April 3, 2019 - A Tear in Daily Life

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BEYE CONTINUES VOLLEYBALL PAGE 33 |

NORTH | STAR

FRANCIS HOWELL NORTH | ST. CHARLES, MO 63303 | 04.03.19 | VOL 33 ISSUE 06

A TEAR IN THE DAILY LIFE

Explore the lives of people who live with chronic illnesses PAGE 24

FHNtoday.com

CONTENTS

8

Junior Bella Basta poses while showing off her dress during the prom fashion show. The Junior Delegates put on the fashion show to raise money for Prom. This year Prom will take place on April 26. (Photo by Riley Witherbee)

14

Evelyn Moeckel shows off a look she created with her skills and knowledge of makeup. (Portrait by Bella Schneider)

ENTERTAINMENT Music Over Time

1

Check out this infographic to see the change and impact of music through time

2

Pewdiepie vs T-Series Look into this ongoing Internet battle between the two top YouTube channels

NEWS 8 StuCo Plans Mr.FHN Read all about the ins and outs of how Mr. FHN is planned

10 Get Sex Educated Learn about how to keep up with different aspects of your sexual heath

FEATURES 17 Multiple Languages

Read about freshman Pavan Kolluru’s connections through language

20 Recovering From Maria Andres Cancel shares Hurricane Maria’s impact on him and his family

SPORTS

38 Triathlete at FHN

Take a look through Olivia Neunaber’s journey within competitive triathlons

39 Diverse Work-Outs Zuga Fitness provides a friendly environment within their classes

OPINIONS 43 The Drills Situation The school drill schedule should put more thought into the comfortability of students

44 The Green New Deal This face off debates the two sides of the pros and cons of the Green New Deal

ON THE COVER

A student is torn from the classroom. For students facing chronic illnesses, their day to day lives are often altered by their illness. These students end up ripped away from the typical desirable high school experience. (Photo Illustration by Francisco Jimenez)

FHNTODAY.COM | 04.03.19 | CONTENTS

34

Junior Will Schellman poses with his tennis racket while he practices in preparation for state. (Portrait

by Phoebe Primeau)

PAGE BY PATTY O’LEARY

LISTEN CLOSELY

The way music has been listened to over time has impacted lives

by Macy Cronin

macy.cronin03@gmail.com | @curvynoodle

Over the ages people have listened to music many different ways and allowed music to have a sentimental spot in their heart.

“The music I was listening to [in the 80s] is just special to me, because I can associate it with certain memories,” French teacher Dave Fritz said.

Each person has grown with different eras and those eras have allowed them to shape their music taste uniquely.

“It’s really crazy because now we just hit a

button, but back then [when records were popular] it was like if the record is scratched you can’t skip that part of the song, so you just learn to love it anyways,” freshman Rylie Miller said.

Inventors have let their creative sides take over and help them make the sounds we hear on music devises today, no matter how old or how new. “[Music] is always going to be evolving, but I honestly don’t know where it could go now because it’s already wireless and really all you need is a pair of headphones,” Fritz said.

Music Through the Ages 1877

1895

When the first radio signals were sent in 1895, the public did not have an opportunity to listen to the RADIO for another 25 years.

In 1925 Westinghouse’s KDKA Pittsburgh broadcasted the static filled Harding vs. Cox election results. All radio was static filled until Edwin Howard Armstrong invented FM radio and helped control the static noise.

Vanessa Guerrero

Each new invention brings to light a new way to listen (Content by Macy Cronin) Thomas Edison’s PHONOGRAPH was a cylinder wrapped in tinfoil.

Indentions were marked on the tinfoil and a vibrating stylus was put on the sheet while it spun around and as it was spinning sounds were being recorded.

STUDENT TAKE: Why is music special?

09

9

“I like music because it can show lots of expression with it and convey lots of moods.”

1887

Emil Berliner improved Edison’s design by flattening out the cylinder to have a disc instead. Berliner made negatives of these discs and used them to make more copies of the original. He called these discs RECORDS and they were released to the public in 1895.

John

1962

Feldman

Philips first introduced the first compact CASSETTE for audio storage to Hanover, Germany. The cassette stored audio sounds on a magnetic tape that is around two reels inside of it. It wasn’t until 1964 that the invention was introduced in the United States and that same year it started to be mass produced in Germany.

09

10

“I grew up with [music] all my life and it inspired culture and culture has inspired it.”

1964

Dividing magnetic recording into eight tracks or channels was done

by William Powell Lear. He invented the 8-TRACK without ruining the sound quality of the and also increased the recording time of the one continuous loop of tape.

Lear made it possible for people to listen to what they want when they want it.

1992

Fraunhofer Institute in Germany invented and patented the first audio recording MPEG-1 or MP1.

They later released MP2 and then the United States wanted some action. They applied for a patent to a device called the MP3. The States received the patent in ‘96, but in 1999 when Fraunhofer enforced their patent rights and that resulted in every developer or encoder to pay them a licensing fee.

(Sources; Britannica, Electrohome, thoughtco, hcmh, techwalla, digitaltrends, npr)

PAGE BY MACY CRONIN

James

1980

The red book standard, a series of documents that Sony and Philips made that tells what frequencies humans can hear, helped James Russell finalize his invention of the CD or compact disc. This invention will be first released in Japan in 1982 and many months later in ‘83 it will reach United States stores.

Amsden

09

[Music] helps drown out reality; comfortably numb.”

09

“[Music] is a way to relate to someone else’s feelings.”

11

2006

Spotify was the first STREAMING service that offered a solution to the growing piracy issue in the music industry. Daniel Ek and Martin Lorentzon created this platform in Stockholm, Sweden and released their platform to fans two years later. Further on, Apple created their service called Apple Music to compete with Spotify in 2015.

Adriana Jimenez 12

ENTERTAINMENT| 04.03.19 | FHNTODAY.COM

01

WHICH MARVEL HERO ARE YOU?

Circle each trait that most applies to you, the hero with the most circled like you (Content and illustrations by Ryleigh O’Donnell) Ironman Captain America Spiderman Deadpool Social Group Class

Prep

Engineering

Jock History

Nerd Science

Outcast Lunch

Dubstep

Rock

Jazz

Indie

Egotistical

Loyal

Sweet

Vulgar

Wall-E

Snow White

Finding Nemo

Frozen

Cat

Dog

Ferret

Unicorn

Greyhound

Golden Retriever

Beagle

Self-Deprecating

Dad Jokes

Dark Humor

Thought Process

Logical

Silly Quips

Premediation

Attitude Social Media

Optimist

Intuituve Relativist

Impulsive

Realist Twitter

Facebook

Instagram

Movie Genre

Sci-Fi

Classic

Animation

Tumblr Comedy

Music Personality Movie

Animal

Dog Breed Humor

“I do believe it’s accurate, because I act a lot like Ironman.”

“I feel like it’s relatively accurate overall.”

Trenton Brooksher, 10

Chloe Averbeck, 9

“I really liked my results! They were very accurate and exactly what I would have guessed.”

Rose Martin, 9

Husky

Scepticist

“I think it’s accurate because I’m a jerk.”

Austin Goff, 11

WAR ENDS! PewDiePie signs armistice with T-Series, ending fight in Youtube’s worldwide great subscriber war

by Connor Peper

officialconnorpeper@gmail.com

Brighton, United Kingdom- On March 2, at 2:49 p.m. CST, The Kingdom of Sweden surrendered to the Republic of India, ending a year long conflict between the two parties. The war was concluded by a tweet by Felix Kjellberg, also known as PewDiePie, announcing his intent to surrender to enemy commander T-Series.

The end of an era is here. Youtuber and epic gamer, PewDiePie, is about to be surpassed by Indian media company T-Series. PewDiePie, who has held the spot since 2013, tweeted a simple statement of capitulation to his millions of followers: “Looks like this is it.” It doesn’t take a genius to know what ‘it’ is.

The two Youtube channels have been competing for the top stop for months; however the odds were never in PewDiePie’s favor. It was one Swedish man versus the entire country of India. One Swede against 1.3 billion Indians.

The Youtube community, for the most part, rallied by PewDiePie. Winning endorsements from fellow Youtubers Markiplier, jacksepticeye, Logan Paul and MrBeast. MrBeast has lead several campaigns to try and increase PewDiePie’s sub count from buying every billboard in his home town with “Subscribe to PewDiePie” ads to holding a “Subscribe to PewDiePie” sign at the SuperBowl.

Other efforts enacted by the generals of PewDiePie’s army (which is presumed to be made up of mostly nine year olds) included a sophisticated operation to fax people pro-PewDiePie messaging and playing patriotic PewDiePie songs

02

FHNTODAY.COM | 04.03.19 | ENTERTAINMENT

Historic photo of Felix Kjellberg battling Demon Lord T-Series to the death in a ring of fire. (Illustration by Lily Sontheimer)

on the piano in public places until people asked them to stop. PewDiePie also received support from other sources as well. Both Entrepreneur Elon Musk and conservative commentator Ben Shapiro hosted PewDiePie’s “Meme Review” show; however, though Shapiro tried to destroy T-Series with facts and logic, in the end, it wasn’t enough.

The victory for T-Series symbolizes the shift in content on Youtube. Gone are the days of the self-made individuals like PewDiePie, making way for the days of corporate content like T-Series. Youtube is no longer a place where the little man flourishes, instead Youtube has selected the multi-million corporations instead.

PAGE BY CONNOR PEPER

of M SI S FHN The

30 years ago, Sim City was released to the public as a game where you built and managed a city. 11 years later, EA decided to zoom in to see how the people lived and The Sims was born. 19 years and multiple games later, take a look at where the franchise began and what students and teachers have to say about the Sims (Content by Kylah Woods)

CREATE-A-SIM: FHN STYLE

BRIEF HISTORY OF THE SIMS

Take a look at what some teachers and students look like as Sims and what they would do for a career

Take a look at where the Sims began and what EA has released since the original Sims in 2000

2000

The Sims came

2002 Greg Brown

Maggie McNevin

“I’d definitely be a college professor. I love teaching people math, especially college-level math.”

“I’d be an artist because I don’t think I could make a career out of it in real life so I’d do it as a Sim.”

Math Teacher

11

William Crow

Social Studies Teacher

“I would love to be a meteorologist. I’ve always been fascinated by weather.”

The Sims Online

was EA’s first Massive Multiplayer Online (MMO) game where players could get on and interact with people around the world.

2007

Malachi Fedderson 12

“[I would be a] lawyer because my parents watched a lot of crime shows when I was younger so I got into it.”

Amy Stoker

English Teacher

“If I were a Sim, I’d love to be a stand up comedian. I like quick humor and comedy is my favorite type of podcast.”

Abigail Schmitt 9

“If I were a Sim, I’d be any kind of engineer because I really love math and science.”

WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT THE GAME?

Take a look at what more students and teachers would look like as Sims and what they like about the game

The Sims Stories

gave a plot to the otherwise player-driven game.

2009 The Sims 3 came out with more diverse game play with more whims and customization options.

2011

The Sims Medieval

was released. Players can build a kingdom.

Robert Stegman

Andrés Cancel

Kaitlynn Jansen

“Personally, I like that I had a game where I could build and they could interact with what I built. I’d put in cheat codes, build a mansion and fill it with cool stuff.”

“I like the representation of how some people live their lives. It represents how hard the management of money, houses and appliances can be.”

“I love that it’s a strategy game, except the strategy is your life. You can either make the best life possible or you can go to the extreme and do weird challenges.”

Band Teacher

PAGE BY KYLAH WOODS

10

Math

out and had a 2D background and the core Sims idea: a world that you build and control.

2004 The Sims 2 was a fully 3D world that put more focus on the humans. It allowed you to follow them through their stages of life and let the player build a connection with their sims.

2007

MySims was released

for Nintendo and Wii.

2008

The Sims Carnival

was released. It was similar to Roller coaster Tycoon in the way that you build and run an amusement park.

2011

The Sims FreePlay

was released on mobile and it was the Sims first mobile release, with ongoing updates.

2014

The Sims 4 came

out with even more in-depth emotions and create-a-Sim options.

ENTERTAINMENT| 04.03.19 | FHNTODAY.COM

03

comic central SOCIALLY AWKWARD TEACHER Hey! How is everyone doing today?

TOUCHDOWN

Why do I always put myself in this situation? Why did I even get a job that requires socializing?

asleep

distracted Lo

Teacher

Teacher

School Spirit!

School Spirit! just doesn’t care

(Illustration by Della Boenitz)

BEAUTIFUL SUNSET This sunset is beautiful!

Hey dude? mhm?

Not as beautiful as the person reading this.

(Illustration by Minnie Adams)

04

FHNTODAY.COM | 04.03.19| ENTERTAINMENT

(Illustration by Ryleigh O’Donnell)

PAGE BY REBEKAH MYERS

Senior Hannah Wilson poses with her 4.0 luncheon invitation. Students had to have a 4.0 or higher GPA to be invited. The event is held annually at Old Hickory country club. (Photo by Phoebe Primeau)

Math teacher Hannah Snyder-Laws, looks over students’ work during her Algebra class. The curriculum has students working together in teams to solve problems and complete the lesson for that day. (Photo by Anna Hollinger)

STUDENT TAKE:

DO YOU LIKE THE NEW MATH CURRICULUM?

“Yes, because it gives you a better understanding.”

Austin Carlson, 10

KOE HOSTS LUNCHEON FOR SENIORS KOE will be hosting the 4.0 luncheon on April 5 for qualified seniors at Old Hickory Golf Club. About 90 seniors from all three high schools will leave during third hour for the luncheon. They will get their photos taken, eat a lunch of chicken, salads and vegetables and then receive awards before heading home.

“It’s nice to see all the students,” KOE sponsor Kristen Johnson said. “They’re all dressed up and looking spiffy, and then just to see them celebrated for what I think is a pretty important accomplishment. And they always have fun interacting with each other. All the other high schools are there too, so you just get to see the best students in our district.”

The seniors need to have a weighted GPA of 4.0 or higher, Juniors graduating early and seniors who graduated at semester are also honored at the event.

At the event, the high school principals give speeches, the superintendent speaks and each student is recognized with their post high school goals being read off as they receive their awards.

“I was surprised when I got [the invitation] because I didn’t know when it would come out,” senior Sarah Moore said. “It was exciting when I got it. I’m looking forward to hanging out with friends and meeting people from other schools.”

After the students celebrate their hard work till about 1 p.m., they can end the day early.

“I was excited that I was being honored for that and I got that,” senior Kelly Burris said. “I was proud of myself.” (Story by Kat Davis and Hannah Wilson)

06

FHNTODAY.COM | 04.03.19 | NEWS

NEW MATH, NEW WAYS

The new math curriculum, CPM, has students learning from a book rather than being lectured

by Anna Besancenez

bbesancenez466@g.fhsdschools.org

S

elected high school math students started a new curriculum last year by College Preparatory Mathematics. CPM is a company that created a new math curriculum called Core Connections.

Core Connections allows students to learn off other students in conversing about math.

“The curriculum is what’s right for kids,” math teacher Christine Edwards said. ”I love the interaction between the students and how they take responsibility for their own personal learning.”

Unlike the traditional method of the teacher standing up at the board teaching or lecturing while the class listens and takes notes, students are actively learning. Students are placed in a group of four at a table. Each table has a few textbooks that hold all the questions including homework.

The problems students do in class are called Core Problems. The Core Problems are usually five to eight questions that are related to the unit they are currently on. The goal is to learn something new everyday through working with peers.

“As well as the students, I am constantly learning new things,” Edwards said. ”Things I would have never thought of to get the answer.”

Students have homework almost every night. Homework is typically online, but some teachers print it out to make it easier to grade and go over at the beginning of class. While doing homework online, if you click on the

question expands it and you can get extra help. Homework help sometimes gives the answer without steps to get the student actively learning, which can lead to poor test scores. Most of the time, homework help gives steps leading to the answer so the student will get a better understanding of how the problem was solved. This way they are more engaged.

“I’m seeing students remember more things from the earlier chapters rather than the traditional,” math teacher Hannah Snyder-Laws said.

According to Snyder-Laws, this new addition has changed the way of learning of the students who actually put forth the effort. Learning is not in the teachers hands anymore, it is on the students for how well they do their work and how much they pay attention.

“I think the new curriculum helps your memory and your working with a group so you’re getting other students perspectives,” sophomore Sydney Giacomarra said.

While students like Giacomarra like it, other students are not very fond of the new curriculum because they are either not used to it and like the traditional method a lot better, or they are frustrated because they don’t know exactly what they are doing and claim they are not learning. On the other hand, teachers are seeing a difference with the class, so it could be benefiting the students.

“It increases communication skills while learning,” Edwards said. “It also makes math fun for all kids.”

“I don’t like it because I’m learning from a book when I’m supposed to be learning from the teacher.”

Skylar Ramshaw, 10

“No, because it’s too stressful working with people and you have to teach yourself.”

Elle Bommarito, 9

“Yes, because it’s explaining more ways to understand.”

Kaliegha Gresham, 9

“No, because I get better information from hearing.”

LaRon Jackman, 11

PAGE BY ANNA BESANCENEZ

(Photo Submitted)

Sophomore Dominic Murphy, senior Cole Hayes and junior Andrew Reese plays snare during their marching band show on Oct. 5. “I think it’s going to be great and it sounds like it’s going to be a really exciting show. We will be able to excel in a few competitions and football games and have fun,” sophomore Parker Kilen said. (Photo by Riley Witherbee)

KNIGHTPRIDE STARTS TO ‘FREEZE’ Marching Band season kicks off early in production for their fall show

by Leann Smyth

other important information. Each year, uniforms are made to fit the show theme.

