Contents NEWS Pam Sloan Retiring 3
With Pam Sloan recently announcing her retirement, FHSD is looking for a replacement.
Trans Awareness Week 5
November 14-20 is a week dedicated to educationg others of the transgender community
FEATURES No Shave November 12
Find out the history behind No Shave November and why it started.
Being a Doodler 18
A sophomore doodles whenever she can, including during class and her free time.
SPORTS
Writer’s Guild FHN has a new creative writing club this year called Writers’ Guild, where students can share their pieces on specific topics and help others generate ideas for their writing. Sophomore Aaron Dupske came up with the idea of Writers’ Guild after taking part in a similar online community. “It helped me grow so much,” Dupske said. “I wanted to continue it somewhere else.” English teacher Jani Wilkens is the sponsor of the club, which meets in room 217 every Monday after school. “I’ve always wanted to have something like that,” Wilkens said. “It’s kind of a good way to have that extra step for people who really genuinely have interest in reading and writing.”(Brief by Deidre Dinkins)
different districts come together and get to know each other in order to better prepare themselves for competitions ahead of them. Although they had a successful season last year, this conference evokes unity and inspiration amongst the members. “It’s a great opportunity to meet new people that share the same interest as you,” sophomore Ben Jamison said. (Brief by Deidre Dinkins)
Step Team
FHN Teacher, Elizabeth White is sponsoring FHN’s new Step Team, where students are learning and performing a new form of rhythmic dance. The team meets every Tuesday and Thursday after Freshman Da’Viona Bonner practices with her step team school from 2:30 to 4:00. in the lower entrance. (Photo by Hannah Medlin) Their first performance will be Nov. 12 at the Jump Off. Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) took a “I [think] that it’s important for anybody who trip to Kokomo Joe’s on Oct. 27 for their annual Fall wants to start a new club or activity that they Leadership Conference. During these conferences, FBLA students from get to be heard,” White said. (Brief by Deidre Dinkins)
FBLA Kokomo
An Unbreakable Bond
33
These close friends have been on the same basketball team since they were young.
Ice Hockey 38
Catch up with senior DJ LaMartina and his recovery from last year’s face injury.
OPINIONS Steve Jobs Movie 43 Check out our take of Steve Jobs, the biographical film of Apple’s CEO.
On the Cover The North Star shows ways to avoid unhealthy eating habits and mantain a proper diet. Learn what to eat. (Pages 23)
Letters to the Editor Have an opinion on something in this month’s paper? Send us a letter in 026 or an email to youfhn@fhntoday.com.
Distributed for free to FHN by the North Star Staff. Providing an open forum since 1986
1
FHNTODAY.COM PAGE BY ETHAN SLAUGHTER
11.04.15
Speech & Debate Tournament To Come FHN is hosting a tournament on Nov. 6 for the first time in three years The Speech and Debate team competes at other schools’ tournaments and they’ve decided it’s time to give back and host their own. “[I am] very excited,” Speech and Debate coach Randy Pierce said. “It’s a great opportunity for our students to give back to the speech and debate community and also for the FHN community to become more aware of what Speech and Debate is all about, and hopefully become more encouraging about it.” Although most tournaments have two parts and are two days long, the one at FHN will be a day long with only speech events. FHN students will be running the tournament, but not competing in it . There will be three rounds of speech competition, and competitors’ scores will be added up from each round to determine who wins trophies. The biggest task that they have to complete before the tournament is finding people that will want to judge the Speech and Debate Tournament. “There is a lot that we need to get done for it to run smoothly, We need to recruit judges, set schedules and register other schools,” head coach Joelle Sanders said. (Brief by Karis Skaggs)
Last year, FHN won the third place Interpretation Sweepstakes trophy at the Greater St. Louis Conference.
A Look Inside Norm’s Nook
Norm’s Nook offers clothing items like t-shirts, sweaters, jackets, dresses, and other necessities.
Students find a place where they can get material items that they need in a welcoming and confidential manner BY KARIS SKAGGS
karisskaggs@gmail.com
By talking to a counselor, school nurse, or teacher that they trust, any student can be taken to a small shop, called Norms Nook, where they can obtain clothes, shoes, coats, toothbrushes, deodorant, school supplies and more for free. “I would describe it as a Plato’s Closet, meets Goodwill, meets Salvation Army, meets a big warm hug,” FACS teacher Sara White said. White, who created Norms Nook, says that the idea came one year during a faculty meeting after hearing that 17 percent of the student body, at that time, was at or below the poverty level. White, along with other staff at North, worked together to make the idea a reality. Their biggest priority is to keep all visits to Norms Nook confidential. “I’m thankful that we have a resource to students that would have a need,”
nurse Connie Robertson said. Staff members give donations to keep Norms Nook full and the students in job experience classes, or other groups have kept it organized. Staff members, such as Robertson and White, have taken many students to Norms Nook. “[A student and I] went up one day and she was in tears; she said ‘I’ve never been at a school that cares about people the way that you guys care about people here,’” White described. “She didn’t take anything extravagant but she took things that [her family] needed that were going to make a difference in their home. It was a really cool moment to see her emotional about the generosity of the people who work in our building.”
WATCH
Norm’s Nook also offers shoes like tennis shoes and formal heels.
Follow the link http://goo.gl/CIQpA2 on FHNtoday to learn more about Norm’s Nook.
Norm’s Nook provides toiletries such as toothpaste and deodorant,. (Photos by Sarah Garrelts)
Upcoming Events A quick overview on some of the major events and activities coming up in the next month at FHN Annual DECA Jump-Off Approaches On Nov. 12, DECA will be hosting their 13th annual jump-off in the big gym at FHN. The first game will start at 6 p.m. where the freshmen and sophomores play the juniors. The second game will start at 7 p.m. where the seniors play the faculty. The admission fee will be $3 at the door. “I like hosting this event because it gets our DECA organization a little bit of limelight and it also gives the seniors the opportunity to try and play the faculty and win and it’s just become a big event for us over the years,” Co-DECA Advisor Melissa Trochim said. Trochim believes the seniors have a good chance of beating the faculty this year despite the faculties consecutive winning streak. “We would love for our seniors to beat the faculty at one point,” Trochim said. “It would be fun to see, and every year it gets closer and closer as the faculty gets older and older.” (brief by Aly Doty)
Nov. 6 Deadlines for registering for the Dec. 12 ACT test will be closed. If students do not register by this date, they can pay a late fee to take the test after that still. Students can register for this test by going to www.act.com. Scores will be posted 3-8 weeks after taking the test. This is one of the last dates that high school seniors can take the ACT to apply for college applications.
Nov. 12
Nov. 16
The Lewis and Clark prospective student night will be held at Lewis and Clark Career Center on Nov. 12. Anyone who is interested in entering into the Lewis and Clark program for the next school year should attend in order to receive more information about the classes that are offered through Lewis and Clark and to learn about ways it could help students get into college for there career path.
The A+ second semester Program meeting for tutoring info will be held at 2:30 p.m. in the FHN auditorium. At this meeting, information will be given out about the different ways students in the program can earn their 50 A+ volunteer hours, which include tutoring students at elementary schools including Henderson and Becky David and volunteering to help at Vacation Station.
Nov. 10 & 17 The Counselor Parent Outreach Program will be taking place with conselors Jennifer Schwarz, Lisa Woodrum and Mary KerrGrant from 4-7 p.m. Parent Outreach is when FHN guidance counselors stay after school to meet with any parents who wish to discuss a wide variety of topics such as student information and college information.
FHNTODAY.COM
PAGE BY ETHAN SLAUGHTER
11.04.15
2
Superindendant Pam Sloan sits at her desk in her office at the Administration Building located behind Henderson Elementary and next to Hollenbeck middle school. (Submitted Photo)
Superintendent Says Farewell This year, FHSD is losing their superintendent, Pam Sloan, after years of service BY ZOE LAWSON zkl131@gmail.com • @zkl131
3
FHNTODAY.COM PAGE BY ALY DOTY
11.04.15
Every school year brings change, but some years usher in more than others. This school year has brought about a new budget for FHSD, a new principal for FHN, and a new tax for the community. Perhaps the most significant change of all isn’t what has come in, but rather what’s going out. Earlier on, FHSD Superintendent Pam Sloan announced her plans to retire the the end of the 2016 school year. “I would say [Dr. Sloan’s biggest impact on FHSD has been] bringing the district up to be a formidable force,” School Board Member Amy McEvoy said. “Being kind of out there on the forefront of just getting things done in terms of our scores, our athletics. It just feels like everything, our climate in our buildings, our staff’s dedication to learning new things and bringing up our standards has improved with Dr. Sloan. She created an atmosphere where all of that was possible and I think that’s going to be her biggest legacy.” Sloan’s announcement has brought about discussion as to what kind of person the school board is looking for to fill the vacant seat. The
process of choosing a new superintendent is extensive. The school board is currently looking into whether or not they will hire a consulting firm to assist them in the search process. This firm’s job, if hired, would be to take a description compiled by the members of the School Board of their ideal candidate and find applicants fitting their criteria. For School Board Member Rene Cope, it is important that the new superintendent have a wide worldview to prepare students for their futures. “It’s important that they understand the idea of a global economy and global competition for our students and the careers that will be available in the future,” Cope said. “They need to be able to help us make sure that all of our students are college and career ready. Looking at our curriculum and making sure we’re transferring that knowledge well. I also think we need someone that’s involved in the community, talking with citizens and students and taxpayers. They need to involve themselves in the community and become a part of the community, which I think Dr.
HOW TO:
Become a Superintendent Step 1: In order to be a superintendent of almost any school district, you first have to earn your doctorate, generally in education. Without a doctorate, you can’t be considered for the position. It is also necessary to earn a superintendent’s certificate which signals you have taken mesaures to learn how to be an effective leader in education.
Step 2: Dr. Sloan stands for a photo with FHSD’s school board. Dr.Sloan has been working for FHSD for 23 years. (Photo courtesy of FHSD)
While it’s not technically a concrete requirement, being up to date on current educational research and ideas, or even having research published, can make you a more appealing candidate. School districts want to know the person they are hiring understands the ins-and-outs of education at all levels.
Step 3:
Dr.Sloan receives an award from Mr. Marty Hodits during a meeting to say farewell to Hodits. (Photo courtesy of FHSD)
Now comes actually applying for the job. The exact requirements will vary from district to district, but all generally require an extensive resume and want applicants that have held positions in their field, and demonstrate dedication to education through membership with professional organizations and past job experience.
Step 4: Sloan did very well.” Other school board members, including McEvoy are more concerned with the actual operations of the district as a whole, and want a candidate who will be focused on the everyday business of FHSD. “I would like to think that we’ll look at maybe some professional organizations that they belong to, how well read are they, what professional development have they done themselves for themselves to get where they’re at,” McEvoy said. “I think you can tell a lot about a person with that because you can tell what direction, what line of thinking they have. It shows what they’re going to be more inclined to think about or to worry about on a day-to-day basis.” After finding a pool of candidates from which to draw, the school board compiles an interview committee made up of community members, teachers, and other individuals with an interest in the future of the district. They interview all candidates extensively. The interview committee then selects a smaller group of top candidates from the results of those interviews, and interviews the smaller group for a second time. The field is then narrowed again, and more interviews are conducted. The pool continues to shrink until two
final candidates remain, who are interviewed one final time before one is elected to become FHSD’s new superintendent. While many individuals sit on the interview committee and are involved in the interview process, it is ultimately up to the Board’s discretion to choose the candidate who becomes superintendent, and the person they think will be the best fit for FHSD in the years to come. “It’s the most important decision that we make, so there’s a lot of pressure to make sure we make the right one,” School Board Member Cynthia Bice said. “The decision we make about who to hire is going to shape the future of the district for decades, and so we really don’t want to mess that up.” Overall, it’s still unclear what impact Sloan’s retirement will have on the district, but it is clear there will be one, and that picking a suitable replacement will not be easy for the school board. “It’s hard to say what the changes will be until we know who the new leader is going to be and the focus and direction of that new leader,” Bice said. “Dr. Sloan will be greatly missed, so whoever it is, they’ve got some pretty large shoes to fill.”
After meeting all necessary requirements and actually applying for the position, you will need to meet with a panel of individuals selected by the school board for an interview.
