in 2005. In their time here, they have maintained their culture in a few ways. They speak Chinese at home. They eat traditional Chinese food. They celebrate the Chinese New Year. The culture is very family-focused, and because of that, they often visit their family members who live close by.

“There’s an importance to spend time with family,” Selena and Silvana’s mother, Jin Yu, said. “It’s the thing I really like

[about] Christmas and Thanksgiving. We spend it with all the family and have dinner. With the family we always have help and it’s a way we can have more time spent with family.”

While Chinese culture is more reserved, the American mindset values individuality and expression. With its influences, Selena has the option of defending her wants and beliefs at home, rather than solely sticking to what her parents think. This means not only voicing her opinion, but also listening to her parents’ point of view. Through this, everything from going to sleepovers and, for Selena, joining the school’s lacrosse team, have found a place in their lives. This might not have happened without the American influences present here.

“If we lived where my parents grew up, there’d be more strictness,” Silvana said. “It’s more fun here in America.”

Living with both cultures means figuring out how to make those two worlds coexist in harmony. With each generation comes change, and when there are two cultures to pick from, that simply means a wider variety of ideals and values to sift through, until only the best are left.

“I’ve had [both cultures] with me so for so long: it’s kind of just a habit now,” Selena said. “I wouldn’t want to lose it because it just wouldn’t be me if I didn’t have that.”

IN-DEPTH | FHNTODAY.COM | PAGE BY CAROLYNN GONZALEZ

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A Place In This Country Nelly Degraw faced adversity growing up biracial from a foreign-born family and it shaped her future

by Anna Lindquist

alindquist709@gmail.com | @annalindquistt

T

Nelly Degraw poses with daughters Hannah and Madeline. Nelly Degraw was the first member of her family to graduate high school and go to college. (Photo submitted)

CAN YOU PASS THIS CITIZENSHIP TEST?

he Civil Rights act was signed into place in 1964, prohibiting discrimination based on someone’s race, religion, national origin or gender. But before this act was signed, and even after that time, those who were biracial, like Nelly DeGraw, foreign-born or had a diverse heritage, faced prejudices.

Nelly’s family moved to the U.S. from Venezuela in the late 1950s. Before that, her family had lived in Russia, moving to Venezuela to escape the pressure of World War II. Once her family had moved to the U.S., she was born later in the 1960s. She was the only one in her family that was born in the U.S. and, on top of that, the only one with both Russian and Venezuelan blood.

“There were a lot of difficulties I faced growing up in my school, a Catholic private school, and in my own home, too,” Nelly said. “My grandfather hated that I was Hispanic. It was hard to try and overcome the feeling that I didn’t belong.”

While Nelly grew up in a diverse, immigrant-heavy neighborhood in Chicago, being a biracial U.S. citizen from a foreign-born family set her apart. It was hard for her to fit in with any specific group because she was a part of three very different cultures.

With more and more immigrants trying to get their U.S. citizenship each year, these are some example questions from interview process required to become a citizen

1.

When was the Constitution written?

3.

What stops a branch of government from becoming too powerful?

5.

Where is the Statue of Liberty?

2.

Who was the first president?

4.

What ocean is on the west coast of the U.S.?

6.

Who is the governor of Missouri?

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7.

8.

What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?

What does the judicial branch do?

heritage other than white on our birth certificate because of a lot of stuff she dealt with as she was growing up,” Nelly’s other daughter, sophomore Hannah DeGraw, said. “There were a lot of race cliques when she was younger, so she struggled finding a place to fit in, and she thought growing up biracial would set us back.”

After growing up in an environment she didn’t feel comfortable in, she decided to teach cultural acceptance to her daughters so they wouldn’t treat people the way she was treated.

“Just the way she views race has become a lot different from when she was growing up to now,” Hannah said. “When we were little, she definitely taught us about race more. My sister and I didn’t grow up in a predominately white neighborhood, so we were around a lot of other races. She would say things like, ‘You can’t do this because it’s considered disrespectful,’ so that we would know what was right and what was wrong.”

Despite facing adversity growing up, Nelly developed pride for the U.S. while still appreciating both of her heritages. She joined the military as a Russian linguist, utilizing her language skills to translate for the U.S. “I was really proud to be here enough that I was interested in defending [the U.S.],” Nelly said. “This country offers so much. You’re free. The law protects us here, and we are very diverse. I don’t think foreigners are as welcome in other countries as they are here. We are an ethnically diverse group of people.”

(Sources: uscis.gov, civicsquestions.com) (Graphic by Ethan Slaughter)

“You have areas that are Spanish, Latin and then you have European people,” Nelly said. “There were little neighborhoods that were Polish, Ukrainian, Russian. For me, the issue was always that I was from both. I was a mix of the two. Sometimes, Spanish people don’t like people from other cultures or Europeans don’t like people from other cultures, so I felt like I had to blend in with whoever I was with. If I knew people were racist against Spanish, then I wouldn’t let on that I knew Spanish. In my family, I felt different because I was the only American. I never really fit in anywhere.”

Nelly speaks four languages, English being her third. Having spoken mostly Spanish and Russian in her home, she had to learn English once she was enrolled in school, influencing the stereotype that those who can’t speak English were considered dumb.

“She had to learn a lot of it on the spot because her family never really spoke English to her,” Nelly’s daughter, sophomore Madeline DeGraw, said.