Preparation for next year’s marching season is This year’s theme ‘Freeze’ was announced at the beginning now. The participating numbers are being band’s winter formal. The band hopes to incorporate estimated above 110 students. Currently, recruiting new skills from previous seasons into this show. Being members is a big focus in these early stages. relevant, fun and entertaining, while keeping a “The process now is to push recruiting for marching competitive edge are some of their main targets for the band,” Band Director Rob Stegeman said. “I’ll start going upcoming season. down to the middle schools somewhat regularly, so I “We’ve got a really interesting show theme,” junior and can get the kids that are interested, their names and Assistant Drum Major Grace Sickendick said. “Two years their instruments.” ago we did trampolines and last year we were ‘Wired’ For returning members interested in leadership and this year it’s going to be different and cool like that, positions, the annual leadership camp will be held not normal. We’ll have a rap song in there at one point, April 7 to 12. Stegeman has been we’ll have classical music, definitely a wide using this program he developed variety. We’re going to have interesting for about 11 years. At the end of props that will help with the marching the camp, drum majors, section technique. It’ll make a cool visual.”

Check out the season leaders and other positions Starting early is hugely important, calendar here: will be determined by him. The according to Stegeman. The early training bit.ly/2FcLiSb students chosen are models for the to master fundamentals is the foundation majority, providing guidance and needed to work on the show. mentorship.

“The marching band kids understand, number one, “It’s about educating them on a climate of proper how fun and fulfilling [it] can be,” Stegeman said. “It’s leadership,” Stegeman said. “I hope to accomplish and not instant gratification. They work for five months to teach everybody about servant leadership. A leader perfect a seven minute show. It’s difficult, there’s a lot isn’t someone who bosses people around, a leader of time, there’s a lot of energy, but they know what it is someone who sacrifices and has responsibility to feels like to win. Those kids are willing to go above and help people around them better themselves. If you’re beyond and work to better themselves.” the section leader or drum major, you’re not the first With her past experience, Sickendick hopes to become in line to eat, you’re the last in line to eat. You make Head Drum Major this year, leading and conducting. She sure everybody is taken care of before you take care of and Stegeman look forward to the fall. yourself.” “[New members should] know that it goes by fast,” New and returning members will be attending Sickendick said. “I remember freshman year thinking Commitment Night on May 1. There, new uniforms will ‘this is going to take forever,’ but now this is going to be fitted for the coming show, down payments can be be my last season. It’s a blast and you’ll get to know a made and season calendars will be given out as well as bunch of people, so just savor every moment of it.”

leannmsmyth@gmail.com | @leann_smy

MORE INFO

PAGE BY LEANN SMYTH

SOPHOMORE ASHANTI DALTON PASSES AWAY Sophomore Ashanti Dalton passed away on Jan. 22, 2019. Her birthday was Oct. 15, 2002. She was 16 years old. She would have graduated with the class of 2021.

Ashanti passed away due to complications from Cystic Fibrosis, an incurable hereditary disorder that affected the endocrine glands. She was the only child of Karen Dalton.

When asked about her daughter, Karen described Ashanti as a very loving kid, who loved everybody.

While she attended FHN, she kept her grades up. She was home bound so teachers would go to her house or the hospital she stayed at. They would help her out with school as well.

She grew close with the nurses and principals. According to her counselor Stephanie Johnson, she handled things gracefully and in a positive manner. Johnson can’t emphasize enough how well she continued to persevere and push through not knowing what the next day would hold.

Ashanti loved to cook, play with her cousins and buy shoes. She also loved the color pink. While in the hospital, she would make crafts to pass the time.

Ashanti spent a lot of time at Saint Louis Children’s Hospital, even throwing out the first pitch at an August Cardinals game, representing the lung transplant team. (Story by Madison Abanathie and Sammie Herr)

FHNTODAY.COM | 04.03.19 | NEWS

07

UPCOMING EVENTS

April

5

Thursday

Spring Play

Time: 7 p.m.

Where: Auditorium

April

8

Monday

Senior Trip Info Meeting Time: 6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Where: Learning Commons

NEW FHSD APP As part of FHSD’s “Future Focused” strategic planning efforts, a new app was unveiled on Jan. 22 or use by students, parents and staff members alike. The app serves as a hub for all of the different apps, websites and services allowing you to check grades, add lunch money, access calendars and more. To download the app, search “Francis Howell” on Google Play or in the app store.

“I don’t have the app yet, but it would be very convenient to only have to go to one place to check your grades and add lunch money,” junior Courtney Helmick said.

It is downloadable on iOS and Android. People who have it downloaded will be the first to receive notifications for snow days. FHSD analytics show that two thirds of students and parents who access this information do so from a mobile device, meaning this app will make it easier for the two thirds majority that are using their phone to retrieve their information.

“It’s very organized and easy to

manage,” freshman Jack Luong said.

“I like how I can add lunch money and check my grades in the same place. I’m excited to show it to my mom because she always complains about how long it takes.”

Previously, to get to all the things that the app grants you access to, it took multiple apps, passwords and websites. With the introduction of the app, it shaves off multiple steps from the process and brings all of your information to one place. The app significantly streamlines the process of searching for information about FHN and makes it easier for students, parents and staff members since they have it all in one place. “[The app] is a way to engage and collaborate with families,” Chief Communications and Community Relations Officer Matt Diechmann said.

“We will continue to add content to make sure it remains a viable source for information. We encourage the students to download it as well, it’s not just for parents.” (Brief by Jack Cleaveland and Sammie Herr)

MR. FHN RETURNS

On April 17 StuCo will be hosting its annual Mr. FHN in the auditorium at 7 p.m. to raise money for an organization of each contestant’s choice.

“Mr. FHN is a male beauty pageant and we’ve been having it here at North for probably over 10 years now,” Jani Wilkens, StuCo Sponsor, said. “It’s meant to give boys a chance to raise a lot of money for charity and then they compete in a show and they compete in the different talents like you would in a Miss America Pageant so we do athletic wear, formal wear, they have a question and answer segment and then we have like a formal dress up and then a talent.”

Any male student can participate in the show that is interested. Mr. FHN has been growing in popularity over the years, and the school has been able to raise a lot of money from it to help others.

“We’ve had people raise money for things that are close to their family or

08

friends, like things people have been affected by, whether it’s certain types of cancer or learning disabilities or even like really local things like there’s the Nahed Chapman School the New American school in St. Louis which is a school for refugees.” Wilkens said.

Mr. FHN helps build community by supporting those around us. Last year Mr. FHN raised over $10,000, and they’re hoping to raise even more this year. They try to have a humorous evening with family and friends in order to raise those funds.

“I like entertaining people so it’s a lot of fun putting on a show and having the talent and the dance can just be goofy,” Mr. FHN participant and senior Corey Valleroy said. “I find that very entertaining, I also love raising money for charity and seeing it change lives.”

The show brings people together, by helping those in need. Anyone can and is welcome to watch and donate. (Brief

by Liy Taliaferro)

FHNTODAY.COM | 04.03.19 | NEWS

FHN students pose together and model the prom fashion trends for the year. The fashion show was hosted by the Junior Delegates to raise money for prom. The event is a chance for students to model dresses and suits from area stores. (Photo by Riley Witherbee).

THE PROM PROMISES TO BE SPECIAL Every year FHN celebrates Prom and many juniors and seniors are looking forward to one of the most memorable event of school year.

This year, Prom will happen on April 26 at the Old Hickory Golf Club. According to Junior Class Sponsor Marissa Heyer, planning for Prom is an important event that requires a lot of time, patience and teamwork.

“There are a lot of things to do so we have a whole team working on it,” Heyer said. “Our team consists of the four officers and the Junior Class Delegates.”

While organizing and planning, Junior Class Delegates do their best to make Prom unforgettable for each and every attendee. Heyer, is responsible for organizing details like securing the DJ, photo booth and venue.

“We want to make every year different and special in its own way,”

Heyer said. “This year the Prom theme is ‘Starry Night’. We are also having a new venue and we are all really excited about the new change.”

There’s a lot going on behind the scenes that most students don’t know about. The coordination that must occur starts very early in the year.

“We started pretty heavy in January and it goes all the way to Prom,” Heyer said. “It’s really important. You have to make sure everything goes together, the date, the venue and the other people who are participating are able to work together.”

There’s hope that all of the hard work and pressure of the deadlines will result in a exciting night for all.

“I feel like this Prom is going to be a very special Prom where I’ll make a lot of memories,” senior Jude Khdeer said. “I can’t wait to see how a new venue will turn out.”

(Brief by Sofiya Melnychuk)

PAGE BY SOFIYA MELNYCHUK

April

19

No School

Time: All day

Friday

April

26

Friday

Junior Cameron Minter lunges to throw his bean bag to win the game. KOE hosted the KOE Picnic last year, with multiple bouncy castles. The picnic was for students who did good things within the school throughout the school year. (File Photo)

NEW ADDITION TO THE KOE PICNIC

For as long as most staff and students can remember, Knights Of Excellence (KOE) has had a way of rewarding FHN students during second semester who have done the right things throughout the school year. This year, the picnic takes place on April 25 and will be on the turf field during sixth and seventh hour. It offers invited students many possibilities of having a good time from free food to inflatables to many games that students can play.

“It’s really nice to see the students happy and enjoying the picnic,” cosponsor Lindsey Scheller said. “Also, to see all the students feel recognized for all of their different achievements and be able to just chill with their friends and have fun for a day is nice.”

The planning process consists of pulling class rosters and filtering in the requirements to come such as students on Honor Roll, students with 90 percent attendance and students who have not been in ISAP or OSS all year. Then the list of students are compiled together and highlighted

PAGE BY MICHAEL ZULL

by hand on sixth hour rosters of all teachers. KOE gets their spending money for the picnic from not only their provided budget from the District, but from selling Powderpuff tickets in the fall.

“It’s a long process for sure,” cosponsor Kristen Johnson said. “ From getting the class rosters all ready to getting the right students highlighted, it takes time.”

On top of the inflatables and other activities, according to Scheller, there will be a “never been done before” student performance. A few FHN students will be performing aerial silks on the field. The students will be suspended in the air from silks and they’ll be putting on a performance for people throughout the picnic.

“It would add a different aspect to the event having that happen,” junior and KOE member Molly Scott said.

“Instead of having a whole bunch of activities, one would have a place where [the students] could just relax and enjoy the performance.” (Brief by Michael Zull)

Graduation Practice

Time: 7:20 a.m. - 11 a.m.

Where: Large Gym

April

26

Friday

Prom Time: 7 p.m.

Where: Old Hickory Golf Club

Sophomore Zoe Meier sings a song from the upcoming musical during the Battle of the Howells. The Battle of the Howells was a competition between the FHSD schools in which members completed challenges and were judged on their performances.

(Photo by Addy Bradbury)

DRAMA PERFORMS NEW SPRING MUSICAL The FHN Drama Club has been preparing for their second and final play of the 2018-19 school year which will take place on April 4 through 6, with additional showings on April 12 and 13. The preparation started back in August of 2018, making it the most prepared performance compared to the club’s other productions. The drama club had been deciding between two plays, “Sound of Music” and “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown,” to perform for their spring play, however chose a complete opposite one. The play this time around is “The Addams Family-the Musical”, and consists of a much smaller cast compared to the size they’ve had in their past musicals with only 10 principles and 15 chorus.

“We started off with the two plays,”

drama teacher Kim Sulzner said. “ Then someone threw out The Addams Family and we got a good reaction from that and the drama officers took it from there.”

This play also has a new feature that hasn’t been done before by the club. According to senior David Hernandez who plays Gomez Addams, this feature is “incredible but complex”. This play will have a platform to hold the FHN jazz band above the stage while they perform the music to the play. The platform will be seven and a half feet in the air.

“You’re going to be able to see the band playing and it’s really cool,” senior and cast member Haley Peer said. “They’re going to be on a platform really high up and their heads are going to be touching the teaser curtain.” (Brief by Michael Zull)

NEWS| 04.03.19 | FHNTODAY.COM

09

MAINTAINING YOUR SEXUAL HEALTH

(Sources: Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Planned Parenthood, The Guttmacher Institute)

Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Around 10 million new cases of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are reported in people ages 15 to 24 every year. According to the CDC, young people are particularly susceptible to STDs in part because some do not have access to or know to receive the recommended STD testing. Here is some information regarding when and where to get tested:

When to get tested: Every person between the ages of 13 and 64 should be tested for HIV once a year. Additionally, if you begin to show any signs or symptoms of an STD, visit a testing center or speak to a medical professional immediately.

See this link for a list of symptoms: mayocl.in/2PtHHRC

Or visit them in person at this address: 208 Mid Rivers Mall Center Dr Saint Peters, MO 63376

Contraceptives

Of the women between 15 and 19 who were at risk for an unintended pregnancy in 2006 to 2010, 82 percent were using a contraceptive method, but only 59 percent were using a highly effective method. Here is a collection of information on different forms of birth control:

A latex or plastic pouch which provides a barrier between genitalia to prevent pregnancy and the transmission of STDs. It is important to only use condoms that have not expired.

A shot of the hormone progesterone, which prevents pregnancy by stopping ovulation and thickening the natural mucus on the surface of the cervix.

194,377 babies were born to high school aged women in 2017. According to the CDC, teenage pregnancy has lasting impacts on all parties involved including the mother, father and the child born. Here is some information on what to do in a pregnancy scare, and what your options are: A ‘home’ pregnancy test can be taken as early as early as 10 days after conception. If you are experiencing symptoms of pregnancy, consider purchasing a test. For more information about, and where to purchase them visit: bit.ly/2OmL2m0 For a list of early pregnancy symptoms visit: bit.ly/2TpZaQL

Planned Parenthood of the Saint Louis Region and Southwest Missouri offers free and low cost testing.

Visit this link to make an appointment, or for more information: bit.ly/2SES0nx

Birth control shot

Pregnancy scare

If you think you may be pregnant:

Where to get tested:

Condoms

According to the CDC, 40 percent of high school students report having had sexual intercourse. Provided below is information that the CDC and Planned Parenthood feel is necessary to have in order to keep up with your sexual health (Content by Sophie Carite)

IUD Also known as an intrauterine device, an IUD is a small piece of T shaped plastic, that is implanted in the uterus.

It works by using hormones or copper to prevent sperm from reaching an egg.

Birth control pill

Birth control implant

The pill contains hormones that prevent ovulation and thicken the mucus on the cervix.

Both of these things prevent pregnancy from happening by preventing sperm from reaching the egg.

A thin, matchstick sized, rod implanted under the skin in the upper arm, which prevents pregnancy by releasing a series of hormones that stop ovulation and thicken the cervical mucus.

If the results are positive, or you’re still concerned, consider getting a follow up test done by a medical professional at your regular doctors office, or at any healthcare clinic.

What your options are:

• Plan B: If you are concerned that you may be pregnant in the time before a pregnancy test is able to detect it, Plan B may be something to consider. Plan B is an emergency contraceptive that stops ovulation and prevents eggs from attaching to the uterus.

It can be taken within three days after unsafe sex.

• Bring the pregnancy to term: This decision is one that’s important to consider and discuss with your doctor. If you do choose to have a baby, you should see a doctor and start taking prenatal vitamins as soon as possible.

• Abortion: Abortion is a decision that should be carefully thought out and researched. If abortion is something you’re considering, you can reach out to the Planned Parenthood in downtown Saint Louis that offers the procedure for more information. Visit this link for more information about the various types of abortion and how to schedule an appointment: bit.ly/2XL4o91

STUDENT TAKE: DO YOU THINK YOU

“Yes, but I wish I would have learned more about what to do if you think IN HEALTH CLASS TO someone you know is pregnant.”

MAINTAIN YOUR SEXUAL

LEARNED ENOUGH

HEALTH?

10

Philip Linarasi, 10

FHNTODAY.COM | 04.03.19 | NEWS

“I feel like I learned from the school, but I learned more from my parents because they’re very open.”

“Yes, I feel like the initial elementary school education was lackluster but going into middle and high school I think I learned enough.”

“When it comes to sex education they don’t teach you the basic things you need to know to take care of your reproductive system, even though it’s an important part of your body.”

Julie Hohensee, 11

Doug Butteiger, 11

Adelle Gertsch, 9

PAGE BY SOPHIE CARITE

18-year-old Evelyn Moeckel models her Mardi Gras eye makeup. Moeckel is a self-taught makeup artist who specializes in eye makeup. She works at Sephora Beauty which requires her to do fun makeup to inspire her clientele. Moeckel strives to go above and beyond with new designs. (Photos by Bella Schneider)

CONSTRUCTING IN CREATIVE HOURS High schooler from St. Louis grows in the makeup world by an exapnding makeup account

by Sammie Herr

sammieherr17@gmail.com | @ouchthatherrt

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own in her basement, or her “dungeon,” 18-year-old makeup artist Evelyn Moeckel lays awake at 10 p.m. The anxiety sneaks back every night, but for the past four years of practicing self-taught makeup, this hasn’t held her back from fulfilling her creativity. Her hours of anxiety turned into her creative hours, where she would cope by creating original makeup looks and uploading them to a makeup Instagram account: @gtgev.

“Between the hours of 10 p.m. and 3 a.m. is when my mind is most active,” Evelyn said. “I call them my creative hours. I can find inspiration and [the time frame is] somehow when I get more ideas.”

She started the Instagram two years ago, and it started to expand within this past year. There’s even a makeup brand who has noticed her work called Karity. They send her PR packages with different eyeshadow palettes and liquid lipsticks, which has led her to expand even more by working with ALIVE

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magazine and doing makeup for models. of the most creative people I know, and she has a “It’s very exciting watching her and seeing people good balance of trying new things and knowing what that just gravitate toward her,” mother Annie works with her.”

Moeckel said. “I think it’s just a matter of time before While she takes online high school classes, a company swoops her up. She’s got the whole she spends her time at her job at Sephora. She package. She’s so kind, generous and talented. She started working there about four months ago and is the whole package to go big in the makeup world is becoming apart of the 2019 #SephoraSquad, a and she will.” beauty-influencer program On her Instagram, she has given “[Being on the Sephora Squad] would themes to her original looks. With help me reach a lot more people and inspire over 750 looks, some of her favorite others who are new to the makeup world Check out Evelyn’s creations include celebrities and and who aren’t,” Evelyn said. makeup looks on her flowers.

Evelyn’s future plans are built solely Instagram @gtgev “One of my favorite looks by her around makeup. She has many goals like makes me think of being in a fairy becoming a celebrity makeup artist, staying tale,” internet friend Ariel Hayes said. at Sephora and working for other magazines “The look includes clouds and a rainbow, it uses or brands. She also plans to set up her YouTube glitter and it’s very creative. She’s very skilled and channel soon where she will post makeup tutorials. detailed in what she does which is why I like a lot “I really like sharing [makeup],” Evelyn said. “I also of her stuff. I like how she pays attention to small really like inspiring others to do what they want to do details. It brings her whole look together. She’s one even if others think it’s weird.”