Step 5: After the first round of interviews, the school board and panel narrows the field. They select the individuals they believed were the most promising candidates and select a smaller group to return for another round of interviews. The school board then repeats this process as many times as they feel necessary until they’ve narrowed the field down to to two candidates. If you’ve made it this far, you juat have to come out on top during your final interview, then, you are the new superintendent.
FHNTODAY.COM PAGE BY ALY DOTY
11.04.15
4
TOP
TWEETS
Want to see your tweet here? Tag tweets about school with
#FHNnews
@hannawillerton
@LittleLevins
Eating ice cream in my car before I walk into school bc its Monday & I already can’t deal.#TooEarly #WithIceCreamICanDeal
I’m already starting to fall asleep and its only 6:13.Ok goodnight. Kaleigh Levins
Hannah Willerton
Transgender Awareness Week for Equality People take part in Transgender Awareness Week this November to shed light on problems transgender people face BY CAROLYNN GONZALEZ
transgender. According to Mary Kerr-Grant, counselor and sponsor of GSA, informing society about the Transgender people and advocates transgender community and the will come together on Nov. 14 problems they face will help take away through 20 to celebrate Transgender the stigma that surrounds transgender Awareness Week. This week is people. dedicated to supporting transgender “It’s okay to not fully understand, people everywhere, raising visibility but you still have the responsibility to of transgender people and educating not harass people different from you,” the public on this topic. The entire Kerr-Grant said. “Sometimes it’s hard week leads up to the last day, Nov to grasp even if your heart is open.” 20, which is known as Transgender Educating others, attending Day of Remembrance, a day founded festivals and wearing the colors of by transgender advocate Gwendolyn the transgender flag are some of the Ann Smith, to honor those of the many ways people can and do support transgender community who were lost the transgender community on a daily to acts of violence for basis and celebrate being themselves. Transgender A transgender person is “I believe that a Awareness Week. main struggle of Representation someone who identifies transgender individuals of transgender with a different gender is lack of knowledge,” people and other than they were assigned senior and president minorities in the at birth. of Gay Straight Alliance media is also Club (GSA) Madi Bowen, very important, said. “Many people, according to Stoker. even many young people who are “I think in recent time with people otherwise very knowledgeable, know like Caitlyn Jenner, Gigi Gorgeous, Chaz little about the subject and have little Bono and shows like Transparent, understanding of it.” representation has increased,” Stoker GSA meets on Thursdays where they said. “However, there is still a lacking support each other and learn about of representation and I would love to and discuss sexuality and gendersee that changed.” related issues that some experience Though GSA has yet to decide on a daily basis. what they will do for Transgender “Your gender is how you identify, not Awareness Week, it is certain that exactly what you were born as, which something to bring about awareness is something many people confuse,” will be planned. Also, GSA plans to senior Andrew Stoker said. “The inform the student body with an majority of the time, they do match assembly on transgender people this up, but for others they don’t and that’s spring. perfectly okay.” “It would be nice to help spread Transgender people, especially awareness of the issue or even just transgender women and transgender simply be kind,” Bowen said. “I think people of color, are often the victims it’s a good time to bring awareness to of violence, harassment and isolation the topic and spread information about from society and their families it so that it is not such a foreign topic because of their decision to become to everyone.” carolynnnn.182@gmail.com
5
FHNTODAY.COM PAGE BY CAROLYNN GONZALEZ
11.04.15
51% of transgender youth think about suicide More than HALF of LGBT homicide rates (2013) were transgender women of color
30% of transgender youth have attempted suicide
AT LEAST ONCE 36 STATES lack laws that protect
transgender students from harassment, expulsion and assault
65% of transgender people faced
discrimination in the last year regarding public accommodation (eg: using desired restroom) Transgender people are poverty
4x more likely to live in
Source: http://www.medpagetoday.com/Pediatrics/GeneralPediatrics/52711 http://www.glaad.org/blog/5-most-unsettling-realities-americas-trans-community
@Emmalee78
@1guyfierifan
@little_mac3
@Blake_Lodde7
Shout out to the best friend for giving me her Mountain Dew at lunch today! That made my day! @carly_rauth
god bless willott and god bless test corrections
it’s all fun and games until you drop your phone in the toilet :/
Finished the season with over 400 yards receiving đ&#x;‘Œ
Ashley Mcllroy
Abby Wurm
Emmalee Oakley
Blake Lodde
Operation Cooperation FHN introduces Kagan learning principles and begins emphasizing cooperative learning tactics in the classroom BY CLAIRE BOENITZ claire.boenitz@gmail.com
Seniors Alex Rastor and Rachel Juhlin are assigned to sit togteher in AP lit by Shelly Parks. Rastor and Juhlin talk about topics in common in order to work together easily. (Photo by Abby Temper)
In Shelly Parks’ fifth hour AP Literature class, students buzz with discussion in clusters of four - some intensely debating the theme of a poem, others quietly agreeing on a title. As they work together, Parks sits in the back of class at her computer, occasionally piping up to remind students of the time limits on their discussions. “I think [cooperative learning] has lots of benefits,� associate principal Katie Greer said. “I think that students talking about the material stimulates more ideas as opposed to a teacher just talking at a class.� Bringing cooperative learning, also referred to as Kagan, into classes introduced ways to get students to work together and be productive. This new approach was called for by a number of teachers in a survey released by the professional development committee. Certain teachers, like Parks, have rearranged their students’ desks into a Kagan structure that aims to promote teamwork that benefits all students in the class. “We do so much with teams that you have to be strategic about it,� Parks said. “If I’m not doing that, it’s not that we’re never going to do group work, but I’m
going to say, like, my four closest kids, turn your desks toward each other, and it’s not systematic.� Teachers who implement cooperative learning also tend to lecture less than those who use classic methods, and emphasize Kagan activities such as QuizQuiz-Trade, RallyCoach, and RoundRobin discussions, which facilitate interaction between students. “In most circumstances, it makes classes easier,� junior Amy Wedewer said. “Whenever group work is assigned, we divide it up pretty evenly. But, and I mostly speak on the behalf of honors students, kids typically like to work on their own. With Kagan structure, kids that are high level may get pulled down.� Teachers and students alike hold mixed opinions on cooperative learning strategies. Some students feel that their ability to work effectively has been hindered. Others question how these learning strategies can possibly cognitively engage all students. However, both Parks and Greer report positive feedback from fellow staff members. “I think that kids are held way more accountable and that they are learning way more in my classes than they have in the past,� Parks said. “We’re implementing structures to ensure that, essentially, 100 percent of students are accountable 100 percent of the time.�
Marching Band Season Ends BY MICHAL BASFORD michal.basford13@gmail.com
Last year, marching band had 64 members, but this year, the size of the band had increased by 20 members. Throughout this season, marching band has been to various competitions statewide and one in Tennessee. From placing third in their first week of competition, the week of Sept. 12, they placed second in class in preliminaries and second overall in finals on Oct. 24 at the Francis Howell Competition. They’ve taken places from second overall to fourteenth overall, from third in preliminaries to second in class. They competed against other schools such as Ft. Zumwalt North, Lafayette and Belleville East. “I feel like this group is really maximizing their potential,� Band Director Jeff Moorman said. “It is a younger group, but overall, this group has really shown that they can push through a lot of adversity whether that’s harder drill or harder music to overcome and really place well against other groups that are doing a lot easier drill and music. We’re here to entertain, not just win a trophy which makes us way different from everybody else.�
Latest Band Competitions
Sep. 26
At the Lafayette Contest, the Knightpride marching band placed second in class for preliminaries and second overall for finals. The event took place at Lafayette.
Oct. 3
At the Ft. Zumwalt North Competition, FHN placed third in preliminaries and fourth overall. The event took place at Ft. Zumwalt North.
Oct. 10
Music in Motion, held at FHN, was not a competition. However, they did an exhibition performance. Six marching bands were present, excluding FHN, for the event.
Oct. 24
At Howell for the Francis Howell Competition, FHN placed second in class for preliminaries and second overall. Bands from Parkway South, Winfield, Collinsville, St. Francis Borgia, Washington, Marquette, St. Charles, Lafayette and Seckman were present at the competition.
FHNTODAY.COM PAGE BY SASHA KAGANOV
11.04.15
6
5 Years of Learning a Language Senior Will Stephens has only been living in America since 2010 but has become accustomed to American culture BY BENNETT SMALLWOOD
smallwood.bennett@gmail.com @bsmallwood20
Many students move from school to school, town to town, or even state to state. One parent may get a different job, resulting in an unexpected and scary adventure to a new town, with new people and a new atmosphere. But a transfer like this may only be a transfer of a mere 20 miles from the family’s old house. For Senior Will Stephens and his family, who moved about 6,600 miles back in 2010 from Seoul, Korea, this was not the case. Will had much more on his plate than any average new kid at school on their first day. Everything changed for him the first day he came to an American middle school with a Korean background. Everything was different to him. This ranged from the social behaviors to the food and the official language of the U.S. itself. “It’s just a process,” Will’s father Tom Stephens said. “There were so many things that were so different. The language, the customs, the food. Everything was wonderful but just a little scary.” Will’s first surprise about the social behavior of Americans was when he noticed a 6th grader call an 8th grader, or an elder, by their first name. In Korea, this is considered very disrespectful because it is not formal to address someone older than oneself by name. While this may be overlooked by an average student here in Missouri, the little things in conversation were hard to get used to for Will. Names weren’t the only difference. When Will arrived for lunch for the first time at school he was shocked by the lunches that were being served to students. According to Will, the food does not have the same quality as the school lunches he ate everyday back home. While he has become accustomed to the local restaurants and other American foods, he still enjoys traditional Korean meals. However, one of the biggest problems for Will was not the American culture but the English language. Before Will came state side he attended an international school where students from other countries including France, Israel, America, Korea and the Philippines. While at this international school, Will did not learn English as well as he could have learned it elsewhere because of all the diverse cultures in one setting. “It was very difficult to learn when you have so many people from different countries and different backgrounds learning in the same classroom,” Tom said. “They taught words but didn’t teach sentences very well. The school didn’t do a very good job as he didn’t know any English when he got here.” Will’s English has been progressing ever since and today he is currently enrolled in 6 AP classes. AP classes take a lot of critical thinking and definitely requires one to speak fluently. While he does slip up in conversations and writing every once in awhile, he is still proud of how far he has come in the five years he has been here. Currently, he has been wanting to get more involved in the school his senior year
Senior Will Stephens stands over a table full of traditional Asian food; the foods on the table include sushi and different types of noodles. Some popular dishes are sweet and sour pork and dumplings. (Photo by Kyra Peper)
by joining the tennis team and attending school events. He couldn’t have gotten to where he was without hopping the language barrier that loomed over him before. “I wish I kind of started learning English earlier,” Will said. “It’s one of the hardest languages. I’m still dissatisfied with all the errors in my social life and in school. Learning things at an older age is hard. When you are young you can consume knowledge easier. But from where I’ve come, I’ve gotten very far.”
Restoring an Old Dream Having a love for older vehicles since his childhood, junior Zach Hoffman now has his own historic car to drive BY ETHAN SLAUGHTER ethanslaughter0@gmail.com
When getting a car, most people would prefer to have a new one. That’s not the case for junior Zach Hoffman, whose car is 43 years older than him. In March 2015, when Zach turned 16, he began the search for his car. When he was looking for a car he knew that he wanted an older one rather than a newer one. He had his mind set on an older car because he has had an interest in them since he was a little kid. His dad knew someone who had a green 1956 Ford Fairlane that was sitting in his shed for the past several years. After talking to him about selling the car they decided that they would buy it for $2,500. To get the car home they had to put the car on a trailer and drive it back. “He was very excited to get the car,” Zach’s mother
9
FHNTODAY.COM PAGE BY NOAH SLAUGHTER
11.04.15
Junior Zach Hoffman stands next to his 1956 Ford Fairlane. Hoffman got his car when he turned 16. (Photo by Alex Lane)
Lynette Hoffman said. ”The first thing he did when he got it was go look under the car. He was under there for so long it was like he fell asleep.” They didn’t have time to start fixing the car until
later that year in May. The car needed a new gas tank, brake lines and white wall tires. To get the parts they went to AutoZone and ordered parts from a catalog called Concours Parts. When the parts came in Zach brought them into his garage where the car was kept. Zach and his dad worked on the car about once a month or whenever they got the chance to in their garage. “He’s pretty sharp, you tell him one thing and he learns it, so it’s a lot of fun working on it with him,” Zach’s father Craig Hoffman said. They’ve spent about a total of 30 hours repairing the car. The car is now drivable, but it’s still in need of a few minor repairs. Zach plans to drive it as his own when it’s fully complete. “I knew a little about cars before but not as much as I do now, and I learned about how the brakes go together and how the engine works,” Zach said.