“I think it must’ve been difficult the earlier years at school to try and have to deal with that, especially since she had to learn what they were expecting her to learn and an entirely new language as well. I think that made her feel very isolated.”

Though she loved her family’s history, growing up facing prejudice made her want to save her daughters from that same feeling.

“When we were born, she didn’t want to have us listed as having any other

GENERAL NATURALIZATION REQUIREMENTS • • • •

10.

There are four amendments to the Constitution about who can vote. Describe one of them.

• • • • •

Answers: 1. 1787 2. George Washington 3. Checks and Balances 4. Pacific Ocean 5. New York/Liberty Island 6. Eric Greitens 7. The House and Senate 8. Review laws, explain laws, decide if laws are unconstitutional and resolve disagreements 9. The president 10. Citizens 18 and older can vote/ You don’t have to pay a poll tax to vote/ Any citizen can vote/ A male citizen of any race can vote

9.

Who signs bills to become laws?

Be at least 18 years old at the time you apply for naturalization.

Be a permanent resident in the U.S. with a green card for at least five years before applying.

Live in the U.S. for at least five years before the date filing for naturalization.

Show that you have been in the U.S. for at least 30 months out of the five years before the date you apply for naturalization.

Show that you have lived for at least three months in the state where you apply.

Show good moral character.

Be able to read, write and speak basic English.

Know U.S. history and government.

Take a pledge to the U.S.

IN-DEPTH | FHNTODAY.COM | PAGE BY CAROLYNN GONZALEZ

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THE

IMMIGRATION PROCESS

See what it takes to get an immigration visa and move to the United States

(Sources: travel.state.gov, cpb.gov)

1.

SUBMIT A PETITION

2.

NATIONAL VISA CENTER

SELECTING AN AGENT

• An agent must be chosen to receive information about the potential immigrant’s case.

• An agent is an advocate for the case and helps with paperwork and necessary fees.

• The agent must be approved by the National Visa Center (NVC).

3.

INTERVIEW PREP

4.

ATTEND INTERVIEW

5.

POST INTERVIEW

• The visa application is either approved or denied after the interview.

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• A person wanting to get a visa has to be sponsored by a family member who is a U.S. citizen, a green card holder or an employer.

• A petition for an immigrant visa has to be filled out by the sponsor and submitted to the USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services). This is proof that the person sponsoring the potential immigrant has the right to help them immigrate.

PAYING FEES

• Once the agent is approved, two processing fees have to be paid and processed by the NVC. • Immigrant Visa Application Fee ($325 - $345) • Affidavit of Support Fee ($120)

VISA APPLICATION

• After payments have been processed, the potential immigrant has to fill out an informal application for a visa called the Application for Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration form.

• Now that documents have been submitted, it’s time to schedule a formal interview.

COLLECTING DOCUMENTS

• Documents like birth or marriage certificates may be needed to help support the applicator’s visa.

• The type of documents necessary vary depending on which country someone is coming from.

• The documents have to be photocopied and submitted to the NVC and originals must be brought to a formal interview.

• Once the interview date is set, it’s a good idea to prepare by: • Getting a medical examination (bring results to interview).

• Signing up for a mailing service to make sure passports/visas are returned.

• Gathering necessary documents like those in Step 2.

• The interview is typically at the U.S. embassy in the home country of the applicant.

• If the applicant doesn’t attend the interview, it has to be rescheduled in a year or the case may be thrown out.

• Having a visa does not mean automatic entry into the U.S. It’s the job of the Department of Homeland Security and US Customs and Border Protection to grant access to the country or not.

• Those with visas must enter the country before it expires. Once allowed in, the applicant is now considered a Lawful Permanent Resident (green card holder) who can live and work in the U.S.

IN-DEPTH | FHNTODAY.COM | PAGE BY CAROLYNN GONZALEZ

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THE SPORTS STRIP

THE KEY TO SUCCESS

by Heidi Hauptman

heidihauptman9@gmail.com

Almost everyone who plays a sport wants to be good at it. I don’t think I have ever come across someone who doesn’t want to be talented at the sport they play and who doesn’t work to become better at it. Becoming better at your sport takes dedication. It is a strong key to success.

The quality of being devoted or committed to a task or purpose: that is the definition of dedication. Dedication is an important part of any sport. You have to have dedication to go to practice every day, to train during the offseason and to take care of yourself and your body.

In sports, it is really important to continue training, even if you aren’t in season. You can stay in shape and help yourself get better at what you do if you have this dedication. This way, it is possible to come back into the season stronger and more skillful. Going to practice once you are in season is also very important, as it helps you learn and get better. Finally, whether it is in season or off season, taking care of your body is one of the best things you can do for yourself. Getting sleep and eating well helps prepare your body for the demands of participating in athletics.

Paul Bryant, a college football player and coach, once said, “If you believe in yourself and have dedication and pride - and never quit, you’ll be a winner. The price of victory is high, but so are the rewards.” The effort that you have to put into bettering yourself takes dedication and perseverance, but the benefits are definitely worth it.

Dedication helps you stay focused on your main goal. There are no shortcuts to getting where you want to be, and that means you need to put in the necessary time to realize your goals. You have to work for something bigger, something worth reaching for. You need this key to success.

