Jan. 15, 2020 - The Power of Identity

NORTH | STAR | RESULTS OF PROP S PAGE 07 | A LOOK BACK AT THE DECADE PAGE 14 | CURLING Q&A PAGE 33 |

FRANCIS HOWELL NORTH | ST. CHARLES, MO 63303 | 01.15.20 | VOL 34 ISSUE 04

THE POWER OF IDENTITY

THE NORTH STAR TELLS THE STORIES OF SOME UNIQUE FACES HERE AT FHN. FIND OUT MORE ON PAGES 23-27.

CONTENTS

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Junior Justin Carnigal has been doing tae-kwon-do since he was 6 years old. He has always done tae-kwon-do with his younger brother. Jerlome Carnigal assists with teaching the younger division class. (Photo by Pavan Kolluru)

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Senior Khalil Poole poses in the studio for a photoshoot. For the past couple of years, Poole has been expressing himself through his style and makeup.

(Photos by Ella Manthey)

ENTERTAINMENT 1 Overwatch Two Learn more about the new sequel to the popular game Overwatch

4

Snow Day Activities Take a look at a some ideas to do throughout the snowy winter season

NEWS 6 Finalized Calendar FHSD School board has decided on what the 2020-21 school calendar will look like

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Class Registration Find out more about what classes are available to take for the next school year

FEATURES 17 Gaining From Gaming David Lopez turns his passion for gaming into a viable career option for his future

19

Brave for Books

Dawn Jones persues a career in becoming a librarian while being an English teacher

SPORTS 30 Hockey’s Cancer Aware FHN’s Hockey team works with the American Cancer Society to fight cancer

31 Diving Back Into Swim Olivia Neunaber returns to sports after taking a break because of an injury

OPINIONS 35 Resolve Resolutions Read into the topic of New Year Resolutions and how they are flawed

36

Final Exemptions The editorial board shares about the setbacks of final exam exemptions

ON THE COVER

A sillouette of a super hero launches upwards towards the air. This edition of the North Star’s In-Depth talks about the importance of identity and how everyone’s personality is unique. (Design by Gracie Bowman)

FHNTODAY.COM | 1.15.20 | CONTENTS

32

During the first Varsity basketball game of the season, Junior Kate Hahn prepares to toss the ball. The Knights lost to FZW in a close game of 52-36. (Photo by Riley Witherbee)

PAGE BY MACY CRONIN

LOVELY BILLION DOLLAR HOLIDAY

A winter loot box sits and contains cosmetic items. Overwatch is a multiplayer first-person shooter game. The first game came out in 2016. (Photo by Liy Taliaferro)

Every year on Feb. 14, couples, families, friends and others come together to express their happiness and love with one another. Let’s talk about the numbers behind this holiday and how much is spent (Content by Liv Engle) A Fortune On Cards

According to ABC News, about 190 million cards are sold around the world on Valentine’s Day, which costs customers about one billion dollars on cards.

Chocolate Everywhere

According to SoftSchools, there are at least 36 million heart-shaped boxes of chocolate sold on Valentine’s Day each year.

Give Your Furry Friends Some Love Too

Not only do people spend a lot of money on their spouse for Valentine’s Day, but many people also get their pets a present too. Nearly 9 million Americans buy their pets cards or gifts.

Pretty Flowers And An Empty Wallet

According to ABC News, people spend around 2 billion dollars on flowers for a present for Valentine’s Day.

Valentines Day In Numbers

Americans spend plenty of money on chocolates, flowers, cards and even gifts for their pets. In the U.S, Valentine’s Day is a 14.7 billion dollar industry.

Icon for Love

Cupid is a popular symbolic character for Valentine’s Day. The legend says he shoots arrows, hoping to make two people fall in love. Many don’t know that Cupid is said to have been the mini-god of love and the son of Venus, the goddess of love, beauty and seduction.

A+ For Teachers

Many people receive cards on Valentine’s Day, but there’s one that receives the most, It’s teachers! According to Veevox, Teachers get the most cards on Valentine’s Day, placing number one out of the top five groups of people, which include children, wives, mothers and pets.

What is the best gift to give on Valentine’s Day? “The best gift to me would be time and showing me that you care.”

Joshua Robinson, 12

“I think it should be something that emphasizes the love you feel everyday because it’s something that you should express openly, without there having to be a holiday to show it.”

Dawn Jones, Teacher

“Probably candy or clothes because you can’t go wrong with either of those.”

Maggie Barber, 11

PAGE BY LIV ENGLE

“I would say a really nice restaurant and roses.”

Darrell Davis, Substitute teacher

RESURRECTING A NOT SO DEAD GAME Near the end of last year during Blizzcon, Blizzard announced that Overwatch would be getting a sequel called Overwatch 2 in mid February that would introduce new characters, skins, game modes, maps and lore. This peaked interest among the gaming community.

The release was announced in a cinematic (an official lore based youtube video) called “Zero Hour” where the reunion of the Overwatch organization was made official. “Zero Hour” featured some of the original heroes, newer lore-based characters and characters that will be released with the new game, coming together in a heartfelt battle to face off Null Sectors, an omnic extremist group invading the city of Paris.

Despite these changes and high public approval and anticipation, some local players aren’t so optimistic.

“I’m a little bit skeptical about it,” Kraser said. “I’m not gonna be like one of those people waiting to buy it. I’m going to see how it is first, maybe decide [if I want the game] but if nothing has really changed and it’s still the same as the first game, then what’s the point of buying it?”

However, even more changes are on the way: changes that may convince players otherwise. Players will be able to level up with individual heroes allowing them to customize and upgrade them in the new game mode, “Hero Missions.” Jeff Kaplan, the director of Overwatch, called it highly replayable because of this feature. This change will reduce the possibility of boredom with the new game. Other features include PvP (Player versus Player) game modes and a new competitive mode called Tug-of-War Push.

“If I’m feeling like it and I have $60 or however much it’s going to cost then yeah, I’ll buy it and try it out,” retired junior player Kaleb Kruse said. “One thing that I thought was really interesting and a really good idea, in the story modes there’s a feature that you can do where you can increase the abilities of all of your characters.”

For a while, Overwatch had started to slowly lose their fanbase. Some of their most loyal fans have lost interest over the last couple years. Reason to leave came from the lack of interest and progressive boredom, fans not feeling listened to by the gaming company and relentless toxicity among the community itself. However, with the announcement of Overwatch 2, even some of their retired fans were intrigued by what the new game would bring to the table. (Brief by Liy Taliaferro) ENTERTAINMENT | 01.15.20 | FHNTODAY. COM

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comic central HAND FLIRTING

PLAGIARISM I came up with a new word!

What is it?

(llustration by Jena Pae)

(llustration by Jena Pae)

Plagiarism!

HOW WAS YOUR BREAK Uh(llustration by Ryleigh O’Donnell)

(llustration by Nico Boenitz)

02 04

ENTERTAINMENT | 01.15.20 | FHNTODAY. COM

PAGE BY JUSTIN CHRISTENSEN

FASTING What do sprinters eat before a run?

LOST AND FOUND

Nothing!

They fast!

(llustration by Ryleigh O’Donnell)

PHOTOGRAPHERS (llustration by Maya Helbig)

(llustration by Francisco Jimenez)

PAGE BY JUSTIN CHRISTENSEN

ENTERTAINMENT | 01.15.20 | FHNTODAY. COM

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(Photo by Shutterstock)

(Illustration by Kiley Beiner)

BEST SNOW DAY ACTIVITIES

Students of FHN decribe what they do on snow days (Content by Ryleigh

O’Donnell) (Illustrations by Gracie Bowman) Last year FHSD had several snow days, students celebrate these occasions in many different ways: whether it’s with sleeping in, playing with pets or just playing video games all day.

Cheyenne Leahr doesn’t really like snow days, but when she gets the announcement she either plays outside with her dogs, sleeps or does her chores for her snowdays.

“Snow days kinda suck because they add days to the end of the year.” Cheyenne Leahr, 10 Some students don’t enjoy going outside like others do though.

Julian Washington enjoys staying inside, playing “Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege” and drawing landscapes.

“I just like playing video games and drawing.” Julian Washington, 9 Snow days are great days to use to relax, which is why Josh Reily’s idea of a snow day is much more relaxed. He enjoys just sitting back, reading a book and enjoying a warm drink.

“I like staying inside, reading and drinking hot cocoa.” Josh Reily, 11 Mark Olwig likes snow days and enjoys being with family during them, but he wants them to be worth the extra makeup day at the end of the year and be at least three to five inches of snow.

“If it’s enough snow I go out and I will play with my kids, I enjoy just going out in the snow.” Mark Olwig, History Teacher Some people enjoy hanging out with their friends outside during snowdays and , Seth Grumich enjoys hanging out with his dog inside instead of being out in the cold.

“I hang out on the couch with my dog all day.” Seth Grumich, 10 Cameron Bradt usually learns about the snow day when it happens and not the night before, but when he does know about them, he prefers just sleeping in.

“I sleep, then I wake up and my mom tells me I don’t have to go to school, I just go back to sleep.” Cameron Bradt, 10

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FHNTODAY.COM | 01.15.20 | ENTERTAINMENT

THE PIXAR RENAISSANCE One fateful day in 1994, a single meeting at the Hidden City Café in Point Richmond, California sprung the four most whimsical animations to be conceived. Four of Pixar’s leading directors at the time—John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton, Pete Docter, and the late Joe Ranft—met for lunch to discuss the next step after Toy Story, which was in its final moments of production. This lunch birthed some of the most imaginative movies of the past decade, “A Bug’s Life”, “Monsters Incorporated”, “Finding Nemo” and “Wall-E”, some of the most classic and commercially successful movies the company has made.

“I love the Pixar style,” junior Samuel Adams said.

“It’s really simple but really detailed and it gives the movies a lot of character.”

Throughout the past decade, the ratio of original movies to sequels was disproportionate. The company lacked originality and charm, the legacy left by the original movies was being let down, and it seemed the company relied solely on nostalgia with sequels like “Monsters University”, “Finding Dory”, and “The Incredibles 2.”

“I feel like Disney is losing its originality. They’re just doing cash grabs now,” junior Jenna Weber said.

However, coming in 2020 are two original movies: “Onward”, which is about two teenage elf brothers, Ian and Barley Lightfoot, who go on a journey to discover if there is magic left in the world so they can spend one last day with their deceased father.

The second original movie in 2020 will be, “Soul”, a story about a middle-school music teacher who dreams of playing at a legendary New York jazz club.

Finally getting the chance, an accident causes his soul to separate from his body. His soul is then sent to a center where it will undergo development to be transported in a newborn baby.

“The theme seems close to home [and] the characters seem original,” Weber said.

With promising upcoming films, the possibility of a resurgence is great, and a new set of classic movies for a new generation could be in our midst.

One can hope Pixar hasn’t sold out, that they care more about the quality of the content they put out, and that they’re ready to move forward, further, and soulfully onward. (Brief by Minnie Adams) PAGE BY RYLEIGH O’DONNELL

Make friends.

Make cool stuff.

Make a difference.

Find out more.