Ices Plain and Fancy is owned by Darla Crask. “We opened July 20 of last year, so little over a year ago,” Crask said. Ices Plain and Fancy is located at 2263 S. 39th St., St. Louis, MO, 633110.
Owner of Ices Plain and Fancy, Darla Crask, refills the nitrogen pitchers in her shop. “We get our nitrogen tanks delivered once a day,” Crask said. “We go through at least a 160 liter tank a day. We get it through a medical gas company. The supplier is shocked at how much we go through.” (Photos by Madi Graves)
Ices Plain and Fancy With an immense amount of success and popularity, business has boomed for the local liquid nitrogen ice cream store in the Saint Louis area after opening on July 19th 2014, which is National Ice Cream Day BY SASHA KAGANOV sashakaganov17@gmail.com
@sashakag
Located near the Botanical Gardens and Tower Grove, Ices Plain and Fancy is currently one of the best rated ice cream shops in town. With over a dozen flavors to choose from and a vibrant atmosphere that adds life and color to the shop, one of Ices’ greatest goals is to satisfy their customers. With the classic nostalgic taste of mint chip being the most successful flavor this season, the business continues to thrive by “bringing a little fun and a science experiment into the flavors,” making it a different experience than most dessert shops. “I feel that Ices is different from other ice cream places because we do have unique flavors that I think really excite people,” manager of Ices Plain and Fancy Sierra Neighbors said. “We use premium ingredients and hire people that have a very welcoming and warm personality.” Ices, of course, includes what every typical ice cream store contains. The ice cream, the numerous flavors, toppings and the menu with what seems like limitless flavors. But there’s a twist. The products are not produced or created like the rest of the ice cream businesses in the Saint Louis area. Ices uses one of the most unique methods in creating the ice cream, giving it a richer and more indulgent taste.
“We start off with our base of ice cream. Vanilla, chocolate or dulce,” Neighbors said. “Then, we will add all of the ingredients to the ice cream to make its own flavor. We will then throw it onto a mixer and flash turn it into liquid nitrogen.” There are multiple differences between store bought and liquid nitrogen ice cream. Not only is it more efficient to make with the process of liquid nitrogen, which takes seconds to make versus the thirty-to-forty five minute process of regular ice cream, the dessert itself is smoother in texture, creamier and richer because of the decrease in ice crystals that are created by liquid nitrogen. “We are the only place in Saint Louis doing the liquid nitrogen method,” owner Carla Crask said. “We are not the typical Froyo, top it off with whatever you want. We try to balance everything out and it comes out the way it comes out.” After opening on National Ice Cream day, July 20, 2014, business grew rapidly. With a near perfect review on Yelp, Zomato, Facebook and Google, customers continue to return because of the distinct flavor, atmosphere and warmth that Ices provides. Ices has become a well known dessert shop to the Saint Louis public this past year, and customers hope it will continue to thrive for years to come. “Ices is the best ice cream place I have ever been to,” junior Brianna Faupel said. “I have brought all of my friends here and it has become our favorite place to go on the weekends.”
FHNTODAY.COM
PAGE BY ERIN LEVINS
11.04.15
10
What’s Your Favorite Part of Thanksgiving?
LIGHT UP THANKSGIVING Add a little color to Thanksgiving dinner by making do-it-yourself fall candle holders
“The food because I love food.” Maggie Cox, 10
“My favorite part about Thanksgiving is sitting at a table with all my cousins, who I haven’t seen, and making jokes about our parents.” Ashley Askew, 11
DIY FALL CANDLE HOLDERS Description: Impress guests by making vibrant colored fall candle holders to decorate the house for fall and Thanksgiving. The do-it-yourself craft will take minimal time, costs little, and can be done with the family for fun. Just follow a few simple steps and then spruce up the house. Materials: • Candle(s) • Glass candle holder(s) • Array of dried leaves • Spray adhesive
“Family, because I don’t get to see them often and it is nice to catch up.” Leah Chaney, 10
11
FHNTODAY.COM PAGE BY MCKAYLA BOGDA
11.04.15
Instructions: Collect all the materials listed above. Read the instructions of the adhesive spray, instructions vary. Administer the adhesive spray unto the jar, wait a minute or two, then add a few leaves at a time, onto the outside of the candle holders. Place as many leaves on as needed, make sure the stem continues past the bottom of the jar. Continue with this process until there are leaves all around the outside of the candle holder. Once completed cut the overhang off of the leaves. Now add the candle inside and decorate.
Not Shaving For A Purpose With ‘No Shave November’ kicking off, find out why it sarted and how it blossomed into a world-wide phenomenon BY ANTHONY KRISTENSEN anthon.kristensen17@gmail.com
Walking down the halls, they feel no shame. People look at their faces that they haven’t shaved in weeks, but they feel triumph, not embarrassment. Senior Jake Beckmann, freshman Caleb Shannon and thousands of others spend their November every year participating in the annual ‘No Shave November,’ Yet many of them never stopped to wonder why they do. Little do many of them know, No Shave November is a tool to spread awareness about cancer. According to ABC News, it is encouraged that whatever the participant spends on hair care and grooming in a month they donate to the American Cancer Society. “[No Shave November] gives me an excuse to not shave,” Beckmann said. “[Shaving is] kinda long and you have to do it kinda often.” No Shave November, also known as ‘Movember,’ was started in 2004 in Australia and New Zealand. The original purpose of No Shave November was to raise awareness of numerous men’s health issues, such as depression and prostate cancer. It has since progressed into a movement to raise
awareness of all cancers. The official description of the movement “is to grow awareness by embracing our hair, which many cancer patients lose, letting it grow wild and free” according to noshave.org. The movement had started in Australia and New Zealand and then moved to the rest of the world in 2007. “It’s good to spread awareness [about cancer],” Shannon said. “People need to know the effects cancer has on the people who get it.” The most common form of cancer is lung cancer, which widely caused by smoking tobacco. Lung cancer, according to the World Cancer Research Fund, accounts for 17 percent of all diagnoses of cancer. Combining that with the other top two diagnosed forms of cancer, prostate and colorectal, they attribute to about 42 percent of all diagnoses of cancer, excluding non-melanoma skin cancer. According to cancer.org, in the U.S., about 50 percent of all men develop cancer in their lifetime, along with about one third of all women. Also, according to cancer.org, there are about 14.5 million people living in the U.S. that have had or still have cancer. “I think a major contributory factor [to the
rise of cancer diagnoses] is our lifestyle,” nurse practitioner Jill Caruso said. “By lifestyle, I am referring to diet, exercise, and stress.” The more people that participate in No Shave November, it seems the less people know what the purpose of it is. The purpose is to put down the razor for a month, raise awareness of the deadly cancers that impact millions of lives and to raise money for different hospitals and organizations, such as the American Cancer Society and St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, that look for the cure to this deadly disease. As the push for a cure to cancer grows larger with time, there is a growing hope that the cure is soon to be discovered. “I feel like doctors have the tools to better find and diagnose cancer now than they did in previous generations,” Caruso said. “I don’t think cancer is looked at like a death sentence like it maybe used to be. Obviously, people still die from cancer, but with increased awareness of things like diet and exercise and also improvements in diagnosis and treatment, hopefully we will see better outcomes. Of course, medicine is ever-evolving, and new treatments are always surfacing, so hopefully we will someday see a cure for cancer.”
FHNTODAY.COM PAGE BY KARIS SKAGGS
11.04.15
12
Sweater Weather As the weather gets colder, the styles get bolder
Sweaters are a fashion staple that just about everyone has in their closet in some form. There are dozens of styles and materials from cable knit to cashmere. The basic types are cardigans, pullovers, turtlenecks and v-necks. One of junior Meagan Dulaney’s favorites is her leopard print sweater with studded shoulders. “It pairs really well with my studded leggings,” Dulany said. Dulany receives almost all of her sweaters as hand-me-downs, so much so that she can’t remember the last time she bought one herself. “Sweaters are great from your sisters, your friends, your friends sisters, and your sisters friends,” Dulaney said. Sweaters have been a part of fashion since the 1920s when Jeanne Lanvin and Gabrielle (“Coco”) Chanel put some sweaters in their collections. The fashion became even more popular when Lana Turner wore a tight sweater in “They Won’t Forget” in 1937. While it was during the 1930s that the knitted shirts started becoming popular the wearing of sweaters started prior to becoming a fashion statement. During the 15th century the wives of fishermen in the English Channel islands knitted shirts out of natural wool for their husbands to wear out at sea. This was primarily because wool retains natural oils that helped to protect sailors against the elements even when wet. The use continued throughout Europe among working men and then was utilized by American athletes as sportswear. “I just think they’re really really nice and comfy to wear,” Dulaney said.
11
FHNTODAY.COM PAGE BY SAMI SCHMID
STORY BY SAMI SCHMID, PHOTOS BY ASHTON STEGMAN
11.04.15 Junior Meagan Dulaney poses in her Leopard print sweater.
These Days In History 2001
With 365 days in a year, each day represents an important milestone or day marked in history from birthdays to declaring wars
November 4 In 2001,“Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” had its world premiere in London. Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint hit the red carpet for the beginning of their careers.
In 2008, Barack Obama won the 44th presidential election against John McCain. Obama won the presidential election by 338 versus 161 electoral votes against McCain.
In 2010, the five members of the Backstreet Boys performed on “Oprah.” It was the first time they had performed together since 2006. Their most well known song is “Bye Bye Bye.” Hedwig the owl and the Elder Wand from the Harry Potter Series.
1935
CLICK
Looking for anyday in history? Follow this link http://goo.gl/vfEHNa to learn more about different history.
2010
November 5
In 1935, the game “Monopoly” was introduced to the public by the Parker Brothers Company. This game is a family favorite using strategies such as buying and trading.
The Racecar and Thimble Game Pieces from the game Monopoly.
2008
In 1955, a popular reality-TV star known as Kris Jenner was born in San Diego, California. She is now 59-years-old. She is the mother of all the Kardashian and Jenner sisters.
1955
In 1977, Ozzy Osbourne quit his band Black Sabbath. He joined a few weeks later to pursue a solo career. Ozzy Osbourne is known for his many songs including “Crazy Train” and “Iron Man.”
1977
November 6
1897
In 1897, “Peter Pan” opened in New York at the Empire Theater for the First Time. Peter Pan, or the boy who would never grow up, then became a Disney movie 56-years later in 1953.
The acclaimed Peter Pan movie that got its fame in 1953.
In 1988, a popular comedic movie star Emma Stone was born. She is now 26-years-old. She has starred in movies including “Easy A” and “Zombieland”
In 2001, Britney Spears album “Britney” debuted in the U.S., Canada, and Japan. Britney started her career when she was 11-yearsold starring on the “All Star Mickey Mouse Club.”
