LETTER FROM THE
EDITORS.
Some words of wisdom for FHN attendees in the upcoming school year from the North Star Editors-In-Chief
Today is the first day for everyone, regardless of grade level or faculty status. This is going to be the first time anyone is in the new building while it’s full of students, which means there will be some quirks that will be worked out. Everyone’s going to get lost, be late, wander around confused and most importantly, need help.
A brand new building is going to be full of a lot of firsts. There will be first days for everyone from freshmen to seniors: first time stepping into the brand new building, first time attending a football game that’s actually at our school and so many more. Everyone is going to be just as confused as the next person, and there will be many ‘Sorry, I got lost’s. But change is inevitable, and with change comes new experiences and new emotions.
From fear to excitement to (let’s be real) anger, everyone faces different and usually conflicting emotions with getting back to school after an all-too-short summer break. This year is no different, but there is an even more special sense of newness to everything, with the shiny new floors and confusing new staircases, the building will be full of surprises as all of the students and faculty adjust to it.
While the old North definitely had its quirks, with its elusive roof pool, exhilarating pipe water floods and random fire alarms, it will still be missed. Everyone who went there had memories and now that’s all it’s ever going to be. Memories.
But this isn’t time for wallowing in sadness, nostalgia or boredom. This year is the chance to have so many firsts, and many lasts for
seniors on their way out.
It’ll be the first homecoming in this building,
The first pep assembly,
The first homecoming game,
The first All-Knighter,
The first graduating class, And the first first day.
Freshmen, you are going to be just as confused as everyone else. Maybe even less confused, with your boost from being able to attend transition day. Don’t think you’ve got the ability to claim you’re head of the school, but don’t be scared to talk to upperclassmen either.
Sophomores, try new things. There’s no reason to be scared of showing up to random club meetings that interest you, trying out for new sports or signing up for different classes. It’s never too late to try new things.
Juniors, learn the building and take in everything you can. This year is the infamous “hardest year of high school,” but that doesn’t mean you can’t still have fun and prepare yourself to have the run of the school next year.
Seniors, have fun. This is your first and last year in the long-awaited new building, so don’t trash it and mess it up for the next classes to come. Go all out for pep rallies, attend all of the games and do what you can to make this your best year yet.
This year, we challenge you to lift others up and make it your best one ever. Ensure that you let joy shine through in every moment, but let yourself do things that scare you as you will come out better on the other side. Have fun doing things for the last time and
be sad about it when those moments are over. Be envious of another person’s things or personality, but instead of dwelling on it, go compliment them. Remember that when you’re anxious about an upcoming test, event or something happening between friends, nothing is permanent. Things will always be changing, and that’s okay. Hold onto what you can, but let go of what you don’t need
WHO YOU NEED TO KNOW.
Knowing these faculty members is a great way to start the year (Content by Sam Hall, Grant Kilen, Michaela Manfull, Violet Newton, Kaylee Priest, Peyton Thies and Naomi VanDyne)
ADMINISTRATORS
Knowing your administrators is a great way to start the year. Each grade level has a principal with Shelly Parks for the freshmen, Bret Bevill for the sophomores, Monica Perry for juniors and Dusty Weiskopf for seniors. Administrators help manage other staff and faculty at the school along with enforce school discipline. Along with this, you will often see the administrators at important school events like sports events, school dances and pep assemblies, so being acquainted can be helpful. You can find all administrators in the administration offices at the main entrance of the building. (Shown: Monica Perry)
COUNSELORS
Each counselor at Francis Howell North has a different duty, ranging from college, schedules, grade level and special support. You can find each of the 8 counselors at the guidance building. Our counselors are Kyle Harris, Ann Herman, Stephanie Johnson, Emma Kolkmeier, Barry Morrison, Brooke Prestidge, Lorraine Smith and Lisa Woodrum. You should know these counselors because they can help you with any issue you have. (Shown: Kyle Harris)
ACTIVITIES OFFICE
MEDIA SPECIALISTS
Also known as FHN’s librarians, Deb McDonald, Gabrielle Weston and Tara Willen work in the learning commons and help with books, tech, and more. They also host the book club at FHN. They can be helpful to know when you need to check out a book or study somewhere quiet, just make sure you get a pass. You can find them in the learning commons. (Shown: Gabrielle Weston)
NURSES
The nurses at our school can help with a student’s health or provide their certain medication. They also provide yearly mandatory hearing and eyesight exams. The two nurses, Amy Kelly and Heather Marren can be found in our school’s nurses office. (Shown: Amy Kelly)
Mike Janes, the AD at FHN works with his secretary, Arlene Kearns. Together they put together the sports schedules for every season, coordinate IMPACT testing for athletes and answer any and all questions related to sports, activities and clubs at the school.
(Shown: Mike Janes)
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTS
Administrative assistants are the first people you see when visiting the main office or the guidance office. Patricia Balch and Stacey Enders can be found in the guidance office when you first walk in. They will often be the people to remind you to sign in/out. Stephanie Weeks-Slaughter, Susan Seay, Brittany Kreifels, Cara McHaffie, Codi Sutton and Dana Button can be found in the main office. These will be the people that will direct you to where you need to go or who you need to talk to in the office. (Shown: Stephanie Slaughter)
MORE HELPFUL FACES
There are so many other helpful faculty members at FHN, including the food service workers, custodial staff, district technician and more. Without everyone working together to ensure the best learning environment, FHN would not be able to provide as beneficial education as it does. (Shown: Aloha Ramos)
Check page 17 to find out where all of their offices are in the new building.
5 ITEMS TO HAVE IN YOUR BAG
by Kaylee Priest kpriest027@g.fhsdschools.org
Lots of Pencils
No matter how many pencils you start off the year with, you will run out. Always keep extra pencils inside of your backpack because the last thing you want to happen while you’re sitting in class getting ready to start your biology test and you realize you have no pencil. Your teacher has a strict rule of “bring your own writing utensils” and nobody around you has a spare, making you wish you had prepared better.
