North Star, November 2010

FHNTODAY.COM - FRANCIS HOWELL NORTH HIGH SCHOOL - 2549 HACKMANN RD. ST. CHARLES, MO

WHOA, DREAM

BIG november 10, 2010 volume 25 issue 4

NORTHSTAR

2549 Hackmann Road St. Charles, MO. 63303 Distributed for free to FHN by the North Star staff.

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“Providing an open forum for Francis Howell North since 1986.”

03 NEWS Publications gives students taking newspaper or yearbook, a chance to receive the option for an honors credit for the upcoming school year.

13 FEATURES Ronald McDonald House provides a home for families with a child in the hospital.

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34 SPORTS The Varsity Softball team bonds through the TP-ing of their coaches houses to celebrate the end of the season.

45 OPINIONS Kevin Beerman and Logan Ponche duke it out in a head-to-head. The topic: Was splitting the last Potter movie into two parts a good thing?

21 IN-DEPTH

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Everyone has dreams, whether it’s getting accepted into college, or getting that job. This month the North Star take a look at individuals who have dreams, and how they are accomplishing them.

COVER

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This Juno-inspired cover features (from left) a designer, a journalist, a football player and an aspiring veterinarian. All four of these individuals are in different stages of following their dreams. All four are dreaming big.

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Trying to break away, FHN graduate Andrew Hood, attempts to dribble away from staff member, Larry Scheller. The staff walked away with a victory over the Seniors with a final score of 60-48. (file photo)

DECA FACE-OFF

A look at two DECA Jump-off competitors.

DECA players Jump-off for local food bank kyle schikore

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STUDENT-

TEACHER-

Ben Hess, 12 Position: Any defensive position

Larry Scheller Position: Any position I can dominate

X-Factor: “Knowing every move that Scheller will make.”

X-Factor: “The kids will talk trash but in the end we’ll be on top.”

Message to teachers:“Bring it on!”

Message to students: “When you lose, the next day we’ll accept your apology for your actions.”

n Nov. 11, DECA will be putting on a basketball game called DECA Jump-Off in the large gym, which puts the seniors of 2011 against the faculty as a fund raiser. Faculty is 6-0 all-time in the series.

The evening kicks off with the freshmen participating in Knockout games. The freshmen victors then join the sophomores to take on the juniors. After this game is the main event, in which the seniors go head to head with the undefeated faculty.

“We have been doing it for six years and every year the students want to beat the faculty,” Melissa Trochim, the DECA sponsor at FHN, said. “They want to bring down Mr. [Larry] Scheller, but they have failed.”

Despite their past failures, the seniors are still confident in their ability and believe this is the year to start a winning streak of their own.

“I think we’re going to win by 30,” senior Mike Wilson said.

Even though the trash talking is considered, by students and faculty, to be one of the most entertaining parts of the evening, the game is meant to be a chance for students and faculty members to have fun.

“It’s fun for everybody,” six-time competitor Larry Scheller said. “It’s fun to cheer against your favorite teachers. It’s a good chance for DECA to raise money.”

Wilson also believes the Jump-Off is a great opportunity to have a good time.

“It’s fun to play basketball against people you see every day,” Wilson said.

According to FHN DECA member Britni Strong, this year, the main focus is helping the St. Louis Foodbank. Students can bring in canned food to the game in order to receive a reduced ticket price. Participants will be required to bring in canned food in order to sign up. The proceeds from the ticket prices will help DECA fund various activities throughout the rest of the year.

“It’s better than some because there’s student involvement,” three-time member of the faculty squad Matthew Riffee said. “It’s better than just buying a product and receiving the product.” page by nick ponche

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Francis Howell Board of Education President, Mike Sommer explains the details of the new elementary school schedule to all the parents in attendance at the meeting on Oct. 21. (brandon neer)

Joint calendar proposal splits community kevin beerman

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n Oct. 21, the Francis Howell Board of Education voted 4-1-2 to approve the calendar task force’s recommendation to amend the calendar system of the district for the 2011-2012 school year. Out of this decision, many changes will come for the upcoming school year, including major changes to breaks. One of the most significant and controversial changes is that of the year round schedule which elementary schools have worked around since 1969. Next year, that 41-year streak ends.