1988
2001
FHNTODAY.COM PAGE BY JAMIE HETLAGE
11.04.15
14
Jammin’ in the Halls Kenneth Willis is part of a group of students that play music during passing period BY BREE WILLIAMS williamsbreighen@gmail.com
Senior Anthony Lupo checks out a customer during his shift at Michael Kors at the St. Louis Premium Outlets. Lupo has been working at Michael Kors for about three months. “I love interacting with the customers,” Lupo said. (Photo by Alyssa Savage)
America: Choosing Big Deals Over Family Time Employees in retail stores race for the largest sales day of the year BY CHASE MEYER
stlavjournalist@gmail.com • @AvJournalist
As the holiday season approaches, many families throughout not only the St. Louis area, but the country, will begin planning for the biggest shopping day of the year. While consumers are faced with the decision to take part in traditional Thanksgiving celebrations, employees of many national retail stores including Macy’s, Wal-Mart and Sears, along with many smaller, local companies have no choice but to report for their shifts. “I’m extremely excited to work Black Friday because of all the chaos,” said Michael Kors employee Anthony Lupo. “Even though there’s masses of people, it’s still fun.” It’s 9 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. While some are finishing up dinner with their loved ones, others are looking to purchase the latest, greatest half-off gadgets, toys and clothes to use as Christmas presents are already crowding around the door, anxiously waiting to get inside. Employees wade through the herd of people to, hopefully, clock-in on time. “As you’re wrapping up Thanksgiving dinner, I’m getting up to head in and prepare for the biggest day of the year,” Alex Penny, assistant manager at OfficeMax in Wentzville, said. FHN senior and Plato’s Closet employee Madison
17
FHNTODAY.COM PAGE BY ALY DOTY
11.04.15
Harris doesn’t mind working her long Black Friday shift. Along with stocking shelves, hanging up clothes and cleaning up after customers, Harris will interact with many more people than she would in a regular shift. “I love being face-to-face with people,” Harris said. “It’ll be more fast-paced than usual and that’s what I really like about working on busy days such as Black Friday. After a while, it does get a little tiring.” In a petition on Change.org against opening outside of regular hours on Black Friday, one user who identifies themselves as “C M” writes how a corporation that opens early now should lead the way in returning to normal hours on Black Friday. “What bothers me is how the entire idea of Black Friday has changed from a few nice after-holiday sales, to mobs of people camping out at wee-hours of the morning, salespeople worked to the bone and companies scrambling to one-up each other so they can get the most of the feeding frenzy,” the user said. “The sad irony of it all is that this day of utmost need and greed comes after the holiday that’s meant to take the time to reflect on what we have, to be thankful for it, and to enjoy times with our families.” But as another year passes, they spring to their cars, to their ignition give a crank and away they all drive like the down of a thistle. Of course, with their trunks bulging with all their new gadgets and toys to wrap up and give away at Christmas.
Walking down the full halls of FHN, senior Kenneth Willis, plays music from his backpack. A small speaker shoots out lyrics into the crowded butterfly hallway during passing period. Some students crack a small smile as they pass, while others roll their eyes and keep walking. The negative reactions don’t stop Willis from playing the music he loves and enjoys broadcasting. “I feel like a god walking down the hall,” Willis said. “It feels good.” While Willis loves playing his music, the school may have a few issues with it. FHN has not received any formal complaints from parents, teachers, staff, or students to the office about the music or its content yet. The school does not have a specific policy prohibiting music played in the halls, but according to the school’s code of conduct, playing music in the halls falls under the category of electronic device misuse. If something inappropriate is played, then the student could be disciplined for being profane. Depending on the offense, it will determine the course of action against the student or group of students. “They are broadcasting to other people,” head Principal Andrew Downs said. “We are not sure what their musical choice is and if it’s school appropriate. They would be asked very nicely to turn it off.” Willis is part of a small group of students who play music in the hall in between classes. Willis plays mostly hip hop music from a Bose mini speaker in one of his backpack pouches. He hopes to make people’s day better by playing the music he enjoys around the school. “I see people walking around the halls looking sad and down,” Willis said. “I play a song that could hopefully lift them up.” While some students and staff at FHN like the music, other members of the student body do not like the genre being played. A number of students, like sophomore Gaby Fitch, agree that’s it’s a distraction for classes in session during lunch. “I think it’s a bit distracting when someone just starts blaring music,” Fitch said. “If I hear music, I start to wonder where it’s coming from, what it is, and it’s a really catchy beat.”
the perks of being a doodler
Doodling and learning go surprisingly well together when people engage in the two at the same time. BY RILEY KAMPFF kampffriley@gmail.com
Whenever people see sophomore Al Saker, people always spot her sketchbook and pen in one hand and all of her other art supplies in the other. Whether it is in the halls, in class or in the commons, her creativity is as active as the city that never sleeps. “I basically just draw anything and everything I possibly can, I feel like it helps me very much in class,” Saker said. The older students get, the more they are told to not doodle on papers and practically grow out of the habit of creating the coolest princess-ninja on history notes. But recent studies have shown that doodling actually increases the amount of brain activity in students while listening to a lecture or just any audible information in class, and can even become a helpful tool in the classroom. Saker completely agrees with the psychological conclusions behind the concept of doodling. “What it provides is focus for the mind because it’s hard for us to just listen,” psychology teacher Sean Fowler said. “You’re less likely to daydream. Even though it looks like a visual representation of a daydream, it often keeps you more
cognitively engaged. It also provides another part of your mind to synthesize what comes in and bring together ideas, you make the connection with what you were doodling and what you were listening to at that time.” Saker has experienced the advantage of doodling and learning at the same time. She has an abundance of notebooks filled to the brim with original characters but still has a focused mind to go along with it. Friends and classmates agree that Saker can doodle or sketch on any medium with any writing utensil and make something fantastic. “Her art style is beautiful and elegant,” friend of Saker sophomore Savannah Rose said. “She can draw almost anything and make it look pretty.” Saker has been doodling and drawing ever since she can remember. Inspiration for Saker has also come from the iconic illustrator Dr.Seuss. She has also adopted different skills and styles such as animation, from when she lived in China for some time in the past. “I’ve learned that life is like drawing,” Saker said. “If you change only a little bit, you can make it or break it.”
FHNTODAY.COM PAGE BY ERIKA PAAR
11.04.15
18
1
Man to Maintain it All
Stan Robertson, who works at FHN, Henderson and Early Childhood, is FHN’s only full-time maintenance man this year and is responsible for repairs at FHN as well as work orders from the other two schools
BY KYLIE MOSER kylie.moser@gmail.com
This year, FHN only has one man full-time to take care of all maintenance issues within the school as opposed to the two men the school has had previously. That one man is Stan Robertson. Robertson started working at FHN the first of the summer, and, in addition to maintaining North, is the only maintenance worker at Henderson and Early Childhood as well. Despite divided time between two other schools, FHN is top priority. “I stay here as much as I can because this school is the biggest,” Robertson said. Robertson works at FHN from 6 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. every weekday. He generally hits Henderson a couple times a week and goes to Early Childhood as work orders are put in for his assistance. Robertson is responsible for many tasks including replacing floor and ceiling tiles, changing light bulbs, hanging pictures, fixing plumbing, assembling desks and chairs and a variety of other repairs. When someone has an issue, they fill out a work order form online, which communicates the issue to Robertson. He will then fix the problem as quickly and efficiently as possible and mark off the task as it is completed. He also takes initiative to record any issues he finds himself in a notepad he keeps with him at all times. “I carry a notepad with me, if I find something that needs to be done, I write it down,” Robertson said. “Then I create my own work order.” According to the district, the reduction of maintenance workers at North was not a result of budget cuts. “The reason for going from two maintenance guys to one [is] we’ve had some new people in the leadership of the maintenance department and I think what has just really happened is some restructuring of duties,” said Mike Janes, the overseer of the maintenance department at FHN. Despite having less people working full-time in the school, help is always available when it is needed through the new system. If there is an issue that requires more assistance, extra help can be requested through the work-order system. “With the new system, when we can call ahead if we need extra people, it actually works out well because we would usually have two people here and now if we have a bigger thing we can actually maybe get three or four people here,” Janes said. “I think just restructuring that with needs, you know, probably helps out not just our building, but all the buildings around the district.” Robertson manages to have repairs completed within about the same amount of time as when two workers were present. Maintaining the entire school is not an easy task, in such a large and aging building. “These buildings are getting older, so they need more maintaining and more attention.” Robertson said. Even though Robertson has only begun working FHN this year, he is already known for his hard work and dedication to his job. “I think it is just so nice to have someone who is kind and always willing to help,” Diane Holmes, a teacher at FHN said.
19
FHNTODAY.COM PAGE BY KYLIE MOSER
11.04.15
Maintenance man Stan Robertson fixes a light in the bottom level of the school during second hour. (Photo by Jessie Define)
Watts paints a piece he calls “Self-Reflection” in his home studio. He not only paints at school but has his own studio in his basement. “ I like having somewhere I can go at anytime and just paint,” Watts said
Tommy Watts : Artist Senior Tommy Watts, has been painting abstract art for two years. “I became involved in art to relieve stress mostly and because it’s therapeutic for me. It’s always been just natural to me,” Watts said. He mainly paints abstract art and on occasion does ceramics. Watts is currently in three art class : AP studio, Painting and Sculpture. Watts has taken seven art classes. “My favorite class is AP studio because you’re really allowed to do anything you want. You’re allowed to experiment and see different styles. Really just do what you want,” Watts said. He has a deep bond with his AP art studio teacher Mandy Knight. “ I like having Tommy in class because he’s very hard-working and he’s always willing to try new things. He’s very dedicated to all of his artwork. I love all his abstract work,” Knight said. (Photo story by Madi Graves)
Watts paints on a blankœ poster board in his home studio. “My studio is just a quiet place for me to relax,” Watts said. He is in his studio for at least three hours a day.
FHNTODAY.COM PAGE BY RILEY MCCRACKIN
11.04.15
20
Watts holds an artist’s palette. A palette is a rigid, flat surface on which a painter arranges and mixes paints. He uses a palette so that all of his colors are easy to access.
21
FHNTODAY.COM PAGE BY RILEY MCCRACKIN
11.04.15
Watts spreads paint around a canvas with his hands. Watts likes to switch between different methods of painting from using brushes to using his hands. “ I feel like I have more control over a piece when I use my hands but sometimes a brush is necessary,” Watts said.
Watts poses for picture in front of one of his pieces. This piece was made using acrylic paint and a clear notebook slip.
Watts holds his paint covered hands out. When he paint it’s usually very messy. “During painting I ruin anything and everything I wear,” Watts said.
Watts squeezes paint out of one of his many paint tubes onto a canvas in his home studio. He has over 200 different colors and varieties of paint laying around. “I use all kinds of colors in my art, so I need options,” Watts said.