Binder/Folder
Certain classes require certain things, whether it’s a binder or a folder, they will both help you stay organized. Having one binder or folder allotted per class is always recommended.
Hand Sanitizer/Wet Wipes
School is not always the cleanest environment. No matter how many custodians we have, it’s just impossible to get every corn spick and span. Bringing the precautionary hand sanitizer or wet wipes is never a bad idea. Things spill, places are sticky and hands can get dirty.
Phone Charger
Some classes require an electronic device to do school work. You look up things on your phone and you use canvas and Infinite Campus. You’re on your phone a lot more than you think throughout the school day, even if it’s only for school related things. Bring an extra charger that stays in your backpack so you always know you have one just in case.
Hygiene Bag
Everyone should have a hygiene bag in their backpack. This can be used to hold things like deodorant, hair ties, feminine hygiene products, chapstick, or anything of the sort.
BREAKS & IMPORTANT DAYS
(Content by Bri Taliaferro)
Sign
Upon completing
Here you can find the FHSD calendar with all of
NEW BUILDING, NEW TEACHERS.
each school year teachers come and go, learn more about what new faces you may see this year
POSITION
Assistant
FORMER PERSON
Dr. Jeff Blankenship
Ms. Erica Gittemeier
& Ms. Emily West
Ms. Tara Beveridge
Ms. Sarah Arciszewski
Business
Industrial
Math
Math
Science
Science
Social Studies
Spanish
Ms. Mim Eaton
Mr. Kurt Laughman
N/A
Ms. Joelle Sanders
Ms. Jenny Liberson
Mr. Brian Stemmermann
Ms. Jennifer Martin
Ms. Jennifer Stutzer
Mr. Jon Travis
Mr. Sean Nanney
Mr. Mark Olwig
Ms. Maria Mocchi-Radichi
NEW PERSON
Mr. Brett Bevill
Mr. Will Crawford
Ms. Kristen Day
Ms. Megan Henke
Mr. Landon Strayhorn
Ms. Emma Kolkmeier
Mr. Dusty Weiskopf
Ms. Tara Beveridge
Ms. Valeriel Luvai
Ms. Tracy Yost
Mr. Gaite Brauns
Mr. Zac Howard
Ms. Elizabeth Harrison
Mr. Kyle Morse
Ms. Kristy O’Haire
Ms. Antonia Perez-Franco
WHAT DOES THE DEAN DO?
During a board meeting in the spring of this year it was decided that all three Francis Howell high schools would receive a dean/assistant activity director to support the main office along with the athletic department. FHN’s new dean will be Dusty Weiskopf, a teacher from Fort Zumwalt North High School. In the past this position was removed but is being reinstated in order to further support both departments.
||
-
5 || 11:25 - 12:05 6 || 12:10 - 12:50 7 || 12: 55 - 1:35
4A || 10:31- 10:56 4C || 11:22 - 11:47 5A || 12:13 - 12:38 NORMAL
1 || 7:20 - 8:06 2 || 8:11 - 8:57
|| 9:02 - 9:40 3 || 9:45 - 10:31 4AB || 10:36 - 11:22 4BC || 11:01 - 11:47 4C5A || 11:27 - 12:13 5 || 11:52 - 12:38 6 || 12:43 - 1:29 7 || 1: 34 - 2:20 LUNCH 4A || 10:10- 10:35 4C || 10:55 - 11:20 5A || 11:40- 12:05
WHAT CHANGED?
This year the administration opted to switch back to a singular Knight Time each week. This time can be used to meet with teachers, work on homework, retake tests and participate in KOE led activities to get to know and connect with your peers.
NEED A DIGITAL VERSION?
To access a digital version of the schedule use check the FHNtoday app using the QR code.
5 TIPS FOR ACADEMIC SUCCESS
by Bri Taliaferro btaliaferro365@g.fhsdschools.org
Manage phone use
Phones can be a useful tool, however, social apps like TikTok are designed to grab the precious attention crucial to succeeding in school. While it doesn’t hurt in small doses, many struggle to get off these apps. Success starts with letting go of constant swipes.
“[Avoiding TikTok] helps me not focus on social necessities and the cringiness of others,” sophomore Evelyn Flannigan said. Get enough sleep
With jobs and extracurriculars, finding time for sufficient sleep can be hard but the brain relies on sleep for good performance. Sleep also helps the brain sort information, which is important for studying and learning. Eight to nine hours of sleep is a good goal for students.
“[Sleep is important] so that you can focus and actually get your work done and do it well,” junior Kaili Melton said. Learn, don’t cram
While sitting in a classroom for several hours can be difficult, it’s important to take advantage of class and learning. One would be surprised at how much they remember long-term when they focus instead of trying to cram everything in right before exam-day.
“When you cram, you really don’t latch on to any of the material…you’re still able to pass the tests but whenever you have to do it on the final you’re struggling to remember it,” sophomore Oliver Bosanquet said. Prioritize
All of the different clubs and opportunities FHN provides is exciting but balancing learning, extracurriculars and health is important. Joining clubs is good for the experience and resumes, but too many clubs and obligations can cause overwhelming stress and eventual burn out.
“If you have clubs almost every day that might be a pushing point,” sophomore Nayana Kartha said. Make it sparkle
It’s likely that maintaining a clean space is not on many people’s top 10 things to do with their time, however studies have proven it to help a student’s mental health and performance. Having a clean environment reduces stress levels and improves motivation.
“If everything was dirty I would just not be very motivated to do anything,” senior Michelle Gonzalez said.
CLASSROOM GUIDELINES.
