October 21, 2021 - North Star by North Star

N ORT H

From the POV

This issue of the North Star is focused on the students of FHN who don’t always get a chance to share their story FHNtoday.com

Francis Howell North St. Charles, MO 63303 10.20.21 | Vol 36 Issue 02

@FHNtoday

CONTENTS ENTERTAINMENT 2 Cryptid Quiz

Figure out which crytpid you are after taking a quiz.

Comics

Check out various comics made by our illustrators.

FEATURES

NEWS 7

Rules & Guidelines

Learn more about our 2021 COVID-19 policies and compare them to last year.

10 Picking A Principal

Find out more about the process of picking a new permanent principal.

SPORTS

OPINIONS

29 Star Quarterback

10 Computer v. Paper

32 Doubling in Size

36 Vaccination

As one of the team captains, Jordan Minter has a big role on the field

The FHN cross country team nearly doubled in size from last season

What is the better way to take notes: on paper or on a computer?

22 Foreign Exchange

Get to know the foreign exchange students that have joined FHN this year.

25 Passion for Plays Learn more about Nigel Bailey and his passion for theater.

ON THE COVER

A story begins to be written. Surrounded by books, someone writes on a piece of paper. (Photo Illustration by Avery Witherbee)

FHN teachers and students share their thoughts on getting vaccinated

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR When we look at the students who fill the halls there isn’t one who looks like another. Each person has gone through their fair share of good and bad days. Each person has their own story. We may not all have a story that takes over headlines, but everyone here at North has something unique to share with the world. In this issue of the North Star we

cover a range of topics from serious to light-hearted. We take a look at students who don’t always get a chance to share their story with others. We wanted to highlight those students because everyone matters no matter who you are. We also cover some more lighthearted topics like events in the community and fun Halloween activities.

Editor-in-Chief, Macy Cronin

North Star | 10.20.2021

by Justin Brewer

MARVEL

Senior Ash Swift opens Kahoot on a phone. Kahoot is one of the study games teachers use to add fun to their classrooms. (Photo by Sky Hebisen)

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, there has been a huge stack of shows and movies that came out in 2021 after many were postponed due to COVID-19. Here is a look at what’s already been released and what else is dropping before the new year.

WANDAVISION (January 2021) Disney+ Series WandaVision is a fluffy sitcom that follows lovers Wanda and Vision through the decades but is hiding a secret bigger than they can keep.

2021

“I like WandaVision because of the interpersonal relationship between the characters.” - Lee Kolkmeier, 11

“I liked Falcon and the Winter Soldier the most. I thought it was really emotional.” - Isabelle Apple, 9

LOKI (June 2021) Disney+ Series In an alternate timeline, Loki stole the Tesseract from the Avengers during their Stone Heist in Avengers: Endgame, giving Loki an audience with the organization in charge of time. The show has been renewed for a second season.

BLACK WIDOW (July 2021) Disney+ and Theatrical Release After her Avengers family breaks up, Black Widow has to embark on a mission with her old family to take down the Red Room. SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS (September 2021) Theatrical Release Shang-Chi, a weapons-based martial artist, is thrown face-first into his past after joining the Ten Rings organization.

WHAT IF..? (August 2021) Disney+ Series This series of standalone adventures follows big parts of the MCU timeline but throws in a twist to keep everyone on their toes.

What if there were multiple hulks? -Braeden Witherbee, 9

What if Iron Man lived? -Heather Shea, 11

THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDIER (March 2021) Disney+ Series A buddy-cop show about the Falcon and the Winter Soldier trying to fill Captain America’s shoes while also fighting their own battles.

“My favorite part was the fight sequences since you couldn’t tell it was CGI, it was well done.” - Dan Lamb, History Teacher THE ETERNALS (November 2021) Theatrical Release The movie follows the Eternals, a group of celestial beings that have shaped the civilizations of Earth for centuries.

What if the Avengers never existed? -Brenna Doss, 11

“It seems very interesting how there are ancient forces fighting off dark forces that apparently want to eradicate all of humanity.” - Alex Prudhomme, 9

HAWKEYE (November 2021) Disney+ Series The original Hawkeye, Clint Barton has to confront his past with the help of a young archer named Kate Bishop to make it home for Christmas. “I’ve always wanted to know more about his backstory and more about him and Natasha’s friendship. Also having him as more of a main character, instead of just showing up when he needs to.” - Lily Duncan, 9

by Michaela Manfull

YOU ARE HERE

2022

SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME (December 2021) Theatrical Release After Spider-Man’s alter ego is revealed to the public, he asks Doctor Strange for help, but the forces required are darker than they can handle. “Seeing his life after Mysterio outs him but also new superheroes, along with Peter and MJ’s relationship. I think the entire movie is going to be really coo.,” - Heather Shea, 11

PLAY TO LEARN

Most students love when teachers try to make studying fun. Over the years, study games have gotten more and more popular. This is due to their friendly competitiveness and their rising and falling point values until one person or team wins. Some teachers offer prizes that students go crazy for and some students just want to win for the bragging rights. Some of the most popular study games right now are Kahoot, Quizlet Live and Gimkit. Each game has its own unique quirk that drives people to love the game whether it be the up beat music in the background or the power ups you can get to knock others down. (story by Maya Helbig) Kahoot “I like the competition and once in a while they show you who’s first, second and third.” Cloei Evans, 9 Quizlet “I like how crazy it is, like everyone’s screaming in the room, it’s just fun I like the energy.” Gracie Bauer, 11 Gimkit “It is very interactive and students learn without realizing that’s what they’re doing.” Anne McPartland, German teacher

(Content and Illustrations by Michaela Manfull)

North Star | 10.20.2021

WHICH CRYPTID ARE YOU? Find out what fiendish ghoul you are by circling the words in each row that speak to you most, whichever column has the most circled is your result (Content by Ryleigh O’Donnell)

Sports game

School dance

Staying home

Sleepover with friends

Close with teammates

Multiple friend groups

Alone time

One or two good friends

Dogs

Cats

Rabbits

Ferrets

Country music

Pop music

Indie music

Hyperpop music

Sports

Drama

Horror

Comedy

Red

Purple

Blue

Yellow

Sports

Shopping

Art

Music

MOTH MAN

JERSEY DEVIL

LOCHNESS MONSTER

GEF THE MONGOOSE

Man or moth? Allegedly spotted in Born with a true devilish side, the West Virginia, Mothman has been Jersey Devil was found in New described as a large bird with red Jersey. Many say it’s presence can eyes that can fly up to 100 miles be seen and felt and it tends to raid per hour. It’s always been seen at chicken coops and farms. Many night and whenever you see it, it policemen and government officials tends to run off in the blink of an have claimed to see it and a bounty eye, sometimes taking dogs in of $100,000 was put on its head at the process. You are a very sporty some point. You are truly a trouble person. You tend to love the maker, you tend to be drawn to outdoors, competition and dogs! drama, gossip and love to stir the You are very social and probably pot. Peace and quiet has always enjoy a good game every now and seemed a little boring so why not then. shake it up a little for fun? “I would say it was 75% accurate. I do enjoy games, especially hockey. I love hockey and baseball and I’m pretty outgoing,” Joseph Brocksmith, science teacher

“I think it’s very accurate. I love to destroy and I love to do all the evil stuff,” Erik Henze, 12

North Star | 10.20.2021

The shy lake monster, Nessie, has only been spotted by a few. Most claims she doesn’t exist at all while others are adamant she exists. Found in Scotland and one of the most elusive cryptids, Nessie has been spotted many times but isn’t entirely photogenic. You are shy and reclusive. You tend to dislike taking photos and prefer to be alone most of the time, but that doesn’t mean you don’t crave a little bit of the spotlight.

You are the eighth wonder of the world. Gef the mongoose is a mischievous cryptid from Europe, who is said to have haunted the Irving’s farmhouse. Gef was very prideful of himself and his mysteriousness, he loved to play pranks on reporters and claimed to keep the Irving Family safe. You are loyal to your friends yet are the wild card of the group. You can be very protective over them, but also a little temperamental at times.

“I think it’s accurate because I hate taking photos of myself,” Trent Clifton, 12

“People always say I’m out of pocket and I always say things that get me kicked out of group chats,” Julian Washington, 11

by Ryleigh O’Donnell

HOMEMADE VS STORE BOUGHT Students around FHN speak out about whether they prefer to make their own costume or to buy one from the store (Content by Maya Helbig)

October marks the kickoff of Halloween season. Some people have just started planning a Halloween costume, others have been planning one for months. Or people forget, ending with them buying one last minute. To some people, homemade costumes are a level up, buying pieces that can be reused, sewing things together to get the most realistic look. Others just like to buy a prepackaged costume off of a shelf and they don’t have to worry about it again. Both ways come with ups and downs, store bought usually is made with cheap material and homemade can require a lot of time that people may not want to spend.

Cayla Caswell, 11 “Homemade ones have never really turned out that well for me.”

Tyler Rundel, 9 “[Buying costumes], It’s easier. It didn’t require as much time.”

Sean Ireland, 11 Marijane Clubbs, 12 “Homemade costume allow me to be more “I prefer homemade because store bought is creative and it introduces a large spectrum of usually cheap material.” ideas.”

NO GUTS, ALL GOREY

FHN students talk about their favorite pumpkin carving memories and their favorite parts of the carving process (Story by Macy Cronin)

Fall is officially in swing and pumpkin patches are open. This means some FHN students are heading out with their families to pick out the perfect pumpkin for carving. While pumpkin carving is a messy activity, some FHN families still choose to participate nearly every year. Laying down newspapers on the dinner table and getting the carving tools ready, families come together to carve designs into pumpkins. Joseph Cuneo, 11 “[My favorite part is] the ability to make whatever I want. I like to go with kind of complex things, like video game logos or faces. My sister likes to carve it, like scrape it off to get the different shading, so she helps me with details.”

Leeanna Daniels, 11 “We usually go outside and it gets pretty messy and pumpkin guts are everywhere. [My favorite part is] throwing pumpkin guts at my sister.” Grace Formme, 9 “[The best part is] making the mess. I love making messes with all the stuff inside of them.”

(Illustrations by Sky Hebisen)

by Ryleigh Macy Cronin O’Donnell

North Star | 10.20.2021

COMICS

THE SAMMY ARCHIVES by Sky Hebisen

CATASTROPHES by Ryleigh O’Donnell

THE DINO TALES by Ankita Pandurangi

North Star | 10.20.2021

by Maya Helbig

WELCOME TO HIGH SCHOOL by Michaela Manfull

THE BRODER BROTHERS by Maya Helbig

WACKY ADVENTURES WITH JOME by Alex Wheadon

by Maya Helbig

North Star | 10.20.2021

CELEBRATE YOUR 2022 GRAD PURCHASE AN FHN YEARBOOK AD TODAY PARENTS AND FAMILY: Don’t miss this opportunity to applaud your child’s achievements and send them your love in a special way. Celebrate with photos and words of congratulations, praise and encouragement. STUDENTS: Recognize and celebrate the relationships you’ve formed on teams, in classes, in clubs and in the hallways.