FHNTODAY.COM PAGE BY RILEY MCCRACKIN
11.04.15
22
Fall Season Comes to an End Senior Austine Pauly hits the ball against Francis Howell High Vikings on Sept. 24. The ending score was 0-12 victory Vikings. Pauley had seven home runs this season in addition to 25 RBI’s. (Photo by Riley McCrackin)
Avery Bond swims the breaststroke in a meet against Holt The boys won in the diving portion of the meet. (Photo by Katie Worsham) Senior captain Blake Lodde jumps and catches the ball in a game against Washington on Oct. 16. The Knights lost with a score of 28-40. Lodde scored the second touchdown for the Varsity Knights that night. (Photo by Lauren Price)
The members of boys cross country huddle together during their meet on Sept. 12 at Forest Park. The Forest Park meet is the biggest meet of the season. Schools from all over come to compete in this meet. (Photo by Jessie Define)
FHNTODAY.COM PAGE BY ERIKA PAAR
11.04.15
32
Seniors Matt Borelli, Chase Powelson, Jake Kuntz, Cameron Landers stand together, in their new uniforms, on the basketball court in the large gym. They have been playing together since middle school. (Photo by Amanda Eckhard)
The End Of An Era This Season Four friends face their last year playing the sport they love: Basketball BY JACOB LINTNER
lintner.jacob@gmail.com • @TheJacobLintner
33
FHNTODAY.COM PAGE BY EMILY WILSON
11.04.15
This basketball season will bring about many beginnings and ends. It will be the beginning of another promising journey for the Knights; it will be the beginning of numerous high school careers on the JV and C-teams; but it will also be the last year that seniors Chase Powelson, Matt Borrelli, Cameron Landers and Jake Kuntz get to play basketball together for their beloved high school team. “This year is going to be our year,” Jake said. “I know that me, Matt, Cameron and Chase, we’re not holding anything back. We’re letting it all go forward and giving it our all. It’s definitely bittersweet, and little bit of regret. I feel like there are a lot of emotions going into senior year basketball season. I’m definitely going to miss it.” Their starts in the game may have all come from different places- Matt from New York, Jake from years of select basketball, Chase from the CYC league and Cameron from the YMCA- but the great game of basketball has brought these four total strangers together. The first person to coach all four of the players together was coach Steve Porter of the Junior Knights feeder team. Coach Porter says that he knew his team was special from the first days of practice. Some of the standout members of his
team being none other than the four seniors on this year’s Knights basketball team. “Chase had a lot of basketball savvy,” Porter said of his first experience with the four. “Cameron also had a lot of basketball intelligence. Matt played tenacious defense; he still does to this day. I would say that Jake Kuntz had all the tools, he just had to apply them.” Not only did Porter coach the physical aspects of his team in the form of two-hour practices four nights each week, but he groomed the psyches and mentalities of his team to the best of his ability, attempting to instill his love for the game of basketball in his players to prepare them for the next level of competition. “It’s exciting to see them play together as a team,” Porter said. “I hope that my passion and attitude for the game transferred to them, and I think it may have. I watch how they play today and how much they love the game. I hope that some of my passion came out and they saw it that way. If they weren’t passionate about it, they would’ve quit.” Quitting was hardly an option for any of the players on the Junior Knights, least of all the four players the Knights call their senior leaders this year. These four were far too passionate about
the game of basketball to allow a few practices over school breaks to stand in their ways of being the best that they could each be individually. None of their individual or past success matters to them, though. All that matters to the four seniors this year is having team success, staying close and having fun, even with the ominous cloud of separation hanging over the entire season. “It’s sad in a way,” Chase said about the impending last season, “but at the same time, you’ve just got to have fun with it. You can’t be sad about it. You’ve got to go out and have fun with them.” Cameron agreed. “It’s kind of sad because it’s the last go-around,” Cameron said, “but we’re hoping to make the most of it and have fun. That’s the main goal. But hopefully we have some team success along the way, with the other guys, not just us four.” The precedent for success has already been set, as the team defeated rival FHC 55-46 in the opening round of the district tournament last year. The district win against a team that had beaten the Knights in their two previous meetings was a tremendous feat for FHN, and it only served to bring the team closer. “We’re all very optimistic about this year,” Matt said. “We have a lot of talent, and we’re a close-knit team. So far, we all like each other, and we’ve all been playing well together. I think we have a chance to surprise a lot of people. And us four - the seniors - we’re going to have to step up and be good leaders if our team is really going to reach our potential. Last year, our team didn’t really have a leader. That was one of our biggest problems.” Matt’s statement is backed up by the words of his coach, Darrell Davis. Coach Davis preaches a “We, not me” mentality to all of his players, but he says that one of biggest reasons that they “couldn’t finish a game” last year is that they didn’t have a leader or a go-to guy late in games. Not having a true go-to guy helped with ball movement throughout the game, allowing for the Knights to continually surprise their opponents with a variety of offensive weapons. Riding the hot hand, or getting the ball into the hands of the player on a good offensive streak, though, is a very unreliable way to run an offense. In addition, the player with
the hot hand didn’t always get the ball, shown especially in the Knights’ 50-47 overtime loss to the Spartans in early February at home last season, as the Knights’ offense was inconsistent and ineffective once the overtime period hit. This inconsistency stemmed directly from the lack of a true leader to run the offense through. “There’s no blame to throw around anywhere,” Davis said. “We just couldn’t finish a game. I know these four seniors and a lot of younger kids have put in a lot of time this summer and this fall. They might have a little chip on their shoulder this year. I hope they do have a chip on their shoulder from last year.” The Knights hope to reverse this trend of faltering in the second half of the season by finding their offense and their go-to guys in tryouts and practice. No spots are guaranteed, regardless of age or experience, so all of the players are going to have to earn their roles. Except the four seniors. No matter what they show on the court in practice, the four of them are going to be called upon heavily as leaders for their team. Experience is an invaluable trait for any team, and this year’s Knights are no different - they need veteran leadership. “That defines what these four seniors are,” Davis said. “They don’t care who gets the credit; they just want to win games. On the basketball floor, they know everything we’re doing. We hope that trends down, and that the younger kids will catch onto things a little easier. They’re going to be the mentors to the younger kids, all four of the seniors.” There is going to be a lot of hard work put into this year by all four of the seniors, but they are all determined to keep the same passion for the game that they had the first time they all stepped onto the court together in seventh grade. The players also realize that they are going to have to step up and pull double duty as leaders and teachers both on and off the court. “Hopefully, we can show the younger kids that it really does help to be close,” Chase said. “It does help to be a close team. Because it’s our last season, we’re going to give it all we’ve got, for sure. We’ve just got to teach the newer kids that if you work hard, you can accomplish some great things.”
Better Together The four seniors this year bring their combined experiences from last year to lead the team for the upcoming season.
Games
points
shots
86
176
143
Played
scored
rebounded
Last year, senior Lauren Arata and sophomore Skyeler Knuuttila perform their routine on February 28. This year the guard hopes to improve for the WGI World Championships. (Photo by Emily Floyd)
Fresh Start for Winter Guard A preview of the upcoming 2015-16 Winter Guard season BY MARTIN GROVES martin@groves.hk
Color Guard makes use of a combination of flags, rifles and other equipment in an interpretive dance routine. Winter Guard, unlike Color Guard, is performed indoors, and is accompanied by recorded music rather than a live band. Technically a “Sport of the Arts,” the popularity of Winter Guard has increased steadily, having extended into the high school arena years ago. Nov. 10 marks the first practice day for this upcoming season’s FHN Winter Guard, an established team that competes nationally at the High School level. “I’ve been in Winter Guard since I was a Freshman,” junior Emma Kolkmeier said. “I joined because I did Color Guard. Winter Guard is similar to Color Guard, so you usually do both.” Although FHN scored tenth place at the last annual WGI World Championships in Dayton, Ohio, held on April 15 last year, they earned a first place gold medal at the Mid-Continent Color Guard Association, the result of hours of hard work that members put in every week. “I hope this season goes better than last season,” Kolkmeier said. “Last year was kind of rough because we had a lot of new people and we didn’t do as well as we wanted to.” This year’s WGI World Championships will be on April 9, following FHN’s very own Winter Guard competition, Art in Motion, which will be held on March 12. Practices will take place on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays every week in order to better prepare the guard and hopefully improve on last year’s performance.
FHNTODAY.COM
PAGE BY EMILY WILSON
11.04.15
34
Winter Sports Teams Prepare For The Season
Upcoming Games The upcoming event dates for varsity wrestling and boys and girls basketball.
G. Basketball 11/19 V Preseason scrimmage at 5:00 at St.Charles West 11/30-12/05 V Tournament at Orchard Farms 12/10 V home game against FZE at 6:30
Last year on Feb. 10, senior Sam Heupel swims a butterfly race during the annual GACs. Sophomore Erin Stock and graduate Dominique Meyer both placed for state. (File Photo)
B. Basketball 12/15 JV/V at FZE at 5:30 12/18 JV/V home game against FHC at 5:30 11/30- 12/04 Tournament at Desmet
Check out stats and game photos at
FHNGameday.com
35
FHNTODAY.COM PAGE BY GARRET GRIFFIN
11.04.15
Wrestling
Girls Swimming
Wreslting Numbers Up
New Senior Team Coming off from losing many seniors last year, the girls swimming team has a very young and new team. Seniors on the team this year include: Jennifer Byman, Claire Boenitz, Emily Floyd and Samm Heupel. Byman is expecting the team will get more points than usual this year due to the larger team, as well as having a larger number of girls from select and club teams. “I’m looking forward to bonding with my team and really enjoying my 4th and sadly last year with my team.” (Brief by Erika Paar)
Wrestling 12/03 V/JV/FR at Saint Charles West at 6:00 12/05- 12/6 JV/V Tournament at Parkway South 12/10 V/JV/FR at Francis Howell HS at 6:00
Senior Kaleb Bell tries to pin down a CBC wrestler on Jan. 27. (File Photo)
The 2016 wrestling team is getting bigger this season with a huge turnout from the freshman class. “[I’m expecting big things] from our eighth graders that’ve come up in the Junior Knights program with experience. [Oct. 8 we had our first meeting] where 27 freshmen showed up so that’s an outstanding start,” Coach Chris Brown said. The team looks to improve upon last year’s team’s overall record where three members qualified for state. “We’ve got a good group of seniors that’ll be the core of our varsity lineup,” Brown said. “We’ve got a great freshman class so I’m expecting big things from the team.” (Brief by Josh Cage)
Girls Basketball
Preparation Begins The girls basketball season starts halfway through November. The girls are getting excited for the season and getting a head start with the help of a volunteer coach Scott Wilson. “Really what my job is, is to get the girls playing,” Wilson said. “A lot of girls don’t play basketball in the fall, so I have to get them ready for the season.” Thompson will be coaching during their actual season, but because of the rule that the coaches can’t help train the girls before the season starts, Wilson stepped into prepare the girls. They have began training through open gyms and scrimmages. “I think coach Thompson is doing a great job of building the program,” Wilson said. “He has some really great senior leadership as well as some strong under class kids that can contribute.” Senior Austine Pauley is also beginning to prepare for this season. She has played on the FHN varsity team since she was a freshman. She is most excited to see how far their team can make it and see how
many new freshmen members they will get. ”I think that [districts] is most exciting, because you’re actually playing for something, because if you get out; it’s over,” Pauley said. “I just want to see how far we can go.” (Brief by Karis Skaggs)
Senior Maci May dribbles the ball during the Holt game on Dec. 9. The girls lost the game with a score of 39-54 . The game before the Holt game the girls played against St. Charles West and won with a score of 58-36. (File Photo)
The 2015 Fall Sports Season Wraps Up Volleyball
Putting the Net Away
Junior Megan Seigler hits the ball in a home game against Fort Zumwalt South. The Knights won against the Bulldogs with a score of 15-4. (Photo by Abby Temper)
Looking Forward to Next Year With the fall sports season coming to a close, the Varsity Softball team has finished a successful season. After an up and down regular season, in which they finished with a record of 13 wins and 11 losses, the Lady Knights made it to State Quarterfinals, where they’d bow out against Marquette in a game that finished with a final score of 12-4 in favor of the Mustangs. Over all, the Lady Knights are proud of the season that they put together and are looking forward to next year, according to junior Mikayla Theros. “[I’m looking forward to next year because] I’m looking forward to shooting for an even better season and bonding with the girls,” Theros said. “That’s my favorite part.” (Brief by Anthony Kristenson)
The varsity girls volleyball season has now come to an end. During the season the team was very aggressive, but with six new teammates, a new coach, losing hope during games and not being loud enough caused the girls to have the season they did. “I feel like we could have done better,” junior Kate Doerhoff said. “We lost games where their teams were not very good. We just didn’t finish out the game like we should have.” For the next season the team plans to make some changes. To ensure they have a winning season they are looking forward to bond more with their teammates by having a closer relationship and to call the ball more on the court to ensure someone hits the ball towards victory. “Next season we will definitely have to work on the talking,” outside hitter Courtney Haislip said. “Playing together as one, playing for each other and not ourselves.” (Brief by Jamie Hetlage)
Senior Meghan Mitchell reaches for the ball against Parkway South on Sept 28. The Knights won the game with the team winning both matches. (Photo by Lauren Price)
Girls Cross Country
Boys Cross Country
Girls Tennis
Only Room for One
Three Will Move On
Ending with Two Losses
The Girls Cross Country ended the season with only one varsity runner going to sectionals. Sophomore Heidi Hauptman will be moving onto sectionals for the second time in her cross country career. Hauptman placed 21st out of 81 runners. The top 30 runners who placed would be able to move to sectionals. Hauptman plans to move to Sate soon after. “I’m really excited to be moving on to Sectionals because it was my goal to make it to state all four years of high school and this means that I’m just one step closer to making it this year,” Hauptmann said. “It also makes me proud as a runner and proud of my accomplishments. (Brief by Garret Griffin)
The varsity boys cross country team ran in districts on Oct. 24. Out of the seven boys that ran, three are moving on to sectionals. “I think overall they ran well,” coach Kim Martin said. “Most of them got their PRs (Personal Records,) so that’s awesome. It sucks that we made it in fifth and missed it by two points to get out to sectionals, but overall I don’t think that they could’ve done much more.” Juniors Jake Oppenborn, Bryan Chac and senior Chase Powelson will be moving on individually. “I think most people really kind of emptied out and like I said when you see that many people run PR’s you can’t really ask for to much more.” (Brief by Karis Skaggs)
The FHN girls tennis took second at districts on August 31. The team lost against Parkway central 7-2. “We were kind of expecting to lose going in,” Junior Yuri Takenaka said. “The players are a lot more consistent and competitive” Although they lost twice against Parkway Central, Coach Kate Kleiber is still proud of her team. Their only loss this season was to Parkways Central during the pre-season and in the finals at districts. “At the high school level we need to master good sportsmanship and respect,” Kleiber said “In our conference, we are the top and it’s sometimes difficult to handle the feelings of others having our success.” (Brief by Bree Williams)
FHNTODAY.COM PAGE BY GARRET GRIFFIN
11.04.15
36
Sophomore Rachel Pirrone laughs while posing on the track. Pirrone had had knee problems since the sixth grade but is now getting help through MRI’s, surgery, and doing workouts. (Photo by Alexis Rowe)
Dancing Through the Pain
Sophomore on varsity Knightline has plica syndrome, a condition in which there is painful extra tissue in her BY DAVID BODDEN
davidbodd@gmail.com • @davbodden
Moving up hand-by-hand and step-by-step, Rachel Pirrone grips the stair railing and struggles to reach the top of the stairs. She has learned to adapt to her knee pain, but today is one of the more difficult days. Starting from the time Rachel was in sixth grade, she and her family knew something was wrong with her knees. She hit a growth spurt, and her knee problems began. She had tried taking time off of dance because it hurt too much for her. Her doctor had her try using an immobilizer from her hip to her ankle, and physical therapy to fix it, but they did not help. “It’s pretty hard to see someone in pain every day,” Sean Pirrone, Rachel’s older brother, said. “She was really good with rolling with the punches of it, but you could tell she was in pain if you knew there was a problem. I could look at her and say, ‘Oh, she’s hurting.’” After many MRI’s and bone X-rays, her doctor found plica syndrome was the likely culprit, and double knee surgery was the best solution. Plica syndrome is a condition in which there is tissue in the knee that should have faded away after early stages of development. In Rachel’s case, it did not, which caused grinding in her knees. On top of that, Rachel had a fracture in her cartilage from some sort of unknown trauma to her left knee. This caused terrible pain for her when walking for longer periods of time, going up stairs and dancing -- her passion. “I don’t think [my family] wanted me to stop dancing, because they know that it’s something that I really like to do and enjoy doing it, but of course their biggest concern was my health,” Rachel said. “They wanted me to do
37
FHNTODAY.COM PAGE BY DAVID BODDEN
11.04.15
what was best for me.” Rachel’s doctors had taken MRI’s of her knees before the surgery, but it can be hard to see plica on an MRI, so even they did not know for sure what they would find when they went in. Last June, Rachel had the surgery. Doctors removed the extra tissue from both knees and shaved down the cartilage where the fracture was found. “I was at work [while Rachel was in surgery],” Sean said. “I was anxious to see her, but I knew it would be okay.” After the surgery, Rachel was in a wheelchair for a few weeks. From there, she moved on to a walker, and then crutches. Up until just before school started, Rachel was not allowed to go up stairs. Now, she does exercises two to three times every day as part of her recovery process. “It’s a different kind of pain, like a recovery pain,” Rachel said. “I can feel the progress over time. It’s just really slow. Stairs, they’re getting easier, but they’re still kind of painful.” Rachel is improving little by little, but is still recovering. Doctors are optimistic that she will not need another surgery again. Dancing makes her knees worse when it comes to some of the things she needs to do with them. However, the surgery doesn’t stop Rachel from going to practice everyday and working hard to improve. “We have her get up and work out with us [at practice],” Rachel Kamp, a junior and teammate on Knightline, said. “We have her do some of the dance moves and we all just support her.”