FOOD ALLERGIES
Food can be distracting as well as trigger certain allergies. These allergies can be mild or even deadly that would prevent your teacher from doing their job and could put them at risk. Some things to do to avoid this is eat during at lunch mainly, or eating in a class in which the teacher isn’t allergic.
PHONE RESTRICTIONS
Phones can be disruptive and distracting to students’ learning. Phones can shorten a student’s attention span and cause them to miss certain things in the lesson that the teacher is teaching. The best option is to put your phone down during lessons and only get on when your work is finished or the teacher gives free time.
PERFUME ALLERGIES
Perfumes can trigger certain teachers’ and students’ allergies and prevents them from doing their job at full capacity. Something to do to avoid this incident might be to put perfume on after that class to make everyone’s experience more pleasant.
DEADLINES
Homework can be good practice for students so they can get comfortable with the material. It’s very important to keep track of your assignments so you can turn them in on time and get full credit. Keeping a to-do list or a planner, whether digital or physical can be extremely helpful for this.
STAY STUDYING
Homework can be helpful, but also stressful for students who have several after-school activities, clubs, and jobs. Some teachers opt for homework-less classes however assignments and quizzes can be hard without having practice to look at. To combat this, make sure to keep notes, and study when possible.
(Illustration by Cheyenne Steed)
5 things to look out for in various teachers’ classrooms (Content by Cheyenne Steed)
SEARCH FOR NORM THE KNIGHT .
HAVE A PUZZLE YOU WANT TO SEE IN THE PAPER? Or do you have an old favorite you want to see come back? Scan the QR code to the right to share your opinions on what puzzles and interactive pages we should have in future papers.
SHOW YOUR SPIRIT
FIVE PLACES YOU SHOULD DRESS IN SPIRIT WEAR
1.
Theme Games
Any game with a theme you should show up and show out for. Coming dressed up makes the games a more fun atmosphere and anyone who doesn’t dress up will be the odd one out.
2.
Pep Assemblies
Each class is instructed to show up in their class colors to show class spirit. Seeing the stands filled with the class colors is always impressive, and if you get chosen for a game you don’t want to be caught lacking.
3.
Spirit Weeks
As the name implies this is the week to go all in with your outfits. The best part is seeing who is dressed all out, so don’t worry about being weird kid who dressed up.
4.
Black and Gold Day
This day is all about showing school spirit and getting excited for the school year, dressing in black and gold should be inferred but in case the name didn’t give you the hint showing up in class colors is imperative.
5.
Club State or National Events
If you have made it to a DECA national event, an FBLA event or another various club state or national event you should rep your school pride for all of your competitors to see.
HOW WILL YOU SHOW OFF YOUR SPIRIT?
“I’m going to paint myself black and gold because why the heck not,” freshman Julian Hanquet said.
“Dressing all out for spirit days is fun. It adds something different to the school day and I feel like I can be proud of myself in a different outfit and of my school when I see everyone else dress up,” sophomore Anna Bauer said.
“I show my school spirit by partaking in school clubs like STUCO and participating in spirit week,” junior Ava Bax said.
“I always go out with my friends and we find ways to match ourselves so we can make the most of it and hopefully get other people to join in too so everybody has fun,” senior Delaney St. John said.
FRESHMEN YOUR COLOR RED
“I think incoming freshmen should dress up because I didn’t dress up much this year but I wish I did, there’s no judgment and it’s always fun,” sophomore Kiley Wallace said. IS
SOPHOMORES YOUR COLOR
GREEN
“I think dressing up in our class color is fun during things like pep assemblies. I personally like green as my color and it’s cool to see everyone in your grade wearing the same color on certain days. It really brings out the school spirit,” sophomore Bella Ingrassia said. IS
JUNIORS YOUR COLOR PURPLE
“I like class color day because it’s fun to see how different people do things with just one color,” junior Reagan Wilson said. IS
SENIORS YOUR COLOR
BLUE
“I think most people dress up, but most people don’t dress up enough. Like on class color day some people just wear the color but then there’s like the inflatable tube man who goes IS
WHAT KIND OF SHOULD YOU JOIN?
CLUB
1. What kind of job would you like in the future?
A. A job that I could get rich through
B. A job that involves reading or writing
C. A job that involves giving back
D. A job that involves performance
2. What is your favorite type of puzzle?
A. Logic Puzzles
B. Sudoku
C. Jigsaw Puzzles
D. Riddles
3. If you could travel to any fictional world what would it be?
A. A futuristic world
B. A post-apocalyptic world
C. A world with magical creatures
D. A world filled with superpowers
4. How would you spend a rainy day?
A. Locking in on homework
B. Researching random topics
C. Spending time with loved ones
D. Binge-watching movies
5. What is your go-to Social Media platform?
A. Twitter
B. YouTube
C. Instagram
D. TikTok
6. If you could have one of these as a pet, what would it be?
A. A fish
B. A cat
C. A bird
D. A dog
7. What is your favorite way to de-stress?
A. By setting new goals
B. By writing or journaling
C. By hanging out with friends
D. By singing or listening to music
8. What’s is your favorite type of movie?
A. Documentaries
B. Classics or mainstream movies
C. Uplifting feel-good films
D. Musicals or sports movies
9. What is your go-to way to exercise?
A. Hiking
B. Yoga
C. Running
D. Team sports
10. Who are you in the group project?
A. I take on the work, otherwise it won’t be done right
B. I’ll write everything down
11. What superpower do you wish you had?
A. Persuasion skills
B. Mind reading
C. Healing powers
D. Shape-shifting
12. What is your typical thought process when picking out clothes to wear?
A. Professional
B. Casual
C. Comfortable
D. Active-wear
13. When you put on headphones, what do you like to listen to?
A. Podcasts
B. Movies or Documentaries
C. TV Shows
D. Music
14. Which new Inside Out character did you relate to the most?
A. Anxiety
B. Embarrassment
C. Envy
D. Ennui
15. What is your favorite color of flower?
A. White
B. Red
C. Yellow
D. Purple
TALLY YOUR ANSWERS BELOW:
SLIDE INTO FALL SPORTS
by Jackson Calhoun jcalhoun751@g.fhsdschools.org
Football
Football is an all male sport that has varsity, JV, and C-team levels. The varsity football team is coached by Brett Bevill with assistant coaches Mike Castro, Mike Bevill, Matt Couch, Zach Goodsell, Adam Maxey, Will Crawford and Chad Millard. The football season starts in August and goes until the team wins or loses in the playoffs between November-December.