FHNTODAY.COM | 04.03.19 | FEATURES

FOLLOW

PAGE BY SAMMIE HERR

MAKING HIS VOICE HEARD

Alumni Robbie Daymond started out small within the FHSD school district, but has now grown to voice popular characters across many platforms

by Rebekah Myers

plays since the age of 10. He also did the morning announcements for the school, which was what he o some, various TV stars and voices seem considers his first taste of what was going to be his like some faraway collection of celebrities voice acting career. He also participated in college that they couldn’t possibly ever connect theatre at Lindenwood University during his later to. However, what many tend to forget is that high school years. plenty of them started out just like the rest of us After graduating from FHHS in 2000, Daymond -- a student enjoying their high school life. This attended college and graduated from the applies to voice actor Robbie Daymond, or as University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 2004 with a his classmates would have known him, Robert BFA in theatre performance. After a few years Howard. Daymond attended FHHS, of the post-college jobs and slowly and participated in many school building towards his career, Daymond activities, including theater and was a full time voiceover artist once debate. FHN’s current theater teacher Follow this link to 2010 came around. His debut role was watch hear Daymond Kim Sulzner taught him all four years voice the Marvel’s as the current dub voice actor for the of his high school career when she Sailor Moon’s Tuxedo Mask, however Spider-man: bit.ly/2Hvormk taught at FHHS. his experience has reached also into “He was kind of a goofball, but western animation, including the everybody liked him,” said Sulzner. title character of Disney XD’s Marvel’s “He was really laid back, really easy to talk to, so Spider-Man and the main character SwaySway of he was great to have on the cast, because even the Nickelodeon Cartoon Breadwinners. He has as people got amped up and stressed, he would also voiced in video games, one role he enjoyed kind of break the tension and bring us all back to most being one of the playable characters in Final reality. He was always nice to have around. He was Fantasy XV. fun.”

“There’s little moments where I geek out, or In high school, Daymond was an officer in something like that, but not in the same way I the school’s drama productions, and was both would’ve 10 years ago but if its a property I really treasurer and president of the school’s like, like Spider-Man, my favorite superhero, International Thespian like I freaked out when my agent called Society troupe, though me, you know, four or five years ago and he was acting told me that I booked it,” Daymond in local and said. “Those days never get any less professional amazing.”

rebekah.myers31@gmail.com

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WATCH

(Illustrations by Rebekah Myers)

PAGE BY GRACIE BOWMAN

FEATURES| 04.03.19 | FHNTODAY.COM

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FHNTODAYTV FEATURED VIDEOS NORTHSIDE NEWS

TEACHERS OF THE CASTLE: BRITTANY MORGAN ‘Teachers of The Castle’ is a series which deals with what our teachers have to tell about their lives outside the school and showcases parts of their personalities that you might not know about. In this episode, new English teacher Brittany Morgan tells us about her journey into the education field and how she works to relate to her students. Morgan teaches AP Literature, AP Foundations, and English 2 to her students after taking a full-time position at FHN at

the start of second semester. Since she has just graduated from college, she feels that her close age to her students allows her classroom to be an inviting place for her students. She uses her age to her advantage to help her teach her English classes in a more innovative way. Morgan looks to balance these innovations, new ideas from her college experience, and advice from other teachers to shape her class. (Video by

AZ’S ANALYSIS

Enrico Spadaccini and Hunter Turpin)

TIPS FOR FINALS

THE HOOD REPORT

With finals coming up, it’s easy to feel lost and stressed out buried under everything. There are tips for how to survive finals and make life a little easier. (Animation by Lily Sonthimeier, Reide Pearson,

Reina Lee, Jake Willmann, Sarah Zimmerman, Sandy Han, Jena Pae and Emily Zhang)

E-SPORTS TEAM BEGINS COMPETING AT FHN

SPORTS BREAK WITH JAKE

The new E-Sports team began practicing in January. They are now competing against other schools and participating in a national tournament. Brett Bevill sponsors and leads the group with a few students that help coach the players. (Video by Carson Ramirez) Give us a follow. We’ll follow back.

We’re social, are you?

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HOUR WITH LAUER

INSTAGRAM: FHNtoday

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PAGE BY EMILY HOOD

FHNTODAY.COM | 04.03.19 | FHNTODAYTV YOUTUBE: youtube.com/FHNtoday

Junior Plum Rousseau puts an order into the computer at RT Weiler’s. She works as a server and does everything she can to help out in the kitchen as well. (Photo by Ella Manthey)

Surrounded by cultural differences, freshman Pavan Kolluru shares his story of his Indian culture and the struggles and benefits of fluently speaking two languages. “The culture and the way of life is different, just by going through the streets you can see a big change.” Kolluru said. (Photo Illustration by Paige Westermann)

CONNECTING THROUGH LANGUAGE Freshman Pavan Kolluru speaks both English and Telugu

by Karsyn Williams

allows for him to communicate with others he would’ve never been able to in English, such as when rowing up surrounded by the sounds of two he and his family visits India. different languages, he heard one from his “It’s a new way to communicate with people,” family and another from his friends. Freshman Pavan said. “It’s kinda cool. [To] communicate a lot Pavan Kolluru is the son of India-born parents whose differently.” native tongue is Telugu. Over time, due to being Many people who speak multiple languages find that surrounded by both languages, Pavan learned English it is easier to learn another language due to their past and Telugu. experience in learning languages. Pavan wants to learn “It [knowing other languages] opens doors to relate more languages and is currently taking a Spanish I to and talk with other people,” Pavan said. “My family class at FHN which, as a bilingual, comes to him easier raised me with this language.” than it would for monolinguals. His ability to know Pavan’s family lived in Andhra Pradesh, an Indian two languages can also benefit him with future job state on the Southeast coast of the country. After opportunities, as it allows for more communication as moving to Missouri in 2004, Pavan was born and at first a business. was only introduced to one language.

“You can communicate with a lot of people around “We used to talk to him only in Telugu, the world,” Anelise Mossinghoff, Pavan’s until he went to school.” said Ram Kolluru, Spanish teacher at FHN, said. “You can Pavan’s father. “His sister used to talk to learn about the culture and understand Follow this link to him in English. All other family [members] the people more.” watch the stories of talk in Telugu.”

Pavan would like to expand his field other multilinguals: While speaking to his parents and sister, of languages by adding Hindi to his bit.ly/2EQ3EXH visiting relatives in India, seeing family vocabulary. The language is one of the members visit and even watching movies, official languages of India and is spoken Pavan was speaking and listening to by over 550 million people worldwide.

Telugu. Once school started, he was introduced to the Hearing many people speak Hindi on his trips to India, English language and began learning how to speak it.

Pavan became interested in the language and wanted “First grade and kindergarten were a little confusing, to learn it as well. but he can switch [between languages] very quickly,” “Whenever you go to new countries there’s always Ram said. different languages,” Pavan said. “I want to learn Hindi Despite speaking in English mostly while at school, to be able to communicate a lot differently, [to] speak Pavan still talks to his family members and his other to more people in India.” fluent friends from FHN in Telugu. His bilingualism

karsyn.williams15@gmail.com

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PAGE BY KARSYN WILLIAMS

SERVING IN THE FAMILY RESTAURANT Since she was seven, junior Plum Rousseau has helped out at her father’s family owned restaurant. She works Monday nights and Saturday mornings as a server and enjoys flexible schedules that come with helping with the family business.

“I like the fact that my schedule’s pretty lenient,” Plum said. “I like the fact that I can alter my schedule any way that I need to and I always have access to the boss.”

Plum’s father, Marc Rousseau, bought R.T. Weiler’s in 2003, and since then has worked with family to run the business and welcomed his daughter working alongside him.

“The biggest challenge is trying to split time between family and work because if you’re one place the other is obviously suffering,” Marc said. “So, it’s nice to have the opportunity to see her and to have her see what I do and what that’s all about.”

Splitting time between family, school and work is a struggle that freshman Drew Rousseau sees his sister deal with frequently.

“It’s probably harder for her to do her homework just because normally on school days her hours are for 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. so she has an hour time span to do homework,” Drew said.

While she doesn’t plan to run the business in the future, growing up with R.T. Weiler’s has given Plum many good memories, a prominent one being singing with a band called the Ohms Brothers.

“Whenever I would come from dance to the restaurant, they would let me sing with them,” Plum said. “I was only six or seven, but singing was always something that I loved to do.”

(Story by Chloe Horstman)

FEATURES | 04.03.19 | FHNTODAY.COM

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During her video, freshman Britney Bascom applies mascara after finishing her eyeshadow. Bascom has been doing her makeup for about a year and posts it on Instagram. She described this makeup look as “perfect timing.” (Photo Submitted)

MAKEUP MADNESS Growing up in the boot heel of Missouri, where the population is only 17,000, does not cause for much glam and fashion. There, the most common pastime activities are playing in the lakes, hunting in the woods or talking with the neighborhood kids. Instead of that, FHN freshman Britney Bascom finds her escape in a form of art that is not very common in the boot heel: makeup.

“Makeup is a really nice way to express my creativity,” Bascom said. “It’s one of the only activities I actually enjoy.”

Bascom started doing makeup when she was ten and created an account on Instagram when she moved to St. Charles in July of 2018 and gained over 2,000 followers in just six months.

The account is @britsvanity, and it is dedicated to makeup looks she has taught herself over the years. On the account, she posts videos and pictures of different eyeshadow looks she has done on herself, her friends and her mom.

“The makeup gives her a creative outlet to express her feelings and her art for other people to see,” sophomore and friend Caroline Mitchell said.

Mitchell has known Bascom since August and says that even in the short amount of time she has known her, Bascom has improved by just watching some of her favorite makeup artists.

Watching people like James Charles, Jeffree Star and Nikkie Tutorials on YouTube has taught Bascom everything she now knows. According to her, the best feeling is when you finish a look, you get to step back and see the look you created and feel a wave of accomplishment wash over you. Hoping to continue this art form, Bascom wishes to one day work at a makeup counter.

“It would be really cool to work at somewhere like Sephora,” Bascom said. “I would want to show my creativity off on someone else.” (Story

by Grace Harding)

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FHNTODAY.COM | 04.03.19 | FEATURES

Freshmen Katie McNevin hangs up a campaign flyer in the days leading up to Student Council elections. After only being on StuCo for one year, McNevin ran for and won the Chief-of-Staff officer position, where she is in charge of keeping track of hours for StuCo members. (Photo by Phoebe Primeau)

CANDIDACY RUN

Despite her young age, freshman Katie McNevin pursued a larger role in Student Council by running for Chief-of-Staff

by Carly Gordon

cgordon069@g.fhsdschools.org

S

he walks around with a Tupperware container of homemade cookies. She smiles and offers cookies to students sitting and eating in the lunchroom. She needs people to vote. She has to get her name out there.

Freshman Katie McNevin joined StuCo in the fall.

As a general member, McNevin had little input on decisions made within and about the club.

“I really wanted to be a bigger part of StuCo,” McNevin said. “Right now, I’m a Knight Time representative. I want to be able to have more of an impact of what happens in StuCo.” One of the best ways to gain responsibility is to run for an officer’s position. With elections in February, McNevin saw an opportunity and ran for the Chief of Staff position. With the Chief-of-Staff position, McNevin would be in charge of keeping track of everyone’s points, who attends each meeting and write next year’s StuCo requirements, as well as attending all the meetings.

“A lot of it is outside of school, going through and writing people’s hours, which I’m okay with honestly,” McNevin said. “I think it’d be calming, at the end of a day of work, just being able to chill and write people’s hours.”

The application process to become an officer includes many steps. It’s one of the reasons many people running don’t even make it to the point where their name is on the ballot.

“It was really long, you had to have all of your teachers say if they would recommend you or not,” McNevin said. “And then we had to get 30

signatures from the freshman, sophomore and junior grade levels, which was a little stressful.”

Once McNevin officially applied she had to make sure people actually voted for her. On voting day, candidates were allowed to stay during the lunch hours to campaign and encourage voting. Many candidates gave candy to students, but McNevin decided on something else. Homemade cookies. “[Cookies] would benefit the people running and give more of a reason for people to vote,” freshman Caitlyn Wheadon said.

On that Friday, McNevin was elected StuCo Chiefof-Staff. The results of that vote were conveyed over the announcements at the end of the day the following Monday. McNevin was the only freshman elected as an official and she will work with upperclassmen officers for the next year in StuCo. “I think it’s really important because each person is surrounded in their own background,” another freshman candidate Macy Cronin said. “They will have fresh ideas and new perspective from each background so that our school truly does incorporate every single person at FHN. They will be included in StuCo and feel that they belong here.”

McNevin feels little pressure working with upperclassmen and she hopes to represent the current freshman well.

“I’m not too worried about it,” McNevin said. “But I do hope to make freshman voices heard more. I think I can help with having some creative ideas and being able to voice the opinions of our peers, some of the things they don’t like about past things or somethings that people thought were good.”

PAGE BY SOPHIA SCHMIDT

At the end of seventh hour, juniors Derek Oughton and Austin Marquart go outside to empty the paper collected that day.

The pair generally collects recycling two to three times a week. Their favorite part of the job is getting to hang out with each other while working.

During seventh hour, Marquart and Oughton empty their last trashcan into the recycling bin under supervision of paraprofessional Scott Auchly. During their time spent recycling, Auchly coaches Marquart and Oughton on where to put plastic bottles and what classrooms have the fullest blue bins. (Photos by Addy Bradbury)

Making Memories

One Bin at a Time

Juniors Austin Marquart and Derek Oughton’s seventh-hour job helps them develop a connection to FHN

by Heeral Patel

heeral.patel03@gmail.com | @Heeral12

It’s the last class of the day in room 27 in Juli Smith’s work experience class. As students throughout the school settle down into their seats, two of Smith’s juniors prepare to set out into the halls with paraprofessional Scott Auchly to collect the school’s paper recycling. Some days they finish a single floor, on others, they finish two. If they don’t get everywhere, they’ll pick up where they left off the next day.

“They’re generally excited and ready to see people,” Auchly said. “It’s seeing people [that they look forward to].”

They have a system set. They may come into the room to pick up the paper, but that’s only if it doesn’t disrupt the lesson. Typically, junior Austin Marquart takes the contents out of the blue bins that teachers have left outside their room and dumps it into their own larger bin, while his laid back partner and fellow junior, Derek Oughton holds the lid open for him. Any plastic bottles thrown in with the paper are picked out by hand before they move on to the next teacher.

“Most of the teachers are always happy to see them and always talk to them,” Auchly said. “[Teachers] ask them how their day is going and what they’re doing, and they are usually pretty good at responding with

PAGE BY HEERAL PATEL

what we’re doing and how we’re doing.”

And in their memories.

It’s all a part of their work experience class.

The teachers and staff of the school are friendly — Students in the class have ‘post-secondary goals’ for and in Marquart’s words, “sassy.” Hall monitor Jesse what they want to do after high school. The program Stewart has a Hump Day shirt that he wears every then prepares students for the job they will hold week for Oughton. He gives them a “What’s up” when in the future. The paper collected is weighed and, they all run into each other in the hall. Oughton based on that weight, FHN receives enjoys seeing Associate Principal Katie funds for the program. They help out Greer and Physical Education teacher the school in different ways such as Eric Eubank when they make their making deliveries from the office, rounds. Marquart favorite teacher to See what the work working in the mail room and baking see is Industrial Technology teacher experience class DECA’s cookies.

Brian Stemmerman. does with DECA: bit.ly/2EMrVPK “These jobs don’t just teach the “[Stemmerman] jokes with us and actual skill of doing the job to work on is super nice and says thank you,” what we call soft skills,” Smith said. “Soft Marquart says. “It makes my day [when skills are making eye contact, saying ‘Hi’, going to teachers say thank you.]” knock on the door before going into a classroom.

When they start nearing the end of their time, Just those basic things that a lot of these kids take Marquart and Oughton head outside with Auchly to for granted that we already know to do that we have dump their collection into the recycling bins outside to stop and teach our students to do those things.” the bus stairs, before going back to room 27 to Their work requires students to use these skills. prepare to head home. Recycling is hard work, but And the practice pays off. In two years of working the boys both enjoy it. with the recycling, Marquart has gone from being “I think the biggest thing is that visibility,” Smith out for about 10 minutes at a time to persevering said. “[Other kids] seeing students learn differently through the full 30. Even during class, the halls are being out in the building, doing things that typical busy with principals and staff. People stop to talk. It’s teenage, high school peers do. They socialize, they’re exciting, and it makes a mark on the boys’ day. in the hallways, they’re doing a job, they’re learning.”

READ MORE

FEATURES| 04.03.19 | FHNTODAY.COM

19

Holding a tiny tree made from the scraps of trees left from Hurricane Maria, sophomore Andres Cancel and his mother, Damaris Nadal Colon, sit and remember the tragedy of the traumatic hurricane. The family healed from the hurricane and sent the tiny tree to Andres when the tragedy was over. (Portrait by Francisco Jimenez)

Still rising from ruins

Sophomore Andres Cancel’s family recovers from the devastating hurricane that swept over Puerto Rico

by Sarah Zimmerman

sarahezimmerman8@gmail.com | sarah_zim8

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ind howling outside, Andres Cancel’s grandmother pushes against the pressure on the other side of the door with all her strength.

All she remembers is the water rising. Then she blacked out.

That was all the stress she could handle.

They had enough water for two weeks. Enough food for two weeks. Enough gasoline for five days.

That was all.

They didn’t know they’d be limited on foods they could buy and how much gasoline they could purchase. They didn’t know the Category 5 Hurricane Maria was going to hit so hard.

However, according to sophomore Andres Cancel, Puerto Rico needed a Hurricane Maria.

They needed a change, even if the change is still

20

slow-going after a year and a half.

Before Maria For 12 years of his life, Puerto Rico was where Andres’ grew up. It was where he first learned to read and ride a bike. It was where he explored the forests and watched sunsets on the oceans. It was his home.