FHN media www.FHNtoday.com/TellMeMore

A calendar marks the first day of school, the earliest possible date in accordance with a new Missouri mandate. Because this decision was made with regard to summer tourism instead of to students and school staff, it has been a source of controversy in the state. (Photo by Aidyn Gleason)

CALENDAR IS APPROVED

The FHSD Calendar Committee released the finalized calendar for the 2020-2021 school year after a final vote at the end of December. The 2020-2021 school year is set to begin in late August which is the earliest possible date

by Justin Brewer

“Basically with this whole calendar they’re just shifting everything two weeks from what it originally was,” Smith said. fter taking in the input of community members as well as many other The idea of completely changing the school calendar received mixed emotions things the committee decided on a calendar in a board meeting that from the public and while it seems that they didn’t, the public had a strong input contains some of these key points. Unlike past years when school has into the final decision. A series of surveys and questionnaires were sent out to the started on a Thursday, the first day of school will be on Monday, Aug. 24. Fall public, giving parents and the community the opportunity to provide their input break will still happen and it will still be a full week. Final exams, which have in and opinions. These surveys had a very effective impact on the calendar and its the past occurred the last week before winter break, will be given when students inner-workings. Surveys usually consisted of questions asking the community return from break. However, they won’t be given the first week students return, what, on the old calendar, they thought was most important to them. According they will be taken in mid January. This gives students a week to review and to the board the results of the surveys had 80% approval for the calendar, prepare for finals. Spring break would be a universal spring break meaning that meaning that 80% of people approved of and agreed with the calendar proposed. most districts would the same week of spring break. Another “At Francis Howell we never do work like this without key detail is the last day of school. As opposed to it being in committees and this version of the calendar actually had, in the mid May, it is scheduled for Friday, May 28. However, if snow survey work, over 80% approval which is tough to get that many days occur, the last days of school could go into June. These people to approve,” Chief Communication Officer Matt Deichman Check out the full are just a few of the key points that this new calendar will said. The reason for reorganizing the school calendar is due to calendar here: entail. the government passing a bill into law. Prior to the new law, bit.ly/NSnewcalendar “I will say I feel like the district did a really good job kind of the FHSD school district had already approved a calendar that listening to everybody’s input and not just kind of coming up reflected every other years calendar. However, in July, a Missouri with their own thing, which I think for some people was the legislature changed the law regarding the start date of Missouri perception,” FHN Counselor and Committee member Lorraine Smith said. school districts. It stated that school districts could not start 10 days before the Half way through 2019, Missouri Governor, Mike Parsons, signed the bill into law first Monday in September. that mandates that Missouri schools can not begin classes earlier than 10 days “No, I mean we made the best decision we could with the parameters that our before Labor Day. Calendar committees, consisting of both students and school state government put on us,” FHSD Board of Education Director Michelle Walker administrators, have met to decide, plan and vote on what that calendar might said. “No, I am not exactly happy with it. I would like to be able to let our local look like. educators decide what’s best for students.”

justinbrewer15@gmail.com

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FHNTODAY.COM | 01.15.20 | NEWS

PAGE BY MINNIE ADAMS

A hand reaches for a plate of brownies. The Board of Education will host an event called Brownies with the Board. The event will be held at the FHSD Admin building on Jan. 23. (Photo by Addy Bradbury)

BROWNIES WITH BOARD A car drives by FHN at the end of the school day. FHSD proposes an opportunity to save money on interest costs late last year. The Board of Education holds monthly meetings where they discuss issues involving money and other matters in the district. Recently they have decided on a ‘No Tax Increase Bond’ which they will discuss at the Jan. meeting. (Photo by Anna Hollinger)

THE BOARD HAS DECIDED FHSD buildings are becoming outdated, so the Board of Education is going to put a bond on issue on the April ballot hoping to obtain funds

by Macy Cronin

get the votes and the ballot is passed in April they know what needs to be done. With the money, the n late December, the FHSD Board of Education district will be updating older buildings such as voted unanimously in a 7- 0 vote to put a ‘No Tax Henderson, Becky-David, Fairmount, Barnwell and Rate Increase’ bond on the April 7 ballot. This Hollenbeck. They will also be building a new FHN vote does not decide whether the bond itself building with these funds because of the magnitude has passed, only that taxpayers and community of repairs that are needed for the school. members can vote on it when it’s on the ballot.

“These are proposed items, [because] we “I’m ecstatic,” FHSD Board Director Michelle Walker know that construction costs change sometimes, said. “It’s going to be fantastic to get a new high administrations can change,” Chief Communications school on the north end of the district and I think Officer Matt Deichmann said. “Those are just the big it will be good to be able to address the issues that ideas.” we need to address in all of our buildings, so that On the FHSD website they have more information we don’t have to worry about about the details of the phases and something breaking and not what they will be doing with the being able to have school.” money more specifically. Also on the The ‘No Tax Rate Increase’ website is contact information for the Check out the FHSD Website for bond is a bond that is asking a Communications Department so that more info here: bit.ly/NSbondissue total of $244 million from the community members can learn more state. This allows for community that what is just on the website. This members to have the same tax is information for the public so that rate unless their assessed value taxpayers and voters know more about is increased. The district is putting bonds out and Proposition S. when people buy the bonds the district will pay them “We are going to need a whole lot of help from now back with interest. Then they will receive this money to April,” Walker said. “This is going to need a lot of in increments throughout the next several years. work. We are going to have to talk to the community, They are asking this much money now so that they educate the community and so I would ask that any don’t have to come back at a later date and ask the students that are willing to assist the community in community for more money. what we are doing and why we are doing [it].”

The district has phases already in place, so if they

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macy.cronin03@gmail.com

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PAGE BY JULIA SAMPOLSKA

On Jan. 23, the FHSD school board will be hosting a public event where students, staff and parents can ask questions, give suggestions and talk to the board.

“It’s an opportunity for people to speak casually with the board without it being a formal board meeting,” Michelle Walker, director of the board, said. “There is really no one [person] speaking to everyone.”

Attendees of Brownies with the Board can talk to board members individually and in an informal setting. This is unlike a board meeting, where people ask questions formally to a panel of board members.

“We’ve done [Brownies with Board] a few times before,” Chad Lange, vice president of the board said. “Board members show up and we walk around the room, where anyone can talk to us informally.”

The event will last from 5:30 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. and will be held at the FHSD admin building. Refreshments, such as brownies and soft drinks, will be served. The board and the superintendent of the district will be in attendance.

Previously, when this event was held a few times last year, attendance at the event was high.

“We want people to come,” Walker said. “We want to talk to them. We’ll be working on a bond issue. I’d like to hear people’s thoughts on that.”

Parents and students can find out more by contacting the board members. Contact information for every board member can be found on the FHSD website, or by talking to them during board meetings, dates of which can also be found on the FHSD website.

“I think [Brownies with the Board] will help the Francis Howell community,” Lange said.

“Any opportunity for people to speak their mind without retaliation is a way for people to break barriers.” (Brief by Aadhi Sathishkumar)

NEWS | 01.15.20 | FHNTODAY. COM

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UPCOMING EVENTS

January

16

Thursday

Board of Education Meeting Time: 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Where: FHSD Admin.

Building

January

18

Saturday

FHSD Community Resource Fair Time: 12 p.m. - 3 p.m.

Where: FHC

Standing tall, junior Lily Karase holds out her flag preparing to spin it during winter guard practice. Many new changes occurred this year, such as there is only one team, getting rid of the division between JV and Varsity. Two returning coaches are preparing the show this year. (Photo by Avery Witherbee)

Senior Emilee Statzer holds in her hand the class ring she customized. Francis Howell North offers students an opportunity to buy a class ring that they get to customize. During the school day students who ordered a ring get to go down to the ring ceremony to receive their rings. (Photo by Kaili Martin)

As the cold descends upon St. Charles, FHN’s winter guard is not discouraged as they warm-up for their season.

This year the coaches have decided on the theme: the aftermath of a storm. The show will start off gloomy and then it will move to a brighter show with rainbows being used as a design. Winter guard’s costumes will include a raincoat and dresses.

“I like the concept of the show,” sophomore Abigail Schmitt said. “I like that it starts out in a huge storm and then everything clears up and it’s all pretty and colorful. I like that the two parts of the show are very different and at the beginning, it’s really gray and sad, then it changes into colorful and happy.”

Several members of the fall color guard returned to perform in winter guard in the new season. Although the two can be confused, winter guard allows the team to perform more

The sophomore rings assembly is Jan. 20. The event is an informational meeting regarding the Sophomore Rings Ceremony. Oscar Sun, a sophomore at FHN, expresses his positive views on the ring ceremony.

“The ring represents all of my favorite memories of FHN, especially participation in clubs, cross country and track, and the pep assemblies,” Sun said. “What sets this school apart from the rest is its ability to make sure every student matters.”

The most integral part of the ceremony is when the 10th graders receive their rings. The cost of the rings are roughly $200 to $400 based upon what style is chosen, but to some the gratitude of receiving it outweighs the necessary cost of the rings.

“As students, we forget that sometimes the most fun we have in all of our lives is in high school,” Sun said. “Before we know it, we graduate, so might as well enjoy ourselves while we still can.”

This function is a way for friends

WINTER GUARD FLIES INTO NEXT SEASON

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intricate shows because they don’t have to share the stage with band members like color guard has to.

“Since [color guard is] held outdoors, we have to learn to spin with all the elements like the wind and performing up into the sun and that affects the way that we spin and how well we perform,” Schmitt said.

“During winter there is no wind or sun to look into and that kind of helps with spinning [because] you know there is nothing affecting the way your equipment moves.”

Coach staffing changed between the end of color guard and the beginning of winter guard. The new coaches allowed for performers to come together and feel more united as a team “I think we are more like a team,” senior Jenna Brown said. “During fall we really struggled to connect but now that we have staff that we know and we are comfortable with, I think we will work together very well.” (Brief by Macy Cronin)

FHNTODAY.COM | 01.15.20 | NEWS

SOPHOMORES WILL CELEBRATE RINGS

to catch up, and share some old memories one may have forgotten. It is also where sophomores can look at their past mistakes, and look for improvements in the future. The ring is a way to always remember high school and all the memories that have been made throughout those formative years.

“These rings not only bring back old memories of my high school career, but they also remind us that high school is only halfway completed and that there are many memories to come,” Sun said.

The ceremony not only unites the sophomores but also shows administrators and teachers how much their students have matured and grown. Amy Stoker, who teaches sophomore and senior English classes at FHN, appreciates the event.

“The rings not only celebrate the sophomores but also show their ability to achieve anything they put their minds too,” said Stoker. (Brief by Andrew Teuth) PAGE BY SYDNEY ELLISON

January

20

No School Why: Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Monday

January

21

Tuesday

Registration Help Night Time: 4 p.m. - 7 p.m.

Where: Learning Commons

February

12

Wednesday

Foundations of Investing Community Class Time: 6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Where: FSHD Admin.

Building

At Francis Howell Central, FHSD is holding a resource fair for the benefit of community members. The fair is hosted in conjucture with the special olympics basketball game with the hopes that it will increase attendance at both events.

(Photo by Shutterstock)

In Winter season when either boys or girls Varsity basketball has a game at FHN, the band is there to play. After marching band season ends, they decide to cheer on the basketball teams. “It’s fun because I get to hang out with my friends while playing popular songs,” sophomore Avery Witherbee said. (Photo by Courtney Wortman)

FHSD is hosting a community resource fair with the intention of connecting individuals with disabilities and their families to available resources in the community. The event will take place on Jan. 18 from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. at FHC. Everyone is welcome to attend, but the resource fair is intended to benefit community members with special needs and their loved ones.

The fair will feature break out sessions and different booths with representatives from dozens of organizations in the state. Some of the organizations that will be in attendance are Pathways to Independence, Willows Way and Resources for Human Development. There are four different break out sessions.

“There’s a lesson on guardianship, which teaches the importance for parents to know how to help people after they turn 18,” event organizer Eddie Rodgers said.

In order to boost attendance and

The season for winter sports is in full swing. For Basketball Band, this means cheering and performing at every varsity boys’ and girls’ basketball games at FHN. “The pep band is there to liven up the whole game, because there are some points where no one is really having it,” sophomore saxophone player Vanessa Guerrero said. “Even the student section can kind of get a little down. It’s our job to come in and be all punchy with our music and really get the crowd running.”

This year, the band has more than 30 songs to choose from to perform at the games. While they have many options, some staples include ‘Shut up and Dance’ by Walk the Moon, ‘Believer’ by Imagine Dragons and FHN’s fight song.

