MARCHING BAND WRAPS SEASON
FHN’s marching band and color guard receive season high score at last competition. Page 13
CHANGES TO AP HISTORY CLASSES
Page 11
FHN’S PICKLEBALL PLAYERS
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Juniors Laney Quandt and Bri Dunham record in the podcast studio for FHNtoday. There are currently four different podcasts on FHNtoday; “Music Mayhem,” “Fashion History Update,” “The Podcast Chronicles,” and “Class of 2024 Reflections.” (Photos by Chris Brandt)
These are a few different podcasts to add to any listening experience
by McKenna Hudson mhudson365@g.fhsdschools.orgPodcasts exist to cover every sort of topic. Here are five easily accessible podcasts to listen to wherever and whenever.
Office Ladies
“Office Ladies,” hosted by Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey, discusses their time on the tv show “The Office” and gives listeners the behind-the-scenes scoop. They do interviews with cast from the show, break down episodes and add in conversation about their own lives. “Office Ladies” releases once a week and is a great podcast for Office lovers. This podcast is good for an easy listen or for a good laugh. These ladies do their research and provide lots of fascinating facts from the history of doodles to exploring Kinsey’s digital clutter.
Celebrity Memoir Book Club
“CMBC,” hosted by Claire Parker and Ashley Hamilton is a podcast that reads a celebrity memoir once a week and discusses its contents. The book club reads excerpts from the pages and reads between the lines to provide their own opinions on the book. Parker and Hamilton are also New York comedians who provide listeners with plenty of laughs and an inside look into their lives. “CMBC” has read memoirs from celebrities like Jason Derulo and Paris Hilton to Matthew Perry and Will Smith as well as many others.
“If you’ve ever wondered what could possibly be in all those celebrity memoirs but have a life and cannot sit down to read them all, we’ll just tell you all the important details,” a representative from Celebrity Memoir Book Club said via Instagram.
Sweet Bobby
“Sweet Bobby” is a six episode podcast series that documents the story of Kirat, a woman who is catfished for almost a decade. The series takes an extensive look on how Kirat was able to be catfished and the extent of the deception. Hosted by Alexi Mostrous, the podcast is addictive with lots of twists and turns in this true story. The show also entices listeners to find out the identity of the catfisher and the motive. Each episode is around 30 minutes and can be listened to in a day.
American Scandal
“American Scandal” is a podcast series that documents the most publicized scandals in America and takes the listener on an in-depth journey through the deceits. The podcast releases once a week and around four episodes cover one scandal. The podcast, started in 2018, is still ongoing today and has covered scandals such as the Clinton-Lewinksy scandal and the Watergate scandal. Listeners get extensive context behind the events and learn knowledge that may be useful in a U.S. history course.
Cookies and Crime
Based off the viral TikTok series, “Cookies and Crime by Karen Thi,” this is a podcast for all things true crime and delicious cookies. The idea for the podcast originated off TikTok when Thi’s cookie decorating account, Bakersmann Cookies, went viral when she decorated a cookie with a true crime story voice-over. She then took the series to podcasting where she reviews a true crime or paranormal story and eats a cookie. Thi provides bi-weekly episodes where she adds her opinions and commentary to the crimes to give her podcast a unique point of view from other true crime podcasts.
FHN students and faculty share their favorite podcasts THERES A PODCAST FOR THAT
“I like history, I’m a nerd though. I like the My Fake History podcast.”
- Jack Engelhard, 12
“Dateline is my favorite podcast because it’s really interesting and it holds my attention.”
- Delaney St. John, 11
“The Ed Mylett Show [is my favorite] because it’s all about self development and it’s good information for how to grow yourself.”
-Dr. Jeff Blankenship
“I listen to The Broski Report and I listen because she’s very smart and the funniest person so I like laughing to her by myself.”
- Anora Addison, 12
“My favorite podcast is My First Millions because it teaches you how to make money.”
-Aiden Digar, 11
Disney+ has started to take precautions to address the issue of password sharing. Password sharing on most streaming platforms has allowed account sharing on different devices and locations, but Disney+ and other platforms have started to believe it’s an issue and can lead to abuse. For instance, Netflix password crackdown policy tracks your data and stops you or others from watching in any other state you don’t live in.
Password sharing is when you give friends, family, etc. your password to your account. Disney+ and Netflix don’t allow password sharing because they believe it can cause problems with cyber security and scams. With streaming companies implementing this new policy, some users have voiced their dissatisfaction online with the increased security and restrictions. Most users have been sharing their passwords for years but may feel disappointed when the feature becomes unavailable.
Many platforms have started this policy because password sharing can be risky in several ways. For instance, sharing your passwords may make it easier for hackers to hack into your network and steal valuable information. Password sharing can also cause a loss of your account because of security issues.
Sharing your password can lead to risky situations, however password sharing can also be beneficial in some ways. Sharing passwords makes it easier to access shared accounts and not deal with the hassle of repeated logins. Sharing a subscription on streaming platforms could save money for consumers, however, sharing your subscriptions is losing companies money and that’s their main problem with password sharing. Despite the pros and cons of sharing passwords, streaming platform’s “Password Crackdown” has been successful. Netflix has gained around 23 percent of new accounts since they added their new policy. Following Netflix, Disney+ also implemented their password crackdown on Nov 1. Seeing how successful Netflix’s policy has been, other streaming platforms may follow as well, so be on the lookout.
Companies like Netflix have put a limit on password sharing due to security risks and other factors. (Photo by Austin Griffin)
Wonka is a film releasing on Dec. 15. The film stars Timothee Chalamet as the titular character, Willy Wonka. This movie is a prequel to the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory movie and book and the movie will show the origin of Wonka and how he became the chocolate-maker people know and love.
This movie will have Wonka meet an Oompa-Loompa, played by Hugh Grant, and will go through the adventures of Wonka, the world’s greatest inventor, magician and chocolate-maker, as he goes from working in a small candy store to someone known all over the world for the chocolate that he makes. This movie will feature musical numbers but, according to the director, it isn’t a musical, just a film with music.
Chalamet recently hosted SNL on Nov. 11. It was his second time hosting the show. Chalamet has appeared in many popular films such as Call Me by Your Name, Little Women, Beautiful Boy, Lady Bird and many others.
Nintendo Direct
Scan this QR code to see the Nintendo Direct for Nick AllStars Brawl 2
The Brawl Site
Scan this QR code to see the official Nickelodeon All-Stars Brawl website
IGN Review
Scan this QR code to see IGN’s review of the game
by Alex Wheadon awheadon315@g.fhsdschools.orgNickelodeon All-Stars Brawl 2 was released on Nov. 3 and it sets out to improve on its predecessor. Nickelodeon All-Stars Brawl was a 2D platform fighter similar to Super Smash Bros that was released in 2021. The game set out to answer the question of what if SpongeBob could fight Danny Phantom.
The original game, upon release, had mixed reviews with some loving it and some hating it. The game’s mechanics made it a capable fighting game but it was released with little polish, no voice acting and little content other than the main fighting mode. This is part of what led to the game’s early demise.
Nickelodeon All Stars Brawl 2 has voice acting and a new campaign. It supports an expanded roster of Nickelodeon characters both new to the game and old with new skins and refined mechanics. There will also be a new online experience including crossplay and updated lobby systems. This all being there on release will hopefully improve on the original to make a game everyone can enjoy.
by Cherry Clark cclark599@g.fhsdschools.orgOn Dec. 22, the new ‘Migration’ movie by Illumination will be officially released in the United States in theaters. Directed by Benjamin Renner, the movie will be a comedy for all ages. The movie is a story of a family of Mallard ducks, who have the vacation of a lifetime, migrating from their New England pond, through New York City, to Jamaica.
The film holds an impressive cast, including some notable voice actors such as Awkafina, known for Shang-Chi, and Danny Devito, an esteemed American actor and award winner. The movie will also feature a musical score from composer John Powell, returning to Illumination after the release of ‘The Lorax’ (2012). Additionally, for those unable to watch it in theaters, the movie will be available on the Peacock and Netflix platforms for families to watch as part of Universal’s deal with Netflix. The film was originally scheduled to release in June of 2023 however it was delayed and is now releasing in December.
by John Butler jbutler035@g.fhsdschools.orgApple has recently released the iPhone 15 and that became widely popular for the new titanium frame added to the pro models of the phone.
Be careful though as titanium does react with oxygen which may cause cracks in the frames of these phones over time. It is recommended to keep a case on so that the phone remains in functioning order as long as possible.
“It’s mainly a marketing gimmick, it’s most likely going to put a hard limit on the phones,” FHN PLTW teacher Michael Green said.
Apple’s reason for switching from their standard stainless steel or aluminum design to titanium is because of how titanium weighs up to 40 percent less but still has the strength of stainless steel. Also the frame is made mostly of titanium and not just plated on a different material.
jbutler035@g.fhsdschools.org
Edible fashion is a step in a new direction, and may not have much flavor to some but it will be an exciting entry into the new lineup.
Recently Leeann Huang came out with a new line of edible clothing that has real jelly and chocolate woven into cable knits, beaded trousers made with sugar glass from vintage chandeliers and glazed oranges, and jewelry made from prawn crackers. However this clothing comes with a catch, since it is made of real food there is a risk of it spoiling. “No, just think of it rotting,” FHN senior Erica Stanford said.
Huang also stated in Dazed magazine that the reason for this clothing line was because she was inspired by the French cookbook “Les Diners De Gala” and French food driven films “La Grande Bouffe” and “Tampopo”.
On Nov. 10, the indie pop band AJR released their fifth studio album, ‘The Maybe Man’. On Sept. 11, 2023, AJR revealed the album cover and track list, featuring 12 songs (one less than previously announced). Five singles have already been released. AJR has released four studio albums: ‘Living Room’ (2015), ‘The Click’ (2017), ‘Neotheater’ (2019), and ‘OK Orchestra’ (2021). A teaser on Nov. 12, 2022, left fans speculating about the album’s title, with guesses ranging from
Dolly Parton: actress, singer, songwriter, musician and philanthropist extraordinaire. She’s ruled the country music industry with a smile since her debut in 1967, and 56 years later she’s still singing with her first rock album, “Rockstar”, which dropped a couple weeks ago.
After her debut album titled, “Hello, I’m Dolly,” she experienced success that carried her into the 1980s. Since the 2000’s she received plenty of commercial success and
‘The Music Men’ to ‘Ten-Meter Men’. Then, on Aug. 28, 2023, the band unveiled the highly anticipated title: ‘The Maybe Man’. Originating from New York City, AJR is an indie pop trio consisting of brothers Adam Met, Jack Met and Ryan Met. The band started in 2005, but didn’t see any relative success until 2012 with their single, ‘I’m Ready’. The single was later released with their debut studio album ‘The Living Room’ in 2015.
became one of the few artists to receive all four major entertainment awards: Emmy, Oscar, Grammy and Tony. Her most recent release, “Rockstar”, has 30 all new rock songs. It was released on Nov. 17 under Butterfly Records, and is available on all streaming platforms. It even has appearances from popular artists like Lizzo, P!nk, Elton John, Joan Jett and Miley Cyrus.
Her first feature film appearance was in the comedy “9-5”, with a leading role as a secretary, which she sang the title song for. Both the song and the movie received Golden Globe nominations, the movie became a major success and the song topped the charts. Parton was named the Top Female Box Office Star in 1981 and 1982 thanks to the film’s success.
An infographic detailing different musicals (Content by Izzy Lash, Illustrations by Violet Newton and Alex Wheadon)
Lydia can see ghosts, and ghosts can see Lydia, unlike her parents. Partnering up with her new ghost friends to scare her parents out of their new house is a lot greener when the weird guy you threw off the roof offers to help, for a price. If your creepy ghost problem solver offers to marry you, you should always decline.
Mean girls and meaner guys make high school the worst for Veronica Sawyer, certified nerd. Her life suddenly looks better thanks to a lunch table invitation from the Heathers, aka the queen bees of her school. It turns out that when a guy in a leather coat threatens to blow up the school, he means it, no matter how much Sawyer wants to kiss him.