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Junior Floris Kruger practices tossing the rugby ball on the FHN field to prepare for the upcoming season. Kruger has been playing for the Francis Howell Force rugby team since his freshman year. His interest for the sport began when he grew up in South Africa, where rugby is the national pastime. (Photo by Savannah Wandzel)

RUGBY TEAM PREPARES TO HIT THE FIELD As spring sports begin, rugby has been preparing for the new season by holding open practices at the football field in late February and early March. They had open practices Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:15-5 p.m., so if someone wanted to join, they just had to show up. These open practices ended in early March.

“There are a lot of returning players from last year, and that’s exciting,” junior Floris Krueger said. “We got second place at Ruggerfest, and we were very proud of

that. We’re trying to get more players to join. It’s a lot of fun and you make some good friends.”

The players often do conditioning and tackling drills to better their technique and get them in shape for the upcoming season. This conditioning is led by Head Coach Trevor Locke.

“Locke is a really good coach,” junior Jean Pae said.

“He’s really smart and works us hard so we can improve on ourselves every practice.” (Brief by Stacy Beasley)

MAKING THE BASKET

Junior Drew Killmer dribbles toward the basket during the game against Parkway North at FZN. The boys pulled off a 49-47 win in the second half. (Photo by Michal Basford)

SPORTS | FHNTODAY.COM | PAGE BY STACY BEASLEY

Boys’ basketball wrapped up the season with Districts on Feb. 25, losing 50-58 to Hazelwood West. This season of boys’ basketball has not quite lived up to the expectations of many at the beginning. Having had its highs and lows, from last-minute wins to heavy losses, the season has been a learning experience for players, both old and new.

“It’s not been the best season,” Tucker Rhoads, senior and first time Final Record player, said. “I do feel like we’re 5 Wins an improvement over last year, 19 Losses though.”

Having ended the previous season with a record of 5–21, the goal of this season was to simply improve. Regardless of how the season ended, Rhoads feels it has been a great experience nonetheless.

“It’s one of the funnest teams I’ve ever played on,” Rhoads said. “Running out when you’re on the starting lineup, hearing your name get called, it pumps you up pretty good.” (Brief by Martin Groves)

STRIKING A NEW TEAM

The FHN swim team stands together during their meet on Jan. 10 against FHHS and Timberland High School. The Knights took first in many events of the meet but they placed second overall to FHHS. (Photo by Sam Cary)

SWIMMING STRAIGHT TO STATE

This year, two FHN swimmers made it to State, junior Erin Stock and freshman Joanna Dohrman.

Dohrman swam in finals, swimming into 15th place overall.

“I was really excited that I got to go with someone this year,” Stock said. “The past two years I’ve been by myself. I’m just glad that Joanna could experience this with me.”

Stock swam the 100 Butterfly. Dohrman swam the

MEMORIES ON ICE

500 Freestyle, getting her personal best at 5:16:45, and then swam in the 100 Breaststroke. Stock wasn’t thrilled about her results at State this year. Stock looks forward for next year and hopes Dohrman will return too.

“It went alright, but I added time and didn’t do as well as I had hoped,” Stock said. “In the end all your hard work will pay off, as long as you clear your mind and swim the best you can.” (Brief by Mia Kristensen)

LEARNING SEASON

Sophomore Corrine Stevens defends the basket during the game on Feb 7. The Knights played against FZW and despite a last minute comeback, the final scare was 47-55. (Photo by Savannah Wandzel)

While most sports are fast-paced and physical, bowling is far more of a precision sport. Of the three bowling teams at FHN, competition is ripe, but one is focused more on having fun than simply performing well.

“You don’t really have to try out to make the bowling team,” senior Jon Zettwoch said. “One of my friends was asking a whole bunch of people if we wanted to start up a bowling team, just to have fun, and it went from there.”

Zettwoch’s team consists of mostly first-time players, including himself. During the past few months, they competed against various other teams and schools around the St. Charles area, typically playing at either Cave Springs Bowling, Harvest Lanes or Plaza Lanes.

“We’re actually doing pretty well for a first-time team,” Zettwoch said. “We’ll find out in a few weeks if we made it to State or not.” (Brief by Martin Groves)

Girls’ varsity basketball held Districts on Feb. 25, losing 33-55 to Hazelwood Central and capping off their 5-21 season. Losing games during the season wasn’t easy, and it caused the girls to rethink how they played, but they had to keep their heads.

Through the hardships, the team grew closer and became a “big family”.

“Whether you’re winning or losing, it’s not always easy being an athlete, but you learn a lot about yourself playing sports,” junior Maggie Final Record Hillman said. “I’ve learned 5 Wins that leadership isn’t always 21 Losses easy and to be a better person rather than a bigger person.”

Coach Jamal Thompson is hopeful that the girls can learn from this season and he looks forward to next year. Many of the girls are planning on returning next year. A lot of the girls made this season a “learning season,” taking what they did best at practices and games and applying it to later games. They try not to focus so much on losses but on the experience.

“They are a very tough group of girls,” Thompson said. “We just have to be patient and trust ourselves.”

(Brief by Mia Kristensen)

Hockey went 1-14 this year. They had a rough season, but they were able to make a lot of memories along the way. Coach Paul Bruemmer and sophomore Drake Johnston both have great memories, from tying Lindbergh High School to winning Gold Cup. “We were down two goals Final Record with only like two minutes left in the game and we 1 Wins pulled together and ended 16 Losses up tying [Lindbergh],” 3 Ties Bruemmer said.

One of the highlights for this season was winning Gold Cup, the big game against Howell. The Knights defeated the Vikings 6-3. Johnston described the game as simply “the best game of the year.”