“When we sit in the stands and play pep songs, the songs are different from when we play in football games and there is kind of a different vibe to them,” Guerrero said. “These songs

COMING TOGETHER TO BASKETBALL BAND SUPPORT A CAUSE READY FOR SEASON

PAGE BY SYDNEY ELLISON

reach as many community members as possible, the resource fair will be held on the same day as the FHSD Special Olympics basketball tournament. The tournament is being organized by Director of Special Olympics, Eddie Mulholland. The goal in hosting the events together is to maximize the amount of families the resources reach.

“We are so happy that we get to be under the same roof as [FHSD Special Olympians],” Rodgers said. “We feel so honored to be involved with the FHSD Special Olympics and we’re hopeful it draws a bigger crowd.”

Rodgers feels that events like this are important to the community as a whole.

“We are connecting people with resources to put them on a path for a successful life,” Rodgers said. “With this event, if it helps even one person, then the whole thing was worth it.” (Brief by Sophie Carite)

are a little groovier and you can move around a little more.”

Although some may have felt unprepared for the season, the band has been practicing every Tuesday and Thursday since early November to prepare for the season.

“I myself feel pretty prepared because a lot of the pep songs are from last year,” Guerrero said.

“I am comfortable with most of them and I know my section is having a little bit of a struggle with them, but I know they’ll get it.”

The basketball band has to work together to have a cohesive performance. With the new season they have more opportunities to achieve their own personal goals and some new ones set forth as a band.

“Marching season kind of made us seem separated, so hopefully with basketball band we’ll be united and have more fun,” sophomore flute player Johna Hargrove said. (Brief by Macy Cronin)

NEWS | 01.15.20 | FHNTODAY. COM

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CLASSES TO TAKE

Students at FHN describe what they like about classes that could be taken next year (Content and illustrations by Maya Helbig)

CHILD DEVELOPMENT

This class provides students with the knowledge and skills to prepare them for child-related careers and parenthood. Students study topics of childcare and parenting roles. They participate in a parenthood simulation by carrying around an infant simulator.

Prerequisite: None “It gives good insight on how children develop.”

Haley King-Shrout, 10

DIGITAL ART

This class teaches students how to communicate ideas and stories in different ways using photography, computer art and animation. This course is designed to help students develop their own eye for design.

Prerequisite: A passing grade in Introduction to Art “It’s fun because you get to [use] photoshop, It’s advanced for its time.”

Randall Hufford, 10

FASHION CONSTRUCTION

This class introduces students to the world of fashion through sewing. Students get to create their own clothing and accessories using sewing machines and fabric.

Prerequisite: None “It’s calming, It’s like a break.”

Aair Reese, 9

FHN PUBLICATIONS

In these classes you start by taking one of the base-level classes to join the staff classes like Video, Web, Newspaper, Yearbook or Photo. This class gives the student body a voice through their work.

Prerequisite: An intro-class such as “Intro to Journalism,” “Photojournalism” or “Broadcast Journalism.”

“I really love the people, that’s honestly why I’m here. These people are like my family and this has completely changed my four years in high school.”

Emily Hood, 12

MYTHOLOGY

This class builds on the skills taught in English I and English II and the skills required for English III and English IV. Students practice communication skills including reading, writing, speaking, listening and interpreting information with mythological-related readings.

Prerequisite: English III or concurrent enrollment in English IV “There’s a lot of reading, and my [student teacher, Ms. Pugh] is super nice.”

Savanna Leahr, 12

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FHNTODAY.COM | 01.15.20 | NEWS

Mrs. Woodrum speaks to students individually about classes for next year. Each guidance counselor asks students to fill out their choice of classes for the upcoming year.

Registration for 2020-21 starts in January and counselors will be meeting with students until early February. (Photo by Kaili Martin).

REGISTER TODAY The Campus Portal will open up allowing students to go and register for the upcoming 2020-2021 school year on Jan. 14-23.

Registration only takes place at this time of the year due to possible job hirings for new teachers. Having registration now helps the district find the best candidates for the job before other schools do.

Students prepared by watching department videos, getting a grade level grid and a link to the enrollment guide unless they requested a hard copy. Students had about a week to plan, and then the Portal opened up yesterday, Jan. 14.

“The Portal opens [from] the 14 to the 23, [and students are] going to register, they’re going to choose their classes and then counselors are going to take a look at their requests,” Guidance Counselor Lisa Woodrum said.

After registration ends student’s schedules are created. After the schedule is created some just don’t work, meaning that percentage of schedules have too many or too few classes.

“Most of the time about 30% of students’ schedules don’t fill,” Woodrum said. “And so then counselors call students up and ask Campus portal login information them to choose a different course or suggest User: student ID a different course.”

Password : first initial, last Initial, 6 digit birthday A new class will be introduced next school year, Aerospace Engineering. Aerospace Engineering and it’s information can be found in the enrollment booklet that contains all classes you can take that was given out on the first day back, or online on the campus portal.

“It [Aerospace Engineering] allows us as a school to be more connected with the needs of the industry,” teacher Michael Green says. “It gives the students a different perspective and lets them have an exposure to aerospace.”

Aerospace Engineering will allow students to experience design, use tools and software and use professional skills such as team collaboration, presenting skills, problem solving and more.

“We get to make gliders. We get to learn the different principles of flight,” Green said. “It’s about anything that could possibly be involved with flying.” (Brief by Maya Helbig)

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JENNA WEBER DISCUSSES HER LOVE FOR ART | HUMANS OF FHN FHN Junior Jenna Weber discusses her love for art and how it’s affected her life. Weber has been drawing since she was young and creates masterpieces using all type of media in high school. Jenna first began her art career when she was in the third grade,

where she created comic books and discovered her passion for drawing. At FHN, she’s in AP Art Studio taught by art teacher Mrs. Flamm. (Video by

THE HOOD REPORT

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Junior Justin Caringal practices a side kick against a training bag. Caringal has been in Lyndell Institute for 10 years, training under Sharon Thornton and Jamie White.

Caringal just got his first degree black belt in 2015, and earned his second degree four years later in March 2019. “It constantly tests my limits and pushes me to accomplish things I didn’t think were possible,” Caringal said. (Photo by Pavan Kolluru)

BATTLE FOR THE BELT Junior Justin Caringal continues his passion for taekwondo, which he started at the age of six

by Abby Martinez

motivate many young martial artists. Justin instructs students, from ages three to 60, in taekwondo. He teaches on Tuesdays, Thursdays and occasionally Saturday. t’s a day for practice, and junior Justin Caringal is stretching and setting his Justin has been teaching for three years now. In these moments, he shows his mentality, ready to take on the challenges that come with being a secondtrue leadership skills. degree black belt in taekwondo. He starts with training his body across the “His leadership is the most improvement I’ve seen in Justin,” Sharon floor to get ready for what the rest of practice holds: sparring. These practices Thornton, Justin’s coach of 10 years, said. “He’s turned into what I call a great aren’t different from any other practice that Justin attends at Lyndell Institute. human being. That is just from so many different aspects, but his leadership has “I’m very proud of the accomplishments I’ve made there,” Justin said. “It’s grown immensely over the years.” also just a great source of exercise for me.”

Justin has encountered setbacks throughout his years of doing taekwondo.

Justin has been a martial artist in taekwondo for close to 11 years now.

He’s been passed up for a promotion and failed a belt test, but Justin’s work ethic He started when he was six, hoping to find a source of activity and drive have never faltered. outside of school. Justin had always found martial arts of many “He always does his best,” Thornton said. “That’s really one kinds to be interesting. So at just six years old, he and his parents of our components that we strive to do. He does that, no matter decided to enroll him in taekwondo. what: tired, hungry, thirsty, not feeling well, having an injury of Check out more information “I watched Kung Fu Panda as a little kid and just decided I some sort. He always pushes.” about Lyndell Institute: wanted to do that,” Justin said. “That’s how I got started.”

Taekwondo brings a lot of light to Justin’s life. It allows bit.ly/NSTaekwondo Through taekwondo at Lyndell Institute, Justin has come Justin to be himself. It gets rid of the stress of everyday life, across many people that he gets to call friends. Taekwondo has including the stress that comes with school. Having flexible brought many role models and supporters in his life. Most of taekwondo classes and motivation to have efficient time them Justin has known since he started participating in and perfecting the art. management, Justin is able to balance his love for the martial art and getting “He almost grew up with the people he trains with over there for the past 10 good grades in school. or so years,” Justin’s mother, Faergels Caringal, said.

“It helps him with the stress he encounters,” Jerome said. “And he has always Along with many of the friendships Justin has made, he was also able to made a lot of new friends there, which makes me really happy.” participate in taekwondo with his younger brother, Jerome. The brothers were Justin is very passionate about what he does and hopes to continue sharing able to do taekwondo together for six years. his love for taekwondo with others. He wishes to bring the teachings and soft “Growing up, I wanted to be just like him,” Jerome said. “So whatever he did, social skills that he’s gained from the art of taekwondo with him into the real I wanted to do because when we were younger, we would always spend time world. together.”

“It’s become a really big part of my life,” Justin said. “I focus all of my time Being able to inspire his younger brother wasn’t Justin’s only way to help perfecting the art.”

amartinez240@g.fhsdschools.org

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A LOOK BACK AND FORWARD

The North Star takes a look into influential events of the last decade and a look into the big events of the 2020s (Content by Connor Peper) (Illustrations by Kiley Beiner)

THE SAGA ENDS (2011) “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2” was released in theaters, marking the end of the Harry Potter saga. The first book was published by J.K. Rowling in June 1997.

“I started reading them in first grade. I was reading them while the movies were going on. I did not watch it in theaters. I felt old. I’d grown up with these characters and their stories were over. It was a weird feeling. They weren’t in my life anymore.

But it’s great they’re doing all these new series.”

Brandi Stover, 11

THE DAY THE WORLD ENDED (2012) The 5,126 year-long Mayan Calendar’s end date was slated for Dec 21, 2012. Fortunately, the ending of the Mayan civilization’s calendar did not in any way cause the world to end.

“The evening before my dad was like, ‘In China, it’s already the next day, so the world’s not going to end.’”

Luke Coffman, 11

JOKES OUT FOR HARAMBE (2016) In May of 2016, a three-year-old boy visiting the Cincinnati Zoo fell into the enclosure holding Harambe the gorilla. Harambe grabbed the child, prompting his killing. While protests were serious at first, the incident quickly ascended into infamy until 2017 where, like Harambe, the joke finally died.

“Kids were using that as a theme for their artwork, well past the meme’s popularity.”

Denise Maples, Staff

A TIMELINE FROM 2010 TO 2030 Important events in the past and important events in the near future. Future dates are projected Oct. 2011- Earth reaches 7 Billion in population

Nov. 2013- The Xbox One June. 2015- Obergefell v.

Hodges legalizes same-sex and PS4 are released marriage nationwide

2010

2015 Jan. 2010- Earthquakes devestate Haiti

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Nov. 2018100th anniversary of the end of WWI

FHNTODAY.COM | 01.15.20 | FEATURES

Nov. 2012- Nintendo release the Wii U

2020

Aug. 2014- Riots erupt in Ferguson, MO after Michael Brown is killed by police.

Nov. 2016- Donald Trump beats Hillary Clinton to become President of the United States

PAGE BY CONNOR PEPER AND IVY LOWERY

WHAT ANIME IS THAT? (2020) The Japanese Space Agency (JAXA) announced in 2010 an earnest $2.2 billion plan to create an unmanned colony on the moon. The mission goal is to eventually create a moon base as a jumping point for other space travel.

“I don’t know if they’re gonna be able to do that.

I don’t think $2 billion is enough to cover that, but that’s pretty awesome. Freakin’ robots, man.”

