December 11, 2024

LETTER FROM THE EDITORS

Happy Holidays, FHN!

We’re really excited to bring you the third issue of the North Star as 2024 wraps up. With everything going on, from the results of the election to another Pokémon game to the upcoming Spotify Wrapped, there’s plenty to think about.

This holiday season, we wanted to shed light on a part of this time of year that high schoolers aren’t usually privy to. Maybe you’re an aspiring accountant or maybe you don’t understand why we can’t just print more money but, either way, you’ve likely noticed or heard of frequent changes in the economy.

These changes aren’t just talk or something that only grownups have to deal with. Around our community, no matter what income class anyone falls under, everyone is all feeling the effects. As we feel the pressure of day to day spending, it is easy to feel like the holiday season has snuck up on us.

As inflation bites into budgets and economic uncertainty looms, we’re all looking for ways to celebrate without breaking the bank. Businesses are responding in real time, too. From offering special holiday promotions to creatively managing inventory and sourcing, companies are finding ways to bring customers the best possible prices. In this issue, we explore ways that small businesses and large organizations in our community work to take the load off of us, the consumers, by giving the gift of saving this holiday season.

-Your Co-EICs,

TABLE OF CONTENTS

On the cover...

Photo by Michaela Manfull & Violet Newton Design by Michaela Manfull

1

8 17 32 41 22

News Section

Boeing Furloughs, Mock Trial Practices, New 7 Brew Location

Entertainment Section

Spotify Wrapped, New Pokemon Game, Raising Cane's

InDepth Section

Read Letter from the Editors on page 1 for more information

Features Section

Garden Glow, America Fritz-Willard's Hobbies, Robotics

Sports Section

Back in the Pool, Winter Sports Preview, New Wrestling Room

Opinions Section

Christmas Spirit, Complicated Background, Nuclear Energy

Entertainment pg. 10

(Photo by Michaela Manfull & Violet Newton)

Michaela Manfull Violet Newton &

The origional FHN Building gets demolished, having started in August 2024. The 41-year-old building that was originally a middle school faced multiple issues including electricity, plumbing and air conditioning malfunctions, and was overdue for a new finish. (Photo by Haley Beffa)

FHN SAYS GOODBYE

by Haley Beffa hbeffa397@g.fhsdschools.org

Starting in August, the old FHN started to get demolished. After the opening of the new building, the construction team started the deconstruction of the science wing on the far left side of the building. Teachers and staff reminisce on their time in the old building, talking about the small trinkets or items that they got to bring over, and what they’ll miss most about it.

“There were some unique features of the old building that I hadn’t really seen anywhere else,” Principle Jefferey Fletcher said. “There was just a lot of history in parts of that building that unfortunately couldn’t come with us.”

The building faced some minor setbacks in the process of being demolished. Chemicals that were left over in the science wing sparked a fire, and the process of sorting the rubble into separate piles has pushed back the official end date of construction.

“They had to go in and remove different things from there before they could tear it down to meet specific state and federal guidelines,” Fletcher said.

The building is expected to be completely torn down by late December to early January, but will still have to be leveled out before anything is put in there. The new space is expected to hold fields for activities like soccer and track, with the new guest stadiums expected to open by spring of 2025, and the fields by fall of the same year.

“We’re looking forward to them leveling it,” Assistant Principal Monica Perry said. “It’ll be pretty, green fields on that side of campus.”

TROUBLE IN BOEING’S COCKPIT

Recent

financial turmoil is causing Boeing to have to cut employees

by Gavin Swart gswart370@g.fhsdschools.org

Due in part to the massive machinist strike that ended in November, Boeing has started laying off many workers across the country. Boeing has been undergoing financial strife due to a lengthy series of events. To reconcile their lack of cash, Boeing is resorting to laying off employees.

“[My family] kind of already predicted that it’s probably going to get worse,” senior Matthew Baur, whose mother works at Boeing, said. “But we’ve planned for it way in the past that something like this was going to happen because of different things that have been going on in the company and companies around us that we work with.”

These impacts are major with around 10% of Boeing’s staff nationwide being affected. Boeing employs more than 15,000 workers in the St. Louis area, making it one of the top employers in the region. These mass layoffs are affecting employees indiscriminately of their position, so practically everyone is at risk.

“I didn’t know about it until recently,” Valentino Sorsby, whose father works at Boeing, said. “We talked about it before and we thought my dad would probably be able to find another job, easily.”

The risk of losing a job means that families need to plan for the worst. There are fears that more layoffs will be coming if things do not get better at Boeing internally. Communication about the layoffs has been shallow from Boeing.

“I wish I could give you, like a great inside info, but we’re all in the dark,” David Sorsby, a Boeing employee, said. “There’s a lot of fear at Boeing right now.”

For the workers employed by Boeing, there is no easy detour. Boeing is one of very few military contractors in the region, which means that many people who are laid off will have to transition to new sectors or move to somewhere else with more job opportunities

for their skill sets.

“I have a military background and I worked for a contractor for the Department of Homeland Security where I got a top secret clearance, and I was able to leverage that into employment with Boeing,” David said. “My soft skills as a leader, as a team lead, would absolutely transfer to any corporate role, but the specialized skill set of Department of Defense personnel security, that’s really just DoD contractors, and the DoD itself.”

The origin of Boeing’s troubles goes back many years, but the cause of the strike mostly originated from the newfound attention pushed onto Boeing due to the issues with quality control. There was an uptick of high-profile plane crashes from Boeing 747s. These high profile crashes gave the machinists’ union the perfect opportunity to go on strike. The strike ended on Nov. 4 with the machinists not getting their union, but managing to achieve a 38% pay increase for the union members over the next four years.

“It’s manufacturing, they want their pension back,” Baur said. “They used to have a pension, but old people years ago voted to not have a pension, basically screwing over the younger generation. And the problem is, if [Boeing] lets them get their pension back, that might cause other unions that don’t have theirs to strike and start asking for theirs back.”

Boeing is mostly split between people working in the commercial sector and people working on government defense contracts. When the machinist union went on strike, this led to the commercial side of Boeing losing a lot of liquidity.

“They’re unhappy, but they understand what the company’s going through,” Baur said. “They’ve been with them through the ups and downs. They’ve been working there for over 25 years.”

Boeing’s stock has been fluctuating unpredictably for the last decade. However, since January of this year, the price of individual shares has been steadily decreasing. Contrastingly, Boeing’s stock value stayed consistent in October and November. With this is mind, it is important to consider that this same consistency was present from Feburary to March 2024, right before share value started declining.

RANKINGS OF MISSOURI TOP ANNUAL PRIVATE SECTOR EMPLOYERS

(Data from BLS and InfoUSA)

1. Walmart

2. Mercy Health System

3. BJC Healthcare

4. Washington University

5. SSM Healthcare System

6. Boeing

Value per Share Over the Last Year

Value per Share Over the Last Five Years

Boeing Building 100 is one of many places owned by Boeing in order to help streamline their aircraft construction. You can tour the James McDonnell Prologue Room inside Boeing Building 100 in order to learn more about the history of aerospace engineering. (Photo by Eashaan Patel)

STUCO ADAPTS TO NEW BUILDING FOR HOLIDAY CONTESTS

After years of tradition, Student Council has to change their deck the halls competition to abide by new school rules (Illustrations by Nadia Okilee)

by Abby Dunbar adunbar938@g.fhsdschools.org

A time of year almost every student looks forward to is holidays at the end of the year like Christmas. One of STUCO’s annual events plans to bring the Christmas spirit into the halls, more specifically the doors, of FHN.

“So as of right now we are planning on doing a door decoration competition,” STUCO President, Maddy Hecht said. In the previous years, STUCO has sponsored a hall decorating competition for all the hallways of each department. When FHN got a new building, it included some new building rules as well. Nothing should be stuck to the new walls of any hallway. That is the rule STUCO had to work around to create a competition for upbringing of students’ spirit.

“So I kind of assumed there was gonna be

problems with deck halls,” Hecht said. “And [Rowan] Pugh had mentioned last year that it would be a little different. So, I kind of had already anticipated it.”

The competition will be just doors decorated by students and doors decorated by whole departments. While it may look less festive without lights stringing from the ceilings or Christmassy banners plastered onto the walls, the idea of having some festive elements will align with the intent of the competition during this holiday season.

“I feel like it might be easier for people to commit to an entire hallway,” Hecht said. “I think that was our goal, to try to get more teachers and more people to do their doors. It also gives more opportunity for different themes, because the whole hallway doesn’t have to be the same.”

FROM SAVORY SAUCES TO SWEET SIPS

A new morning stop is coming to a refurbished Italian restaraunt near you (Illustration by Violet Newton) by Nadia Okilee nokilee160@g.fhsdschools.org

Just a few months ago, the ItalianAmerican fast food restaurant named Fazoli’s which stood off 94 on Country Club road took a turn and abruptly closed down without prior notice to the surrounding community. This opened up the opportunity for the newest location of a much loved beverage stop, 7 Brew, awarding them their 30th Missouri location.

7 Brew is a trendy drive-through drink stop, with something to please everyone. From fruity energy drinks to sweet and seasonal coffees, there is no doubt you can not enjoy at least one beverage on the menu. It nearly seems perfect- until you realize the limited locations. Good news, that stops now.

7 Brew is nothing new to a majority of Francis Howell North’s

students and even faculty. Walking the halls each morning, it’s nearly impossible to not see at least three of those plastic red and black cups before nearly making it to your first class of the day

by Michela Manfull mmanfull438@g.fhsdschools.org

The FHN Publications team went to the Fall National High School Journalism Convention, sponsored by the Journalism Education Association and National Scholastic Press Association, in Philadelphia from Nov. 8-10. During this year’s convention, FHN students received 21 Top 10 awards, 13 Top Five awards, and seven Top Two awards. Along with that, one of five FHN quiz bowl teams qualified for the sweet 16 round and one competed in the top eight. For a full list of awards, read the press release.

“The awards ceremony was super fun,” sophomore and student life photo staffer Claire Brightwell said. “I loved all of our school spirit and our support for all of the other schools from Missouri. It was also amazing seeing all my friends win awards and succeed.”

The biggest national award any student publication can earn is the Pacemaker. At the NHSJC this year, the North Star newsmagazine received its ninth Pacemaker, which brings up the total Pacemakers earned across all staffs to 25.

This excites many students, now giving them the option to either save some time in the morning, or even try one of the many drink options offered for the very first time.

Junior Kailyn Bockersette enjoys her iced vanilla matcha with oat milk, but is limited due to a shortage of locations. With a rise in location openings, 7 Brew is sure to get more customers.

“I’m excited to go because it will be closer to my dads’,” Bockersette said.

“It’s just a lot of work from everybody involved,” senior and CoEditor-In-Chief of news staff Violet Newton said. “It requires good writing, good design and good editing. If you are missing any of those components, the paper will be lacking.”

To be eligible to attend the convention, students must be in publications and do some work over the summer to further their knowledge. While only some students are able to go to the convention, work from all five of the publication staffs are submitted, including some work from those in journalism intro classes. Lennon Sharp is a current sophomore on news staff who was in an intro class last year and had some of his comics published in the newspaper. He was unable to attend the convention, but still received the national Top 10 Cartoon of the Year Award for his work.

“It was nice to receive just because of how unexpected it was,” Sharp said. “I did those comics last year just to give myself a fun little project to do and didn’t really expect anything to come out of it, so to see it payoff like that is really cool, I didn’t even know there were awards for cartoons.”

KOE HOSTS ADOPT-A-FAMILY PROGRAM

by Riley Jensen rjensen810@g.fhsdschools.org

It’s said, ‘A Christmas spent alone is a Christmas ill spent.’ 20 years ago, Arlene Kearns helped establish the AdoptA-Family program at FHN to help some students have a brighter Christmas Day.

“We get names from counselors or teachers of students and families who might need a little help during the holidays,” program director Kearns said. “We make it known that people care about them.”

Through the years, the program grew and grew to help finacially struggling families. As time went on, other groups took a bigger role to help.

“[KOE] always tried to get involved in some charity at some point throughout the year,” KOE co-sponsor Lindsey Scheller said. “Eight years ago, we decided to focus all of our charity towards Adopt a Family.

KOE hopes that this program helps families feel more secure throughout the holidays and encourages anyone who is interested in donating to talk to Kearns in the Activities Office.

“It hopefully will give people just a little bit of joy,” co-sponsor Kristen Johnson said.

NEW SPORTS GAMBLING MEASURE PASSES IN MISSOURI

by Abby Dunbar adunbar938@g.fhsdschools.org

While the Nov. 5 election results gave America its next president, it also significantly changed the Missouri Constitution.

“My understanding is [Amendment two] is going to legalize sports betting in Missouri, and it’s supposed to generate income, that, they said, is supposed to go to the public schools,” government teacher at North, Jill Rudolph, said.

The 0.1% difference between yes and no was most likely passed on the promise of some revenue going back to Missouri’s schools and gambling addiction programs. As much as 100 million dollars could be allocated for schools, but not all agree that this money will become much of anything.

“Even if it doesn’t generate as much money as what they say it does, it does keep Missourians’ money in Missouri, which I think does have benefits and that’s how I try to

look at it,” Rudolph said.

The amendment proposal did not give insight into how sports betting is to be regulated, but it did list a couple of rules for betters: individuals have to be physically located in the state and over 21 years old. The transparency of how the money is split and who decides how much each school gets is still undetermined, and Missourians probably won’t know for a couple of weeks.

“Money is so complicated when it comes from the government, and how the government raises funds, and nobody wants to hike taxes,” Rudolph said. “I don’t think it’s to endorse these [addictive] types of activities. I think it’s just a creative way for the government to be able to increase their revenue.”

39 States (now including Missouri) allow sports betting

Adults are expected to bet $35 billion with legal sportsbooks over the 24-25 NFL season

When it was legalized in 2018, the industry was worth $400 million

Since 2018, over $220 billion has been wagered through sports betting

Online sports betting is now valued at $48.17 billion

Learn more about how Fanduel will start sports betting in Missouri.