PRICES AND DETAILS: The ads will be produced in full color and designed by the trained FHN Yearbook advertising staff. You will be provided with a proof of your ad before printing. All you have to do is provide the photo(s) and message electronically. FULL PAGE: $360 2/3 PAGE: $250 1/3 PAGE: $140

2/9 PAGE: $95 1/9 PAGE: $60

DEADLINE: DEC. 8 QUESTIONS? 1. Visit Balfour.com and find Francis Howell North 2. Click “yearbooks,” then “yearbook ads” 2. Select the ad size you’d like to purchase 3. Click “add to cart” and Checkout 4. Send the info, photos and message via the instructions in the Balfour email received after ad purchase

Contact Yearbook Adviser Jordyn Kiel: 636-851-5048 jordyn.kiel@fhsdschools.org

Crossword Puzzle

WHERE CAN I FIND IT? The answers to this crossword puzzle can be found in various parts of the paper. Use the clues as well as the page number hints to help navigate the paper and find the answers 1

4 5 6

11 12

Down 1. Nico Schuchman is the caption of which e-sports team? (Page 31) 2. Which teacher is running a marathon in Cincinnati over fall break? (Page 26) 3. The Pumpkin Glow halloween event will be held where on Oct.22-23? (Page 11) n: 5. What is the media programs social handle?(Cover) 6. Who is the up a sign of that reads “Welcome ico Schuchman isstudent theholding caption which to the Realm?” (Page 21) 7. This is(Page the name of31) one of Nigel Bailey’s plays. (Page 25) -sports team? 10. Foreign exchange student, Andreea Vacarus, is holding a shirt that phrase on it.(Page 22) Which teacher isthisrunning a marathon in 11. What is the tradition called when junior and seniors play football fall againstbreak? each other?(Page 8) incinnati over (Page 26) 13. What award did Cody Fingers win in 2012? (Page 14) he Pumpkin Glow be 14. Who was thehalloween athlete of the week event the week of will Sept. 21? (Page29) eld where 15. onWhat Oct.22-23? (Page 11) is the name of the website you can buy your yearbook on? (Page 6)

What is the media programs social handle? Cover) by Justin Brewer Who is the student holding up a sign that

Across: 4. Who took the photo of the skeletons? (Page 11) 8. According to this story, the FHN varsity soccer team will be playing which team on Oct. 21? (Page 28) 9. Which senior is caught mid-flip in this photo? (Page 32) 12. The comic illustrated by Ryleigh O’Donnell is titled what? (Page 4) Across: 16. Who gives handshakes out in the hallway 18) took the photo of the skeletons (p 4. (page Who 17. We now do grades by what instead of quarters? 11) (Page 11) 18. What month was Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten released? (Page 1) 8. Rings According to this story, the FHN varsit 19. What is the name of the Border brother that stole Harbor’s Halloween idea? playing (Page 5) soccer teamcostume will be which team

Oct. 21? (Page 28) 9. Which senior is caught mid-ﬂip in this photo? (Page 32) 12. The comic North illustrated by Ryleigh O'Don Star | 10.20.2021 07 is titled what? (Page 4)

Seniors Grace Herbert, Gabe Kasper and juniors Parker Bruns, Amelia Churma and Joshi Vargas pose in their Powderpuff attire. Kasper is a coach for the seniors, Bruns is a crowd pleaser and Vargas, Chruma and Herbert are competing. (Photo by Taylor Hill)

Reel works with her Francis Howell North art students.(Photos by Kylie Taliaferro)

Participants of this years powderpuff game share what they’re looking forward to.

TEACHING AT TWO SCHOOLS Teacher Holly Reel teaches art in the Francis Howell School District at not one school, but two. Adapting to many different age groups has been difficult as she teaches art at FHN first hour, then at Barnwell Middle for the rest of her day. Dealing with high schoolers and middle schoolers are very different experiences, but according to Reel, it’s rewarding as she gets to help different ages create and be inspired by different kinds of art. “I think that there is something great about every single class that I teach,” Reel said. “The thing that I like about high school is that there seems to be more focus and that might just come with the age and development of maturity that you’re able to tune into your own process a little bit more than what you might see in middle school. With that being said, I also see a lot of young kids coming in and just being ultra excited to create something even if it’s just cutting up cardboard and turning it into a castle.” Teaching at FHN, Reel gets to see former students that she once taught at Barnwell grow up and find their own paths whether that is in their art or in their life. “It’s fun seeing her here now and I enjoyed seeing her in both classes,” former Barnwell student and current sophomore Alexis Morlen said. (Story Anna Scognamiglio)

North Star | 10.20.2021

Junior Sophia Black “Getting the Jersey and playing the game.” Junior Lucy Fajatin “I wanted to join to have a friendly competition between the juniors and seniors”. Senior Sydney Williams“I’m looking forward to stepping out of my comfort zone, and really end my senior year making memories I’ll have forever.”

POWDERPUFF MAKES A RETURN

Powderpuff was cancelled last year due to COVID-19, but makes its return this October by Morgan Chairs

mchairs303@g.fhsdschools.org

fter not having powderpuff last year due to COVID-19, powderpuff is back in full force this year and many are excited to continue the Francis Howell North tradition. “I’m just excited that we get to do it, I can tell that the students are really excited,” Co-sponsor of Knights of Excellence and English teacher Kristen Johnson said. “You know, we’ve had a couple of years where we didn’t get to do all the things, but this year it seems like it’s gonna work so I’m just excited to see how pumped up the students are.” For those at North who haven’t experienced powderpuff, it is a flag football game between the senior and junior girls that is annually sponsored by the Knights Of Excellence. The game has usually been associated with homecoming in the past, however since homecoming was in mid-September this year, it’s been moved to October. Powderpuff isn’t just for the girls, there are opportunities for the male students of

FHN to coach the girls in their grade. “Really it’s just a fun time for the junior and senior girls,” Johnson said. “We also have coaches who get really into it and we also have boys who sign up to be crowd pleasers. So, it’s really just about spirit and having fun for the school.” Due to the cancellation of the game last year, the current seniors missed out on playing as juniors, making this year more important than ever. But, it’s not just the seniors that have something to prove. “[My goal is] to make the juniors win,” junior powderpuff coach Jackson Cutlan said. “Yeah, everyone says it’s impossible, it’s not I swear.” For other students, winning would just be an added bonus. The real reward comes with the experience and excitement of it all. Especially for those who are at the center of it all. “I’m definitely looking forward to the atmosphere and excitement,” senior powderpuff coach Alex Roland said. “Powderpuff games are alway very crazy. Also coaching sounds really fun, I’m interested to see what it’s like.”

by Ray Hathcock

SNAP SHOT CHALLENGE

Construction of the new FHN location has started (Photo by Andrew Goffinet)

Students taking Jordyn Kiel’s Intro to Photojournalism class do weekly photo challenges, here are some of the winners

Photojournalism teaches students how to operate a DSLR camera, work lightroom and other Adobe programs

A man holds his motorcycle. (Photo by freshman Delaney St. John)

NEW SCHOOL UPDATES

A butterfly stretches its wings on a flower. (Photo by freshman Delaney St. John)

Colorful lights cast shadows on outside Halloween decorations. (Photo by sophomore Om Nair)

FHN is set to get a new school in the fall of 2024, but some people don’t know what to truly expect from all this. Francis Howell North High School originally opened in 1986 as Henderson Middle School. The school has had some renovations here and there, including a new science wing. With the building of the new school, many people have questions and opinions regarding the build. “The people that are working here will pack up and move over there,” head principal Dr. Lucas Lammers said. There are many new and improved features being built into the school. There will be more collaborative work space. The school will also include bigger classrooms and a more organized structure to it. “The thing I’m most excited about is there’s a better effort for there to be a better collaborative work space outside of just the learning commons,” Lammers said. “At our current building if you’re working with a group on something outside of the classroom there’s not a lot of places to go and there has been a deliberate effort to include more things like that in the building.” (Story by Morgan Phillips)

A chess board is all set up ready to play. (Photo by sophomore Etaf Abdallah)

by Morgan Chairs

North Star | 10.20.2021

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Interim head principal Dr. Lammers works in his new office here at FHN(Photo by Matt Wells)

OCTOBER 21 What: Powderpuff game Where: FHC Stadium Time: 7 p.m.

Find out more about powderpuff on page 8

OCTOBER 22 & 23 What: Pumpkin Glow Where: St. Charles Historic Main Street Time: 5 - 9 p.m.

October 25 - 29 Fall Break No School

NOVEMBER 1&2 Teacher PD day & Election Day, No School

North Star | 10.20.2021

Scan the QR code look at the full FHSD calendar

FHN LOOKS FOR A PRINCIPAL by Morgan Chairs

mchairs303@g.fhsdschools.org

his year, like last year, came with a lot of changes. However, one change the students of Francis Howell North didn’t expect was the resignation of the head principal Dr. Nathan Hostetler. With Hostetler’s absence came the need to fill the position of North’s head principal. “Sometimes, we have administrators that have to resign or retire at the very last minute because of some unforeseen circumstance and that’s kind of what happened here,” District Chief of Human Resources Lisa Simpkins said. To become a principal, candidates have to meet certain criteria in addition to having the certifications that are required by the state of Missouri in order to be a principal. The criteria consists of having experience teaching at the high school level, being an assistant or associate principal and knowing what administrative work is like before they step into that head principal role. However, those aren’t the only thing HR looks for in candidates. “I want to see somebody who has a strong vision for our building,” Associate Principal Erin Steep said. “Somebody who understands what makes North

unique, and is excited about that and understands how to channel that into the future.” The process of finding a principal is a tedious process that takes a lot of time. Candidates go through multiple different interviews, some being as short as 30 minutes, others being as long as two hours. After a long list of interviews, the process doesn’t end there. The final decision is made by the school board when the candidate is presented to them “I’ll explain why we thought that this is the best candidate for the position,” Simpkins said. “Then the Board of Education will vote to hire or not hire our recommendation, and then once the board approves that, then we’re able to announce that person to the staff [and] the community.” Since the replacement was last minute, most potential candidates already are under contracts with other school districts. This means North is more likely to have a new principal this coming 2022-2023 school year. “Our goal is to post the position and start this process around the end of November, early December,” Simpkins said, “so that we can possibly name the new principal by January or February, depending on when we get started.”

by Morgan Phillips

Pumpkins are displayed outside of Joy’s Collective Market on Main Street on Sept. 29. During the Pumpkin Glow event, multiple buildings on Main Street display Pumpkins and Jack o’ lanterns. (Photo by Sophia Stachula)

JACK O’ LANTERNS LIGHT UP MAIN STREET Halloween is right around the corner and many people are left wondering what events can one enjoy before the actual holiday arrives. Now students could go to a haunted house, or even enjoy a pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks, or visit the Pumpkin Glow in Historic St. Charles for an evening. Pumpkin Glow is a “spook-tacular” event happening on Historic Main Street from Friday, Oct. 22 to Saturday, Oct. 23. The Pumpkin Glow is from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. both Friday and Saturday and is free for everyone to enjoy. The streets will be lined up with hundreds of creatively decorated pumpkins. Local

shops and guests bring their one of a kind pumpkins from far and wide. Also head on over to Light Up Lanterns to hear spooky scary ghost stories. Shops will also be open late with lots of great deals to shop. Senior Nick Shanks says Halloween has been his favorite holiday ever since he was a little boy. Shanks had never heard of Pumpkin Glow, but after learning what the event entailed, he said he would like to experience it. “Yeah I would [go],” Shanks said. “It sounds fun, probably something I would go to with my family.” (Brief by Morgan Phillips)