Jacob Kosier, 12

SKYNET BUT IT’S THE INTERNET (2014) Elon Musk’s SpaceX has been at the forefront of many exciting advances, one of them being the Starlink satellite network. By putting Internet satellites in low Earth orbit, SpaceX hopes to provide cheap Internet to every surface of the planet. The project is supposed to reach full capacity in 2024.

“It’s very interesting because you don’t have to have cell towers, I feel like we could really do it.

It would be really cool. It would help people in school to use their phones. We won’t have to use data but that doesn’t always work.”

Jessika Rogers, 9

JUPITER BECOMES BORING (2029) Jupiter’s “Great Red Spot” that has appeared in writings since the 1800s is shrinking and might disappear by the end of the next decade. The spot is actually a 25,000-mile wide storm, but even century long storms have to end eventually.

“I think it’s cool that we’re able to find that out and calculate that it’d be within the next decade.

It’s actually really weird that would even happen.”

Branden Bizelli, 10

2024 [Projected]- The Parker Solar Probe reaches the sun at a speed of 430,000

I

020

2027 [Projected]- India surpasses China as the world’s most populous country

2030

2025 2021 [Projected]Scientists invent brain chips to improve memory by 15%

PAGE BY CONNOR PEPER AND IVY LOWERY

2025 [Projected]Scientists develop a cure for Type 1 Diabetes

2029 [Projected]The Titanic completely rusts away

FEATURES | 01.15.20 | FHNTODAY. COM

15

THE SKY’S THE LIMIT

Caleb Gelven plans to join the Air Force Academy after high school

by Aadhi Sathishkumar

msathishkumar431@g.fhsdschools.org

As he gets ready to leave high school and enter the real world, senior Caleb Gelven hopes to attend the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) in Denver.

“I got interested in the Academy when I was looking into college my freshman year,” Gelven said. “I have wanted to fly jets since I was a young kid.”

Though Gelven is dedicated to enrolling in USAFA after high school, joining the Academy is not as simple as joining a conventional college. Applicants go through a competitive process to be accepted.

Vigorous physical standards, a good GPA and high ACT scores are necessary. Applicants must also get congressional recommendations for the academy and write essays on why they want to join.

“It is very selective, it’s not very cut and dry,” Brooke Prestidge, FHN’s college and career counselor, said.

“They look at a lot of things. They look at physical fitness, leadership, academics, community service.

Top of the top for everything.”

Gelven is on top of his schoolwork, with a current GPA of 4.3 and a 29 on the ACT, he stands a good chance of getting in. Gelven, a captain of the swim team and member of both the bowling and golf teams, is also physically capable of doing the tough tests given to the applicants. He has sent letters to senators Roy Blunt and Josh Hawley, as well as

Senior Caleb Gelven plans to go into the military once he graduates from high school. He wants to attend the Air Force Academy, and eventually enlist in the Air Force. “It’s super competitive to get in. I’m taking the ACT, AP classes and working out as much as I can,” said Caleb. (Photo by Sam Watkins)

representative Blaine Luetkemeyer, for his required congressional recommendation.

“I do think he has a good chance. He is a great candidate,” Prestidge said. “He is high achieving, he has great leadership skills and he was very prepared for this process. Applying to the Academy is a really intense process and you have to be organized and you have to be on top of it and he was. He was ready to go with all of his documents and letters of recommendation he needed at the very beginning. I think he exhibits the skills they are looking for.”

Caleb has other options if it doesn’t work out. If he isn’t accepted to the Air Force Academy, he plans

to do an ROTC program in college, which fosters the traits necessary for a career in the military.

“My second choice for college would be Purdue, Mizzou or Ole Miss. For a job, my second choice would be a commercial pilot or firefighter,” Caleb said. “If I do go to a different college, I will do the Air Force ROTC.” Looking ahead, Caleb is enthusiastic and keeps a positive attitude about his future in the military and after high school.

“I’ve wanted to serve my entire life,’’ said Caleb. “I just didn’t know what branch until now.”

SAFETY FOR TEEN MOMS

Sparrow’s Nest helps teenage mothers in the St. Louis area

by Julia Sampolska j.sampolska@gmail.com

(Illustration by Jena Pae)

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FHNTODAY.COM | 01.15.20 | FEATURES

Teenagers can have more freedom than adults, but also don’t have to be responsible for everything that adults need to worry about. For some, that’s not the case. Teen parents have the added responsibility of a child, and sometimes must learn parenthood without help from their families. However, The Sparrow’s Nest Maternity House is dedicated to help.

“Sparrow’s Nest is a long term housing program for moms under 20,” Alyssa Hilburn, a worker at Sparrow’s Nest, said. “Pregnant women can stay up to a year since the baby is born. During that time, volunteers who are working there teach moms how to take care of their babies.”

Usually girls who are looking for help in Sparrow’s Nest are in hard situations with their families.

Expecting moms and their families can fill out an application and meet with the people from Sparrow’s. The mother and her baby can stay at a maternity house for free, making it a good solution for people in difficult financial situations.

“The majority of our funding comes from private donors from the community,” Hilburn said. “Also we have 12 churches which support us and donate money. This makes it possible for every mother to remain in the Sparrow.”

Like every teenager, the mothers need to attend school in addition to learning how to become a parent. Girls who live in Sparrow can go to high school while volunteers take care of the babies.

There are 10 people who work at Sparrow’s Nest.

Some of them are part-time workers, but many are family coaches who live in the maternity home with the teen moms and offer them help around the clock.

“My husband and I worked as houseparents, living with our family full time inside the Sparrow’s Nest,” Amanda Shaheen, a former Sparrow’s Nest employee, said. “For us, Sparrow was our home, family and lifestyle. We did life with the teen moms and their babies: watching them grow each day and learning to find their worth and purpose in motherhood. It was some of the best years of our life, and is very much a part of our family story.”

PAGE BY AADHI SATHISHKUMAR

NEW YEAR, NEW MUSIC

Music coming out in 2020 to keep an eye on (Content by Jack Cleveland) Run The Jewels 4 by Run The Jewels Release date: September 7, 2020 The rap duo Run The Jewels, consisting of rapper Killa Mike and DJ El-P, returns this year to bring us the fourth album in their series of numbered Run The Jewels albums. Three years after they released the previous album in the series, it will be interesting to see how they change their style according to the currently popular styles of rap. The duo is also planning a tour to come with the release of this album.

Junior David Lopez plays Call of Duty Modern Warfare on his Play-Station 4. Lopez has been competitively playing Call of Duty for about eight months. He realized he was really good at the game around a year ago. Lopez loves the team he’s on and the feeling he gets when he wins with them. “I love the thrill of winning with my team. A well fought win is one of the best feelings,” Lopez said. (Photo by Allie Moore)

GAMING FOR GOLD

Junior David Lopez loves spending his time on gaming. He is not just doing it as a free-time hobby, but also does it to earn money

by Sydney Ellison

on it. I just didn’t try, didn’t put my time into it. I was happy that he actually made it.”

The clock hits 10 p.m. and the night begins. Call Lopez loves his job. He has a great connection with of Duty: Final Warfare is loaded on the screen, the his teammates despite not meeting in person. Lopez controller is ready in his hand. He plays a few games hopes to meet them in the coming future. with his team to warm up, and then the fun starts.

“I’ve played with them so much that I now know “I love video games because it’s a way for me to them personally,” Lopez said. “I’ve never been able go away from the real world and just have fun, just to meet them in person which sucks, but we are relax,” Lopez said. doing that soon.”

Lopez has always loved gaming and played video The hardest part of his job is balancing everything games constantly, even before the job offer. The in his life. Lopez has homework, friends, family, start of his job began two years ago while playing sports and clubs to contend with. He tries to find competitive games through an time for everything. app called Game Battles. He and “Balancing school [is the hardest] his teammates were racking up because sometimes I play on wins and an esports company school nights, balancing my social Check out The Rise took notice. A company called life, family. It’s a lot of balancing but Nation’s website: Rise Nation offered the team a job it’s all worth it in the end,” Lopez bit.ly/NSrisenation playing under them. said.

“I was so excited [when contacted] In the future, Lopez hopes to that I had all of the emotions,” Lopez said. “I was like, continue playing video games as a job to help him ‘Wow, I’m actually being seen now.’ It was a great through college. He plans on becoming an aerospace feeling and it’s something that I think I will remember engineer. If the gaming job begins to interfere with forever.” his day to day life or his future occupation, he has no His family was hesitant at first. Then once they qualms about quitting. realized it could be something cool and useful, his “I want to do this as something fun, but it also family gave full support. Lopez’s friends were excited does earn me money and so I kind of want to do for him and gave gracious amounts of support. this in college,” Lopez said. “But I think as soon as it “I was really happy for him,” Lopez’s friend Arth starts taking over, making my school work in college Patel said. “I was also trying to do the same thing hard and not allowing me to do what I really want to and stuff but like I don’t know, I just kind of gave up pursue, I think then it’s time to call it quits.” sydney.ellison55@gmail.com

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PAGE BY ANNA BESANCENEZ

Mystic Familiar by Dan Deacon Release date: January 31, 2020 Dan Deacon is an electronic music artist out of Baltimore, MD. He is known to experiment with many different sounds and has numerous albums that span a multitude of styles and genres. The video for his song, “When I Was Done Dying”, created as a part of Adult Swim Off The Air does a great job to illustrate his art style. The animated video uses bright colors and mystifying visuals to nicely support his cryptic, droning lyrics. Anyone who enjoys popular EDM artists like diplo and are looking for something a little off the beaten path, or if you’re already into bands like Animal Collective, Dan Deacon’s Mystic Familiar could be for you.

Culture III by Migo Release date: January 24, 2020 Atlanta Hip-Hop supergroup Migos is planning the third installation in their Culture series of albums. Quavo, Offset and Takeoff have remained among the top stars in the rap game right now due to their dedication to making music and even opening their own music label, Quality Control.

Culture III will most likely reflect the rest of Migos’ work: some good party songs with rapid fire flows and star studded with features from many other popular artists and rappers.

The Slow Rush by Tame Impala Release date: Feburary 14, 2020 Australian experimental music group Tame Impala is planning their follow up to their popular 2015 release, Currents. Tame Impala was started

by Kevin Parker in 2007. He also produces most of the group’s music. Their music has pushed the boundaries of rock, psychedelic pop and EDM since their creation, making a sound similar to bands like The Flaming Lips.

FEATURES | 01.15.20 | FHNTODAY. COM

17

Looking in the mirror, Senior Khalil Poole admires the makeup look he completed that morning. Poole likes to do makeup before school with the eyeshadow being the most time consuming part of the application process. Poole doesn’t always wear makeup, but when he does he likes to go all out. “I always try to base my makeup look off of the outfit I’m wearing that day, I like to make them both match.” Poole said. (Photo by Ella Manthey)

breaking the boundaries Senior Khalil Poole is gender nonconforming and uses makeup as a form of self expression

by Gracie Bowman

graciebowman310@gmail.com

H

is alarm goes off at 4:30 a.m. Most students won’t be awake for another two hours. He grabs the makeup bag that holds his favorite products.

He takes out his Jeffree Star Blue Blood pallet and his favorite NYX Cosmetics black lipstick. He still needs to pick out an outfit for the day. It will depend on his mood- it always does. Whether he decides to wear knee high black boots or bright pink fur, Khalil Poole will look in the mirror, face to face with not only a stunning eyeshadow job, but the realization that he is able to be himself.

Poole is gender nonconforming and also uses makeup and clothing as a way to express himself. Gender nonconforming means that someone identifies as the sex they were born as, but doesn’t follow the typical gender norms.

“I’m a dude, but I don’t follow the typical stereotypes of a dude,” Poole said. “I would always see dresses and say, ‘How would that look on me?’ Or I would see long hair and wonder what I would look like with long hair.”