The Board has worked with community leaders and task force representatives for three months to reach their decision, which culminated in a public forum to discuss the proposal on Oct. 21. Many teachers and patrons were present at the meeting, voicing opinions across spectrum of support. Libbie Kapland, a third grade teacher at Warren Elementary, spoke on behalf of the opposition, citing the natural “burning-out” and rejuvenation process that cycle breaks help to combat as a reason to keep the year round schedule where it is at.

“It makes sense for kids,” Kapland said. “They work hard for nine weeks then get time to recuperate. It gives kids time to relax.”

The disintegration of the year round schedule is just one of many changes that the task force has built into the calendar to help save the district money. Where as the 2010-2011 had 13 half days on the secondary level and 12 on the elementary level, the new calendar consolidates those to just four for all three levels. In addition, the number of student instruction days has been decreased from

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NEWS

174 to 169, due to a change in State attendance requirements- a change that will save the District $232,000. The breaks are also undergoing major changes. Fall break is having three days added to it, and spring break is having another week addition. Such a change has been seen in different light by different people. Angela Lawson, a mother of two district students, has found that the fiscal state of the District holds more baring to the matter than the alternatives.

“It’s not the days that the students are in school that makes our district unique,” Lawson said. “But rather the people.”

However, Kapland- as well as other teachersare concerned that less days with the students in the classrooms will have a negative effect on student progress.

“As a teacher I have some concerns with the calendar,” Kapland said. “Five less days to implement our curriculum is a push.”

But the savings to be made have taken the center stage on the issue. In 2003, the District found itself in a similar financial position. At that time, a task force was created to explore the op2010 PRESENT Fall break: 1 week “That’s stupid, breaks should be longer” Alex Shannon,11 2010 BEFORE Winter break: 2 weeks Spring break: 2 weeks “I mean its cool right now, but I wish we would have more half days.”

Kenzie Lueker, 11 Half days: 13 days

tion of eliminating the year round system. It was recommended by that committee the Year Round remain in affect, having no negative nor positive effect on student achievement, unless the District would be forced to cut staff and programs. According to the current task force, it is estimated that nearly 25 teaching positions would need to be eliminated to recover the cost that amending the calendar system will accomplish, a factor that weighed heavily on Board of Education Treasurer Mike Hoehn.

“We no longer have the resources,” Hoehn said. “Other students in the area do fine on the traditional calendar.”

In spite of the changes, the new calendar has received an overwhelming amount of support both from the community and the District staff.

A survey conducted by the task force reveals that roughly 73 percent of parents are either satisfied or neutral towards the change. And it has already been received well by North administration.

“I’m glad it passed. I wanted to save teachers,” North Principal Darlene Jones said. “That’s the bottom line.”

2011 SCHOOL YEAR Fall break: 11/2 week Winter break: 1 weeks That’s cool, every break being longer is nice.” Caleb Lavezzi, 11 Spring break: 2 weeks Half days: 4 days “I guess that this is a good thing, because we really don’t need that many half days.” Jackie Schneider, 12

PRO PERFORMANCES QUESTION: If your character in the fall play was acted out by a famous actor/actress, who would it be?

YIG members listen to John Devoution, Director Prosecutor Attorney of St. Charles. Being apart of this club is something where students can get hands on experience. (file photo)

Katharine Carney, Mallory Echelmeyer, and Jessica Olsen practice final rehearsals after school for the fall play. The name of the play was Calamityville Terror and was held Thursday, Oct. 28 through Oct. 30 in the auditorium. (tori hanke)

Emily Meyers, 10 Role: The teacher, Mrs. Stowe “Prof. Umbridge from Harry Potter (Imelda Stauton) because she’s very uptight and always gets her way.”

Brock Birkner, 9 Role: Angry ghost of the main character “Jack Nicholson because he can be real creepy and angry.”

Rachel Kramer, 10 Role: Linda “Angelina Jolie because she looks like a promiscuous girl.”

Jessica Olsen, 9 Role: Taylor “Katherine Heigl because she has an attitude like my character does.”