History buffs, meet your newest obsession. Following the story of the American Revolution, future founding father Alexander Hamilton does his best to make his mark in history. With only slight exaggerations and sometimes uncomfortable situations, Hamilton proves that sometimes not shutting your mouth is a good thing, and sometimes you end up dead.
Based off of the “Wizard of Oz,” the musical follows the story of Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, and Galinda, or Glinda the Good Witch. It follows their adventures together before they became the famous witches, and it explores their relationship and the relationship with the people of Oz, ultimately starting and ending with the death of Elphaba.
Sorority girl, meet law school and bad boyfriends. After a shocking break up, Elle Woods decides to get him back by getting into Harvard Law School and discovers a passion for law. After putting the pink in prosecution, she figures out that you don’t need a man to be a girl boss and graduate top of your class.
Fun puzzles to complete with your friends (Games generated and used with permission from Discovery Education)
Maze #1
(Content by Canyon Dubis)
by
(Content by Sadie Ortmeyer)
AJR
Comfor tFood
AJR
MarchingBand
ART
PropS
CAT CAFE
PROP S
Ar tCub
DollyPar ton
SENIOR ATHLETES
Nickelodeon
SeniorAthletes
SMILEY FRIES
SpringMusical StanleyCups
COMFORT FOOD
DOLLY PARTON
INDESTRUCTIBLE PHONE
20 of 20 words placed.
MARCHING BAND
NICKELODEON PICKLEBALL
SPRING MUSICAL
ViralStudents WinterSpor ts Wonka Wrestling Copyright © 2023 Discov
STANLEY CUPS
TARGET
VIRAL STUDENTS
WINTER TRENDS
WONKA
WRESTLING
(Illustration by Naomi VanDyne)
After many years of having no changes made to the rubric for the AP History classes, College Board has decided to alter the scoring rubric for the DBQ section of these AP tests. The complexity point used to have to be separate from other point earning sections, however, after the change, it can be included within any part of the essay. This helps to clarify how the otherwise unpredictable point can be achieved.
“I think anything that’s going to allow for a student’s work to receive the points that it’s probably due, is always beneficial,” AP World History teacher Kimberly Coil said.
Only two changes have been made to the AP World curriculum in the past 14 years. This is done by the College Board in order to try to keep the grading system stable over the course of many years of classes.
Scan the QR code to read more on changes to AP testing.
“At least they clarified what exactly you should be doing,” senior Riya Sidabattula, a former AP World student, said. “But also it’s going to be tougher for people to get a higher score just because more people are going to get it. So the curve is going to be a lot lower.”
Not many changes are made to the scoring rubrics of AP classes. The rubrics are designed to attempt to last for a long time, however, that doesn’t mean that they are perfect. Making proper changes to help modernize the rubrics is very important and something that should not be neglected going forward.
“So, the formula works,” Coil said. “We get kids to come along and get the gist of how to write them. I think if too many changes are made, it becomes too confusing on the teaching side of it.”
Senior Maggie Covington paints a portrait of an eye with the painting ‘A Starry Night’ in the background on April 19. (File Photo)
Due to a number of conflicts, Francis Howell North’s Art Club was shut down at the beginning of this year, leaving the sponsor and students dissatisfied
by Riley Jensen rjensen810@g.fhsdschools.orgThe FHN art club was a club where students could express themselves and live out their passion for art after school hours. However, it has been shut down due to lack of students, staff, and time. Many FHN students who joined the art club early in their high school careers were saddened by its gradual decline and eventual closure.
“I immediately joined the art club when I got to high school,” junior Abby Hashieder said. “I was really sad when it got shut down, but I wasn’t surprised.”
By the end of last year, FHN’s art club was already struggling. The sponsor for the club, art teacher Denise Maples, was having an especially hard time keeping up with both the club’s after school activities and her work life. She was the only teacher who was up for the job, but the hours kept piling up.
“I chose not to run the art club this year
because I am working all seven hours at school,” Maples said. “I do department chair duties, I also have a second job that I work and I just felt like I just didn’t have the time to dedicate more of my life to art. I was really hoping we could find someone else to do it.”
As if Maples wasn’t under enough stress already, another problem arose: the number of students signing up for the art club started to decrease. Many students weren’t aware of the club, and some of the actual members only used the club as a hangout space instead of an art room.
“As the year went on, it seemed to dwindle down,” Maples said. “I was getting a lot of kids that really didn’t want to be in an art club, they were just looking for a place to hang out, so it got a little problematic. I didn’t quite have the involvement that I wanted.”
Though the art club is no longer standing, club members still have fond memories to reflect on. Every year, the club would go to Frenchtown to sell crafts, paintings, and
other various creations they had made during their time in the club.
“It was honestly some of the most fun I’ve had in high school,” Hashieder said. “It was a really fun experience. I definitely miss it, but the shutdown was bound to happen. The teacher was busy and people weren’t aware that the art club existed so nobody was joining.”
Maples believes that with a little more financial help, the shutdown could have been prevented. There was no salary bonus for club sponsors, and Maples felt that charging an activity fee would disrupt the club’s inclusive environment.
“Maybe if there was a little more incentive as far as having some kind of compensation for being a sponsor, that might help,” Maples said.
Even with all the struggle, there is still hope for the art club to return. If staff and students put in the work, the art club can make a comeback and be even bigger and more involved than before.
“I hope that we continue to have an art club in the future and then maybe we find a way that gets art staff and students more invested in it,” Maples said. “Perhaps it is good for everybody to have more people who are involved.”
Big retail stores and supermarkets such as Walmart, Kohl’s, Schnucks and many others have consistently been victims of shoplifting. This has escalated in recent years as a result of many different things from a worse economy to lack of workers present. Target has been a victim of this increased shoplifting.
Target reported a $400 million dollar loss in profits, and while not all of that profit loss can be attributed to solely shoplifting, it did contribute to the large loss in profits.
Scan the QR code below to read an article from CNN.com about recent Target closures.
Target has shut down nine stores in major cities, with the reasoning that there has been too much crime for the stores to remain sustainable. At the Mid-Rivers Target, Kystal Arias, who is a front-end advocate and has been working at Target for nearly two years, has dealt with shoplifting instances in the store.
“A lot of the times we just have to let security know, we can’t stop them ourselves because it might be dangerous. We call them on the radio and they’re usually on top of it,” Arias said. “At my Target it’s pretty okay, though we get a lot of scam calls during the holidays.”
By having everything available in one store from food and technology to decor and toys, Target has managed to become the eighth largest retailer in the United States and is a staple stop for many students at FHN who go shopping. Elizabeth Rodriguez-Morales is a freshman at FHN and is one of those students.
“My family’s always shopped at Target,” Rodriguez-Morales said. “It’s just better quality than other stuff.”
No statements have been made regarding the potential closing of the MidRivers and Mexico Road Target locations, but in the event that the Target locations would close, it would leave students dissatisfied.
“I wouldn’t know where to shop for stuff,” Rodriguez-Morales said.
The FHN Speech and Debate club is in full swing, with the next competition on Dec. 9 and 10.
At practices the club prepares for their own events by doing practice debates, public speaking skills and developing their personal strategy. Co-vice president and senior Savanna Degenhardt competes in the public forum and congressional debate events.
“While we are all competing individually or in pairs at competitions, we all help each other practice,” Degenhardt said.
Speech and Debate has both varsity and novice subdivisions, and includes debate categories like public forum, where competitors debate with a partner against another pair. The Lincoln-Douglas debate is when participants compete solo.
“I feel pretty good about our performance, we usually do pretty well,” Degenhardt said.
“The novices are good and I expect them to get better as the season goes on.”
To stay updated on any new bell schedule changes, download the FHNtoday app for iOS.
by Grant Kilen gkilen380@g.fhsdschools.org
To stay updated on any new bell schedule changes, download the FHNtoday app for Android. Android
“I don’t like Knight Time being after second hour.”
Caleb Couch, 10
At the beginning of second quarter, there were minor changes made to the bell schedule, including the elimination of the five-minute “community building” period in first hour.
“Some of it was just making sure that there was more equal time between all seven periods,” Head Principal Jeff Fletcher said. “There was equal time for instructional minutes. This revolved around plan time minutes [being equalized].”
Starting second semester, Knight Time will be held on Wednesdays and Fridays. This change was made in order to increase the number of full-length hours in a week.
“One of the concerns was that we only had two days that had 50-minute periods,” Fletcher said. “I think there’s good things happening in Knight Time. But we also recognize that having three days of shortened class periods limits some lab classes. It’s really an adjustment to fit the needs of all the different things we’re trying to do in the building.”
Prop S is a commonly talked about subject within the school district, especially at North with the new building under construction. Prop S grants FHSD money to improve its buildings without taking money from residents. The Board of Education meetings have been a resource for the people of the district to learn the details of Prop S uses and building updates.
“We’ve met with the appropriate building leaders to gather input to ensure that the schematic design will support the instructional and operational needs at the building level, while also supporting the security enhancements that we seek,” D\ director of Facilities Salum Stutzer said.
The district had been working on improving the safety security at the schools. FHN, both old and new, had some considerations taken about how to have the schools as protected as possible.
“The security vestibule [for the new FHN] is more of a multi-use instructional space,” Stutzer said.
With the new school building experiencing cost overruns in excess of $70 million, members of the community have called for the state of Missouri to perform an audit on the district in an attempt to uncover what happened.
While State Auditor Scott Fitzpatick is working his way through district finances, members of the community want to know what the audit means for FHSD.
“They’re going to look back at the 2022 and 2023 fiscal years, and they might go back further,” Board treasurer Jane Puszkar said.
The audit is a long process that requires a deep dive into years of complicated financial data. According to Board Vice President Randy Cook, the state will look at the district’s processes and finances to make sure FHSD is following policy.
“They told us it will take from three to six months for the audit to be completed, and some time after that until they publish the results,” Cook said.
Juniors Carter Houdeshell and Sophia Arnold talk to Speech & Debate coach Randy Pierce on Mock Trial during a meeting that took place on Nov. 8. (Photo by Eshaan Patel) (Illustration by Miranda Fabian) (Illustration by Miranda Fabian) (Illustration by Izzy Lash)
The FHN Drama Club will hold auditions Dec. 7 for their upcoming spring musical, “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.” The story of an adolescent spelling showdown, the musical was written by Rachel Sheinkin and features music and lyrics by William Finn.
Preliminary auditions will be a monologue combined with a singing part. Callbacks will consist of collaborative dialogues and dance choreography. Those who don’t particularly enjoy singing shouldn’t be discouraged though.
“There are so many different positions for crew, but then there are also smaller parts,” Thespian President Mack Akerman said. “Where people were added in [and they don’t] have to physically sing.
(Brief by Grant Kilen)
Marching band is a large part of the band player’s lives with how much time they spend practicing and improving.
“Placement wise, this has been the best year that I have [been in the program],” senior trumpet player Sin Wang said.
“I would say I enjoy the work ethic that we put into the program.”
The Marching Band had received their highest score of their season in their final performance of 74 points.
“My favorite memories are from the competitions and performances,” freshman flute player Rylan Trotter said.
During the season, color guard won Best Color Guard Caption at the Wright City Wildcat Pride Invitational on Sept. 23.
(Brief by Ray Hathcock)
Drama club is selling donuts on Dec. 8 and has been selling Krispy Kreme donuts in the mornings twice a year since 2022. They do this to raise money for the club’s Thescon trips in the winter and to help the club where needed throughout the year.
The fundraiser started when senior president Mack Akerman had gotten a job at Krispy Kreme and decided to bring it together to help the club.
The club also does other fundraisers such as selling cotton candy, hosting their karaoke nights, and partnering with Craig Hospital.
“I hope it’s something we do every year, I don’t know if they’ll stop since they won’t have any connections but it’s a nice event that people like doing,” Akerman said.
(Brief by Miranda Fabian)
February 10
Francis Howell North
Fort Zumwalt East
Fort Zumwalt South
Fort Zumwalt North
Parkway Central
April 13
Francis Howell North
Fort Zumwalt East
Fort Zumwalt South
Fort Zumwalt West
Both St. Charles County libraries and the FHN Learning Commons have books and workbooks that can be for free.