JAZZ BAND HOSTS FIRST CONCERT

by Nylah Smith nsmith474@g.fhsdschools.org

Concerts are a fun experience, whether they are pop, rock or even jazz. FHN jazz, concert and wind ensemble band is having their first concert on Dec. 17. The concert will be at FHN in the Auditorium. There is no entry fee or ticket fee, it’s free to attend for everyone.

“Jazz band will typically start the concert, we will play four or five songs,“ Band director at FHN Ryan Curtis said. “[They are] called Full House, Hip To Be Square, North West Journey, and Hanging With My Peeps.”

The jazz band is smaller than the other bands and their first concert is coming, but musicians are excited to show off their hard work.

“I’m excited, I get to have a lot of the first part[s], so it’s exciting to have a bigger part in the band,” FHN jazz band musician, Grace Gaghen said. “[Although] concerts always make me a little nervous, I think once I start playing the nerves will be gone. I think by the concert we’ll be great.”

Knights of excellence, KOE, is run by Jordyn Kiel, Lindsey Scheller and Kristen Johnson. On Nov. 13, Johnson teaches the upperclassmen about the upcoming lesson on finding gratitude. The lessons are a part of a greater initiative to give a good influence on the underclassmen. The members of KOE presented the lesson to freshman history classes on Nov. 20.

(Photo by Kasey Lewis)

(File Photo)

SPORTS GAMBLING BY THE NUMBERS

Person stands outside the McClay Library rallying for Tara Murray for State Representative in a sea of political signs. The election took place on Nov. 5. (Photo by Eashaan Patel)

You can join at any time

Lannarelli said. “Students learn about the bits and pieces of a computer, the parts of a

our cases and going through, and trying to

Pay $15 to Mr.

Club members are then free to play any tournaments

Monthly tournaments are hosted at Lindenwood Courts

Strayhorn

HOLIDAY HUNT

for the following items

Search

(Photos by Samantha Hall & Michaela Manfull)

Reindeer Headband

Nutcracker

Santa Teddy Bear

Snowman Cookie

3D Glasses

Blue Ornament

116 playlists 45 followers 32 following

Your top albums this year

“I like ‘Hit Me Hard and Soft’ [by Billie Eilish] because it has a lot of good songs you can jam out to.”

- freshman Alexa Lauer

“My favorite this year has been ‘Take Care’ by Drake, it’s just a good albumn” -sophomore Ally Schaffrin

Your top songs this year

“I just saw it on Tik Tok and it just stuck in my head, I listened to it 10 times on my way to work.”

-senior Jose Delapaz

“‘That’s So True’ by Gracie Abrams but specifically the live version because she just does it so good.” -freshman Danica Fugina

Your top artists this year

“I love Megan Maroney because all her boyfriends cheat on her and she writes lots of breakup songs.” -junior Brianna Boyet

“J. Cole is my favorite because his music is just really chill and puts me in a chill mood.” -senior Jahari Campbell

Your top podcasts this year

Murder, Mystery & Makeup

Skylar Evans, 12 “Murder, Mystery & Makeup is my favorite because she talks about the most gruesome murders while doing gorgeous makeup looks without getting distracted.”

On Repeat

Take a deep dive into what FHN students are listening to on repeat these days.

Shelby Von Allmen, 9

“Real Man,” Beabadoobee

Javier Gonzalez, 9 “Pressure,” Rushy

Alex Mendieta Chavez, 12

“Cuervo Azulado,” Natheneal Cano

“‘Brat’ by Charlie XCX but the remix album specifically, just the vibe, like I am bumpin that and I am a brat.” -sophomore Oliver Bosanquet

Maggie Neu, 9

“All I Want for Christmas,” Mariah Carey

Xzavier McIntyre, 11

“First Light,” Xavier Wulf

Tia Soar, 9

“Last Christmas,” Wham!

“The song that says apple bottom jeans is my favorite right now, because it really speaks to what I stand for.” -senior Wilson Lam

Roman Sanz-Agero, 9 “The Mask,” Dream

Lucy Haar, 10 “Strangers,” Ethel Cain

“Rauw Alejandro, he’s from Puerto Rico and I just really love his music.” -sophomore Victoria Rivas

Life Wide Open with Cboys TV

Jacob Copeland, 9 “Life wide open is my favorite because I used to watch them on Youtube and then I saw their podcast and I wanted to learn more about each of them.”

Lucy Schmid, 10 “Free Now,” Gracie Abrams

Bella Faulkner, 12

“Paint the Town Blue,” Ashnikko

Olivia Belonog, 11 “Risk,” Gracie Abrams

Natalie LaHood, 10

“Nobody Gets Me,” SZA

Kailynn Smith-Fellhauer, 11

“Darling, I,” Tyler, the Creator

Ally Freese, 9

“All I Want for Christmas,” Mariah Carey

NEW LORD OF THE RINGS FILM SPARKS CONTROVERSY

by Caleb Thompson

cthompson211@g.fhsdschools.org

Over 20 years after the original trilogy ended, “The Lord of the Rings” remains strong as a franchise. With the “The Hobbit” trilogy in 2013 and “The Rings of Power” in 2021, The Lord of the Rings continues to stay relevant throughout the years. On Dec. 12, a new project will be released from the franchise, “The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim”. The theatrical film will be a prequel to the original trilogy, set 183 years prior. It will follow the king of Rohan, Helm Hammerhand, and his daughter Hera, as they battle to defend their kingdom.

One characteristic of this film stands out, however. It’s animated, and in an anime artstyle. Students of FHN have their opinions on if this was the best choice.

“If it takes the same route that so many other fantasy and sci-fi franchises take and panders too much to the fans, they’re really going to alienate a lot of casual viewers,” senior Aiden Caby said. “They’re tapping into a very niche demographic with the choice of series, setting, and art style. If they can’t pull off a good story, a lot of people aren’t going to want to see it.”

“War of the Rohirrim” is considered canon to the other The Lord of the Rings films, although the film will not be directly connected to the events of The Lord of the Rings. As far as its relation with the original Tolkein books, War of the Rohirrim is based on lore found in the appendices of the final book “The Return of the King”. The film will be produced by Peter Jackson, who also directed and produced the three Lord of the Rings movies, as well as the three Hobbit movies.

“I think it’s an awesome idea,” senior Griffin Hanlon said. “Making an existing IP into an anime and crossing over that gap is a really cool idea because it shows you different versions of your favorite worlds, and it can tell a completely new story with a completely new style while sticking to that same established world. I think it’s really good.”

THE APPEAL OF HALLMARK MOVIES

Why the familiar charm of Hallmark Christmas movies keeps audiences coming back for warmth, whimsy and a happy ending

by Zoe Lobato zlobato998@g.fhsdschools.org

Two lovers stand in the middle of a snowy field, a mistletoe above them and a blizzard swirling around them. The love confession unfolds right on cue, followed by the tagline “And they lived happily ever after.”

It’s a moment anticipated from the beginning, with a plotline that could be found in any Hallmark movie. Yet, with the soft glow of Christmas lights and the scent of freshly baked cookies, it creates an atmosphere many look forward to each year, a warm, familiar feeling that’s easy to crave.

“It’s fun to watch a movie where you know what the ending’s going to be,” English teacher Amanda Barnhouse said. “You can just sit down with a blanket and hot chocolate and enjoy something cute, and you know it’s gonna make you feel happy.”

With the consistent plots, some call them boring and use “predictable” as an insult. However, with a constant narrative, you also receive the relatable and reliable themes of love and family that resonate throughout each Hallmark movie, with each cheesy, sappy line.

“Throughout teaching theater, I think that the whole idea of family and traditions is a theme that travels throughout literature, throughout, plays and everything,” theater teacher Kim Sulzner said. “It’s just something that we can all relate to.”

Elements and the setting are the frosting to a cake

FAVORITE MOVIE

“I don’t have a favorite one because all of them are so fun to watch and each one looks into a different part of the holliday season by getting different cultures involved and different aspects of Christmas,” sophomore Lily Wardle said.

for a Hallmark movie, with the music that travels through the air helping many welcome the new season with a smile, transforming each scene into a celebration of connection and love.

“I think there is a chemical process in your brain that tells you when you hear Christmas music, and you are instantly happy,” sophomore Lily Wadle said. “That’s why these movies get such good results, because they’re jam-packed with happy Christmas songs.”

For adults, the movies hold a slightly different meaning, reminding them of the children they once were and the fantasies they dreamed of.

“It’s that little kid in all of us,” Sulzner said. “They have these positive outcomes you wish for, and it’s like a little kid with a fairy tale. To me, they’re grown-up versions of fairy tales.”

The versatility of Hallmark movies knows no bounds, able to brighten and encourage everyone to become excited about the upcoming Christmas season no matter how far away it seems.

“You can watch a Hallmark movie at any time,” Barnhouse said. “You can sit down right now, watch a Hallmark movie and get in the spirit. It does such a great job of getting people feeling festive.”

Hallmark movies can be called many things. Predictable. Sometimes boring. Wholesome. Nostalgic. Heartwarming. But at the end of the day, it does serve its purpose.

“There’s always that happy ending and it’s just warm,” Wardle said. “And that’s what Christmas is, it’s happy and warm.”

“My favorite Hallmark movie is the “Princess Switch,” which takes, the classic Christmas baking competition and mixes it with other classics. I just love the merging of both of those cliches,” English teacher Amanda Barnhouse said.

(Illustration by Zoe Lobato)

This year’s annual video game award ceremony will be available to watch on Dec. 12 at 6:30 p.m. CST, and will be on Twitch and YouTube. The award show is a showcase of people’s favorite games and the most impressive games that have been released the past year, and serves to

give the developers of said games recognition for their achievements. People have various franchises, developers and other things they would like to see addressed this time around, and there are many reasons players would like to see these developers congratulated.

ANTICIPATION

The more time someone spends playing a game, naturally the more they will become enveloped in the story, gameplay, atmosphere and world that it presents you and games with that much playtime takes lots of work to make.

“I would like to see ‘Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree’ win the game awards because it’s good and I put a lot of time in it, I like that developers get to see the work they did pay off,” sophomore Ryan Walker said.

ENVIRONMENT

Some people are also frustrated with the lack of attention that the Game Awards receive, due to both the audience and the people in charge of producing and running the show, and wish the environment surrounding the show was far more fun.

“I think the hype around the overall game awards needs to be improved, nothing else, it’s just there’s no fun environment surrounding it man, when it comes to the impact of the game awards there’s not much nobody really cares about the game awards I barely look at them” sophomore Lain Fyle said.

DEVELOPERS

The video game awards isn’t all just about the big companies that make games, as some smaller independently made projects also often make their way into the nominees, and it can be a great way to shine a light and give more attention to what creative individuals have made.

“[Awards are given to] mostly Triple A devs, but sometimes I’m really surprised by little indie projects getting so big as to win awards, it’s cool to see little studios getting the spotlight,” sophomore John Evans said.

WHERE IT ALL STARTED

For those not familiar with the game awards, in the early 2000s, video game journalist Geoff Keighley was working for the channel Spike TV to help them produce their video game award ceremony. However, in 2013, Spike began to lose interest in hosting the game awards, due to creative differences between the channel and television networks.

Due to the failure of the show in 2013, Spike TV opted to ditch their live show and continue to host the show through streaming media instead of broadcast, and they would later ditch the show altogether. This is when Keighley decided to ask for the financial aid from several large companies in the video game industry to back a new show with Spike’s permission, creating the modern day video game awards.

No matter the issues some may have with the game awards, it’s safe to say that at the end of the day, talented people getting recognized for all the backbreaking work, extreme effort and insane talent they’ve put into creating these games is a great thing.

“They’re fun to watch and see if my favorite games got nominated for anything or even won awards,” Evans said.

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A$AP ROCKY’S UPCOMING ALBUM

by Sam Hall shall102@g.fhsdschools.org

This fall, A$AP Rocky’s fourth studio album, “Don’t be Dumb,” will be released. Born and raised in Harlem, New York City, 36-year-old Rocky has been releasing hit songs since 2010. After six years with no album from A$AP Rocky, fans are thrilled for this upcoming album to be released.

“He is a really good artist and he has really creative music,” sophomore Kiley Wallace said. “I am excited for the album because he hasn’t dropped in awhile and I think it would be really good.”

During this year’s Paris Fashion Week, Rocky previewed a song from the new album to give fans a taste of what the album will be like, and later announced the release date. Rocky originally planned to release “Don’t be Dumb” on August 30, 2024. He explained that the album was delayed because of multiple leaks and sample clearances.

“Fans are probably mad about A$AP Rocky delaying his album, but that probably means he is going to have something even bigger come out soon,” freshman Gabriella Strauss said. Rocky overall has a big impact on this generation by creating catchy songs and deep meaningful lyrics that his fanbase can easily connect to. As far as anybody knows, Rocky’s album can be released any day now, creating excitement in the current music industry.

“His lyrics mean a lot,” freshman Natalia Deoliveira said. “I am really excited for the new album because I need new music to listen to.”

(Illustration

THE RELEASE OF POKÉMON LEGENDS Z-A

MUFASA MOVIE BRINGS UP FAIR QUESTIONS

Recently, a new game has slowly been leaked that has gamers anxious to play.

“Pokémon Legends Z-A” is part of the ninth generation of Pokémon video games. It takes place in Lumiose City in the Kalos region, based on Paris, France, which originated in Pokémon X and Y which was a popular game in the past. The new shiny game is expected to release in 2025, the date still to be determined.

“I started playing Pokémon when I was seven and Pokémon was a big part of my childhood, I really loved the Sun and Moon games that came out a few years ago,” junior Josh Ramon said.