Poole started his fascination with makeup a few years ago. Ever since he was younger, Poole would find himself wandering from the little boys section to the little girls section in stores. He was always interested in playing with Barbies rather than “roughing it up outdoors with the other boys.” Now that Poole is older, he is able to express himself the way he always wanted to.

“When I started embracing it, I bought my first wig,” Poole said. “I was like, ‘Oh my God, this is what it feels like to have long hair.’ It was a progression. The first week I tried makeup, I wasn’t very good. The first time I wore heels it was very difficult.”

While FHN strives to be an accepting place every day, society isn’t always accepting of the LGBT community. Poole ignores the negativity, knowing that

18

FHNTODAY.COM | 01.15.20 | FEATURES

some people just don’t understand the differences in others.

“People are going to have something to say no matter what you do,” Poole said.

“Don’t let those comments wear you down. I laugh at them.”

Positivity is something that keeps Poole inspired. He is surrounded by friends who love his makeup looks and style.

“My number one supporters are my friends,” Poole said. “They tell me that gender norms are dumb. What’s in between your legs doesn’t deter how you dress, how you act, how you talk or whatever.”

Poole wants to keep advocating for the LGBT community by breaking the gender norms, but he also wants to express his advocacy in a different way.

Other than makeup, Poole expresses his creativity through illustration. He enjoys spending his free time writing and illustrating comics where his characters are a part of the LGBT community. His characters can be transgender, bisexual or gender nonconforming, something you don’t find in every comic book.

“I just feel like if we [members of the LGBT community] have more visibility people would accept it more,” Poole said. “I do want to sort of advocate for the LGBT community because a lot of people don’t really do it, especially when we have so much negativity going on. For example, transgender people got banned from the military. I feel like a lot of people turn a blind eye to it and brush it off.”

When Poole is able to dress the way he wants and do his makeup, he feels comfortable in his own skin. He is able to embrace his true self and feel the most like himself.

“It’s a way I can feel comfortable,” Poole said. “Don’t care about what other people say. If people give you compliments, take those compliments. Just be happy with yourself.”

PAGE BY JACK CLEAVELAND

Freshman Aubery Crespo smiles in the auditorium. When Crespo’s dad worked in the military she traveled all around the country.

(Photo by Kaili Martin)

MOVING WITH THE WIND

English teacher Dawn Jones comments on a question being asked by a librarian. Jones has been an English teacher at Francis Howell North for 17 years and has recently planned to be a librarian. She is a FHSD Tech Ambassador and she’s immersed herself in PD (Professional Development) that will prepare her for her future role as a librarian. (Photo by Sarah Williams)

BRAVE FOR BOOKS English teacher Dawn Jones is working to become a librarian

by Sydney Ellison

“She is seriously one of the hardest workers I know,” Johnson said. “I’m not just saying that. Like Books have always been a part of her life. They I said, she just sets a goal and she will pretty much make her laugh, make her cry, make her happy. stop at nothing to achieve it. I feel like she’s got that That love for books is part of the reason Dawn Jones whole resilience and grit factor going that you just became an English teacher. Now that admiration can’t deny how much hard work she puts into the for books has helped to dream up another goal: to things that she does.” become a librarian.

Jones has experienced some difficulties along “Books hold power and words hold power and I the way that have prevented her from becoming a love that as much as I love technology and I think librarian. She went through a personal family issue it’s important, I don’t want us to ever forget about last year and has been focused on her children and books,” Jones said. family since then. She credits her connection to her Jones has been an English faith on how she got past this trying teacher for 17 years and has loved time. Now she feels like she is in a the job. She currently teaches good place and she readily awaits English for juniors and seniors. She the future.

Check out more about felt the call to become a librarian, “I want to be a librarian, I am really Dawn Jones here: also known as a media specialist, trusting God’s timing,” Jones said. “I bit.ly/NSJones around three years ago and has really believe that I’m going to land been working toward her goal right where I’m supposed to.” ever since. Jones passed the certification test two Not rushing to end her career as an English years ago and since then has been getting hours teacher, Jones will start applying for jobs in spring shadowing other librarians.

2020. She hopes to stay within the district to be a “I love discussing books with students and finding school librarian but is open to anything. books that they enjoy so I’m really just getting more “I feel like I’m going to get the best of everything hours for myself to feel more prepared,” Jones said.

I love as an English teacher without necessarily the According to Jones, everyone has been supportive daily tasks in the classroom,” Jones said. “[Also] of her goal and to some it’s no surprise. Her fellow being able to put my energy into technology and English teacher, Kristen Johnson, was the first person books and students and teachers.” at FHN who Jones told about her goal.

sydney.ellison55@gmail.com

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Moving often, packing lightly and living in completely different environments every two years. Friends come and go as freshman Aubery Crespo and her family blow in the wind. Aubrey’s father, Joshua Crespo, is an Air Force veteran- a job that comes with responsibility and sacrifice.

Joshua, 38, recently retired from the Air Force.

He has a different job within the military, but no longer has to move his family around for his job. His wife, Angelica Crespo, is also an Air Force veteran. Joshua and Angelica have two daughters, Aubrey and Lily Crespo.

“He was a staff sergeant,” Aubrey said. “My Dad now works as an imagery analyst. It’s like a geography thing, he looks at landscapes to find bad people.”

When Aubrey was eight, she moved to Osan Airforce Base in South Korea. Two years later, she moved to California and stayed there until she was 11.

“The worst place I ever lived was California because everything is dead there; you can’t really go outside,” Aubrey said. “South Korea was the best place I lived because the food was great and the culture was cool.”

Before Aubrey and her family moved for the first time, her father was deployed to Afghanistan for seven months. He was never on the battlefield, but he did work in dangerous conditions.

“I don’t remember how I felt, I was like five or six. I was sad that he was gone, but I knew he would be back.” Aubrey said. “I remember we would Skype him every once in a while. We also sent him giant boxes filled with things like cookies and cards saying we miss him. We also would put stuffed animals in there.”

Moving homes can often affect a child and their ability to make friends. Even though Aubrey has met people and left people, she doesn’t let that keep her down.

“She had to move away from her best friend. If I were in her situation, it would be lonely,” Adrian Hensley said. “She keeps her spirit.” (Brief by Ivy Lowery)

FEATURES | 01.15. 20 | FHNTODAY. COM

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FHNTODAY.COM

From Livestreams to Podcasts to Stories about FHN community members, we’ve got it all.

Check out the In-Depths on FHNTODAY.COM: Visit FHNGAMEDAY.COM, our sports site: Our Sports section of FHNToday features stories and photos of FHN sports from the Fall to Spring seasons.

Stories range from recaps of games to features on athletes, and there are photos of every sport from bowling to football. On this section of FHNToday is also links to game schedules and athlete rosters.

Listen to our Podcasts on FHNTODAY.COM: FHNToday has an all new Podcast program, posting new content every week. There are weekly and biweekly shows made by students on a variety of topics. Some on the regularly produced content includes shows like Jakes Gamer Talk, Goonie Gab, and Around the World in 30 minutes. Podcasts are available on Podbean and FHNToday.com

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FHNTODAY.COM | 01.15.20| FHNTODAY

FHNToday has written, photo and video stories.

Each edition of the North Star is virtually published onto the website. There are previews and recaps of events on FHNToday, Follow this link to including events like plays read the three part and different fairs the series: community holds. Emily bit.ly/NSLifeAfter Hood’s Life After piece features stories about life after prisoner’s incarceration.

INFO

Follow @FHNTODAY:

FHNToday is active on social accounts including Instagram. Twitter, Snapchat, TikTok, and Facebook.

Search the user “@FHNToday” on any of those platforms in-order to find our accounts.

They feature news updates, previews to videos, and information about students.

PAGE BY SOPHIE CARITE

The North Star Presents...

THE POWER OF IDENTITY

To be continued...

PAGE BY GRACIE BOWMAN

IN-DEPTH | 01.15.20 | FHNTODAY. COM

23

YOU DEFINE

YOURSELF

Identity affects all aspects of our life and high school is an important place to discover it

by Sydney Ellison

sydney.ellison55@gmail.com

I

dentity. Defined as ‘the distinguishing character or personality of an individual.’ It’s something that shapes our society and gives meaning to our lives. Its presence can influence decision-making, relationships and much more. High school is one of the most important times to discover identity. High schoolers have the chance to try new things, meet new people and discover who they truly are.

“Identity is I guess really a person’s sense of who they are and/or how they present themselves to the people around them,” FHN principal Nathan Hostetler said. “So, I think there’s an aspect of identity that is internal and an aspect that’s external as well.”

Identity is most commonly identified with things like race, gender and sexuality but it doesn’t have to be limited to that. Identity is what makes up a person. It answers the question, who am I? “Kids grow as kids go through their years in high school. That sense of identity starts out very external, sometimes it’s built around the color of one’s skin or sexual orientation, gender or just the clothes that people wear and over time that sense of belonging becomes much more internal,” Hosteler said. “People really start to have a better sense of who they are [through high school].”

At FHN, the idea of identity has become much more relevant. Events like the cultural festival allow students to connect with their culture. The language signs hanging around school are constants that students see. The variety of clubs and activities give students a chance to try new things and decide whether it’s something they love.

“We do a good job at supporting one

another and accepting everybody for who they are,” FHN counselor Stephanie Johnson said.

High school can be such an important time in discovering identity because it’s a time of changes to the body, to the mind and to the soul. It’s a time of trying to be independant and learning the way to life.

New things are constantly being introduced in a way where it may have an effect on identity.

“People come in as a freshman and they’re a little bit frightened, they kind of have some sense of who they are, but it’s not nailed down by any stretch of the imagination and they spend the next four years starting to really sort that out and there’s a huge change that happens,” Hostetler said.

According to Hostetler, identity is directly connected with belonging. Belonging can be important in high school because many students need acceptance from their peers.

“Human beings really need to feel like we belong,” Hostetler said. “Part of the reason human beings have been as successful as we have as a species is the fact that we depend on one another.”

In the future, Hostetler hopes to get more student input on ways to make FHN a better place for students to feel comfortable and discover their identity.

“If people feel like things are done with them, then there is a sense of belonging,” Hostetler said. “Even if it’s something that you ultimately are not going to be really pleased about the outcome, if I work with you instead of doing something to you then you’ll at least be able to say ‘I don’t like where this ended but I understand how we got here’ and that makes a big difference. So that is really what the student voice is about. Doing things with kids, not to kids.”

STUDENT TAKE

WHAT IS IDENTITY AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO YOU? “Identity is having your own sense of self and doing your own thing. It’s important to have your own personality.”

Grace Bales, 12

“It [identity] is one’s individual worth. Without it no one would be different.”

Breanna Hood, 11

“Identity is who you are, not who everyone else wants you to be. It is important to have your own place and be a person that you’re happy with.

Bailey Scarbrough, 9

“I think identity is what defines you and what actions you make in life. Everyone has their own identity without any difference everyone would be the same.”

Emma Jones, 10

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PAGE BY GRACIE BOWMAN

DAncing INTO THE SPOTLIGHT Cailyn Hodges finds confidence through dance

by Skylar Vogel

svogel400@g.fhsdschools.org

Identity is how we express who we are. Identity is what makes all of us different and unique. For sophomore Cailyn Hodges, her identity is found in dance. Dancing for most of her life has shaped her into the person she is today. “[Dance] has made me a better person and has taught me a lot of life lessons from the different people I meet,” Hodges said.

Hodges began dancing when she was two years old, and it has remained a prominent part of her life since then, amounting to fourteen years of dance.

“Dance has really made me more mature and has given me a lot more confidence,” says Hodges.

Hodges dances at Dance Connection Performing Arts Center, where she spends most of her time.

