N ORT H
THE ICING ON THE CAKE This issue of the North Star is all about seniors and putting the last touch on their last year at FHN.
FHNtoday.com
Francis Howell North St. Charles, MO 63303 5.11.22 | Vol 36 Issue 06
@FHNtoday
CONTENTS (Illustrations by Maya Helbig)
4
7
ON THE COVER
16
Grogan Kraus
Nostalgia Quiz
Lily Cash’s Cats
Kraus committed to play for the first ever Missouri S&T Volleyball team.
Take a quiz to figure out which childhood game you are.
Read more about Lily Cash and her unique family of cats.
An ice cream cake is surrounded by sprinkles. The cake is to celebrate the class of 2022 and the impending graduation. Seniors are ramping up to put the last touches on their final year at North. (photo by Justin Brewer)
LETTER FROM THE Ingredients: 409 seniors 4 years 7 high school dances Countless sporting events 1 pandemic 14 days left
EDITORS
Directions: For the seniors of the class of ‘22, our high school experience began like any other. August of 2018 was just your average back to school season. We all started high school with high hopes and big expectations. We all had our own expectations, but the one thing that no one was expecting was our 4-year run. When we started high school, no one thought we would live through a pandemic and the chaos that came from that, but we did. Our freshman year was classic, with pep rallies, dances and the usual nonsense that comes with being a freshman. Sophomore year came around like an unsuspecting raisin cookie that looked like a delicious chocolate chip cookie. The pandemic. A lot of students and staff thought COVID-19 would blow over and we were just getting an extended spring break. That spring break, however, extended until our junior year.
Junior year was battered, mixed and blended into a wannabe normal year. Many of FHN’s students remained virtual for the 20202021 school year. Things like masks, virtual assemblies and accidentally sleeping through online classes characterized junior year.
Now it’s senior year and our timer is about to go off. We were built up layer after layer to become who we are today. It’s been a long road full of hardships, loss and obstacles, but also memories, friendships and unforgettable experiences. We walked the ‘red carpet’ and shouted ‘Two Two’ at the juniors. The mask mandate went away and we were no longer scared of our teachers receiving phone calls from the nurse’s office. Things were shaping up to be a normal year. Result: So no matter what your experiences were, they made you who you are today and they built your ‘layers.’ So head off to your post-high school adventures and remember where you came from. Remember the ingredients that made you, you.
Editors-in-Chief, Justin Brewer & Macy Cronin North Star | 05.11.2022
by Justin Brewer
GRADUATION SCHEDULE Here is the schedule for graduations day. As there will be many things going on that day, here is a timeline of events.
Arrival When: 9:15 a.m. Where: Family Arena Graduates and their familys can begin arriving at 9 a.m. Students and guests should enter through their respective gates and proceed to their seats.
On June 5, 2021, the class of 2021 watches as the graduation ceremony begins. The ceremony was held at the St. Charles Family Arena in the evening. (Photo by Taylor Hill)
THE FINAL WALK
Graduation for the Francis Howell School District is going to be held at the St. Charles Family Arena on Saturday, June 4. In the past, all three high schools have had their ceremony on the same day and this year, the tradition is continuing. FHN’s ceremony begins at 10 a.m. but all graduating seniors are asked to arrive no later than 9:15 a.m. Guests should enter the arena through gates one, two, three or four and graduates should enter through gates one and two. Guests can enter the arena starting at 9 a.m. The commencement ceremony will begin promptly at 10 a.m. The ceremony will consist of many things including the recognition of seniors, disbursement of diplomas and speeches from the graduation marshal and the Senior Class President, Zach Zimmerman. Zimmerman will give a speech that draws a meaningful comparison between our
class and Crocs. “I am looking forward to getting to see all of my teachers and all of my family come out and support me and all of my friends at graduation,” Zimmerman said. “I feel like it’s a culmination of basically our entire lives. Them being with us at the end of it all is very important to me.” Many people, including Zimmerman, have spent anywhere from four to 13 years with their classmates and graduation is one of the final times everyone will be together. Zimmerman is looking forward to the ceremony and the possibilities it brings. “It’s our whole lives coming to one moment,” Zimmerman said. “It’s the end of one chapter and the beginning of a whole other chapter of our lives and the start of it all will be at graduation.” (story by Justin Brewer)
ALL KNIGHTER RETURNS
The FHN All Knighter makes its return this year. The All-Knighter is an event held for seniors to honor their graduation and offers a fun opportunity to celebrate with their classmates. This year it will be held on Saturday, June 4, the night of graduation. Check in begins at 10:30 p.m. and the event continues until 5:30 a.m. on Sunday, June 5. The doors will lock shortly after and students will not be able to leave the building until Sunday morning. The All Knighter features various activities and food throughout the night. There will also be games, prizes and inflatables available to students as well as a valuable gift. Each senior will receive a gift that will be beneficial to them in college. The event is planned, put on and chaperoned by parent volunteers. The specific details of the night’s
by Justin Brewer
plans are kept secret and are only known by the respective volunteers. This ensures that the events of the night will be a surprise when those attending arrive. Previous years, All Knighter’s have featured things like a hypnotist and cartoonist. Given that this is the first one since 2019, it is sure to be a surprise. “I just hope that they all have a good time celebrating graduation and all the milestones they’ve achieved thus far,” All-Knighter committee chair Shelby Witherbee said. The cost to attend is $160 and could’ve been played in total upfront or divided into a 4-month $40 payment plan. The money, medical release form and registration form were due on April 30. (story by Justin Brewer)
Ceremony When: 10 a.m. Where: Family Arena The commencement ceremony will begin promptly at 10 a.m.