M.A.C SCHOLARS INCLUDE ALL

M.A.C Scholars is a diversity club here at North, which stands for Multicultural Achievement Committee. It’s a place where students can build strong character and prepare for their futures. The club is open to students of all different ethnicities and backgrounds. “We heavily thrive on making sure that all students in general are represented,” Adviser and Library Media Specialist Gabrielle Weston said. Sophomore Jana Rawashdeh has been a M.A.C Scholar since freshman year. As a member of this club, Rawashdeh has been exposed to many new opportunities. M.A.C Scholars does many things to prepare for their future such as college tours, visiting museums and more. “Minority students, especially minority communities, they usually don’t have as many opportunities as you would see in white communities,” Rawashdeh said. “ M.A.C Scholars is really about giving us those opportunities.” (Brief by Hope Moseley)

by Morgan Phillips

Library Media Specialist, Gabrielle Weston, poses in the learning commons. Weston is also the M.A.C. Scholar Adviser. The club works to build strong characters and open up new opportunities for minority groups.. (Photo by Sky Hebisen)

Brocksmith helps one of his students working with a topographical map. (Photo by Andrew Poertner)

THE NEW WAY TO GRADE This year, quarterly grades have been removed, leaving only semester grades in Infinite Campus. This has left people wondering why the change was made. “This makes assignments equally weighted over the course of the semester and so you end up with a fairer grade and a better grade representation of what the student knows and is able to do and understand,” David Brothers Director of curriculum and assessment said. After figuring out that quarters were harming students’ grades, Brothers, teachers and team members set up a focus group. They asked for feedback about changing North’s 80% to 20% weighted grades to 90% semester grade and 10% final exam grade. “For students, that for whatever reason the first quarter didn’t go so well, having grades calculated all semester long actually helps their grade,” Brothers said. Now having this permanent upgrade to the grading system, Brothers believes that this change will improve students’ grades. It will also give the students who don’t have a great first quarter the ability to bounce back. “I love that there are no quarters anymore,” junior Sarah Moutray said. “If you bomb the first test of the semester, it won’t matter as much in the long run because you’ll be taking plenty more tests to distribute the bad score.” (Brief by Anna Scognamiglio)

North Star | 10.20.2021

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From the P.O.V

The world is viewed through many different lenses. Each person has their own story and own voice and every story deserves the chance to be shared. The special education program at North is home to students who have stories and voices that want to be shared. In this issue, we see the world and hear the stories through their point of view.

by Macy Cronin and McKenna Hudson

North Star | 10.20.2021

TO INCLUSION AND BEYOND Through the years, the community of students at North show that their school is one of acceptance and inclusion that rings true to this day by McKenna Hudson

mhudson365@g.fhsdschools.org

’’

What do you like about your essential skill class? “The general environment and we take it slow and learn a lot at the same time.” Ashton Burnett, 11 “[I like] art class because it gives me an excuse to draw at school.” Emily Stewart, 11

n the halls of North are hundreds of faces with hundreds of stories, each one unique from the other. Each face sees the world differently, thinks differently and has a different perspective on life. The students and staff of Francis Howell North recognize the uniqueness of their peers and the value of their character. From students nine years ago to students graduating this year, the community of North works to make the school feel welcoming to all. The Homecoming dance of 2012 was like no other. For one particular student, it was a night he would never forget. Singing and dancing along with his friends to his favorite singer, Elvis Presley, was a highlight of the dance. But the most memorable moment of that night nine years ago was when alumni Cody Fingers was crowned Homecoming King. Voted by his peers, Cody felt at home amongst friends he had been with since preschool. It was a shining moment for Cody and for other students like him with developmental disabilities. That night made him feel a part of the FHN community. His mother, English teacher at North Diane Fingers, recalls the night that Cody was crowned king.

“I was really thrilled for him, but I was really just in awe of the North kids who contrived to make that happen.” “It was something that his peers had been talking about doing since they were in elementary school together,” Diane said. At the time of his birth, Cody was diagnosed with Down syndrome, also known as Trisomy 21. From that point on, his heart would touch the lives of those around him. He progressed through the Francis Howell School District with the friends he would be beside until he graduated. “He was more than comfortable,” Diane said. “He was bullied, he was picked on, but he had a group of kids who watched over him like angels. His group of peers, the entire class of 2013. Many of them had been with

North Star | 10.20.2021

by Macy Cronin and McKenna Hudson

him since preschool and were genuinely accepting of Cody.” As for Cody’s time at North, he was embraced by his peers and loved by the general school population. His caring and loving personality made him a joyful presence at North. After he graduated in 2013, Cody enjoyed spending his time at Blank Canvas Studios, an art-based program for individuals with developmental disabilities. Last year, Cody was unable to attend Blank Canvas because of the pandemic. According to Diane, Blank Canvas has reopened its doors and Cody will be excited to return soon. While Cody no longer attends North, the inclusive environment he left behind is still apparent today. Through the years, North has remained an accepting place for all students. Jennifer Barry, a special education teacher at Francis Howell North feels that students with learning disabilities feel accepted among their fellow students at North. Life for Barry is never boring she says. Anintense game of Uno raged as Barry explained how students with developmental disabilities are represented at North. “Did somebody win?” Barry asked. “I won,” junior Max Schnettgoecke, a student of Barry’s, said. “Does anybody know how to shuffle? If you don’t know how to shuffle, put them down on the table and spread them all around and mix them up. Max can take some and he can mix them up. Ricky can take some and mix them up,” Barry said. The game continued on for numerous rounds, each student participating, racking up wins. “I’m sorry about that. Well, I think [students with developmental disabilities] have opportunities to participate in any extracurricular things, things that are going on at the school,” Barry said. “During Knight Time, we’ve been a part of the contests that they’ve run. The other teachers who [our students] are in class work with us. We have a good understanding, typically, between the teachers and the parents and special education teachers on how to best support [them]. So, most of the general education teachers are very

by Macy Cronin and McKenna Hudson

welcoming of our students in our classes and are willing to help them succeed in their classes.” Students in special education classes are welcome to participate in all things North. This past year, the program has seen students in an array of extracurricular activities at North, such as Iron Knights, cheerleading and more. Other students enjoy getting to experience a high school experience from the sidelines. Ricky Alderson is a sophomore at North. Painting is one thing Alderson enjoys and his favorite class is art where he gets to express himself. For Alderson, his teachers are what make all the difference “I feel heard,” Alderson said. “They’re nice, they help the students. Like when they write work on the board so we can see.” Barry, as well as other special education teachers, hope to prepare their students for the future by having classes specifically designed to prepare them for life beyond North. “What I would want other students to know about is that [students with developmental disabilities are] teenagers just like them,” Barry said. “They are striving for things after high school, they have goals and things that they are working towards.” For students with developmental disabilities, their futures all look different. For Cody, he has a life where he can express his artistic talents. For Alderson, his future may look a bit different. “I want to move to California,” Alderson said. “Me and my friends want to move there together.” Whether students move across the country or stay homebound, the universal message from the community of Francis Howell North is one of acceptance and inclusion. “I think the vast majority are viewed as just students,” Diane said. “Just like any difference we need to acknowledge the value of everyone, whether it’s a differing ability, or whatever else. Once you’re out in the real world, you’re going to run into tons of people who aren’t identical to you in so many very different ways. Just be human, be a good human.”

’’

More moments of Cody “The other day, he knew his sister had a really bad headache. So he went and got a coke from his refrigerator and gave it to her, like left it in her room. He didn’t say anything about it, just gave her the Coke because he knew that caffeine helps. He just does little things like that, he’s just pretty awesome.”

North Star | 10.20.2021

Diane Fingers, Teacher

WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS Senior Dallas Curativo has reached the end of his high school career and is now thinking about his future beyond the walls of North

MORE INFO When Dallas grows up, he wants to work for the president in Washington D.C. At home, Curavito loves to watch Marvel movies with his dog, Winnie.

by Amber Winkler

amberewinkler@gmail.com

he stadium was destroyed. Large machines and bare earth now inhabited where the important structure once sat. Once he saw that the construction of the new Francis Howell North high school had begun, senior Dallas Curativo came to the realization that he would be graduating this year. This is when he discovered just how much he would miss this school. When Curativo was born, he experienced a traumatic brain injury due to a bleed in his brain, which led to seizures at birth. The brain injury changed Curativo’s life when he was 6, resulting in him being diagnosed with a developmental disorder known as Autism. In 2010, Curativo had his third brain surgery, this one to separate the two hemispheres of his brain. Curativo’s mother, Heather Novak said the surgery stopped his epileptic seizures, which saved his life. “When he came out of surgery, he recovered and he was no longer angry,” Novak said. “Before, he didn’t know what empathy was, he would fall down and wouldn’t know to cry because his brain was so deteriorated by the seizures. So, when we got the surgery for him in 2010, his brain opened up and that’s how he was able to learn and read and he’s calm and he’s caring and he’s empathetic.” According to Novak and Pentecost, Curativo’s Autism mostly affects the way he learns and processes information. The surgery allowed him to learn easier, go to middle school and then onto high school. Curativo feels like a part of the community and really loves it at Francis Howell North. Curativo loves to attend every dance he can and also loves to participate in spirit days leading up to the dance. He has made many friends at North, including his girlfriend, fellow senior Julia Kottmann. “I absolutely love [that he has a girlfriend],” Novak said. “He and her. You couldn’t get such an innocent relationship. They do genuinely care about each other. It’s just, it’s so sweet. Her mother and I, we make it a point for them to be together and see each other and it’s just, they love each other, they know that it’s love.” Curativo’s classes are a little smaller than other students at North, with only 10-12 students in each classroom. These smaller classes allow for more individualized learning for the students in the program. For Curativo, this gives him the ability to speak more freely and learn at his own pace. According