FHNtoday.com is spelled out in the knights helmet.

To see photos, videos, stories and much more go on the web site. Also when staff applications are due go to the staff tab for an application. To get more information go to room 026 and talk to Aaron Manfull(kelsey bell)

Convention at state capital for members sophie gordon

On Nov. 11, students from FHN will travel to Jefferson City to a convention where they will participate in a mock government that models how the U.S. Government works.

The Youth In Government (YIG) convention will be held in the State Capitol over the course of three days. High school students from all over Missouri will get the chance to debate bills, run mock trials, and vote for political candidates.

“I really enjoy the formality of it and the feeling that you know what is going on,” Lisa Saville, a member of the Legislative branch, said.

There are five different areas of government students can choose to work for: the Judicial, Legislative, and Executive branches, as well as the Print Press and Video News Programs. This year most of the YIG students at FHN are in

either the Legislative or Judicial branches. “[My favorite part about YIG is] the fact that we get to meet new people and do a mock trial,” Kiran Singh, a member of the Judicial branch, said.

Megan Weber has other things to look forward to this year. YIG allows juniors with at least one year of YIG experience to run for an office. Weber said she will be running for governor this year.

“I’m going to start talking to people when I get to the convention and let them know what I would do if I were governor and why I think I would be a good candidate,” Weber, a participant of YIG for three years, said.

In preparation for the convention, in the classroom, students have been writing and submitting bills, reading over trials, and writing briefs.

“I want to see FHN come home with awards for their hard work,” Kathy Chostner, YIG adviser, said.

Publications bring educational opportunities to students chelsey damalas

As one of the co-curricular activities offered at North, the Publications staff works to deliver a yearbook once a year and a newspaper every month. While in the past this co-curricular class has only been given standard credit, the class will be given an honors credit option for the next school year.

“It is something that will be nice, to actually be able to reward those students who are in a pub-

lication course, who went far beyond expectations,” adviser Aaron Manfull said.

To receive the honors point, students will have to successfully complete an extra project that is not included in the normal class criteria. This is something that will reward those students who go above the average expectations.

For students that are interested in joining publications, to be eligible you have to have taken journalism, digital photo journalism, or another adviser approved prerequisite. page by nick ponche

FHNTODAY.COM

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PRO PERFORMANCES QUESTION: If your character in the fall play was acted out by a famous actor/actress, who would it be?

YIG members listen to John Devoution, Director Prosecutor Attorney of St. Charles. Being apart of this club is something where students can get hands on experience. (file photo)

Katharine Carney, Mallory Echelmeyer, and Jessica Olsen practice final rehearsals after school for the fall play. The name of the play was Calamityville Terror and was held Thursday, Oct. 28 through Oct. 30 in the auditorium. (tori hanke)

Emily Meyers, 10 Role: The teacher, Mrs. Stowe “Prof. Umbridge from Harry Potter (Imelda Stauton) because she’s very uptight and always gets her way.”

Brock Birkner, 9 Role: Angry ghost of the main character “Jack Nicholson because he can be real creepy and angry.”

Rachel Kramer, 10 Role: Linda “Angelina Jolie because she looks like a promiscuous girl.”

Jessica Olsen, 9 Role: Taylor “Katherine Heigl because she has an attitude like my character does.”

FHNtoday.com is spelled out in the knights helmet.

To see photos, videos, stories and much more go on the web site.

Also when staff applications are due go to the staff tab for an application. To get more information go to room 026 and talk to Aaron Manfull. (kelsey bell)

Convention at state capital for members sophie gordon

On Nov. 11, students from FHN will travel to Jefferson City to a convention where they will participate in a mock government that models how the U.S. Government works.

The Youth In Government (YIG) convention will be held in the State Capitol over the course of three days. High school students from all over Missouri will get the chance to debate bills, run mock trials, and vote for political candidates.

“I really enjoy the formality of it and the feeling that you know what is going on,” Lisa Saville, a member of the Legislative branch, said.

There are five different areas of government students can choose to work for: the Judicial, Legislative, and Executive branches, as well as the Print Press and Video News Programs. This year most of the YIG students at FHN are in

either the Legislative or Judicial branches. “[My favorite part about YIG is] the fact that we get to meet new people and do a mock trial,” Kiran Singh, a member of the Judicial branch, said.