“I feel like there’s a variety of people [in Puerto Rico],” Andres said. “We’re always kind of smiling at people, and that’s what I like to see. And since our geography is very different, like our island is small, wherever you go, you can run into beaches… It gives you a different perspective of life, including in the way you view nature. In Puerto Rico, we don’t really have big factories, big businesses or stuff like that. We protect our environment. Most of our island is full of trees and green stuff, so I guess that was part of who I grew up to be.”

While the small size of Puerto Rico allowed Andres to connect with nature, it also harmed the

FHNTODAY.COM | 04.03.19 | FEATURES

economy, as relatively few jobs were available.

Prior to Maria, unemployment was already at a stark 10.4 percent in July of 2017, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which was over twice that of the United States then. Public debt only made things worse. The island was already in a financial hurricane when Maria hit.

The island was not only in debt $74 billion, but they didn’t have enough money to invest in maintaining water pump stations, roads, bridges, levees and the power grid. Just as the government lacked money, so did many citizens. For Andres’ family, saving money meant doing things like their laundry by hand.

“You know those simple things that you do?”

Andres said. “Some people pay for it when they have to do it, but we have to do it manually so we don’t spend that much money.”

The financial mess and state of infrastructure in Puerto Rico were just pieces to why so many Puerto

PAGE BY ASHLYNN PEREZ

Ricans were leaving. This out-migration then left the population 10 percent smaller after just 10 years.

The Hurricane With Puerto Rico already in a poor financial state, news of a hurricane on the way only exacerbated the situation. Then the hurricane hit in September 2017, and it was devastating. Having moved to the U.S. two months prior for a new job, Andres and his mother were safe; however, the rest of his family was not.

“The hurricane lasted about 24 hours,” Andres’ grandmother Maria Colon Ortiz said. “It was really long. I felt very stressed, insecure and afraid of what would happen. I kind of blacked out.”

Even after the water finished rising in their house, no one could breathe out a sigh of relief. There was a blackout, and the only light available at night was from the moon. Bridges collapsed, debris was everywhere, houses were blown away. Puerto Rico was in ruins.

After the hurricane passed, almost everyone with homes still intact relied on diesel generators, provided they had them. However, those generators could only run for so long. Colon Ortiz only had enough diesel for five days. Those five days passed, and that’s when the lines began.

Someone could be stuck waiting in line for three to four hours for just five gallons of diesel, which was only enough to last one day. When Colon Ortiz wanted to buy a second generator, she and her husband had to wait in front of Costco for three days before they could enter. They had to wait for roads to be cleared by civilians. Meanwhile, others had to wait for water from water trucks run by civilians. Civilians had to step up because help was not coming, not yet.

“One of the biggest difficulties those first three weeks was that Puerto Rico is an island, so everything goes by water,” Colon Ortiz said.

“The ports use cranes that get the containers out of boats and whatnot, but since there was no electricity, they didn’t function and so they couldn’t distribute anything. Even if you could distribute, there weren’t any people, like truck drivers, to go pick them up and move them because the roads were blocked by trees and obstacles.”

With blocked roads and a lack of water, many people had to get creative for survival. Andres’ grandparents, for example, resorted to using their pool water for all water necessities except sanitation and hygiene. Many also began to use the environment to their advantage, doing things like filling up buckets of water from the rain.

Although he didn’t have to experience the hurricane in the way his family did, Andres faced his own fears, knowing his loved ones were impacted.

“We didn’t have any communication,” Andres said. “My mom was always paying attention to her phone, in case our family contacted us. It was panic time. We were nervous because we didn’t know what was happening with our family.”

Recovering Living in the U.S., Andres couldn’t connect with

PAGE BY ASHLYNN PEREZ

his family in Puerto Rico at first. After a week teaching,” Colon Ortiz said. “After the hurricane, without direct communication, Andres’ mother trees didn’t have any leaves, and now when you finally reached his grandmother and discovered look at them they’re flowering with leaves and they were okay. After two months, power returned flowers. I took it as a the teaching of how we and water services were getting going again for his complicate things when in reality they’re pretty family. simple. Don’t overthink stuff and when you fall While basic needs have now been restored, much down, when you get hurt, you can stand up again of Puerto Rico is still facing the ruinous impacts of better than before.” the hurricane even a year and a half later.

Where They are Now Some people are still living in pitched tents, With the time that has passed, the effort of Puerto others still have leaky roofs or trees blocking Ricans and the help of external aid, Puerto Rico is passage. According to Andres’, one area of Puerto on its way towards stability once more.

Rico is even still without light due to electrical poles “Puerto Rico still needed a change without still being down. Even with Federal Emergency Maria being involved,” Andres said. “It needed Management Agency’s massive efforts to provide reformation, and so Maria advanced that. So, now food, water and home support with a total of over when we get them back on our feet, we are going $3 billion allocated in Public Assistance grants for to have armor and are going to be stronger than we problems and costs caused by Hurricane Maria, were before. So, I guess [the hurricane] was really thousands of Puerto Ricans are still in desperate bad, but it’s long term after effects are going to need of help. [leave Puerto Rico] better than it was before.”

“We received certain helps, but we’re still As Puerto Rico works to stand back on its own expecting help that they promised us related to feet, thousands of problems still await. Many of electricity from our electric generators and the the houses that weren’t completely demolished island overall,” Colon Ortiz said. still had severe water damage, mold “We’re also expecting the help or roof issues. Even 18 months later, that they promised us to help some areas of Puerto Rico are still clean the lakes of the Puerto. I without electricity. Some roads are understand that they will help still damaged. Many people are still “I’m proud to be us. This is just taking a long without homes. called a Puerto Rican.” time because the other help “I know Puerto Rico is still suffering ANDRES CANCEL that they gave us was after from the hurricane and that there’s still months, so we had to survive areas that have been untouched since first on our own.” the hurricane,” teacher Anne Freeman The lack of immediate aid, said. “And I know aid from the United however, did force the country States going to Puerto Rico was not to come together to attain a common goal: always the best aid, and it wasn’t the most timely survival. aid. It’s kind of sad because Puerto Ricans are U.S. “[The hurricane] brought them together because citizens.” they had stuff in common,” Andres said. “No one As these citizens work to get back to normal had electricity, no one had anything else to do, life, the U.S., like everyone, can learn from their so it brought people out of their comfort zones experiences. and out to experience other things. Yeah, it’s like a “I feel like people learn more from suffering,” challenge. You couldn’t use your phone there. You Andres said. “In Puerto Rico, we suffered because didn’t have anything. So it was like, let’s help each of our [lacking] state of light, electricity, water, other. We can do everything ourselves because we food, transportation, communication and a lot don’t have the necessary resources. It actually did of stuff. I don’t want anyone to experience that, grow our community closer.” but [they should] see how people responded, see Just as the community in Puerto Rico grew how people reacted from here to there, see how closer, so did Andres’ familiarity in the U.S. He was people here reacted to the people in Puerto Rico adapting to speaking almost exclusively English, and see how the people in Puerto Rico managed adjusting to facing more racism and integrating into the situation and how they were slowly but surely the new environment. Meanwhile, Puerto Rico was recuperating.” also adapting to the aftereffects of the hurricane.

Meanwhile, as Puerto Rico moves forward, so “Yin and yang, it’s like that,” Andres said. “Puerto does Andres with acculturating to the U.S. Having Rico is the black and when I moved to United been here for two years now, Andres has found States, it’s the white. It’s basically the opposite his new home while maintaining his old one. That because here [in the U.S.] pretty much almost no said, he plans to continue to visit Puerto Rico and one speaks Spanish and everyone speaks English, eventually live there once more. so it was hard language transition.”

“Even though I’m losing the native part of me, I Just as Andres is transitioning and learning, feel like another part is entering my space,” Andres Puerto Rico is also learning from the hurricane, said. “[Besides,] I really truly believe that I am never discovering how to be better prepared for natural truly going to get rid of that identity. I am always disaster and how important community is. going to be a Puerto Rican, and I’m proud to be “Nature is wise that it brought a moment of called a Puerto Rican.”

“ ”

FEATURES | 04.03.19 | FHNTODAY.COM

21

1-800-273-8255 is an all day suicide prevention lifeline number where a national network of local crisis centers provide free and confidential emotional support for people in social crisis or emotional distress. It utilizes the skillfulness of experts in dealing with suicide and abuse. (Photo by Alexis Wade)

CRISIS CONNECTION

Access to emergency hotlines has the potential to save someone’s life

by Sydney Ellison

right at that moment,” FHN counselor Mary KerrGrant said. t can take just one call. One call that can get the According to Kerr-Grant, it’s always better to talk help that’s needed, one call that can provide to someone in person or meet with a counselor someone to talk to, one call that can get past a face-to-face rather than over the phone. That said, crisis, one call that can give way to a healthier future. crisis hotlines give the ability for the caller to stay Crisis hotlines are there for all of these types of calls. anonymous and get quick reliable support if they They should not be overlooked. are not able to or are not comfortable with seeking “Go ahead and make that call and talk to someone help from someone they know or are unable to get in and see what they can do to help you out,” FHN’s contact with help due to school or counselors office crisis counselor Barry Morrison being closed. said. “Because sometimes talking “It’s important to reach out to COMMON CRISIS about it with a mental health someone if you’re feeling desperate, HOTLINE NUMBERS person is exactly what you need to hopeless, sad or suicidal,” KerrIf struggling with something, reach out to someone or call one of these help you change the way you see Grant said. numbers below things and refocus where you are At FHN, guidance counselors BHR Call: 314-469-6644 or 1-800-811-4760 and make things a little better.” suggest the use of two local Crisis hotlines are numbers crisis hotlines; Behavioral Health St. Charles Youth Connection Helpline Call: 314-628-2929 that let people call and talk to Response (BHR) and St. Charles Text: 4HLP to 31658 someone about their problems.

County Youth Connection Center.

There are many different types BHR’s motto is, “We care, we listen, National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Call: 1-800-273-8255 of hotlines ranging from suicide we respond, 24 hours a day.” Their prevention to family life issues. service is free of charge. A mental After dialing, a person trained to help with the health provider will talk to the caller and offer situation will answer and assist. The option to stay whatever help is needed and will be able to assist anonymous is available and will be kept that way with follow up care. If it is determined that more than unless there is an imminent danger of suicide. a phone call is needed, they have something called “If I’m out somewhere or I don’t answer my phone Mobil Outreach and they are able to meet at a home and my client’s in a crisis, they still have some or another place to make sure that the caller is safe support to get to them so I think that’s awesome,” and to do a crisis assessment. According to Morrison, Morrison said. the St. Charles County Youth Connection Center is To find these numbers, go to a guidance counselor another great resource. It is advertised for people or a trusted adult to get a hotline that best fits under 18 and helps kids and teens with all sorts of the situation. If going to a trusted adult is not an situations including drug addiction, homelessness or available choice, look up crisis hotline numbers on suicidal thoughts. the Internet and find one that is best.

“A lot of times we have papers, pamphlets or “Hotline numbers are a backup when someone cards here that we can actually physically hand to might be sitting at home alone and doesn’t have somebody,” Morrison said, “They can take a picture anyone right there and it’s a way to get that support of it and have it in their phones.” sydney.ellison55@gmail.com

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FHNTODAY.COM | 04.03.19 | FEATURES

PAGE BY SYDNEY ELLISON

MORE THAN A RESTAURANT

A customer dines at Cannoli’s in the evening. The restaurant serves Italian cuisine and most dishes are cooked using traditional methods. (Photo by Sarah Williams)

Cannoli’s, an Italian restaurant in Florissant, positively impacts the community with their authentic cooking and family atmosphere

by Mackenzie Pugh

mackenzieppugh@gmail.com

W

hen you pull up to Cannoli’s the vibrant, red neon sign stands out against the beige and brown tones of the walls behind. The smell of fresh bread fills the air. Even on a cool winter day the feeling of warmth radiates from the entrance, inviting customers in. Through those doors exists a second home for many citizens in the area from customers to employees at the establishment.

“We have so many regular customers,” coowner Abby Freesmeier said. “Some started coming when we opened, some started a year ago. That’s what’s so nice because we have a smaller staff and it’s more intimate that when people come in they get to know us. Especially since we have a lot of staff that’s been here a very long time that we look at as family.

Everybody knows everybody.”

The restaurant opened its doors in 1994 and has been family run ever since. It is currently co-owned by Abby Freesmeier and her father Tom Freesmeier. Abby’s grandfather opened the Italian restaurant, as his parents moved to the area from Sicily. This is where the restaurant gets its authentic charm that makes Cannoli’s stand out from other Italian restaurants in the area. Many dishes on the menu came from Abby’s great-grandmother’s recipes, and her grandpa even comes in every day to make their house dressing with his own secret recipe.

“I absolutely love it,” Danielle Cambron, family friend and long-time regular, said. “You can buy it in bottles and you can bring it home.

It’s my whole family’s favorite dressing. We have it at every get together.”

There are several things on their menu that are made in a very old fashioned technique that

you don’t find in many restaurants anymore.

Some of their staples include their chicken spiedini and steak spiedini. These dishes are made by rolling seasoning into the meat, which is a classic tradition that is becoming unconventional in many restaurants. Another dish, braciole, involves steak with a hardboiled egg inside. Cannoli’s is one of only three places in the STL area where you can find braciole in the classic style they practice.

Along with the authenticity of their cooking, Cannoli’s is unique in their decor which makes the setting look as if it was taken out of a photo of the streets of Sicily. The walls of the restaurant are designed to look like houses and storefronts, each with a unique twist.

The houses are numbered after the date the restaurant opened, family members’ birthdays and childhood sports jersey numbers. The storefronts are each dedicated to a member of the family: Abigail’s Bakery, Rosetta Imports, Eleena Marie’s Dance Studio and more. There are items on display belonging to members of the Freesmeier family like an uncle’s vintage radio collection and even sewing machines and suit jacket sleeves from a family member who did tailoring work for the mob.

“It is very homey,” Abby said. “We definitely try to keep it very welcoming.”

The classic Italian hometown setting of the restaurant captures the essence of the eatery, where customers and staff both feel like Florissant is their home. They tried expanding once but were unsuccessful, so for now their future plans are to keep doing their thing and welcoming the community into their family.

“My parents and grandparents have always been in North County,” Abby said. “This has always been home.”

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PAGE BY MACKENZIE PUGH

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FEATURES | 04.03.19 | FHNTODAY.COM

23

A tear in the

DAILY LIFE For adolescents, feeling exhausted tends to be an expected norm. This, with other changes in the body happening at this time, tends to make the body act in strange and abnormal ways.

This leads to bigger, more impactful abnormalities blending in, causing those with real, life-affecting conditions to struggle to find what they are truly afflicted by. (Design by Rebekah Myers; Photos by Francisco Jiminez)

Sophomore Marcus Otto walks down a hallway at FHN. Students with chronic illnesses can miss class often which can cause struggles with grades and participation of extracurricular activities. To help, FHN has accommodations to keep these students caught up and less stressed. (Photo Illustration by Francisco Jiminez)

Chronic Illness, Chronic Disruption Students living with chronic illnesses face many different challenges with not only their physical health, but their school and social life

by Hannah Wilson

hannahmae691@gmail.com | @hannahwilson30

A

fter a restless night of getting up to use the restroom, sophomore Marcus Otto knows it’s going to be a bad day. He’s experiencing severe stomach cramps, vomiting, trips to the bathroom and the inability to eat. These days can vary in occurrence, from twice a month to a consecutive week. Having gone through a bad day like this before, Otto realizes he has to stay home from school.

Otto has Crohn’s disease, a chronic illness which affects the lining of the digestive tract. The immune system views the bacteria in the stomach and lining of the intestines as foreign and can cause a multitude of symptoms, including cramps, pain in the abdomen, bloating or nausea. Otto was first diagnosed when he was in seventh grade, when stomach pain and muscle aches drove him to seeing a doctor. After 12 months, three doctors visits, multiple tests and a cancer scare, a gastroenterologist determined that he had Crohn’s disease.

“I was happy that it wasn’t cancer at first,” Otto said. “When I started doing research, I realized that there is no cure and that it’s never going to go away. So, that kind of bummed me out. You know, you get the medicine to treat it and it treats it fairly well, but it’s going to be there forever and it’s never going to go away.”

Chronic illness is a disease or illness that is recurring or permanent. Examples of chronic illnesses include cerebral palsy, autoimmune disorders, cancer, epilepsy and obesity. There are also a variety of developmental and learning disorders, like ADHD and bipolar disorder, that are considered chronic illnesses. According

PAGE BY REBEKAH MYERS

to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, almost one in three adolescents ages 12 to 17 had at least one chronic health condition in 2011 to 2012.

These conditions could potentially affect their schoolwork.

“It could impact attendance, of course, if they need care within the school day,” counselor Lisa Woodrum said. “Even if they’re maintaining [their health] a little bit and they can do school, oftentimes those appointments would be during the school day. For a chronic illness, the impact on learning can be significant based on the coping skills of a person. We know that, whether you’re an adult or a teenager, if you have a really nice support system, you might be able to handle more. But sometimes, if people don’t have a support system, or maybe their coping skills don’t match their chronic illness, then we know that the learning new concepts, application of those concepts, we know that there could be a delay [in learning].”

Not only is attendance and grades impacted, but social interaction between peers could be at risk. When Otto was first diagnosed, he was missing a lot of school, therefore impacting his attendance, grades and interaction with others.

There are many necessary advantages to teenage socialization, including a sense of belonging, a way to experiment with new ideas and values and a feeling of being valued, which helps with confidence. If a student is absent due to chronic illness, they could be missing out on these important steps in socialization.

“If a student is not able to be at school full time, that would be really hard and it is hard for those people, especially when you’re supposed to be social and young and learning all kinds of information and

skills about peer relations,” Woodrum said. “It does have a negative impact [on their social life] sometimes and on their learning, because as humans we are social beings. So, if you don’t have somebody to talk about that science concept with or kind of commiserate and say ‘I really did not understand what they wanted on this essay,’ then that definitely not only affects their health, but it also impacts their ability to learn.”