The practices take up a considerable portion of her schedule, as she dances four times a week, with practice times ranging anywhere from 30 minutes to three hours. With all this time in the studio, Hodges has built strong friendships with

her fellow dancers, and some of her closest friends are at the dance studio. Yet Hodges tries to balance these friendships, as well as her time, between school and dance.

“It makes my schedule a little bit harder, but I can usually manage my time pretty well when it comes to practices and my busy school schedule,” Hodges said.

Still, she makes time for dance, because it matters to her. Dance affects her in many aspects of her life, changing her schedule, but more importantly, her identity. She finds it to be a way of expressing herself.

“It’s one of my creative outlets,” Hodges said. “I can be myself when I do it.”

Dancing has improved several facets of Hodges’ life. It has shaped who she is and how she approaches everyday situations. Hodges will continue to dance and it will continue to change her life every day.

“It has definitely made me more mature as a person,” Hodges said. “It has given me a lot of skills that I need to use in my life.”

EMPOWERMENT THROUGH PRAYER Junior Zinat Ologundudu is a practicing Muslim and shares how her religion is important to her identity

by Karsyn Williams

karsyn.williams15@gmail.com

After a long day of school, junior Zinat Ologundudu kneels down and begins to say a prayer. Alongside her family, Ologundudu was born and raised practicing Islam and has been a devout Muslim her entire life. Her religion has become a major part of her life and her identity, as the faith has become a key aspect in her morals and beliefs.

“My religion is a very positive religion,” Ologundudu said. “You can learn a lot from it and better yourself through it.”

Everyday, Ologundudu finds and takes the time to pray. In Islam, there is one god, Allah, who Muslims worship and pray directly to. It is believed that as one prays, they recieve great spiritual benefit throughout their life.

“I believe that in whatever you do, Allah is always behind you,” Ologundudu said.

Islam is the second most popular religion in the world, making up about 24.4% of the entire world’s population. As of 2017, there are about 3.45 million Muslims in the United States. Many practice the religion alongside others in their community, celebrating spiritual holidays together and sharing their faiths.

Ramadan, an important religious

PAGE BY GRACIE BOWMAN

holiday, is a month in the Islamic calendar where Muslims worldwide take the time for reflection, prayer and fasting.

“I personally didn’t know she was Muslim until she told me, which I kind of think is really cool because people don’t get to judge her off of that,” senior Salam Abouchleih said. Abouchleih is a friend of Ologundudu and is a practicing Muslim as well.

Alongside their prayers and daily practices, many Muslims also attend services at local mosques. This is another way many Muslims are able to connect with those of the same faith and pray together.

“I saw her at the prayer on Eid al-Fitr, which is a Muslim holiday, and that’s how I knew she was Muslim,” Abouchleih said.

Ologundudu views her religion as a key aspect in her life. Through practicing it, she finds that she is happier and feels more complete. The religion helps Ologundudu maintain a positive outlook on life. While her faith isn’t something everyone who has met her knows about her, it’s a major part of her identity that she still remains proud of.

“When I have a bad day, I pray, and I always feel better at the end of it,” Ologundudu said.

“It [religion] impacts how I think and how I see people around me and what I’m doing. It allows me to be confident and be who I am today.”

IN-DEPTH | 01.15.20 | FHNTODAY. COM

25

Trips To Tanzania Speaking two languages and from a different country, freshman Wonder Reed continues to be connected with her heritage

by Anna Besancenez abesancenez03@gmail.com

G

oing back and forth from sleeping in nets that hung from the ceiling in Africa to sleeping in a bed in America, freshman Wonder Reed was born in Makose, Tanzania and speaks both English and Swahili. Wonder has been speaking Swahili since she could talk, but once she started going to an American school she started speaking English. Wonder and her mom came to America with her mother when she was around five years old.

“I speak English more since I go to an English school and I’m a little rusty on Swahili,” Wonder said. “I have gotten used to the fact that I speak English at school and Swahili at home.”

Every village in Africa has its own specific tribal language.

Swahili is the universal language for communication between the villages. Wonder grew up in a small village called Makose in the city of Lushoto. Wonder and her mom, Upendo Reed, try to visit their village whenever they are able to. Reed’s mother Upendo was named after love; the word Upendo means love in Swahili.

“I have been through a lot,” Upendo said. “But I am very glad that all happened because it has made me wiser and understanding.”

According to Wonder, the heritage has shaped her identity due to how giving, understanding and accepting she has become.

“It’s [Tanzania] such a happy place, everyone is so happy,” Wonder said. “People in America are more judgemental and strict.

America and Tanzania are so different.”

The cultures between the two countries have some differences

according to Wonder. In Tanzania they use their hands to eat while in America utensils are used with certain things.

“In my village, everyday is like a party,” Wonder said. “We are always celebrating and it’s just so much fun. In America it’s more pressure like getting good grades, while in Tanzania it’s just please do well.”

They eat African-based dishes at home. Her mother makes lots of chicken and rice along with goat meat and beef.

“I love chipsi mayai,” Wonder said. “You take fries and egg and mix them and then you put ketchup over it and it’s so good.”

In their village they believe in spirits and witches. Her family believes that her great grandma was a witch. People in her village would see witches for fortune telling and future predictions.

“There is just superstitious things like you can’t whistle at night or else you will get murdered and stuff like that,” Wonder said.

Tanzania is, in some ways, a safer place than America according to Wonder. There is crime everywhere, but between the two countries it’s a little different. The danger in Tanzania is more revolved around the wildlife while in America the danger is more of violence.

“It’s such a nice place but it can be really dangerous, but not as dangerous as you think,” Wonder said. “There’s wildlife and that can be dangerous but it’s so nice. They won’t attack you unless you attack them.”

Upendo and Wonder, mother and daughter, have been shaped by their heritage. Wonder looks up to her mother and inherits her qualities from her.

“My heritage has influenced my identity because it has made me understanding and empathetic to others,” Wonder said.

BLOOD, SWEAT AND GEARS Sophomore Mason Rigby has a love for cars, and they’ve become a part of his identity

by Ivy Lowery

Sophomore Ryan Redell and Rigby have been friends for over a year. The base of Redell and Racing engines, straight piped cars and hands Rigby’s friendship is their common interest in cars. slicked with motor oil. This is the dream of “Mason would be very different without cars,” sophomore Mason Rigby, a car enthusiast-- better Redell said. “He wouldn’t be with the people he’s known to some as a gearhead. around if he wasn’t.”

Speed, skidding tires and beautiful cars are Cars have been such an important part of Rigby’s Rigby’s passion and a part of his identity. He’s been life. It affects the way he spends his money, what to over 15 car events, and hopes to go to more. he’ll do for his career, along with who he chooses to From his car-printed clothes to be friends with and talk to. drifting in his free time, it seems “Without cars, my life would be everything has to do with Rigby’s very different,” Rigby said. “Before unconditional love for cars.

Look at some of the 2020 I wanted to be an architect and it “My dad influenced my car model releases here: just didn’t feel right. Now I want to interest the most because he is a bit.ly/NS2020Cars be a mechanic, and maybe do body mechanic,” Rigby said. “I’ve been work. It feels right for me.” into cars ever since I was born.

In the future, Rigby hopes to own My first word was ‘screwdriver’.” a 1989 Toyota Supra. Since Toyota is a Japanese Rigby’s dad, Darin Rigby, has been working at car company, it is considered part of the Japanese Pappas Toyota for the past five years as a mechanic.

Domestic Market (JDM).

He previously worked at Chrysler.

“I own a 1990 Mazda Miata, and my father owns a “I think cars have made me a better person 2011 Subaru STI,” Rigby said. “I grew up with every because I feel like it makes me more determined car in my family being American, and eventually with what I want to do. It makes me more they went to JDM. I guess I followed.” motivated,” Rigby said.

ilowery408@g.fhsdschools.org

MORE INFO

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FHNTODAY.COM | 01.15.20 | IN-DEPTH

PAGE BY GRACIE BOWMAN

EMBRACING AN IDENTITY Junior Riya Contractor celebrates her Indian heritage and Hindu religion, and believes that it makes her cultural identity unique

by Ashlynn Perez

ashlynnkaeperez@gmail.com

Since she can remember, junior Riya Contractor has been a part of the rich culture of Hinduism. It was a part of her parents’ lives growing up, and now she celebrates it as a part of her identity.

“I feel like it really helps define who I am,” Contractor said. “It just makes me really unique from other people, because not a lot of people are the same religion as me, so it is hard to relate to others, but it’s cool to be able to tell people and show people about my religion, because it is a really beautiful culture, and I love being who I am.”

Contractor describes Hinduism as an incredibly rich culture. While Hinduism is a religion- the third largest religion in the world- it is also an ethnic part of peoples’ lives, mainly practiced in India and Southeast Asia. Some staples of it are gold, jewelry and the festive holidays celebrated in place of traditionally American holidays. Diwali, a Hindu holiday, took place in November, celebrating how good triumphed over evil.

Contractor and her family celebrated Diwali by decorating their house with lights.

“Her culture affects her positively by helping her connect to her family and friends that have similar cultures,” her friend, junior Iris Lee, said. “It also helps her outlook on life by guiding her with its morals. It’s also just really cool.”

Despite the rich culture Contractor sees it as now, there was a time when being involved in it was a struggle for her.

“When I was younger, I used to be a little ashamed of being [a part of] my culture because I never really fit in, but then especially in this area, there’s not many Indian people, or even Muslim people, so I did feel a little ashamed,” Contractor said.

Part of the shame came from how different her religion is compared to what many consider “normal”. In an environment full of people with beliefs unlike what Contractor believes, it sometimes felt like she was alone.

“It really differs from what people consider normal, because most of my friends are just Catholic or Christian, so I have felt like an outsider,” Contractor said.

Her friends, such as Lee, have seen how it affected her life and her struggle to balance her identity in the past.

“I’ve seen her struggle before,” Lee said.

“It’s very hard to balance your root culture self and your everyday society self. Since she lives in America and is surrounded by more PAGE BY GRACIE BOWMAN

American culture than Indian culture, it takes a while to be able to balance both cultures at the same time.”

However, she was not down for long, and in the past few years, she has become firmer in her identity within her culture. And instead of the shame that can come with being different, she now sees it as a source of strength and confidence.

“I’ve learned, as I’ve grown up, to embrace who I really am, because it sets me apart from everyone,” Contractor said. “It gives me that cultural identity that belongs to me.”

Along with welcoming her culturalidentity on a personal level, Contractor has been encouraged in this identity by her surroundings. Instead of being alone in her beliefs, she is being surrounded more and more by people who she can connect with through their similarities and shared experiences.

“I get to see people who look like me, who have the same religion as me,” Contractor said. “It helps me relate to them and make new connections.”

Contractor attributes some of this to changes in the FHN community, which strives to support tolerance, diversity and individual identity. The changes in the school and its climate have bled into her life and have made her more comfortable in who she is. “[My freshman year] I felt like a total outsider,” Contractor said.

“But sophomore year and this year, I feel so much more involved, and I feel like there are so many more clubs and activities that help promote diversity and inclusion for everyone. I feel like Dr. Hostetler has really helped with that, as well.”

She continues to celebrate her vibrant Hindu culture and she stays proud of who she is, and who her culture has made her to be.

“I want people to know it’s different. It’s not what you’d really expect from a normal person,” Contractor said. “It really means a lot to who I am, and it’s just shaped me to be the person I’ve become.”

IN-DEPTH | 01.15.20 | FHNTODAY. COM

27

Worship Times: Saturdays at 5:00 PM Sundays at 8:00 AM Sundays at 9:30 AM and 10:45 AM

We take the DENTS out of ACCIDENTS

SunRise O’Fallon Campus 7116 Twin Chimneys Blvd, O’Fallon, MO 63368

Ph: (636) 978-2727 sunrisefamily.org

RED LIGHT WARNING Have you purchased your yearbook chronicling the 2019-20 school year?