Free Time When: 1 p.m. Where: Anywhere You Please Graduates and their families are free to do what they want in the time after the ceremony. This would be a great time to take pictures or have a luncheon.
All-Knighter When: 10:30 p.m. Where: FHN Seniors attending the All-Knighter need to arrive no later than 10:30 p.m. The doors will be locked until 5:30 a.m. the next morning.
North Star | 05.11.2022
Prom Queen Emma Renz
FHN
Prom King Hugh Kibera
PROM 2022
FHN held its first official prom since 2019 on April 22 at Old Hickory Golf Club in Cottleville, Missouri. The theme was “Red Carpet” and juniors and seniors alike went the ‘whole nine yards’ with their outfits. At the event, the final court were announced and the king and queen were crowned. The couples from the evening were: Taylor Hill & Tiger Hutton, Hugh Kibera & Jada Sykes and Emma Renz & Borjan Georgievski.
Each attendee was given 2 tickets to vote for king and queen. After the voting window closed, the king and queen were announced. The 2022 prom king and queen were: Hugh Kibera and Emma Renz. (brief by Justin Brewer)
A SPRINKLING OF ADVICE
Here are some of FHN senior’s best pieces of advice to students in high school (Content by Peter Pae, Aadhi Sathishkumar & Evan Becker & Illustrations by Maya Helbig) “Get involved because if you don’t you will have regrets when you’re done.” Jasper Huelsing
“Go to the dances. They’re actually fire.” Aair Reese “Do what makes you happy because it won’t matter in a few years.” Vrushi Patel “See and do all you possibly can.” Emma Musselman
“When you figure out what you want to do in life, chase after it at full speed. Be “Don’t think you’re too cool disciplined, consistent and for high school events. Just have the drive to get what suck it up and do it. Try new you want. In this process, you things, be open.” are going to fail a lot, and that’s completely fine, Nila Milo because in order to be “Make sure not to successful, you have to figure procrastinate on homework what not to do first, and and make sure to study for redirect yourself in the right tests. And do good on the path.” “Meet as many people in final,” Chas Hoskin your graduation class as Oscar Sun possible and become friends with them and just laugh.” Madelyn Herell
North Star | 05.11.2022
4.0
SENIORS Rohan Aathreya Natalie Abanathie Justin Alega Brianna Ammons Mikinna Andel Mason Apple Derek Archer Chloe Averbeck Chase Ballard Jon Bante James Barklage Evan Becker Ian Becker Rex Berry Anna Berthold Sarah Bess Lily Bigogno Grace Bigogno Tayshawn Boys Annaliese Breite Justin Brewer Claire Brockmann Mekhi Brooks Jada Brown Rachel Buchanan Ali’ya Buchanan Kyle Button Abbie Carpenter Lacy Chapman Catherine Connolly Josiah Couch Macy Cronin Will Cundiff Makenna Davis Shem De Leon Chase Dishon Aaron Dubale Dylan Dufour Hannah Ermeling Alex Gabel Cody Gelven Borjan Georgievski Aidyn Gleason Carly Gordon Ian Gronemeier Vanessa Guerrero Johna Hargrove John Harris Alex Hayes Alyssa Hennessey Bri Hennessey Erik Henze Cailyn Hodges Myri’ Hogan Lauren Holzwarth Bonnie Jang Olivia Jansen Joey Key Pavan Kolluru Grogan Kraus
Ymir Legg Ellie Lichty Hongya Lin Hongxu Lin Standford Lindquist Braydon Massman Riley McBride Sarah McGrael Katie McNevin Rylie Miller Nila Milo Alaina Moore Jeremy Moutray Justin Murray Emma Musselman Suraj Nallapareddy Kaylie O’dell Rebecca Ortwerth Peter Pae Amoolya Pandurangi Vrushi Patel Bradyn Pearson Mason Pryor Jordan Rauscher Aair Reese Cass Reich Ana Remolina Alex Renkey Emma Renz Alex Roland Aadhi Sathishkumar Molly Satterfield Koen Schaffer Abigail Schmitt Gavin Schroeder Khalin Shah Rana Shaker Jordan Slusser Hunter Smith Puneet Sontha Kyler Spink Sophie Stachula Natalie Stevens Oscar Sun Marshall Swope Faith Todd Rebecca Trampe Andrew Tueth Aadarsh Uppalapati Sanjana Venanaparthi Mya Walker Caitlyn Wheadon Dominic White Rachel Windsor Benjamin Wisdom Avery Witherbee Noah Woerther Zach Zimmerman
by Justin Brewer
MUFFIN COMPARES TO THIS...
The class of 2022 was surveyed to find out more about their time in high school. Learn more about what they experienced and who they are (20% of the senior class was surveyed) (Content by Justin Brewer & Illustrations by Maya Helbig) Have you ever pulled an all nighter for school work?
53.4% YES
Have you ever cheated on a test?
74.1%
46.6% NO
Have you ever tripped up or fell down the stairs at school?
77.6%
22.4%
YES
NO
Has there been a teacher who made an impact on you?
YES
YES
NO
YES
NO
Have you ever gotten an FHN parking ticket?