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to essential skills teacher Lisa Pentecost, he likes to say what’s on his mind, tell jokes when he has the opportunity and make very accurate comparisons with Marvel movies when he is in the classroom. “He’s had a lot of growth,” Pentecost said. “He’s had a very positive effect on his teachers and the students around him. He’s brought a lot of joy to people’s days. He’s just in a good mood all the time and if he is a little cranky about something, he’ll just snap out of it so fast. If somebody else is sad or mad he’ll just be like ‘oh’ and he pushes all of his feelings aside or anything he’s feeling bad about. He’s there for other people.” Curativo’s high school experience differs a little from others since he isn’t really focused on getting into a college or any other post secondary education. As his time at North is coming to an end, Curativo’s has been preparing for his life after high school. Curativo has been going to the Applied Retail and Business Skills program at Lewis and Clark technical school, also known as ARBS, to help him transition into life after high school. There, he learns essential skills for a work environment and gets some training in that area. These skills will help him with a job after he leaves high school. “He totally totally enjoys Lewis and Clark,” Novak said. “He really loves it there. He learns so much over there that’s going to benefit him when he does go to work, that’s what’s awesome about it.” Leaving high school may be very hard for Curativo. When he graduates next spring, he will lose the structure and routine that he has built and become so used to within the walls of the school. This means that he will have to build new routines for his life at home once he has completed school. He will also be leaving behind some of the relationships he has created over the years. According to Novak, she will be doing her best to ensure Curativo still gets to see his friends from North whenever he can. As Curativo thinks about his future, he considers where he wants to go and what he wants to do next. According to Novak, he will likely continue to live with his family and will have to get a job at some point in the future. Curativo says he wants to travel to places like Washington, D.C. and to one of the Disney parks after his graduation. “Yeah, I am graduating,” Curativo said. “Right after 2021 is 2022, that’s next year. When I saw, walking out there, that they are making a new school, I’m noticing I am going to miss this place like so hard. Especially Jake [Kent], Pentecost and everyone else.”

by Macy Cronin and McKenna Hudson

SKILLS FOR THE FUTURE FHN’s Essential Skills program helps students prepare for their lives past high school by Aadhi Satishkumar aadhikumarblue@gmail.com

ne of the cornerstones of special education is the essential skills program. This program is designed to facilitate the needs of students and prepare them for life after high school. Essential skills students participate in many different activities, from core classes to career exploration outside of school. “We’re part of the school, but students in our classes have different needs throughout their day that can’t be met in regular [education] classrooms,” essential skill teacher Jennifer Barry said. “Sometimes our classes focus on life skills and just supporting them with those skills after high school.” Inside the classroom, students have subjects such as English or math. However, the assignments they might get have a heavy emphasis on real-life application. “Currently in math, we are working on what we call banking basics,” fellow essential skills teacher Juli Smith said. “It’s on how to pay bills, how to keep a check register, how to write checks, how to use debit cards. Almost like a personal finance class.” Students in the program may have a few classes in essential skills, but also go to other classes, such as elective credits. One such student, sophomore Kyla Dalton, says she finds essential skills fun. “It’s pretty chill,” Dalton said. “It’s not as hard as I thought. I’m close with most of my teachers and I’m friends with classmates.” A key part of essential skills is Career Based Instruction, or CBI. In the past, students have gone out to different businesses, such as Walgreens, in order to get experience working. Students learn about jobs in retail and how to interact with customers and other employees. Additionally, students may work in the school’s cafeteria helping staff prepare lunch for students. “[CBI] is great for students. It’s giving them the life skills they need for after high school,” Barry said. “It also helps them work on social skills within the school setting.” A more selective program offered to students in essential skills is Applied Retail and Business Skills, or ARBS. This program is offered to juniors and seniors, and takes place at Lewis and Clark Career Center. Students help run a snack bar and get more experience in retail and food service. Compared to CBI, ARBS requires more from students and gives them more

by Macy Cronin and McKenna Hudson

responsibility. “[ARBS] is a competitive program for students with disabilities, there is an application process for students to get into it,” Smith said. “Typically, only a handful of students from our high school attend. They need someone to be independent and are on the path to be competitively employable.” One of the biggest challenges of essential skills is accommodating the variety of needs students may have. This challenge also manifests inside the classroom, where assignments may vary between individual students. “Let’s say an individual needs to work on being able to write out their personal information,” Smith said. “They are going to practice that, but then the student right next to them may know their personal information, but can they use their personal information and put it on a form. I think that’s one of the biggest challenges in essential skills, just the different levels and abilities in each classroom.” To help facilitate essential skills, teachers like Smith and Barry rely on paraprofessionals, support staff that help students with their needs. Unfortunately, staff availability is another challenge the essential skills program faces. Quarantines effect paraprofessional too and often the “Right now, it’s consistency with staffing and making sure we are able to support the students who need it the most,” Barry said. “It kind of puts a little bit of burden on our day, making sure students and staff are supported.” Supporting students has always been the main goal of school. Smith and Barry, along with other essential skills teachers and paraprofessional, play a vital role in supporting dozens of students. For them, the work brings much enjoyment. “We are with them all four years,” Barry said. “We get to kind of watch them through that whole process and get to know them very well. We usually see a lot of growth over four years, it’s a benefit to be able to witness that, being a part of helping them figure out their path.”

? CBI - Career Based Instruction ARBS - Applied Retail and Business Skills

Scan the QR code to read more on the shortage of Paraprofessionals

North Star | 10.20.2021

A HANDSHAKE IN THE HALLS Through the years, the community of students at North show that their school is one of acceptance and inclusion that rings true to this day by Macy Cronin

macy.cronin03@gmail.com

is food sits in the lunch basket, it was Bosco Stick day.

MORE INFO Malik has a younger brother and younger sister Malik likes to draw in his spare time

Malik goes to Lewis and Clark everyday first through fourth hour

Scan the QR code to learn more about Lewis and Clark Career Center

He holds it in his left hand as he wanders about the cafeteria looking left to right, searching for a familiar face. He snacks on his food while weaving in between tables and students to find his friends. He spots them. A tap on the shoulder gets their attention. He holds out his hand. A handshake, and he’s off again. “[Handshaking,] I think that’s his way of overcoming those social challenges,” senior Malik Wallace’s mother Andreea Whitley said. “He’s a gentle giant, a quiet person and a lot of times you don’t know what is going on in his head, but I think that he wants to have that ‘normal’ interaction with people. So, he goes out of his way to let people know ‘I’m here’, ‘I’m present’ and I think it brings him joy that people give him that energy back and they recognize him.” Words aren’t the only thing to connect people. It’s the little things that make the moments special. A nod or handshake in the hallway can make someone’s day that much more meaningful. Wallace has been able to use those methods of communication to form connections to the students that pass him by in the halls. “Seeing the challenges that Malik has overcome [has been rewarding as a parent],” Whitley said. “I remember when we started on this journey I didn’t know much about Autism, so I did not know what to expect. But I could just see the capability, I could see the determination, so I pressed forward in teaching him.” According to his mom, it takes longer for Wallace to process what may have been said, or longer to respond to a question. But he overcame those challenges and was able to take on a new opportunity. By attending Lewis and Clark Career Center he learns essential skills like cooking and is able to build connections with other teens his age. “[Going to Lewis and Clark] it’s giving him some skills, because we’re progressing into adulthood, so it’s giving him extra tools to use to move forward to provide himself the life he wants to have,” Whitley said. “Malik has goals and he has dreams and so going part of the day to Lewis and Clark is just giving him those extra skills to strengthen.”

North Star | 10.20.2021

Wallace’s first class after returning to FHN from Lewis and Clark is English class with Lisa Pentecost, there he builds his comprehension skills and learns how to format and send emails. Wallace finishes class with her then heads to science and then finally to math class with essential skills teacher Juli Smith. Wallace walks towards Smith’s room, white sneakers shuffling across the floor. He stops at the top of the stairs, stands and waits for the stream of students to stop flowing and then calmly walks down the stairs to class. In class they are guessing the prices of food at their favorite fast food restaurants. Smith writes the prices on the whiteboard and her students add the total with their calculators. Wallace turns in his chair towards the back of the room, a red and white mask pulled up on his face. He checks his answer with another student. Smith tells them they can leave class early and get a head start to the busses. Wallace grabs his black backpack, swings it over his shoulder and makes his way to the door. He walks up the stairs and down the hall to the front lobby. He sees SRO Mike Valenti. He runs. He holds out his hand. One final fist bump before the day is over. The bell rings and he walks out the doors to board the bus that will take him home to his family. “We just love him,” Whitley said. “The love here is unconditional. Home is always going to be home for him, he always has a place here. I think we are everything for him and he is everything for us. He’s my oldest child and we started this journey together and I absolutely love him.”

by Macy Cronin and McKenna Hudson

JUST ONE OF THE GUYS Sophomore Jonathan Davis branched out and played on the boys volleyball team by Olivia Van Horn

ovanhorn@g.fhsdschools.org

n end to a volleyball game like no other, except for one specific member of the Francis Howell North Volleyball C-Team, as he scored the winning point to end a demanding game last season. His teammates, coach and the crowd were buzzing with excitement for the win as he was celebrating with them. All of the hard work, showing up to every practice and game paid off for Jonathan Davis as he was the one who obtained the win for the team. “He scored the winning point and it was cool because they needed them to rely on everyone at that point and he did a great job,” Lisa Pentecost said Davis and the team couldn’t win every game, but their spirits never faltered. When the team did win it gave them a sense of pride. “He was really just one of the guys, he fit in exactly like everyone else,” math teacher and volleyball coach Kent Stover said. “He didn’t like losing, but accepted it because that’s part of the game but loved winning, especially when he got to play a lot. He liked that a lot, because he really didn’t care as long as he was on the court he got to play and he was having fun, that’s sort of what boys volleyball is all about.” Davis was on the C-Team for volleyball as a freshman in the 2020-21 school year. According to Davis, the most memorable thing about the team last year were the people. It felt like a family to him. Some of the nicest on the team were current sophomores Walter

by Macy Cronin and McKenna Hudson

Hammond and Aydin Dody. Davis would consider himself a sports person, he favors football, baseball and volleyball. His favorite class is currently physical education and he has had an interest in sports and cars for quite some time now. When he graduates from high school, Davis said he’d even like to work on cars. Davis has a competitive spirit and loved winning games, last year and like anyone who has a competitive spirit, he wanted as much game time as possible. Davis has a high amount of energy which helps him on the court. “My first impression was he’s got a lot of energy and a great sense of humor,” special education teacher Pentecost said. “We have a student who is very very quiet and shy and he was around and played with Jonathan, that he won’t do with anybody else. So, Jonathan can really bring that out in people.” Davis has made a great impression on many people at North, both Stover and Pentecost remarked that he has a great sense of humor. In addition, they say Davis has great sportsmanship, likes to make other people laugh and is very caring. Davis is happily waiting for volleyball this spring and is very excited to be on the team. “He is just a cool guy,” Pentecost said, “He tries to overcome a lot, but he’s just so strong and speedy. Volleyball was a great outlet for him.”

Scan the QR code to view FHN Game Day, FHN Today’s sport site

North Star | 10.20.2021

.COM PHOTO GALLERIES

COMIC CENTRAL

bit.ly/FHNComics

bit.ly/JVVolleyball

SOCIAL MEDIA

INSTAGRAM

On Sept. 28, FHN’s Girls Jv Volleyball team played against Liberty high school. In the last two sets the North Knights took the win for FHN. (Photos By: Payton Johnston and Kylie Taliaferro)

instagram.com/FHNtoday FHNtoday’s Instagram has new content every day. Outstanding students and student athletes are featured and there are photos from sports games and events, as well.

LOTS OF GREAT STORIES bit.ly/SoftballPhoto

On Oct. 4, the varsity softball team played Francis Howell High. In the first inning, the Knights scored 1 run. Unfortunately, FHHS fought back and scored 7 runs. FHN ended up losing 7-1. (Photos by Hannah Button)

TWITTER

bit.ly/CancerWorkout

bit.ly/FACSMarissaHeyer

A routine doctor’s check up turned into a fearful life for 5 year old Liam Baine. On May 13 of this year, he was diagnosed with cancer.