Pokémon games have been the cornerstone of the gaming csteed056@g.fhsdschools.org

community since Feb. 27, 1996, when the original games were released. The games later became one of the most popular games due to its captivating graphics and accessibility that still is a favorite today. There are over 122 games that have been produced since then that have been grouped into nine generations. The new game is meant to bring back nostalgia from the generations X and Y which were released in 2013 that aren’t available for purchase anymore.

“I am extremely excited about the new mega pokémon that will be released in the next game,” junior Evan Pinnell said. “I’ve played multiple games including Ultra sun, Ultra moon, X, Scarlet and Pokémon Unite and

by Caleb Thompson cthompson211@g.fhsdscools.org

Thirth years after the release of “The Lion King”, a prequel film about Mufasa is releasing later this month. The announcement of this film earlier this year upset many Disney fans.

Despite being a prequel to the original, the film is animated in the same style as the 2019 live-action remake. A similar controversy was brought up with the first trailer of the Snow White live-action remake releasing in 2025, regarding the uncanny animation of the seven dwarves. It seems people are beginning to long for the days of traditional animation in Disney films.

“The 2D animation is just classic,” senior Lane Mckee said. “I grew up with it and it’s so comforting to me. There’s

nothing special about the liveaction movies, and sometimes the acting is really bad.”

Despite Mufasa being an entirely original film with original music, people are still upset that the animation replicates that of the 2019 The Lion King remake.

“Dubbing over live-actionlooking animals is just so boring and dumb,” junior Ophelia Thrash said. “It just doesn’t have that Disney magic.”

Although people cannot determine the quality of the film until its release, it’s impossible to ignore the popular consensus that Disney’s live-action films are tiring, and people much prefer animation. Regardless, “Mufasa: The Lion King” releases in theaters Dec. 20.

A print of a concept album cover for A$AP’s new album dropping late November (Photo taken by Peter Swoboda)

by Cheyenne Steed)

THE RELEASE OF MARVEL RIVALS

by Cheyenne Steed csteed056@g.fhsdschools.org

Faasen said. “I am not really excited for the game, but I’m sure it’ll be fun to play.”

It’s undetermined how the game will survive while competing with other shooter games, it is not unheard of for games to have their popular moments but lose their charm within weeks.

Marvel has made movies, games and comics, but now something new emerges. Marvel Rivals, releasing in December, has piqued the interest of lots of gamers. The new game is a Player vs. Player shooter game with new capabilities. Although the game sounds fun, it may have issues competing with current shooter games.

“I think it’ll be different compared to a lot of other games out there,” junior Teya

“I think the new Marvel game will be very unique and attract a lot of attention,” senior Maddy Spaulding said. “I think the game will add variety into the shooter mix and allow for more options of games to pick from.”

NEW HITMAN VR GAME

by Noah Tucker ntucker088@g.fhsdschools.org

The Hitman series began in 2000 with the release of “Hitman: Codename 47”. The game centers around the playable character Agent 47. Agent 47 is a blank slate of a man, with no outwardly defining features other than his bald head. The Hitman series has been going strong since its release, featuring eight mainline games.

The gameplay largely consists of the player going on assassin missions as a

contracted killer. The game allows a multitude of ways to complete the mission on each level, so players can replay missions several times and get a new experience each time. The newest installment in the series is “Hitman 3 VR: Reloaded”. It takes the beloved mechanics of the established games and takes it into the world of VR.

“I guess how you interact with the world would be a lot different.” junior Yuan Yang said.

“It’d be really cool to see how the game would force you to complete certain actions.”

Hitman 3 VR: Reloaded is available on Playstation VR as well as the Oculus Quest.

APPS WORTH CHECKING OUT

THE RISE OF RAISING CANE’S

by Sam Hall

shall102@g.fhsdschools.org

Originating in Baton Rouge, Louisiana in 1996, Raising Cane’s has been selling their famous chicken for years. Cane’s is most known for their trademark Cane’s sauce, along with their buttery bread, crinkle cut fries and their chicken tenders. Now reaching 807 restaurants across the United States, Raising Cane’s has quickly become an admired fast food chain all over the country, especially amongst high school students.

“I love the chicken, I love the fries and I love the flavor of the chicken,” sophomore Kennedy Buchannan said. “I think people love Raising Cane’s because the chicken is different.”

Cane’s has gained so much love and popularity over the years, and is currently very trendy especially amongst high school students. It is common to find high schoolers hanging out at Cane’s after a football game. The media really helped Cane’s popularity grow, especially from mukbangs and food reviews. The trendiness of Cane’s grew, and soon enough, Canes went international.

CLASH ROYALE

“It’s a fast paced multiplayer statagy game with hundreds of different cards and playstyles.”

ANGRY BIRDS

“I love playing angry birds because it’s a classic game that never gets old.” Noah Newson, 12

“Raising Cane’s is so popular for high school students because it is the average chicken, and it is always fresh,” sophomore Kasey Lewis said. “I see everyone else eating it so it is trendy.”

BLOCK BLAST

“The game is extremely addicting and doesn’t need wifi.” Neely Bengtson, 12

POKÉMON GO

“The game gives me nostalgia because I used to collect the cards.” Broedy Bizelli, 11

ROBLOX

“I really like this game because there is so many options and everyone can play.” Evan Pinnell, 11

BRAWL STARS

“I like the game a lot and my boyfriend got me into it.” Brittney Cruzi, 12

(Photo by Claire Brightwell)

...HAVE NOT PURCHASED THEIR YEARBOOK FOR THIS YEAR YET.

Why is this a big deal?

•The price goes up to $70 Dec. 22

•The staff will not be ordering extras once the final number is set at the end of the year

Check on FHNtoday.com to make sure your name is on the list of who has purchcased a book. You can find that list here: https://fhntoday.com/yearbook

You can purchase a 202 24-25 yearbook:

•in room 1230

•on FHNtoday.com under the YEARBOOK tab on the top menu

INSTAGRAM: @FHNtoday and @FHNgameday

YOUTUBE: youtube.com/FHNtoday

SNAPCHAT: @FHNtoday & @FHNgameday

FACEBOOK: facebook.com/FHNtodayFan & @FHNgameday

TWITTER: @FHNtoday & @FHNgameday

TIKTOK: @FHNtoday & @FHNgameday

As always, we have lots of updates week as well on FHNtoday.com.

FHN ATHLETIC BOOSTER CLUB

Join the Booster Club and support your student!

Join the Booster Club and support your student!

Follow us on Facebook too!

Follow us on Facebook too!

Funds raised through memberships and concession stand earnings in 2023 allowed ABC to provide over $20k in money to teams, general activities and scholarships*.

Funds raised through memberships and concession stand earnings in 2023 allowed ABC to provide over $20k in money to teams, general activities, and scholarships*.

Email any questions to: HowellNorthAthleticBoosters@gmail.com

Black Membership: $25

Email any questions to: HowellNorthAthleticBoosters@gmail.com

Black Membership: $25

Black and Gold Membership: $50 (comes with $25 booster bucks)

Knights Membership: $100 (comes with $50 booster bucks)

Black and Gold Membershi $50 (comes with $25 booster bucks)

Membership cards can be picked up at the FHN concession stands.

Knights Membership: $100 (comes with $50 booster bucks)

*Parent must be a booster member for student to be eligible to submit scholarship application. Visit us at: 205 S. Main Street, St. Charles Hand-picked and Curated Crystals, Minerals, Carvings, Jewelry, Tumbled and Raw

*Parent must be a booster member for student to be eligible to submit scholarship application

$ 1,525

The average American is expected to spend $1,525 where 2023’s holiday spending per person was $1,650. This marks a 7.6% decline in holiday spending.

(Deloitte, 2024) $ 1,650

29% of consumers plan to spend less this year, up from 19% in 2023, as inflation continues to strain household budgets

(PWC)

More consumers are turning to resale and used products, with 45% opting for them in 2024, up from 38% in 2023.

(PWC)

In 2024, 40% of U.S. consumers reported using Buy Now, Pay Later services for holiday purchases, up from 33% in 2023.

(McKinsey & Company, 2024)

from previous page

...Continued from previous page

and retain customers.

“Something I personally have gone through was I wanted to buy a lawnmower,” Kruse said. “A simple lawnmower. Well, you can go to Menards, you can go to Lowe’s, you can go to Home Depot. You can walk in to buy a lawnmower and you have all different kinds to choose from. However, I ended up buying my lawnmower from a place called St. Louis Equipment, a little locally owned place, because when I walked in there to look at the same lawn mowers that everyone else had, the service that the gentleman provided was the seller. I mean, it wasn’t like they were charging more, but they found a way to focus on me specifically and all of a sudden, I wasn’t just buying a push mower, I was buying the right push mower for me. And that was a small business guy understanding that if they had the ability to spend a little bit of time, they were going to get the business they needed.”

By focusing on their ability to deliver highly personalized attention and products that larger chains cannot easily replicate, small businesses carve out a loyal customer base willing to pay a premium for that level of care and customization. Additionally, small businesses leverage their deep community ties to respond quickly to evolving consumer preferences.

“I think it’s because smart businesses understand like ‘Wait a minute, if people have wage growth, but that wage growth isn’t keeping up with the cost of living, how are they going to buy our product?’,” Kruse said. “ If you go on Amazon right now, they have programs constantly. It’s like you can buy this now and pay just $6 a month for it. That’s directly because the market conditions for the vast majority of the people out there don’t have the ability to go pay for it all right now for the holidays.”

The holiday season poses new challenges due to the struggles the economic state raises, but small businesses and organizations are rising to meet them by leaning into what sets them apart. With inflation impacting every household, local businesses are meeting customers where they are, offering flexible payment options and focusing on delivering a memorable shopping experience that resonates beyond the sale.

“I feel for small business owners,” Kruse said. “ I mean I don’t lose a lot of sleep, or have a lot of sympathy for Apple. They’re a great company, but they don’t need help. Small organizations do and we need to do a better job of getting regulation out of the way so they can operate and do what they do really, really well.”

FAMILY-OWNED

AND COMMUNITY-FOCUSED

Reno’s Liquidation Outlet recently moved to St. Charles and is here to help families through the ups and downs, especially in the current state of the economy

by Michaela Manfull mmanfull438@g.fhsdschools.org

Nestled into the spot where Spirit Halloween appeared once a year is a new store, Reno’s Liquidation Outlet.

In a time where prices are through the roof, Reno’s tries their best to keep prices down and make their items affordable for everyone, no matter their economic standing. With this in mind, the owners say it’s here to stay.

“Me and my wife [Linda] started Reno’s three and a half years ago, in Troy, Missouri,” Steve Brent, co-owner of Reno’s said. “We started at a little location. We bid our time until one of the bigger places became available in town. We jumped on it when we had the chance.”

It takes a lot of preparation throughout the year to get the stock up for the holiday season. While some of the shipments Reno’s purchases are holiday-specific, oftentimes they are just offered pallets with a variety of items and take whatever they’re sent. While Reno’s focuses on providing all necessary supplies to families, they’re also aware of the main wants and needs during the holiday season.

“When it comes to Christmas, there aren’t really any [products] to single out, except for toys,” Steve said. “Toys are just what all the moms are looking for the kids, you know, and that’s really what we get hit the hardest on.

What’s In Stock?

Reno’s updates their Facebook page weekly with whatever they receive in their latest shipments in order to inform their community.

Scan the QR code below to visit Reno’s Liquidation Outlet on Facebook.

That’s just what we struggle with the most. We try to prepare before then, but this year it’s just been tough to find in the industry.”

Just knowing that toys are usually wanted doesn’t mean that it’s easy to tell in every individual year what the most important or trendy toy or brand is going to be.

“The cool thing about it is we never try to be the shopper, because I don’t know what you’re into,” Steve said. “I don’t know what you like, so I never try to put my aim on what somebody else was looking for. We’ve had the craziest items come through that I think, ‘oh my gosh, I’m going to be sitting on this forever’, and then I put it out on the floor and it’s gone.”

Their main goal is to keep prices around half of what someone would normally pay for these products at a big retail store.

“We’re not out there to become rich ourselves, but to give back to the economy where they can buy literally almost anything in our store that is brand new, pulled off the shelf, overstock, whatever, at 50% off the retail,” Linda Brent, co-owner of Reno’s said. “That’s a tremendous saving. You could always think of Reno’s as a Black Friday every day.”

Reno’s is a store for families to enjoy, connect with others and save money at, which is why Steve chose to name it Reno’s, the nickname given to him by friends and now used by his entire family.

Rachel Maryan, a Reno’s employee, hands Karen Golab a bag with her purchase over the counter. Maryan is one of Reno’s first employees at their new St. Charles location. (Photos by Michaela Manfull)

As a liquidation outlet, Reno’s works to ensure their prices are as low as possible to help their consumers. Some of the ornaments they have are even priced at 30% of their retail value.

ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS...

Exploring the top gift list items for teens at FHN and around the country (Content by Michaela Manfull & Violet Newton)

1. ELECTRONICS

2. CLOTHING

There’s never enough technology in today’s society his category includes gadgets like headphones, speakers, video game consoles, and phone accessories. A good place to look for discounted items is eBay and refurbushed options on Amazon.

Rachel Maryan and Melissa Olson, employees of Reno’s, converse about products in stock.

3. EXPERIENCES

When people think of “what’s trendy” they often default to clothes and accessories, the easiest and most common way for all teens to visually express themselves. A budget option for clothing could be Goodwill or Depop for specific items.

“My wife, she’s probably sweeter than I am,” Steve said. “I’m a nice guy, but she’s amazing, and I think that’s part of our success, it’s being genuinely sincere to people.”

While Reno’s was planning to have two locations, one in Troy and one in St. Charles, they’re now working towards getting a new second location back out in the direction of Wentzville or Troy, to further their reach in the community. Moving locations was hard, but they were overwhelmed by the positive response they received from new and returning patrons alike after their first move.

“We made lots of good friends at our original location in Troy, and we’re making new ones here,” Linda said. “We’ve had a great response from everybody.”

away from online retailers – both from the buying and selling side of things. Where online sellers are able to avoid paying as many workers and paying rent for a storefront, they’re able to make much more in their online sales.