The Scar Reminds DJ LaMartina moves on from last year’s hockey injury BY NOAH SLAUGHTER reader524@gmail.com @ngs524
On March 2, senior DJ LaMartina skates during the state championship against Fox. After the team won the game, he dove into the dog pile without his mask on and cut his face on a teammate’s skate. The team won with a score of 3-1 and this was the first time the ice hockey team won State. (File Photo)
It was the night of March 3, 2015, and FHN had just won the ice hockey state championship, beating Fox High School 3-1. The team had dreamed about this title for months, possibly years. And then, with the swipe of just one skate, their elation turned to pure horror. Senior DJ LaMartina, then a junior, slid toward the celebratory dogpile, picking up speed as he got closer and closer. At the same time, Tyler Krakosky, then a sophomore, leaped on top of the pile and raised his skate high in the air. The two boys collided, and LaMartina fell to the ground, blood from the gaping wound just below his mouth splattering the frigid ice of the Scottrade Center. Their victory had just been stained blood red. “My teammates were very heartfelt,” LaMartina recalled. “Everyone was there for me. Tyler especially felt really bad, but you can’t really blame him. It was just an accident.” At first, LaMartina didn’t realize the extent of his injuries. The team didn’t even know that he was hurt. He rushed to the locker room to consult a mirror, where he was swarmed by trainers and emergency responders. Even his friends and family had no idea what had just happened. “I was worried because I didn’t know what was going on,” DJ’s girlfriend, senior Madeline O’Loughlin said. “When I saw him he just looked like nothing was going on besides the big hole in his face.” When they realized how severe the
cut was, LaMartina was rushed to St. Louis Children’s Hospital. He arrived around 8 p.m., but he had to wait several hours before he could see a plastic surgeon. 85 stitches and seven hours later, LaMartina finally left the hospital for home. “We were all really worried for him; our main concern was for him,” Krakosky said. “We were all pretty sad that he didn’t get to celebrate with us.” In the days following the accident, LaMartina’s phone wouldn’t stop lighting up with notifications. The school showed its support and morbid curiosity through Twitter, where LaMartina gained several hundred followers. People who had never even met LaMartina started following the accident. O’Loughlin was even asked by a stranger at a gas station if she was the girlfriend of the player who cut his face on an ice skate. “I thought it was kind of cool [that he got so many Twitter followers], but I didn’t like it honestly,” O’Loughlin said. “It seemed like a lot of people thought they knew him but they really didn’t.” LaMartina will always have a bright red scar along his chin to remind him of that night in March, but he doesn’t let his injury affect him or his hockey career. Just a few days after the accident he was back on the field playing roller hockey, where FHN won the state championship yet again. LaMartina refuses to let this one injury stain his future like it stained the ice that night back in March. “It’s just a little scar on my face,” LaMartina said. “It’s not going to stop me from doing anything.”
FHNTODAY.COM
PAGE BY RILEY KAMPFF
11.04.15
38
SENIORS
Purchase an Excalibur Yearbook senior ad while you still can!
DUE NOV. 10 !
LIMITED SPACE
Visit FHNtoday.com/advertising for full details. WHO CAN BUY? Parents, grandparents or groups of friends SIZES AND PRICES? COLOR Full Page: $360 2/3 Page: $250 1/3 Page: $140 2/9 Page: $95 1/9 Page: $60 QUESTIONS? (636) 851-5048 jordyn.kiel@fhsdschools.org
Only ONE more week to purchase your yearbook at $55! Stop by room 026 or visit the yearbook tab on FHNtoday.com to purchase.
Catch all your FHN news and sports here!
FHNtoday.com & FHNgameday.com
Keep up to date We work to keep you up to date on all things FHN, like Anthony Lupo being named Missouri DECA State President.
We’ve got videos
Photo galleries galore
We’ve got lots of videos on the site, from stories about things going on at school to people and places all around St. Louis.
We put up new photo galleries almost daily. From big events going on at school to sporting events of all levels.
NOT YOUR TYPICAL CLASSES. Comm Arts credit here. NOT YOUR TYPICAL CLASSES. JOURNALISM NOT YOUR TYPICAL CLASSES. NOT CLASSES. Comm Arts YOUR credit here. TYPICAL JOURNALISM JOURNALISM Comm Arts credit here. Comm Arts credit here. JOURNALISM JOURNALISM NOT YOUR TYPICAL CLASSES. Comm Arts credit here. JOURNALISM DIGITAL PHOTOJOURNALISM NOT YOUR TYPICAL CLASSES. DIGITAL PHOTOJOURNALISM NEW! JOURNALISM 2:
You can get a 1/2 credit of Comm Arts towards the 4 you need to graduate and you’ll become a better writer and designer. You don’t YouYou cancan get a 1/2 credit of of Comm towards thethe 4if you need a a1/2 credit Comm Arts towards 4they you needtotobe have to get take prerequisite. It’s theArts class people take want You can get a 1/2 credit of Comm Arts towards the 4 you need to to graduate and you’ll become a better writer and designer. As a You can getnewspaper, a 1/2 credityearbook, of Comm towardsteams theYou 4 you need to a part of the webArts or broadcast atdon’t North. graduate become aclass better writer and designer. freshman, youyou’ll can take this join writer staff second semester. have toand take a prerequisite. It’s and class people take ifYou theydon’t want to be graduate and you’ll become athe better and designer. YouYou don’t have to take a prerequisite. It’s the class people take if they want to be don’t haveoftotothe take prerequisite. It’sthe the class most people a part newspaper, yearbook, webclass or broadcast teams at North. have take aaprerequisite. It’s people take ifentering they want to be athe part theofnewspaper, yearbook, web orweb broadcast teamsteams at North. FHN media program take. yearbook, aofpart the newspaper, or broadcast at North. You can get a 1/2 credit of Comm Arts towards the 4 you need to You can get a 1/2 credit of Practical Arts towards what you need graduate and you’ll become a better writer and designer. You don’t to graduate and you’ll become a photographer, videographer and Comm Arts credit here. have to get takea aPHOTOJOURNALISM prerequisite. It’s the classArts people take ifwhat they you want to be DIGITAL You can 1/2 credit Practical DIGITAL PHOTOJOURNALISM JOURNALISM multimedia creator in theofprocess. You canProduction taketowards this class withoutneed a Broadcast Writing & a part of the newspaper, yearbook, web or broadcast teams at North. You can credit of Practical Arts towards what you need graduate and you’ll become a photographer, videographer and Youget canaa 1/2 get a 1/2 credit of Practical Arts towards what you need Youtoprerequisite can get 1/2 credit of Comm Arts towards the 4 you need to as long asofyou are a current freshman, sophomore You can getand a 1/2 credit Comm Arts towards the 4 you needor to to graduate you’ll become a photographer, videographer and multimedia creator in the process. You can take this class without a to graduate and you’ll become a photographer, videographer and graduate and you’ll become a better writer and designer. You don’t junior. and 8th graders also need to take Journalism ifand theyvideographer. want in as graduate you’ll aare better writer, speaker multimedia creator inbecome the process. You can take this class without atoorbe a prerequisite as long as you a current freshman, sophomore multimedia creator in the process. You can take this class without have to take a prerequisite. It’s the class people take if they want freshman. As a freshman, you can take this class and join staff second semester. DIGITAL PHOTOJOURNALISM prerequisite longasaslong you are current orin as or junior. 8thasnewspaper, graders also take Journalism ifsophomore theysophomore want prerequisite asneed youatoare a current freshman, a part of the yearbook, web orfreshman, broadcast teams at North. You don’t have to take a prerequisite. It’s a new class being offered for You can get a 1/2 credit of Practical Arts towards what you junior. 8th graders also need to take Journalism if they want in as Once you pass any of the three classes listed “Looking forfreshman. ajunior. 1/2 credit of also Comm pair with Novel or 8th graders needArts to taketoJournalism if they want inneed as thetoyour first time at FHN in 2015-16. graduate and you’ll become a photographer, videographer and Sports Lit for 4th Comm Arts Credit? Sign up for Journalism.” freshman. on the right side here, you can enroll in the freshman. multimedia creator the process. takewith this class without “Looking for a 1/2 credit of inComm ArtsYou tocan pair Novel or a Comm credit here. journalismArts groups like the newspaper and DIGITAL PHOTOJOURNALISM JOURNALISM “Looking for a 1/2 credit of Comm Arts to pair with Novel or Sports Lit for your 4th Comm Arts Credit? Sign up for Journalism.” DIGITAL PHOTOJOURNALISM prerequisite as long as you are a current freshman, sophomore oror “LookingYou forcan a get 1/2 credit ofof Comm Arts to pair with Novel yearbook staffs, the web and video staffs or aComm 1/2 credit Practical Arts towards what you need Comm Arts towards the 4 you need to Sports Lit for your 4th Arts Credit? Sign up for Journalism.” Sportswww.FHNtoday.com/TellMeMore LitYou for your Comm Arts Credit? Sign up for Journalism.” can get 1/2 credit ofneed Practical Arts towards whatwant youinneed junior. 8tha4th graders also take Journalism if they as For moreAll information: you could become a staff photographer. to graduate you’ll become a to photographer, graduate andand you’ll become a better writer and videographer designer. You and don’t to graduate become a photographer and class multimedia creator freshman.and you’ll these staffs meet during the school day and multimedia in the process. take this without have to takecreator a prerequisite. It’s theYou classcanpeople take if they want ato be For more information: www.FHNtoday.com/TellMeMore in the process. You’llaswork withaDSLR cameras, coversophomore events at school students get class credit each they prerequisite asnewspaper, long are current freshman, oror a part of thecredit yearbook, web or broadcast teams at North. Forsemester moremore information: www.FHNtoday.com/TellMeMore “Looking for acreate 1/2 ofyou Comm Arts to pair with Novel For information: www.FHNtoday.com/TellMeMore and content for FHNtoday.com. enroll. junior. 8th graders also need take Journalism they in as Sports Lit for your 4th Comm Artsto Credit? Sign ifup forwant Journalism.” freshman.