Megan Weber has other things to look forward to this year. YIG allows juniors with at least one year of YIG experience to run for an office. Weber said she will be running for governor this year.

“I’m going to start talking to people when I get to the convention and let them know what I would do if I were governor and why I think I would be a good candidate,” Weber, a participant of YIG for three years, said.

In preparation for the convention, in the classroom, students have been writing and submitting bills, reading over trials, and writing briefs.

“I want to see FHN come home with awards for their hard work,” Kathy Chostner, YIG adviser, said.

Publications courses to get honors option next year chelsey damalas

As one of the co-curricular activities offered at North, the Publications staff works to deliver a yearbook once a year and a newspaper every month. While in the past this co-curricular class has only been given standard credit, the class will be given an honors credit option for the next school year.

“It is something that will be nice, to actually be able to reward those students who are in a pub-

lication course, who went far beyond expectations,” adviser Aaron Manfull said.

To receive the honors point, students will have to successfully complete an extra project that is not included in the normal class criteria. This is something that will reward those students who go above the average expectations.

For students interested in joining publications, you need to have taken one of the approved prerequisites such as Journalism, or Digital Photojournalism. page by nick ponche

FHNTODAY.COM

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HOW TO: Saute Shrimp Five easy step instructions for cooking shrimp like a pro.

1. Cut back of shrimp and remove black vein.

2. Add olive oil to heated pan 3. Add cooking wine, garlic and shrimp to pan 4. Add oregano and parsley to shrimp in pan 5. Toss shrimp in pan until pink and serve Senior Drew Moersch bastes the bread dough with butter for part of the meal the Knights cooked during the Iron Chef competition. Last year the competition was held at Howell Central and the Knights placed third in the competition against Howell and Howell Central. This year is the third annual Iron Chef competition which is being held on Nov 15. (kelsey habighorst)

Information from-http://bit.ly/9mHiKT

Annual competition gives Iron Chef second chance ellice estrada

On Nov. 15, the third annual Iron Chef Competition will take place at Central High School starting at 2 p.m. The students that are participating this year are working hard to prepare themselves for the competition. They meet after school every Tuesday and Thursday to practice and perfect their recipes.

“We are making three different kinds of styles of shrimp and flavors of shrimp. We’re making salad with home-made dressing, sautéed potatoes, and lemon asparagus,” one of the participants Aimee Gardner said.

There will be a group of five students from each school that will work together to create the Senior oboe player, Brittney Harris plays a duet with Lexi Kattman in her final marching band show in the Greater St. Louis competition. Harris has been in the band for one year.

Overall the band placed 6th in their division. (photo submitted)

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NEWS page by christy maupin

best tasting dishes and present them in a professional/ appealing way.

“We felt that the teams would be better if they could help each other, and being in groups allows more students to be able to participate,” Karin Mann, head coordinator of the competition said.

“This way, they can all work together to make the final presentation work.”

When the participants arrive at the competition, they will draw straws to see which kitchen they will be cooking in. This year is the first year they are going to have a secret ingredient which must be included into the recipes.

“When we get there, we’re going to have to pick a bag with a secret ingredient that we incorporate into everything we are making. We only

have a couple of minuets to decide how were going to do that, so we have to think fast.” Gardner said.

The Iron Chef Competition is a program that Sodexo Food offers to high school students, but it has only been available to North for 3 years including this year. Curiosity is rising in wonder of which school will win the gold medal this year.

Last year Howell won, and North was sent home with silver.

“I’m most excited about the competition this year because it’s a second chance at winning and going up against the other schools, and seeing which one will rein supreme this year,” senior Charles Cantrell said.

Year ends on good note with farewell to seniors chelsey damalas

After a season of lengthy practices, hard competitions and extreme dedication, the Marching Band year comes to an end. Many of the departing seniors who have spent their whole high school years dedicated to the group came together with those who have just joined this year. They say good-bye and remember the memories that they have shared.

“I will always remember walking off the

field from a truly amazing performance,” senior Courtney Gunnett said.