“I think a lot of people don’t understand the difference between us and online is, I could sell online too,” Steve said. “Everybody knows it’s just individual sellers on that big retailer. It’s basically people like us selling overstock and things like that, and that’s where I think the pricing comes in. You know, they’re charging $15 more than us to get the same product, but it’s just the same person like us that’s just selling online instead of selling to your store.”

“We made lots of good friends at our original location in Troy, and we’re making new ones here,”

Liquidation outlets receive supplies from a variety of “big box retailers”. Well-known brands and stores like Marvel, Hallmark, Macy’s, Target and Disney will sell their overstock items and products with box damage to liquidation outlets and resellers, like Reno’s.

“We really use a couple, two or three big box retailers that we stick to that are popular ones,” Steve said. “I can’t really say who, but shop here and you’ll probably know the brands.”

One thing that sets Reno’s apart from other liquidation outlets is that they stay

-Linda

Brent

Reno’s, which moved to St. Charles in early July this year, receives shipments at least once a week and sometimes up to three times in a week. According to Steve, it’s a lot of work to hunt down shipments, but it’s important to the Brents to get quality products for the customers.

“I want to make sure I’m getting a return [on my investment],” Steve said. “To make sure, instead of just dealing with somebody over the phone, I want to look in your eyes so I know what I’m dealing with. It’s just good business practice. Being frivolous and going online, which a lot of people do in our industry, means people get scammed and screwed out of tens of thousands of dollars.”

4. GAMES

5. ROOM DECOR

High schoolers only have so many more years until most are expected to be financially independent. Experiences like trips, concerts, sporting events and theme parks are a great way for families to make lasting memories together.

Everything from video games to board games to sports are go-tos. Being active, mentally, socially and physically, is important. Second hand shops are a great place to search for discounted games.

Whether it’s for a bedroom at home, a school locker or preparing for college dorms, teenagers are always on the lookout for posters, lamps, LED lights and blankets to make their space more personalized.

SMALL BUSINESSES STRUGGLE TOO

THRIVE

Main Street buisnesses see an increase every year in revenue and foot traffic during the holiday season.

by Kaylee Priest kpriest027@g.fhsdschools.org

Statistically, small businesses come across more hardships than the typical business. According to the New York Times, around two-thirds of small businesses do not make it to year five. In this economy, shopping small while also being more expensive isn’t always the most convenient. A small business can keep only so much stock of different items and sizes before they are just losing money. Lydia Crespo owner of Both Main Street stores Chuck and Lou and Cozy shop along with owning another business online and doing collabs ranging from Target to Paramount to Urban Outfitters. Back in 2020 she was looking to open a retail store, so she started with Cozy Shop and in early 2024 she opened Chuck and Lou.

“Main street is beautiful,” Owner of Cozy shop and Chuck and Lou on Main street, Lydia Crespo said. “It has organic traffic, which means the revenue is going to be a little bit easier than what it would be if you just had a regular clothing brand, where you have a lot of money at the end of the year but at the beginning of the year you are dry again, so I was looking for something with some sustainability.”

Cozy Shop is a marketplace for other vendors to sell their items out of a

storefront. This helps multiple other small businesses that maybe can’t afford a physical store or don’t have the time to do so with making more revenue, especially during the holiday season where the business sees an exceptional increase in revenue and foot traffic because of the community of Main Street.

“We make about 10 to 15 times more in the last three months than we do all year,” Crespo said. “It’s really a significant jump, that has to do a lot with the season and the Christmas Traditions. They are making a reason why people come down to Main Street and support the Main Street area because the community loves it so much.”

Once things with Cozy Shop started moving, Crespo started really listening to their customers and incorporating some of their own ideas as designs in her shop. Giving the customers the designs they want and making more money doing so.

Alison Brightwell, a customer to Cozy shop and a Librarian in the Parkway district, loves shopping at Cozy Shop for various gifts during the holidays for friends and family.

“I really like locally made items and thinking of specific people that would fit them while shopping,” Brightwell said. “I also love Cozy Shops’ location. It really adds to the atmosphere and appeal for me. Plus, I love the historical aspect of Main Street.”

LOCAL CHARITY WORKS TO MAKE MORE MONEY

HOLIDAYALLEVIATESTRESS

How the Adopt A Family program faces and tackles national challenges

by Nadia Okilee nokilee160@g.fhsdschools.org

The holidays are known to be an exciting time- filled with joy and spirit throughout families, loved ones, friends and more. Many are lucky enough to walk down the stairs on a chilly morning and see the tree glowing with glitter ornaments and the ambience of colorful lights- but what lies under said tree is often the most enjoyable part, especially for the youth. However, there is an opposing side who don’t always get that privilege.

Donna Tobin is the director of development at The Care Service. Tobin helps with the marketing, communications, fundraising, donor cultivation and a majority of the programs and assistance that does not occur hands-on with their clients.

“In December is when mental health challenges usually become worse,” Tobin said. “Suicide rates go up, domestic Violence rates go up, and alot that has to due with the financial stress that comes with Christmas.”

During the holidays of 2023 over 1,000 individuals requested the assistance of a program that goes by the name Adopt-AFamily. The Adopt-A-Family program is run by the Care Service of St. Joachim & Ann.

The Care Service is an organization that’s been around since 1981. The Care Service stands by their mission: “to serve those in crisis and to prevent homelessness and hunger”. They offer an extended amount of help to those who meet the expectationssome include Street Outreach, The Food Pantry, Housing Assistance, Adopt-A-Family and more. Their motto being “planting the seed of hope and breaking the chain of despair” reflects their exigence to help out as many people as they can, allowing everyone to have hope including, but not limited, to children, parents, disabled and elderly.

“Sometimes people might call because they don’t have any food today, and they’ll tell you, that’s what the problem is,” Tobin said. “But then, really when they come in, they find out that maybe their electricity is about to be shut off, and maybe they’re about to be evicted because they didn’t pay their rent. So that way, we’re kind of able to catch more things before it gets worse.”

The Care Service acknowledges the

Inside the Cozy shop with numerous types of clothing on display to get ready for the holiday season. The store offers items from candles to sweatshirts. Every season of the year they try to deck the establishment with delightful scenery. (Photo by Violet Newton)

holidays aren’t always easy, therefore they established a program to help those children and families in need. The program includes all of the families receiving assistance by The Care Service as well extended agencies and schools that help them reach out and help as many as possible. The program allows for families with kids of all ages to create Christmas gift wish lists and give them the opportunity to receive at least a sliver of joy that other families take for granted. Families create their wish list between summer and fall, giving enough time to receive their gifts by christmas. Gifts also may consist of handmade bracelets by KOE. Arelene Kearns, the activities director at Francis Howell North says even the small gifts like bracelets and small donations can mean a lot.

“It’s just nice to, you know, any kind of recognition or something that somebody’s thinking of them,” Kearns said.

Tobin shares that the amount of calls the service has received regarding requests for help has nearly tripled from this previous year. It’s assumed that the reasoning for this is most likely due to rent inflation, the change in the housing market and the inflation of food and fuel prices.

“But when you ask them what kind of help they needed, rent stayed about the same but utilities went up significantly and food went up from 4% needing food to 11%,” Tobin said.

Although, these current national issues aren’t just affecting the amount of people needing help, but are also limiting the amount of help that’s able to be provided.

“Our community is very generous, so it seems almost as often as times get more difficult, people become more generous,”

-Donna Tobin

“But even with our food pantry, the number of donations are down because the price of food has gotten much higher,” Tobin said.

Despite the fact that there isn’t much The Care Service can do to control the current prices of food, fuel and more, they continue to strive to generate ways to help those in need. The Care Service building in Saint Charles is currently renting spaces to other alike organizations to continue to reach the less fortunate and grow funds to allow them to continue their multiple programs. Their exigence and urge to help the community through their hardships is just another step further to creating a loving and safe environment.

“Our community is very generous,so it seems almost as often as times get more difficult, people become more generous,” Tobin said.

HERE’S WHAT YOU CAN DO

Help families in need this holiday season.

Adopt-A-Family program at FHN

Every winter, FHN’s KOE has its own Adopt-A-Family fundraiser. (See page 4 for more information)

Find a tree

Public places like churches, libraries and even grocery stores will have special trees with tags on them. If you take a tag, bring back a gift with it to make someone’s holiday.

Toys for tots

FHN’s NHS did a large Toys for Tots donation in November, but all are welcome to donate at donation boxes around the country. Find the nearest one to you at toysfortots.org.

Illustration by Haley Beffa

Designed by Haley Beffa

INKED UP AROUND FHN

by Naomi VanDyne nvandyne312@g.fhsdschools.org

Tattoos are a unique way for people to show their individuality and stories in their lives. People get tattoos for many reasons, whether it be family, religion, a special event or some other sentiment. This page showcases FHN students and teachers who have interesting tattoos (Illustrations by Naomi VanDyne)

KIM SKWIRA

“The fork is based on a book called ‘Keep Your Fork, the Best is Yet to Come’,” art teacher Kim Skwira said. “It’s about a woman who was diagnosed with terminal cancer who was really religious. At church, when she died, she said that in her coffin

BRIANNA BOYET

“This tattoo is of St. Michael the archangel,” senior Logan Moll said. “My dad has the same tattoo so I kind of got it for him. St. Michael is also known as the guardian of the church and for his victory over Satan, so the tattoo itself represents protection from evil. This tattoo is actually my second tattoo, I have something for my grandparents on my leg as well. I do plan to get more tattoos in the future though. I have an appointment in January to finish my upper arm then plan on finishing the sleeve next winter.”

COURNTEY FLAMM

“Up on my shoulder, I have a tattoo of one of the first sculptures that I studied in my art history class in college,” FHN art teacher Courtney Flamm said. “It’s called the Aphrodite of Knidos by a Greek artist named Praxiteles. It is the first fully freestanding sculpture of a nude woman that has ever existed that we know of. And so, when I studied that in art history, I just had this really profound feeling of our place in the world as humans. Then, it got me getting a little existential, thinking about life and death and the idea of Vanitas, which is Italian for knowing life’s fleeting. So, I put a little skull down below to symbolize life and death.”

MASON CLARK

“It’s a symbol my grandma made,” senior Mason Clark said. “It means ‘I love you this much,’ and I got it after my grandma passed away.”

AMY MURRAY

matter where’ and my son’s says ‘no matter how.’ I’m the ‘what’ because I will love my kids no matter what. My daughter is a traveler and she lives in Denver and my son will show up whenever I need him.”

LOGAN MOLL

(Photo by Eashaan Patel)

(Photo by Alayna Clement)

(Photo by Eashaan Patel)

(Photo by Eashaan Patel)

It takes one step from behind the curtain for junior America Fritz-Williard to feel her best. Besides it being her first year at FHN, America has made

FHN’S MISS AMERICA

don’t laugh, because when you’re on the runway you have to be Due to having a smaller height than the average model, America has had to come up with clever ways to model dresses. Often, she will wear platforms to help meet the average model and outfit heights.

by Bri Taliaferro)

This past September, “CW Couture” made its way to San Diego, where last year Caroline won “San Diego Fashion Week 2023 Top Designer” and received a certificate from the state of California. America, while missing a few days of school, got to model her mother’s brand and work with other small designers, “I love new experiences… it was a lot of fun, I got to really feel how it’s like kind of modeling outside what This year, “CW Couture” was asked to assist in “Miss Europe’s” pageant, where America’s mom will be staying in Italy to help with pieces this America’s experience with fashion and small designers has taught her that it is important to value the work of smaller

“Most of the time companies like Shein and Temu, they kind of just rip off

America’s Beadwork

“[What makes me proud is] she could have succumbed to negative thoughts and feelings and instead rises above,” Caroline said.

Pink Satin Pants

“During my mom’s 2022 Exotic’s Fashion Show, I got to model these hot pink satin cargo pants, and they fit perfectly on me,” said America. “They just felt awesome..I love those pants, they’re amazing,” America said.

small designers,” said America. “They just take their designs and put it as their own, and I don’t really think that should happen.”America’s contribution to fashion and her mom’s business, while greatly displaying her skills and talents, also highlights her personal strength and perseverance. Her story is something that inspires, as despite dealing with emotional hardships, America chooses to overcome them.

for a while so it’s always been in my life.”

(Photo by Aubrey Henning)

Lorelei Reid, 9

A NIGHT OF LIGHTS

Get into the winter spirit and visit the Missouri Botanical Gardens for their annual Garden Glow that runs through Jan. 4

by Peyton Thies pthies629@g.fhsdschools.org

his annual St. Louis tradition put on by the Botanical Gardens allows those in attendance to make winter memories while showcasing the many plants they’re known for. The Garden Glow, open Nov. 16, through Jan. 4, 2025, is an event that can be celebrated with friends or family.

“This event is a holiday event,” public information officer at the Missouri Botanical Gardens, Jessica Eidson said. “Whether you celebrate Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, whether you just kind of celebrate the holidays in general, it’s open to everyone. It’s not specifically geared towards a specific group, and everyone is welcome to come and enjoy it.”

This beloved tradition made its start in 2013, making this year its 12th anniversary. Featuring over 2 million lights, this walkthrough light show covers approximately one mile, taking an average time of 45 minutes to complete.

“Expect to take pictures,” freshman Kira Pierce said. “A lot of photos.”

Opening in 1859, the Missouri Botanical Gardens are considered by many to be one of the oldest, but nonetheless best botanical gardens in the world. Englishman Henry Shaw and Dr. George Engelmann, a German physician-botanist, created a public botanical garden that furthered scientific research, inspired by the gardens back in Europe. Today, the MoBot continues to further botanical research and education. Holding events such as the Garden Glow became tradition not just for the gardens, but for the community as well.