Putting the ACT prep class on a schedule next year is a good way to get used to the content the ACT consists of.
The internet is a powerful resource to find practice tests and example questions.
Use the Edmentum Online ACT Course to prepare for the test
Check out the official ACT prep book from the County library
This year for ACT testing, students are able to prepare by taking semester classes such as the ACT prep taught by English teacher Diane Thompson and math and sciences covered by Kent Stover that is still available second semester.
“Basically there’s this one class made up of roughly 30 kids and it’s split in half. [Stover] has half and I have half and second quarter the kids switch,” Thompson said.
This class is used so all sections of the ACT
are being covered along with ACT bootcamps that Thompson does outside of school.
There are five national ACT test dates, the nearest one being Feb. 10 with a registration deadline of Jan. 5 the rest are available on ACT.org where students can register and learn more on the ACT testings.
“I really do believe that if you put the time and effort into honing the skills that you aren’t really that great with, you can increase your scores,” Thompson said. “But you can’t just not do anything.”
On Dec. 20, Ecology club will be hosting their yearly winter party after school until 3:20. They will be celebrating with pizza and a holiday movie. Ecology will also discuss their plans for their second semester outings. To attend the party two previous meetings and one prior trip are required.
“Our meetings are always a great time, its a fun atmosphere and we make good memories with each other,” junior Ecology Club president Olivia Van Horn said.
There will be a meeting on Dec. 12 for anyone looking to go. At this meeting they will plan the party along with having members sign up to bring snacks or drinks to the party.
“I’m really looking forward to our party because it will be a good way to end off before we leave for Christmas break. It will be nice to relax,” Van Horn said.
On Nov. 10, FHN hosts its annual Veterans Day assembly to honor, remember, and celebrate all of the soldiers past and present who fought for our country. The ceremony consisted of the singing of the National Anthem, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a moment of silence to remember all of those soldiers who gave their life in sacrifice for the US. “Taps” was played by senior Grant Kilen, and all of the veterans in attendance at the assembly were commemorated.
FHNgamday has seen a winter overhaul with a lot of new exciting content being published over the winter sports season. An up to date scoreboard for people who might have missed sporting events that will updated daily has been added on the right side of the page. Previews to upcoming games and recaps of previous games will be sporadically posted. Photo galleries with the top action shots of all of your favorite winter sports will be posted daily as well. Alternate videos that showcase life on a high school sports team will periodical be dropping as well. Fan favorite hype videos
will also begin to be posted more frequently.
On top of the content that is being posted, new visual features have been added. An up to date gold has been applied to all of our headers and a updated Gameday logo has been instated. More coherent hyper-links are in place to make traversing from FHNtoday to FHNgameday easier.
The FHN sports staff is excited to showcase their amazing work coming out of room 105 in third hour and the newly improved Gameday website is the first sign of all the awesome content you can expect from them during the winter.
Yadi’s
Yadi’d Yummies is a cat and dog treat store in St. Peters that hires special needs workers. (Story by McKenna Hudson)
This video showcases senior Hailey Zhangs doing many of her passions. (Video by Rhea Patel and Laney Quandt)
Members of the board share their feelings about the new strain of COVID-19. (Story by Grant Kilen)
The FHN media program has an up-to-date editorial policy that states all of our polices from legal issues, to what we cover and our staff values. If you have any questions about anything in the policy or think something needs to be added feel to reach out to us and we will take any consideration.
Do you have idea that you’d like us to cover in the North Star or on FHNtoday? You can submit any stories you want us to cover on the Google form above and we will add it to our list of story ideas. Story ideas can range from things happening in the community or a cool feature on someone at North that we haven’t done yet.
Staff applications for the 2024-25 school year have opened. You’re able to apply to any of our five staffs on this form. Apply by Dec. 14 to have priority acceptance and the final deadline to apply is Jan. 5. If you have any questions reach out to Mr. Manfull in room 105 or Mrs. Kiel in room 131.
WATCH THE FULL VIDEO HERE
Ava Bax figure skates at the St. Peters Rec-Plex on Oct. 31. Bax is a current sophomore at FHN and is a competitive figure skater. She spends numerous hours a day after school practicing for competitions of all kinds. Bax grew up skating and it has become one of her many passions because it connects her to her Russian heritage. (Photo by Jordan Ousley)
To the right are three local places in which people can play pickleball. This is a small amount compared to the quickly growing fascination in the game.
Waplehorst Park
The tennis courts here have been converted to allow for pickleball play. The courts are also close to many of the people at FHN and that makes it convenient to play there.
Two pedestrian peoples’ perspectives on a popular pastime
by Naomi VanDyne nvandyne312@g.fhsdschools.orgFor some, pickleball is an intense professional sport, and for others it can be a casual game. Either way, many people enjoy playing this unique and newly popular sport.
“It’s a big ping pong game, a mix of a bunch of sports,” FHN senior Ethan McCoy, who plays soccer at North and pickleball in his free time, said. “It’s not that physical, it’s chill.”
Pickleball is like a combination of ping pong, tennis and badminton. The paddles used are similar to an oversized version of those used in ping pong, while the court has the same stripes as a tennis court but is the size of a badminton court. Pickleball can be played both indoors and outdoors, and both tennis courts and badminton courts can easily be modified for the game. Players, called picklers, can range in age from children to senior adults.
“My kids could play it,” office secretary at North Dana Button, who enjoys playing pickleball in her free time, said. “It doesn’t cost a lot of money to get the equipment and it’s good exercise.”
Pickleball is quickly becoming an incredibly popular sport because of several reasons, one of which is that it is easy to get into. The only equipment required is a ball and a paddle, which is closer to the hand than in tennis, making it easier to get used to hitting. The court is smaller so players do not have to move as much and also get to socialize. The smaller courts also mean that more games can take place simultaneously.
In fact, the tennis courts close to Wapelhorst Park have been modified to allow for pickleball players, and this is where both McCoy and Button play. Button enjoys keeping up with her kids, and the consistent challenge of staying just as good as them.
“I really love how it’s one of those lifelong sports that [you can play] if you’re young or if you’re an older adult,” Button said. “I know a lot of older adults who still like to stay active and play it, so I think that’s really appealing.”
For those interested in learning to play pickleball, Button shares advice on how to get started.
“Start out by just playing for fun and learning the motion of it,” Button said. “And how hard you have to hit the ball, because it’s very different from tennis.”
McCoy also gives a tip to people interested in playing pickleball and getting even better at the sport.
“Just keep your feet moving, and be ready for the ball at all times,” McCoy said.
Chicken n Pickle
Chicken n Pickle is a new place near Main Street that is set to open later this year. It’s a combination of pickleball courts, restaurants, sports bar and more.
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People
Pickleball can be played as one person per side (singles) or two (doubles), but doubles is more common. Players stay on a section of the court marked off in halves, similar to tennis.
Players hit the ball back and forth just like tennis or ping pong, over the net. The net is lower than tennis. The ball has to bounce on the other side once after the serve, but for every other hit the ball can bounce one time or no times before you hit it, just like in tennis.
Pickleball paddles can be made of many different materials, such as graphite, carbon fiber, fiberglass, and wood. Different kinds of paddles are used to let different kinds of shots happen, and different people have different preferences. Pickleball balls are made of hard plastic and mainly resemble wiffleballs. They are light and relatively easy to hit. There are different balls for indoor and outdoor pickleball: indoor pickleball usually uses bright yellow balls, but outdoor pickleball uses yellow, orange, or green balls. This is to help contrast the ball more with the surroundings. Pickleball balls can come in pretty much any color, players just want it to contrast whatever background they are playing on.
Lindenwood Courts
The Lindenwood courts are another place relatively close to the FHN area and a great choice if you need lots of space because there are a great amount of courts to play on.
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Very few business owners can say that when people walk into their shop, it’s like walking into a butterstick. However, Debbie Stieferman, the owner of Gooey Louie Gooey Butter Cakes in Creve Coeur feels just that way. The shop is almost completely yellow on the inside, and has been specializing in making different types of gooey butter cakes using Stieferman’s family recipe since 2006.
“I just like to say it’s like five minutes of happy,” Stieferman said. “People come in, it’s a happy time, they get their cake, and they’re set.The big thing is just trying to make it like a little bright spot in somebody’s day.”
Even though pickleball is a mixture of sports, it has its own uniqueness and interesting facts. Pickleball was invented in 1965 by Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum. They came up with the idea one evening using the paddle from ping pong to hit a plastic ball over a badminton net. Pickleball is a funny way to name this sport.
There are a couple different views on how pickleball got its unusual name. The story most told consists of the reasoning that a ‘pickle boat’ in a rowing competition includes the leftover people who were put in the same boat at random. However, in sailing, it refers to the last place boat in a race. Since pickleball uses different aspects of several sports, the first explanation is generally credited to how the sport got its name.
Years after pickleball debuted, it started to gain publicity in 1975, showing up in newspapers and magazines. As pickleball popularity grew, the more people started to play it. As of now pickleball is played by more than 36.5 million people worldwide and is expected to be even more popular in the following years.
Even though the shop is somewhat small, it has a variety of cakes to choose from that can be sold in individual portions such as chocolate chip or caramel snickerdoodle. But the best seller has always been the original gooey butter cake. They also sell seasonal gooey butter cakes such as white chocolate peppermint near Christmas.
“We have different packaging for every holiday,” Stieferman said. “So, if you go to the website you can find Christmas, Thanksgiving, just about any holiday or special occasion.”
Over the years it has been open, the shop has been recognized to have the best gooey butter cake in St. Louis from many different magazines and organizations. It has been featured on the Food Network, Taste of Home magazine, and even on the Today Show.
“It’s the best gooey butter, and you can really only get real gooey butter in St. Louis,” baker Christina Capstick said. “And I think ours is the best.” Organizations and magazines are not the only ones who love this shop, so do the many customers who spread the word of the business. Some have even made it part of their family’s traditions, or come from out of town just to have some.
“I think St. Louisans love to spread the love of St. Louis,” Stieferman said. “And what better way than gooey butter cake?”
Fashion trends are one of the many things that change all year around. Fall fashion and winter fashion are sometimes things that go pretty hand-in-hand. Here are some of the ones for 2023. (by Kaylee Priest)
On chilly, cozy fall days when people want to be cute and still cozy, chunky sweaters are the perfect thing to throw on and can be paired with pretty much any fall or winter outfit with the ability to dress up or down. Chunky sweaters are commonly worn with baggy jeans or some kind of skirt.
“I think chunky sweaters are so cute, they keep me warm and are so easy to style,” sophomore Ava Bax said.
A more alternative take on an everyday piece of clothing, baggy jeans are just a loose-fitted pair of regular jeans giving the “careless, trendy” look to any outfit. They are more commonly worn in winter with UGG boots or some sort of closetoed shoe. In the fall, worn with Converse or sneakers.
“Baggy jeans make me feel more like myself, like I don’t have to live up to the expectations of being lady like,” sophomore Chloe Fiely said.
Sometimes adding the final touch to your outfit is hard to find. Hair bows have seemed to be a more dainty way to add elegance or a more girly look to an outfit. It can be as simple as tying a strand of ribbon up into braids, or one can buy clip-on silk bows from any store, giving an outfit the final touch it needs.
“I think they are cute because they bring out a femine side,” junior Faith Smith said.
Slouchy socks are a longer but typically thicker sock that naturally slouch down to give a careless cozy look to any seasonal outfit. They are currently trendy to wear with things like mini UGG boots, Converse or Birkenstock clogs. As shown in the image, this is a pair of slouchy socks paired with mini UGGs.
“They tie your oufit together perfectly, they keep your feet warm, preventing you from having to put on mutiple layers,” sophomore Ava Bartlett said.
Mini UGG boots, a new take on the classic UGG boot, are the perfect fall or early winter staple since they are not too tall, thick or heavy, pairing great with a pair of leggings or a baggy pair of jeans makes them perfect for a cozy fall outfit.
“Well, I'm pretty short so I think they look way better on me than the super tall ones,” sophomore Mykole Hogge said.