“Playing in front of the parents and fans, it’s fun to have a large crowd to cheer you on,” Johnston said. (Brief by Mia Kristensen)

CRAWFORD PLACES SIXTH

After a competitive season of wrestling, three wrestlers, Myron Crawford, Jacob Smith and Dillon Lauer, made it to State. Of the three, Myron Crawford was the only one who placed, getting sixth. This result has left the team as a whole hungry for more.

“I was hoping more of the team would make it to State,” Crawford said. “I’ve actually always wanted to make it to State to see how it feels to be wrestling at State.”

Although in this third year of wrestling, this was Crawford’s first at FHN, having previously attended Parkway North. This was also the first year he managed to qualify for State, but was still somewhat disappointed at the final result.

“I was happy that I placed at State, but I wasn’t too happy about the fact that I was in sixth,” Crawford said. “I really wanted to do better.”

(Brief by Martin Groves)

SPORTS | FHNTODAY.COM | PAGE BY KYLAH WOODS

34

Springing for Glory With spring season fast approaching, teams prepare for upcoming competition. (photos by Sam Alexander)

BOYS’ VOLLEYBALL

BOYS’ TRACK

Returning from their conference championship and second place District title last year, boys’ volleyball looks to improve this season and become an even better team.

“My goal is to get better every game,” Head Coach Robin Yuede said.

“Because they lost so many starters, it’s going to be a challenge, but from what I see they are more than up to that challenge.”

Playing during the offseason, and having open gyms, gave the team the chance to get better early.

“I feel like we will do well due to many of us practicing in the offseason,” sophomore Trey Dehesa said. “I think this season will be a good learning experience because of the new coaching staff.” (Briefs by Hannah Wilson)

The boys’ track team is off to the races this season after placing sixth in the District meet last year. Before the season started, the team trained every Tuesday and Thursday to get prepared for the upcoming season.

“I’m really excited this season because I have a lot of kids that are putting in the work on the offseason and the conditioning,” Distance Head Coach Kimberly Martin said.

With their goal being to get better every meet and making it farther than they did last year, the team remains hopeful to run all the way to State.

“I enjoy the atmosphere and my teammates,” senior Brenden Mollett said. “I’m looking forward to the mile the most because I really want to go to State for that event.”

Max Dattilo, 12

Brenden Mollett, 12

BOYS’ GOLF GIRLS’ TRACK Coming back from a second place finish at the District meet, the girls’ track team hopes to hit the ground running this season.

“I think I’ve got more athletes than I’ve ever had really committing to coming in shape at the beginning of the season, so I think we are going to have a really good season,” Distance Head Coach Kimberly Martin said.

The distance team trained with the boys before the season which helped the girls get ready physically and mentally for the season ahead of them.

“The people make it really great and the environment is good,” sophomore Claire Huss said. “I think we will do really well. The girls team is looking really strong.”

35

Claire Huss, 10

SPORTS | FHNTODAY.COM | PAGE BY HANNAH WILSON

Boys’ golf hits the course with high hopes for the season after finishing 2-3 last year. After losing some of their players, the team thinks they can build on the players they have.

“I think we will have a good team,” Head Coach Mark Wright said. “We will bring back some guys that had some success last year. We have some strong returners and we’re hoping to have some newcomers that can add to the team.”

Members of the team showed their dedication by working in the offseason to get better. Senior Ryan Hale worked most of the summer, but still found time to practice his game.

“I’m looking to see how much I can improve because I worked out all winter, and I’m looking to see how much farther I can hit each club,” Hale said.

Ryan Hale, 12

BASEBALL Ending with a winning record of 21-11 last season, the baseball team is swinging for the fences this season and hoping to better their team and advance in the postseason.

“I think we will do pretty good, the past two seasons we won over 20 games each season, so hopefully we can beat that even though we are pretty young,” Head Coach Mike Freedline said. “We are going to have a really young team and it’s going to be a challenge, but it’s a good group of kids.”

Training during the offseason and with most of the team playing for a summer team, the players were able to get prepared for the upcoming competition.

“I’m looking forward to just seeing what we have with our young talent and competing at high levels and getting better,” junior Josh Wagner said. “I think we will do good, we have a lot of talented players and some are inexperienced and some are more experienced but I think we will do fine.”

GIRLS’ SOCCER

Josh Wagner, 11

Losing in the first game of Sectionals, the girls’ soccer team is back in action and is ready to take a shot at making it to State.

“I think that we have potential coming in,” senior Amanda Orlando said. “We have a lot of talent that can come together and there is room for improvement.”

The team had very few kick arounds during the off season. Because many of the players are involved in other sports and club soccer, the coaching staff decided to let the players practice on their own time so they are not overwhelmed.

“There’s nothing wrong with taking a break,” Head Coach Mark Olwig said.

“It all starts in a week and a half and then it’s every day for three months.

We have plenty of time to get your work done. I look forward to [the season]. The Francis Howell North Lady Knights Soccer Program is one of our most consistent sports here at school and I think our school gets a lot of recognition from the program and I’m very proud of our girls.”

Amanda Orlando, 12

GIRLS’ LACROSSE

BOYS’ TENNIS Finishing 13-7 last season, the boys’ tennis team has high hopes for this upcoming season. With changes like a new head coach, the team is up to the challenge.

“Coaching boys will be a new experience,” new Head Coach Beth Jameson said. “Boys are very different than girls: it’s a faster-pace game and they have a more aggressive attitude compared to girls. I’m excited to watch the athletes grow and improve.”