“I think [the] Garden Glow has established itself as being a tradition for a lot of people,” Eidson said. “We’re really happy to have a place around the holidays where people want to go and, you know, share and make some memories with us here. So I think that’s really important, that we just keep this tradition going.”

The weather may be cold, but there are many warming areas with community fire pits, hot chocolate stations and heated buildings that pop up frequently throughout the gardens. The Blizzard Bar, Central Axis concessions tent, Candy Cane Bar and Café Flora offer a variety of food and drink options, but for those looking for something more informal, smores are also available during the evening. When throwing away trash throughout the night, the gardens have provided many compost and recycle bins in order to stay environmentally friendly.

Although the whole light show never stays the exact same every year, there are a few favorites that remain staples. Big Blue, a large Gum tree that is wrapped in blue lights, is visible from the street because of its size and brightness and will be returning this year, as well as the Climatron which is covered in lights along with the area decorated around it.

Light tunnels, wishing trees and snow globes are only a few of the picture-taking opportunities perfect for this year’s Christmas card.

The Kaeser Memorial Maze and “Glowmen Glen” are some kid-friendly activities located throughout the gardens.

“I really enjoy the snow globe thing they have because you can go into the snow globe and take pictures,” Spanish teacher Brian Santos said. “But more than that, it’s a really fun, social thing my friends and I do and it’s kind of a tradition.”

“One of the things that we really try to implement for all of our major events [to be environmentally friendly] is making sure there’s a place where people can compost and can recycle things as they’re getting food and drinks and things like that,” Eidson said.

Along with the activities out in the gardens, the Emerson Conservatory hosts a Holiday Flower and train show that is included with Garden Glow admission and is open until 9 p.m.. This show consists of model trains weaving through miniature landscapes surrounded by flowers. The holiday flowers are decorated to be incorporated in the design of the landscapes by a seasoned horticulturist, who creates new displays each year.

“They’ve been working on getting that set up in that space for the past few weeks,” Eidson said. “We just want it to be perfect.”

Tickets for the Garden Glow are $10 for children and $24 for general access 13 years and up. However, for members of the garden, children get in for $8 and adults for $19. The Garden Glow is an extremely popular event, so those that want to purchase tickets should do so as soon as possible, as there are only so many spots available for each time slot on all of the dates.

“I think it’s a really great experience to go with friends or family,” senior Lance Salke said. “You get to see lots of lights and it’s just a fun time overall.”

The Botanical Gardens, open from Nov. 16 to Jan. 4, showcases Christmas lights dispays. (Photos by Hannah Martin)

A group of Robaddies members work on their next project (Photo by Faith Smith)

ROBADDIES EMPOWER YOUNG GIRLS

by Nylah Smith nsmith474@g.fhsdschools.org

There are tons of fun new clubs at FHN, there is even one where they build robots. The Robaddies are the girls robotics team at FHN. They build a robot to go and compete with other robotics teams around the area.

“[We start a game] where we try to figure out the goals of the game and how many points you could get and maximize your scoring ability to compete against others,” robotics sponsor at FHN Mike Green said. “After we figure that out, then we have to figure out what equipment we need and how we can [design the robot], so you can figure out if it is something we can buy or have to make.”

The Robaddies isn’t just about robotics, it is a space where girls can share their interest in engineering and making friends. They partner up with Girl Scouts to create events for little girls where they do different engineering and robotics activities to show little girls who want to do engineering that it’s possible.

“Our last captain tried to make everyone feel included and that every girl had a voice,” sophomore Alex Naramole said. “We wanna make sure that girls feel empowered and that they can vocalize their stuff and speak up for themselves in situations where people are saying that girls can’t do engineering. Robaddies works on trying to help little girls and younger kids find that voice, end up for themselves and do what they wanna do.”

Even though the team is fairly new and small, they’ve already seen success.

“Last year we made it to state and we almost made it to nationals,” Naramole said.

Even though Robaddies has already started, they are still taking on girls who are interested in joining. They have meetings every Wednesday after school in Room 0203 and people interested in joining can talk to Green.

“We have had a lot of senior girls join [these past couple of years], but this year we are [always looking for more],” Green said.

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE MURAL MILE

The mile-long floodwall sits right near the Mississppi River, yet many are unaware of its local history and signifiance in St. Louis

by Cherry Clark cherryannclark13@gmail.com

In overcast stillness, a vividly decorated flood wall stretches just over a mile wide and sits quietly near the Mississippi River. Known as the Mural Mile, it was first constructed in 1964 and began its colorful journey as merely just a flood wall. At one point, it even fulfilled its original purpose during the Great Flood of 1993, when the Mississippi River almost rushed over the top.

Soon after the flood, the structure grew as a lively hotspot for local graffiti artists, where they would converse and host occasional “graffiti jam sessions.” A special tradition, “Paint Louis,” later formed and drew in artists from all across the country to paint murals on the wall on Labor Day weekend each year.

The flood wall then saw itself as an ever-changing cultural landscape, gradually moving from typical graffiti art to its now well-known nuanced and mainly all-mural look. It currently features hundreds of murals from over two hundred artists featuring comic characters, pop culture and video game references, to original artwork.

Expericence It Yourself

Scan the QR code to access the directions to the Mural Mile.

“Murals are necessary because they show off the local art scene and important topics, [especially] relating to pop culture,” senior AP Art student, Logan Hawkins said. Thanks to the city’s support, any mural work done on the wall during Labor Day weekend is officially legal. Yet, the wall still has the provoking elements of your typical public art installation. Artists are only given a few days to work on the structure legally, which, honestly, is not enough time to finish an extensive piece.

“Murals take a lot of time. They’re very time-consuming,” art teacher Denise Maples said. “When an artist is doing a mural that has many components in it, like background and depth, it’s time-consuming, expensive, and takes a lot of material.”

So, graffiti occasionally slips by, even landing on the rocky pebble and glass-strewn path in front of the wall, and lingers. It is no secret that not everyone supports public art. There are legitimate reasons to feel that way as well. Many believe that commissioned public art is a waste of taxpayers’ money and offers no real benefits

The Mural Mile spans 2.2 miles just south of the St. Louis Arch. The art piece is a product of graffiti artists from all over the country coming together during a 1997 art event called “Paint Louis” (Photos by Eashaan Patel) to their community. The reputation of vulgar graffiti also blemishes many cities, thus undermining the importance of public art.

“Now, there could be some murals that, depending on what you’re doing, could not be appropriate for the area, or might be overkill, or could be considered tacky,” Maples said. “But, I think if it’s well planned out and it’s got a purpose or a meaning, then it enriches the culture of the community.”

Undoubtedly, murals have widespread impacts. Murals and public artwork are catalysts for change. It’s the perfect opportunity for artists to express themselves, and issues they believe that truly matter.

“Murals help to create a sense of community. They become a talking point amongst locals and perhaps tourists,” art teacher Kim Skwira said. “If the artist is local to the community, it helps draw more attention to their city.”

In 2014, when the Ferguson protests occurred, St. Louis artists used the movement to create public artwork that resonated with protestors and advocates alike, channeling their art as a tool for

The Mural Mile lives on 25 years later with tourists and artists making visits daily. More than 250 artists have come together to decorate the wall in many different art styles

couple years from 1994-96. After the art event called

1997, the wall was riddled in art, an annual tradition that has continued ever since.

political change.

“After the debacle in Ferguson many years ago, the community rallied around local businesses and painted murals as a way to board up windows of those who suffered devastation,” Skwira said. “This brought national attention, but positively for Ferguson.”

Many current murals on the Mural Mile advocate for political change and bring a unique spotlight on local and national issues.

Visitors can easily reach the flood wall by taking a few small streets near the Gateway Arch, where they’ll find this hidden masterpiece of St. Louis.

DÚO QUINCEAÑERO

by Miranda Fabian mfabian486@g.fhsdschools.org

Un dos tres cuatro, un dos tres cuatro, eso es la única cosa que Javier y Valeria Lima-Guerrero piensan mientras que caminan a la pista de baile. Los dos han sacrificado noches para ayudar a un amigo o un miembro de la familia y hacer que su noche de celebración valiera toda la preparación.

Javier tiene 14 años y va a la escuela Barnwell Middle. Empezando a los 10 años, ha formado parte de múltiples cortes de quince mientras Valeria que está en su tercer año, empezó siendo dama a la edad de 13 años.

La primera quinceañera de Valeria fue después de que la COVID-19 afectó fuertemente. Una amiga de su familia se quedó con una quinceañera a medio celebrar durante la pandemia y decidió darle otro intento a la fiesta de sus sueños. A pesar de lo difícil que fue, ella dice que no cambiaría nada de haber formado parte de la celebración. Aunque Valeria no se arrepiente de haber formado parte de los quince, sí se arrepiente de no haber tenido uno propio por múltiples razones.

“Yo pienso que las quinceañeras son una tradición y muy importantes, pero también pienso en todas las memorias que podría haber tenido con mi papá y todo eso,” dijo Valeria. “Y toda la diversión que podría haber tenido planeando, tomando fotos y estando con mis primos para formar un vals, sería lindo.”

Uno de los mayores desafíos que enfrentaron fue aprender los diferentes bailes, desde huapango hasta cumbia y bachata. Estilos diversos con ritmos igualmente variados. Las noches largas y los pies adoloridos se convirtieron en algo común. Tratar de no mezclar los bailes en la pista de baile era solo uno de los muchos temores.

“Hacer la Iguana me tomó un tiempo, creo que estaba realmente asustado de caerme o algo así,” dijo Javier. “Pero lo superé al tener a alguien que me dijera si se veía bien y qué debía cambiar mientras lo hacía.”

Aunque la experiencia puede variar de estresante a emocionante, ambos han aprendido una lección.

“Aprecia los momentos porque todos estamos creciendo,” dijo Valeria. “La práctica hace al maestro también.”

Ambos esperan seguir siendo parte de más en el futuro. Han aprendido la complejidad de trabajar con compañeros, así como en solitario. Cuándo poner su mente en sintonía y sus pies a trabajar. Por encima de todo, crear recuerdos, y están listos para guiar a los nuevos.

“Solo no tengas miedo,” dijo Javier. “Y también, aprovecha el refrigerador.”

Go to FHNtoday.com to see English version

(Photo submitted)

The floodwall runs along the Mississippi river and held record high water in 1993, after that local artists began dotting small art along it the next

“Paint Louis”, in

SCHOOL SUNRISES AND SUNSETS

by Moira Dustin mdustin047@g.fhsdschools.org

One consolation people have from needing to get up for school so early is arriving around the same time the sun starts to rise. The new FHN school design also makes the view from staying after school worthwhile. Admiring the sun’s changes with all the clouds and colors is something that can brighten anyone’s day. Here are some of those early morning sunrise and late-night sunset photos students have captured and their takes on what makes the

“I thought it was really pretty and I think

“I liked how there was red and blue and I got to see one of my very good friends

WHAT IS ONE OF YOUR FAVORITE MOMENTS OR MEMORIES WITH SEISS?

Seiss strives to create lasting menories with her students, but what really stands out to her students?

“One memory that I love is when I had volleyball practice at 4 p.m. and I stayed after school. We set up her room for Halloween decorations. It was really fun because we got to set up and just kind of chat and catch up with each other.”

Kiley Harris, 11

TEACHER HAS MOM ENERGY AND SUPPORT

Some students struggle to form relationships with their peers or have a very limited support system. To combat this, teacher Ashely Seiss strives to help all students

by Canyon Dubis cdubis608@g.fhsdschools.org

At 1:28 p.m., the bell for the start of seventh hour rings. It is the last class period before the weekend. Knowing this, Ashely Seiss gives her English class a short assignment and the entire class period to work on it. The class begins and the students get to work on their assignments. As the period continues, students start finishing their work and walk up to Seiss to talk.

Midway through this time, junior Aiyla Neals walks up to the desk and Seiss asks Neals how she was doing. Yesterday, Neals and her family had to put their dog down. “So, then we had to put him down,” Neals says. “And I cried all day. I wasn’t here yesterday because I needed a mental health day.”

“That makes sense,” Seiss replies. “How are you feeling today?”

“Better, I went to Red Robin yesterday and I was much better.”

Conversations like this are normal for Seiss, whether they take place during class or in the hall during passing periods.

“I think, anecdotally, kids know that I am here for them,” Seiss said. “And I support them, and I love them, and I believe in them and I want the best for them. And, if nobody in their life cares about them, at least I do.” Seiss strives to create relationships with all of her students. These relationships may start from her just being the student’s teacher, but it sometimes morphs into more.

“Our relationship is good,” sophomore Gabriela Hatschbach said. “We talk a lot, it’s like we’re friends.”

According to Seiss, her relationships with them are aided by the energy that she gives off to her students. Which for her, includes frequent check-ins with her students, being a person that they can talk to and having everything that they may need.

“I’m always like ‘big mom energy’,” Seiss said. “I think it’s ‘big parent’ energy. It’s very much taken care of, check in. I have a whole drawer that has band aids

“She helps out a lot of students with essays and stuff, she gives them guidence. I like sitting down with her and learning what I did wrong and getting a tutorial, basically.”

Jack Rudden, 11

and sanitary items for female students. I have gum or whatever and kids know that they can come to me and I’ll try my best to make it happen, you know, even if it’s the small stuff. I try really hard to get to know my kids on a personal level and show up. I’ll go to their sporting events.”

The added effort of knowing her students on a personal level is what sets her apart from her peers. It also makes students feel more comfortable talking with her when they have problems.

fun doing a bunch of different little games and stuff in the library with the entire class.”

Liv Prinster, 10

“When we read ‘Romeo and Juliet’, she made very funny impressions and jokes. Last year, we got to role play as them while we read the play.”

Jimmie Smyth, 10

“One time I was having a rough time in life and I was talking to her and she was very helpful and understanding,” junior Tatem Chrisner said. “She made me feel a lot better.”

When forming these relationships, Seiss also hopes to make her class more tolerable as many students don’t like English or often struggle with curtain concepts.