The percentage of chronic illnesses in children is steadily increasing, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, although it is unclear if it is due to an increase in the prevalence of chronic illnesses, improvements of diagnostic criteria or a combination of both. Schools are having to figure out solutions to help the kids affected by these illnesses. One solution at FHN is a master pass, written by the school nurse and excuses the student from any class if they need to see the nurse, use the bathroom or for any other reason pertaining to their illness.

Another solution is the Homebound academic plan for students who cannot physically come to school. Homebound instructors visit with the students for five hours a week either at home or a library to give the student their work and offer any help. There are different variations of this plan where some can come in for a partial day, depending on what works best for them and their illness.

“The schools are trying to be as accommodating as they can so the person can have the most out of the education,” school nurse Brooke Magilligan said. “We try to help give supports to help them because they can’t help the fact that they have this chronic illness.”

IN-DEPTH | 04.03.19 | FHNTODAY.COM

25

H T I W G N I L DEA

A I M O N O DYSAUT The Wise family

deals wit

by Sammie Herr

sammieherr17@gmail.com | @ouchthatherrt

I

26

ted)

n the heat of July, senior Sydney Wise feels a panic rush over her as she sits on the ground near the practice field for marching band. A few moments prior to her break, she felt a dizzy sensation, but it didn’t happen just that day, it continued to happen for three days before she decided to see a doctor.

“In the beginning was when I felt the most panicked,” Sydney said. “I really only thought it was because I was dehydrated.

It freaked me out that I had to sit out everyday. I got in my head about the situation.”

Sydney ended up seeing a cardiologist and they performed an ultrasound on her heart and an EKG, or electrocardiography, which is the process of recording the electrical activity of the heart. They told her that she has a chronic dysfunction in the automatic nervous system called dysautonomia, which is a form from an illness that her dad Kent Wise also suffers from called Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), which is when someone stands up and their blood pressure drops so their heart rate speeds up. One of the main issues with it is an increase in dizziness.

“Seeing what my dad goes through every day and the thought of what he has to deal with, I just don’t want to go through that,” Sydney said. “I know how much pain he’s in and I know how frustrating it is to not be able to do the things you want to do.”

Kent also carries a chronic illness called Ehler’s-Danlos syndrome, which is a syndrome where connective tissues are

missing from joints and muscles. This specifically causes Kent a lot of pain in his torso. Sydney has a 50 percent possibility of carrying as well. She won’t know exactly what she carries until she visits a geneticist.

She plans on seeing one later this year.

“I think because I was very physical and being involved in sports, I didn’t notice things,” Kent said. “It took a lot longer for my condition to settle in. Sydney is showing beginning signs.”

Sydney and Kent’s conditions aren’t only affecting them, but it also affects their family and especially Kent’s wife Jen Wise.

“It’s not easy watching this situation go down, and it’s definitely a little stressful,” Jen said. “I’m not the one experiencing dizziness or pain, so it’s totally different for them. I have to redo and rethink a lot of how I do things. The amount of things I have to do is far greater than it used to be. It’s made me have to change things about myself like things I have to give up because I have to take care of things I normally don’t have to.

I’m not saying that’s necessarily a bad thing because I’ve found joy [with my children and normal housework].”

For now, Sydney has to drink a around a gallon of water and exercise for 30 minutes a day to help with the dizziness. According to Sydney, some days are better than others, which goes the same for Kent.

“It can be frustrating because I’ll be wanting to do something as simple as driving, but I can’t because I’ll be too dizzy,” Sydney said. “Sometimes I’ll have to miss school. Drinking water helps but there are some days I’ll have to take extra care of myself.”

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FHNTODAY.COM | 04.03.19 | IN-DEPTH

PAGE BY REBEKAH MYERS

A FOGGY FUTURE

Like many teens with chro nic conditions, freshman Mekhi Brooks has not been given a solid diagnosis for a condition that affects his academic performance

by Rebekah Myers

rebekah.myers31@gmail.com

He doesn’t know exactly what’s wrong.

His heart occasionally skips a beat, or beats once too many or beats abnormally fast for periods of time. The failure of his heart to regulate itself gives freshman Mekhi Brooks’ chest and limb pain, dizziness, tunnel vision and serious fatigue. This isn’t always clear, as the symptoms come in waves, so at one point in the week, Mekhi could be functioning well, while in another time of the week, he would seriously struggle to stay awake in class or even comprehend the lesson being taught. He is affected not only during school, too, as he faces the same symptoms at home, making it hard to catch up on homework he didn’t get finished during class.

“It’s kind of frustrating, because I will try to do my work and everything, but it’ll either just come out bad, or I just flat out can’t do it,” Mekhi said. “But then, I don’t want to use [my condition] as an excuse. But then, I just can’t get anything done. So, it’s frustrating.”

For now, there is nothing to help Mekhi keep up with his work, either, as he is currently not diagnosed, therefore not being treated. This condition first began affecting Mekhi in the seventh grade, yet there has not been a solution. According to the Brooks family, at his age, doctors are holding off on diagnoses, as they do not know what is causing his episodes and do not know if it will fix itself over time as Mekhi finishes growing. For all the that the doctors know, it could be anything from a dietary issue, to an overactive heart, to a nervous system issue. Another issue is that since he was in a better wave of health than usual during the last time his heart was monitored, the doctors assumed that he had miraculously healed, despite them knowing that he still faces these symptoms.

Because of this, Mekhi has not been given any treatment, medication, or direction.

“It’s very frustrating because when he doesn’t have a diagnosis, there’s nothing we can do for him at this point,” Mekhi’s mother Sarah Brooks said. “They just said that it’s a common thing for teenage boys to have these problems when they’re taller and lean, that

PAGE BY REBEKAH MYERS

they can have issues with blood pressure and things along those lines. But his blood pressure’s been fine.

We’ve been monitoring it at home and it’s been fine.

So I think, all in all, they really don’t know what it is, but it is definitely something that affects him in his day to day life. Then people tend to disregard it sometimes because ‘Well, you don’t have a diagnosis with it, so, you’re fine.’”

Mekhi participates in drama, choir and FHN’s swim team. However, there are some stressors that put these activities at risk. Continuing to do extensive physical activity leaves Mekhi with the possibility of fainting. The fatigue can restrict attendance and grades as well, which may close some opportunities in those extracurriculars. However, with proper treatment, which could possibly include medication, a high-salt diet and therapy, Mekhi will able to enjoy these activities again in the possible future.

“I’m hoping that I get a for-sure diagnosis [after future appointments] and that they have a treatment so that I can get better and start getting on top of my schoolwork again,” Mekhi said. ”I just hope they find a way to make me better so that I can function normally again. But I think as of now, all I can do is wait and it’ll either go away on its own or I’ll be stuck with it.”

oks struggles shman Mekhi Bro During class, fre condition. His art he his to e to stay awake du to miss s caused Brooks heart condition ha important as ll we as nts extracurricular eve s to explain his condition s ha class time. Brook lp them d sponsors to he to his teachers an osis leaves no gn dia of k lac understand, as his isco Jiminez) . (Photo by Franc notes on his record

IN-DEPTH | 04.03.19 | FHNTODAY.COM

27

Normalcy in an Abnormal Environme n

t

Child life services at St . Louis Children’s Hosp ital have tasked them sense of consistency du selves with promoting ring hospitalization a

by Colin St. Aubin

cst.aubin12@gmail.com | @cstaubin12

L

aughter. The sounds of children socializing as they create artistic masterpieces come from one side of a colorful hallway. Music.

The sounds of a young man singing his heart outcomes from the opposite side of the colorful hallway. Light. The light from a rooftop garden comes from the large glass doors. These elements all converge in that one colorful hallway, a place where all worries seem to fade away.

The lights in the Child Life Playroom at St. Louis Children’s Hospital (SLCH) are dimmed to a relaxing level as the children finish an art project. This is just one of the many activities that bring kids and teens laughter during their time at SLCH, and it is run by a special department at the hospital called Child Life Services (CLS). This department, as CLS Supervisor Tyler Robertson puts it, promotes a change in perception on extended stays in a hospital for both the patients and their families.

“It has had a tremendous impact on the way families view hospitalization,” Robertson said.

“The child life specialists provide education. They provide coping skills. They provide things that just help to continue a child’s development.”

Among those resources, CLS provides is a school program for children who are missing school because of their illness. The CLS School Program is made up of school teachers who will assist kids in whatever school work they may be missing. They will help to modify study habits if their illness has caused them to need an alternative education plan, and they even help schools determine what might need to be permanently different due to a severe illness.

School Program Teacher Linn Casper believes this to be a vital role in patient care due to its commitment to maintaining consistency in the lives of their patients.

“We are a big piece of these patients feeling like a normal and typical kid whose life isn’t going to be set back because of their illness,” Casper said.

“It keeps them connected to their real life.”

Keeping kids tied to their normal life is one of the purposes of CLS. Another purpose lies in the various facilities sprinkled throughout the hospital. They have various playrooms for patients of any age, and there is a large teen lounge for teenagers and adolescents who are spending an extended amount of time at the hospital. There is also a rooftop garden for

patients and families to enjoy during their time at SLCH. These facilities provide patients and families a chance to escape the medical setting and relax.

“By giving children these coping skills and opportunities to play, we can help minimize the negative stressors that come from being in the hospital,” Robertson said.

Ensuring a sense of normalcy and providing coping skills for long term hospitalization are what CLS focuses their attention on. The ways in which they employ this mission is dependent on the needs of the kid. Regardless of the patient’s medical condition, however, the CLS team dedicates their efforts to ensure the mental, physical, and social development of the patients of SLCH in order to make them feel at ease in a medical setting.

“If you think of a child’s development as a ladder, our team helps them get to that next level, whatever that may be,” Robertson said.

“Child Life Specialists really gives these kids a chance to be a part of their care, rather than a recipient of it.”

(Photo from St. Louis Children’s Hospital)

28

FHNTODAY.COM | 04.03.19 | IN-DEPTH

PAGE BY REBEKAH MYERS

S C I S A B E H T G N I KNOW

on shman year, so information fre is ss cla h alt he a e tak s must t a larger The only time high schooler r, chronic conditions affec ve we Ho n. tte go for en be ve chronic conditions may ha think t gh mi population than one

What is a Chronic Illness?

A chronic condition or illness is a physical or mental health condition or illness that lasts more than one year and causes functional restrictions or requires ongoing monitoring or treatment. They generally cannot be prevented by vaccines or completely cured by medication, nor do they just disappear.

Common chronic conditions during adolescence can include asthma, diabetes, cerebral palsy, sickle cell anemia, cystic fibrosis, cancer, AIDS, epilepsy and heart conditions.

15%

of all adolescents have some sort of chronic illness.

7 10

out of deaths in the U.S. are caused by chronic Illness.

Conditions In This Issue These chronic conditions were mentioned in previous stories. Here’s some more information on them

Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS)

Crohn’s Disease

Is a cardiovascular condition

Is an inflammatory bowel disease

It is caused by a malfunction in the autonomic nervous system, the part of the nervous system that controls involuntary bodily function, like blood flow, digestion, body temperature and metabolism.

Caused by the immune system attacking the bacteria in the intestine that aid in digestion, causing inflammation. Symptoms include abdominal cramps and pain, constipation and a need to use the bathroom often.

Most diagnoses happen between ages 15 and 50.

Usually diagnosed between ages 15 and 35.

Tend to cause sleep disorders and fatigue and can coincide with other heart conditions, like heart palpitations.

Results of the disease include loss of appetite, fatigue, weight loss and fever.

Over 500,00 to 1,000,000 Americans are living with POTS.

Over 780,000 Americans are living with Crohn’s disease.

What are the struggles?

Those with chronic conditions are less likely to graduate high school compared to their healthy counterparts due to missing school for hospital visits and physician appointments.

While chronic conditions do not equate to disability, chronic conditions are the leading cause of disability in the U.S. A third of children with chronic illnesses experience medical complications serious enough to disrupt school functioning.

A common issue patients with chronic conditions face is that, at a young age, puberty can change the body and make it hard to find a cause. Another issue is that sometimes their physician won’t listen to them. An example is fibromyalgia, which is described as widespread pain. Due to it’s hardto-measure nature that can only be explained through words and experiences, many facing the issue struggle to both get a diagnosis and get the understanding of peers.

Comorbidities Comorbidity means more than one disease or condition is present in the same person at the same time. Comorbidities can cause one tolerable chronic condition to become a disability or worse. They could also have no affect at all.

Comorbidities can happen because of another illness, be the cause of another comorbidity or happen by chance.

Comorbidities range from other mental illnesses to similar conditions to completely unrelated conditions. Examples are: Depression is a comorbid of many chronic conditions, including heart disease, stroke, and cancer.

A comorbid of diabetes is hypertension.

(Sources: National Institute of Health, University of Medicine, Milken Institute, National Association of Chronic Disease Directors, World Health Organizat ion)

PAGE BY REBEKAH MYERS

IN-DEPTH | 04.03.19 | FHNTODAY.COM

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FHNTODAY.COM | 01.16.19 | PHOTOS

PAGE BY JORDAN MILEWCZIK

Best of Photoj FHC Students Catherine Allna, Taylor Kreig and Isaiah Henry compete in an improv game called Props at the Battle of the Howells. FHC’s prop was a blue Sully doll while FHN had a baby doll.

(Photo by Louis Primeau)

Digital Photojournalism is a class for all grades at FHN that teaches students how to use DSLR cameras. These are some of the best photos from this semester Senior Patty O’Leary and Head Coach Dawn Hahn hug during a pregame celebration on Senior Tight.

Including O’Leary there were 7 seniors on the team.

O’Leary played as the team’s center. The team went on to lose to FZW 66-52. (Photo by Taylor Hill)

At All Howell Night Rasha Shaker, Preston Moser and Tyler Windsor warm up and tune their saxophones before their performance.

The band received a standing ovation after their performance. “I have performed at this event for four years and we have never gotten a standing ovation. It was so amazing to get a standing ovation,” Shaker said. (Photo by Aakaruthi Pasuparthi) Sophomore Carson Weinstock watches band director Rob Stegeman while waiting to play.

All Howell Night was hosted at FHC and was headlined by all jazz bands from the districts high schools. Both jazz bands performed. The Jazz 1 band performed “Afro Bossa,” “I Hope in Time a Change Will Come” and “Lingus”. Jazz 2 performed “Cut to the Chase” and “Cousin Jeff”.

This was Weinstock’s first year playing the trumpet for the band. Weinstock plans to continue playing trumpet till he graduates.

“I love jazz band it is so fun,” said Weinstock.

(Photo by Aakaruthi Pasuparthi)

At Schweiger’s Soulard Farmer’s Market, a boy, Mason, is mesmerized by the colorful variety of candies. Mason and his grandmother stopped at the market on their way back from lunch. (Photo

by Mia Morrison)

PAGE BY JORDAN MILEWCZIK

Sophomore Raven Curtner carves her printmaking stamp during Intro to Art . The Intro to Art students were asked to create a design on their stamp that signifies power. (Photo

by Linsey Zerbonia)

PHOTOS| 04.03.19 | FHNTODAY.COM

31

Senior Thomas Beye poses with two volleyballs in his hand while he wears a Missouri Baptist University volleyball hoodie. Beye attributes his improvement to countless hours of practice in and out of the season. Beye signed his commitment papers on National Signing Day, Feb. 6, at FHN. (Photo by Kamryn Bell)

The rise of AN UNEXPECTED PASSION Senior Thomas Beye started a journey with volleyball his freshman year and continues to improve

by Claire Huss

clm1huss@gmail.com | @Claire_Huss

A

s Thomas Beye watches his sisters from the sideline play volleyball four years ago, he grew an interest for a sport that took him farther than he ever expected.

“I knew I wanted to try it,” Beye said. “My friend invited to me an open gym, so I went and fell in love with the sport.”

Freshman year, Beye broke his arms two weeks before tryouts, so he was not able to tryout with the team. Luckily, he attended open gyms before the season started so the coaches knew how he played. This resulted in Beye making the freshman team.

“I was worried they weren’t going to let me play,” Beye said. “Luckily though, the coaches had watched me practice at open gyms and still let me play once my arm healed.”

Going into sophomore year, he knew he wanted to get better. He went to some volleyball camps over the summer that taught him some basic skills like hitting, blocking and serving. Thinking he didn’t stand a chance for making the varsity team his sophomore year due to the amount of seniors on the team that year, Thomas was taken by surprise. He made the varsity team.

“I was pretty nervous at first when I made varsity,” Beye said. “I was the only one on the team that wasn’t a senior.”

As time went on though, Thomas grew more comfortable with the team and they taught him techniques and skills that helped him get better.

“One of Thomas’ strengths is his hitting,” teammate and senior John Garrelts said. “Thomas has a lot of natural skill. He brings a lot of energy to the court. If you set him the ball, he will kill it.”

Beye knew, however, that he still had much more room to improve. The offseason of his junior year, he tried out and played for a regional club team. This was his first year on a club team.

“I was excited to how different club volleyball was from high school,” Beye said.

“The season went really well and I had a lot of fun.”

He spent a lot of his summer going into his senior year going to the gym and

PAGE BY CLAIRE HUSS

making himself better. This year however, he decided he wanted to tryout for the travel team because he now believed he had more of a shot.

“I was going to some of High Performance volleyball club (HPSTL) Royal open gyms,” Beye said. “I wasn’t expecting to make the team or anything though because they are the top team in the club.”

Tryouts came around for HPSTL and Beye thought they went well. He thought he had a lot of nice blocks, hits and serves. Then the coaches pulled a group of them aside and told them the good news: Beye made 18 Royal.

“I was shocked that I had made the top team,” Beye said. “The coach kept asking me to come back so he could watch me play more. I was very excited though as well.”

Beye practices three to four times a week with his club team. He also gets to travel to Chicago, Anaheim and Dallas where Nationals will take place. They are currently ranked the number four team in the nation.

“His skills have amplified on the court,” Garrelts said. “He doesn’t mess around at practice and his skills show it. People follow in his footsteps.”

With such improvement throughout his four short years playing, Beye had a decision to make: Did he want to continue to play in college? He knew he loved the sport and wanted to continue to play.