NOT YOUR TYPICAL CLASSES.
www.FHNtoday.com www.FHNtoday.com www.facebook.com/FHNtodayFan DIGITAL PHOTOJOURNALISM www.FHNtoday.com www.FHNtoday.com For more information: www.FHNtoday.com/TellMeMore www.facebook.com/FHNtodayFan www.twitter.com/FHNtoday
“Looking for You a 1/2 credit Comm Arts to Arts pair towards with Novel orneed can get a 1/2ofcredit of Practical what you Sports Lit for your 4th Comm Arts Credit? Sign up for Journalism.”
www.facebook.com/FHNtodayFan www.facebook.com/FHNtodayFan www.twitter.com/FHNtoday
to graduate and you’ll become a photographer, videographer and multimedia creator in the process. You can take this class without a
No Control on our Rights With Congress constantly debating about gun control, here’s all of the reasons that a firearms ban cannot be passed by Congress and where and how common ground can be reached BY ANTHONY KRISTENSEN
anthony.kristensen17@gmail.com • @anthonyk17slsg
The debate has been long and hard, and it has seemingly gone nowhere. Liberals want them banned, conservatives want nothing of the sort. It keeps getting brought up, especially with the recent events that have transpired in Oregon and Tennessee. This debate is seemingly never ending, and it probably won’t end any time soon, as politicians continue to argue over the topic of gun control. The topic of gun control has been under debate in Congress for several years, and only becomes more controversial everyday. With neither side willing to compromise, it seems to get worse. In a perfect world, gun control would work. But, as we all know, this world is far from perfect. There are many different factors that come into play, with the biggest factor being the ultimate law of the land, the Constitution. Firstly, the federal government always needs to abide by the rules set out by the Constitution. With that being said, they must look into the Second Amendment, which states that “a well regulated militia” has the right to bear arms. This has been a main arguing point coming from the left, as they point out that “a well regulated militia” is not an individual. This is rebuked by a large number of the founding fathers, such as George Mason and Thomas Jefferson. Also, when considering a lawful ban of something, you have to look at the failures of the past and the present to see that a future ban won’t work. The clear answer is that it simply wouldn’t work. There are far too many variables that come into play. However, when someone commits a gun crime, they should face extreme charges that are much harsher than the charges that they face now. Many gun control activists also like to point out the success of gun control in Australia. Though it is true that it has worked in Australia, one has to consider that there was far less gun violence than the U.S. before gun control was implemented in Australia. Also, the geography has to be considered in this, as the U.S. has two bordering countries while Australia is a massive island, so it’s easier to smuggle a weapon into the U.S., as a firearm smuggler would spend more money on transportation than they’d get for selling the weapon itself. There also needs to be a consideration of who has the guns in the U.S. If a government official were to go to a law abiding citizen after gun control laws were passed, they’d likely give their firearms up. But would it work the same if a government official were to go to someone in a gang in Chicago and ask them to turn their guns in? No, they’d fight back. There would be no effective way to get guns off of the streets. We also need to look at the failures of other countries that have implemented gun control. Venezuela is a prime example of this, as the South American country currently has the second highest homicide rate in the world. Do they implement gun control laws? Absolutely. In fact, they have some of the strictest gun control laws in the world. This is very clearly not working. This isn’t saying that if the U.S. were to ban firearms that they’d go up to the world’s capital of crime, but it’s saying that if there were to be a firearms ban, it wouldn’t change anything. There would still be the same problems we have today. But to say that there isn’t anything that should be done about
Have An Opinion? Let Us Know On Twitter: @FHNToday With #PaperDay
41
FHNTODAY.COM PAGE BY ALY DOTY
11.04.15
(Photo from Helga Esteb/shutterstock.com)
the problem is absurd. But, what should we do? Mandatory background checks is one partial solution, but as stated earlier, if someone wants a gun, they’re going to get one. Another way gun crime can be reduced is to abolish gun free zones and increase the number of armed guards in public areas. When a criminal sees a sign that says “This is a gun free zone,” do you really think that they’re just going to turn the other cheek and say “Oh well, guns aren’t allowed here?” No, what they’re going to see is that there are few, if any, people that can defend themselves and others around them, so the criminal can do as much damage as possible. According to Breibart, 92 percent of all shootings happen in gun free zones. There’s virtually no way to end gun crimes. Yet, there are steps that need to be taken in order to try and prevent these crimes in the future, steps that wouldn’t be difficult to implement. Steps that would surely be effective, steps that would decrease the amount of mass shooting in the U.S. significantly. These are the steps that we must take as a nation to give the public further security from these crimes and the perpetrators. We should be giving the public more protection, certainly not less.
Extinct to Ink
YOU KNOW WHAT TERRY, I’M JUST GOING TO GO. I THOUGHT YOU WERE BETTER THAN THAT
(Comic by Riley Kampff)
The Hot Topic Of. . .
Working Hard or Hardly Working After spending seven hours a day at school, many students spend their nights at part-time jobs to make money. Since students also need time to do homework and socialize, are having these jobs really worth it? BY JAMIE HETLAGE
BY CLAIRE BOENITZ
Many students around the school have various jobs from working at Bread Company to Plato’s Closet for the main objective of making money. Entering the workforce young lets people see a glimpse of their future. It lets you earn vital skills you will use later in life such as making money, having a good work ethic, managing your time and helping you be more prepared for adult life. Students rely on their parents to buy everything for them, causing parents to be stressed financially. Having your own money allows you freedom to spend your cold hard cash on whatever, whenever you want. This also allows students to save money for college so later on they are not paying back Time to Make massive student loans to the bank. Therefore, allowing you to show great Some Money responsibility for the future. Nothing in life is free. This is exactly what a high school job will show you, in fact any job will. This presents students to see that they have to work hard for their money, or anything in life that they truly want. You have to put forth time and effort before you can reach the light at the end of the tunnel. Time is something we as teenagers never have enough of. Especially while having a part-time job and school. However, managing school time, job time and personal time shows what the real world is really like. You have to plan out certain times when to do your homework or when to watch Netflix. In the real world, you can’t lounge around or play hooky. You have to man up, go to work and make money to support yourself. This is why having a job is crucial in a high schooler’s life. It lets you see what the big, scary world is actually like.
It’s not uncommon to hear students in the halls of FHN discussing their jobs with fellow students, and in my experience, it’s typically complaints about the hours they have to work on top of homework and other school activities. Having a part time job is definitely not without benefits, however the time it takes away from students’ days and can have negative repercussions. Some students work up to seven hours a day after school, and when that’s put together with seven hours of school and an hour or two of homework, it leaves just enough time for a good night’s sleep. The problem with this is it doesn’t leave time for family, after school activities, friends and in a lot of cases, even more Time to Make the homework. When sorting out priorities, something must be dropped, and even Grade if your work schedule is flexible, it demands to be near the top with school. Work can also cut away from time that could be spent on extracurricular activities, and while it can be argued that jobs prepare you for the real world, extracurriculars have the potential to prepare you more for what you want for your future in particular. Jobs vary greatly amongst high school students but will give similar experiences, while extracurriculars offer a variety of experiences and connections to benefit you in the future. With a job, participation in extracurriculars is often limited. Lastly, high school is widely accepted as a time for enjoying yourself. Balancing work and relaxation is a skill people should have by the time they get to college, but if students do nothing but push themselves further than they can handle in high school, time management becomes less “How can I balance my priorities?” and more “What area can I afford to fall behind in?”
jamiehetlage3251@gmail.com
claire.boenitz@gmail.com
FHNTODAY.COM PAGE BY DAN BORRELLI
11.04.15
42
CUSTOMIZE YOUR
iPHONE
RAINBOWKEY
Free
Customize your keyboard with your favorite pictures, cool fonts, colorful pictures and cute emojis!
COCOPPA
“Steve Jobs”
“Steve Jobs” is fun to watch, but can be difficult to understand BY DANIEL BORRELLI
Sorkin create. Their Jobs is a machine, incapable of feeling love towards his illegitimate daughter or compassion About halfway through the film “Steve towards her struggling mother. Jobs’ Jobs,” the titular CEO turns to a business daughter, Lisa, at age nine is the perfect partner during a fight and says “I’m like sparring partner for him, as they butt Julius Caesar, John. I’m surrounded by heads over school and life. Lisa looked enemies.” But the enemies are not what at the world through the same eyes as make Steve Jobs like Julius Caesar; it’s Jobs, driving him crazy and making him his iconic legacy, his strong leadership proud at the same time. But no normal and his drive for success; all of which human emotion can stop Character are put on display for the movie’s two Steve Jobs: all Character Steve Jobs hour run time. wants it to create the perfect overpriced “Steve Jobs,” directed by Danny Boyle, personal computer. immediately presents Jobs as stubborn Although the film takes place over ten and pushy, yet brilliant. His ambition years ago, it still relates to modern-day is greater than the actual outcome Apple quite well. There are allusions to of his goals, but that doesn’t stop Apple products now that at the time him from believing he can accomplish might have just crossed the mind of anything. The film is grouped into Steve Jobs. The best example of this three sections: the 1984 launch of is when Jobs attacks the Newton, a the Macintosh computer, the 1988 discontinued Apple device that was launch of the first computer from Jobs’ accompanied by a stylus. Jobs’ hatred company NeXT, and the 1998 launch for the stylus is interesting, considering of the iMac (miraculously, all major Apple just released a stylus called the character developments in the lives of Apple Pencil. This is not only funny, these people seem but thought-provoking; to come in the what would the man who hours leading up to created the whole company product launches). In North Star Rates think of what it has become between each section, now? a montage of news Just like the character, 8/10 clips presents the “Steve Jobs” is calculated, viewer with all the yet flawed. The acting information from the years skipped over, is fantastic, the script is fast-paced like who was fired and how business and intriguing, and the direction is went for the company. beautiful. Seth Rogen, who shows up Even with all this information being as the Apple II computer designer Steve thrown at you, one question still stands: Wozniak, is too distractingly Seth Rogen who is Steve Jobs? If you’re looking to be believable in a serious part, and for an extensive biography from birth Katherine Waterston, who plays Lisa’s til death, keep looking. This movie mother, finds trouble balancing the completely passes over Jobs’ work at complicated mixture of self-pity and Pixar, the creation of the iPhone and his anger she is trying to portray. pancreatic cancer: things that define Although it is, at times, questionably the real Steve Jobs rather than the factual, it is still engrossing to be in character in this movie. It does mention, the audience and watch all the drama however, the difficult situation involving unfold. Michael Fassbender looks his adoption as a child, which he recalls nothing like Jobs, but maybe that’s the with distaste due to how little control he point. The movie is more the story of a had over the situation as a one month complicated, focused man searching for old. That is just one example of the success than it is about the actual CEO caricature Boyle and screenwriter Aaron of Apple.
danielborrelli1@gmail.com
43
FHNTODAY.COM PAGE BY DEIDRE DINKINS
11.04.15
Free
Customize your phone and show it off to your friends by turning your home screen into a work of art with a snazzy icon set!