Junior Dani Glenn has been dancing for 12 years at Performing Arts Center (Photos by Ankita Pandurangi)
Glenn learns ballet, modern, lyrical, hip hop, jazz, and some tap dancing.
Glenn’s favorite style of dancing is lyrical because it has a lot of freedom compared to other styles.
“My favorite thing about dancing is getting to express myself and performing,” Glenn said.
Junior Violet Newton eats chicken noodle soup, a meal commonly referred to as a comfort food. (Photo by Faith Smith)
csteed056@g.fhsdschools.org
Comfort food can play a major part in most people’s lives, it can be viewed as something that brings happy memories of childhood, make some people feel good, and also could possibly benefit mental health. Comfort foods can help produce a chemical messenger called dopamine which is released in your brain when you feel any type of pleasure.
“My comfort food would probably be ramen noodles, specifically the chicken ones. I like that it’s warm and I like the taste,” junior Luis Torres said. “Sometimes it’s comforting to eat something warm, I probably eat ramen noodles a couple of times a month, maybe every other week.”
A large percentage of people have comfort foods, some people even claimed they gained this comfort food from their parents cooking, or something their family has passed down.
“My comfort food is kind of random but it’s my mom’s homemade cheesy chicken and rice and I like that my mom doesn’t make it much and when she does it’s more like a surprise,” freshman Payton Baker says.
Comfort foods can also be extremely beneficial to one’s mental health.
According to an article on Vox.com by Raycheal Sugar, comfort foods can help relieve stress. Over time, people have learned that they actually dampen stress hormones.
“I like dill pickles because I like the flavor of it, they are non-fattening so I can eat as many as I want, it’s filling, they come in jars so they are easy to carry around and the pickle juice is good to drink for you, they aren’t expensive and they come with a good amount in each jar,” sophomore Logan Upchurch said.
Scan the QR codes below to find more information about Cat Zen Cafe.
Scan the QR code above to find available reservations at the Cat
Cat Zen Cafe and Lounge looks to find homes for cats and provide a calming environment for customers
by Drew Johnson djohnson440@g.fhsdschools.orgFor Tonya Williams, simply visiting shelters wasn’t enough to advocate for animals. Using her background in social work, Williams applied what she knew about human hospitality to pet care and opened Cat Zen Cafe and Lounge on Main Street in St. Charles.
“I worked in that area [for] close to 20 years helping support people in the community and I’ve always had a love for cats and figured I wanted to switch gears and focus on helping cats find forever-loving homes, just like I’ve done in my profession as a social worker,” Williams said.
Williams’ cat hospitality differs from classic animal shelters. Unlike shelters, cats at the cafe are allowed to stay until they are adopted and are able to roam free in the cafe. Customers can interact with the cats for $8.64 per half-hour or $13.50 per hour.
Scan the QR code above to find important information about visiting the
“Sometimes it would be depressing seeing cats in metal cages looking very sad,” Williams said. “But I know that shelters are doing the best that they can to help cats find homes and so after visiting a different cat cafe, that really inspired the idea to open one because it is an alternative to your typical cat adoption
facility or shelter.”
Williams’ approach to companionship has proven successful. Largely, the cafe averages about 10 adoptions per month.
“We actually just exceeded 100 adoptions,” Williams said. “We’re really excited about that.”
Much of the success has been dependent on the cafe’s vision to prioritize both the customer’s satisfaction and the cat’s comfort.
“We take a lot of pride in creating an aesthetic environment not only for our customers but for our cats,” Williams said. “We’re really big on making sure that our cats are happy, our customers are happy, providing optimal customer service, and really making sure that we have a team of staff and employees here that really care about the well-being of the cats.”
With a large number of cats in the building, it can be challenging to care for each individually. Although the cafe is sometimes only a temporary home, employees like Josie Fenton still make an effort to ensure that all of the cats have the best experience possible.
“Honestly, we’re just trying to make sure that cats that have been through not the best life, have the best life that they can have,” Fenton said. “We’re trying to make things better for as many cats as we can, as much as we can.”
Cats in the cafe are picked in partnership with local rescue shelters to ensure that they will make a good fit for the cafe. Due to the number of people visiting them, energetic and friendly cats are often picked to be in the cafe.
“We work in partnership with our rescues,” Williams said. “They know what this model looks like and what this environment is so they identify cats that are in their care that they think would be a good fit for the cat
Scan below to find a list of cats
cafe. Obviously, if it’s a cat that is extremely timid, extremely shy, or may not get along with other cats or people then that cat wouldn’t necessarily be a good fit to come here. They do a personality check and then we work together to make sure that it’s the right candidate.”
Cats aren’t the only ones taken care of in the cafe, people are too. Although food and beverages are served for patrons, none of it is made in the cafe. Prepackaged baked goods made locally by Sugar Bot Sweet Shop and Sugar and Slice are available for purchase along with a self-serve coffee bar. Due to its size, a kitchen is not able to fit in the cafe.
“We would love to expand so we can have a bigger space or to add a second location,” Williams said. “In those locations, we would like to have a full kitchen where we can offer more food and drink selections.”
The cafe also hosts a variety of special events including yoga, painting and arts and crafts.
“Depending on what it is, yoga, painting with cats, or if they’re coming just to do arts and crafts, they’re coming to do something fun, but in the company of cats, so it’s a little different,” Williams said. “You can sit down and paint on canvas and have a cat sitting in your lap or have a cat purring or rubbing against you. You don’t get that at a typical place where you go and do those activities.”
With a variety of unique events and activities, the employees hope that everyone can find a reason to visit the cafe.
“In general, I think it’s great, especially if you like cats,” Fenton said. “It’s really good to come in and you’ll feel a lot better afterward.”
Below are four simple steps to follow when preparing to adopt a cat in the future (Illustration by Violet Newton)
1: Find futureyour cat
2: Fill out an application
4: Take your new cat home
3: Wait for the application to be approved
Senior Alayna Lohaus went viral last April during prom season for posting a video of her and her boyfriend Ethan McCoy to show off their prom outfits. The video they posted on TikTok ended up getting 1.6 million views and close to 300,000 likes.
“This caused me to gain a lot of followers from TikTtok and Instagram,” Lohaus said. “I still get more views on my videos than I did before depending on what I post.”
Going viral is something someone never really expects to happen. Things people post can blow up at any time even on a drive home.
“I remember we were driving home and I was shocked when I got 5,000 likes, I thought that was a lot, Then it just kept getting more and more, it was crazy,” Lohaus said
As well as Lohaus, senior Aiden Manthey went viral on TikTok for “RKO’ing” senior Sam Wilson at a volleyball game. Famous wrestler Randy Orton was in the stands for this game and during a timeout, they did this famous move in front of him and the crowd went wild.
“I thought this would be a funny idea, so in between sets, me and Sam did it in front of the student section and they went crazy,” Manthey said. “Famous accounts like Barstool, ESPN, Sports Center, House of Highlights, and many others reposted it.”
Senior Parker Smith who recorded and posted the original video gained many followers from it and got 177,100 views and 30,000 likes.
“It was pretty cool because I didn’t really expect it to go that viral. I kind of thought it would be funny and it went way more viral than I thought because we saw news articles about it,” Wilson said.
It’s many peoples dream to go viral on social media, but for senior Mason Mitchell, his fame came from his dad. Mitchell posted a video at a Pitbull concert back in September of 2022 of his dad dressed as pitbull posing with fans. Since Mitchells dad is an extreme look-alike of Pitbull, it gained lots of attention on TikTok, getting 17.8 Million views.
“I was expecting to get some views but I did not expect it to get as many views and likes as it did,” Mitchell said.
Para Sirnz Yurihowards time in the states hasn’t been easy and he’s had to overcome many hardships and obstacles before he became a special education para at North
by Chase Pray praychase315@gmail.comBeing on your own in a place where you have no friends and family to rely on seems like something straight out of a nightmare.
For para Sirnz Yurihoward, this has been his life since he was a teenager. Originally from Cameroon, Africa, Yurihoward found comfort in playing basketball and hit a lucky break when he was 15.
“When I was 15, a scout actually came and saw me play and they liked me so much they offered me a $50,000 scholarship,” Yurihoward said. “The catch was it was for a boarding school in California that was a few hours away from LA.”
With dreams of eventually playing in the NBA, Yurihoward gladly accepted the scholarship and moved across the globe to an unfamiliar land miles and miles away from any friends and family that he had. Life in the states however was not how Yurihoward imagined it would be.
Yurihoward was one of the only African American students at the boarding school
MUSIC
Scan the QR code below to check out SiRNz Records on Instagram.
so he constantly felt like an outcast from the rest of the students and teachers there. In a school where people tended to stick around people with similar backgrounds as themselves, he often found himself alone. To make matters worse, once he graduated he had nowhere to go and was stuck in LA with no degree and no family to rely on.
“I was in an environment where everyone looked different than me and people tended to stay with people who looked like them,” Yurihoward said. “After I graduated, I realized I had nowhere to go and the school abandoned me so I’d say my journey in the US was going very rough so far.”
Yurihoward realized he had two choices; he could either give up and likely live the rest of his life stuck in an environment where he had no idea what his purpose was or he could persevere and pursue other things he was passionate about. Yurihoward realized that while his dream of playing in the NBA was likely too far gone, his love for the sport of basketball had him looking for ways he could help youth chase the dream that he
once had. Yurihoward decided that the best way he could achieve this was to become a trainer.
“When I used to play basketball overseas, I ended up having a lot of injuries so I decided to stop playing and to start coaching those who wanted my help,” Yurihoward said. “Unfortunately, I had to have another surgery so I don’t know if I will still continue coaching because I’m at a point in my life where I’m content if I never play basketball again.”
With his basketball hopes dashed, Yurihoward started focusing his attention on another one of his passions, creating music. Going by “SiRNz Records” Yurihoward would begin creating his own music with the goal of helping inspire those going through rough times like the ones he was experiencing.
“A lot of people are angry without really knowing why they’re angry and I make my music to help them understand it’s okay to be angry and that everything is going to be okay,” Yurihoward said.
After over 12 years in LA, Yurihoward believed he wasn’t achieving his true calling in life. That’s when he decided that maybe it was time for a change of scenery and moved to Missouri. Yurihoward has lived his life trying to help others succeed and believed that moving to an area like Saint Charles would help him better achieve that goal.
“I noticed I wasn’t doing what my calling on this Earth is and that’s helping the youth,” Yurihoward said. “I had a lot of hardships in LA and I hoped that I could start my life over
with a change of scenery.”
After arriving in Missouri, Yurihoward applied for a job as a special education para at FHN. Working in a high school environment gives him an opportunity to help out the youth in ways that he wished he had when he was their age.
“I never really had a childhood,” Yurihoward said. “So, I wanted to help those students like me and when I walk through the halls of North and see so many smiling faces and people who look up to me, it makes me realize I made something out of myself and it makes me smile.”
Yurihoward doesn’t know what his future holds, but he wants to live his life helping others wherever he can, whether it’s from his coaching, his work at North or through his music. He’s learned through all of his hardships in his life that nobody is ever at a point of non-redemption.
“I love God so much and I want to use the gifts that he has given me to help others succeed,” Yurihoward said. “I wake everyday looking forward to helping all these beautiful kids and I just wish for blessings for everyone.”
If something piqued your interest in Sirnz Yurihoward’s story, scan the QR codes below to learn more.
Student Success
Learn more about how to support the success of international students.
Look into the history of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
If making music sounds interesting, check out the link below.
Play Ball
Ten tips on how to start playing basketball.
Get Recruited
Advice from NCSA sports on how to get recruited for Men’s college basketball.
Stanley water bottles have been made more popular in recent years despite having been around for over a century. The shift in branding from a durable camping supply to a stylish on-the-go water bottle leads to this product becoming more of a lifestyle than a cup.
“Something cute makes me use it more, and I drink more water because it’s cute,” sophomore Reagan Wilson said.
The water bottles are made to be durable and keep the contents inside at the desired temperature, while also being fashionable. Although they are much more expensive than a normal, plastic water bottle, many who own one believe that the price is well worth it.
“I don’t like to carry water bottles, and it has a handle so I can carry the handle,” freshman Julia Kreifels said. “It keeps my water cool.”