Before the season, the team had conditioning to try and improve their skills on the court. Jameson also sent out training videos that the team could look at, all in the hopes of improving their game for the approaching season.

“I like the people and I like how it’s fun,” junior Brendan Schmidt said.

“I’m looking forward to improving and hopefully winning matches.”

Sachin Milli, 10

Finishing their first season 1-5, the girls’ lacrosse team is hoping to bounce back and show what they learned from last year.

“I think we will improve a lot from last year because we were a first year team,” junior Briana Schmidt said. “I think we learned a lot more and I think we will win more games this season.

[The team] worked a lot on their stick skills during the offseason, which is going to help us this season.”

The team had scrimmages after school during the offseason and did drills on their own, including the Wall Ball Challenge. The Wall Ball Challenge was when the player would throw the ball against the wall and play catch while improving their skills.

“I’m looking forward to the incoming freshmen, and I know that a lot of girls have been putting in a lot of work throughout the offseason,” sophomore Payton Stephenson said.

“I have a feeling that we are going to do a lot better this year than we did last year.”

Briana Schmid, 11

SPORTS | FHNTODAY.COM | PAGE BY HANNAH WILSON

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OLD SCHOOL SPORTS

Matthew Riffee

We surveyed the teachers and staff members at FHN to see who played sports in high school and these were the results: Aaron Manfull / Baseball, Football, Track / Washington HS (IA) Amy Barlow / Soccer, Softball / Parkway West HS Amy Stoker / Basketball / Parkway West HS Anelise Mossinghoff / Track, Cross Country / Lindbergh HS Angie Davis / Cheer Team, Softball / St. Charles West HS Angie Mason / Tennis / Hazelwood West HS Becky Just / Basketball, Bowling, Softball / Eureka HS Beth Roberts / Basketball, Volleyball / Ladue Horton Watkins HS Brian Santos / Tennis / Carol Stream (IL) Brian Schene / Football / Mc Cluer North HS Brooke Prestidge/ Cross Country, Track / Eureka HS Charles Lott / Baseball, Football / Francis Howell North HS Chip Crow / Football, Swim & Dive / Hazelwood Central HS Chris Birch / Football / St. Charles West HS Chris Brown / Football, Wrestling / Kirksville HS Chris Witthaus / Football, Golf, Wrestling / Warrenton HS Courtney Freeman / Softball, Soccer / Wentzville HS David Fritz / Swimming & Diving / Ritenour HS Dawn Jones / Swimming & Diving / Roncalli (NE) Debb McDonald / Cheer, Golf, Gymnastics / Shawano HS (WI) & Mankato East(MN) Elizabeth Allen / Track & Field / Crystal Lake HS (IL) Hannah Snyder / Basketball, Track, Volleyball / Lutheran HS North Jani Wilkens , Basketball, Football / Fruitport HS (MI) Jenelle Louis / Basketball, Soccer, Softball / Francis Howell North HS Jennier Schwarz/ Cross Country, Track / Maine South HS (IL) Jesse Stewart / Baseball, Football / St. Charles HS Jessica Thro / Cheer / Omaha Central HS

Kimberly Martin Physical Education

37

John Brune

Physical Education

Joelle Sanders / Track / Wichita (KS) John Brune / Football, Track / Owensville Jon Travis / Cross Country, Track / LaGrove Community HS Kaitlynn Jansen / Track & Field / Ursuline Academy Katie Greer / Cross Country, Swimming / Parkway Central HS Kelly Stemmermann / Volleyball, Basketball, Softball / Don Bosco HS (IA) Kim Martin / Basketball, Cross Country, Track / Union HS Kristen Johnson / Basketball, Track, Volleyball / Winfield HS Lisa Pentecost / Soccer, Softball, Volleyball / Riverview Gardens HS Lisa Woodrum / Volleyball / St. Dominic HS Lori Moore / Basketball, Soccer, Volleyball / Francis Howell HS Mandy Knight / Tennis / Francis Howell Central HS Mark Wright / Basketball, Football / Parkway South HS Mary Kerr-Grant / Volleyball / Ursuline Academy (IL) Matthew Everett / Football / Hazelwood West HS Michael Janes / Baseball, Basketball, Soccer / St. Mary’s HS Mike Freedline / Baseball, Football / Fort Zumwalt North HS Patricia Bartell / Track & Field / Bishop DuBourg HS Paul Just / Football, Track / Fort Zumwalt North HS Rachel Faulkner / Cheer / Fort Zumwalt North HS Matthew Riffee / Baseball, Basketball / Francis Howell HS Robin Yuede / Track, Volleyball / Rosati Kain Ryan Johnson / Cross Country, Soccer, Track / Lutheran HS Sandy Kuhl / Cheer, Softball, Track / Pattonville Sue Herweck / Track, Soccer, Basketball, Tennis, Volleyball / Ritenour Timothy Besse / Tennis / Benton Central HS (IN) Tony Roungon / Football, Racquetball / Mehlville Tracy Wuertenberg / Soccer / Francis Howell HS

Courtney Freeman

SPORTS | FHNTODAY.COM | PAGE BY MACKENZIE PUGH

Science

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MORE THAN A MONTH Black history shouldn’t be confined to just 28 days and needs to integrated more in the education system

by Myah Blocker

myahblocker@gmail.com

On July 12, Black lives matter protester put their fist in the air as a sign of ‘black power’ on City Hall in Los Angeles. (betto rodrigues / Shutterstock.com)

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OPINIONS | FHNTODAY.COM | PAGE BY RONALD JOEL

28 days. That is how long African American culture is celebrated.