51.7% NO
Did you enjoy your experience at FHN?
55.2%
44.8%
25.9%
Has the ceiling ever dripped on you before?
48.3%
Have you ever skipped class?
41.4%
58.6%
YES
NO
Have you ever been dress coded?
96.6%
3.4%
89.7%
10.3%
13.8%
86.2%
YES
NO
YES
NO
YES
NO
How many high school relationships have you been in?
0 1 2 3 4 5+
Do you have tattoos or piercings?
Tattoos Piercings Neither Both
by Justin Brewer
When did you peak in high school?
Freshman Sophomore Junior Senior Haven’t peaked yet
Have you ever gotten into a car crash in the parking lot or right outside of the school?
Yes No
What is the craziest thing you have heard in the hallway? “Trust me, I read fanfic.” “I’d take a life sentence for kissing underage girls.” “No one in the welterweight division can take me lefthanded.” “I know you wanna kiss me bruh.” “There are four fat people and your mother makes up three of them.” (Quotes are from anonymous sources obtained in a survey. Both the person who stated the quote and the person who reported the quote are anonymous.)
When did you finally figure out the layout of the school?
Freshman Sophomore Junior Senior I still haven’t figured it out
Where to next?
College Work Force Armed Forces Taking a break Other
North Star | 05.11.2022
Kaiden Walter and Andrew Powell install new wall tiles while renovating a house. The pair have been renovating since they were both sophomores. They recently opened their own business, Simply Remodeled. (Photo Submitted)
FOUNDATIONS
FOR SUCCESS
Seniors Andrew Powell and Kaiden Walter start their own remodeling business, Simply Remodeled. by Aadhi Sathishkumar
aadhikumarblue@gmail.com
O
n Jan. 2, 2022, seniors Andrew Powell and Kaiden Walter became some of the first FHN students to register and get a license for a business. The pair officially opened their company, Simply Remodeled, a residential remodeling company. However, despite only officially being in business since January of this year, the pair has years of experience in the remodeling business before. “The first day we started flipping was Nov. 15, 2020,” Powell said. “Before January, [Simply Remodeled] was not a legal business, but we have worked on multiple houses before becoming an LLC.” Simply Remodeled primarily works on renovation and flipping houses. Renovation is the act of improving or restoring a part of a house. Flipping is similar, but is a renovation of the entire house. The pair has completely flipped three houses and has worked on renovations in about 15 other houses. “[Flipping] basically means taking a house that’s not good, ugly, trashy, hated, renovating it and making it something that’s really nice that someone will pay a lot more money for,” Walter said. As sophomores, Powell and Walter both knew that they’d like to start working for themselves and running a business, rather than working for someone else. Both also shared an interest in real estate. They both decided to team up and start working towards being their own bosses when the opportunity to work on a house presented itself. We’ve always had an interest in working in the real estate field,” Walter said. “I’ve been wanting to do it about half my life. [In order] to not be limited in the amount of money we make, and to work on commission.”
North Star | 05.11.2022
The pair both had to use skills they’ve learned and learn new skills in order to successfully renovate homes. From using power tools to laying down drywall, the business of remodeling requires technical finesse in order to properly restore and improve a house. Thankfully, they had resources to help them along the way. “Mentors, YouTube, and practice,” Powell answered when asked what he used to learn how to renovate. “I’d learned a lot from family members who also worked on houses.” Renovation also requires a lot of manual labor. Fixing up entire houses is a group effort, not something done by just a few people. Fortunately for the pair, friends such as senior Ben Wisdom were there to help them when it was needed. “Andrew and Kaiden are some of my closest friends,” Wisdom said. “Before [working with Andrew and Kaiden], I would come here and there to help them if needed, now I’d say I’m part of their team.” Wisdom has helped Powell and Walter with multiple houses. Being part of their business has taught him a lot about remodeling, but has also been inspiring to him personally. “Before, honestly I had no idea about anything with house renovation,” Wisdom said. I hardly even knew how to use most tools, but now I have a pretty good idea of how to use most stuff. I think it’s really neat how you don’t have to be super old to do stuff like that. I just think it’s cool.” With the pair being out of school since the end of first semester, they have looked ahead and have started preparing to expand their business. Though they may not make Simply Remodeled their main job, Powell and Walter hope to continue working on houses. “I would say [we want] to scale to multiple states and hire more employees,” Powell said. “Not as a main job, but as another source of income.”
For more information on Simply Remodeled and the projects they are able to complete, scan the QR code to visit their site:
by Aadhi Sathishkumar
SENIOR SUDOKU
In order to complete this puzzle, fill every row, column and 3x3 box with numbers 1 to 9 without any repeating numbers. (Content by Aadhi Sathishkumar)
5 1
7 2
6 6
1
7 9
6
3
6
2
5 8
7
My favorite dessert is...
4
9
8 2
7 1
Write below your answers to the statements below
6 3
7
My best friend is...
My favorite movie is...
Illustrations by Maya Helbig
CAKE-LIBS Fill in the blanks with the types of words asked to make a day at school! (Content by Aadhi Sathishkumar)
Today, I woke up at school at home I
time
adverb
by Aadhi Sathishkumar
time
and headed to school on
, my usual time. I spent all day
verb
method of transport
. I arrived at
, and when I got
verb
. Just a typical day in the life of
your name
North Star | 05.11.2022
!