However, the Stanley doesn’t come without its problems. The maintenance for these cups is more than a normal water bottle would require. For some of the Stanley products, rice and distilled white vinegar are recommended for the cleaning process. This requires more planning, time and effort that many people would prefer not to deal with.
“You’ve got to take so many pieces off to fully clean it, like on the lid,” Slunaker said. “There’s videos where people are taking the cups apart and have had mold growing.”
The amount of water it holds can be a positive quality, but when on-thego, the weight can be a drawback for some. The popular Stanley Tumbler holds 1.2 liters of liquid and without water, weighs 635 grams. To put this into perspective, the weight of a plastic Dasani water bottle is about 498 grams with water.
“You could easily get a water bottle that holds close to that amount, and just fill it up more without having to carry around that super massive, heavy, thing,” Slunaker said.
Being royalty at a high school dance is an experience that very few people get to have. Back in 2018, when math teacher Rachel Pirrone went to North, she was one of the few students who had the opportunity to be a part of that year’s Snowcoming court. After Pirrone returned to North as a teacher, she decided to become a STUCO sponsor alongside Rowan Pugh. By taking this position, Pirrone is now responsible for running all of the courts at school dances.
“I think it’s super fun to help run these types of things in STUCO so I can help our students have good experiences in high school,” Pirrone said. “When I was on court I was definitely shocked but extremely grateful and I enjoy watching some students at North getting to have that experience as well.”
Pirrone and Pugh help coach those on court feel more comfortable prior to their big day by walking them step by step through the process they will be going through.
The first crochet pattern ever created was around as early as 1829 and junior Ava Richmann is still using those techniques today.
“I crochet because it’s a way of coping for me and it’s very relaxing plus I like to craft. I do consider it more of a hobby than a business, I tried to do a business but experienced burn outs frequently,” Richmann said.
Richmann has been crocheting since her freshman year and is self taught. She continues to crochet because it’s fun and she loves the community.
“I hyperfocus a lot so I crochet on and off and I do like to do it quite often until I have a burn out and eventually go back to it a
while after,” Richmann said.
There are over 30 different crochet styles and all of them are unique and different. Richmann’s favorite stitch is treble but she mostly uses a double stitch. She crochets a variety of different things, such as blankets and tops, but her favorite has to be her blue hat she’s made or her green checkered bag.
“My step sister inspired me to crochet because she started doing it before me and I thought it would be cool,” Richmann says.
Richmann continues to crochet and inspire people with her creativity, as well as encourage people to create art themselves. She has taught many other students and even a teacher how to crochet successfully and she says she enjoys teaching others.
“I enjoy helping others. I love to crochet and want to teach others how to do the craft,” Richmann said.
Senior Torie Montgomery was one of the homecoming queen finalists this year and had the opportunity to walk on the field during the homecoming football game this year. Montgomery credits Pirrone’s guidance as one of the biggest factors that made her feel more comfortable.
“I felt more comfortable this year because we were walked through the motions on what we would do and that didn’t happen when I was on court my sophomore year so I definitely felt more prepared,” Montgomery said.
Pirrone loved her time in high school so much that in 2021 she returned to North as a math teacher. Pirrone wants to help students have the same experiences that she was able to have back when she was in high school.
“I had a lot of people in my corner when I won and it makes me happy to help students who were like me make life long memories,” Pirrone said.
Junior Colin Smith created a new club at FHN this year, Smith created this club to organize and unite the clubs and club leaders, and create a good form of communication throughout the clubs.
“I feel like we just lacked communication and kids that were in multiple clubs weren’t able to attend certain meetings because the clubs didn’t talk to each other, so I just wanted to fix that problem, and just create a sense of unity,” Smith said.
Although they don’t currently have a sponsor for this club, Jordyn Kiel has helped a lot with the production and running of this club. The attendance for meetings has still been good and the meetings run smoothly. In meetings they discuss things about the school and talk about what and when each of the clubs upcoming events and meetings are. Smith is very passionate about the values about this club and its purpose.
“I’ve always just thrived on the sense of communicating and organizing, and being that we really didn’t have one big communication source or any sense of organization for all the clubs really inspired me to get that done,” Smith said. (Brief by Patricia Fechter)
Senior Sydney Staten is known among her family and friends for her jewelry making skills. From bracelets to necklaces, she produces her own hand-made items that she wears herself.
“I would try to go find jewelry in stores and they wouldn’t have the kind that I wanted,” Staten said. “It would have some features that I liked but some that I didn’t like and they’d always be kind of expensive for the ones I did like, so I just decided to make my own.”
During the past year that she has been making her own jewelry, she has gone through trial and error on what works and what doesn’t. She came across an issue when making some of her items. Many who have made beaded bracelets or necklaces in their lives know that beads are notoriously hard to handle, but Staten was able to find a solution
Nate Grey is a sophomore who has come to learn how to create his own computers. As of now, he has created a gaming computer for himself as it was cheaper to make it then buying it. He also made one for his father as an upgrade to what he previously had.
“A solid beginner PC can be $800 and it can go all the way up past $3,000, it’s really just up to what you wanna spend,” Grey said.
Grey would use his winter and fall breaks and any other spare time researching Youtube tutorials with his friends on the best methods. His method involves putting together all the computer’s components and then putting it into its case. As he found his way around making the computers he learned a few tips along the way.
“Try not to get scammed and buy from reliable sites,” Grey said. “Make sure you have a good idea of what you wanna do and how much you wanna spend.”
Grey has also moved on to building other projects including RC cars which are cars controlled by radio and has also moved towards parts for cars, specifically motors.
“You pretty much just have to put it all together and hope it turns on,” Grey said.
(Brief by Miranda Fabian)
that made the process of using them a little bit easier.
“When I first started holding the other end of the string, I would just tape it to my desk and then put the beads on one at a time,” Staten said. “Now I just put them in this little container that I have and I put them on one by one still, but the container holds it in a way where they don’t slip off and I don’t have to hold the other end or tape it down.”
Even though she loves making them, Staten doesn’t only limit herself to bracelets. She makes different types of necklaces, some of which hold crystals.
“I weave the string together to make a pattern to hold the crystal,” Staten said. “I can take them out and replace them.”
Although she doesn’t sell any right now, her products may be sold on a site like Etsy in the future. At the moment, however, she is content with keeping this skill a hobby, and often creates and layers her jewelry to go with the colors of whatever outfit she is wearing.
“[I like] to make bracelets just because of the noise they make,” Staten said. “Just being able to style them with all my outfits because I make a lot of neutral color bracelets and jewelry.”
Some students may move around because of their parent’s jobs, however, most don’t move out of the country. Because of her father’s job, freshman Quinn Marable moved to France in 2014 and lived there for three years.
“There were a lot of cultural differences,” Marable said. “There was also a lot of people from other countries there.”
She lived in a small village called Valbonne, and went to an international school which taught classes in multiple languages.
“When I first moved there, my sisters and I, we didn’t speak French,” Marable said. “But we went to an international school. They would speak French and English from the teachers, so we just kind of learned from going.”
After living there for some time, Marable does not only want to travel more, but recommends traveling internationally to others as well.
“I think it’s a really good experience to have, and I think it really changes the way you see things a lot,” Marable said. (Brief by Sadie Ortmeyer)
Find all five Norms, one is in each of the crowd photos of different events from the school (Illustration by Naomi VanDyne)
Interested in buying photos of events without the watermark?
(Photo by Salem Cotton)
(Photo by Alayna Clement)
(Photo by Mallory Barker)
Hey FHN, remember to watch the Knightly Show on the FHNtoday YouTube channel or on FHNtoday.com. The show covers everything from sports, to video game reviews and podcast promos, to featuring local business and school events. We also cover Humans of FHN, like a video we have out today covering a figure skater, Ava Bax. We drop the show every Tuesday at 10 a.m on our Youtube. So to keep up with the FHN community, be sure to check out the latest episode of the Knightly Show and keep up with the FHNtoday YouTube channel.
Check out next week’s show on Dec. 5 to see content like an exclusive look at the
FASHION HISTORY 1
In her debuting podcast, Emily Clausner talks about how fashion has changed throughout history and the changes that have occured.
new school and a feature on the FHN book club. Also watch if you are interested in learning about philosophy and the theory of absurdism, be sure to check out the Knightly Show because we have an explainer video covering that topic. If you like coffee or Main Street you’ll definitely like this segment of the Knightly Show because we have a story covering the Peace Love Coffee shop on Main Street. For weekly awesome content like this, make sure to check out the Knightly show.
NATE AND BEN
Ben Bartels and Nathan Smith discuss the NFL, UFC, Olympics and everything inbetween in the first episode of their brand new podcast.
FASHION HISTORY 2
In this episode of Fashion History Updates Emily Clausner goes over how dresses have changed over the years.
Student Superpowers
FHN students share their favorite superpowers.
“My favorite superpower is teleportation.”
-Olivia Abeln, 9
“My favorite superpower is breathing underwater.”
-Makayla Howell, 9
“My favorite superpower is mindreading.”
-Kailyn Curtis, 10
“My favorite superpower is time travel.”
- Addie Butler, 11
“My favorite superpower is mindreading.”
- Anne Ledbetter, math teacher
Below are the top ten superpowers ranked by usefulness, power and overall greatness. Having superhuman abilities of any sort would no doubt help with everyday activities as well as abstract hobbies. However, the list of powers below stand out above the rest (Content by Riley Jensen)
By far the most useful superpower, time control allows its holder to not only pause time but also wind it forward or backwards. With this unique ability, past mistakes could be erased and impossible things could be accomplished.
4
Moving things with only brain power and concentration would help everyone out a great deal, especially lazy people.
“I can be lazy and I don’t have to get up.”
-Rani Weidner, 10
6
Similar to flight, this power can help with transportation. Being able to get from one place to another in the blink of an eye could also be of use when escaping tricky situations.
“I like escaping. I like being able to be home then poof. I wouldn’t even need a car. It would solve all my problems.”
-Asher Kloepper, 10
8
Though reading people’s minds could be helpful in the case of curiosity, it could be quite annoying. Hearing everyone’s thoughts all the time could drive anyone insane.
2
9
Everyone has had the desire to soar in the air like a bird at some point in time. Flight can give someone the freedom to explore the world and be high in the sky without the need for transportation or money.
“I’ve always wanted to fly, I could get places quicker.”
-Jennifer Martin, math teacher
This superpower, although extremely powerful, is not for everybody. Living forever is great for visionaries who want to grow to see the end of the world, but loving and losing so many people would eventually crush one’s dreams.
3
The idea of being able to turn into something or someone else is often overlooked. There are many things that could be accomplished with this ability, such as getting out of trouble or seeing the world through someone else’s eyes.
5
Escaping without a trace would come in handy in many situations, even though not all of them are of good morals. Though invisibility can be extremely helpful in select situations, it’s not as flashy or as powerful as the top four.
“I could sneak up on people and literally just go anywhere.”
-Dani Glenn, 11
10
Super speed is one of the most generic but also one of the most valuable superpowers. However, it’s abilities don’t really reach beyond being flashy and making it’s holder great at sports.
This commonly seen power isn’t so super anymore. As people evolve, more and more people are becoming incredibly strong. However, this primary power still deserves to be on the list.
On Sept. 6, senior Liza Burgos set a team season low on a 9-hole course at 37 strokes. Also on Oct. 2, Burgos set another team season low on a 18hole course at 79 strokes.
“It was very exciting getting the lowest scores for the season, but not just in comparison to the team,” Burgos said. “I was more excited that I had beat my own personal best by a lot of strokes because I have put in a lot of hard work over the years, and it finally started to reflect in my scores.”
The Knight’s golf team ended their season Oct. 9, finishing third in districts and sending three golfers, senior Cassie Hodgkins, junior Alyssa Perkins and Burgos, to state. (Brief by Carter Stover)
The boys swim season came to a wrap on Nov. 10, with one diver and eight going to state including seniors Elias Avila, Andrew Lee and Om Nair.
Edward Lee finished 11th place for the 100 butterfly, Avila in 10th for the 200 IM and 13th for 100 backstroke.