On Tuesday, Sept. 28, Family and Consumer Science (FACS) teacher Marissa Heyer was awarded the Emerson Excellence in Teaching award by FHN administration.

bit.ly/XCPhotos FHN Cross Country team competes at Koch Park on Oct. 8. The four races involved Boys Varsity plus JV and Girls Varsity and JV. (Photos by Amoolya Pandurangi and Ankita Pandurangi)

twitter.com/FHNtoday FHNtoday’s Twitter page posts daily about current school news, information about sports, and builds a community between students and staff through weekly features about staff at North.

TIKTOK

bit.ly/TopLemonade You might be thinking to yourself, reviewing the best lemonades around, that must be a pretty sour undertaking. In reality it was quite sweet, and so were the lemonades. Unfortunately that made the decision not so easy-peasylemon-squeezy.

bit.ly/CoachFarrar

Change, setting up in a new classroom and adjusting to a new curriculum, getting into a routine of practice is what science teacher Shawn Farrar is currently doing as the new head coach for the girls tennis team for the 2021-22 school year.

tiktok.com/@fhntoday Our TikTok account is home to style and music opinions, random questions with people from around school, and some cool sports videos. Not only do we reach our own students, but we’ve also reached over 140,000 people from around the country in one TikTok alone.

Jonah Sevier holds a sign welcoming students to The Realm on Sept. 9. Sevier is a part of the welcome team at the Junior Realm, which is a youth group center for Waypoint church.(Photo By Sophia Stachula)

• Waypoint Church has two services on Sundays mornings, One at 9 A.M. and another one at 10:45 A.M. • Each services lasts about an hour and 15 minutes long. • The members are greeted before the service and able to grab a cup of tea or coffee before the sermon starts. • They start out with music with everyone standing and then the sermon begins and everyone takes a seat. The music lasts through the entire sermon. • There are a few announcements and reminders that go out before the churchgoers are released.

FAITH AND FELLOWSHIP

Junior Jonah Sevier has a role at Waypoint Church. This is how he balances his life, his love for the gospel and his work at the church by Stephanie Lichtenegger slichtenegger419@g.fhsdschools.org

aypoint church, located on Old Highway 94, is a place for all people to come and worship together. Waypoint has a big community of all types of ages. They have a children’s ministry, a student’s ministry, a young adult’s ministry and a regular adult ministry. But there happens to be a specific person that stands out from the rest, junior Jonah Sevier who is part of the student ministry. “On Sundays, I get up early and I try to get to church at 8:15,” Sevier said. “Then, I check in and try to help kids get to their rooms. I do games, transitioning, and things like that. After that I head upstairs and go to the A.M. service and then at night I head to life groups.” Sevier has been going there for about 10 years. He is very well known throughout the church for being a leader and a friend. According to churchgoers, Sevier is the kind of person where when he talks, people listen. “He is super teachable, genuinely cares for people, he will go out of his way to serve people, super friendly. He is actually one of the most welcoming people,” Associate student minister Nathan Brown said. Brown is also one of the life group leaders. He is someone Sevier looks up to. Life groups are where students get together with their grade level and have lesson plans, usually based on a

by Patricia Fechter

church service for students called mid-week. “I volunteer in the children’s area as a host and I am part of the high school welcome team,” Sevier said. Clark joined Waypoint church when he moved from southern California to Missouri. Jonah was a helping hand and helped Clark transition by giving him a friend and someone to talk to about anything he needed and to ask questions. “He empathizes well and he learns well and is able to teach people,” Waypoint student and junior at Francis Howell High School Anthony Clark said. Sevier tries to work church and the gospel into his everyday life. He tries to spread the gospel mostly through his actions, for example, making sure no one is left out and everyone is treated fairly, going out of his way to make sure everything is okay. “He is there to listen when you need it,” Clark said. “He keeps asking questions and makes it his mission to make sure you’re actually doing ok.” Sevier is a hard working student not just for his church, but for his school as well. He is also in the Fellowship of Christain Athletes and the FHN Tennis Team. He is always trying to make a difference in someone’s life. “I think Jonah would be a very good small group leader,” Brown said “Meeting with middle schoolers and going through discipleship with them. I could also see him doing bible study with his tennis team.”

North Star | 10.20.2021

(Waypoint Church’s website)

FULFILLS A DREAM

or as long as he can remember, senior Borjan Georgievski, a foreign exchange student from North Macedonia, has wanted to travel the world. Since he was a kid, he has had the dream of visiting the United States. When offered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to fulfill his childhood dream, it was too good to pass up. “My teacher said, ‘there’s a chance, there’s an exchange opportunity to go to study in a U.S. high school’ and I didn’t think twice,” Georgievski said. “I was like, I’m gonna take this opportunity right away. I wasn’t scared. I never doubted myself one moment. I knew I was gonna get that scholarship from day one, I just believed.” The opportunity to learn was promising for Georgievski, but beyond education he wanted the personal challenge that breaking out of his comfort zone presents. “I believe that the only way you can grow as a person is to go and do uncomfortable things and try out new things and take on new challenges, only that way can you actually evolve as a character,” Georgievski said. Being in a new place can be intimidating for anyone, especially in a new country. Annalee Menz has been hosting foreign exchange students for the past few years, and has supervised students’ adjustments to the United States. Georgievski has stood out among them. “He’s very open to new experiences and meeting new people,” Menz said. “I would say his English is phenomenal. You know, like some of our other students needed a little adjustment period, especially the slang that teenagers may

Macedonia foreign exchange student Borjan Georgievski works on his coding skills in Miriam Parsons-Eaton’s class. He is a senior here at North and is excited for his year long stay in America. (photo by Lauren Freeman)

talk about or even, you know, older adults like myself.” Georgievski has taken that feeling of uncomfortability and adjustment and molded it into an environment he enjoys. With the help of other students, his transition to Francis Howell North has been incredibly smooth. “I’m really happy and just like how everyone’s friendly, and just willing to accept me and try and get to know me, to ask questions about me, my country, where I’m from,” Georgievski said. “I can’t express how thankful I am for everyone being so welcoming here.” (Story by Evan Becker)

MAKES A CHANGE

Smiling, senior Andreea Vacarus holds out a t-shirt that reads, “Astudy.” Astudy is the agency Vacarus went through in order to study abroad this year here at Francis Howell North. “I decided to do this because first of all, I want to be fluent in English and second, it is a good experience,” Vacarus said. (Photo by Avery Witherbee)

peaking three languages, being dedicated to schoolwork and excelling in math and science seems like an impossible trio. For senior Andreea Vacarus, this is her specialty. Vacarus, a foreign exchange student from Italy, was looking for a change from her daily life and when given the opportunity, she jumped on it. “I was like kind of tired of home and school and everything and I wanted to change something,” Vacarus said. “I’ve also always wanted to go to America so I think that is a good way to put it. I also want to improve my English.” Vacarus’s talent takes her in many directions. She was born in Romania, moved to Italy when she was four and speaks Romanian, Italian and English. She excels in school and loves all of her classes. However, she thoroughly enjoys her Precalculus and AP Physics classes. She likes her teachers in both of these classes and hopes they can build towards her career. “I want to do something in engineering or something like that, or maybe something like business,” Vacarus said. One thing that can be challenging as a foreign exchange student is being away from family. The Espinoza’s, Vacarus’s host family, are a first time host family and were thrilled to be able to give her this opportunity. Shelley Espinoza, her host mom, feels she has fit in incredibly well with their family and could not speak more highly of her. “I would have to say, so far, I have found her to be lovely and she is very serious about her studies,” Espinoza said. “She’s very smart, [she’s in] AP Physics and Pre-Calculus, and she wants to be an engineer. She’s just funny and friendly and easy to get along with.” Like many things over the past year and a half, COVID-19 was a deterrent in things like the foreign exchange program. So, when the program opened back up, she jumped at the opportunity. She has enjoyed her time here so far and is looking forward to a successful year.

North Star | 10.20.2021

“Well we just wanted to do something good to help a student,” Espinoza said. “This seemed like an interesting way to do that. Growing up, I always wanted to be an exchange student and never got that chance, so I thought maybe I could give someone else that chance.” (Story by Justin Brewer)

by Peter Pae

International exchange student Borjan Georgievski stands with Senior Alex Hayes on homecoming night. The Hayes family have been taking in exchange students for years, most recent being Jorge Perez in the 2019-20 school year. Borjan is the current exchange students living with them, coming from North Macedonia. (photo submitted)

GUIDE TO FOREIGN EXCHANGE What are foreign exchange students?

HOSTS NEW MEMORIES Alex Hayes and his family host foreign exchange students by Aadhi Sathishkumar aadhikumarblue@gmail.com

oreign exchange programs require much planning and organization in order to provide students a positive experience in the United States. An important part of the program, and one that is rarely mentioned, is the host families. One of these host families, the Hayes, have hosted four students over the last five years at FHN. “We’ve had four students total,” senior Alex Hayes said. “One from Germany, Italy, Spain and Macedonia.” Hayes says that though he was interested in the program, his mother was the driving force in the family behind deciding to host. Annalee Menz, Hayes’ Mother, has a keen interest in foreign cultures and hopes to expose her family to other cultures. “I love to travel, I love to learn about different cultures and I kinda wanted to give that to my son,” Menz said. “I wanted to open up and expand his world, and also give back to society globally and help a student study here in the United States.” The organization behind their foreign exchange is Youths for Understanding, or YFU. YFU helps students with getting in the U.S. and interviews students and host families to make sure they are well accommodated. All of the students the Hayes family has hosted come from YFU. The requirements for having a foreign exchange student are pretty straightforward. Families should be able to feed students, financially support them and provide commodities, like bathrooms. The Hayes family goes above these requirements by taking students with them on trips across the

by Peter Pae

country and on fun outings. Even more, the Hayes family has even visited their exchange students in Europe. “It’s very easy to keep in contact,” Menz said. “I got to go to Germany and saw our German exchange student and met his parents. This summer, Alexander went and stayed a month with our Spanish exchange student.” After spending the majority of their time with a previously unknown teenager from across the world, having a new person in the house has become normal. As students have come and gone, it has gotten easier to continue life as normal. “It’s not really been difficult [adjusting to a new person in the house]” Hayes said. “I’ve had another person in my house for four years, so it’s not that different to me.” Since all of their students have come from European nations, the cultural barrier while still present has not been too challenging to overcome. For the Hayes family, the differences in culture are usually small, but for their students, American life is much different to them. “Generally, I would say their cultures aren’t that much different,” Hayes said. “[Exchange students] are learning a bunch of new stuff about America, and they always have a bunch of questions about us.” Having had four students at their house, the Hayes family has made unique lifelong connections most people may never have. For Menz, these students almost feel like her own family “It will change your life in a great way,” Menz said. “Sometimes it’s tough, just like with any family. But I’ve gained four more sons from it. It’s been a great experience for our family.”