OH WHAT SWEET,
SWEET MEMORIES
Take a look back at iconic snacks, toys and shows from your childhood, (Content and Illustrations by Maya Helbig)
NOSTALGIC SHOWS SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS
ICARLY
SpongeBob SquarePants was an animated show created by Stephen Hillenburg. The show was intended for an adult audience but as children started to watch it more and more, it became watered down for everyone to enjoy.
ICarly was the American teen sitcom launched in 2007 on Nickelodeon and continued to air till 2012. After nine years, the majority of the cast decided to come back for a reboot that aired on Paramount in 2021.
“SpongeBob [was my favorite], I thought he was the most lively. Patrick was too stupid, Squidward was too grumpy and Mr Krabs was too greedy. SpongeBob had the most redeeming qualities,” Chasen Dishon
NOSTALGIC SNACKS BUG JUICE
Joseph Norton created bug juice in 2010 attracting moms and kids with their fun colors and crazy flavors. With an easy lid that closes for no spills, it became the go to drink for many.
LUNCHABLES
Lunchables launched in 1986, Bob Drane led the Lunchable team to the success it has had with sales exceeding $200 million in the first twelve months. Lunchables snuck into lunch boxes and became a fun build-it-yourself meal. “Preferably, I would just eat the pizza ones, but for some reason, I tried to convince myself that my favorite was the dessert pizza,” Trent Clifton
COSMIC BROWNIES O.D Mckee created the Little Debbie company in 1960 and created Cosmic Brownies in 1999. These sweet treats made it into lunch boxes and after school snacks for many kids with a sweet tooth.
NOSTALGIC TOYS PILLOW PETS The fun foldable pillow-stuffed animals became popular in 2009 but were made by Jennifer Telfer in 2003. These quickly became the go-to pillow brought to sleep overs and hangouts for many kids. “I had two, I have one of them still. I had the light brown dog one and then I have stitch from Disney,” Trent Clifton
North Star | 05.11.2022
SILLY BANDZ
Silly Bandz are the crazy shaped bracelets that kids quickly became obsessed with created by Robert Croak. These bracelets could come in fun themed packs that many people traded during recess in elementary school.
by Maya Helbig
WHAT NOSTALGIA GAME ARE YOU? Find out which nostalgia game correlates to you best by following the plugged in cords for yes and the unplugged cords for no. (Content and Illustrations by Ryleigh O’Donnell)
Are you energetic?
START HERE Are you creative?
Do you like sports?
Do you enjoy arts and crafts?
Are you into fashion?
Are you competitive? Are you an animal person?
Do you enjoy challenges?
Do you like plushies?
You got Animal Jam! You were very creative as a child and loved creating your own stories to follow.
by Ryleigh O’Donnell
You got Webkinz! You loved collecting these fun little stuffed animals as a kid and dressing them up in the online game.
You got Club Penguin! You enjoyed the fishing and racing games that came along with this game.
You got Poptropica! You enjoyed completing the many challenging islands in this game and receiving the rewards.
North Star | 05.11.2022
A TASTE OF OTHER OPTIONS Despite being widely encouraged, college remains overpriced while better options remain underrepresented (Illustrations by Maya Helbig) by Evan Becker
evanbecker64@gmail.com
D
uring the months of August through January the career and counseling center was available for drop-ins related to college, scholarships were being blasted to every senior and announcements were made daily of visits to FHN from different college admissions offices. Yet through it all, where were the advertisements of postsecondary education for going into blue collar work? Our school’s emphasis on a system that is overrated, overpriced and overstressed needs to be revamped to be supportive of every student’s learning environment. Every year 19.4 million students attend college across the United States. The build-up is intense. Discussions of what colleges you’re considering, where you want to go, what you want to be and so many more fill the hallways and everyday classroom chatter. Yet, the decisions seem to be focused on a select few colleges. Too much pressure is focused on the top ranked universities rather than finding a college that fits your needs and your budgets. The vast majority of students would perform well at nearly all schools. Yet, the reality of the situation doesn’t quite fare the same as the expectation. Applications at all universities are up, but especially universities that are more well known across the United States. The problem is the competitiveness of these schools. While FHN pushed students to apply for a wide range of schools we had the opposite problem. We focused on so many in-state schools that information related to universities and trade schools that were outside of St. Louis were never dispersed. Now that’s not to say it’s possible to advertise every single university spread
North Star | 05.11.2022
across the United States, however, it would be possible to push people more in the direction that they might be more suitable for. For example, meeting with students and advising each individual student at least once their senior year. This would allow students to get their questions and advice in a timely manner. However, because of lack of information for many kids college often turns into an endeavor that is much more expensive than it needs to be. According to Education Data the average cost of attendance in-state for tuition is $10,740 and $27,560 for out-of-state students. However, a lot of the scholarships that are handed out at these universities are college based when you are out-of-state students. Therefore while the career counseling scholarship blasts can be helpful the real necessity is one-on-one counseling on what to write and how to apply ourselves to the applications that we do. Most of these scholarships that will help students be able to pay the high out of pocket costs associated with colleges outside of Missouri, are ones that are offered by their institution they will be attending. Meeting with an advisor at least once is an opportunity that is often underutilized and should be explained more to students throughout the process to allow them to afford the colleges that they want to go to both in-state or out-of-state. Lastly, and most importantly to creating a life post high school, is to make sure all of your students feel like their interests are being explored through the opportunities that are presented to them. There are programs such as CAPS that are offered in our schools for those that are going into a route that doesn’t include college.