Girls Volleyball
The varsity team is coached by Stephanie Fisk and Danielle Dagenais, JV is coached by Konner Kness, and the C- team is coached by Molly Wade. The season starts in August and normally stretches into October.
Softball
The softball season kicks off late August and ends late October. There is only Varsity and JV levels for Softball. Varsity is coached by Mike Freedline and Jesse Stewart. The junior varsity team is coached by Barry Morrison and the freshmen by Abigail Davis.
Cross Country
Unlike track, the cross country season starts in the fall. The team has Varsity and JV levels. Each race consists of a 3.1 mile route, the terrain in which the run varies from race to race. There are around 7 meets per season and the season spans from August to October. The coaches are Kimberly Martin, Joseph Brocksmith and Sean Fowler.
Girls Tennis
Girls tennis has the shortest season out of all fall sports, spanning from August to the first week of October. They play in around 14 matches a season along with districts. Zachary Howard coaches the team with Amanda Barnhouse.
C. Whatever needs to be done I can help with
D. I’ll make sure everything gets delegated evenly
Girls Golf
Girls golf only has a varsity level here at FHN. The team practices at Links at Dardenne and the Cave Springs Golf Center. The season spans from August to October. The girls play 4-5 tournaments a year. Reach out to coaches Nikki Brinkman or Chris Whithaus for more information.
Boys Swim & Dive
Boys swim & dive has the longest season out of all fall sports, lasting from August to the first week of November. The team has around 10 meets per season. They practice at the Rec-Plex. Reach out to coaches Shawn Farrar and David Robert Nielsen for more information.
(File Photo)
Rishitha
JOIN THE CLUBS
Take the quiz on page 8 to see how you match up.
FREQUENTLY ASKED
QUESTIONS ABOUT JOINING CLUBS AT
FHN:
MOSTLY
A: CAREER
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN ABOUT ME?
You are a goal-oriented, future-focused individual. You want to make sure that everything you’re doing is going to benefit you in the long run, especially heading into college and your first big job. Right now, you likely are (or should be) preparing for college by taking upper-level or business classes, practicing your presentation skills and networking whenever you can. You’re likely on good terms with a lot of different people, but there’s a divide between the people you interact with for casual reasons and those that you talk to when you need something from them.
While focusing on your future is important, make sure to take time for yourself and for your friends. Not everything all of the time has to be pushing you towards an end goal. Whether it is college or an internship or a job or a project, you’re still just a high school student and you have the time and space to explore new things and go on your own side quests.
WHAT CLUBS SHOULD I JOIN?
Clubs focused on preparing students for their futures fall into this category. These usually have some small performance or communication aspects but ultimately focus on large career fields available today.
DECA FBLA
CAN NEW STUDENTS AND FRESHMEN JOIN ANY CLUB?
Most clubs are available to all students. Some, like NHS, DECA, or KOE require a certain grade level or to be enrolled in a type of class, but most don’t.
MOSTLY B: COMMUNICATION
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN ABOUT ME?
You like to keep up with the news, pop culture, politics and happenings around the world. Your definition of “wasting time” is spent buried deep inside a book, learning a random skill or falling down a rabbit hole on some obscure topic.
When it comes to presentations and interactions, you might feel safer when hiding behind a computer while presenting or behind a book while discussing it, but you’re always excited to share about whatever you’ve been interested in lately.
While the deep insatiable yearning to learn about random topics is very beneficial at times, make sure you don’t get so wrapped up that it takes you away from other “less interesting” studies that actually have an impact on your grades.
WHAT CLUBS SHOULD I JOIN?
Those wanting to improve their speaking, reading, writing, researching, presenting pop culture and overall variety of knowledge find their fit best with clubs in the communication group.
FCCLA HOSA Mock Trial Mu Alpha Theta
WHAT IS MOCK TRIAL ABOUT?
Mock Trial is the perfect extracurricular activity for those wanting to improve their public speaking skills, familiarize themselves with the United States legal process, and have a lot of fun. The FHN Mock Trial team is run by the Speech and Debate sponsors Randy Pierce and Noah Slaughter and has won the Missouri State competition for two consecutive years.
Schools participating in the Mock Trial competition will receive a case packet of a fictional court case. Using the case packet, participating schools will put together a team of lawyers and witnesses for both the defense and the prosecution/plaintiff and will compete against each other.
In Mock Trial, participants will have a chance to choose between being a lawyer or a witness for the trial. Lawyers are expected to follow the rules of a real trial, including executing preliminary matters, conducting direct and cross examinations and making opening and closing statements to the jury. Participants who are playing as a witness are expected to testify to the events the character witnessed, as well as the character’s general knowledge of what happened.
The Mock Trial season starts in mid October and is a considerable time commitment. However, for those who are willing to put in the effort, the Mock Trial program can provide students with many opportunities to learn and develop important skills. (Brief by Noah Tucker)
Book Club Journalism
Quill & Scroll
Scholar Bowl Sign Language
Speech & Debate
WHAT IS SCHOLAR BOWL ABOUT?
Being wrong is one thing. Confidently buzzing in only to learn you were way off the mark? That’s a whole tornado and a half. Of course, that’s exactly what happens when you mix up Stephen Douglas with Lincoln-Douglas at Scholar Bowl.