On Jan. 24, Beye came to a decision. He verbally commited to play for Missouri Baptist University (MBU).

“One of the biggest things that drew me to choose MBU is all the players and coaches,” Beye said. “They welcomed me there and whenever I practiced with them I felt like I fit right in.”

Beye is looking forward to getting better. He has only been playing for four years, which is a lot less than most people who often commit to play volleyball at the collegiate level. Beye is also looking forward to being with his friends this high school season and winning some games.

“Thomas has grown a lot of confidence throughout the three years I have coached him,” varsity head coach Robin Yuede said. “He is not only a great player, but he is also a great role model to others. He always comes to practice ready to work.”

SPORTS | 04.03.19 | FHNTODAY.COM

33

UPCOMING EVENTS

February April

20 3

Wednesday

Girls’ Varsity Lacrosse Game Time: 6:45 p.m.

Where: FHN Stadium

February April

Boys’ Varsity Tennis Match

25 4

Time: 3:30 p.m.

Where: FHN Tennis Courts

Thursday Monday

Junior Will Schellman swings at the tennis ball while practicing. Schellman started playing tennis for the first time his freshman year and fell in love with the sport.

“I enjoy the individualism of the sport, everything is on me, I don’t have to rely on another player to win, and when I lose, I don’t have anyone else to blame,” Schellman said. (Photo by Phoebe Primeau)

Senior Ethan Faltisek prepares to pitch at one of the first practices of the season.

Faltisek is coming back this season as starting pitcher for the varsity baseball team after developing tendinitis in his elbow during his junior year. “I was able to play for my club team over the summer, and it felt amazing to be back, so now I’m excited to see what I can do for FHN,” Faltisek said. (Photo by Jordyn Sgori)

Last year, junior Will Schellman postseason last year, he wants to play qualified for state in boys’ tennis. doubles this year, like alumni Brendan Schellman was the only player to Schmidt and Dev Patel. qualify for state after the tennis team “This year I’m working just as hard to came second in districts. Tennis season make it back to state, training outside is here and his way back to state is of practice,” said Schellman. “If I can starting now with his team’s help. play well in the regular season and “I try to play matches with him pretty keep a good record with high seeding, often,” sophomore and teammate my path will be much easier.”

Rayan Amir said. “It To make it back helps him get more to state this year, match experience and he’s going to have it helps me playing to follow his trend Check out the full tennis against our number from last year and schedule here: one.” better it to make it to bit.ly/2u8P9cF The team has state and go farther rankings which would than last year, having promote competition lost in the first two within the team and bettering each rounds. Schellman and the tennis other. Last year, Schellman was ranked team have a long journey ahead of first on the tennis team, winning them, but hopefully a final destination enough matches against the other at state. schools first ranked player to make it to “Our team this year is very strong state.He’s considering playing doubles and we have a really solid chance of this year rather than singles, as he making it to state as a team if we can played singles last year. stay healthy and committed,” said Despite playing singles in the Schellman. (Brief by Julia Kristensen)

Due to an arm injury, senior Ethan “[He’s great at] commanding the game, Faltisek missed almost all of last he throws a lot of strikes and gets season. Faltisek has played baseball ahead of the hitters. He doesn’t give since he was four years old, played the other teams many opportunities varsity since his freshman year and because he won’t walk anyone or give made himself one of the best pitchers free bases.” on the team.

After high school, Faltisek plans to “He definitely tries as hard as he can continue his baseball career at Central and does the most he possibly can Methodist University, and now that every game,” senior Faltisek is back and pitcher Hunter Tabor healthy from having said. “He’s gotten a an arm injury, he is lot better at pitching, excited to play his Check out the full hitting and he’s gone senior year, and looks baseball schedule here: a long way from to shine as a leader bit.ly/2Jah5qV where he started.” and player for the According to Knights this season.

Assistant Coach Mike “I’ve been doing Freedline, Faltisek had a great start last a lot of physical therapy over this season before getting hurt. Freedline winter and hope nothing else [bad] and the team are very confident in comes up,” Faltisek said. “My goal for Faltisek returning from his injury and college is [to] hopefully play on varsity having a strong season. freshman year but if not, [then] just “I think he’ll be fine, I think he’ll pick getting stronger and better for the up right where he left off, he shouldn’t upcoming seasons.” (Brief by Parker have any problems,” Freedline said.

Kilen)

TENNIS TAKES ROAD BACK TO STATE

MORE INFO

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FHNTODAY.COM | 04.03.19 | SPORTS

RETURNING TO BASEBALL

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PAGE BY CHLOE HORSTMAN

April

8

Monday

Boys’ Varsity Golf Meet Time: 8 a.m.

Where: Winghaven Country Club

April

9

Tuesday

Girls’ Varsity Soccer Game

Time: 6 p.m.

Where: FHN Stadium

April

10

Wednesday

Boys’ Varsity Baseball Game Time: 4:15 p.m.

Where: FHN Baseball Fields

Senior Peyton Hebert and freshman Grace Hebert prepare for practice by doing a warm-up jog on the track. This is the siblings’ first year running on the FHN track team together. The team practices every day after school from 2:50 p.m. through 4:15 p.m. (Photo by Wesley Harden II)

Current junior Cameron Lewis sets his feet as he prepares to race. The meet was held last season at St. Charles West High School and was primarily for the freshmen and sophmore participants. After the around five-hour meet, FHN took third in the four-by-eight, and David Lopez took first in the open 800. (File Photo)

SIBLINGS RUNNING SIDE BY SIDE

BOYS’ TRACK AND FIELD HAS BIG GOALS

The Hebert siblings are close. pass on his track experience to his Senior Peyton Hebert and freshman sister. He takes notice of her strengths Grace Hebert don’t have any classes and weaknesses in running, and he together, but their joint involvement has the easy opportunity to share in sports makes up for that. In fall, his advice. On the rides home, they they both ran cross country. In winter, talk about how practice went and Peyton competed in discuss how Grace can wrestling and Grace improve. became a wrestling Grace learns from manager. Now, as watching Peyton run, For more track stories, check out: spring season is in full and she has someone bit.ly/2F0RWJX swing, they run track. nearby to ask for tips “We push each if she needs it. As other, and we well as learning from motivate each other,” Grace said. him, she’s empowered by the fun of The track season has begun with a classic sibling rivalry. In the end, practices, kickstarting Peyton’s final having a sibling to support and to lean season and Grace’s first. They have on is making them better runners, and seven remaining meets. making this season a good one.

“I think this will be a bonding point “He is constantly pushing me during for us,” Peyton said. “Especially now, practice and during races, and is since it’s my last season.” always motivating me to push harder With a year of running under his and finish strong,” Grace said. (Brief by belt, Peyton has the opportunity to Ashlynn Perez)

Boys’ track and field kicked off right now my personal record is 4:51,” strong this spring, starting practice Hebert said. “I hope to get my time Feb. 25. The team gathers every day down in the 4:30s.” after school at 2:30 p.m. to condition No matter what event the team is in, and train their bodies for upcoming they all focus to beat their individual meets and competitions. Each practice records, from pole vaulting to mile includes intensive times. Sophomore workouts to help Gabe Lobato wishes to everything from reach his highest jump abdominal and core for his second year pole Take a look at pictures from a meet last season: strength to legs and vaulting. bit.ly/2UENffw hips.

“So far, I’ve already Unlike other picked up where I’ve sports, track and left off,” Lobato says. field focuses heavily on individual “I’m jumping 8’6 which is my ending improvement instead of team goals. height from last year. Any improvement Each athlete utilizes practices to push is good regardless if it’s a little or a lot.” themselves farther than they had Boys’ track will hold their next meet previously gone at trainings or meets. on April 6 against Northwest.

Senior distance runner Peyton Hebert “I’m looking forward to hanging out plans to achieve his goal in his last year at meets with my team and hopefully on track. hitting some personal records,” Hebert “Well, my main focus is the mile and says. (Brief by Madi Shinault)

MORE INFO

PAGE BY KATT DAVIS

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SPORTS | 04.03.19 | FHNTODAY.COM

35

Seniors Selena Wang, Autumn Schrader and Mya Huddleston pose for a portrait on the lacrosse field. With 23 goals, Schrader was third on the team in goals last season, as a starting midfielder. Wang had a 45 percent shooting percentage last season. Huddleston plays a major role in the communication in the defensive zone. (Photos by Jordan Milewczik)

Celebrating Four Years

Girls’ lacrosse honors four-year seniors for the first time since the sport came to FHN in 2015-16 school year

by Franco Romano

francooromanoo1@gmail.com

Girls’ lacrosse has been around for only four years at FHN. According to Head Coach Danielle Budde, they started because there was a high demand by a lot of girls that wanted to play lacrosse. This year, 10 of the girls who started playing lacrosse four years ago will celebrate being on the team for all of the first four years. One of those girls is senior Autumn Schrader, who ended up being the first girl to be on the varsity team all four years, out of all the freshman who joined that first year and stuck with the sport for the next three years.

“I was very excited my freshman year when I found out [FHN] were starting a lacrosse team,” senior Autumn Schrader said. “I always wanted to play lacrosse in high school, and when I found out I could, I was stoked.”

Since they started the team, they have been doing well.

They’ve improved every year, making their record better: going from a first year record of 1-5 to a record of 11-9 this previous year. The team has grown as a whole, turning themselves into one of the better spring teams coming into this upcoming season. The team has improved tremendously, scoring 138 goals this previous year while only scoring 21 goals in the first year the team started.

“Every year after the winter sports season, I always prepare myself because I take lacrosse serious,” senior Mya Huddleston said. “I try to practice year round,

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FHNTODAY.COM | 04.03.19 | SPORTS

but after that last basketball game, I know it’s time.”

The seniors are already proving to be leaders on the team this year. Budde feels that the seniors on the team are already making an impact by helping the underclassmen and preparing them for future seasons.

“The seniors really have made the team who they are today,” Budde said. “They put everyone before themselves to make sure everyone is doing the right thing. Before practice even starts [the seniors] are out there warming up. They have put a huge impact on the underclassmen who have joined the team and who are going to be leading the team whenever they leave.”

Not only is Budde happy with the seniors and their leading abilities, but the underclassmen are as well.

“They have pushed me to do better and make me a better lacrosse player,” junior Heaven-Lee Nichols said. “They always encourage me to try hard in practice because it will show in games.”

This year is special for the team because most of the varsity players are seniors and they want to end their lacrosse career at FHN on a good note. Putting forth the effort and having the right mindset will put them in a good position against other teams.

“We are all super excited to see what’s in store for us this season,” senior Selena Wang said. “We all have personal goals and team goals, hoping to achieve them all and prove to everyone that the lacrosse team [at FHN] is a force to be reckoned with.”

PAGE BY HANNAH WILSON

Q&A Becoming a Division I Athlete

with Early Graduate and University of Iowa Soccer Player

Sam Cary

(Content by Joel Boenitz)

Why did you decide to graduate a semester early?

Senior Abbie Miller, sophomore Julia Kristensen and junior Lauren Shah all pose in college attire. Miller and Kristensen will play soccer at Saint Louis University and Shah will be playing at Arkansas State. SLU is in the Atlantic 10 division while ASU is in the Sun Belt conference. (Photo Illustration by Ella Manthey)

PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE FHN girls’ soccer team has three future Division I athletes on the team

by Joel Boenitz

Kristensen, who also committed to SLU this past jboenitz2@gmail.com | @j_boenitz2 winter. For Shah, who has been playing soccer since Since the 2014 to 2015 school year, the girls’ she was three years old, going away for college will soccer team has had seven of their athletes commit give her an opportunity to branch out. While looking to play in college, with only three of them going into Arkansas State, she knew it was the right place to play at the Division I level, the highest level for her. of college athletics. After the end of this season, “I knew when making my decision to go to senior Abbie Miller will become Arkansas State that it was the right the eighth athlete to take the decision,” Shah said. “When I went field in college and fourth to play to visit the school and the soccer at the Division I level. Miller has program it had all the items on Check out Abbie Miller’s verbally committed to Saint Louis my checklist that I wanted from commitment story here: University since her sophomore a school and soccer program. I goo.gl/dLKQTd year and signed a letter of intent am going to focus on training and on Feb. 2 of this year. She feels this working hard my freshman year of has helped her grow as a soccer college with the hopes of having player. the opportunity to come in as a freshman and have “I think committing helped me [improve],” Miller the ability to play. [Being given] that opportunity I said. “I wanted to be more prepared for it, so I feel very blessed.” worked harder. I think I got better as an overall The three will all be playing together at the varsity player and it just made me excited that I was going level for the second time this season. Miller hopes to play for four more years, so I had to keep pushing that the three of them can work together and can myself to get better.” also push the rest of the team to work just as hard Along with Miller, the team has two other players both now and in the future. who have already verbally committed to playing “I think it will make [the three of] us better in soccer at the Division I level when they finish high general, because we will want to work harder,” school. Those players are junior wingback Lauren Miller said. “As they grow, I think they will also grow Shah, who committed to Arkansas State prior to as leaders and push our other teammates to work the start of the school year and sophomore Julia hard.”

MORE INFO

PAGE BY COLIN ST. AUBIN

“My coach now brought up the idea of graduating early my junior year. I decided to do it because I thought it would benefit my soccer and we have a big class of 2019, so graduating early is going to give me the potential to be on the field this coming fall and I want to start playing my freshman year. It also gets me used to college soccer. When we played our first game, I realized it was way faster paced than what I’m used to, so it was a sort of shell-shock, but I’m glad I got that feeling now rather than when I play in the fall season.”

What have you been doing with the team since you graduated?

“Since I got here, I’ve been treated like I’m a normal player. The second day here was fitness testing so we were thrown in with everyone. We have practice basically every day; we only get one break day a week. We still do a lot of fun stuff with the team, like celebrating everybody’s birthdays and team dinners.

We go boxing every Wednesday instead of practice, which is always interesting. The team was just super awesome. They were very welcoming to me and my roommate. It’s been pretty great and close, which made it very easy coming here.”

What has playing for a Division I team been like?

“Division I has been crazy. When we first got here, we were thrown straight into fitness testing and it was such a shell-shock, but it’s also a great environment.

Everyone here wants to be here. They want Iowa to succeed. We talk about our team goals all the time, what we want to be and what we want to do.

Everyone’s extremely motivated and we all have the same goal, which is really great because it just makes every training session very intense. Some days it’s harder than others to get up because we’re sore, but you know your team wants you there. It’s like a dream come true, but it hasn’t really hit me yet that I’m actually playing for the University of Iowa. Sometimes I joke that I’m still not in college, but rather a very long overnight camp.”

SPORTS | 04.03.19 | FHNTODAY.COM

37

Senior Connor Hodgkins helps tackle an opponent.

Hodgkins has been on the rugby team for all four years of high school. Last season the team went 5-5.

(File Photo)

RUGBY GOES BACK TO THE PITCH The Francis Howell Force Rugby team had their first game on March 2. This season the team has 18 new players, including senior Jordan Keating. According to senior and team captain Connor Hodgkins, the new recruits are picking up the game quickly and bonding well with the other players, and Hodgkins believes they will have a chance at state.

“We have a lot of good people that have never played before,” Hodgkins said. “We had a scrimmage on [March 2] and they picked it up really well, and it was really good seeing all these people who never played it before and the people who have played it before coming together and making a really good team.”

The team includes high school students from not only FHN, but FHHS, FHC, Rugby Games: Timberland 4/11 at 5 p.m. at Desmet and Liberty.

4/13 at 3 p.m. at Lindbergh Because it’s not a school sponsored sport, it’s challenging to work around all of the students’ schedules to practice and find rugby pitches.

“We play usually at schools that have actual teams,” Hodgkins said. “CBC and Priory have it [a rugby pitch] and then our home field is actually in Forest Park: they have a rugby pitch down there that we play on.”

Keating looks forward to bonding with the team, learning more about the game and improving as a player.

“I think we’re going to do actually really good,” Keating said. “Even though we have a lot of inexperienced players, we have a lot of guys that are phenomenal athletes, and I think that even though they’re inexperienced, I think that it will easily come with their talent.” (Brief by Chloe Horstman)

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FHNTODAY.COM | 04.03.19 | SPORTS

Sophomore Olivia Neunaber rides a bicycle during the bike portion of a triathlon. Neunaber raced in the Newtown Kids Triathlon which took place in July. Neunaber placed second overall. (Photo Submitted)

A JOURNEY THROUGH RACING Sophomore Olivia Neunaber races in competitive triathlons and has done so throughout the majority of her life along side her mother

by Patty O’Leary

pattyannoleary@gmail.com | @pattyxoxo_

S

he stands at the starting line, awaiting the long race of swimming, biking and running before her. The thoughts of nervousness that creep into her head are quickly shut down with the mental preparation prior to the race. Surrounding her are competitors of all ages, most bigger, older and more experienced, but all she’s focused on is the country roads in front of her.

Sophomore Olivia Neunaber is no stranger to triathlons. As a child she watched as her mother Meghan Neunaber, an accomplished triathlon competitor, participated in various difficult courses including a very difficult course called the Iron Man. Seeing someone who’s so influential in her life participate in so many of these events made her want to follow suit.

“As long as I can remember my mom’s been doing it,” Olivia said. “She’s really good at it, so when I saw her doing it, I always thought it would be cool to do.”

She turned that thought into a reality by doing a few courses with her mother here and there throughout her childhood. Olivia and her mother did courses about once a year for fun and to participate in something together. It wasn’t until last year, when she saw various high school triathlon clubs at a race she was participating in, that she decided to pursue taking this hobby and turning it into something more.

“I think it’s pretty cool that she’s taken it [triathlons] up,” Meghan said. “I’m glad she’s excited about it.

I’ve been doing them since she was in preschool so I don’t think I ever would’ve thought that she would

have taken it this far.”

Joining the club entails more than just racing, though. Between the triathlon club, FHN track and field and club swimming, she is more than busy. She often has two practices every weeknight and the occasional weekend practice.

“It takes a lot,” Olivia said. “It’s hard always knowing that I can’t work certain days or I can’t hang out with my friends at any given time because I have practice.”