However, this doesn’t do enough to actually advertise those sorts of options. While CAPS is advertised only about once or twice over all four years, college is advertised nearly every year. This is purely anecdotal, however, in all my years at this school I only knew personally two people who participated in any of those sorts of programs. We as a community have stressed far too much over college and it’s harming students mental health while not even benefiting all students. It’s okay to not go to a college, it’s okay to take a gap year, it’s okay to go into any other route that’s not related to college. By having a meeting one-on-one with individual students that would allow them to feel comfortable to share those concerns that they have over college or their lack of desire to attend one. According to NYU this is the leading cause of stress, with 55% of students stressed due to academics. We have to give that chance for students to feel more comfortable making a decision that isn’t always well advertised. Our college and career counselor works tirelessly to try and help our students with everything they need. But the very nature of it means that we as a school need to do more. We need more funding and we need more individualized attention, or college and other opportunities will continue to overwhelm students.
by Macy Cronin
SPOTIFY PLAYLIST OF OUR SENIOR YEAR Scan the QR code to listen to a curated playlist of some of the top songs of the past four years of high school. (Playlist by Cailyn Hodges)
Spotifys Top Songs of 2021
1. ‘drivers license’ by Olivia Rodrigo 2. ‘MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)’ by Lil Nas X 3. ‘STAY (with Justin Bieber)’ by The Kid Laroi 4. ‘good 4 u’ by Olivia Rodrigo 5. Levitating (ft. Da Baby) by Dua Lipa (Information from Forbes)
Top Artists of 2021 1. Bad Bunny 2. Taylor Swift 3. BTS 4. Drake 5. Justin Bieber (Information from Forbes)
THINGS THAT MAKE THE HIGH SCHOOL EXPERIENCE Cheered at a FHN football game
Been a part of a FHN sports team
Donated blood for the HOSA blood drive
Attended a school dance
Wore your pjs to school
Made honor roll
Joined a club
Bought the school lunch
Participated in a senior skip day
Went to a school play
Went to a party
Passed your drivers test
Participated during spirit week
Decorated your locker
Impulsively dyed your hair
Memorized the school fight song
Attended a pep rally
Got a tattoo or piercing
Went to the KOE picnic
Got student of the week
Got a part-time job
Wore FHN merch to school
0-5 You must be new
by Macy Cronin
6-13 Could be doing better
14-19 Solid work
20-22 You really did it all!
North Star | 05.11.2022
SAY CHEESE...CAKE We are the Pub Hub! Meet the senior members on each staff of the FHN publications team (Illustrations by Maya Helbig)
Name: Justin Brewer Staff: Editor-In-Chief of the News Staff “Genius. Billionaire. Playboy. Philanthropist,” Tony Stark, Avengers
Name: Macy Cronin Staff: Editor-In-Chief of the News Staff “If you want it, you must will it, and if you will it, it will be yours,” - Sven, Happy Feet Two
Name: Evan Becker Staff: Opinion Editor “From now on, I don’t care if my tea leaves spell, ‘Die, Ron, die,’ I’m chucking them in the bin where they belong,” - Ron Weasley
Name: Aadhi Sathishkumar Staff: Feature Editor “L + ratio + Aadhi better,” - Me
Name: Maya Helbig Staff: Entertainment and Illustrator Editor “And the universe said ‘I love you’, because you are love,” - Minecraft
Name: Peter Pae Staff: News Staffer “Don’t overthink things. It’ll only stress you more than it originally should have,” - Me
Name: Ryleigh O’Donnell Staff: News Staffer “Hello everybody, Markiplier here,” Markiplier
Name: Taylor Hill Staff: Editor-In-Chief of the Photo Staff “Take lots of pictures. Not of sights. Don’t take pictures of buildings. Take pictures of moments, because that’s what matters,” - Shawn Spencer
Name: Matthew Wells Staff: Sports Photo Editor
North Star | 05.11.2022
bit.ly/pubseniorquote
by Macy Cronin
Name: Sophie Stachula Staff: Managing Photo Editor “After a while, you learn to ignore the names people call you and just trust who you are,” - Shrek
Name: Avery Witherbee Staff: Yearbook Photo Editor “It’s not what the world holds for you. It’s what you bring to it,” Anne Shirley
Name: Sam Hebisen Staff: Newspaper Photo Editor “Healing the world with comedy, making a literal difference, metaphorically,” - Bo Burnham
Name: Amoolya Pandurangi Staff: Photo Staffer “I cared for eight seconds, then I got distracted,” - Greg House, House MD
Name: Pavan Kolluru Staff: Photo Staffer “School gave me more trouble than airport security,” - Me
Name: Kyle Button Staff: Editor-In-Chief of the Video Staff “I’m holding M’s in preparation for my massive journalist salary,” Kyle ‘Alpha’ Button
Name: Cailyn Hodges Staff: Video Staffer “Don’t say goodbye, smell you later,” - Tyler, The Creator
Name: Claire Brockmann Staff: Editor-In-Chief of the Yearbook Staff “Surround yourself with people who truly care about you,” - Me
Name: Bree Ammons Staff: Editor-In-Chief of the Yearbook Staff “It wasn’t a competition, but I definitely won,” - Me
Name: Alise Simon Staff: Yearbooks Staffer “Work hard, play hard,” - Me
by Macy Cronin
North Star | 05.11.2022
Senior Grogan Kraus hits the ball to the other side of a court during a practice at FHN on April 20. Kraus was the first person to sign with Missouri S&T for their men’s volleyball program. Kraus has played volleyball for 4 years with this year being his 5th. (Photo by Sophie Stachula)
HISTORY IN
THE BAKING
Senior Grogan Kraus commits to Missouri S&T for volleyball as one of the founding members. by Peter Pae
ppae@g.fhsdschools.org
S