Logan Scott placed 20th for diving and the 400 freestyle relay team consisting of Avila, Edward, Andrew and Huntington Everheart got 27th.
The relay team broke a school record with a time of 1:44:04.
“It was the strongest season I’ve had and we met our ultimate goal,” Edward said. “Many seniors are leaving though which means we will have to work even harder.” (Brief by Elise Grimshaw)
The girls tennis season ended with a record of 7-9 and they had a fifth place finish at the GAC South tournament where four girls medaled.
“This team made me so proud,” coach Samantha Soltysiak said. “They worked so hard all season long.”
The girls tennis season ended on Oct. 4 with a tough loss against Francis Howell High 5-0.
“It was not the best day,” senior Jayati Karre said. “But I had a really fun season with my team.”
The team has five seniors who played their final season of tennis. “It was a fun season, I am really going to miss it,” Karre said. “I will miss playing with the team and having fun with them.” (Brief by Kevin McGuire)
During one of the last games of the season, junior Kennedy Jones broke the school record for most blocks during a season. The previous record was 110, but it now stands at 122.
“It felt really good [to break the record] because there was a lot of support from the parents, managers and my teammates,” Jones said.
The varsity girl’s volleyball season ended on Oct.18 after a loss against Westminster, resulting in a season record of 8-20-3.
“It was not the outcome we wanted, but we saw many good things in that game and our seniors played their hearts out,” Assistant Coach Danielle Dagenais said. (Brief by Alayna Lohaus)
The 2023 cross country season ended for FHN on Oct. 28 at their district meet at Sioux Passage Park. This was a successful meet, as 12 runners ran a personal best time for the season.
“We had a lot of PRs that day, but overall we really just improved as a team,” sophomore Colin McGuire said. “We pushed through a hard race and overall had a great meet.”
Districts also produced PRs for both the boys and girls leaders, juniors Kevin McGuire and Madeline Dustin. Kevin finished with a time of 17:54, with Dustin running a 21:29. Both runners look to continue into their senior seasons. (Brief by Braeden Kettinger)
Seniors share their experience with sports for the duration of their high school careers by
Maahin Fatima mfatima007@g.fhsdschools.orgStarting high school is difficult for most students. For some it can be adjusting to a new school and for others it can be the struggle of finding their people.
Seniors felt that their team was the best part of the season, rather than the sport itself. They loved how their sport gave them a community of people and new friendships.
As a multi-sport athlete, senior Evie Kraus has been playing softball and basketball at FHN since her freshman year. Evie scored over 10 points in multiple basketball games to being a phenomenal pitcher during the season and at softball state for the past two years.
“For basketball, another fun tradition we have is our team photoshoot,” Kraus said, “We come in after school and basically spend the whole night together just taking a bunch of pictures and having a fun time.”
Kraus is a multi-sport athlete and this winter season will be her last high school sports season. Throughout the years, Kraus would always be eager for her season to begin because they just didn’t make her a better athlete.
“My sports have taught me a lot of life lessons about perseverance and hardwork,” Kraus said.
From participating in business classes to playing tennis, FBLA president and senior Riya Siddabattula concluded her last tennis season of high school. The girls tennis season started early in the fall and is the first fall sport to end.
“Every year our team’s Black and Gold Day tradition is to have our annual basket making
FHN’s sixth game of the season was against FHC and just like the year before, North beat Central 42-21 with one point off for each team to match the scores from last year. North ended their season on Oct. 27 with a loss against Liberty in their first district game. The Knights season started off very strong with a 3-2 record.
“The whole season was filled with ups and downs, we had a lot of injuries that affected our game play and it really just brought down the whole team,” senior Derrick Warren said. The team ended the season with record of 3-7 and Warren had 9 touchdowns and 762 yards. (Brief by Luis Escobar)
to sell raffles,” Siddabattula said.
Over the four years Siddabattula has played tennis, she claims to have enjoy every moment of it.
“Getting an ace on my serve so that my opponent is unable to receive it, therefore they can’t hit the ball back, I also love hitting overheads,” Siddabattula said.
Aside from playing the actual game, Siddabattula has learned a lot from being on the tennis team.
“I got to see how a team works together and forms bonds and I have developed a lot of leadership skills especially my senior year,” Siddabattula said.
The biggest thing that brings Victoria Montgomery joy is swimming, especially the 100 backstroke event. Montgomery is going to begin her final swim season of her high school career. The whole swim team is close knit and they have a lot of great memories together.
“My favorite and most funny memory was from freshman year when we were doing dryland on the pool deck and there was a random fruit snack on the pool deck by the kids’ pool and Cassie Hodgkins ate it,” Montgomery said.
Along with having fun at swim, Montgomery has learned a lot.
“Swim has made me find confidence in a different way and it teaches me a lot of leadership skills that I love,” Montgomery said.
Montgomery has for advice for anyone thinking about starting a sport.
“Just do it, it doesn’t matter in the long run as long as you’re having fun with it,” Montgomery said.
The FHN girls softball team went into the playoffs with a 12-16 record. Starting off against Pattonville and beating them 16-1 helped to gain confidence going into the next round. The momentum carried when they beat Ritenour 9-3. With one game left to win districts, they played rival FHC. Coach Freedline made the decision to play freshman Lohnes at pitcher who ultimately led her team to a 10-8 win in the final inning of the game. They ended up losing to Troy Buchanan in their next game.
“I’m glad I got the opportunity to play in a big game like the district final,” Lohnes said. “It was really fun.” (Brief by Jackson Fifer)
In the first round of districts, the Knights faced off against Pattonville High School which ended with a shutout win for the Knights.
“It was a very fun game to play in,” sophomore Carson Howard said. “It was nice to get to score some more goals this time to put away the win.”
The Knights then moved onto the second round of districts and went out losing 1-0 in a hard fought battle to the John Burroughs Bombers.
The team ended with a record of 14-5 and at the beginning of the season, ended up with a record breaking 6-0 winning record. Along with the 6-0 record, the Knights had a total of 12 seniors. (Brief by Morgan Smith)
Senior Hannah Button smiles at her teammates after competing in a swim meet against St. Charles West. Button has been a swimmer at FHN for the past two years and is about to start her third year on the team. She is also a lifeguard at the Rec-Plex and swims for fun outside of the school environment. (File Photo)
Time at the Rec-Plex is well spent for girls swimmer Hannah Button. Button has been working during the summer as a lifeguard as well as utilizing her free access to the pool to help keep in shape for the upcoming swim season. Her main goal of practicing was to improve upon the styles of swim that she struggled with.
Rec-Plex Information
Scan the QR code below to learn how to become a staff member at the Rec-Plex.
“One of the biggest struggles was a bunch of the technique stuff, like flip turns,” senior Button said. “And just all of the strokes, like I know how to do freestyle, but hitting down butterfly and breaststroke and backstroke.”
Her fall season was also spent on FAST, the Flyer Aquatic Swim Team.
“I like having a coach to push me [at FAST] because if I had to practice by myself and do my own practices and everything, I wouldn’t push myself and keep myself on those time intervals and going as fast as I can,” Button said.
Last season, Button had a personal record of 33.70 seconds in the 50m freestyle.
“I’m probably just looking to drop all my times and see our team come together more this year,” Button said.
Coach of the girls swim team Rowan Pugh is looking forward to Button’s start of the season and seeing her contribute to the team score.
“She is definitely one of our key players on our relay,” Pugh said, “Without her on that relay, we wouldn’t make any of our times that we need to.”
Pugh is also excited at the thought of Button putting in the extra effort for the upcoming season.
“Oh, I’m so excited because they were so close last year to being able to compete at state,” Pugh said. “I feel like if we have Hannah’s extra dedication and practice times that it only takes a second or two to drop and be able to also drop time and place.”
Grapplers look to improve upon their previous season and return back to state
by Braeden Kettinger bkettinger509@g.fhsdschools.orgWhenbuilding a team in any sport, a good foundation is key to compete at a high level. It’s a basis for striving for success. This may be great coaching, great players, or in the case of FHN’s wrestling team, both. FHN had six wrestlers qualify for state last season, four of which are returning for this season. When looking for a great foundation, North has as good as any.
“Players of that caliber make it a lot easier for sure,” coach Christopher Brown, who has had 30+ wrestlers qualify for state during his 23-year tenure as head coach, said. “When players are constantly medaling and constantly succeeding, it definitely helps the growth of the team.”
In building a great wrestling team, coaches walk a fine line, as well as build up each individual player to be great in such an individual sport. Coaches also need to
Last Seasons Stats
Scan the code below to view a wrestling recap about the previous season.
create a unity between the team. In each competition or meet, wrestlers are alone, but in practice, they have their support system and team to grow as a player.
“Wrestling is definitely an individual sport, but we build up together,” senior DJ Dillon, who wrestles at 150 lbs, said. “As leaders on the team, we lead the warmups and are looked up to by underclassmen.”
Along with striving for success, it can be equally as important to find great leaders. A coach’s voice is pivotal for a player’s development, but so is a player that their peers can look up to. A fellow player’s voice can resonate more with a player when receiving critiques. Dillon has done this quite well during this time wrestling at FHN.
“I think making state has given me a certain level of authority,” DJ said. “On top of that because my teammates feel like they can ask me for help if they need it.”
A great example of this is Dillon’s
relationship with his younger brother, Cole Dillon. Cole, a sophomore at FHN, was also a state qualifier last season at 120 lbs. Cole has wrestled nearly his whole life, beginning when he was six years old. This has been an opportunity for the brothers to become very close, spending countless hours together. DJ has valued the opportunity to compete with his brother very much.
“My favorite part is cheering him on because his match is before mine usually so I can cheer him on,” DJ said. “My match will be up shortly after so I feel like it is motivating in a way and going to state with him is cool because not many people get to have that experience so it’s unique and I know that our family is proud of us.”
Cole has a similar experience, although being the younger of the brothers, he definitely has a different outlook on their wrestling relationship.
“Wrestling with my brother is really fun,” Cole said. “It definitely will be a lot different next year with him leaving for college but he is a great supporter and helps out the team and it’s just fun to have him there with me.”
Being as successful as the Dillons have
Senior DJ Dillon wins his wrestling match at FHN against the Troy Buchanan Trojans on Dec. 14, 2022. The Knights ended up losing to the Trojans 46-36. (File photo)
Over the summer, the girls varsity basketball team traveled to Branson in order to compete with other teams from different states, from June 7-9. This gave them the opportunity to compete with other teams as well as grow as a team.
“The whole point of the trip was for team bonding and to grow even closer together so we could have an even better team the following year,” senior Alicia Hunn said. “We were able to have fun while playing and get better. One of my favorite memories from the trip is going go-kart racing with the whole team. It was so fun to see all the girls plus the coaches laughing and having fun together. It was also funny to see that all of us are just as competitive outside of basketball too.”
been in their wrestling career, they have also gotten the opportunity to learn quite a few life lessons and learn about themselves through wrestling.
“Wrestling has definitely taught me a lot,” Cole said. “It’s taught me to be a good sport in everything I do and have discipline in everything as well.”
DJ and Cole have been leading the team in preparation for the season with open mats and off-season workouts, looking forward to the winter. This was not without difficulty, as Cole sprained his ankle prior to the season, playing football.
“With the sprained ankle, I just have tried to relax and get back to 100 percent while still trying to be a good leader for my teammates.” Cole said.
Looking ahead, this season is an emotional one for DJ, as this will be his last wrestling, as he plans to only play football in college.
“After this season, I plan to only focus on football,” DJ said. “I hope to make this a really great season.”
The team competed at Licking Middle and High School and played in a seven-game series. They made it to the championships but ended up losing. Since the competition was different, communication with each other was vital, as well as utilizing each individual’s skills.
“It is very important because the game can’t be all on one person with only one person working,” sophomore Morgan Smith said. “I think communication is absolutely key in those games because when you get tired it gets really hard, so I think communication really helps out with that.”
Coaches also help the players stay connected when playing, while also encouraging and motivating them during competitive and strenuous games.