Here are links to groups that organize foreign exchange programs such as the ones that Borjan and Andreea used: Youths for Understanding bit.ly/3DyJyxX Astudy bit.ly/3FHFrRQ AFS-USA bit.ly/3mTxaC5 CIEE bit.ly/3FKEg4r

Foreign exchange students travel outside their home countries to study abroad. Students contact organizations that facilitate their travel. Exchange students stay with host families, volunteers who open their doors to students.

How do I become a host?

Organizations require families to fill applications, get interviewed and pass background checks before being allowed to host. Host families should be able to financially support the student for the duration of stay and provide them with certain essentials, such as a bathroom, bedroom and meals. Host organizations also put heavy emphasis on host families treating students not as visitors, but rather as a part of their family during their stay. During the student’s stay with a host, representatives from the organization check in with families to make sure students and families are well adjusted. Depending on the student and organization, families can host from a few months up to a full year.

How do I study abroad? Application processes vary greatly depending on which country and what organizations students choose. Typically only older students, such as seniors and juniors, are allowed to apply to study abroad, though some programs are more flexible with the age. Students may also have to meet minimum GPA requirements. After applying and getting accepted, students must also apply for and obtain visas in order to study in a foreign nation. Students have to pay tuition to attend school, or can apply for scholarships from organizations to have it covered. Students may also have to be proficient in another language to study abroad in certain countries, but many exchange programs do not require any prior language requirements. (Content by Aadhi Sathishkumar)

North Star | 10.20.2021

ICE SKATING FOR LIFE Junior Leah Heischmidt and sophomore Hailey Zhang partake in competitive ice skating. They are two of the few ice skaters at North and they share some stories and memories about their time as skaters by Violet Newton

violetannenewton@gmail.com

unior Leah Heischmidt and sophomore Hailey Zhang are two of the select few ice skaters at Francis Howell North High School. Heischmidt skates on a synchronized ice skating team, which is a group of eight to 20 people who all ice skate together to perform synchronized sequences. She has been skating for eight years; she skates at the Kennedy Ice Rink on the synchronized skating team, Blade Brigade. Zhang has been skating for as long as she could remember at the St. Peters Rec-Plex, she skates solo meaning she performs and competes by herself. “It’s like a family, you build a family

North Star | 10.20.2021

with the sport too, you have a team to lean back on if you’re struggling,” Heischmidt said. “Skating has helped me meet new people and make new friends.” Heischmidt is at the skating rink for at least five hours a week skating with the Blade Brigade team and in addition, she also practices her solo skating moves. She enjoys skating on the synchronized team because she makes friends and builds a community with other skaters. Zhang is at the rink whenever she can make the time for it in between other activities. She loves skating because she loves to perform programs, the dancing aspect, and how she gets to portray something. “I’ve made some friends skating, and I think it’s just like a cool sport that not very many people do,” Zhang said. “It’s just really fun to do, as a hobby for me. I am trying to just take everything one step at a time.” While skating is very enjoyable for Heischmidt and Zhang they both have their ups and downs in skating. When asked what the hardest part of skating was, Zhang talked about being able to overcome the mental blocks that come with learning a new jump or spin, for Heischmidt the hardest part is the constant balance between school and skating and how that can affect grades. Both girls also talked about the struggles of burnout with skating and the challenge of balancing school with skating. “Sometimes practices a lot is far away so then I don’t get home till late, and it’s hard for me to do my homework. I just have to get it done you kind of have to because you have to focus on school over sports,” Leah Heischmidt said. When asked about managing skater burnout Heischmidt’s coach Liz Lewis responded, “When my skaters have burnout, I usually have them step back and have them do something fun that they like to do, and work from there.”

More Info: Places for more information about ice skating in Saint Charles: Rex-Plex for private lessons Metro Edge Figure Skating Club Lindenwood Ice Rink Matteson Square Garden Inline Hockey Skating Rink

by Tayler Ross

Nigel Bailey an aspiring playwright poses for photos while holding a book full of monologues on Sept. 28. (Photo by Teegan Gonzalez)

Sophomore Hailey Zhang stands next to a project she created. (Photo by Addison Polsgrove)

WHO

Kimberly Sulzner is a drama teacher at FHN. She has been the drama club sponser for eight years but this is her 32nd year teaching in the district.

WHAT

PASSION FOR PLAYS Sophomore Nigel Bailey has written two plays in the past year by Aadhi Sathishkumar aadhikumarblue@gmail.com

tage plays are often seen as a dated form of entertainment. With movies and shows being so popular, not many people watch plays. However, the art of play writing continues to exist and passionate writers still use the medium of plays to show off their stories. “Ever since I went to New York in seventh grade, I’ve been interested in plays,” sophomore Nigel Bailey said. “Before then, I hadn’t actually seen a stage play before. Me and my mom saw a few Broadway shows, and it was really cool.” Although never shown on stage, Bailey made sure to get word out on his play anyway he could. In fact, one of the few times he talked about it with anyone was with his English teacher, Diane Fingers, asking for extra credit. Ever the showman, he admits he did it in part for attention. “He told me of his play within the first week or so of school,” Fingers said. “I think it’s really cool. I love it when kids find something they really enjoy.” Bailey is into all aspects of theater. Not only does he write plays, but he also acts in them and generally is excited about doing anything in the spotlight. His passion is impressive and people have taken notice. “[Nigel] is a very outgoing and eager individual,” Director of theater arts at North Kim Sulzner said. “His passion for plays is wonderful. The fact that he wants to write, even more so. Some people just want to perform in them, but he’d love to do anything.” Bailey’s plays are titled “Chestnuts Roasted,” a holiday comedy, and “Murder

by Olivia Van Horn

at Misery Manor,” a murder mystery with comedic elements. Bailey wrote “Chestnuts Roasted” last year and is working to get “Murder at Misery Manor“ finished. While “Chestnuts Roasted” was a short, 30-minute play, Bailey says he hopes to make “Murder at Misery Manor” a full-length, hour and half long play. Neither plays have ever been shown on stage. “You can’t do a big Broadway production on a school set,” Bailey said. “I write them so they can be performed in a school setting, but I also wanted to make sure they are well written. I really just wanted to get those out, but also make them accessible to a general audience.” Though Bailey’s opinion that the school should run smaller plays suitable for a smaller budget does have merit, not everyone agrees with his outlook. Sulzner argues otherwise. “Our organization is student-run, so students choose plays,” Sulzner said. “Students continue to choose what they want to do. Last year, we had so many restrictions on what we could do, and that was his only experience with it.” Nevertheless, Bailey continues to explore his original stories through playwriting. He hopes that one day soon, maybe others can see what his hard work has all been for. “I do feel that playwriting could come back as an art, but it’s on its downfall,” Bailey said. “Even plays now, there just really aren’t as many new plays coming out. If people came up with new stuff to come out, like mine. If more people do that, I feel it would come back as an art form.”

Drama is a fun club that has activities related to theater and they also have a play production portion of the club.

WHERE Drama club is held in room 57, which is on the bottom level of FHN by the choir and band room.

WHEN

Drama club meets every Tuesday from 2:30 P.M. to 4:30 P.M. after school.

HOW Joining drama club is easy, all you have to do is attend three meetings. For more information contact Sulzner in room 57.

FASHION PROJECT The influence of pop culture and T.V. shows inspired one girl’s creativity to construct her own apparel. Sophomore Hailey Zhang found herself interested in tailoring clothing and made a hobby out of it. “I think I’ve always been really interested in fashion,” Zhang said. “I grew up watching ‘Fashion Runway.’ I think that was definitely a push for me. I would always make clothes for my Barbies, fashion can really be anything. I like to think of it as a way of self expression and an artistic way to put on the things you wear every day.” Marissa Heyer is a Family and Consumer Science teacher at FHN. She taught Zhang in her Fashion Construction class last year and is proud of what she’s done. “She did projects that were complex, but she did it with grace,” Heyer said. “Last semester, I had [Zhang] in class and she was very motivated. And [The projects] always turned out exceptional. She is an amazing student who’s very hardworking and creative.” Zhang has enjoyed fashion, playing with dolls and dressing them in their tiny outfits. Now, she makes her own products, such as dresses and pants. “I am starting to create my own clothing and trying to experiment with things,” Zhang said. “I love just how much you can do with fabric, and how creative people can get with the things that they wear.” (Story by Ray Hathcock)

North Star | 10.20.2021

WHERE ARE WE GOING?

FHN students share their vacation plans for fall break (Content by Aadhi Sathishkumar) Elma, WA

St. Charles, MO Chicago, IL

Cincinnati, OH

Orlando, FL

Ruskin, FL Kansas City, MO “I’m going to Elma, Washington to hang with family. I’m excited just to see family I haven’t seen in a year due to COVID, and enjoy a week doing activities with family”.

“I’m just staying home this break, no plans that I know of. I’m still excited for break. It’s been a tough year and I could use a break”.

Alex Prudhomme, 9

Jack Murray, 12

“I haven’t been to [Ruskin] before.I look forward to going to the beach in general and just having warm weather”.

“I am travelling to Kansas City, Missouri. I haven’t been to Kansas city before. I’m going to see some family and going to see haunted houses around there”.

Payton Johnston, 10

Lance Tow, 11

“I’m running a marathon [in Cincinnati]. I’m trying to run a marathon in every state before I turn 50. It is on my bucket list to do. I have 13 or 14 down, COVID put a damper on that. This is my first race since then”.

“I’m going to Chicago over fall break. My Mom wanted to take a vacation, so she asked me to come. I’m exctited for the car ride. It’s just nice and fun when you have a blanket on and you’re just on your phone watching Netflix”.