I’ve been doing Scholar Bowl for all four years of high school now and I regret not doing it for five. Scholar Bowl is a high octane competition where two teams of four race to answer a multitude of questions about a variety of topics in order to score points.
Anyways, there I was. It was an easy question. I knew the answer. The judge said, “This man, most well known for his debates against Abraham Lincoln,” and I thought boom, I’ve got it. I hit the buzzer with all my might and with the confidence of Francesco Schettino yelled out “Lincoln Douglas” Never before have I been so humiliated. It was over. I thought that I had no hope. But my teammates were there to support me and they helped me to feel better about it even though I had royally screwed up. I kept on going and eventually we won that match. All because of the hard work and determination of my teammates.
The best club in FHN is hands down Scholar Bowl. The quick wit. The sharp skills. The entire environment builds up to create an unforgettable experience. When I first joined, I was entirely out of my league. Frankly, I don’t really know what I’m doing now. But Scholar Bowl has taught me the determination and hard work to push through and accomplish anything. (Brief by Gavin
Swart)
Bella Ingrassia, 10 Gavin Swart, 12 Vanessa Ng, 11 Daiyan Hassan,
CAN STUDENTS BE IN MORE THAN ONE CLUB?
Students can join as many clubs as they want. Many clubs even offer meetings at the beginning of the year for anyone to show up and try it out before joining.
MOSTLY C: COMMUNITY
CAN I START MY OWN CLUB IF I DON’T SEE THE ONE I WANT TO JOIN?
Even with the tons of clubs offered at FHN, students are encouraged to start new clubs if there isn’t one already. Contact Mike Janes for more information.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN ABOUT ME?
This category shows that you love to be active, whether it’s in your community, school or with nature. You like to spend your free time making a difference in people around you and connecting with like-minded individuals. These clubs are a great way to be engaged with the world around you and improve your social skills while you’re out helping to make a difference.
You’ll find yourself surrounded by peers who share your passions and values. Whether you’re leading, cheering, advocating or exploring, you thrive on teamwork and camaraderie. These are all great skills to have and clubs to join to boost your college applications and resume.
The main thing you need to watch out for is over committing. While being involved is always great, remember to take time for yourself and explore other interests too. Balance is everything.
WHAT CLUBS SHOULD I JOIN?
Students wanting to get more involved with their community, either through helping others or simply being around those who share their experiences, will find something they can join within these club options.
WHAT ARE THE KNIGHTS OF EXCELLENCE (KOE) ALL ABOUT?
WANT TO LEARN MORE?
If you want to learn more about how to join, contact or even start a club, scan the QR code to the right.
A resume boost. That’s why I joined FHN’s Knights of Excellence, or KOE. I just needed more clubs to show my involvement in high school. However, KOE proved to be more than just a club. It’s a way to be a part of something bigger than regular meetings and yearly picnics.
I first realized that I underestimated KOE from the Adopt a Family program. From the surface, it appears to be a thoughtless project for members to participate in. Selling bracelets is not that big of a big deal, right? Actually, it is. Through KOE, I learned that by selling bracelets, I was helping a local family in need. I was helping a local family buy clothes, feed themselves or even get to school. I was helping a family do the things I take for granted in my life every single day.
I’ve grown up surrounded by a family full of educators, so I take any chance I can to help my teachers. To my unwarranted surprise, KOE supplied plenty of opportunities to make even small improvements to a teacher’s day. The programs set up by the sponsors of KOE help students actively become a bigger part of their schoolwide community, on top of the traditional area-based community service..
KOE is no longer simply a resume boost for me. It is a way to feel confident walking into school every day. It is a way to feel like I can truly make a difference and show others about the problems that desperately need help in our community. (Brief by Drew Johnson)
MOSTLY D: COMPETITION
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN ABOUT ME?
Joining these clubs reveal a lot about your vibrant and creative personality. It shows you thrive on self-expression and teamwork. You love pushing boundaries and improving your skills, which is a fantastic trait to possess. However, be mindful of not letting competition take over. It’s easy to get caught up in winning, but remember to focus on the enjoyment that comes with your involvement. Embrace the journey and celebrate the small victories along the way. Balancing your drive with a sense of fun will ensure you get the most out of your experiences.
WHAT CLUBS SHOULD I JOIN?
While the range of these clubs is very wide, they encompass a variety of hands-on competition-based activities that students wanting to be active, through performing, athletics or technology.
WHAT IS COLOR GUARD ALL ABOUT?
As a senior looking back, I’ve spent the last three years following the philosophy that if I can do it, I will. By following this, I knew that eventually one thing would stick and while many of the clubs or teams I joined, I am still a part of today, the one that I enjoyed most was colorguard.
The way that the marching band creates art using sounds and shapes through formations, color-guard creates through dance and equipment. Through the combination of dance, flags, rifles and sabers we create a tangible idea of how the music feels.
I originally joined because I did marching band my freshman and sophomore year, but because of friends I had in guard, I was encouraged to join during the winter season of my sophomore year to participate in Winter-guard.
From November to April, we were working on a four minute show to perform at competitions and eventually the world championships in Dayton, Ohio. As someone who enjoyed music but also dancing and performing, I enjoyed every bit of it and ultimately let me to switch from saxophone to color-guard in the fall during marching band season and come back again for the winter season.
While I’ve enjoyed just being a member and performing, my favorite part has been getting to do it with my friends. Color-guard is comprised of many different people with different abilities and talents. Getting to travel across the country with the team has resulted in some of my fondest memories.
Whether it was finding out the tarp was backwards mid-performance and still having to perform or changing choreography and struggling with it, there have been so many lessons I have learned through color guard.