It has been over 90 years since this country began to honor Black History Month, but many of their contributions are still being ignored today. Now that Black History Month is over, we must continue to learn about this history. Historians tend to acknowledge that this great nation was built by Europeans, rather than embracing the fact that it wasn’t built alone. Without African Americans, this country wouldn’t be where it is today. It is undeserving to celebrate in just 28 days the many achievements of African Americans that helped mold the U.S. into what it is.

Black history is limitless, and there are too many parts of this history that are disregarded.

During Black History Month, we acknowledge and show appreciation for African Americans and their vigorous accomplishments in the U.S. However, we still fall short by only showing recognition of the well-known African Americans who did things for us, while in fact there are numerous ones that we take for granted. For instance, without Alice Parker, the heating furnace wouldn’t have been invented, and it would leave people without gas heating furnaces during the winter months. If George T. Sampson didn’t create the dryer, many of us wouldn’t be able to dry our clothes. Too many Americans learn the Martin Luther King and Civil Rights Movement parts of black history, but it runs much deeper than that. African history runs deeper than slavery and is more than just American history. There are many hidden people of black history who go unnoticed. For example, the recent movie “Hidden Figures,” about the famous Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughn and Mary Jackson, highlights three African American women who were the first to work at NASA as mathematicians and engineers. Although they were the ones who were portrayed in the movie, there were many other African American women who paved the way for other black women and now go unrecognized.

Black history and the history of other natives should be expressed just as much as European history in the education system and shouldn’t be erased by historians. According to The Huffington Post, “In every history book, every month, and everyday, Eurocentric history is mainly celebrated as part of American History.” When people are not educated in the history of black people, they are invalidating the many accomplishments that African Americans and their ancestors have made over the years. Our education system needs to do better to include the history of many other cultures. Black history wasn’t made in 28 days and it shouldn’t be limited to that many days either.

The U.S. wouldn’t be what it is now without the history and struggles of African Americans and the many other people of color.

We should validate black history as such, and not do it a disservice by only learning about it within the span of 28 days. That isn’t enough time.

WHY DAILY EXERCISE IS NEEDED Working out increases the heart rate, causing more oxygen to be pumped to the brain.

The chemical brain-dervied neurotrophic factor helps aid the growth of brain cells.

Senior Makiah Douglas blocks an opponent from Holt. The Lady Knights varsity basketball team have put in many hours worth of practice this season. The team began the season with practices from 2:40 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. each day after school with Sat. practices at 8 a.m.. (Photo by Alex Rowe)

Accepting Activity for Credit

Exercising is an important part of staying healthy, but there should be more ways available to get credit for gym

by McKayla Bogda

mckayla5bogda@gmail.com | @mbogda5

Each year around registration time, the topic of not wanting to take gym seems to always circulate around. At FHN, students are required to take one full year of gym to graduate, but many people think that is not necessary. Gym classes offer a time to socialize with friends and get in needed daily exercise, yet it takes the place of a class could help a student with their future career. There should be a multitude of options for students to take advantage of, so that they are able take more classes of their choice, while getting necessary exercise.

In Idaho, Texas and Indiana, they have come with the idea for people wanting to take classes other than gym is that the student must prove they exercise in their free time for at least an hour, about the time of a class hour, at a minimum of five days a week. We have a summer school class where students can do this and some online options, but there should also be an option for students who play sports. According to the gym teachers the reason this is not an option is because the Board of Education has not approved it as an option. Extracurricular athletes could count one season of their sport as one semester of gym credit. In all sports they are putting in a lot of hours of constant exercise which adds up to more physical activity than most of our gym classes offer. Also, if a student takes a recreational sport or class for a year, they should be able to count that as a semester of gym.

From endorphin boosts to longevity, exercise has many benefits, and it needs to be part of students’ lives to be healthy. Many people say they are not athletic or they just do not enjoy exercising, but if the students could find something they enjoy doing more, they might exercise and try more.

Also, this option would make it so students are more likely to continue exercising because the extracurricular class or activity might last past the time a normal gym class would.

Gym classes should not be cut; however, students should have more options. Gym classes are still needed, but for some students it would make more sense to just count the sport they already do, and take a class more interesting to them.

Now the students will not learn all the rules of different sports or what each apparatus in weightlifting does, but they may find something they will want to continue the rest of their life and end up living a healthier life this way.

Some form of gym should be a requirement for students to do by the end of high school and this option should only be available to high schoolers because it is built into middle and elementary school schedules. There could end up being some students who take advantage of a program such as this.

However, if students would take these programs seriously, then this could become a very beneficial program. A program along these lines would still have the normal benefits of gym, plus would free up students’ schedules, reward students for participating in sports and the student could find something they really enjoy and continue doing after the required amount of time.

Working out helps strengthen the heart, making it more efficient and more capable to pump blood through the body.

Exercising regularly can increase self confidence and lower symptoms associated with depression and anxiety

OPINIONS | FHNTODAY.COM | PAGE BY ETHAN SLAUGHTER

Working out can promote hormones that are associated with improving the mood and lowering stress.