‘Coach [Rampley] is an amazing coach,” Hunn, who plays guard, said. “She pushes us to do our best and not give up. She’s tough on us and sometimes makes us run a lot, but she’s doing it because she wants us to be the best team we can be. And I think having a coach that wants to see us get better is really good for our team.”
Check out the QR code below to see a huge comeback in sports history that influenced Kettinger.
For sports fans, there is no greater despair than your favorite team losing. They don’t show up in the big game. They choke a lead. They can’t hold on. It sucks. We’ve all been there. In my life, some of the most disappointing moments have come from a team that, in all reality, I have zero connection with. Many nights have been ruined over something I had zero control over. In the same respect, I have had some of my happiest times watching my team. When they finally do make the big play. They make a comeback. These emotional rollercoasters have also been all so pivotal to who I am as a person. The highs are great. The fun of a win streak can carry you through a tough week. When your team is winning, there isn’t a better feeling in the world. With all things though, it isn’t always easy. Teams don’t go undefeated every season. The highest high can become the lowest low very quickly. This is an important lesson. You can’t win every game. In the past, I have let losses tear me down. What I’ve learned is that a win has no value without the loss. If a team won every game, they would no meaning. The feeling you get when you lose fuels the winning fire. Along with fueling the fire, you learn the most from a loss. It’s hard to reflect when everything is going right. Some of the of the greatest gains stem off of the biggest losses. A loss opens your lens and truly allows you to grow. Now, whenever I am watching my team, I don’t let my emotions get the best of me. Sure, it’s easy to get carried away. There are definitely still times that I can overreact. The difference is when they lose, I know that the win is following suit. When they lose, they can get better.
Bollinger brothers step up to lead varsity team for the upcoming basketball season
by Carter Stover cstover092@g.fhsdschools.orgOne can become a leader in many different ways. Senior Isaac and sophomore Elijah Bollinger are two varsity basketball returners. Elijah has been playing since second grade and Isaac has since third grade. Both players have a lot of experience under their belt. Being the two returners, they now step into more of a leadership role.
“There’s only two returning varsity players so me and my brother will try to be the leaders,” Elijah said.
With already having past varsity experience these two will be able to share their light with their teammates.
“I’ll be able to pass it on to my teammates who didn’t play varsity last year and I’m just trying to give them some knowledge to benefit themselves and the team,” Elijah said. They have been able to get involved in the program by partaking in open gyms hosted by coach Larry Green. These open gyms have been tough to get the boys ready for the upcoming season. The Bollingers enjoy the way they have been run this offseason.
“A lot harder than it was last year,” Elijah said. “I think the coach is really stepping it up and taking it a bit more serious.”
Open gyms are a way for high school programs to benefit the program and get them ready for the upcoming season. Isaac believes that these open gyms will play a big factor benefiting them for the upcoming season.
Elijahs 22/23 Stats
Check out the QR code below to see sophomore Elijah Bollinger’s stats from last season.
Isaac’s 22/23 Stats
Check out the QR code below to see senior Isaac Bollinger’s stats from last season.
“Since the open gyms got the players in I think we will have a lot more stamina and be able to run for a lot longer and be in good shape,” Isaac said.
Since the open gyms got the players in such good shape it will benefit them against teams that are out of shape.
“We will be in a lot better shape than a lot of other teams and we will be a lot more prepared,” Elijah said.
Both the Bollingers are excited for the season and playing games with this newer team. Isaac believes that the team has been able to build up chemistry in a couple different ways.
“I think a lot of the players last year played on JV together and we have been doing a lot of the workouts which has helped build chemistry,” Isaac said.
Elijah believes this chemistry will help them be able to win more games this year.
“We are all so young now because all the past seniors are gone and we will all know each other and are good friends which will benefit us on the court,” Elijah said. “We will have a lot more determination and everyone is going to want to win more and play together.”
Brothers Elijah and Isaac Bollinger high-five during a basketball practice on Nov. 13. (Photo by Payton Johnston)
WHY SHOULD I BUY A YEARBOOK? We’ll tell the whole story in this yearbook. It’s always our goal to document the people, things, events and stories that make a school year unique and special-- this year is no exception and we have special plans to celebrate the final year in the current building. We’ll feature students, clubs, academics, sports and so much more. Purchase yours and celebrate “Just one Last” year in this building.
HOW MUCH DOES THE YEARBOOK COST?
The book is currently $60 and is the LOWEST price it will be until Jan. 1 when it increases to $70. Don’t miss your chance to get yours for this price while you can!
CLICK HERE TO SEE IF YOU HAVE PURCHASED YOURS YET:
HOW DO I BUY MY 2024 YEARBOOK? You can purchase your yearbook in THREE different ways.
1. ONLINE - You can order online now by visiting the link or scanning the QR code above.
2. IN PERSON - At this year’s registration dates or at any time throughout the school year, you can bring cash or a check (written out to FHN) in person. We’ll have a table at registration, or you can drop an order form and payment off in room 131 or the main office during school hours once school begins.
3. BY MAIL - You can mail in the attached order form with your payment straight to FHN.
FHN Yearbook
2549 Hackmann Rd. St. Charles, MO 63303
QUESTIONS? Contact yearbook adviser Jordyn Kiel at 636-851-5048 or jckiel@g.fhsdschools.org.
Reminiscing on a childhood pet and the lessons learned from her protection
he was our fur-faced-fluffin’-barker with a wigger-wagger.
At least, that’s what my dad and I called her after hearing the phrase in a book. She was the kind of dog to bark at the wind. She would be the culprit behind my family stepping on chewed up Nylabones that would feel like stepping on Legos. Long bat ears and all, Holly was my first dog and greatest protector.
We picked her out of a litter of German Shepherds. Holly’s jet-black coat and lovable face made her a stand-out to be the perfect choice for a family of three with a five-yearold daughter. She was a guard-dog first and foremost. She didn’t like cuddles, wouldn’t lay down with you and certainly wouldn’t let you have friends over without scaring them a little first. Her territorial behavior often made me wonder why I couldn’t have a dog that liked people or cuddles.
Holly enjoyed many typical dog activities like going for walks, playing with her ball and getting covered in mud from the creek in our backyard. We would go for long walks and bike rides with her on the Katy Trail and she loved hamburgers from McDonald’s. However, she couldn’t keep up with us forever and soon her light and energy began to fade. Like what happens to many German Shepherds, she developed hip and elbow Dysplasia which limited her ability to walk, run, sit and get back up. Eventually, she couldn’t control her bladder and we would wake up to messes in the morning. She became confined to the hardwood-floored kitchen where her messes would be easier to clean up. She couldn’t enjoy doing the things she loved to do and her quality of life was
deteriorating.
It was a rainy day in June when we went for our last McDonald’s hamburger. I cried as I handed the cashier my money knowing we had made the decision to put her down the next day. I sat on the porch of my house watching her enjoy the meal she loved most.
Holly barked at a couple walking past our house and I wondered how I could have ever wanted anything other than my guard dog. She always protected me and while I always wanted her to have been more affectionate, I learned that her way of showing affection was by protecting her family.
On her last day, Holly hopped
Mental health Tips for the loss of a pet
Scan the QR code for six mental health tips to cope with the loss of a pet.
Let’s be honest. Who actually eats breakfast before school? You wake up at the crack of dawn after getting a maximum of six hours of sleep, you throw some clothes on, wash your face if you are feeling really fancy, and by the time you feel remotely ready to set foot in school, you’ve already brushed your teeth and there is not nearly enough time to wash out the toothpaste taste in order to not throw up your orange juice.
Every adult around will tell you just how oh so important breakfast is but… how important is it really? The answer is not at all, maybe it’s important for those who have the privilege of leaving their house after 6 a.m. But for the average high school student, it’s less important than getting ready and enacting proper hygiene for the day ahead.
Pet Grief Chat Room
Scan the QR code to access a chat room for people trying to cope with the loss of
Arch Animal Hospital West
Scan the QR code to view the Arch Animal Hospital website.
Breakfast is important. Although this completely contradicts the previous statement that every meal of the day is important. However, the breakfast you are most likely eating isn’t important. A small pastry or granola bar isn’t nutritious in any way, unless you are eating a hearty and balanced breakfast, it’s a worse start to your day than no breakfast at all.
Students could, in theory, wake up earlier allowing them to have more time towards breakfast. But when faced with the whirlwind of homework, extracurricular activities, friendships, relationships and family time, getting to bed early can be quite a difficult task. Not everyone has the chance to eat a healthy breakfast every morning, especially if they are leaving at 6:30 for a day at school.
It’s important to recognize that eating a healthy and nourishing breakfast is not just about caloric intake but about cultivating a habit of self-care. In the end, the importance of breakfast really boils down to personal choices and circumstances. For some the morning is a hectic race against the clock, making it hard to prioritize a substantial breakfast. Making breakfast the last to-do on the list.
It’s strange that such a crowded neighborhood could sound so quiet during the most wonderful time of the year. What’s even stranger is that I’m sure a certain little house in the middle of a highway was bustling with excitement.
My mom said it would be better for us to move to a place where there were more kids, a place where I could leave the porch without the fear of stepping too far and being bombarded by car horns and traffic. However, the crickets that rang in my ears as I opened gifts on Christmas morning made me question
If it were a good Christmas, I would be opening the door for caroling neighbors. If it were a good Christmas, my cousins and uncles would be at my side. This year wasn’t like that. After we opened presents, I was sent to my room for
This was a horrible Christmas. Nothing could undo my sorrow, not even the leftover cookies that Santa forgot to eat. It felt as if the Grinch had robbed our house and stole my heart. The dull white bulbs strung around the ceiling were nothing but empty shells of the colorful lights I used to help my neighbors hang up. The next morning came, I marched down the stairs. I had enough of this sorry excuse of a Christmas. I was ready to protest, but when I reached the ground floor, my despair disappeared. In front of me were my cousins, my neighbors and the people I had deluded myself into thinking I lost. I sat down and began to laugh. Everyone I loved surrounded me, and even though it was different than before, the joy was still the same. Christmas is something that is to be shared, not something to be ruined by a negative outlook. Now, I know that better than anyone else.
(Illustration by Violet Newton)
Read the Face Off on if the Francis Howell School District should have a Bible study class (Illustrations by Alex Wheadon) by
Grant Kilen gkilen380@g.fhsdschools.orgOn June 7, Missouri Governor Mike Parson signed Senate Bill 34 into law. SB 34, which passed the Missouri General Assembly with an overwhelming, bipartisan majority in the House and unanimously in the Senate, “authorizes school districts and charter schools to offer elective social studies courses on the Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament.” The bill’s provisions are delineated in 170.341 RSMo. Even before SB 34, though, several schools across Missouri offered and continue to offer classes on the Bible. The Bible—the single most influential text in our human race’s history—warrants a class examining its effect on society both historically and today.
A Biblical studies elective would teach the important context that the Bible contributes to history. For instance, the Bible was heavily influential upon England and its colonies. Originally an English colony itself, America is no exception, especially as the American colonies were founded at least in part by religious pilgrims to practice their Christian faith. Furthermore, Biblical principles (“... the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God...”) inspired the Declaration of Independence, which has since served as the basis for our constitutional form of government. Consider also the religious motivations of philanthropists, such as the late John D. Rockefeller, who donated large sums of money in manners influenced by the Christian faith. His style of generosity had a great effect on American history and should not be discounted.
The study of the Bible also has a great deal of secular value in terms of culture. Just as English common law was fundamentally inspired by the Bible, most Western conventions of secular morality are inspired by the Bible and sometimes even wholly congruent with the Bible. More formally, the influence of the Bible upon our society’s laws cannot be understated, as nearly 90 percent of members of Congress self-identify as Christian (with more than 5 percent of the remainder identifying as Jewish). Even fashion lends some of its aspects to Biblical inspiration; both genders’ clothing styles have differences that can be attributed to Biblically-inspired tradition. It could be argued that such a class would be disrespectful to nonbelievers or believers depending upon whether the Bible is taught as correct or incorrect, respectively. This is a false dichotomy. A biblical studies course need not take a position on the correctness of the Bible. The indisputable fact that the Bible has tremendously influenced history ultimately does not hinge upon its accuracy. To be fair, FHSD teaches several
non-elective science classes that teach the theory of evolution as fact. This is far more offensive than an elective class taking no position on the truth of the Bible. Some may also be skeptical about a teacher being a believer or a non-believer and how that may affect the class. However, just as a civics teacher is capable of teaching the platforms of both major parties, and an ancient world civilizations teacher is capable of teaching the beliefs of all religions, a biblical studies teacher would still be an effective teacher regardless of their personal beliefs. Finally, one may worry that the usage of a particular translation of the Bible may be a source of controversy. However, this idea that only one version of the Bible could be used is a misconception. In the 21st century, we have access to a variety of translations of the Bible via the internet. Differences among the translations could even be a feature of the class, including education on using the original Hebrew and Greek as an aid.