Stacy Bevill, Math Teacher

Conner Rowland, 10

North Star | 10.20.2021

by Aadhi Sathishkumar

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Owen Miller prepares to kick a soccer ball. Miller looks forward to being able to see the green again. (Photo by Kylie Taliaferro)

Sophmore Addison Polysgrove celebrates after winning a set with teammates Autumn Blake and Cameron Chapple (Photo by Kylie Taliaferro)

Know the Team: - #1 Jack Stover has a record of 6-1-1 playing goalie while only allowing 8 goals. - #13 Ryan Dittmar leads in goals and assists with 7 each - #20 Sam Wilson and #13 JT Grabowski both are the next highest scorers with 3 goals and 1 assist

NEW FACES JOIN VARSITY

Sophomore Owen Miller’s achievement of making the varsity soccer team was overshadowed by an injury that ruled Miller out for the first eight games on the varsity team. Although Miller wasn’t training with the team at the beginning of the season, he was working towards the road to recovery. “I’ve been with the trainer for weeks now stretching and doing light workouts to get me back in shape,” Miller said. “I’m doing everything possible to speed up the recovery so I can get on the field.” Since then, Miller has recovered from his injury and has been able to play with the team again. Junior Carter Schroeder is also new to varsity this year and is ready to step up in a defensive role for the team this season. Schroeder has settled into the team very well and has a good relationship with Coaches Lawrence Scheller and Zachary Fettig. Schroeder has high hopes for the team’s performance this season, as he wants to walk away with a winning record and hopes to push for a state title. “We have the best team this school has seen in years,” Schroeder said. “With the new players on varsity this year we are looking stronger than ever. FHN for State 2021” (Brief by Aiden Manthey)

North Star | 10.20.2021

GIRLS MAKE BIG JUMP From JV to varsity. Back to back. No time for a break. Game to warm ups to game. But for the four of them, it’s all they have ever wanted. “I really like the competitive level playing on varsity but I also like being the leader on JV,” sophomore Sara Ausbury said. “I think we have really good energy and competitiveness on both teams.” Sophomores Addison Polsgrove, Jennifer Schelfault, Megan Steuterann and Ausbury play on the JV team and pull up for varsity. On JV, they are the leaders. They are the only ones who

have been on JV for two years now. On varsity, they are playing with and learning from the team as much as possible, in hopes that next year they will be in their positions. “They’re definitely excited for us because there are a lot of seniors this year so I think it’s exciting for them to see the freshmen from last year who have grown from their last club season to now be on varsity and now be doing bigger things,” Steutermann said. (Brief by Alyssa Seville)

KNIGHTS TO FACE TROY

On On Sept. 29 FHN Varsity Boys soccer face off against Fort Zumwalt North. North’s Carter Schroeder steals a ball from FZN’s #5 (Photo by Natasha Haverly)

On Thursday, Oct. 21 Francis Howell North Varsity soccer takes on TroyBuchanan in a GAC conference game at Troy. The Knights look to improve their record. “We’ve had good moments and some moments where we could improve,” Varsity Soccer coach and History teacher Zachary Fettig said. The Knights lost a few upperclassmen this year, but the additions to the varsity team from the underclassmen could add a new element to the team as they prepare for the game. The roles that underclassmen Sophomore Sam Wilson and Freshman Mo Huff filled are tough, but they stepped up. “It brought in different energy and skill sets that we didn’t really have before,” Fettig said. (Brief by Tony Biondo)

by Tony Biondo

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Jordan Minter plays at the game Sept. 24. Minter who is number 15 and the quarterback, leads his team skillfully and competently. (Photo by Ankita Pandurangi))

September 21 Football Ian Kelly, 11

Wide Receiver and Running back Ian Kelly leads the team in TD’s with 7, and total yards rushed with 317. Punter Lucas Neuschwander leads in tackles with 25 and in yards punted with 470.

September 28 Soccer Khalin Shah, 12

STAR QUARTERBACK by Max Brewer

mbrewer039@g.fhsdschools.org

rancis Howell North’s starting varsity quarterback Jordan Minter has been playing football for eight years, but he has only been playing quarterback for three years. Minter was the starting junior varsity football quarterback his freshman year, then during his sophomore year he doubled as the backup quarterback for the varsity football team under Senior Marshall Swope. His junior year, Minter got the big bump to starting quarterback for the varsity team while also taking on the role of a team captain. “My biggest role on the team is to lead them on the field as one of our team captains,” Minter said. Having not played quarterback before high school, Swope and North’s coaches were able to mold Minter into the Lamar Jackson-type of quarterback he is today. “I think Marshall being able to mentor him helped a lot,” Assistant Varsity Coach Matt Couch said. “ Marshall was

by Tony Biondo

a great quarterback, and I think them working together and just wanting the best for the program helped with the competition aspect. I think Marshall was a great teacher towards Minter and he has kind of taken control of that and learned a lot from him and from all the coaches too, so I think Marshall played a big role in forming Minter into the player he is today.” Minter is sitting pretty at a 49.06 percent pass completion rate out of 53 attempts, and a 77.818 passer rating through six games (As of 10/13/21) according to stlhighschoolsports.com. Minter, along with the other captains Junior Ian Kelly and Senior Jayden Frey, hope to lead the team to a winning season. “I hope to get some more wins this season and I just look forward to getting out onto the field and playing some more,” Minter said. “We just need to keep our offense rolling more than we have been, we need to make more stops on defense, and just keep putting points on the board.”

October 5 Volleyball Bri Wortman , 11

Scan the QR code to view the FHNtoday Instagram

North Star | 10.20.2021

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Sophomore Jayati Karre plays during a tennis match. (Photo by Andrew Poertner)

October 22 Who: Varsity football plays Cape Giradeau Where: Francis Howell Central Time: 7 p.m.

- Senior Natalie Stevans and sophomore Aesha Patel placed third for their doubles match at GACs - Stevens and Patel both placed third in their singles matches at GACs

October 25 Who: Varsity Smash Where: Online What: JV players play 4 other players in a best of 3 style tournament with people with the most wins advancing

- Junior Maggie Koester placed fourth at districts

LOCKED ON

Sophomore Jayati Karre is ranked first on the FHN girl’s tennis team and strives to build hers skills. by Alise Simon

asimon468@g.fhsdschools.org

October 26 Who: Junior Varsity Smash Where: Online What: Varsity Members play 5 other players in a best of 3 tournament with the people with the most wins advancing

November 5 Who: Varsity Cross country state run

North Star | 10.20.2021

etting up for the first serve, eyes locked on the bright flashy ball, forehand volley, backhand volley and repeat. This is what sophomore Jayati Karre has experienced and has the opportunity to put her skills to the test by being ranked number one on the girls FHN tennis team for the 2021 school year. Before the season kicked off, Karre and her team competed for rankings in order to go against other schools in matches. “‘Jayati you’re number one’, and I was like ‘wow I just did that’,” Karre said, “ It was exciting.” The following week after the ranking tryouts, the team’s assistant coach, Coach Jean Varker told Karre and her teammates that she was ranked first for the team. “I try to stay as confident as I possibly can, I do have some pressure but I always go onto the court to win, that’s just my mindset,” Karre said. “I go in to win but that does not always happen. I still try to reflect, such as did I play

my best? Because if I did then that’s winning to me.” As the days go by people can forget what attributes and skills they bring to their team. Sophomore Lauren Chance is a fellow teammate to Karre and notices some positives and strengths about Karre. “Jayati is a very passionate player and a very caring person, she really cares about the sport of tennis,” Chance said. Organization is key for success, in Karre’s eyes commitment and dedication towards your craft on top of school work takes time. “It is a really big commitment because It’s not just school, it’s practice, games and you’re going to come home late and have homework to do, so I think making sure that your organized enough and have a good schedule that is not going to stress you out will help you,” Karre said. “You also have to be really interested in the sport as well, while still having fun without stressing yourself out too much. But you definitely need to aim to do your best.”

by Alex Wheadon

Senior Hannah Ermeling catches a throw during a home game at North. (Photo by Kyle Button)

HARD WORK PAYS OFF Francis Howell North’s varsity softball team’s winning record (16-11) can be attributed to the hard work and teamwork that the girls put in. “I definitely feel like we have a great bond,” sophomore Kalyee Lohnes said. “We aren’t just teammates on the fields, we all actually hangout outside of school and are really close friends.” As an occasional after practice treat, the team loves to go out together to eat or get ice cream.

“The week of homecoming week we had a tournament on that Friday,” varsity player and senior Hannah Ermeling said. “That was our first set of games so after the games we went to the homecoming game together. After the game we also went to Denny’s for dinner and we had the whole place to ourselves. I can’t remember a time we weren’t laughing.” (Brief by Jax Baker)

DRIVING IT HOME

Freshman Alyssa Perkins prepares to hit the golfball on Sept. 14. Perkins has been playing golf at FHN since her freshman year, and has high hopes for the season. (Photo by Sophia Stachula)

by Alex Wheadon

Golf is a difficult sport and can be very time consuming. The average practice starts off by going to the Cave Springs driving range, where they then practice for a few hours every day that they don’t have a match. The team practices by using different clubs to better their swings. Their tournament days start off early, so they sometimes only play one team while playing multiple other days. “They tee off in sets of four,” Science teacher and FHN golf coach Donna Malkumus said. “The first best person on each team, second best, third, then the fourth. I enjoy the sport and I felt like they needed a coach here at school to help them since the other coach, Chris Witthaus teaches at Francis Howell High School.” (Brief by Patricia Fechter)

Junior Nico Schuchman has started playing Super Smash Bros. Ultimate competitively and due to his good leadership skills, he is the captain of the team. (Photo by Andrew Poertner)

Know The Stats: - As of Oct. 12 the varsity girls softball record is 16-10 - 10/12 they beat Hazelwood West 11-1 - 10/4 they lost to Francis Howell 7-1 - 10/1 they beat Fort Zumwalt North 11-1

LEVEL UP LEADER

Junior Nico Schuchman hasn’t been playing Super Smash Brothers Ultimate competitively for long, only starting this year. Yet, this year he is the captain of the team. “Everyone was very confused on what to do and how to set up everything,” Schuchman said. “I kind of took charge and got everyone’s games done, and I guess Mrs. Bevill was surprised about my leadership and how I get everything done in time.” Shuchman is really good at Smash. However, he is an even better captain since he takes initiative and helps everyone get what needs to be done. “I think Nico has some pretty decent skills as a player, but I think a lot more of his skill comes from his ability to be the team captain while still being able to lead the team, ” Coach Kaleb Kruze said. “I would argue that he’s stronger in that than he is at playing the game because he takes a lot of initiative and tries to get things done while figuring out what’s best for the team.” (Brief by Alex Wheadon)

North Star | 10.20.2021

The boys and girls cross country team starts there race at the First Capital meet at McNair park on Sept. 3rd. (Photo by Ankita Pandurangi)

Senior Logan Schelfaut is caught mid-flip at a swim and dive competition. (Photo by Sophia Stachula)

Meet a Coach Alex Shaw is the assistant coach for the Cross Country team. Shaw teaches at Hoech Middle School and she has been coaching for two years. She’s currently eight months pregnant, expecting in November.