tanding at 6’9, senior Grogan Kraus stands apart from other students for his performance as a middle blocker on FHN’s boys varsity volleyball team. From winning the GAC’s his junior year, to winning two major tournaments on his club team senior year, his leadership as a captain and player pushes the volleyball team forward through competitions. “He’s one of the keys to our success,” FHN’s Boys Varsity Head Coach Robin Yuede says. “He’s our middle, he gets lots of kills, he blocks a lot. He is definitely one of our leaders on and off the court.” Kraus’s accomplishments have caught the attention of Missouri S&T, the college that Kraus has chosen to commit to. Not only have they provided him with scholarships for his academic and athletic achievements, but they are also creating their first ever men’s volleyball team. “I get to be the start of something that’s going to turn into an amazing program,” Kraus said. Kraus wants to major in computer science. With the continuation of his volleyball career, he can pursue both of his passions simultaneously at S&T. “School is a decent pace, club is faster, and college is three times as fast as the club,” Kraus said. “It’s going to punish me more mentally and physically. In the end, it’ll work out. It’s going to be a lot of fun. The importance of college is education. Although Kraus may try to thrive in volleyball, he still has to maintain his academics. Luckily, S&T’s Head Volleyball Coach, Andy Halaz, understands that education should take priority over sports. “When we talk about priorities for our student athletes, we have a
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system,” Halaz said. “Education and family, volleyball, and social life. They’re gonna be doing those jobs for much longer than playing volleyball.” Because this is S&T’s first men’s volleyball team, Halaz understands that he will not know where the team will rank for their first year. Even so, Halaz is optimistic for their future, and believes in the players of their newly formed volleyball team. “I expect us to be competitive,” Halaz said. “I’ll say we’re in the middle of the pack. We will come in with the talent. We will beat a good number of teams.” Originally, Grogan struggled with volleyball during his freshman year. Sarah Kraus, Grogan’s mother, was a little hesitant when he first played volleyball, but wished she had exposed him to the sport earlier. “Some of the boys have been playing volleyball since they were ten years old,” Sarah said. “Grogan started when he was 14. It’s the only regret I have.” Even with the late introduction to volleyball, Grogan pushed through his lack of experience with dedication and determination. Even with his inexperience, he still managed to catch up with the other players. “It has been my honor to watch him grow as a player and watch him mature, not as a player but as a young man, as a leader,” Yuede said. “That was not him freshman year. He is a role model for the underclassmen.” Grogan has grown mentally and physically stronger during his time at FHN. With his passion seen with a clear path, he knows where to go next. “Do what you want to do and have no regrets about it,” Grogan said. “If you have that mindset, you’ll find doing stuff outside your comfort zone, and you’ll enjoy it.”
by Aadhi Sathishkumar
A
PINCH
OF ADVICE
Advice from the editorial team on how to get through high school (Content by Aadhi Sathishkumar) Join clubs that relate to your interests You may be tempted to join as many clubs as possible. However, try to limit your extracurriculars to a few clubs you really enjoy in order to get the most out of all of them.
Be the duck When you see a duck swim across the water, it seems very graceful and almost effortless. However, under the surface they kick vigorously. Be the duck, and appear collected even while working hard.
Nobody is watching Sometimes, it may seem that your every action is being judged by those around you. It is important to realize people have better things to do than worry about you do. Don’t let being afraid of being judged prevent you from doing what you want.
Grades don’t define you One of the most common reasons for stress amongst students is grades. While grades are important, you can recover from a bad grade. Grades aren’t what make you successful, hard work and not giving up after a setback do.
Keep the future in mind For many students, prospects of life after high school seem too far away to care about. However, the time where you need to worry about college or jobs will come sooner than you expect. Be mindful of what you have to do to ensure you are prepared for your next steps in life.
THE BEST “I made it to varsity in cross country” Andrew Tueth, 12
MOMENTS
OF HIGH SCHOOL
“The Kobe Bryant memorial in the boy’s bathroom” Collin McCray, 12
“We had good apples at lunch” Alaina Moore, 12
by Aadhi Sathishkumar
Have fun It may seem cliche, but your high school years should be fun. If you feel like you aren’t having a good time, don’t be afraid to make changes and try something else. Your time in high school are the prime years of your life, so don’t let it go to waste.
“Not having to take finals for two years” Dominic White, 12
“Going to state in track when I was a freshman” Amani Jones, 12
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WATCH US RISE See the seniors grow up in these photos they have submitted. Every grade is represented starting with kindergarten and ending with their senior year (Illustrations by Maya Helbig)
Lauren Willerton
Taylor Hill
Emma Musselman
Lacy Chapman
Lauren Holzwarth
Eleanor Lichty
Carly Gordon
Ian Becker
Hunter Smith
Kindergarten
Third Grade
Sixth Grade
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First Grade
Fourth Grade
Seventh Grade
Second Grade
Fifth Grade
Eighth Grade
by Macy Cronin
“I thought [freshman year] was pretty fun, it got cut short because of COVID. I remember cross country and the beginning of track the most.”