“I feel like by the time kids come to high school, they have a preconceived notion of how they feel about English as a subject,” Seiss said. “They either love it or they really hate it. And so I like to push back on that a little bit. Even if I can shift the barometer 1% and they hate English 1% less, I feel like I’ve done a good job, or if they feel more supported.”

scavenger hunts for little prizes. And I got a stamp from it.”

Lochlan Marable, 9

A part of the relationship for Seiss is making sure her students feel supported. She believes that if kids don’t feel supported then they can’t learn. This for her means putting in extra effort to create a supportive and welcoming environment.

“When we talk about what it means to create a welcoming environment I think fundamentally it comes down to the tone you set and the way you carry yourself and the way you interact and engage with the students,” Seiss said. “And that’s one of those things that can’t be taught. We can be taught how to do lesson plans or all this stuff, but to be able to build relationships authentically, it’s not a skill that can be explicitly taught. You either know it or you don’t know how to do it, and I’m really good at it.”

“I don’t think I could pinpoint any exact moment but she has really good energy, and she’s really funny.”

Nicholas Trimpe, 9

“I just love love how supportive she is, shes always walking around and just loves everybody.”

Kira Pierce, 9

Ashley Seiss and student in her freshmen English one class talk about the curriculum (Photo by Madalyn Bridgewater)

MISSOURI’S MYSTERIOUS CHEESE CAVES

The truth behind Springfield’s dairy-laden depths (Content by

Amari Ammons)

Earlier this year. word once again spread of the “cheese caves,” caverns scattered all around the U.S., including right here in Missouri, housing over a billion pounds of government-owned cheese. With the phrase “cheese cave” evoking imagery of deep, dark tunnels just brimming with cheese, it’s no wonder a story so ridiculous has captured so much interest.

“Yes, I have heard of [the cheese caves],” Senior Riley Kloecker said. “I heard there’s a giant cave where the government stores cheese and keeps it from us.”

Despite the sensationalized stories, the story of the “cheese caves” is not quite as outlandish it sounds. To understand how the government could come to possess such absurd amounts of dairy, one must take a step back into the United States of the 1930s. At this time, farming was done by many, many smaller farms as opposed to the fewer enormous farms that create our produce today. That meant that scattered around the U.S. were millions of farmers with

common intrests and common problems. So, whenever farmers were struggling, politicians would rush to their aid in hopes of securing their votes.

“The vast majority of members of Congress had farmers in their district,” U.S. Department of Agriculture Consultant Andrew Novakovic said. “Hence, the politics of supporting farmers wasn’t controversial, although the nature and depth of that support certainly was.”

And support farmers they did, for the 1930s were especially trying times for American farmers. The Great Depression and the Dust Bowl had left many farmers in financially unfavorable positions. The dairy industry was especially struggling, with interest on dairy products reaching a whopping 30% according to The Farmlink Project. To help stabilize the dairy market, the federal government began buying the farmers’ supply in the form of butter and cheese when demand was low, storing it, and selling it when demand was high. This allowed dairy farmers to milk to their heart’s content without worrying about matching demand.

However, as decades passed and the market evolved, this arrangement soon got out of hand.

“I believe that it was in 1980 that the government bought more milk-equivalent in cheese than all of the milk produced in Canada in that year,” retired director of Dairy Policy Analysis at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Mark Stephenson said. “That was a problem that had to be addressed.”

As demand for dairy products declined, farmers continued to pump out as much milk as they could, certain that the government would buy up what customers wouldn’t. This forced the government to dedicate valuable time and money to storing all the dairy they couldn’t sell.

Warehouses and eventually repurposed mines (not caves, as commonly believed) all around the country, including in nearby Springfield, were filled almost entirely with enormous quantities of cheese. In an effort to get rid of some of this cheese, the government began handing it out to people in need. Programs like WIC and SNAP provided eligible women and children with

with blocks of “government cheese.”

“I don’t remember it being nasty,” Former WIC beneficiary, Samantha Washington said. “We actually ate it all the time. My mom made mac and cheese with it.”

Perhaps less altruistically, the government has also established and funded several organizations to bring up dairy consumption. For example, Dairy Management Incorporated, an organization managed and funded by a subdepartment of the USDA, partners with large businesses like McDonalds, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell to include more cheese in their menus. While the nutritional value of milk and dairy products has come into question in recent years, one thing is for certain: the government will go to great lengths to ensure that you have, indeed, got milk. Today, the cheese caves sadly now lie empty, successfully emptied by the government over the years. Though the caves may no longer exist, they will live on through America’s timeless love of cheese.

A facility owned by Prairie Farms, which is a prominent producer of dairy.

Sliced American Pasteurized Process Cheese

(Photo by Faith Smith)

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BEST OF FALL SPORTS RECAP

TENNIS

Senior Ella VarVera serves a tennis ball in a match against Fort Zumwalt West on FHN courts. They took the courts in their doubles pairs first playing to 8. after their games concluded and courts opened up they began their singles matches. FHN came out on top with a score of 5-1. (Photo by Mady Brewer)

VOLLEYBALL

On Oct. 16, Junior Jaden Slusser sets a ball up in a match against North Point. During the second set Slusser broke the school record for the number of assists in a single season.

The previous record was 600, and Slusser celebrated this achievement on the court with her teammates. (Photo by Mady Brewer)

GOLF Sophomore Chloe Buschmann sets her ball up on a tee in preparation for her next shot on hole 6 at Links of Dardenne Sept. 19. Bushmann is the only underclassmen who is a part of the FHN Varsity girls golf team. The Knights won 199 against Central, their score being 217. (Photo by Mallory Barker)

SOFTBALL

Sophomore Lexi Lohns throws a pitch to a Ritenour batter at ABC Ballpark on Oct. 14. Neither team was able to gain a run during the first three innings until the fourth inning where FHN gained three runs. While no runs were made by either team in the fifth inning, the Knights picked back up in the sixth and seventh, ending the game against the Huskies 6-0. (Photo by Brianna Dunham)

SWIM

On Sept. 24, team captain Edward Lee performs a breaststroke in a meet against Liberty and Saint Dominic at the St Peters Rec Plex. Lee won first place in the 100 meter freestyle and 100 meter breaststroke. The team ended the meet in first place with a score of 135 points.

(Photo by Monica Zacarias)

CROSS COUNTRY

On Oct. 17, junior Moya Jefferson runs in G.A.C’s cross country meet at McNair Park. The G.A.C’s split up the teams by level and gender, each race lasting 30 minutes. Senior Kevin Mcguire won 12th place in the south division. Soon after, senior Madeline Dustin was just short of getting in the top 14. (Photo by Reina Murrell)

SOCCER On Sept. 30, sophomore Tyler Ortmeyer fights for possession of the ball against a player from Francis Howell. (Photo by Kylie Ramirez)

FOOTBALL Senior Champ Pauley catches the football from his teammate on Sept. 13, at St. Charles West High School. West held their 22-6 lead for the rest of the game, and keeping the Knights from scoring until the fourth quarter when Pauley ran a touchdown. The final score of the game was 43-14 St. Charles West. (Photo by Brianna Dunham)

Photos by Jasmine Dong

Take a look at some past wins our wrestlers brought home

G. A. C. Boys Tournament

1st- Collin Conley

2nd- DJ Dillon

2nd- Skyler Lashley

4th Collin Costello 4th Wyatt Dannegger

G.A.C Girls Tournament

1st- Ashlynn Alexander 1st- Isabelle Apple

4th- Aubrey Peterson

5th- Cailyn Rector

Boys District Tournament

1st- Wyatt Dannegger

1st-Skyler Lashley

2nd- Collin Conley

2nd- DJ DIllon

3rd- Cole Dillon

3rd- Wyatt Hines

4th- Lito Ledezma

Girls District Tournament

1st- Ashlynn Alexander

1st- Isabelle Apple

3rd- Aubrey Peterson

State Tournament

2nd- Isabelle Apple

A NEW ROOM USHERS IN NEW WRESTLING ERA FOR FHN

Along with the new school, a state of the art wrestling room was introduced with high hopes surrounding it

by Morgan Smith

msmith922@g.fhsdschools.org

Two new gyms and a wrestling room were far from the new and improved amenities featured in the new building. For the girls’ and boys’ wrestling teams, everything changed when the new wrestling space was first unveiled. The new wrestling addition is now designed specifically for the wrestlers and their needs, whereas at the old building, the room would be shared throughout the baseball and softball teams, and was used for other school events.

“Since we had to share the room with them, we never really got to roll the mats up, which was definitely not great,” head coach Chris Brown said. “That also meant there was a batting cage in there which took up a lot of space.”

Because the room was crowded and could be occupied by multiple different activities, the wrestlers were elated when they heard that they would have a room all to themselves. Hopes were high as the move occurred.

The wrestling mats could stay on the floor and they didn’t have to worry about distractions. Even though the room was smaller in width and height, it made it easier for the coaches to watch and allowed them to be more involved and available to watch all players.

new room, it doesn’t allow for those players to receive that recognition. The old facility also had a rope that the athletes could climb, and a door for when the room got too hot. Whereas now, those additions are not carried on to the new school.

“I feel like if I reach my hands up, I could touch the ceiling which might be a problem,” junior Maddy Howell said, “Even though I haven’t had to wrestle very competitively in there yet, the circulation was definitely something that I was worried about for the

Even though the room has its pros and cons, and different opinions from players, the room can also help the wrestlers improve their strength as a team not just physically, but mentally as well.

Wonder Women Tournament

6th- Isabelle Apple

MAKING NEW GOALS

getting more matches in and focusing on getting better and

Ashynn Alexander, 10

“The ceiling is low so it makes the room feel smaller,” sophomore Wyatt Dannegger said. “But I think the room is going to positively affect me because I am going to be closer to my teammates physically and socially.”

The new room had its advantages, but some players’ expectations were not met. The old room was big enough to hang awards and accolades from past wrestlers throughout the program which, for many, was motivating. But, with the size of the

“I think it could bring up our team because it will help us all get close,” junior Aubrey Peterson said. “You always need to have that bond throughout your team cause it really can help your team on and off the mat.”

This year the Knights look to gain strength from that and hit some big goals for this season. One of those is to beat Howell and Howell Central. Others include having at least one state champion and being at least the top two in their district.

“I am really excited for this season because we have more girls than we have ever had,” assistant coach Sean Fowler said. “It’s going to be fun to have a lot more of a group that we haven’t had before.”

girls and a really big team this year and I’m excited to see where we go.”

Kyra Landers, 10

Wrestling head coach, Chris Brown, poses for a photo while two wrestlers compete in the background. (Photo by Mallory Barker)

DJ Dillion begins a match against a fellow FHN wrestler in the new wrestling room.

(Photo by Jordan Ousley)

SPORTS COLUMN

NOT MOST LITTLE GIRLS’ DREAM

Most little girls growing up enjoy spending time with their dads when it involves going to the movies, the amusement park, having tea parties, getting ice cream, or even going on road trips.

While I still enjoy doing all those things with him, my list looks a little different. Some people may call me crazy, but I have to say my favorite way to spend time with my dad was and still is snuggled up on the couch screaming at the TV because Coach K and the Blue Devils couldn’t make a shot.

Ever since I was little, my dad had a very strong opinion on college basketball, and in that opinion, there was only room for Duke University’s men’s basketball team. While there was no rhyme or reason of where this opinion came from, naturally as you would imagine, that led to me being raised through a royal blue colored glass lens and never enjoying seeing the letters UNC or the color Carolina Blue.

two houses there is always a fight for attention and genuine quality time with my parents. Even if it was only an hour or so, and not many words were exchanged other than what was happening on the court, I always (and still do) cherished the time that I got to spend with him on the couch watching college basketball. It is that simple time that I will always be grateful for and never take for granted. And it is that same simple time that made memories and inside jokes between me and my best friend that will last a lifetime.

To this day, our texts partly consist of updates on the players, coaches, team drama, and commentary when a game is on and we are not together. Not only has this experience with my dad grown our relationship but it’s also grown my love and passion for the game. It has grown my interest as well as my ability to watch the game and improve my game from it. It has grown my passion to be inspired by the athletes putting in the work and making it to the next level. It has also grown my passion in hatred for any other team in the ACC.

From Allen to Taytum and from Zion to Cooper Flagg, looking back I couldn’t have prayed for a better blue devil buddy or a better dad.

GIRLS BASKETBALL PLANS TRIP TO INDIANA FOR TOURNAMENT

FHN girls basketball plan a trip to visit the famous Hoosier gym in Indiana as well as to go against Liberty Jan. 10 through the 11

by Miranda Fabian mfabian486@g.fhsdschools.org

The shiny court is gleaming under the bright glare of the fluorescent lights. This small-town Indiana basketball team knows that the crowd will notice whatever move they make on the court. Even worse is when the coach notices. They’ve worked hard up to this point to make it to the state finals. All these sentiments would matter a great deal- if only the director hadn’t just yelled, “Cut.”

This isn’t an actual statewinning team with a coach willing to fight for its players, nor a crowd filled with supporting family and friends. This is the set of the famous 1986 “Hoosier” film.

the FHN girl’s basketball team. They hope to make history when they make the trip to Indiana to go against Liberty High School in a conference game.

“Obviously, winning is our ultimate goal, but also team bonding,” girls’ basketball coach Danielle Rampley said.

This is the first time in which the team has made a trip to play against another school in a conference game. In the past, Rampley has made an effort to take the players to watch a college game overnight or a local game in hopes of building camaraderie.

“I think it’s kind of cool that they are able to travel there and see that and hopefully they’ll appreciate it more once they see the movie,” -Danielle Rampley

“I’m excited about the team bonding it will bring and the cool opportunity to play in the Hoosier gym,” three-year player Lily Devine said.