Colorguard is open to all different people and whether you already perform or want to learn how, people are always welcome to join. (Brief by Carter Houdeshell)
Colin McGuire, 11
Oliver Bonsequet, 10 Evie Hoffman, 11
TO THE CORE
“So this homecoming was actually the best homecoming I’ve been to and it was super fun and we posed on this boat and then got yelled at to get off. At the dance they had this spin thing that was a video that was really really cool and I really liked it,” junior Olivia Abeln.
“This moment really made my day. I was the only freshman on the team and I never once felt left out. My entire team especially the seniors made me feel like we have known each other since a long time. I am so grateful I got to be part of such an amazing community,” sophomore Shreya Patel.
“This moment stood out to me due to the fact that there was never really any drama, and we all got along on the JV softball team and you can really see that in this photo,” junior Camryn Portell.
“In this picture we were all just super happy. You can see on our faces our big smiles. Peak football season with perfect weather and my best friends,” senior Ella VarVera.
“A core memory from high school would definitely be going to Qualifiers for the 2023-2024 FTC Robotics Competition. I picked this moment because of the massive amounts of unrelenting work and devotion that my team and I had put into out robot for the competition. Countless literal sleepless nights and tears were put into the creation of our robot and also allowed for all of our members to grow closer as both a team and life-long friends. It was a day that I will never forget,” senior Alex Prudhomme.
“I think it was just a surreal moment standing in front of all those people at one of the biggest basketball games of the season. It was just a crazy feeling and it’s pretty memorable if you win any sort of popularity contest or whatever,” junior Eashaan Patel.
SCHOOL’S FAVORITE EMOTIONS
MEET ANXIETY.
No teenager is a stranger to anxiety, whether it be that big test coming up you are sure you’re about to fail or worrying about the stain on your shirt that you’re not sure if you’re looking too hard at it or if it really is bad. Everyone has experienced it, heres some tips for when this pesky emotion shows her face
Take time to fuel yourself
As cliche as it sounds, make sure to be getting a good amount of sleep. Along with this make sure to eat something in the morning, especially if you are a pre-school energy drink enjoyer. The last thing you want when trying to shake the first-week jitters is literal jitters from caffeine.
Plan accordingly
While some things really do just slip through the cracks, take time to plan ahead. If you know you have a big test coming up, don’t save studying until the last minute. Plan to study for thirty minutes each night on the days leading up. If you know you are accident prone around food, carry to-go stain remover with you to avoid a freak out.
Talk it out
As much as you can try to plan ahead and avoid certain situations, life is bound to happen. Make sure that when things happen you shouldn’t hesitate to reach out to friends, family, or school counselors when feeling anxious. Talking about your feelings can provide relief and perspective.
THIS IS ANGER.
Putting the GRRR in anger, is our favorite spunky, over-the-top emotion. Is her lack of chill an issue? That’s a question for another time... These are her favorite times to make a dramatic appearance.
-- When that one teacher hasn’t put her extra credit in yet and her grade is right on the line between an A and a B.
- When the AP class she took is actually college level work.
- The moment the vending machine declines your card.
- When someone takes her parking spot she assigned herself in her head.
- The sound of her freshly sharpened pencil lead breaking.
- When people stop in the middle of the hallway.
- When she takes the wrong stairwell again.
- That moment when she forgets her lunch at home.
THIS IS JOY.
Joy is all around a ray of sunshine, here are some small things that typically evoke her.
-- When it’s twirls week at lunch.
- When the scores for a test she studied for come out, and her studying actually shows.
- Everything about the snack table.
- The scent of a perfect Papa Johns slice of pizza.
- Early release Wednesdays.
- The moment she realizes her blended class has a flex day.
- When she has plans with her friends for that night’s football game.
- The sight of her fresh new back-toschool supplies.
- The moment she realizes she actually woke up to her alarms she set at 1 a.m. the night prior.
MEET ENNUI .
Otherwise known as the boredom, we all know the feeling of waiting for the clock to strike, the bell to ring and then that never happening. Or at least not for another 30 minutes. Below are some tips on how to manage boredom.
Doodle or sketch
Keep a small notebook for doodling or sketching. It can keep your hands busy and mind engaged without disrupting the class.
Get to organizing
Use any downtime to organize and review your notes. Highlighting key points or rewriting messy notes can help reinforce what you’ve learned and keep you busy.
Crack open a new book
Bring a book or a journal to class. If you finish your work early or find yourself bored, you can quietly read or jot down your thoughts and ideas, staying engaged without disturbing others.
ADVICE FOR FRESHMEN
by Canyon Dubis
cdubis608@g.fhsdschools.org
Freshman year is often stressful for many people and it may be more stressful this year with the new building, not only will you be unfamiliar with the layout but so will everyone else. On top of that, you may be confused about classes and activities but that’s normal and expected. There are many things I wish I had been told when starting my freshman year, so here are some of my tips for you.
Getting stressed out about trying to find your classes is common and happens to everyone. When it does, you should ask for help and not be afraid when doing so. Most of the people at North will be willing to help and will enjoy doing so.
When you do find your class, you may know people from previous years or other classes but don’t be afraid to make new friends and expand your social circle. The first week is stressful for everyone and just being a friendly face is something people need during this time.
As your classes start, they may not be what you were expecting and when you hear your teachers explain the class, it may become overwhelming. If this happens you need to take a step back and know that it is not as bad as it seems and that it takes time to adjust.
Along with your classes, there are many sports and activities that you can participate in. At this point fall sports have already started, so you may not be able to join them anymore but many clubs at FHN welcome new members. To find out information about these clubs there may be announcements or flyers hanging around the school and you can always ask about the club’s sponsor and talk to them in person.
Other than joining activities and clubs themselves, you should also go to activities put on by other clubs or go to a fall sports game. Seeing games or going to activities are fun things to do with your friends that take away some of the stress of the school day. The last thing you should remember is that you are not the only one going through this and others feel the same way or have felt that way before.