Francis Howell ought to adopt a Biblical studies class to reinforce the existing curriculum and teach the Bible’s historical and cultural significance. Senate Bill 34 in Missouri has affirmed this course, paving the way for Francis Howell and other Missouri school districts to allow students to explore the Bible’s impact on the development of Western civilization. By focusing on academic objectives, rather than devotional religious pursuits, objections regarding the Bible’s correctness and the effect of the teacher’s beliefs are disproven. A Biblical studies class would be a great tool for Francis Howell to contribute to the well-rounded education that our district seeks to offer, and supplement students’ understanding of our society’s foundations.
Throughout history, the single most important text has always and will continue to be the Bible, and precisely because of its significance, it should not be taught in schools. Any Bible study class in a school system would inherently not be able to apply proper respect both to the sanctity of the holy book and to the students who do not believe in its teachings. In order to respect everyone in school, religion should be kept out of the curriculum.
The first thing that needs to be recognized when considering the existence of a Bible study class is the sanctity of the Bible as a document. For hundreds of millions of people, the Bible is more than just a collection of historical stories, but instead a guideline for how one should live life. To teach the Bible not as a religious document, but instead only a historical one, would go directly against the ideals of most religious identities and be considered blasphemous. When looking at what classes to add into schools, one of the most important things to look at is how it fits the diverse needs of a student body. Whenever classes are added, schools need to make sure that they fit the needs of all students. Adding a class that only applies to one subset of students will inherently cause some groups of students to be excluded. The Bible isn’t just a historical document, it is an actual religious way of life, to teach it as a historical document would exclude religious identities that are looking for an actual religious analysis and to teach it as a spiritual scripture would exclude
expecting a teacher to put aside their entire set of beliefs to teach a class is absurd. However, if the class is taught by someone of a different religious identity that is not Christian in nature, then the entire class would appear blasphemous to any Christians taking it. The class would not teach the Bible at that point, but simply be another world history class. It gets even worse when you think about all of the different identities within Christianity, the conflicts between these identities over how the Bible should be taught, what translations best encompass His Word, and what the actual meaning of the Scripture is would make it impossible for the class to be taught in a coherent way without putting down at least one of these identities.
Furthermore, bringing something as important as the Bible into a school setting where objectivity is held at a high standard would inherently encourage conflict between students. The Bible isn’t just a statement on how one should live life, it is the claim that one needs to live like this or else they will not make it to paradise. Different sects having different interpretations of this book has caused wars and death and now we expect for a curriculum to be able to have a “correct” answer on a test for what the “correct” interpretation is. Expecting that every student would take this class with the honest expectation to simply hear arguments and give their opinion is foolish. What will inevitably happen is that some people would take the class to have more time with their religion and others would take the class just to mock the religion. Everyone’s drastically different interpretations of the importance of the Bible invites conflict between students.
The classroom system in our schools makes it so that there are two things that are always true, the teacher teaches and the students are graded. These two elements make it impossible to have a quality Bible study class. The teachers’ necessity to teach makes it so that no matter what the teacher is giving their interpretation of the facts, in most classes that’s not much of an issue however when we are looking at the religious implications of a text, no one wants for one person’s interpretations to be the assumed correct interpretation. Next the existence of grades continues this same problem. If at the end of the year, the teacher has to determine whether a student came to the correct conclusions and give them a letter grade on their interpretation of the Bible, then the teacher would have to acknowledge that there is a correct interpretation and wrong interpretations. It is not possible to take something as big as a student’s understanding of the Bible and narrow it down to a letter grade. Some might say that the class wouldn’t necessarily need to have objective tests and grades, however if the students aren’t being graded or the teacher isn’t teaching then this isn’t a class, just a church that happens to be within a school.
In totality, our school system needs to stop interfering with powers beyond itself. Schools are meant to educate and yet any class about the holiest of texts would always fail to educate and simply drive conflict as people try to push their own interpretations onto each other.
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Missouri Senate Bill 34
Scan this QR Code in order to see the Senate Bill 34 that regards to the Bible being taught in schools.
Picture this - an outside scavenger hunt, but you never know exactly what you are looking for. It could be a box in the middle of a tick infested woods, or it could be a capsule about the size of your fingernail hanging in a 100 foot tall pine tree. What is leading you to these spots? Well, it’s an online compass that is never exactly 100 percent accurate.
Other Scrutinized Classes
Scan this QR Code in order to read an article from FHNtoday.com about Black Literature and Black American History.
Bible Study Classes in Missouri
Scan this QR Code in order to read an arcticle on Missouri public schools who have already began teaching a Bible study class.
Cachly
Scan this QR Code in order to see the app that Sadie uses for their geocaching.
Every time I have gone geocaching, it has always been some sort of new experience. Of course all the treasure, or “caches’’ you are looking for are in public parks, but that doesn’t mean they are always so easy to get to. I can’t even begin to count how many streams I have crossed (or failed to cross dryly) just to try and find a cache that is out in the middle of nowhere. What is worse is that sometimes, it can’t even be found. No matter how long I trekked, how much my legs hurt, or how bad my insect bites itched from being outside, sometimes it just was simply all for nothing.
Now don’t take this the wrong way, I mean it when I say that geocaching is fun. All of this is just part of the challenge of never knowing what to expect when you’re out doing it. I once watched a deer give birth in the middle of a bike trail all because I happened to be there while geocaching, but on the other hand I have also found a creepy plastic baby as the cache itself that would give anyone chills. However, in the end it’s all worth it. The scratches and mud stains I would have on my legs from walking through the parks were not seen as a bad thing, but as battle scars to show that I earned the satisfaction of finding a cache and that I had fun doing it nonetheless.
Statistics facing sexual activity for teens in Missouri.
Around 51% pregnancies are unplanned in Missouri for women ages 15-44.
The graphic above depicts the percentage of sexually active students by grade level. (Freshman: 20.5%, Sophomores: 26.5%, Juniors: 45.8%, Seniors: 54.2%)
Around 98% of teenagers in Missouri report that they used some method of contraceptive during their most recent sexual encounter.
are not
are not Sexually Active High Schoolers in Missouri Sexually Active High Schoolers
In Missouri 44.3% of high schoolers are sexually active. This number nearly splits in half to 28.1% when looking at sexually active high schoolers in California.
Around 20% of teens drank alcohol or used drugs before the last time they had sex.
56.4% of students used condoms the last time they had sex 27.4% of students used birth control the last time they had sex
8.2% of students did not use a method of protection the last time they had sex
Missouri’s state regulations for sex education are extremely lacking
On Behalf of the Editorial Board yourfhn@FHNtoday.com
12.8% of students used condoms and a method of birth control the last time they had sex
Around 4% of children below the age of 13 have had sexual intercourse.
(Information from the Missouri Health Department and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention)
With its common misconceptions such as having to watch a woman give birth and putting condoms on bananas, sex-ed is a topic generally avoided among students. Our sex education system is stigmatized by students, teachers and parents alike. It’s an awkward subject for many, but getting it over with and ignoring it is not the answer. Instead our state legislature needs to update its regulations in order to keep the curriculum helpful to all students.
For a consistently red state, our curriculum is slightly ahead of the curve by including education on consent, sexual abuse and sexual harassment. However, there are still some lacking regulations in our state’s requirements.
Unfortunately, the state of Missouri does not require that schools continue to educate students on sexual development and safe sex throughout high school. If the school chooses that they will have a sexual education lesson in health class, all they have to do is check off the box and be done with it. This education is vital to students to promote abstinence, safe sex and healthy
relationships. These lessons should be given to all students every year, or at least every other year, regardless of if they are in a health class or not. The reason that this is so important is because, according to a safety report done by the state of Missouri, 20.5 percent of freshmen and 26.5 percent of sophomores are sexually active. This statistic nearly doubles to 44.3 percent and 45.8 percent as juniors and seniors. By the time students are juniors and seniors it’s most likely been two to three years since they have been taught sex-ed. Simply refreshing students their junior year would be extremely beneficial.
While our district’s curriculum follows everything state required for a sex-education system, there’s a lot of holes in what is required. For starters, it’s not legally required that the curriculum is delivered by trained instructors. This is a dangerous lack of regulation seeing as how this is some of the most delicate, important and useful education high schoolers receive. The state lacking this requirement puts students into a situation where they could possibly receive misinformation which is just irresponsible. Some health teachers in our state are trained more for a fire drill than they are to teach a
sex-ed class. Along with the lack of regulation on training, there is also a lack of regulation on how often educational material has to be updated. Most of the videos that are shown in sex-ed classes are from before its watchers were even in kindergarten. These videos are not factually inaccurate, but watching a grainy video about the development of the human body adds to the already present awkwardness. These are not hard changes to make to help better educate students on how to keep themselves safe.
Puberty
of left out information for females, such as discharge, spotting, how long a period is supposed to last and different parts of the menstruation cycle.
Read the QR code below to learn more about LGBTQIA+ sex
Everyone remembers how awkward the elementary school talks were. The girls would go in one room, learn all about how their breasts would develop, they would get pubic hair, menstruation and all of the painful side effects that come with it. Meanwhile, the boys sit in a room learning about how their voices would begin to crack, they too would get pubic hair and how they would begin to be more attracted to those around them. These talks happen multiple times throughout elementary and middle school. However, unlike english and math, the content taught in these talks never increased in difficulty in the maturity of what was taught as students progress in age. Every student has been included in a puberty talk unless they were opted out by a parent. The issue with these talks is the huge bits
Schools are required to provide education on heterosexual sex. Homosexual sex education is not required. This is not surprising as LGBTQIA+ is a very recently destigmatized subject in school and society in general. Strides for inclusive education are being fought for now more than ever, adding this to our state requirements is crucial. One out of every four high school students identify as being part of the LGBTQIA+ community and yet they receive no education on how to have safe sex. Although the threat of teen pregnancy isn’t looming, the danger of sexually transmitted infections and diseases are. There are still types of contraceptives that should be used even if there is not a danger of pregnancy due to the possibility of contracting an STD or STI from any sexual partner. In the end, our state requirements could be worse. However, when it comes to the education of students, a fully faceted view of their bodies and how to keep their body safe is vital to ensure sex education remains helpful.
Take a look into the regulations and requirements of each states sex education curriculum requirements.
- The decision of whether or not to teach sex education is left to the local school board
- Must teach about contraceptives while “Presenting abstinence from sexual activity as the preferred choice of behavior in relation to all sexual activity for unmarried pupils.”
- Teach about contraceptives, within a curriculum that promotes abstinence.
- Include information on sexual predators, sexual harassment, sexual violence, and consent.
- Be appropriate for use with pupils of all races, genders, sexual orientations, ethnic and cultural backgrounds.
- Be appropriate for and accessible to pupils with disabilities; Be appropriate for and equally available to English language learners.
- Be appropriate for and accessible to pupils with disabilities
- Affirmatively recognize different sexual orientations and be inclusive of same-sex relationships in discussions and examples.
- Teach about gender, gender expression, gender identity, and the harm of negative gender stereotypes.
- Encourage students to communicate with their parents/guardians and other trusted adults about human sexuality, and provide skills for doing so.
- Teach the value of and prepare students to have and maintain committed relationships such as marriage.
- Provide knowledge and skills for forming healthy relationships that are free from violence and provide knowledge and skills for making and implementing healthy decisions about sexuality including negotiation and refusal skills to assist students in overcoming peer pressure and using effective decision making skills to avoid high-risk activities.