While a true story inspired the movie, the sentiment is still real as it now runs through

The coaches will be bringing 30 to 36 players. They leave on Jan. 10 and play in the Hoosier gym on the Jan. 11. In addition

Olivia Graeser

to the game, they hope to have a viewing party of the movie as well as team meals, compete, and have a quick turnaround heading back home to practice in preparation for their tournament the following Monday.

“I’m really excited for this trip because we’ve never done anything like it, and I think it will be a good experience for our team,” four-year senior varsity player Camille Krekeler said.

To fund this trip, the team changed their approach. Although they still hope to sell merchandise through the school’s store, they will also go through the Vertical Rays app. This allows individual athletes to send out mass text messages and emails as well as go through social media platforms to share the goal of any team, in this case getting the team to Indiana. The platform keeps 15 percent of what is made to organize the fundraiser.

Their goal is to make up to $10,000 and have the girls reach out to a minimum of 20 contacts. The hope is to reach enough to fuel the trip as well as other needs of the program although they realize the likelihood there can be where parents may need to follow through for the rest of the cost for the trip.

“Based on our fundraising, parents

The opportunity didn’t come up again until last spring when Liberty High School asked for them to come along. That’s when plans started. The school itself provides referees, but FHN and Liberty had to come up with table workers as well as athletic trainers and other personnel to run the game. Booking hotel rooms and renting vehicles was also included in their pre-trip plans. Their early planning was to ensure that everything was smooth sailing for the long ride ahead.

“I think it’s kind of cool that they are able to travel there and see that and hopefully they’ll appreciate it more once they see the movie,” Rampley said

A lot of the parents themselves are excited about the trip, many of which will be joining the girls. Whether it’s to help the travel out of state go safely or rally behind the girls against Liberty, many of the parents will be there, filling seats in the bleachers with support.

“A lot of the parents are also excited because they know the movie, they know

the history behind it so it’s kind of cool to see their kid play in that gym,” Rampley said. “And also for them to come and tour and see it themselves.”

The team is preparing to take on Liberty at both varsity and JV levels. Last season, both varsity and JV had lost to Liberty, varsity being down four with a final score of 58 - 62. That same day JV ended the game 28-33 early on as both of their second games of the season.

“Last year was a pretty even match-up for us,” Krekeler said. “I think this year we have a good chance of winning.”

The movie Hoosier itself has themes of redemption, perseverance and community as well as rooting for the underdog. It portrays the journey of a new coach, which many don’t trust or believe in, pushing and guiding a small-town basketball team which many believe in less. The coach comes in every day, pushing the team to become stars and recruits help along the way. The final scene is an intense match against a talented school in which for this team, everything they’ve worked hard for is on the line.

This resonates with many, including Rampley, as it emphasizes a message that working hard does lead to success, as well as achieving one’s dreams.

“I think it kind of gives the girls the perspective of you need to show up every day and work hard to have that spot on the team,” Rampley said.

Take a look at some more details on the Hoosier film

1 Where to Watch

The movie is available on YouTube, Amazon Prime Video and more all with premium subscription.

2 Inspired by a True Story

The Hoosier film was inspired by the story of 1954 Indiana state champions, Milan High School

3 Hoosier Theme Song

The theme song throughout the film is “The Coach

4

The Gym’s Age

The Hoosier gym opened in 1921 making it 64 years old when it was filmed and is currently 103 yeas old.

5 Popular Quote

“If you put your effort and concentration into playing to your potential, to be the best that you can be, I don’t care what the scoreboard says at the end of the game, in my book we’re gonna be winners.”

Coach Norman Dale

Take a look at the school’s athletic merch to help contribute to the girls basketball teams trip. FHN Athletic Merchandise

Senior Sophia Manzella and juniors Olivia Gietl, Cami Portell stand on the sideline as they watch their teammates tryout for this year’s basketball season. (Photos by Mallory Barker)

Seniors Camille Krekeler and Sophia Manzella exchange a moment on the side of the court in the girls basketball tryouts. (Photos by Mallory Barker)

Stays” by Jerry Goldsmith.

THE NECESSITIES

Take a look at some of Riley Jensen’s daily swim necessities.

JENSEN LEAPS BACK IN

Riley Jensen looks to return to the swimming pool better than ever for the winter season

by Avee Patel apatel463@g.fhsdschools.org

Riley Jensen, a junior swimmer at FHN, stands at the edge of the pool for state competition. The parents, coaches, teammates, and other friends fill the atmosphere with loud cheering and last-moment advice. Moments before the race starts, everything slows down. Filled with adrenaline, Jensen has to trust the work she has put in during practices and with her coaches that she is capable of what it takes to succeed at state. Seconds are passing by, the only thing she’s looking out for now is the officials and the buzzer. She’s ready to go.

“I was pretty nervous so I didn’t do as well as I thought, that’s why I’m hoping to go back this year,” Jensen said.

Coach Rowan Pugh, on the flip side, believes Jensen did a great job.

“After state last year, we kind of talked to her, she wasn’t feeling the best about her performance but we talked to her and kind of set some goals for next season,” Pugh said. “I think Riley’s performance was great. That was her first time ever going to state, she came in at 32 and came out at 32 but she had a great swim. She really got the experience of state, so now when we go, she can have that first-time jitters under her belt.”

we have stayed in contact, and she is honestly my biggest inspiration for swimming.”

In order to achieve state success, Jensen needed to prepare both her mental mindset, as well as being in the right spot physically in order to achieve her goals.

“She really had been working the entire year on that event, so she kind of had planned out her race and knew she was gonna swim it, and I think she tackled it the way she planned, and it’s probably the goal for her,” Pugh said.

Jensen doesn’t just make goals, she prepares herself to meet them.

“I did summer swim over the summer, I do that every year but this summer I focused on it a little more. I also did some lessons at Swim Theory, which is a swimming place,” Jensen said.

“She has the skill and the drive, and I think the really special thing about Riley is that she might have one day where she gets knocked down, but that doesn’t stop her She uses that to fuel her goal.”

- Rowan Pugh

Jensen also uses other sports such as boxing to help give her unique advantages and allow her to exercise the same muscles that are heavily involved in swim, along with cardio.

“I’ve been crosstraining with boxing a little bit and then working dry land to get our bodies right,” Jensen said.

Pugh recognizes Riley’s grit and determination to constantly improve and strive for success.

One takeaway that Jensen had from state was the different levels of competitiveness through the pool and how badly everyone wants to win, as well as how different state meets are from regular meets.

“After state last year, we kind of talked to her, she wasn’t feeling the best about her performance but we talked to her and kind of set some goals for next season,” Pugh said.

“I saw a lot of the other girls around me and they seemed really prepared like they’ve been there before and that made me really nervous, also it was a very long competition even though I was one of the last events, I had to stay the entire time so I was really tired,” Jensen said.

Pugh and Jensen’s connection is a big reason why Jensen is always so motivated.

“The head swimming coach, we’ve known each other since I was eight,” Jensen said. “She’s really helped me a lot, even over the summer

“I think for her, it doesn’t stop at state,” Pugh said. “Her goal is not [just] going to state, her goal is going to state and doing what her definition of well is because in my eyes as a coach, just going to state is crazy exceptional but she sat down and talked to us after state and was like ‘I wanna go again and I wanna get in the top placement’ so I know she can do it.”

With state experience under her belt, Jensen looks to beat all her personal times and build upon what she has already done.

“Going to state again is my biggest motivation,” Jensen said. “Also, with swimming, it’s a sport where you’re always motivated because its all about dropping time.”

“I always like to say she is silent but deadly because she is just so goal-oriented,” Pugh said.

“She is so driven, she really pushes her off of other people. I think this season, we have a lot of new players that could really help push Riley in the pool too, because she wants to be the fastest in the lane. She wants to be constantly stepping up.”

2 Googles

The brand Speedo is Jensen’s

Gatorade or a variation of a energy boosting drink is often needed for

RECOMMENDED SWIMSUITS

Take a look Dolfin, Jensen’s’ preferred swimsuit brand.

Junior Riley Jensen practices her dive form during practice Nov. 18. (Photo by Eashaan Patel)

Gatorade

PAULEY MAKES COMEBACK ONTO THE BASKETBALL COURT

Champ Pauley makes his journey back onto varsity Basketball after long recovery with an ACL injury

by Esther San esan231@g.fhsdschools.org

Senior Champ Pauley is making his long-awaited comeback to the basketball court after a long journey with an ACL injury.

Pauley has been playing basketball since the fifth grade. After transferring schools, Pauley planned to play basketball at North. Unfortunately, during the 2023 football season, injury struck Pauley.

On Sept. 29, 2023, the Knights faced Francis Howell Central in a varsity football match. Pauley was running up to tackle an opposing player when the unexpected occurred.

awaited varsity basketball debut has come.

“I’m excited,” Pauley said. “I’m excited to show everyone that I’m back at 100 percent. I just hope I make a good impression with the comeback.”

Pauley’s recovery didn’t come without any hiccups. He was eager to go back to playing but advised not to. Disregarding the intended recovery time, he went back to playing.

“Two months before they even cleared me to play I thought I was ready, and I’d play basketball on the side and it just wouldn’t feel as comfortable,” Pauley said. “Then, I realized that maybe I’m not so ready as I thought I was.”

“I’m excited to show everyone that I’m back at 100 percent. I just hope I make a good impression with the comeback.” - Champ Pauley

“I was coming down to tackle the guy and I hyper extended my leg and I felt a pop,” Pauley said. “I didn’t think it was anything crazy. I mean, stuff happens when you’re playing sports, but I felt it again, like two plays later and it was enough to make me fall down.”

Pauley had torn his Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL). This ligament connects the thighbone and shinbone at the knee. The ACL cannot heal on their own. Instead, it requires surgery along with months of extensive rehabilitation for the knee.

Two weeks after the game, Pauley went through with ACL reconstruction surgery. 10 full months of recovery later, Pauley’s long-

Despite this optimism, Pauley wasn’t exactly doubt-free. He was afraid. Afraid of his comeback not being his best performance or up to his standards.

“My biggest fear was me not knowing if I would be back at my 100 percent,” Pauley said.

But, Pauley was committed. He committed to getting better and further improving. He had nothing stopping him. Pauley attributes his recovery to his mindset.

“I just kept believing that I would get better and going with the flow,” Pauley said. “I just had to be patient with the wait. Once they told me the recovery was 9-10 months, I just said, ‘Okay, I just got to work hard these nine

months to get back to how I was and even better.’”

Since Pauley has come back to basketball, he hasn’t noticed any physical difficulties in his performance. But, he’s had to accommodate his play style to his specific needs.

“I just got to get used to it,” Pauley said. “At tryouts, everything was like a first time. I actually jumped off the bad leg, and it’s kind of normal now, but I’m gonna be smart about what I do. I’m not even just gonna do whatever. For example, if I can use my other leg and other the bad leg in situations, I’m gonna avoid using a bad leg, but right now just be more a little bit more cautious, little bit more smart.”

The last time Pauley played on a school basketball team was sophomore year. Even though this causes some pressure, Pauley’s mindset washes the feelings away.

“I feel a little bit of pressure,” Pauley said. “I’m just going with the flow. I try to not think of my injury as a big break and more of a setback instead, like, something I can move through.”

Pauley went through heaps of challenges because of the injury. He went through a long recovery process, made mistakes, withstood mental battles and adapted to new challenges. Pauley gives advice to those in similar situations to him.

“Be patient with the wait and keep on working hard, but don’t rush anything,” Pauley said. “Just keep on believing that you’re going to be back to how you were.”

Here’s a look at how the team did against these schools last year MORE ON CHAMP PAULEY LAST SEASON

Take a look at Champ Pauley in the football season in this video by Luis Narvaez-Torres on FHNtoday.com

Senior Champ Pauley with David Beger dribbles during basketball practice. This year, the coaches are putting an emphasis on full court pressure, fastpaced offence, defense and overall being the fastest and strongest. Practices involve many drills such as running drills. This goes along with the coaches wanting to condition the players well and overall be more disciplined this year. (Photo by Taylor Griffin)

Photo by Noah Tucker

Designed by Canyon Dubis

Growing up with bi-racial parents can affect a one’s self-image

Growing up, I never really cared about my background. My parents always reminded me that I was loved and unique, my friends might’ve said I was funny and kind and my teacher might even say I was a bit talkative, however, when I truly look around and see everyones’ backgrounds and traditions, it’s hard not to ponder the question of what’s in the mirror.

Don’t get me wrong, I can tell you my nationality. I can tell you my dad’s not from here. I can share my mom’s American roots- but ethnicity isn’t always about the facts. In my opinion, it’s about how you represent yourself.

That has been a topic I’ve struggled with over the past few years. Growing up, my dad has never enjoyed sharing his past or where he comes from. He likes to say it doesn’t matter, but how can a girl grow up when she can count the amount of people whose skin tone matches hers on one hand? How can you tell any human who’s growing to not wonder to not be curious?

It’s hard to answer such a simple question of your upbringing when you’ve never even seen “MiddleEastern” or “Arabic” as an answer option on paperwork or surveys. I’ve always wondered what it’s like to be able to be prideful in your culture, to know what makes you, you, and not feel disconnected from the rest.

WHY NUCLEAR ENERGY OUGHT TO BE THE PATH TO THE FUTURE

Nuclear energy is one of our best methods of producing power, yet the world is wrongly quick to reject it (Illustrations by Cherry Ann Clark)

Feeling like you’re not American enough to relate to one group of people, while not Middle-Eastern enough to fit with the other group can make you feel less important, like your background doesn’t reach the value of others. This closed off mindset has been drowning my mind for nearly 17 years now, until I finally realized the cliche, “It’s what’s on the inside that matters” truly does have some truth to it.

uclear. It’s a word that immediately causes uneasiness in many people.

involving nuclear weapons and facilities, it makes perfect sense why someone wouldn’t want a reactor powering their town’s grid.

However, those tragedies, as terrible as they were, shouldn’t stop society from taking steps to explore nuclear power as a primary, viable power source.