KEY FOR ALL MAPS
Restrooms
Some restrooms are single-stall while others are multi-stall
Athletic Elevator
This elevator stops on all three floors, but in the basement only reaches the athletic side
Academic Elevator
This elevator reaches all three floors on the academic side of the building
Staircase
The same numbered staircases on different floors are the same staircase (e.g. STAIR 18 crosses all three floors)
THINGS TO EASE YOUR MIND IN THE NEW BUILDING
1: No one knows where they’re going
You’re not the only person who hasn’t had a school year in this building yet. Everyone, freshmen to seniors and even faculty, is going to be completely new to this school building. It’s okay to get lost, because everyone will be!
2: The teachers don’t have it figured out
Most of the teachers and faculty were only allowed into the building with less than a month left until school started. Give your teachers a break while they get adjusted to their new surroundings.
3: The new rules apply to everyone
With a new building comes new facilities, new classrooms and new rules to make sure the building doesn’t fall to pieces during its first year. While some changes can be difficult to adjust to, they’re there to make sure that nothing happens to this new building or the students and faculty in it.
4: Passing periods are the same length
Even with a bigger school, the administrative staff checked and doublechecked that the passing periods were the right length for all students to make it to their classes, so long as they don’t stand around and talk instead.
5: We have a home field
Gone are the days of having homecoming games at Lindenwood or practices at Lou Fusz, FHN now boasts its own field with its own bathrooms, locker rooms and improved livestream equipment, for those who can’t make it to the games in person but still want to be a part of the action.
HOW TO READ THE ROOM NUMBERS
1
2
0
2
THE ROOM NUMBER Different for every classroom
THE AREA NUMBER
000 = Common Areas
100 = Athletic Areas
200 = Left Hallway
300 = Central Corridor
400 = Right Hallway
THE FLOOR NUMBER
0 = Basement
1 = Main Floor
2 = Top Floor
ESOL CLASSES AT FHN
by Miranda Fabian mfabian486@g.fhsdschools.org
El programa de ESOL aquí en North tiene dos maestras, Andrea Corvalán y Anne Freeman, quienes trabajan para ayudar a sus estudiantes, quienes provienen de diversos antecedentes e idiomas nativos. El programa colabora con los estudiantes y padres para adaptar el material que aprendizaje a sus conocimientos previos. Hay varios idiomas presentes en la clase pero el más común es Español.
A ellas les gusta trabajar con los estudiantes por el papel y tratan de involucrar a los padres tanto como sea posible. Aunque límitan el uso de tecnología como técnica para aprender Inglés, todavía apoyan usándolo para traducir para mantener comunicación entre ellos.
“La mejor manera de ayudar a sus hijos a adaptarse es apoyarlos,” dijo Freeman.
El programa se enfoca más en los estudios de Inglés pero Inglés no es el único sujeto que enseña a sus estudiantes, dependiendo de su nivel de Inglés también enseñan sujetos como historia y ciencias. Mientras los estudiantes son más avanzados en Inglés, más clases que pueden tomar fuera del programa, sus electivos siendo el más común. Matemáticas muchas veces es un sujeto que trasciende los idiomas, además puede ser que los estudiantes necesiten ayudar alcanzando depende del nivel que dejaban en sus estudios pasados.
¿NO HABLO ESPAÑOL?
Scan the QR code above to read a version of this story that has been translated into English.
Freeman y Corvalán tienen una meta en común: motivar a sus estudiantes a ser una parte activa de la comunidad. Ellos esperan guiar a sus estudiantes a más clubes, deportes y actividades que beneficien su carrera. Con todo los requisitos para los programa A +, Lewis and Clark y el programa de trabajo, les gusta motivar a sus estudiantes a mejorar su asistencia.
“Esperamos hacer más con eso [oportunidades de carrera},” dijo Corvalán. “ Es algo difícil porque los niños tienen muy diferentes metas y eso es parte de lo que esperamos trabajar, identificando cuáles son sus metas.”
Este es el duodécimo año Freeman como maestra de ESOL aquí en North, mientras que este es tercer año de Corvalán. El idioma de herencia de Corvalán es Espanol, esto da una ventaja en trabajar con sus estudiantes que hablan Español, lo que le da una ventaja al trabajar con sus estudiantes hispanohablantes, pero también se esfuerzan por asistir a los estudiantes que no hablan Español. “La meta es que hablen Inglés pero también queremos que mantengan su lengua materna,” dijo Freeman. “Ese primer año es muy difícil.”
THE TOP FLOOR
ADVICE FOR SOPHOMORES
by Naomi VanDyne nvandyne312@g.fhsdschools.org
There are several recommendations one would make for incoming sophomores in high school. Most of them occur within the school day, but some can be used as principles to be applied to one’s life, not only this coming year but in the years to come as well.
Aside from the standard recommendations one would give to students taking any class, there are some pieces of advice useful outside of class, such as getting involved. This means joining clubs and/or sports that you actually enjoy participating in, which will help you find a community of people you have a common interest with. Life is really just a big game of networking and starting early will help you have more opportunities in the very near future.
Another thing you can do to jumpstart your career is taking classes over the summer, if you haven’t done so already. Health, gym, personal finance and other semester-long classes are relatively easy to complete during the summer and allow you to take classes you’re actually interested in taking during the school year.
Doing this can also help you find something you’d be interested in pursuing throughout college and do for the beginning of your career. It’s also smart to take classes that will challenge you, but not so many that you overload yourself. Classes generally are harder this year, so you may find that you actually need to study for tests to do well on them.
You’re most likely going to take the practice SAT and ACT, huge tests that don’t count for any points this year. It can be really helpful to actually try on these tests instead of blowing them off, because it will help you to know what the real tests are going to be like, such as what kinds of questions are going to be asked and how fast you need to answer them.
Overall, sophomore year can be a great opportunity to further your education, find what you want to do in life and who you want to be. However, you will have to try if you want these things to happen. Therefore, the one thing I would most recommend for incoming sophomores to do is to put effort into everything you do.