Nila Milo
Ninth Grade
“I started thinking more about my future in sophomore year. My life definitely changed a lot more as I started to focus more on school and took on more difficult courses.”
Aadhi Sathishkumar Tenth Grade
“It was important for me to still get dressed and take my first day of school photo despite being virtual. It was something familiar to have while going into a chaotic, unknown and pandemic ridden year.”
Macy Cronin
Eleventh Grade
“It was a big transition coming back after virtual, but I’m happy to experience coming back to school everyday.”
Rana Shaker Twelfth Grade
by Macy Cronin
EMBARRASSING MOMENTS
(Content by Aadhi Sathishkumar and Peter Pae) (Illustrations by Maya Helbig) I peed myself in freshman year coming off the bus because I couldn’t open my front door. Then, my friend comes and helps, and opens the door his first try. Aadhi Sathishkumar
“One day before school I was walking to class before the first hour. I started getting really hot and dizzy and passed out in the middle of the hallway. I had to be wheeled up to the nurses in a wheelchair.” Brenna Maxey
“Freshman year I was leaving school with my brother and I jumped off the curb and fell in front of 40 seniors who laughed at me. My brother left me.” Jessica Gillen
“Most of my junior year I was not wearing pants or shirts during classes. I was just hoping and praying that my camera wouldn’t accidentally turn on, luckily.... it only happened once.” Evan Becker
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PENNY
HOWARD
MAX
MILES
MEET THE Meet the Cats! Howard: The most active of the bunch. He is the tuxedo cat and loves to gather attention.
Miles: The prettiest, and the shyest. He is the brighter orange cat.
Max: The loud, and the attention seeker. He is the orange cat.
Penny: The meanest, but the loveliest. She is the tabby cat.
OUTDOORSY CATS
by Peter Pae
ppae338@g.fhsdschools.org
Howard. Miles. Max. Penny. These are the names of four very particular cats of senior Lily Cash. They all have unique personalities, ranging from the shy to the overly expressive. Although they are all very different, they do share one unique characteristic, which is that they all love to go outside. “Most people just have indoor cats, but I have cats that bring animals inside,” Cash said Something Cash’s cats love to do whenever they venture outside is bring in gifts for her in the form of small animals like mice, birds, bunnies and occasionally frogs. These gifts are usually given by Howard, and can be a nuisance in a few instances. “Last year during online school, I was taking a nap and then I woke up because there was a bird flying around in my room and I was like ‘how did this get
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in here’ because my door was closed, right?” Cash said. “Howard pushed the bird in from the crack underneath my door.” Gifts are not the only surprise she gets from her cats. These cats get very explorative, and there have been a few instances where her cats ended up in very abnormal situations. “I was on my way home and I arrived home and I saw Miles on the roof, and I was like, how did he get up there?” Cash said. “Fast forward weeks later, maybe I go outside just to like, chill outside, I hear Howard crying. I’m like, where’s it coming from? And then I look up and he’s on the roof. I don’t know how they got up there, and I don’t know how they got down but it was really funny.” As wild as the cats can get, they are a lovable bunch and have gathered a lot of attention. Senior Rana Shaker is a good friend of Cash and enjoys being around them, especially Howard. “They’re so sweet, but Max and Miles don’t like attention,” Shaker said. “[Howard] just cuddles on you and is very social.”
by Peter Pae
WANT TO SEE MORE FROM
THE SENIORS?
(Content by Justin Brewer & Illustrations by Maya Helbig) Read more from our FHN News Staff seniors. Each of these seniors contributed to the multimedia page linked at the bottom of this page. The multimedia piece is “Then v. Now,” a comparison of our time in high school. Scan the QR code next to each of the seniors to view their staff profile and check out some of their other work. Peter Pae Peter has been on staff for two years and is currently a news staff staffer.
Evan Becker Evan has been on staff for two and a half years and is currently the news staff opinions editor
Justin Brewer Justin has been on staff for three years and is currently a news staff Editor-In-Chief.
Ryleigh O’Donnell Ryleigh has been on staff for three and a half years and is currently a news staffer.
Aadhi Sathishkumar Aadhi has been on staff for three years and is currently the news staff features editor.
Maya Helbig Maya has been on staff for three years and is currently the news staff entertainment editor.
Macy Cronin Macy has been on staff for three and a half years and is currently a news staff Editor-In-Chief.
Want to see more? Check out fhntoday.com
... but it’s equally great to think about “ everything you’ve done here in high
school and the memories you’ve made,” senior Hugh Kibera said.
by Justin Brewer
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Zodiac signs used to be based upon constellations and the way they intersected with the sun, but now they are fixed dates from when the sun used to pass through the constellations. There are 12 zodiac signs that are separated into four seasons; air (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius), fire (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius), water (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces) and earth (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn). Each sign is given certain characteristics that may be common in people with the same sign. (Story by Macy Cronin) (Illustrations by Ryleigh O’Donnell and Maya Helbig) (Information from Britannica, Allure and Cosmopolitan)
CHECK YOUR ZODIAC SIGN CAPRICORN
December 22 - January 19 Capricorns are typically persistent and persevere when the going gets tough. They love to be surrounded by their inner circle of friends and are fiercely loyal to them.
AQUARIUS
January 20 - February 18
Those born in the time of Aquarius tend to be individuals who are upfront with their intentions. This sign also keeps their emotions more to themselves.