Not only does the sport consume a lot of her time, but it also requires a lot of mental strength. With such a physically demanding sport, often athletes will lean on their mental toughness to power them through a tough workout and especially to prepare them for a race.

“I’m usually pretty nervous,” Olivia said. “I try to mentally prepare myself for what I’m about to go through because it is a long race and requires a lot of endurance. You’re just constantly going and going and going, you don’t get to take breaks. I always just have to tell myself ‘I can do this.’”

With the strength to push her through the end of the race comes the satisfaction of crossing the finish line that once seemed so far away. Being only a sophomore, she doesn’t exactly know what she wants to do in the future with triathlons, but she hopes to continue throughout high school and possibly participate in a club college team, competing and crossing many finish lines wherever she is involved.

“When I’m finishing I think to myself ‘you’re so close’ and just try to push it all the way to the end,” Olivia said.

PAGE BY RYLEIGH O’DONNELL

BOYS’ GOLF SWINGS INTO SPRING SPORTS

Paige Giancola leads a Zumba class while others mirror her.

Zumba is a Latin-based dance class that helps you get fit while keeping high energy. Zuga Fitness offers other classes such as Yoga, Hip-Hop and Sculpting. (Photo by Riley Witherbee)

The boys’ golf team is underway as they look to have a successful season. They spoke out on their favorite golf clubs to use for this upcoming season (Content by Cole Sherman)

In golf, each golfer has their own set of golf clubs that they use throughout a meet. However, there are many different types of clubs that are used for specific scenarios. One is called “driver”. It is typically used for longdistance shots and used to tee-off a hole. However, some golfers use a club called a “wood”, which is a shorter version of a driver. A golfer often uses their “wood” for reliability and consistency. Most golfers typically have a set of “irons,” which are used for medium-distance shots, and are used to chip shots onto the green. When golfers reach the green, they are likely to use their “putter” which is used to putt the ball in the hole and is mainly used for short distances.

TYPES OF GOLF CLUBS Different types of clubs are used for different purposes. This infographic shows each type of golf club and what it is used for.

Putter Used for shortdistance shots

Irons Used for chipping shots onto the green

Driver Used for longdistance shots

Wood A smaller version of a driver. Used for medium and longdistance shots

PAGE BY JUSTIN CHRISTENSEN

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE GOLF CLUB? “My 3 wood is my favorite because I can use it as a driver or on the fairway.”

Christopher Ross, 10 “My favorite club to use is my driver because hitting it as far as possible, straight of course, is very satisfying.”

Adam Shine, 12 “My favorite club has to be my 7 iron, it’s so useful in a lot of situations, and it’s really easy to get used to.”

Zach Askew, 11 “My putter is my favorite club because I’m very good with it, and I can always rely on it when I need to make putts.”

William Pundmann, 10 “I really like my sand wedge because it’s really frustrating being in the sand traps, and the sand wedge makes it a bit easier and can even help you in other situations.”

Pavan Kolluru, 9

DANCERS LOVE THEIR ZUGA FAMILY Zuga Fitness was opened in 2013 by entrepreneur, Valerie Gibson. She wanted to open a studio that offers a different type of exercise. Rather than running on treadmills or pedaling on bike machines, students dance to music or use various small weights and exercises that work on individual parts of the body, all while creating a safe and loving environment.

“We’ve grown a lot throughout the years,” Fitness instructor Paige Giancola said. “We’ve had people that have been with us since day one of it’s opening, which says a lot about our connection with people and what Zuga brings to people’s lives. It’s become a second home.”

Zuga Fitness offers six classes, all working with different areas of fitness. Their classes consist of Zumba, Hip Hop, Yoga, AcroYoga, Core and Sculpt. Each class offers something different for everyone, whether that is dancing in their Zumba class or working upper body strength in their Sculpt class.

“It’s a really comfortable environment,” Gibson said. “We have so many walks of life with age and fitness range. We do progressions and modifications for everything, but our biggest thing is just about making it fun.”

The same routine people show up to the classes. Each person grows a connection to each other by attending classes together up to seven times a week. After six years of attending classes, they have each grown closely to one another, calling themselves a family. They often say, “We love our Zuga family.”

“It just started as a summer thing,” student Stephanie Walton said. “I’m hooked now. Everybody here is just really nice. It feels like a second family. It’s made me really love fitness.”

Zuga Fitness prides itself on having instructors and students who refrain from judgment. They encourage everyone to join no matter your age, gender or physical abilities. They offer a comfortable environment where you can go at your own pace and alter moves so that they are more comfortable for you.

“It’s a group of people that are so nice and non-judgmental that are all there for a similar goal,” Giancola said. “We just kind of relate to one another. We found our Zuga tribe. We all became really close and found true friendships in this where you don’t see in other studios.” (Brief by Gracie Bowman)

FHNTODAY.COM | 04.03.19 | SPORTS

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Jeff Strickland, Agent

www.JeffStrickland.com

636.947.6226

Walk in, Call in, Click in

(Illustration by Jena Pae)

EXCLUDED FROM COVERAGE

Healthcare in Missouri limits the abilities of lower class women to obtain legal abortions

by Sophie Carite svcarite@gmail.com

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n the U.S., abortion is a safe and legal medical procedure that all women have the right to access. According to the Guttmacher Research Institute, 75 percent of abortion patients are economically disadvantaged, with 49 percent living below the federal poverty line.

Despite these two things, laws regarding health insurance coverage for abortion in Missouri favor the wealthy and disregard the health, safety and legal rights of low income women.

Since 1983, all health insurance policies sold in Missouri have to exclude coverage of elective abortions, except in the case that the individual opts into purchasing a policy rider .

A policy rider is an amendment to an insurance policy, that is only included by specific request, and for an additional cost. By preventing private health insurance providers from including a perfectly legal procedure within their normal coverage, the state of Missouri is showing a clear favoritism towards upper class Missourians, and a blatant disregard for the rights of lower class women who, according to the Guttmacher Institute, tend to be younger, unmarried and already the parent of another child. These conditions put them in a position to be less likely to be able to afford additional riders and policy fees, meaning these women are systematically being denied their right to a procedure they have every right to obtain, forcing them to either carry the pregnancy to term or pay for the procedure out of pocket.

In addition to the near ban on private health insurance coverage, Missouri adheres to the federal Hyde Amendment. This amendment is specific that states are forbidden from using federal money to provide women on Medicaid with abortion coverage, except in the case that it is necessary to save their lives or in the case

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of rape/incest. Under this amendment, states have the option of using their own money to provide Medicare patients with abortion coverage, but Missouri does not take advantage of that. Medicaid is a service meant to provide low income individuals in the U.S. with health care. According to the Guttmacher Institute, it serves one out of every five women of reproductive age. By refusing to use state funds to step up and provide the necessary coverage for low income women living in Missouri, the state is showing a clear disregard for their personal health and right to choose. According to Planned Parenthood, when women who are seeking to terminate a pregnancy are denied access to or can’t afford an abortion, they may go without paying bills for necessities like electricity or water. Or, they may be forced to seek out an illegal and potentially dangerous abortion from an unlicensed practitioner or self induce. If the state of Missouri really cared about the wellbeing of it’s lower class female occupants, it would provide access to safe abortions through public funding.

The laws surrounding health insurance coverage for abortions are dangerous to women in Missouri and are specifically aimed at preventing the majority of people who seek abortions from being able to obtain them, which puts women’s health second and the states idea of what is morally correct first.

In order to correctly provide for its female population, Missouri needs to pass legislation that allows private health insurance companies to provide full access to abortion coverage within the price range of a normal plan.

Additionally, they need to allow public funding to be able to be spent on abortion services in order to prevent more risk to the health and wellbeing of Missouri residents.

FHNTODAY.COM | 04.03.19 | OPINIONS

(Photo from Wikimedia Commons)

OPPORTUNITY CALLS Moving to another country, another culture, another world for one year is not easy, but it helps you grow and learn how to be a world citizen.

Situated on the East Coast of Sicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, lays Catania. This is not just my hometown but also a unique scenario which offers a wide variety of new experiences to try between the historical volcano Etna and the beauties of the sea. As most of the European territories this place is a carrier of a long history and variety of architecture, customs and traditions.

Apparently it seems like the wonderful lifestyle: delicious food, crystalline sea and ensured fun. Who would ever want to go away from an idyllic paradise as that?

As we all know, humans have always been fascinated most from, not from what we have, but from going beyond our limits and desiring something bigger and sometimes scarier.

Deciding to change continents, family and mentality is a complicated choice. It means to gamble everything putting it aside for ten months of your life.

For me, living in America has always been one of my biggest dreams since sixth grade. Even though I could finally realize my dream, I spent days or even months reflecting on what I was going to go through.

The U.S. is an amazing territory characterized by exclusive natural and urban landscapes envied by the whole world.

The U.S. is known as the land of opportunities and hopes for whoever wants to follow their dreams, whether their concern is working or study careers or passions. For those reasons, spending a whole school year in this country represents a huge goal that can be accomplished by just a few.

More than 3,000 exchange students leave Europe every year in order to live the time of their lives, but despite the destination country being the same, they are all going to live different experiences. As in my case, figuring out I was going to Missouri was a huge question mark. I heard of people going to Hawaii or New York, and I kept asking myself why it would happen to me to be destined to a not well-known place like Saint Charles, MO. But here I am. My experience would certainly be different than all the others. The perfect exchange year does not exist, but my exchange has definitely been going perfect for me.

A year abroad helps to understand that it does not matter how perfect your world could be, because the real treasure is making it become how special you want it to be. Missouri as well as Italy, composes the memories of the best time of my life and for this reason I want it to be special, and you should, too. (Story by Enrico Spadaccini)

PAGE BY GRACE HARDING

DO YOU KNOW THE DRILL?

(Illustration by Emma Rohrbach)

Drills should be more focused towards the convenience and comfort of students, teachers and staff

by Liy Taliaferro

would prefer if they weren’t missing out on anything new.

For unannounced drills, it’s understandable that changing a schedule would his year, the Dean of Students Steve Moorman is in charge of FHN’s drill not be doable and students who missed information that period would have scheduling, and students have shared their opinions on their experience to be made up later on. Depending on how significant the material was could with the drills we have had this year. easily spiral into a recipe for failure. Unannounced drills should be on Mondays It is the Missouri State Law that public schools are to host a minimum of 10 fire or Tuesdays, and students should have extended time to catch up on any work or drills, two earthquake drills, two tornado drills, and two lockdown drills each year. lessons that they missed on days there were drills.

This is Moorman’s first year being in charge of the school’s drill schedule. Last year Some students feel like they don’t know the procedures for all of their classes.

Michael Janes, the activities director, was in charge of it and had already made Most teachers addressed the procedures at the very beginning of the year, and plans for this years. Moorman is carrying out that schedule and will plan one for months down the road when the fire alarm goes off, or an announcement on next year based on how this years went. the intercom tells students that we are having a tornado drill, an Future drills should not be unpleasant and inconvenient earthquake drill or an intruder drill, those instructions are entirely for students, teachers or staff. Many students feel that the forgotten. Some students who have changed classes the next fire drills don’t coordinate well with the weather. The cold, semester weren’t aware of those procedures from the start.

Check out the full safety snow and rain have been brutal this year, making its difficult It’s not just one forgetful teen either, a lot of students can’t policies here: to have at least one drill every month and meet the state confidently say that they know the drill procedures for all of their bit.ly/2u51y1j required amount. When planning fire drills, the weather classes. Teachers need to reiterate the procedures every other quarter is something that Moorman takes into consideration. with their students. Teachers should give their students quizzes on During some fire drills, some teachers failed to remind their students to bring paper every other month and at the beginning of the semester asking students coats causing students to stand outside shivering, huddling with their friends to where to go from their room in the event of a fire, a tornado or an earthquake and get warm. For another fire drill, students had to face the low temperatures in the the location of the attendance sheet. That way, students would actually be aware rain. Those who were fortunate enough to have gotten their coats, had them and of what the safety plans are. those who were less fortunate had used their backpacks and folders to shield In the future, students should not have to deal with poor weather conditions on themselves, and some had nothing. days we have fire drills, and teachers should find a way to change their schedule In addition some students felt that the drills interrupted their classes. The so students don’t miss out on important material. But most importantly, no one scheduling for the drills is not at fault, teachers should try to reschedule new ever expects it to be their school that experiences a fire, a tornado, an earthquake material or important lessons and save them for days when the school doesn’t or an active shooter. Students and staff need to know the drills thoroughly so if we have any drills planned. Drills will interrupt classes no matter what, but students ever have to experience a dangerous situation, we’ll know what to do. liytaliaferro@gmail.com

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MORE INFO

ARE SAFETY DRILLS EFFECTIVE? PAGE BY LIY TALIAFERRO

“While I think that fire drills are important, no one’s going to follow that procedure if there’s an actual fire.”

“Depends on the drill, I think fire drills we could do less often but we could do more intruder drills.”

“I don’t think students are prepared enough for an actual emergency.

Last year, when we had a false alarm, people were freaking out.”

“If it was made similar to how teachers trained, I think it would be better.”

Skylar Vogo, 9

Zoe Meier, 10

Andrew Wahwei, 11

Michaela Mihova, 12

OPINIONS | 04.03.19 | FHNTODAY.COM

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A Tesla supercharger, a charging station for electric cars, sits in the parking lot of a fast food chain called Smashburger. Tesla, an American automotive and energy company specializes in electric car manufacturing as well as solar panel manufacturing. The company is installing superchargers in many urban areas where citizens can easily and efficiently charge their vehicles. (Photo by Phoebe Primeau)

Deal or no deal The Green New Deal is a Raw Deal for America

The Green New Deal is Necessary in Today’s America

he Green New Deal is not a Four Year Plan, not a Five Year Plan, but a 10 year plan. It’s the increasingly radicalized left’s Great Leap Forward to a green society. Except it fails in the place it counts: Success.

The Green New Deal currently takes the form of House Resolution 109: “Recognizing the duty of the Federal Government to create a Green New Deal.”

The resolution calls for the government to save the environment and introduce legislation that creates millions of high-paying jobs and invest in infrastructure.

The only things the resolution doesn’t promise are pragmatic solutions.

Like most resolutions, the Green New Deal has limited policy within it. It mandates that all existing buildings and all new buildings be retrofitted by the government to be as efficient as possible, be safe and be affordable. This level of governmental control is unprecedented. We can hardly get everyone to fill out a census form, but we think we can force every existing home and building owner in the country to let us begin six months of construction to turn their home into a solar panel? What happens if someone says “No, you can’t change my property.”

Throw them in the slammer and throw away the key, I guess. We must reject the Green New Deal to make way for more practical and more right-respecting solutions.

The Green New Deal also calls for the complete shutdown of nuclear power plants, a goal based on Cold War era fear and misinformation. Nuclear power is by far the safest form of energy.

According to Forbes’ list of energy mortality rates, nuclear power in the U.S. is 1,500 times safer than wind and 4,400 times safer than solar in terms of mortality/ per kilowatts produced. This is due to the dangers of operating wind farms and the toxicity of making solar panels, compounded by the fact that wind and solar produce very little power for all lives they take. An investment in nuclear and even hydroelectric power provide is much greater tradeoff than solar and wind.

The Green New Deal has a hefty price tag. The promise to make buildings energy independent? It’d be an investment that would cost at least $41,000 and would take over 27 years to pay off per home according to the solar panel company, Wholesale Solar. The Urban Institute calculates that the “Medicare-For-All” proposal in the Green New Deal would cost more than $3 trillion a year. U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s 70 percent Marginal Tax Rate would only bring in $72 billion according to Politifact. That $72 billion won’t cover a more than $3 trillion proposal whatever way you slice it.

The Green New Deal is impossible, but all is not lost. An investment into making renewables competitive and an expansion in nuclear power is much preferable to a bad deal. (Story by Connor Peper)

f implemented, the House Resolution to create a “Green New Deal” would benefit the U.S. One of the main goals of this Green New Deal would be to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions within 10 years, which means absorbing as much carbon dioxide as is released. Sources of power would shift to renewable sources of energy, which would spur the growth of jobs that manufacture solar panels and wind turbines. Going without carbon can be done with current technology. The Green New Deal would also work with other industries to ensure that their greenhouse gas emissions stay low. Achieving netzero greenhouse gas emissions is necessary to slow the earth’s warming so that it doesn’t reach catastrophic levels.

To meet the demand of renewable energy, the house resolution calls for the building of renewable power farms, which would cost around $400 billion according to the Electric Power Institute. This would create many jobs for Americans to combat the worst income inequality since the 1920s. The Green New Deal would also invest in zero emission vehicles, improve public transportation and improve high speed rail. Investment in zero emission vehicles is required to achieve the net-zero greenhouse gas emissions needed to slow down the warming of the earth, since transportation accounts for 28 percent of carbon dioxide emissions according to the EPA. It isn’t yet known whether the government would partner with corporations yet. If all the sea ice melts, much of the East Coast will be underwater, including all of Florida.

Despite these challenges, a Green New Deal is technologically feasible. It can’t be completed in 10 years, but most of its major goals can be completed by mid century if implemented today. Critics cite that the Green New Deal would damage the economy. Moreover, they believe that there is no possibility of paying for this bill. Mark Paul, an economist from Forbes, says a combination of higher taxes on the wealthy, a carbon tax and more borrowing of money by the government would be sufficient. He has also stated that any debts caused by this Green New Deal would eventually stabilize, because the creation of many high wage jobs would help spur the economy in the long term.