DIVING IN HEAD FIRST Becoming a good diver is not something that happens overnight. It takes a lot of time, energy, and practice. It’s taken most of senior Logan Schelfaut life to get where he is today. “It was my mom’s choice when I started diving because she put me in classes when I was eight years old,” Schelfaut said. “Once she put me in classes, I really enjoyed it and had a lot of fun diving.” Schelfaut has big goals with diving, but he has accomplished what most people dream of accomplishing. “My biggest accomplishment while diving was definitely winning state freshman and sophomore year,” Schefaut said. Schelfaut is not only a great swimmer and diver. He is a great leader. Senior Aadhi Sathishkumar is on the team with Schelfaut and always appreciates Schelfaut’s leadership. “Logan is a really good swimmer but he is also a good teammate,” Sathishkumar said. “He is very charismatic and funny. He never sits out and always swims with us. He always puts in the work.” ( Story by Maggie Koester)

North Star | 10.20.2021

Scan this QR code to read a story about Coach Shaw on FHNtoday.com

MORE THE MERRIER FHN cross country team nearly doubles in size from last season by Chase Pray

cpray812@g.fhsdschools.org

ver since the COVID-19 pandemic began last winter, many things have changed in people’s daily lives. From wearing a mask for eight hours a day to reducing large group gatherings, the school environment has changed drastically in the past year. So, when hundreds of students returned from online school this school year, big changes were inevitable. One big change was the number of kids who tried out for sports compared to last school year. The cross country team was one of the sports hit the hardest, as their team nearly doubled in size. “We’ve got many kids coming in that were virtual last year,” Coach Kim Martin said. “We went from 19 runners last year to 31 this year because some of our runners didn’t compete last year as they were still weary about COVID seeing as it was still relatively new.” While such a change may seem drastic for most teams, the cross country team gladly embraced it. Both Martin and Coach Keelin Russell love seeing more runners joining the team this year. As a

personal trainer, Russell knows how to help groups of people bond and get to know each other better. “I’m heading into my third year of coaching cross country at North,” Russell said. “I’m a personal trainer so I’m not a gym teacher or even a teacher in general. As a trainer, I build bonds with those I help. So, I know it’s so important for these kids to have strong bonds with their teammates. With so many more kids joining this year, it’s going to be so much easier for everyone to have a running buddy.” Coaches and runners alike are embracing their new peers with open arms. Sophomore Sean Hartley is a returner to the team. This is his second year on the team and he runs JV. As a returner, he was part of last year’s smaller team and gets the opportunity to enjoy this year’s bigger team. “It’s definitely better with more runners because we have a better and more fun environment,” Hartley said. “Some of us are doing better because everyone sort of has a friend they are the same speed as and can run with.”

by Aiden Manthey

PODCASTS

HYPE VIDEOS

HUMANS OF FHN

TIK TOK

LIVE SHOWS

KNIGHTLY SHOW

HALLOWEEN WORD SEARCH

Bat Candy Corn Goblin Jack O Lantern Spider Web Witch

North Star | 10.20.2021

Black Cat Day of the Dead Gravestone Pumpkin Vampire Zombie

Bonfire Ghosts Halloween Skull Werewolf Zombie

By Anna Scognamiglio

THE PAST, THE PRESENT, AND THE FUTURE OF NOTETAKING “Computers because I can keep the notes more organized and it’s not as easy to lose.” Ashton Burnett, 11 “I like taking them in a notebook because I can style them how I want to.” Arieyauna Fullenwider, 12 “Computers becuase I can type faster than I can write, which is really helpful.” Cameron Chapple, 11

The best way of taking notes would be a notebook by Chloe Ellison

cellison944@g.fhsdschools.org

aking notes dominates most of the average student’s school day. A student can take notes anywhere from every day to only once a week. Most students will either take their notes in a notebook or on a computer, but there’s a debate on which way is better. While there may be benefits to both, notebooks will always be the better option. Seriously, notebooks, notes, it’s in the name. When writing information down, the words and information are being processed in the brain. This ends up resulting in a better recall of the material that is only available with a notebook. It is proven that when writing down notes, you recall the information better as well as perform better on tests. Being able to take out a notebook to look at notes whenever, is a big benefit to taking notes, as long as you have the notebook then you can study. Now, taking notes on a computer may be faster and easier than writing said notes down, but it’s very difficult to not

Sitting at her desk, Bailey Scarborough is taking notes in her personal finance class. (Photo by Amoolya Pandurangi)

get distracted taking notes on a computer when you have the entire internet at your fingertips. Notebooks certainly do not have this downfall and are beneficial for memory, making them the better option for future note-taking.

A MISLEADING NAME “No, I play it because it’s fun but I don’t know, it is kind of a competition, it’s not really a physical thing” Layth Ramadan, 10 “I personally feel like a sport has to be like physical in nature, but you know what, it’s a competition between two teams so, sure.” Drake Morris, 10 “I think... yes. Basketball and stuff like that, that’s a sport. Esport it’s like a different category.” Randolph Sapffold,11

by Max Brewer

GAS VS ELECTRIC

Esports does not require physical activity and should not be considerd a real sport. They may be just as difficult, but they should not be considered sports by Logan Yarnell

lyarnell467@g.fhsdschools.org

sports have become very popular among gamers and many young people, but despite having sports in the name, they should not be considered sports. Many people who play both sports and esports have differing opinions on the matter. Unlike traditional sports, esports do not require physical ability. Generally, a sport is considered a sport by the requirement of physical activity and competition with another team. Esports, while not requiring any physical actions or athletic capability, can still be mentally demanding. For example, winning an esports tournament can take practice and the mental aspect of getting better is similar, but that is not enough to make it a sport. Aside from physical ability, there is a large skill difference that really depends on the game being played. Very few games require a lot of skill, but those that do can be considered harder than multiple sports. However, the majority of esports games require less skill and are easier than traditional sports. Although esports are not true sports,

The traditional gas car is better than the newer electric car

Senior Tiger Hutton plays League of Legends and chats on Discord on his computer. League of Legends is a multiplayer battle arena video game. Hutton has been playing League of Legends for a little over a year. (Photo by Taylor Hill)

with the dedication it takes to play esports, they should be treated with just as much respect. They are still difficult, they just don’t meet the requirements to deserve the title of sport.

Gas cars, the best type of cars, have been around for awhile now. But recently, there has been a new competitor coming into play, the electric car. In electric cars, you can’t feel the ‘roar’ of the engine like you can in a gas car. They are louder when driving and feel more familiar than the quieter newcomer. Traditional cars only need to stop to refuel about once a week on average. Electric cars should charge daily or overnight because they can take up to eight hours to fully charge. Gas cars are about half the cost of electric cars and have three times the lifespan making them cheaper and longer lasting. They are superior because you feel the rumble more, you have to stop less to refuel, they last longer and they are cheaper. (Story by Taylor Ross)

North Star | 10.20.2021

Should Students and Staff at FHN be Vaccinated?

“Yes, I think that the vaccine should be required because the delta variant has approximately a 2-day incubation period where you have it, you may be contagious, but you are a-symptomatic.” Joelle Sanders, Teacher

“I think it’s a no-brainer that people who are able to get the vaccine should get the vaccine.” We really need to help those who are unable to get the vaccine for health reasons.” Carly Gordon, 12

“I think they should because it provides a better resistance. It maybe won’t stop COVID, but it helps others.” Zoe Barron, 11 (Column by Tayler Ross)

North Star | 10.20.2021

For the most up to date information on side effects and health-related information for the COVID-19 vaccine, visit the link below:

A CHANCE FOR NORMAL The way to return to FHN as we knew it, is to be vaccinated On Behalf of the Editorial Staff fhntoday@gmail.com 659 days. Dec. 31, 2019. The date that China announced the first known case of what would come to be called COVID-19. The news spread fast throughout the school, students clamoring to joke about getting COVID every time they coughed, and thought nothing of the pandemic that was to sweep across the nation. However, even from the beginning there was always a push for a vaccine, a fix that would stop the quarantines and lockdowns. Francis Howell North students can lead that effort by receiving the vaccine. 313 Days. Dec. 11, 2020. The date that the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) allowed emergency use of the Pfizer vaccine for those aged 16 or older. This decision was met with skepticism and protests even as the science was consistently shown to be safe. This minimum age allowed juniors and seniors to receive the vaccine as early

as December of last year. Yet due to concerns, many Missouri residents resisted the idea, leading to less than ideal vaccination rates even today at only 48.6%, below the national average of 56.8%. 194 Days. Apr. 9, 2021. The date that Missouri allowed every adult and minors aged 16 years or older to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. This means that for at least 167 days the upperclassmen have had access to the vaccine. Had they received it, they would have been fully vaccinated before last year was even over, protecting them and their loved ones from COVID-19. However, as you walk around the schools today you still hear those same murmurs of skepticism about the speed at which the vaccine was produced and the safety even after proven safe. 39 Days. Aug. 23, 2021. The date that the Pfizer vaccine was authorized by the FDA. This was not emergency use authorization, this was full

by Evan Becker

NORTH STAR Editor-in-Chief (Design): Macy Cronin

Total Vaccinated in the US: 187 Million Percent of Total Population: 56.8% Total Vaccinated in Missouri: 2.98 Million Percent of Total Population: 48.6% (Information obtained from google on 10/12/21)

authorization. This means that the FDA reviewed this vaccine the same as they would any other mainstream vaccine such as meningitis or HPV. Yet, you don’t hear people concerned about getting those vaccines like you do the COVID-19 vaccine. Dangerous side effects are a common myth that have no backing in the data that the FDA or Congress has shown. This is precisely why it makes sense to get the vaccine. 38 Days. Aug. 24, 2021. The date of our second day of school. Students were nervous about quarantines and sent home for two weeks. But there was a catch this year, the district allowed students who were vaccinated to not be quarantined. The way to return to normal, to have full classrooms again, to prevent our friends from being pulled out of class, was to vaccinate ourselves. 25 Days. Sept. 6. 2021. The date of two weeks after our first day of school. At this point everyone could have been vaccinated and would not have to worry about being quarantined.

by Evan Becker

Now, there are valid concerns, such as religious liberties and parents not allowing their children to get it that can prevent students from receiving the vaccine. However, if someone did not fall under either of those concerns the way to return to a sense of normalcy in our building and to protect yourself and those around you is to get vaccinated. This virus will not die if we continue to let it run wild and the vaccine helps tamp it down. 14 Days from today. Nov. 3, 2021. The date that every single student reading this could be vaccinated by. Masks are tedious, the restrictions on being in school are challenging to follow and who we can be around is restrictive. If the majority of the school was vaccinated, then the return to normal and of a school in which we can all see each other’s faces could finally begin. A normal where we can see each other’s faces and not have to worry about missing our friends or family.

Editor-in-Chief (Writing): Justin Brewer Editor-in-Chief (FHNToday): Amber Winkler In-Depth Editor: McKenna Hudson Features Editor: Aadhi Sathishkumar News Editor: Morgan Chairs Sports Editor: Chase Pray Opinions Editor: Evan Becker Entertainment Editor: Maya Helbig General Staff: Tony Biondo Violet Newton Max Brewer Ryleigh O’Donnell Chloe Ellison Peter Pae Patricia Fechter Morgan Phillips Ray Hathcock Tayler Ross Stephanie Lichtenegger Anna Scognamiglio Michaela Manfull Olivia Van Horn Aiden Manthey Alex Wheadon Hope Moseley Logan Yarnell Editor-in-Chief of Photography: Taylor Hill Managing Photo Editor: Sophia Stachula Sports Photography Editor: Matthew Wells Yearbook Photography Editor Avery Witherbee Newspaper Photography Editor: Sky Hebisen General Staff: Lauren Freeman Pavan Kolluru Andrew Goffinet Amoolya Pandurangi Teegan Gonzalez Ankita Pandurangi Natasha Haverly Andrew Poertner Payton Johnston Addison Polsgrove Emma Rodriguez Kylie Taliaferro Editor-in-Chief of Video: Kyle Button Managing Editor of Video: Marina Williams Chief Editor of Video: Rhea Patel FHNgameday.com Editor: Parker Smith Podcast Storytelling Editor: Rachel Trapf Livestream Editor: Jenna Brouk Video Storytelling Editor: Madelyn Clark Video Staff: Haley Aldenderfer Aidan Neu Devon Alexander Will Perry Allison Bass Max Ramirez Jack Darling Sam Reimer Emily Gantz Freya Rieken Cailyn Hodges Hunter Van Dyne Hailey Zhang Advisers: Aaron Manfull Jordyn Kiel

North Star | 10.20.2021

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