Being a part of Band is something that most members describe as a family. Every person walks away with memories that will stay with them forever, and this season was no exception.

Now, attention is being turned to prepare for another successful year in the upcoming season.

“Just go have fun, let everything out on the field,” senior Jacob Schwarz said. “Because there are no second chances.”

UPCOMING

EVENTS fea

Just recently opening back up after 1 1/2 years of stopping. FEA will be apart of American Education Week. Pay attention to announcements to hear different quotes. Also to join FEA, go to Com 3 on Nov. 12.

ham radio

Members now are in training for their new equipment.

With their new computer and repeater, they will receive better quality when talking to other nations. For more information go to room 233.

koe

With Teacher Appreciation Week starting on Nov. 15, every day is dedicated to a different decade. Ex. Monday being 50s. To find out more information go to room 130.

mu alpha theta Miss the last bake sale? Get ready for upcoming bake sale which will be Thanksgiving themed. There will be hot turkey, root beer floats and stuffing.

To get more information see Vals VanDerBeck in room 219.

Officer Pat Fitzgerald and lawyer Cindy Reeds Ormsby discuss and answer questions regarding cyber bullying and the effects of it. At the meeting, there was a video about awareness on cyber bullying and how to prevent it for both students and parents. (michelle spencer)

Cyber bullying awareness increases katy toebben

I

n response to the growing problem of cyber bullying in the District and in the community, FHN Guidance held a Cyber bullying informational meeting on Oct. 26. The meeting featured many mediums through which counselors educated the public about cyber bullying, how to prevent it and the District’s policy regarding the practice. “[Cyber bullying] it’s considered any harm inflicted through cell phones and computers,” Guidance Counselor Joyce Barker said.

The meeting started off with an introduction

by Crisis Counselor Mary Kerr-Grant, followed with a 20 minute video about the victims of cyber bullying. In one example, a girl talked about her experience with cyber bullying and the alienation she felt at her new school. The meeting addressed means by which to avoid cyber bullying- don’t respond, block them and tell someone- and ways to deal with the problems. “[The goal of the meeting was] to inform parents and students on what cyber bullying is and how it needs to be handled,” Barker said.

The meeting aimed to inform people on how to deal with cyber bullying. People present were told that the problem can be taken care of automatically and were taught to recognize the signs of cyber bullying in others. These signs can range from a change in personality to an increased isolation.

“When it’s reported to us, we act upon it and it is investigated by the principals or officers, whoever needs to be involved,” Barker said.

There are consequences for people who cyber bully others. The bully can be arrested and taken to trial if it comes to the involvement of the police, based on the provisions outlined in the “Megan Meier Law”. This law, passed by the Missouri Congress in 2008, addresses cyber bullying in adolescence. If the bully is a student and the school handles it, suspension is the most likely punishment. The ease of use and the lack of physical confrontation is what has made this type of bullying so popular among teens.

“I don’t know if it’s the most common [type of bullying], it is more popular, it is the ease of it,” Barker said. page by chelsey damalas

FHNTODAY.COM 05

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Facesfaith of

Billy Bajema

abbey grone

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08 FEATURES page by abbey grone

hen Billy Bajema walked through the halls of Brink Junior High 13 years ago, and when Chris Chamberlain walked through the halls of Bethany Junior High 15 years ago, they shared a common bond despite the fact that they didn’t know each other. They were both future teammates, both boys from Oklahoma and both kids that, unlike most their age, weren’t afraid to express their faith by attending regular FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) meetings and events.

And the similarities didn’t stop there. *** Junior football player Jake Hurrell sat on the stage of FHN’s auditorium, talking with his friends. They were all meeting for FCA, and the mood was usual, but Jake was nervous.

He knew that Rams line backer Chris Chamberlain and Rams tight end Billy Bajema would be arriving any minute, and he wanted to meet them, not only because they’re pro-athletes, but even with their status, they’re still involved in FCA. Moments later, Billy walked into the auditorium, Chris following not far behind. “ B i l l y, Chris!”

President of North’s FCA Susanna McFarland shouts. “Jake wants to meet you guys.”