Check your daily horoscope using this QR code
TAURUS
ARIES
April 20 - May 20
March 21 - April 19
Aries are known to be bold and rambunctious people. They tend to go into situations headfirst and try their hardest to be the best at whatever challenge comes their way.
CANCER
LEO July 23 - August 22
Cancers are in-tune with their emotions and are sensitive signs. They are self-protecting and can be described as goofy.
Leos are leaders of the pack that enjoy being at the center of attention. They tend to be charming and funny individuals.
September 23 - October 23 Libras think over things and analyze situations to mold to whatever is required of them. They are brilliant procrastinators and avid socializers.
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February 19 - March 20 Pisces represent a duality of personality. They are wanting to be successful, busy and active, but on the other hand also want to lounge around.
GEMINI
May 21 - June 21 Geminis are notorious gossips and love to be super everything; superfast, super-smart and super-curious.
Taureans are described as gentle, yet fierce people who hold fast to their opinions.
June 22 - July 22
LIBRA
PISCES
SCORPIO
October 24 - November 21
Scorpios like to go to the extremes and crave no ones approval. They are independent people who have a charismatic nature to them.
VIRGO
August 23 - September 22 Virgos are detail-oriented people who thrive to be effortlessly perfect. They love to entertain, gossip and to ensure everything goes smoothly all the time.
SAGIT TARIUS
November 22 - December 21
Sagittarians may appear energetic and goofy, but they also have a philosophical and smart side. They aren’t known for their filters and tend to say whatever is on their mind.
by Macy Cronin
THE LAST
SUMMER PLANS
As summer approaches, seniors may begin to look forward to what lies ahead. For many, that is their final summer break. Here is what some of the seniors are going spend their time off doing (Content by Evan Becker & Illustrations by Maya Helbig) Katie McNevin Where: Missouri S&T How Long: 2 Days What They’re Excited About: “I’m excited for bash, it’s similar to a welcoming, to get to meet some of my future peers, and hopefully some of my roommates.”
Riley McBride Where: Gulf Shores, Alabama How Long: A Week What They’re Excited About: “I’m excited to be at the beach because we don’t have any beaches in Missouri. I’m excited that we also don’t have to like filter ourselves in front of her parents, like we can just say what we want.”
Mekhi Brooks Where: The Caribbean (Anguilla) How Long: About a Month What They’re Excited About: “It’s been a while since I’ve been there and as a kind of adult I’m excited to do whatever I want.
by Evan Becker
Traveling can be fun and exciting, but stressful at the same time. Here are some things to bring with you to enhance your experience. Headphones: Strong ones to drown out the engines.
Morgan Phillips Where: France How Long: About a Week What They’re Excited About: “I’m definitely most excited to see the Eiffel Tower, catacombs, and eating lots of croissants.”
Lauren Holzwarth Where: Navarre Florida How Long: A Week What They’re Excited About: “I’m really excited for the road trip, which is usually my least favorite part but we’re all gonna be traveling together so I;m excited for stopping at gas stations and car games
Top 4 Travel Essentials:
Neck Pillow: To reduce stiffness during long flights.
Phone: To take pictures of your travels.
Gavin Schroeder Where: Florida and Hawaii How Long: Multiple times throughout the summer What They’re Excited About: It’ll be a first time experience for me at least, going with only my friends somewhere out of state .It’s a lot easier to interact with my friends because of the relatability and comfortability.
Amoolya Pandurangi Where: India How Long: 2.5 months What They’re Excited About: “I like the food and the dresses and shopping, for the pretty dresses.”
Book: To cure your boredom when you’re on airplane mode.
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CLASS OF
'22s ...
(Content by Macy Cronin and Peter Pae) (Illustrations by Maya Helbig) “Learned more from the hallways than the classes,” Esmerelda Rojas “Peace Out,” Elle Bommarito “It was nice while it lasted,” Autumn Blake
“I’d rather be home with my dogs,” Ava Liley
“Future millionaire, check it now,” Jada Sykes “It’s a lot more fun than you think it is,” Mackenzie Schulte
“Sayonara suckers,” Ella Bargen “The school grilled cheese slaps,” Mary Lauritzen
“See y’all at SCC,” Logan Currie “I’m a librarian who can’t read or write but that has not stopped me from professional success,” Erik Henze “Could have done more,” Justin Murray “Oh gawrsh,” Marijane Clubbs “See you guys on the other side,” Rana Shaker “ :( ” Lily Cash
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by Macy Cronin
“There is no ethical consumption under capitalism,” Logan Blount “Change the world, my final message,” Ymir Legg “Make the most out of your four years,” Rohan Aathreya
“I’m excited to see it go,” Sarah Stover
“If you don’t have Brocksmith in a class you don’t get the full high school experience,” Josiah Couch
“I’m a lot like the joker,” Mekhi Brooks
“Bye y’all,” Renee Dannegger
“Not the best years of your life,” Rylie Montgomery
“Do you really wanna live forever,” Dylan Crites “Join my Clash of Clans clan @Sandhillcranes,” James Barklage
“It wasn’t worth it,” Gavin Shroeder
“What did other people say,” Carly Gordon
“I won’t miss the smell,” Rylie Miller
“Can’t get worse than this right, right,” Lacy Chapman
“There you go, it’s done,” Vannessa Guerrero
...LAST WORDS
by Macy Cronin
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