THE MAIN FLOOR
DUE TO SAFETY REASONS, MAPS OF THE SCHOOL ARE NOT ABLE TO BE POSTED ONLINE. TO VIEW A MAP, PLEASE REFERENCE THE PHYSICAL COPY OF THE NORTH STAR
ADVICE FOR JUNIORS
by Drew Johnson djohnson440@g.fhsdschools.org
The so-called “worst year of high school” doesn’t actually have to be as hard as it’s made out to be. Whether it’s the infamous ACT or the endless list of to-do’s to prepare for college, your junior year can be your best year yet if you approach it the right way. Think of this year as an opportunity to set yourself up for success later on. Start building connections with teachers to make asking for letters of recommendation less stressful next year. Take more niche classes that don’t fall into the required core classes. If business piques your interest, try out one or two of the classes. From cooking to art classes, FHN offers an array of courses and clubs that are an easy way to discover what you’re interested in after high school.
Arguably the most repeated but important advice is to be involved in activities. Pick one or two main activities, but venture out to other “side hustles.” Join the clubs that you are unsure about. Have a friend come with you to make it less awkward. Many clubs are dismissed by students quickly, however, they can lead to a fun way to spend time and a helpful resumé boost.
The ACT is often portrayed as a terrifying feat. Thankfully, it isn’t nearly as hard or important as described. In recent years, many colleges and universities have switched to test-optional, meaning you are not required to submit a test score for admission. Additionally, super scores are widely accepted among higher-education institutions. While the chaos of the year and high school in general can get to one’s well-being, it is important to sit back and relax regularly. After all, you are in high school. Take time for yourself after a big test or hard day. Enjoy your experience. Have fun with friends. Go to prom. It is easy to get ahead of ourselves and consider our futures too much, but you must remember and enjoy your childhood before it comes to an end.
THE BOTTOM FLOOR
DUE TO SAFETY REASONS, MAPS OF THE SCHOOL ARE NOT ABLE TO BE POSTED ONLINE. TO VIEW A MAP, PLEASE REFERENCE THE PHYSICAL COPY OF THE NORTH STAR
WELCOME TO THE ATHLETIC SIDE
DUE TO SAFETY REASONS, MAPS OF THE SCHOOL ARE NOT ABLE TO BE POSTED ONLINE. TO VIEW A MAP, PLEASE REFERENCE THE PHYSICAL COPY OF THE NORTH STAR
ADVICE FOR SENIORS
by Ben Henry FHN Alumn
Hey y’all. Most of you haven’t met me, but I graduated last year with the class of ‘24, and I’m back to dish out some helpful advice from someone who already made it through.
The first and most important thing I tell everyone who asks how to get the most out of high school is to get involved in something. It can be anything. Even if you’re not the most athletic person, consider trying out for a sport. There’s zero shame in playing on the C-team and you’re only ever going to get better. If sports really aren’t your thing, there’s plenty of clubs that would love to have you. Sports and clubs are hands-down the best way to meet new people with similar interests.
The next thing I want to pass on is that taking care of your physical and mental health is paramount. Don’t be the guy (or gal) who always talks about how they only get 4 hours of sleep a night. It’s not really something to brag about. In the same vein, I would advise against skipping meals to make more time to study. It’s not good for your health in the long run and you study better when you’re not hungry. Something else I would recommend doing is balancing your class load between your AP and honors courses and your ‘fun’ classes. You’re going to get burned out if you take 7 APs in one semester, but 4 APs, a woodworking class, an art class and a gym class makes for a good balance. Plus, I’ve heard that the newspaper classes are a lot of fun.
The final thing I want to leave you with is that you should support your friends and classmates by showing up and showing out. Going to sporting events or whatever the Drama Club is putting on is the best way to support your friends. Make sure to check socials to find out the theme of the game and arrive in your best themed outfit. On the same topic, participating in Spirit Days is an amazing way to feel involved and included.
Just put yourself out there and make the most of your four years here, and high school will be over before you know it.
HOW TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO YOUR NEW TEAM
All sports players know that feeling of walking towards the field or court being the brand new player on the team. This feeling, the one in your gut making you more nervous than ever. Many people don’t know what to do with being the new player, it can be intimidating. I experienced this same feeling my sophomore year of high school. They called my name and my heart dropped with being excited, but also very nervous. The nervous feeling of thinking am I ready for this, can I do this? What if the team hates me?
All these things running through your head is scary and nerve racking, but you have to remember they called you for a reason. You were meant to be on this team. Getting through the mental part of that is harder than the part of being scared of the team. Know one’s going to bite, they are all a team that you can rely on and be a part of their family now. For me when I was new I tried to reach out to some of my new teammates, ask them questions and try to make conversation with them. I was lucky enough to know some of my teammates from my club team which helped them be friendly and take me under their wing.
The club situation won’t always be the case, but they know you’re a young player and still adapting to their level so they will be patient with you.
One thing to make sure of is to not be cocky since you’re so young on this older team. No one enjoys a cocky teammate who thinks they are better than everyone. It was important for me to know these guys have my back now no matter what.
It was really amazing for me once I was able to settle in how much of a family this team became to me.
2023-24
Michaela
Faith
Gavin Swart
Illustrations by
Michaela Manfull
Violet Newton
Cheyenne Steed
Cover by
Michaela Manfull
Violet Newton
KEEP
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Joy - Canyon Dubis Features Section Editor
Ennui - Nylah Smith News Section Editor
Embarrassment - Gavin Swart Online Editor
Sadness - Peyton Thies Copy Editor
Fear - Noah Tucker Entertainment Section Editor
Anxiety - Michaela Manfull Editor in Chief of Design
Disgust - Violet Newton Editor in Chief of Writing
Presley Jaques, 10