ZEDGE
Free
The most trusted and popular place to get an extensive catalogue of free ringtones and wallpapers shared by millions of users.
Bitmoji
Free
With Bitmoji, you can create and use your own emojis. Make an emoji of yourself and send it to friends.
Text Tones
Free
With over 100 free text tones, Free Text Tones allows you to pick any sound for any contact.
Cool Wallpapers
Free
Rated a full fives stars, Cool Wallpapers gives you more than 100,000 options for your wallpaper.
Ringtone Maker
Free
Use any song in your iTunes library to make an unlimited number of ringtones for all of your contacts.
Bennett’s Best: 2010s Albums With a huge variety of music coming out everyday, it’s good to know what the best albums are in each and every genre, especially with the amount of music today Bennett Smallwood
smallwood.bennett@gmail.com @bsmallwood20
1. The Mountain - Haken
Haken’s, The Mountain, takes the modern progressive genre to a new high. Tracks like “The Cockroach King” and “Because It’s There” reflect some of the original powerhouses like Gentle Giant and Yes while heavy songs like “Falling Back to Earth” and “Pareidolia” show similarities to Tool and Dream Theater. It is a must listen for any fan from any generation.
5. Drones - Muse The first concept album that was released from the British Rock trio was a huge improvement over their two albums that came before. Muse steps up by having the heavy tracks that were fantastic, including “Reapers” and “Psycho” but calms down when the story requires it with songs like “Mercy” and “Revolt”. Matt Bellamy’s voice travels so powerfully through the whole album.
A Bloody Good Mess A new video game brings violent fun while fighting rats that have guns BY AUSTIN FERGUSON austin1834@gmail.com
2. Neighborhood - Blink 182
This album was the first time Blink-182 returned to release a studio album after the tragic plane crash involving drummer, Travis Barker. The album had much darker tones compared to its previous albums and the punk rock trio definitely steps outside of the teen-angst themes the band is known for. Must listen to tracks are “This is Home”, “Kaleidoscope” and “Wishing Well”.
3. Nothing More - Nothing More
The highest rated single of Nothing More’s most recent work, “Jenny”, shows just how powerful they are as an Alternative Metal band. The straightforward, heavy hitting guitars mix perfectly with the intricate and complex bass drum parts and electrifying vocals. For those who haven’t heard of Nothing More, “Christ Copyright” and “Jenny” should be listened to.
4. 1989 - Taylor Swift
While I’ve never been the one to care for Taylor Swift’s earlier works 1989 took me by storm. The first track that made me give this album a second chance was “All You Had To Do Was Stay”. From there, “Wildest Dreams” and “Out Of The Woods” show a new side to the once, country icon. This album shows the reason she receives constant radio play.
6. Dark Before Dawn - Breaking Benjamin
Dark Before Dawn was one of my most anticipated albums of 2015. The reformation of the Alternative Metal band lead by front man, Benjamin Burnley, was looked forward to by modern metal fans around the world. They delivered. The first single “Failure” topped metal and rock charts with good reason. The band holds onto what fans love from previous albums and adds just a touch more.
7. Because the Internet Childish Gambino
While it is a very unique album to this list for being a very distinct genre compared to all the others, Because the Internet shows Donald Glover at his most creative, lyrically, giving it reason to be here. “3005” has a catchy and very recognizable chorus, that everyone in the room will sing along with it if played. However the best song off this album has to be “IV. Sweatpants”.
8. Vessel - Twenty One Pilots
Twenty-One Pilots have been increasing in popularity in the recents years and have become a mainstream success due to the release of this album. The carefully executed use of dynamics in all the songs show the creative minds at work. While the most recent “Blurryface” elevated the band to stardom even further, songs like “Ode to Sleep” will make you keep listening.
Surrounded by man-sized rats wielding weapons of varying sizes, I crush a line through them and launch them all back with a shield thrust. Luckily I’m not alone in this endeavour as my ragtag all stuck together fighting for our own glory in a town burning and filled with monsters: ratman monsters. I’ve only just begun my rat slaying journey into Vermintide, a wild game that has great properties of an action game anyone could ever want, if those consisted of swinging a massive hammer into a rat monsters holding various weapons. The game is the perfect blend of action and horror, leaving me on the edge of my seat as I watch for eyes in the dark or for a teammate that needs help. The randomization added in just makes me want to keep playing the same levels for loot and different enemies. When the heroes are not running amok around the town of Ubersreik, they’re resting up in a quaint tavern safe from any outside intruders. The heroes can change their equipment and choose from almost any weapon one could ask for. After successfully completing a mission, the characters all receive a dice roll to get a chance at better loot. Each character sports their own unique weapons and dialogue. The game looks fantastic and the city fits the setting perfectly. “Warhammer 40,000 - Vermintide” whole new level of expectation for upcoming games looking into cooperative play, and rats with guns.
FHNTODAY.COM PAGE BY ANTHONY KRISTENSEN
11.04.15
44
Student Take: Why
Should People Eat Healthy?
“I eat healthy because I know that your eating habits can affect a person’s daily life.� Emily Windsor, 12
“I plan to improve the decisions I make about what I eat throughout the school year.� Kenysha Falls, 10
North Star Take: You Are What You Eat
While occasionally eating junk food isn’t detrimental to your health, it’s still crucial to pay close attention to your diet
ON BEHALF OF THE EDITORIAL STAFF h^daUW]/UW]c^SPh R^\ “ /UW]c^SPh
“I think they [the school] provides many different options [of food] to choose from.� Stephanie Monson, 9
45
“Hey guys, wanna stop by Steak ‘n Shake?� Sound familiar? It’s very common in today’s society for teenagers to hang out at the local fast food restaurants around town. According to the Business Insider, teens are spending 20 percent of their money on food alone. For the the first time in history, teenagers are spending more money on food than clothes. In today’s society, teenagers are wasting an increasing amount of money by buying food that is unnecessary and unhealthy. In addition to their three daily meals, teens purchase additional food from gas stations, fast food chains and vending machines. Starbucks and McDonald’s are two of the top places that teenagers buy their food from, and it only makes sense. Another major problem facing teens today, according to a study conducted by Forbes, is skipping breakfast. Doing so has frequently shown a strong correlation to major health risks including high blood pressure, obesity and the buildup of unhealthy blood-fats.
FHNTODAY.COM PAGE BY BENNETT SMALLWOOD
11.4.15
This is not to say that an occasional donut is detrimental to your health, and a healthy diet does not necessarily call for one to give up all of their favorite foods. People must simply be making sure that they are getting all of the nutrients such as vitamins and minerals that their body needs to function properly. Furthermore, an often overlooked component to a healthy diet is the amount of water intake. A regular Ice Mountain water bottle water often dulls in appeal when vended next to a bottle of Coke. While the recommended intake of water varies from person-toperson based on several factors including their environment and physical activities, the Food and Nutrition Board advises around two-to-three liters for adolescents ages 14-to-18. With all these factors pushing teens to spend excessive amounts of money on unhealthy foods, almost 21 percent of adolescents between the ages of 12 and 19 were considered to be obese in 2012, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention Department (CDC). This means that over a third of all American children and adolescents were either obese or overweight. In response to the increased health conditions associated with
N
S Editors-in-Chief: Priscilla Joel Bennett Smallwood Business Manager: Austin Ferguson Business: Brandon McCarty Editors: Sports Editor: Garret Griffin Opinions Editor: Anthony Kristensen Copy Editor: Zoe Lawson Design Editor: Erika Paar Content Editor: Jamie Hetlage General Staff: David Bodden Erin Levins Claire Boenitz Joe Luley McKayla Bogda Kylie Moser Dan Borrelli Samantha Schmid Deidre Dinkins Karis Skaggs Aly Doty Ethan Slaughter Carolynn Gonzalez Noah Slaughter Sasha Kaganov Breighen Williams Riley Kampff Emily Wilson Editor in Chief of Photography: Alyssa Savage Photo Editors: Photo Essay Editor: Abby Temper Newspaper Photo Editor: Amanda Eckhard Yearbook Photo Editor: Ashton Stegman Sports Photo Editor: Lauren Price Portrait Editor: Madi Graves (Cartoon by Joe Luley)
unhealthy eating habits, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) requires certain standards that must be met by all public schools. These standards are implemented by FHN to provide all American students with the opportunity to practice healthy eating habits. No, you don’t need to purge sugary drinks and sweets from your life to maintain a balanced diet, but you do need to be continuously conscious of the decisions you make concerning your health. The famous expression “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” cannot be true if the apple is supplemented with an abundance of junk food. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines “diet” as “food and drink regularly provided or consumed.” This means that the sum of all of the food choices made by an individual determines the healthiness of their eating habits. Many students eat one of their three daily meals at school, where the chances of purchasing and consuming a large quantity of junk food is relatively unlikely due to the strict nutritional guidelines enforced by our school. However, stopping by the gas station and picking up a large slushie and a bag of Ruffles everyday nullifies any attempt at practicing healthy eating habits. Teenagers live busy lives, so naturally, they are more likely to stop by the local fast food place rather than at a sit-down restaurant. About five out of every ten Americans say that they eat fast food at least once a week.
However, the problem with this is that the food offered at these places is extremely unhealthy. Recent studies from the Huffington Post show that even meals from full-service restaurants sometimes have an equal or greater sodium or cholesterol concentration than fast food restaurants. Another reason fast food is so popular among teenagers in America is that it is becoming easier and easier to get with minimal effort. In addition to the already existing services offered by restaurants such as drive-throughs and food delivery, an increasing number of people are also ordering right from their couch online. Another thing to notice is that many of the fast food restaurant workers are teenagers, and in most of these restaurants, employees get discounts on their food if purchased from that restaurant. This further increases the likelihood of teenagers purchasing fast food. Another factor that results in an unhealthy diet is one of the most well-known issues among teenagers. Skipping breakfast. Many students blame their lack of time or appetite, while others consume a bowl of sugar, or cereal, for their daily, morning meal. While FHN is taking one step in the right direction to promote healthy eating habits through the choices they offer, their efforts are simply not enough. Each and every single student has to make a commitment to improve their diet.
Photographers: Samantha Alexander Hannah Medlin Ashleigh Barlow Kyra Peper Jessie Define Kristen Pike Emily Floyd Aleah Riley Sarah Gerrelts Alexis Rowe Jared Kinnard Lucas Tabaka Alex Lane Tristan Tainter Riley McCrackin Katie Warsham
FHNTODAY STAFF Web Editors: Webmaster: Chase Meyer Online Sports Editor: Garret Griffin Web Staff: Michal Basford Martin Groves Josh Cage Jacob Lintner Tristan Chenoweth Joe Luley Zach Mills Editor-in-Chief of Video: Autumn Todd Video Editors: Kyle Cuppy Brayton Larson Video Staff: Alyssa Barber Joseph Samuels Laraya Griffith Taylor Sheridan Destiny King Ilona Soininen Ben Moxley Adam Quigley Kamila Zendran Advisers: Aaron Manfull Jordyn Kiel
FHNTODAY.COM PAGE BY BENNETT SMALLWOOD
11.4.15
46
Guess that Baby 1
2
3
4
5
6
Can You Match the Baby with the Teacher? • Mr. Willott, Math • Mr. Whitthaus, Chemistry • Mrs. Steep, Assistant Principal • Mr. Crow, Government • Mrs. Holmes, English • Mrs. Maples, Art
Thanksgiving Crossword Puzzle 1
Key: ACROSS: 1- Tasty treats enjoyed after Thanksgiving dinner. 4-The people most spend Thanksgiving with. 6- A day right after Thanksgiving where many stores offer massive sales. 8- The company that puts on a huge Thanksgiving parade every year. 10- A Thanksgiving treat made of an orange gourd.
DOWN: 2- The main feature of most Thanksgiving dinners. 3- Red berries used to make a popular sauce. 5- The main meal at Thanksgiving. 7- The act of slicing a turkey to prepare to serve it. 9- A vegetable often confused with sweet potatoes.
2
3
4 5 6
8
7
9
10
For the solutions to both puzzles, visit http://goo.gl/brukqc