Robotics State-Bound

UPCOMING EVENTS

February Wednesday 19

NHS Induction Ceremony Time: 5:30 p.m. - 9 p.m. Where: Large Gym

February Thursday 27

FHN robotics team will be attending state on March 7 at Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla ROBOTICS FIRST TIME AT STATE

Students selected from the robotics club will be attending Robotics State at Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla on March 7. At state, the team will show off a robot that they have been working on and use it to compete against other teams.

Teams will compete using a robot that’s supposed to be able to transfer a giant Lego block from one spot to another. Most teams’ robot will only be able to move the block, but the FHN team is working to have their robot do more than that.

“We use the robot that we have right now to lift and stack giant Lego blocks on top of one another,” robotics team captain Enoch Berthold said. “Our robot will transfer them as well as stack them. Most robots just transfer them.”

The teams won’t just compete; they will also present their hard work to be judged. They will talk about the robot and the process they went through to create it.

“At state we will present our robots to judges and talk about it,” head programmer Jacob Kosier said. “I’m assuming it’s going to be similar to the qualifiers in which we will be pitted against a bunch of other teams in a bunch of matches.”

Six students were selected to go and 12 are going independently. Anyone in robotics is allowed to go to state, but if they are not selected they have to pay for their transportation, meals and hotel room themselves. To be selected, students must work hard and help out the team with building the robot.

“We already selected who we are taking based on how much work they’ve done on the robot,’’ Berthold said. ‘‘Then other people are welcome to go if they choose but they will have to pay out of pocket.”

This is their first year going to state. They’ve gone to competitions before, but state will be something new and different.

“I’m really excited that we’re going to state, I really did not expect it since this is our second year of doing this particular robotics thing, FTC,” Kosier said. “I’m pretty excited, and I’m glad I was able to be a part of it.” (Story by Maya Helbig)

March Wednesday 4

March Thursday 12

Parent - Teacher Conferences Time: 4 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Where: Large Gym

March Fri. - Fri. 13-20

A Mardi Gras mask lays within a pile of beads in preparation for a parade. The neighborhood of Soulard will host this year’s Mardi Gras parade on Feb. 22. The theme for the event will be “The Blues.” (Photo by Alayna Furch)

COMPETITION BETWEEN BANDS

During and after school, all the different types of FHN bands practice hard for upcoming competitions. Not only is wind ensemble going to their first big competition of the year, concert band is going along too. Band has been practicing diligently for these events.

This big upcoming competition that both bands will be going to is their State Contest, which will be held at Holt High School on March 5. Being prepared for this competition comes with a lot of stress but also is very exhilarating for the performers. Preparation is important for band members and can teach better skills for being on top of important things, like practicing.

“At a competition we play our pieces and we have a second score that comes from sight reading, so to prepare we do individual practices during class and we work on sight reading,” sophomore Aidyn Gleason said.

Sight reading is when performers receive a piece of music and get about two minutes to look over it and play the music with little practice involved. Although preparation can be challenging, it is a great experience and also helps band improve in many areas for their future competitions and events.

“We prepare mainly in class where Stegeman tunes the fine details and then at home we practice larger concepts,” senior Andrew Reese said. “We generally take the notes we get either during class or from judges and those become our main focus to improve for our next season.” (Story by Liv Engle) Wind ensemble, concert band and symphonic band will all join together to go to their first competitions of this school year

THE MASK PARADE Mardi Gras is coming back to Soulard in full swing

St. Louis Busch Stadium is hosting its annual Mardi Gras parade, starting at 11 a.m. on Feb. 22 and going until 12 a.m. Feb. 23. The parade travels from Busch Stadium all the way to the Anheuser-Busch Brewery.

“During the parade you get to see a lot of different floats and people dressed up,” St. Charles resident Latisha Moore said. “There is a lot of fun stuff to see.”

The Mardi Gras parade in St. Louis is free for all ages to attend. It allows attendees to experience something they won’t be able to experience at a regular parade or social event.

“Being around other people laughing and having fun makes it easier and to laugh and have fun myself,’’ senior Savanna Leahr said. “It’s so much fun getting beads and sometimes getting scared.”

The streets are full of different types of performers all in costumes representing their decorative floats.

“I’ve been going for 11 years and each time I went they had different floats and people in costumes,” Moore said. “It’s unbelievable and I would definitely recommend people to go.” (Story by DaNyla Creacy) INFO Follow this link to learn more about the Mardi Gras parade: bit.ly/NSmardigras

Senior Quinn Winkeler warms up on his tuba during honors wind ensemble practice. Winkeler spends his fifth hour practicing in the band room for their upcoming concerts and competitions. He has been playing the tuba since seventh grade and in sixth grade he played the baritone. (Photo by Salam Abouchleih)