Self-love and appreciation is something that no ethnicity can create. Now that I am older, and possibly wiser, I can leave my clogged views behind and truly learn who I am without a label. Learning about yourself is one of life’s most rewarding experiences in so many ways. To this day, I cannot speak much Arabic. I can’t say I grew up trying exotic spices, but I can say I’m creative. I can say my heart is full and I can show you how much compassion I hold for others. That is one thing a flag cannot represent.

To harness nuclear energy, humans do what they have always done: boil water. The steam from the boiling water is generally used to spin turbines, creating electricity. The same water-boiling method is used when burning fossil fuels. In a nuclear reactor, after spinning through the turbine, the steam is sent to a condenser where some of it gets redirected back into the reactor, and some is released at the top of the cooling tower.

Now, besides being capable of powering quite literally anything that requires electricity, nuclear energy is viable in many places where traditional means of energy production (fossil fuels, solar, wind) is not.

This is due to its ability to create a large and consistent amount of energy with minimal

Learn about how the St. Charles County has dealt with hazardous radioactive material with the QR code above.

waste while only needing water to function. Nuclear energy is scary for a lot of people, but it shouldn’t be. Nuclear energy is incredibly clean, and by far produces the least amount of waste relative to the power it generates. While often depicted as a bright, neon-green sludge in fiction, radioactive waste is nothing of the sort. In fact, because liquids can easily spill, radioactive waste is almost never disposed of in liquid form.

Radioactive waste is categorized in different levels, with the higher categories being more dangerous. Low level waste refers to anything that’s been radioactively contaminated. Low level cases usually aren’t a problem, and are disposed of once the traces of radioactive material decay. Intermediate cases are more heavily contaminated, and are required to be shielded. High level cases are the worst ones, usually being spent fuel. High level waste is hot and highly radioactive, meaning it must be cooled and heavily shielded.

Some European countries have designated permanent nuclear waste disposal sites. Places where high level nuclear waste is

WELDON SPRING SITE

stored underground, away from the public. The United States of America currently does not have a permanent nuclear waste disposal site, but taking into consideration the amount of energy that can be produced with minimal waste, it would be an investment that would pay dividends down the line.

The biggest reason to care about the expansion of nuclear energy infrastructure is for the environment. An enormous amount of energy is produced each day, most of which still comes from fossil fuels. Not only would the switch from fossil fuels to nuclear energy be good for the planet in terms of how much waste is produced, it also serves as a method to keep leaders around the world responsible for their pollution.

As stated earlier, radioactive waste is dangerous, and can be deadly. But this attribute of radioactive waste is one of the things that actually should make it more popular with the general public. That can seem contradictory at first, but when burning fossil fuels, most of the pollution is up in the sky, creating smog. This blocks sunlight and makes the air harder to

breathe. That pollution in the air flows all across the world, and yet the polluter isn’t held accountable simply because it’s in the air. Nuclear energy on the other hand produces less waste, its waste is solid and it’s dangerous. This forces nations to properly dispose of it instead of just letting it hang around.

In solving the effects of the direct pollution of fossil fuels, it also makes electric powered technology more eco-friendly. For example, electric cars are created and marketed as a way to reduce the amount of pollution that is created through driving. The current-day problem with this is, electricity is mostly created through the burning of fossil fuels. So, while driving an electric car is certainly better for the environment than driving a traditional gas car, its effects on the environment are largely overstated due to the fact that fossil fuels are being burned either way. This is the case with most electric alternatives to gas powered machines and it simply is not enough. Investing in a cleaner future now is the only way we can guarantee a clean present. The best way to do that is through the expansion of nuclear energy.

Teens are still able to find magic in the holiday season, they just aren’t trying hard enough

FUTURE OF NUCLEAR ENERGY

“It’s a really interesting time for nuclear energy, a lot of people are thinking about different ways to use it other than for electricity.”

Todd Allen, chair of the Nuclear Engineering Department at the University of Michigan

“With recent emphasis being put on addressing climate change, I think people will start paying more attention to nuclear energy.”

Lorenzo Mazzocco, PhD candidate at MIT in the Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering

The magic of Christmas evolves over time, from getting to giving. Giving, of course, is much harder than getting, so once you get to a certain age it’s entirely up to you to keep the magic of Christmas alive. For children, the magic is made by the parents, while parents find magic in their children. Teenagers, however, are stuck in a strange gray area, where creating the magic is entirely up to them.

Magic, like everything, costs money. Teenagers don’t have a lot of that, and it takes some level of imagination to create the magic without it.

Homemade gingerbread houses, looking at Christmas lights and hanging up the Christmas tree are all great ways of celebrating the season, but is anyone actually trying?

You’ll often hear teenagers say that the magic has been lost. It’s understandable. You don’t believe in the same things you used to. Going out of your way to bring Christmas back to life can feel like too much effort on top of school and work. It’s a shame that the most wonderful time of the year has to be set aside for other, significantly less wonderful things. But that doesn’t necessarily mean the magic is dead.

Christmas isn’t dead, you just aren’t putting in the effort. Once you reach a certain age, the responsibility is put on you to bring life to Christmas. You could choose not to, and reminisce about the times when Christmas was fun, or you could take the time to set up the Christmas tree, get some friends together and make Christmas cookies, gingerbread houses, Christmas cards, etc. You could host a Christmas party, Secret Santa or go Christmas caroling. Christmas is a time of togetherness and giving. It may seem like an effort, but it’s worth it to bring the magic of Christmas back to life for you, and hopefully everyone around you.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BOE

Follow these QR Codes to learn more about what the FHSD BOE does Contact the Board Read the BoardDocs

Every BOE member has an official district email that you can use to contact them with any ideas or questions.

Watch BOE Meetings

The BoardDocs are a great resource to be able to see what all the BOE is doing including the meeting agendas and any policies that get passed.

Learn About Policies

Every single public BOE meeting is recorded and posted on the Francis Howell School District’s YouTube.

THE PROPER WAY FOR COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE CLASSROOM TO GET FROM STUDENTS TO THE BOE

The complaint is brought up to the teachers

The students have an issue

Read this article to learn about how Regulation 6116 affects the GSA’s ability to function at FHN.

The administration reports it to the superintendent, who can finally tell the BOE

The teachers escalate it to the administration

IT’S TIME FOR THE BOE TO RESPECT STUDENT INPUT

Students are left without a voice in one of the most powerful parts of the district

On Behalf of the Editorial Board yourfhn@FHNtoday.com

Anytime the FHSD Board of Education is being talked about, it seems to always be about the most recent thing they have done wrong. However, as with anything, there are many good and bad things that come out of the BOE, yet it seems that all the student body hears is the bad.

The BOE has hit a communication error that needs to be addressed. Decisions about gender identity, book bannings and final exams continue to feed the idea that the BOE doesn’t hear the comments of students. The BOE needs to adjust its messaging to better acknowledge the student population, and to better inform the students about what decisions are being made.

subjects.

These decisions that limit connections between students and teachers make it difficult for people within the building to empathize with the BOE’s decisions. These decisions are things with backing founded in law and policy. 6116 was passed in order to keep the school district from being held liable if a parent decided to sue, yet all that was explained to students was that they could no longer talk to teachers about these things.

This communication breakdown means that to know the actual motives and execution of policy, constituents have to dedicate large swaths of time towards deciphering complex BOE decisions. Instead, it is much easier to take the simple choice and simply blame the decision on politics.

“If students need more support, more in-depth learning, then you should give those students more support.”

A new outlet for the BOE to receive feedback from students needs to be opened up in a specialized way that makes it simple and easy for students to have an influence. In return, the BOE also needs to make sure that more communication about BOE policy gets back to students rather than stopping at high levels of administration.

Confusing Decisions

-Adam Bertrand

The BOE’s recent decisions have limited the connections that students can have with teachers. Regulation 6116 has prohibited teachers from discussing matters of gender identity with students. The regulation defines discussion of gender identity as a subset of human sexuality, which in turn means that teachers cannot talk to students about those

An Issue of Phrasing

One of the major reasons why the BOE appears to be non-responsive to the student body is because the BOE is not designed to respond to the student body.

The BOE is designed to be a check on the school district to ensure that it is following the wishes of outside influences like voters and more importantly, state policy.

The phrasing that has defined discussions about the BOE continuously paints them as reactionaries to political agendas. Not only does this misrepresent the BOE a majority of the time, but it also spaces the conversation away from the actual role of the BOE to just being a red versus blue conversation of politics.

The response to an increase in partisanship within the BOE has not led to a new conversation about what the BOE is supposed to do, but instead has been a fight to have “our person” in charge. A BOE is not

a place for partisan bickering, it’s a place for careful analysis.

Can’t

We Just Talk

One of the biggest reasons why this breakdown of communication has happened is because the messaging between the BOE and the student body is shaky at best. There is no current outlet for students to portray their thoughts about different issues within the district. The only channels that students have access to are the same ones that are available to any member of the public. One opportunity that students do have is the student board representative.

A student board representative is a great opportunity for the student body to have input on the BOE, however, it does not lead to much actual change happening within the BOE. Each student representative only goes to a singular meeting a year where they can, at best, ask questions. These representatives only get to have influence on one meeting which means that they cannot cause lasting change or influence.

divide between how the BOE sees things and how people in the schools interpret them, there will be a misunderstanding of how policy is to be enacted.

Whenever a new BOE policy is proposed, it leaves teachers and students in the dark about how it is actually going to be implemented. This means that rash assumptions can easily form. This is why the BOE needs to have a more direct communication line with the student body. Whether it be through the Class President or the Student Council, the BOE needs to make sure that its motives are being explained to the students.

“We hear from students occasionally. Most of the time it’s during student interviews like this. There’s about one request at least every two months.”

-Randy Cook

Student board representatives have become more so a way to recognize students and student accomplishments rather than actually representing the student body within the BOE. This means that the system does not work to actually show the BOE what the students want.

Over the last summer the Class Officers at North put together a survey in response to the proposed changes to final exam scores. They sent the results to all of the members of the BOE. The district went on to have their own survey produced to gauge the same things. This directly demonstrates the lack of respect the BOE has for movements that come from student-first campaigns.

Strange Interpretations

How people interpret what the BOE says is deeply important because interpretations are what actually get enforced. The BOE does not enforce any policy, it is up to school administration to interpret their policies and enact them properly. As long as there is a

A more connected BOE can create much greater benefits in all parts of the district. When the BOE listens to students and takes their input, just the act of listening helps to remove the barriers that divide the BOE from the students.

The Wrong Voice

Even still, the BOE is not meant to just be another outlet of students’ wishes. They are meant to keep the district in check by taking the influence of the outside world, voters and law. The BOE should still maintain this position as it is deeply important to the success of the district, however, we have hit a point where politics is a deeply rooted part of the BOE.

The fact that our BOE can be easily divided up into “Conservatives” and “Progressives” is not a good thing. Francis Howell For Families and Francis Howell Forward have taken up arms as practical political parties for our BOE. Our BOE should push back against that and seek to give off an appearance of moderate decision making. As long as our BOE continues to put student voices below political voices, that can not happen.

Now What

The BOE is one of the most misunderstood parts of the school system by students, but the chance to change that always exists. All we need to do is be more willing to communicate and to have discussions. If we can establish channels of communication between students and the BOE, then we can create a better tomorrow for the district and community.

NORTH STAR

Editors-in-Chief of News:

Michaela Manfull

Violet Newton

News Editors:

Canyon Dubis

Nylah Smith

Gavin Swart

Peyton Thies

Noah Tucker

News General Staff:

Amari Ammons

Haley Beffa

Cherry Clark

Abby Dunbar

Moira Dustin

Sam Hall

Riley Jensen

Zoe Lobato

Nadia Okilee

Kaylee Priest

Lennon Sharp

Cheyenne Steed

Bri Taliaferro

Caleb Thompson

Naomi Vandyne

Isabella Vassoller

Editors-in-Chief of Sports Photography: Mady Brewer

Bri Dunham

Sports Photo Editors:

Mallory Barker

Austin Griffin

Taylor Griffin

James Kowalczyk

Jordan Ousley

Sports Photo General Staff:

Chris Brandt

Nate Carney

Bella Collins

Dania Ferreyra

Rion Fleming

Mackenzie Hill

Presley Jaques

Kyra Landers

Jazmine Malone

Kaylin Mort Reina Murrell

Angelee Orozco

Kylie Ramirez

Sam Shoulta

Jupiter Stephens

Kiley Wallace

Monica Zacarias

Editors-in-Chief of Sports:

Drew Johnson

Laney Quandt

Sports Editors: Miranda Fabian

Owen Gonzalez

Olivia Graeser

Braeden Kettinger

Lito Ledezma

Sports General Staff:

Ezana Dubale

Max Fitzsimmons

Elise Grimshaw

Addy Jones

Jocelyn Kuker

Wilson Lam

Miriam Lichty

Kane Manfull

Elisabeth Miller

Ivan Pitts

Avee Patel

Yazan Rawashdeh

Jackson Schneider

Esther San Sagar Singh

Morgan Smith

Luis Torres Caden Ziha

Editor-in-Chief of Student Life Photography: Faith Smith

Student Life Photo Editors: Madalyn Bridgwater

Alayna Clement Eashaan Patel

Claire Brightwell

Jasmine Dong

Aubrey Henning

Tony Jones Kacey Lewis

Hannah Martin

Student Life Photo General Staff: Peter Swoboda

Editors-in-Chief of Video:

Camden Blair

Vanessa Ng

Video Editors:

Riley Aldenderfer

Ben Bartels

Sassy Garcia

Harper Schneider

Nathan Smith

Video General Staff:

Jacob Bass

Alan Bautista

Kennedy Buchanan

Collin Christie

Emily Clausner

Makayla Howell

Melanie Juarez Olivares

Olivia Prentice

Hunter Sanford

Kate Vernon

Adam Williams

Advisers:

Aaron Manfull

Jordyn Kiel

(Illustration by Michaela Manfull)