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President Donald Trump answers multiple reporters after an event during the 2016 presidential campaign season. The president has recently been under fire from the media for comments about the press during his speeches and rallies. Trump had conflicting views with the media. (Joseph Sohm / Shutterstock.com)

they are Not the Enemy

With President Donald Trump recently saying that the media is “the enemy of the American people,” it is now more important than ever to highlight the importance of a free press for the country

by Anthony Kristensen

anthony.kristensen17@gmail.com | @anthonyk17slsg Since the inception of the U.S. Constitution in 1787, the press in the U.S. has enjoyed more extensive and free reporting than just about anywhere in the world.

Despite attempts in the past to smear it, the press has persevered and remained a free entity, acting as another piece of the checks and balances on the government.

However, more recently, the press has been openly scrutinized by the head of the U.S. government. It is not uncommon for the president to be critical of the media. However, what President Trump did goes far beyond the normal criticism.

President Trump said that the media is “the enemy of the American people” at a recent press conference. This could not be further from the truth.

The essential part of a free and democratic society is a free press. Without a free press, democracy simply does not function, as the people are uninformed about the workings of the government. This is seen in countries that don’t have a free press, such as Russia, where the people are kept in the dark about the works of the Kremlin. The fact that President Trump has called the press the “enemy of the American people” while the press is being silenced by governments in other nations is sickening to say the least. Also, the Trump administration recently barred numerous news outlets, including CNN, New York Times, LA Times, Politico and others from attending a press briefing, while Breitbart was allowed to attend.

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The administration seemingly is trying to freeze out media outlets that are critical of the president, which is the precedent set by dictatorships around the world.

It also seems that Trump only attacks the press that is critical of him. Trump openly calls CNN, ABC, NBC and anything else that prints anything that paints him in a negative tone “fake news.” This is all while Fox News and Breitbart get openly praised by the president, even as Breitbart has run racist, anti-semitic and sexist articles. These are evident that in order to be “real news,” a publication simply cannot run negative articles about the president. This is a dangerous precedent to set, as the only leaders that only accept positive coverage of themselves are the dictators of authoritarian regimes. Now, this is not to say that Trump is a dictator and the U.S. will fall into an authoritarian dictatorship, but the fact that he is turning the media into his own personal punching bag is alarming on its own.

While the Trump administration is increasingly hostile to journalists, that just means that the press has a bigger job to do. In order to have a functioning democracy, there needs to be a free press, and with the current administration, there needs to be a lot of research and digging to keep the administration honest.

The media is not the enemy of the American people. They are the informers of the American people. There needs to be great support for the media, far greater than the support they are getting right now. Without the media, this country would be no better than an authoritarian dictatorship. The country needs the press in order to function properly. They are not the enemy. They are the ally.

OPINIONS | FHNTODAY.COM | PAGE BY NOAH SLAUGHTER & ALEX LANE

TOP 8 PLACES TO GET CHICKEN STRIPS

It was easy picking my favorite chicken tenders because it all comes down to flavor presentation. Being a chicken tenders expert helped because there are many more tenders in the world but these few comes on top.

1.

POPEYES

2.

RAISING CANES

Popeyes chicken tenders come in mild and spicy. To me, the mild tenders take the lead because they’re simple and have a burst of flavor that will only make customers go back for more. It’s never too overpowering and people are hooked after one bite.

Raising Cane’s strips come in a close second to Popeyes because of the fries. If the fries are an A, the chicken strips are an A no questions asked. However, the strips are great minus the lack of salt, but that doesn’t mean I can’t tackle 15 of them.

3.

MIAMI GRILL

Miami Grill only came in third because the strips only come in three, which isn’t enough chicken strips to me. The strips come in Chicago-style, Miamistyle and my favorite, non-breaded. Make sure you bring your money because you’ll will be buying more just after one bite.

4.

LANABRI’S

Lanabri’s is the definition of soul food. It always reminds me of my great grandma Barbara’s cooking. They come in fourth because it is high priced, but you get what you pay for, which is a lot. Their tenders literally come in small, medium and large. If you are coming for a lot of food, you better bring your appetite.

5.

CHURCH’S CHICKEN

Church’s Chicken goes down for one of the best places to serve chicken. It’s cooked to perfection, and the taste never gets old.

When they started their tenders, I was hooked from day one. You can get them baked, fried or even half and half. Just one bite of their famous tenders and you’ll be in it for life.

6. WINGSTOP

Wingstop has great chicken wings that come in many flavors like Atomic, Mango, Original and my favorite, Hickory BBQ. When I found out you can have those flavors in tenders, it was a whole new ball park. You can get 10 tenders for $8.99, which is a deal no one can pass up.

7.

BLUEBERRY HILL

Blueberry Hill chicken strips have a great taste and never disappoint me when I’m eating there.

Their flavors are so good and my favorite by far is the grilled sweet and spicy tenders. It’s a little healthy but has a big kick of hotness, and just one will be hard to not satisfy you. You can get 12 for $9.99.

8.

HODAK BAR AND GRILL

Hodak Bar and Grill serves more than just chicken and tacos. They have really great seasoned chicken strips and fries. The cost is only $5.80, and you get quality strips with a bucket load for fries. Hodak’s is a place you eat at when you are going through chicken withdrawals.

OPINIONS | FHNTODAY.COM | PAGE BY ASHYA ROBERSON 44

STUDENT TAKE:

NO BAN NO WALL

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF PRESIDENT TRUMP’S RECENT EXECUTIVE ACTIONS ON IMMIGRATION?