If left unchecked, climate change will cause lots of damage to our planet. In the U.S. alone, there would be more extreme wildfires and more droughts. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) would also diminish 10 percent by 2100. The Green New Deal is the first step towards a sustainable future. The Green New Deal will lead America towards stability, instead of catastrophe. (Story by Justin Christensen)

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FHNTODAY.COM | 04.03.19 | OPINIONS

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PAGE BY JACK CLEAVELAND

North | star Editors-in-Chief: Hannah Wilson Heeral Patel Managing Editors: Sammie Herr Rebekah Myers Copy Editor: Patty O’Leary Entertainment/Opinions Editor: Grace Bowman News Editor: Sophie Carite Features Editor: Kylah Woods Sports Editor: Ashlynn Perez General Staff: Anna Besancenez Sofiya Melnychuk Justin Christensen Connor Peper Jack Cleaveland Mackenzie Pugh Macy Cronin Sophia Schmidt Katt Davis Leann Smyth Sydney Ellison Colin St Aubin Grace Harding Ryleigh O’Donnell Chloe Horstman Aliyah Taliaferro Claire Huss Karsyn Williams Michael Zull Editor-in-Chief of Photography: Jordan Milewczik Newspaper Photo Editor: Phoebe Primeau Yearbook Photo Editor: Paige Westermann Sports Photo Editor: Kamryn Bell Photographers: Addalynn Bradbury Jordyn Sgroi Anna Hollinger Morgan Vyff Francisco Jimenez Alexis Wade Isabella Manthey Wesley Harden Kaili Martin Sarah Williams Isabella Schneider Riley Witherbee

FHNTODAY STAFF

COMMUNICATION IS KEY

(Illustration by Sophia Schmidt)

Students and teachers should communicate more about when make up work should be due so everyone’s needs can be met On Behalf of the Editorial Staff @fhntoday.com | @FHNtoday

For a student, the makeup work for one absence can feel like a week’s worth of work. Whether it be missed tests, essays or just regular homework, most of it needs to be taken care of within the next day. But with the workload and help availability of some classes, sometimes a day to finish everything isn’t enough.

For teachers, they have hundreds of students’ work to grade and it can get hard to keep up with absences if a student doesn’t get their work in soon. So should the work be due the next day or should students get some more time to get everything together?

Both teachers and students should try to find a middle ground on when missed work should be turned in. On the student end, they have seven classes to make up work for, some harder than others. Some require extra help that isn’t always readily available.

Not only that, but on top of the work they missed while absent, the day they come back, students get

PAGE BY SOPHIE CARITE

more work in addition. Student’s deserve a couple days to make up work without facing penalty.

On the teacher end, they have so many students to try to keep track of, sometimes they can forget who was absent and when. They also put work into posting things on their websites so students can stay caught up with work in the event of an absence. They’re willing to work with the student if they ask for a small extension, it just takes some communication for the student.

For the absent work policy to be the best for both teachers and students, there needs to be a middle ground where the student or the teacher isn’t overly stressed. The due date of missed work should be based on a case-by-case basis, because every situation is different. Students can start trying to communicate with their teachers about struggling to catch up, and teachers can be more understanding of students’ situations.

Editor-in-Chief: Madi Shinault Managing Editor: Madison Abanathie Sports Editor: Joel Boenitz Social Media Editor: Gavin Atkinson Business Manager: Jadon Herrman Business: Minnie Adams Gabriel Lobato Brandon Brophy Emma Rohrbach Della Boenitz Kimberlin Sargent Kat Sellers Web Staff: Alexis Davis Cole Sherman Grace Humphres Enrico Spadaccini Parker Kilen Michael Willmann Julia Kristensen Ethan Winchester Tyler Rogers Franco Romano Executive Producer of Video: Emily Hood Chief Editor: Reide Pearson Podcast Editor: Audrey Dickherber Video Staff: Gavin Anderson Wally Nabzdyk AZ Anderson Jena Pae Jacob Dulaney Ray Shea Karl Bank-Diaz Lily Sontheimer Victor Escobar Hunter Turpin Sandy Han Jake Willmann Dillon Lauer Emily Zhang Reinita Lee Sarah Zimmerman Advisers: Aaron Manfull Jordyn Kiel

OPINIONS | 04.03.19 | FHNTODAY.COM

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Have you bought a yearbook yet? Check here: You can purchase yearbooks in the main office, in room 105, or online at FHNtoday.com.

Yearbooks are $65 and they go up in price FRIDAY so make sure to get yours today.

If your name isn’t on the list below, it means you have not ordered your yearbook yet. If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Kiel at jordyn.kiel@fhsdschools.org. (list created 3/25) Natalie Abanathie Madison Abanathie Hadel Abdelkarim Barrah Abuelawi Nadia Abusoud Ellen Adams Samuel Adams James Adams Aslee Addison Jada Adkinson Emily Al-Sawad Joseph Albers Prize Juan Paolo Alega Hanna Alexander Thorne Allen Suhas Andavolu Mikinna Andel Gavin Anderson Abby Anderson Meghan Anderson Tony Araujo Derek Archer Natalie Archer Chase Arehart Sarah Arnold Kayla Arnold Evie ausbury Carlee Averbeck Chloe Averbeck Jake Badgley Ethan Bailey Zachary Baker Grace Bales Drake Bales Jadyn Bales Zane Balleydier Justin Baniak Max Bante Ellanore Bargen Austin Barker James Barklage Elizabeth Barlos Nicholas Barton Katharine Bascio Will Bascio Jonathan Basford Jonathan Basford Madison Battles Olivia Bayers Jerica Bayles Kiley Beiner Kamryn Bell Lauren Bell Rex Berry Anna Berthold Anna Berthold Enoch Berthold Breanna Besancenez Samatha Bethel Thomas Beye Lillian Bigogno Grace Bigogno Isabel Bira Austin Birk Branden Bizelli Jenna Black Autumn Blake Autumn Blake Nicholas Blodgett Logan Blount Autumn Boatright Joel Boenitz Della Boenitz Ellen Bommarito Ellen Bommarito Laini Bommarito Justin Bowman Ethan Boyd Tayshaun Boyd Clayton Boyd Elizabeth Bozwell Joseph Bozwell Delanie Bradbury Archie Bradbury Cameron Bradt Braden Brand Natalie Breen James Breeze Madison Brewer Justin Brewer Sean Brinkley Becka Brissette Sabrina Broadway Claire Brockmann Matthew Brombolich Kathryn Brooks

Mekhi Brooks Jada Brown Dylan Brune Dylan Brune Samantha Burke Lily Burkhalter Kalib Burris Kelly Burris Julianna Busby Noe Bustos Emily Butler Andrew Butler Emma Butteiger Kyle Button Kainoa Cabrera Kainoa Cabrera Kianu Cabrera Han Cam Bryan Cannon Justin Caringal Kelsey Carnes Abigail Carpenter Lilian Cash Calvin Caswell Grace Catlin Allison Cavato Lucas Chaney Lacy Chapman Arianna Gail Chaves Savanna Chilese Justin Christensen Abigail Chruma Matthew Clark Jakob Clayton Mallory Cline Ava Clintsman Luke Coffman Grant Cole Collin Cole Jesse Collins Catherine Connolly Megan Crain Tyler Crist Conor Cronin Macy Cronin Blaize Cross Kyle Crow Angela Cuccio Owen Cuddy Mercedes Culver William Cundiff Mia Cunningham Dallas Curativo Raven Curtner Thomas Dale-Derks Braden Darnell Makenna Davis Kaitlyn Davis Jordan Davis Olivia Davis Luke Davis Ellen Davis Jacob Davis Shayla Dawes Shem De Leon Hannah DeGraw Madeline DeGraw Trey Dehesa Luke Dempski Maria Desalvo Audrey Dickherber Ashlee Diehl Aidan Dill Chasen Dishon Ryan Dittmar Megan Dobey Keenan Donaldson Jackson Donato Clayton Donovan Cassidy Dotson Dylan Dufour Taylor Dunbar Haley Dunscombe Andrew Durham Sebastian Durrett Gabriel Edwards Sophia Eimer Benjamin Ell Sydney Ellison Teah Endecott Olivia Engle Hannah Ermeling Victor Escobar Lawson Faries Leah Farner Carleigh Fernandez

Jack Ferry Oivia Fetsch Oivia Fetsch Drew Fienup Emma Fischer Morghen Fisher Erin Fleming Kassandra Flores Katherine Forth Aubree Fox Caiden Fritts Alexander Gabel Jenna Galkowski Brendan Gannon Christiana Ganzinotti Sarah Gauerke Anissa Gee Jenna Gehricke Jacquelyn George

Tyler Georgevitch-Layne

Emmalyn Gerhardt Trevor Gestring Sydney Giacomarra Eric Gibson Medjine Gibson Jessica Gillen Trevor Gillen Bryanna Ginn Aidyn Gleason Isabella Gledhill Alexis Goad Tylor Godfrey Jacob Goeke Nicholas Goeke Mark Golliday Cameryn Gonzalez Elise Gordon Carly Gordon Andrew Gorsich Ashley Graflage Cameron Graham Devon Grapenthin Zackary Gray Ruiz Gregory Dominic Griffero Jamazia Griffin Ian Gronemeier Isabella Gruettemeyer Seth Grumich Aidan Habibi Anna Hackstadt Dakota Hagene Cate Hahn Elisabeth Hale Haley Hall Miles Hamelin Bret Hammond Melena Hammond Sean Hampton Adam Hanan Julia Hanan Skyler Hance Morgan Hanson Wesley Harden Jonah Hargrove Lindsey Harris Samantha Harris Holly Harris John Harris Tristin Hartupee Amanda Hasenbeck Lucas Havens Dylan Haverstick Alexander Hayes Tyler Haynes Cole Hayse Grace Hebert Peyton Hebert April Heien Caleb Helmick Courtney Helmick Brianna Hennessey Alyssa Hennessey Dominic Henning Erik Henze Jadon Herrman Max Hessel Kaitlyn Hesskamp Adele Higgins Taylor Hill Marshall Hines Ian Hodge Cailyn Hodges Connor Hodgkins Keegan Hodgkins Nathan Hoekstra

Adam Hogan Julie Hohensee Chase Holder Anna Hollinger Alanna Hollins Logan Holloway Laura Holloway Emily Hood Anthony Hople Chloe Horstman Haley Hosea Mya Huddleston Adam Hueffmeier Randal Hufford Charleigh Hurd Gabriella Iadevito Cambrea Iffrig Jordyn Inman Gavin Inman Max Ising Logan Jacks Dominick Jacobs Jett Jameson Thomas Jamison Makenna Jansing Parker Jaques Aiden Jefferson Caleb Johnson Abagayle Johnson Logan Johnson Destiny Johnson Luke Johnson Emma Jones Charles Jones Genesis Jones Lauren Jones Madison Juncker Emily Just Douglas Kafigian Eva Kaminski Sophie Karase Wyatt Karase Lily Karase Samantha Kary Jordan Keating Kolton Kehoe Joshua Keil Joseph Key Samantha Key Jude Khdeer Jacob Kiefer Jeremy Kiel Parker Kilen Kellie Kilgore Anthony King Christopher King Haley King-Shrout Patrick Koester Brooke Kolath Niko Kootsobenas Hunter Kornberger Abigail Korte Julia Kottmann Joshua Krupp Connor Kuhlmann Kyle Kuhlmann Hunter LaBarge Wesley Lammers Brady Lane Adam Lange Riley Lawson Tristan Lechner Jordan Lee Iris Lee Natalie Legg Jenna Leimkuehler Seth Lemaster Dalton Lesinski Katie Leuthauser Kaleigh Levins Willy Liao Evan Lichtenegger Eleanor Lichty Maria Lindquist Grace Lindstrom Jenna Lodde Ryan Long John Lopez Hailey Love Arianna Loving Tiana Lowe Ashleigh Lowery Autumn Lowrey Benjamin Ludwig Troy Ludwig Derek Ludwig

Derek Ludwig Trey Lukitsch Noelle Lyons Evan Maag Benjamin Mackin Benjamin Mackin Maggie Majesky Maggie Majesky Maggie Majesky Bradley Malone Erin Maniscalco Austin Marquart Maximus Marshak Trace Martin Kaili Martin Alexander Martin Sarah Martin Abby Martinez Seth Mathews Seth Mathews Ethan Matlack Cody Matson Lyric Matthews Brenna Maxey Kyleigh McAtee Riley McBride Marymichaelle McCullough Mia McDermott Sarah McGrael Nicole McIntosh Sophia McKee Seth McKee Cody McKenzie Margaret McNevin

Jeramiah Meador-Boland

Brendan Medlin Anabel Mejia Troop Michael Mellor Jaxson Midgett Michaela Mihova Gavin Mikelson Gavin Mikelson Angel Milburn Jordan Milewczik Jake Miller Hannah Miller Abigail Miller Rylie Miller Emilie Miller Elliana Miller Logan Minter Jackson Mitchell Emma Mitchell Devon Monken Devon Monken Devon Monken Miles Montgomery Paige Mooney Sarah Moore Sarah Moore Allison Moore Joshua Moore Alaina Moore Noah Moore Natalie Moran Caleb Morris Grace Moseley Jason Moser Benjamin Mossinghoff Jeremy Moutray Olivia Munyat Shelby Murray Keara Murrell Anna Musselman Emma Musselman Rebekah Myers Tyler Myers Walter Nabzdyk Hannah Neff Gabriela Negrete Margaret Neier Rajat Nepal Olivia Neunaber Riley Neunaber Lucas Neuschwander Natalie Newport Madeline Newport Makenna Nickles Damien Norwood Jessie Nost Corrin Novak Kaylie Odell Ryleigh ODonnell

Emma Oetting Trenton Oglesby Ethan Olea Emily Orlando Ava Ortbals David Oser Emma Osterloh Marcus Otto Jena Pae Lindsey Papka Jessica Papka Ella Pardo Jack Parks Alivia Parks Riley Parrott Heeral Patel Kanish Patel Madison Patrylo Aidan Patterson Reide Pearson Reide Pearson Devun Pecher Collin Peck Haley Peer Courtney Peper Connor Peper Ashlynn Perez Grant Perryman Karen Pete Blake Peters Larisa Petro Jordan Phelps Morgan Phillips Aylin Pintor Timothy Plawski Andrew Powell Cody Prenzel Katie Prinkey Katie Prinkey Paige Prinster Gabriel Privett Jacob Privett Abby Proebsting Rhett Pruett Megan Puhse Catherine Pundmann Elizabeth Pundmann William Pundmann Zachary Quinlan Emma Quinn Sahara Ramirez Jaden Randle Carson Rathbun Lauren Ray Colin Ray Connor Ray Ryan Redell Ryan Reduzzi Gabrielle Reed Andrew Reese Cassaundra Reich Alexander Renkey Gavin Rentfro Emma Renz Emma Renz Justin Rhomberg Jenny Rice Reagan Richards Brayden Riggs Nicole Rinck Carter Rives Alexander Roark Joseph Robbers Mollie Roberts Hunter Robertson Hunter Robertson Mitchell Robnett Tyler Rodriguez Erika Rogers Zylinnea Rogers Luke Rohlfing Emma Rohrbach Alexander Roland Diego Romero-Garcia Samuel Rosas Brody Runge Megan Russelburg Brynna Rutherford Cameron Sabourin Braedon Salter Kaleb Sanders Kimberlin Sargent Molly Satterfield Coen Schaffer Nicholas Schanks Nick Schanks

Sam Scherff Amber Scheulen Ella Schindehette Abigail Schmitt Abigail Schmitt Abigail Schmitt Autumn Schrader Gavin Schroeder Nina Schuchman James Scott Molly Scott Adam Seals Natalie Seay Jack Sebastian Abigail Seemes Katherine Sellers Audrey Sevier Khalin Shah Lauren Shah Rasha Shaker Caleb Shannon Austin Shariff Brendan Sharp Madeleine Shea Raymond Shea Cole Sherman Adam Shine Hunter Shoulta Valerie Showers Grace Sickendick Candace Siem Ethan Simerda Lillianne Simpson Wil Skaggs Wil Skaggs Brittany Skeen Kali Skikas Jacob Skwira Jordan Slusser Maxwell Smallwood Aaron Smith Kyle Smith Samantha Smith Hunter Smith Travis Smith Leann Smyth Danielle Sommer Lily Sontheimer Enrico Spadaccini Madeline Sparks Alaina Speckmeyer Kyler Spink Colin St Aubin Zoe St Gemme Benjamin Stack Jordan Stanley Morgan Statzer Emilee Statzer Brynn Steffens

Cameron Steinbruegge

Spencer Stephenson Payton Stephenson Natalie Stevens Ethan Stewart Lily StJohn Lucy StJohn Ashton Stochl Hannah Stoltman Braylin Stone Jade Stone Haley Stratmann Carson Sulzner Ryan Susic Melanie Swengross Marshall Swope Jada Sykes Aliyah Taliaferro Joshua Teemul Shane Teuscher Katelyn Tilden Faith Todd Andrew Tollefson William Tomson Rebecca Trampe Kevin Tran Britney Tran Devon Treibley Alexandra Triller Camryn Tucker Lewis Tucker Andrew Tueth Natalie Turner Nathan Turner Hunter Turpin Stella Ulrich Uma Upamaka

Akila Uppalapati Adarsh Uppalapati Leila Vakil Corey Valleroy Ethan Van Horn Ethan Van Horn Paige Vanek Najla Vargas Grace VarVera Natalie Venegoni

Christopher Verbsky

Emma Vernon Allison Vernon Logan Vissak Nathan Vo Nathan Vo Skylar Vogel Sarah Vollmer Zachary Vore Morgan Vyff Mya Walker Joseph Wallace Maria Walls Ella Walther Avery Ward Kira Ward Abby Warring

Donovan Washington

Samuel Watkins Kaitlyn Watts Samuel Weaver Tristan Weimer Brett Wells Brady West Caitlyn Wheadon Dominic White Drake Whitehead

Amanda Willenbrock Amanda Willenbrock

Lauren Willerton Holly Willett Ethan Williams Nathan Williams Karsyn Williams Sarah Williams Alexander Williams Eleena Williams Kameron Williams Jacob Willmann Michael Willmann Ryan Wilson Nicole Wineman Quinten Winkeler Brett Winkelmann Holly Winkle Breanna Winkleman Benjamin Wisdom Sydney Wise Avery Witherbee Riley Witherbee Abigail Woelfel David Woelfel Noah Woerther Mason Wolfe Isabella Wong Iliana Wong Alexander Wood Dalton Wood Benjamin Wood Benjamin Wood Victoria Woodworth

Courtney Wortman Mason Wright Brooke Wright Brenden Yates Christopher Yonts Jordayn York Benjamin Young Bushra Zaidi Emily Zhang Hannah Zimmerman Sarah Zimmerman Zachary Zimmerman Alexandria Zorn Zachary Zylka