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We just don’t want you to miss out and the price goes up in the coming weeks. Check the “Yearbook” menu item on FHNtoday.com to make sure your name is on the list so you don’t miss out.

If you need to buy your book, you still can in room 131 with Mrs. Kiel or online at FHNtoday.com under the “Yearbook” menu.

This year’s book will be 320 pages of full color and chronicle everything

“

BEING IN THE JOURNALISM PROGRAM HAS TAUGHT ME HOW TO EXPRESS MY IDEAS IN NEW WAYS AND LEARN THROUGH THE PEOPLE I MEET.” —Nadia Abusoud, Video Storyteller FHN Media

ENROLL IN A JOURNALISM CLASS FOR NEXT YEAR.

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Sophomore Max Ising glides down the ice, taking the puck from his opponents. Ising has been on the hockey team since his freshman year and wants to continue throughout high school. FHN fell to Francis Howell High in the Gold Cup in a 0-13 game. (Photo by Riley Witherbee)

HOCKEY HONORS CANCER PATIENTS

Teaming up with the NHL and the American Cancer Society, the FHN hockey team supports those who have battled and are currently battling cancer

by Abby Akers

aakers454@g.fhsdschools.org

H

ockey Fights Cancer is an important event in the hockey world. It brings together the sport many people love and a disease that nobody wants. Hockey Fights Cancer is a charitable event started by the National Hockey League (NHL) after Tampa Bay Lightning forward, John Cullen, was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma.

In conjunction with the NHL and the American Cancer Society, a Hockey Fights Cancer night was held before FHN took on Duchesne. There were jars placed around the rink for people to donate money to support the cause. “[I liked it] because it allowed us to show support in and outside of the hockey community,” junior Lilly Delaney said.

Before the game, there were many tributes. A Hockey Fights Cancer representative talked about the organization and their mission to bring hockey together to create cancer awareness. Then a moment of silence was held for the people who had lost their battle with cancer.

“It is a good way to show we care about our teammates and family that we want to help them,” sophomore Dominic Henning said.

Both teams wrapped their sticks with purple tape.

They were also given HFC stickers to put on their helmets. The teams and parents had the opportunity to create a sign that said who they fight for.

“Even though you have two different teams, they can come together on a night together and

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FHNTODAY.COM | 01.15.20 | SPORTS

do something like that [raise money together],” sophomore Matthew Wells said. “It shows class and respect that they can do it.”

According to the National Cancer Institute, 38% of men and women will be diagnosed with cancer sometime throughout their lifetime. In 2017, nearly 15,270 children and adolescents were diagnosed with cancer. Of those children, 1,790 lost their fight.

In 2019, a member of the Knights hockey team had something big to celebrate. Senior Charlie Jones, who was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma, was honored at the game. Ewing’s sarcoma is a very rare tumor that grows in the bones or the soft tissue around the bones. Jones is a goalie who recently rang the bell at Children’s Hospital to show that he is done actively receiving treatment. Jones is in remission and has begun to train and play with the hockey team again. “[Practice] is fun and all but I can’t wait to play in games again,” Jones said.

There were an estimated 15.5 million cancer survivors in 2016. There is expected to be 20.3 million by 2026. Cancer of any kind affects many families so a gesture like this can make a big difference to many people.

Although the Knights lost, the team was happy they were able to be a part of an event like this. “[Hockey Fights Cancer] was special because it kind of let people know what I went through if they didn’t know what happened,” Jones said. “It also let people know that cancer can happen to anyone.”

PAGE BY SKYLAR VOGEL

Junior Olivia Neunaber stands as she watches her teammates swim during practice. She has recently been allowed to join the swim team after her injury from cross country.

“It’s a really fun sport to do that pushes me physically and mentally,” Neunaber said, “it’s also a good way to build leadership skills and meet new people.” (Photo by Adam Hogan)

OVERCOMING THE OBSTACLES Junior Olivia Neunaber continues swimming after recovering from having surgery on both legs

by Chloe Horstman

“I’m sure we remember what it was like when we couldn’t drive ourselves everywhere.” Olivia said. “I wasn’t allowed to drive until three weeks after my ince the age of six, junior Olivia Neunaber has been swimming and surgery. It’s like you’re in such a habit of driving yourself and being able to do pushing herself as an individual to her limits in the pool, on the track everything yourself and I was in a wheelchair and couldn’t drive, couldn’t walk or on the bike, and began competitively swimming for a club in middle and get stuff for myself. It’s like everything changed.” school. She’s always been tough and has seen more than her fair share of injuries, Friend and teammate junior Natalia Salazar swam on FHN’s swim team with but even after two stress fractures, an injury to her achilles tendon and shoulder, Olivia last swim season. Salazar views Olivia as a very mentally strong person and nothing compared to the tight calves, tingling feet and panic attacks that she admires the way she faced her obstacles to overcome her injuries. dealt with during this past cross country season. “[Olivia] never really complained about it,” Salazar said. “She’s always been Her symptoms started freshman year but over time worsened to intolerable really tough about it. She still swims amazing, there’s nothing holding her back. levels. After many doctors visits, she was diagnosed with chronic compartment She’s still the same Olivia, she’s just got scars on her legs. She’s a very strong syndrome, an uncommon condition in which an increase person and she handles herself very well.” in pressure caused poor circulation and inadequate tissue Olivia’s dedication in sports and her commitment to her functions, resulting in damage to the muscles and nerves in decision to get surgery helped calm her mother, Meghan her legs. On Sept. 10 she went into surgery and surgeons cut Neunaber, who was anxious about her daughter having surgery Learn more about her fascia, the connective tissue that covers the bones in her and the chance it wouldn’t help. compartment syndrome legs. After the operation, Olivia’s shins were wrapped to allow “If [Olivia] needs to get better at something, she’ll take the time here: bit.ly/NSccs the six inch incisions that scarred them to heal. Her lengthy to practice and see what she needs to do,” Meghan said. “As an road to recovery started her off in a wheelchair, and gradually athlete, she analyzes things, so she knows what she needs to do transitioned into crutches two weeks later and independently to get better, and she’ll work on it. She’s persistent, she’s a hard walking four weeks later. worker.”

“Being in a boot for a stress fracture is a lot different than not being able to walk As Olivia continues to recover, she looks forward to striving to achieve new and being in a wheelchair,” Olivia said. “This was definitely the hardest to deal goals in the pool, swimming the 100 fly, and 200 and 500 free, and getting back with. I remember the night before the surgery, I was thinking ‘I can’t walk for the into shape. Though it was an uphill battle, Olivia believes that going through the next week or two.’ And that scared me, it’s weird to think about.” difficult process of surgery and recovery had a positive impact.

While the physical restraints were plenty cumbersome, perhaps the most “It [the surgery and recovery process] made me stronger as an athlete,” Olivia difficult aspect of recovery for Olivia to deal with was having her independence said. “I do a lot of sports, so being taken out of all of those tore me, but going stripped away. She couldn’t put any pressure on her legs, so she wasn’t allowed back to sports that I love definitely made me a better athlete because it made me to run, drive or even walk, and had to sleep on the couch in her living room as a remember how much I love doing sports. Even though they’re hard, I love doing flight of stairs stood in the way of her bedroom. them.”

clshorstman@gmail.com

S

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SPORTS | 01.15.20 | FHNTODAY. COM

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UPCOMING EVENTS

January

15

Varsity Girl’s Swim Time: 3:30 p.m.

Where: St. Charles West

Wednesday

Pinning his opponent, junior Jesse Collins fights as the other wrestler tries to break free. Many of the varsity wrestlers of the previous year have graduated, creating a completely different line-up for this year’s team. Recently the girls’ wrestling team had three out of their four wrestlers win their matches against Troy. (File Photo)

January

15

Varsity Boy’s Wrestling Time: 6 p.m.

Where: Ft. Zumwalt West

Wednesday

Senior Sterling Jones prepares to go for a layup against St. Charles West. Jones has grown up playing basketball with his friends and family. He is trying to get a scholarship and wants to continue to play the sport in college. “I’m excited to try and change the culture around the game here,” Jones said. (Photo by Phoebe Primeau)

SENIOR IS SHOOTING WRESTLING TEAM UNDERGOES CHANGES FOR A SCHOLARSHIP This year the wrestling team has five Jesse said. “I’ve known him my whole coaches, two for the girls and three for life but he helps me out a lot and he the boys. It’s also the second season went to state his senior year.” for girls wrestling and the wrestlers, Another coach who is new to the such as senior Erin Flemming, are program is Kimberly Skwira, who looking forward to a great season. has never wrestled, but grew up in “I’m really excited because last year a wrestling family. Her brother is we didn’t really have a main focus on inducted into the school hall of fame the girls, but this year I feel like the for wrestling, she has ran a little league coaches are into wrestling program it and have more and her younger son girls tournaments,” used to wrestle.

Flemming said. “My “This is a learning Listen to a podcast with individual goal is to year for me,” Skwira one of the FHN wrestlers: make it to state. I said. “Learning how bit.ly/NSwpc want to qualify. I’m high school wrestling on the road to state works is very different right now, and for singles we just want from little league, and so my goal for to do well and win our duels and stay myself is just to learn more so that on top.” in years to come I can better coach Assistant boys coach, Tyler Collins, is the girls with technique, because for one of the new coaches in the program someone who hasn’t wrestled before and is also brothers with junior Jesse and someone who is a very hands-on Collins. When Tyler started wrestling learner, I have to physically do the freshman year, he inspired Jesse to moves myself so that I can better teach start wrestling too. them.” (Brief by Parker Kilen) “It’s weird [having him as a coach],”

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FHNTODAY.COM | 01.15.20 | SPORTS

Basketball has been important to senior Sterling Jones ever since he was young. Throughout high school, he has been playing on FHN’s basketball team. Jones plans to continue playing on the court into college and hopes to join a basketball league through hard work and dedication.

“My dad played basketball and I liked it as a sport,” Jones said.

Going into high school, Jones knew he wanted to join the Knight’s basketball team. He joined his freshman year and has been playing for FHN ever since. Not long after joining varsity, Jones became an important player on the court, as he was one of the top five highest scoring players on the team.

“He’s [Jones] the one that works really hard,” head coach Mark Wright said. “He’s the one that leads by example. He’s someone that works a lot on his own over the summer on his game and I’ve seen some big improvements in him.”

As a leader and a senior on the

team, Jones focuses on maintaining a positive attitude and encourages other players to do the same, lifting them up after a 3-23 record last year.

In order to help the team’s outlook, Jones communicates with the players and establishes that improvement is possible, as long as they work for it.

“I know there [was] going to be a lot of negativity on the team coming into the season,” Jones said. “I’ve been trying to drown out any of it.”

Jones is working towards a college scholarship and, in order to do this, he is practicing frequently, pursuing basketball opportunities and focusing on conditioning and working out.

The past few seasons for the Knight’s basketball team has been a little bumpy, but with this year’s lineup of players and the help of the new head coach, the team is optimistic about the current season.

“I’m happy to make some new memories with [the team] this year,” Jones said. (Brief by Karsyn Williams)

PAGE BY KARSYN WILLIAMS

January

17

Varsity Boy’s Basketball Time: 7 p.m.

Where: Holt High School

Friday

January

17-18 Fri.-Sat.

Junior Becka Brissette dribbles the ball across the court, going through opponents.