“It’s a little messed up, honestly. I have mixed feelings.”

ea r a we an r g i imm

MADDIE KAHL, 11

NO is n a m u h AL G E L IL

“I don’t really feel like it’s a bad thing. It was only a 90 day ban. He wanted to protect the country from terrorism and keep it out.”

GARRETT RAY, 11

“I fell it’s unethical and it shouldn’t be there because it’s racist.”

SUHAS ANDAVOLU, 9

“It’s targeting specific people because of religion and that goes against the basic foundation of our country. I do not believe that it is very constitutional.”

AUGUST WISE, 12

“I don’t support it because it’s disrespectful of his doing that to the Muslims.”

GABRIELA NEGRETE, 9

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NORTH STAR TAKE

UNAMERICAN BAN

President Trump’s recent executive orders on immigration directly contradict the values that the U.S. was built on On Behalf of the Editorial Staff yourfhn@fhntoday.com | @FHNtoday

O

ver the years, the U.S., and particularly the St. Louis area, has opened its doors to refugees that are the victims of war. This is evident with the over 300 Syrian refugees that have resettled in St. Louis since the start of the war and the thousands of Bosnian refugees that were welcomed to the city in the 1990s. These refugees have helped give St. Louis its identity as a city with a strong sense of diversity. This nation has a rich history of lending a hand to those in need, but that title is in serious danger.

Over the past few weeks, President Donald Trump has issued numerous executive orders

OPINIONS | FHNTODAY.COM | PAGE BY ANTHONY KRISTENSEN

relating to immigration, most notably a 90-day travel ban for people that are from Syria, Iraq, Iran, Somalia, Yemen, Sudan and Libya, that was recently struck down in court, though the president has vowed to challenge the ruling.

This is a direct contradiction to the values that this country was built on, as these nations have had refugees flooding out to escape the wars and turmoil that have engulfed their countries, looking anywhere they can for help. The fact that the U.S. is not a possible option for these people under President Trump’s order goes against everything that this country was built on.

Throughout history, Americans have been there to lend a helping hand to those in need, and this cannot change now. The American

north | star

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Editor-in-Chief: Carolynn Gonzalez Business Manager: Kayla Martinez Business: Gabriel Avalos Madison Clifton Managing Editor: Aly Doty Copy Editor: Noah Slaughter Content Director: Anthony Kristensen Team Editors: McKayla Bogda Ethan Slaughter

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General Staff: Stacy Beasley Jake Price Myah Blocker Paige Prinster Olivia Fetsch Mackenzie Pugh Martin Groves Ashya Roberson Heidi Hauptman Samantha Schmid Samantha Herr Keegan Schuster Ronald Joel Christopher St. Aubin Mia Kristensen Hannah Wilson Alex Lane Sydney Wise Anna Lindquist Christian Witte Rebekah Maye Kylah Woods Heeral Patel Sarah Zimmerman Editor-in-Chief of Photography: Alex Rowe Newspaper Photo Editor: Riley McCrackin

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people must be willing to help the victims of war, much like they were in the 1990s with the influx of Bosnian refugees fleeing the war that engulfed their country. This is who we are as a people. This is what our country was built on.

Many protests have been spurred since President Trump’s travel ban was put in place, some of which have taken place in St. Louis, showing that the residents of the area care for the diversity and the helping hand that the area has lent over the years. However, President Trump’s actions are not the first attacks on the way the U.S. has been helping others for years.

President Andrew Jackson did it with the forced resettlement of Native Americans on the Trail of Tears. President Jimmy Carter did it when he barred people from Iran from entering the country. President Barack Obama did it when he signed the Terror Travel Prevention Act, which barred people from the same countries as President Trump’s order from entering the country. All were wrong. All were overturned.

But the current administration is not letting

their order go without a fight. When the order was taken down in court, the president vowed that he would continue to fight for his executive order. That means that the people who want to keep helping those in need, especially those who have been doing it for years, such as the people of St. Louis, must keep fighting against it.

In order to preserve the American way of helping the victims of war, the people of the St. Louis area must make their voices heard. They must continue to fight the president’s orders, in order to continue helping the way that St. Louisans have for generations, whether it be with the 300 resettled Syrian refugees or the way they helped with the thousands of Bosnian refugees. The people of St. Louis must continue to fight for the way that this country has been since it was conceived, a safe haven for the victims of war and discrimination. We must fight for the values that the founders of this country fought for so long ago. We must keep the American tradition going. We must continue to fight Trump’s orders, long after he gives up.

Editors-in-Chief: Michal Basford Chase Meyer Social Media Editor: Isaiah Bryant FHNgameday Editor: Jacob Lintner Web Staff: Madison Abanathie Dalia Gonzalez Gavin Atkinson Jadon Herrman Joel Boenitz Riley Kampff Kyle Dearing Tyler Rogers Editor-in-Chief of Video: Brayton Larson Special Projects Editor: Alyssa Barber Podcast Editor: Taylor Sheridan Video and Social Media Manager: Kelsey Decker Video Staff: Carsten Adams Reide Pearson Jacob Dulaney Taylor Perry Emily Hood Madilyn Shinault Dominic Hoscher William Skaggs Daniel Kuhn KalI Skikas Lupe Medina Lily Sontheimer Nathan Williams Advisers: Aaron Manfull Jordyn Kiel

OPINIONS | FHNTODAY.COM | PAGE BY ANTHONY KRISTENSEN

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