Brissette is a current varsity player and this is her first year being coached by Coach Rampley. Brissette has been playing basketball since freshman year and plans to play through her senior year. (Photo by Riley Witherbee)

GIRLS BASKETBALL ADJUSTS TO SEASON In the world of high school sports, on the team this year, she helps out change is inevitable. Each year brings a lot at practice and jumps in when new players, new drills and even new we are running through plays and coaches. But this year, it’s all new for scrimmaging,” sophomore Hannah the varsity girls basketball team. With Ermeling said. a new coach and a squad made up of Rampley has worked with the several new players, the girls adapted girls to improve strength, stamina to prepare for the season ahead. and strategy. In addition to physical Early practices have refined training, Rampley hopes to build important skills positive relationships through conditioning with the student and drills. Skill athletes. refining is made “I want to be a role Read about the new girls more important model,” Rampley basketball coach here: because the team said. “For them to bit.ly/NScoach isn’t very tall this year, look up to me, for which is typically an them to be able to advantage. come to me if they need anything, “This year we are a very quick team,” even outside of basketball. Every game junior Cate Hahn said. “We should be I want them to be positive going in, able to play a fast pace game and we doesn’t matter who we’re playing.” have some good outside shooters.”

Rampley’s goals for this year include The squad is smaller in more than having a positive mindset. one way, the team only has 11 girls.

“Obviously winning is always a goal, New coach Danielle Rampley worries but not in the end,” Rampley said. that the roster could quickly get “I think the girls should just grow stretched thin if injuries occur. together and have a good season.”

“Since we don’t have many girls (Brief by Carly Gordon)

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PAGE BY KARSYN WILLIAMS

Varsity Boy’s Wrestling Time: TBA Where: Capitol City Tournament

January

22

Varsity Girl’s Basketball Time: 6:30 p.m.

Where: Holt High School

Wednesday

Junior Sam Smith admires a stone that was just sent down the sheet. Smith has been on the FHN curling team since his freshman year and plans on continuing throughout high school. Smith is currently on the varsity team and hopes to become captain next school year. (Photo by Pavan Kolluru)

Q&A

WITH SAM SMITH How do you practice to prepare for games?

“We don’t exactly practice, but there are some occasions where we get together on the ice with our mentor.”

How does practicing with a mentor help you?

“He knows a lot more than we do, and it helps because he teaches us entirely new things that we never even knew existed before.”

How do you work to improve your performance?

“I try my best to improve and I just go out of my way, even at home, to work on getting better.”

What has been the biggest challenge?

“Feeling like you’re not getting better, or that you’re getting worse. Sometimes it feels like you hit a threshold, but I take the time to realize it’s possible to move forward, and I put in the effort to get past it.”

(Content by Ashlynn Perez)

SPORTS | 01.15.20 | FHNTODAY. COM

33

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The sun glares off a thin layer of ice coating a windshield.

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RESOLVING RESOLUTIONS Why New Year’s resolutions are failing and how to fix them

by Andrew Reese

officialandrewreese@gmail.com

New Year’s comes chock full of exciting events.

Hosting your own party or going to someone else’s. Playing games or watching a movie with family and friends. Watching the ball drop in Times Square or lining up a famous movie scene with the countdown. All fantastic celebrations of an approaching new year, but there is one dreaded tradition that lurks in the back of everyone’s minds: resolutions.

So what makes a resolution so hard? They are composed of multiple parts: a problem, a goal and a result (being success or failure). The issues that people have with resolutions arise between the second and third steps, and the main reason for those issues is motivation. The motivation to follow through with a resolution is short-lived, so someone may start excited to get to work but they will soon grow tired of it. Now what should you do to make your resolution as effective as possible?

The first step is to evaluate your goal. With a goal, like wanting to put 20 percent of your paycheck into a savings account, you’ll find that you may need to break it to pay for emergency

costs. The first priority with making the goal should be to make it possible to achieve without breaking, or else you will lose motivation every time it does. After making an attainable goal, short motivation is the limiting factor. Trying to wake up early or get off work and go straight to the gym is tough to do, so it’s necessary to find the proper motivation that will last a long time. Doing it with a friend or significant other is a great way to get the job done but also motivate each other.

The follow-through is the final component to the success of a resolution and it has a simple solution: set milestones to keep track of progress.

It’s easy to lose track of a long-term goal, so it’s important to give it short term checkpoints for motivation and patience’s sake. Giving yourself rewards once you reach them also pushes you to keep going. If your resolution is to lose 50 pounds, set markers at every 10 and take the day to relax when you’ve reached them. Keep in mind not to set a reward that will break your goal or you’ll trap yourself in a cycle of meeting and losing your resolution. With something nearby to look forward to, a resolution looks less like a year-long struggle and more like a checkbox on a to-do list.

What is your opinion on New Year’s resolutions?

“I think they’re good to get people motivated, but after the first couple of months, they don’t follow through.”

“I think they are and aren’t effective. Sometimes they follow through. Sometimes they don’t.”

“I think New Year’s resolutions are kind of dumb because people just say, ‘I’ll do it tomorrow,’ but they never do.”

Brady West, 12

George Hohensee, 9

Emma Quinn, 12

PAGE BY ANDREW REESE

STAY HOME DURING THE SNOW Every student’s dream has come true: school’s been called off due to snow. Now how does one spend the day off? When there is a snow day, it is because the school district has deemed the roads too dangerous for people to get to school. Regardless, some people decide to travel around during a snow day. Traveling on slick roads should be avoided if it is possible.

Driving on the ice or snow is much more dangerous than normal driving. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) estimates that there are almost six million vehicle crashes every year, with 21 percent of them attributed to inclement weather. One thing reduced by slick roads is traction, which is the grip of a car’s tire on the road. When traction is reduced, the control a person has on the vehicle is also reduced.

With less control of the vehicle, accidents are much Check out some winter more likely to driving tips from AAA here: happen. bit.ly/NSwinterdriving Slippery roads also cause stopping distance to increase dramatically. The DOT estimates the stopping distance of a car going 30 miles per hour to be 75 feet in normal conditions. In icy conditions, it’s increased to nearly 600 feet. This happens because the wheels can’t get enough traction on the road to stop effectively. This will cause cars to skid or slide on the roads, causing more accidents.

It is much better to stay home when road conditions are bad to avoid the increased risk of an accident.

However, there are ways to prevent an accident if you do have to drive in icy conditions. Slowing down will reduce the likelihood of skidding on the road. To avoid crashing into the car ahead of you, keep much more space in between your car and the car in front of you. To help increase traction on the road, snow chains for the tires can be bought. Lastly, carry a kit that includes things like an ice scraper, water, winter clothes and more. (Brief by Justin Christensen)

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OPINIONS | 01.15.20 | FHNTODAY. COM

35

STUDENT TAKE: WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE CHANGE TO FINAL EXEMPTIONS? "You should be able to take final exemptions in any class, as long as you're doing well in it."

Sammy Turnbull, 9

"It makes sense, but I feel like you should be able to use them in other classes too [besides the one earned in]."

Maria Qalbani, 12

"I think I like it, because I honestly don't like math at all, and not having to take a math final would be awesome if I earned it."

Destiny Johnson, 10

"I think that it's far, because you're taking a final exemption in the class it's for."

Josh Teemul, 11

“I think it makes a lot more sense to do it that way, because you're not setting yourself up for a class you weren't prepared for."

Clara Bonstead, 9

"I think it's unfair because I just feel like you might have a class you don't want to waste your time studying for."

Caroline Mitchell, 11

36

FHNTODAY.COM | 01.15.20 | OPINIONS

NORTH STAR TAKE:

FAIR FINAL EXEMPTIONS Administration's new final exemption policy is an understandable way to gauge students' knowledge in specific courses On Behalf of the Editorial Staff @fhntoday.com | @FHNtoday

L

ast semester, administration established new rules regarding the final exemption policy at FHN. Sophomores and juniors were only allowed to use exemptions earned from Algebra I and Algebra II last semester, as well as any exemptions earned from receiving a score of 27 or higher on the ACT. Seniors were not affected by the new policy. Freshmen will be the first class to go through high school with the new policy, although they were not personally affected this year, since freshmen don’t have final exemptions, but this new policy should be here to stay.

At first, some confusion was aroused as students believed that the new policy meant final exemptions were being removed entirely, but this is not the case. From now on, students can only use their exemptions in the class they earned them in. For instance, if a student scores advanced or proficient on their End of Course (EOC) exam in a certain class, they can only use the exemption it earns them in that class in particular. This prevents students from using math exemptions for their English finals and so on. It's an understandable concept.

The other requirements for exemptions have remained the same. Students must have an A in the selected course, have 95% attendance that PAGE BY ASHLYNN PEREZ

North | star

Editor-in-Chief: Grace Bowman Copy Editor: Ashlynn Perez Entertainment/Opinions Editor: Justin Christensen News Editor: Macy Cronin Features Editor: Sydney Ellison Sports Editor: Karsyn Williams General Staff: Minnie Adams Brandon Lite Evan Becker Ivy Lowery Anna Besancenez Abby Martinez Shivani Bondada Emma Musselman Justin Brewer Ryleigh O’Donnell Jack Cleaveland Connor Peper DaNyla Creacy Andrew Reese Olivia Engle Emma Rohrbach Maya Helbig Julia Sampolska Chloe Horstman Aadhi Sathishkumar Aliyah Taliaferro Editor-in-Chief of Photography: Phoebe Primeau Newspaper Photo Editor: Kaili Martin Yearbook Photo Editor: Ella Manthey Sports Photo Editor: Riley Witherbee Photographers: Salam Abouchleih Isabella Manthey Addalynn Bradbury Allison Moore Alayna Furch Amber Scheulen Sydney Giacomarra Rachel Stover Bryanna Ginn Oscar Sun Aidyn Gleason Samuel Watkins Sky Hebisen Sarah Williams Adam Hogan Amber Winkler Anna Hollinger Avery Witherbee Pavan Kolluru Riley Witherbee Courtney Wortman Editor-in-Chief of FHNtoday: Sophie Carite FHNtoday Managing Editor: Carson Ramirez (Illustration by Minnie Adams)

semester, remain free of suspensions and pay all school fines. They must return their textbook must prior to the exam.

Final exemptions have changed before, such as in 2017, when students campaigned for exemptions on AP exams, which had not been available in the past. This opened up a new pathway for relieved finals stress and was a reform in exemptions.

Administration has made changes in the past to do what is best for both the school and the students, and they continue to do that now.

The newly instituted policy is fair. It only makes sense that proficiency in math should result in rewards in math, not for a different class that uses a different skillset. Administration put this new policy in place in order to gauge students’ knowledge accurately.

Students still benefit from these changes. All their hard work still pays off and they can still skip the PAGE BY ASHLYNN PEREZ

finals that they’ve already taken in the form of EOCs, because they test much of the same knowledge.

Finals can be a hassle at the end of the year, when students have different things to focus on and the promise of a break from school is at hand. Final exemptions can be integral to a student’s sanity.

This is why they’re not disappearing - they’re just changing formats to be fairer to classes. Students lose very little with these new changes. What they do lose is lost understandably.

Because students keep many of the benefits of final exemptions, the new rules should be welcomed without much protest. The policy makes sense, and FHN should exemplify community in this respect: on board with the fair, constructive rules that the school puts in place. Administration is right to move forward with the final exemption policy and maintain the newly instituted system this May and onward.

Web Staff: Abigail Akers Laramie Horstman Isabel Bira Parker Kilen Sumi Chen Dylan Machalek Jonathan Fitch Rocio Romero Bret Hammond Haidyn Stewart Amanda Hasenback Michael Willman Taylor Hill Ethan Van Horn Executive Producer of Video: Emily Hood Chief Editor: Jena Pae Podcast Editor: Tom Jamison Promotions Manager: Emily Zhang Associate Producer: Francisco Jimenez Segment Producer: Azariah Anderson Video Staff: Nadia Abusoud Michael Mellor Allison Bass Andrew Powell Anjolina Blackwell Louis Primeau Nico Boenitz Raymond Shea Kelsey Carnes Cole Sherman Ellen Davis Coong Tran Morgan Hanson Jacob Willmann Gabriel Lobato Joshua Wright Advisers: Aaron Manfull Jordyn Kiel

OPINIONS | 01.15.20 | FHNTODAY. COM

37

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