The pair walked down the side isle and up the stairs on the right side of

the stage, where they shook Jake’s hand.

“Nice to meet you guys, big fan.”

Billy and Chris were at North to share their testimonies at Fields of Faith which will take place later in the night.

Fields of Faith, which has a partnership with FCA, is a national, non-denominational, peer-topeer event where students invite fellow students and teammates to share testimonies of those who play the field. Nationwide there were estimated 80,167 in attendance this year across 427 different fields. About 100 of those people were standing on the field of FHN, two of them professional athletes who wanted to spread their love for God. *** Over 100 people sit in the auditorium of FHN and wait until the clock hits 7 p.m. to get started with Fields of Faith.

“Get pumped!” Emcee, senior Brandon Goggin yells.

Jason Kinder, music pastor at Bridge of Hope church, and Annie McFarland, last year’s FCA president, start the night by singing “Our God”.

25 years ago, Jason sported his FCA shirt as well.

“FCA comes right back around, eh?” Jason says. “Pretty cool.”

Brandon appears on the stage again to introduce senior Shawn Mullarkey to give his testimony. Susanna then reappears to give hers, Brandon’s right after.

Jason and Annie sing again.

Amazing Grace How sweet the sound That saved a wretch like me Last song: “How He Loves Me”.

Now the moment everyone’s been waiting fortestimonies from Billy and Chris to share why they are still dedicated to Christ and FCA. Billy’s testimony is up first.

“What I believe is there is a holy God that created the entire universe and we are all sinners and we fall short of the glory of God.” Billy started participating in his FCA group at Brink Junior High in Oklahoma City and has been involved with the program ever since.

“FCA growing up was just a way to, number one, stay in the word of God and with other Christians that played sports that I had something in common with throughout junior high, high

Rams players Billy Bajema and Chris Chamberlain visit with FHN’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes to share their stories of faith and how it has affected them on a personal level.

school and college,” Billy said. “Number two, it’s provided an opportunity to use the platform of football as an influence and as I got older, talking to younger FCA groups and telling them how Jesus has been an impact in my life.”

Susanna thanks Billy and introduces Chris to the crowd. “... And you guys know that 83 yard interception at the very last second of the game last year?

That was Chris.”

“I didn’t score a touch down so it didn’t count for anything, not even a big deal,” Chris says.

Chris also became involved with FCA at his junior high, Bethany Junior High, in Oklahoma City.

Chris opens his bible and reads a verse that has inspired him and Billy to start a Christ based youth football camp. “‘Do not know that in a race, all the runners run but only one gets the prize. Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training, they do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly, I do not fight like a man fighting air, no I beat my body and I make it my slave so that after I’ve preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.’

1Corinthians 9:24-27 “This verse is telling us, as athletes, that God wants us to go at it with 100 percent, he wants us to give it our best, he wants us to do everything and glorify him. It doesn’t say we have to win, it doesn’t say we need to win, but we need to glorify him with how we play, compete, do our homework. I feel like it’s the same way with our spiritual lives.”

Being involved with FCA has encouraged Billy to get up and share his story and hopefully have an impact on students.

“I was excited about getting up and sharing my story and give a couple of small tips about standing up for what they believe in,” Billy said.

“It made me, looking back on what it has done in my life, want to share with other students about what I know.”

Susanna looks up to Billy and Chris, not only as family friends but as role models in being open in sharing her beliefs.

“It’s just really cool to hear that we’re not the

Chris Chamberlain

only ones living out our faith,” Susanna said.

After Billy’s testimony, Chris and Billy take seats 17 and 19 of row one of the auditorium while a younger guy in a long t-shirt and jeans takes the stage. His name is Shawn Barley and he’s the pastor of Bridge of Faith church.

Because he has lost his voice he will be saying the prayer inside through the microphone instead of outside on the field like the original plan.

“Maybe some people in this room don’t know you, and Lord I pray right now that in the name of Jesus that you would draw them close to you. Use the testimonies they’ve already heard to speak to their hearts and may they find love and forgiveness... And all gods people said...”

“AMEN!” Everyone gathers their belongings and heads towards the field outside. 76 people huddled in a circle, one of them being Billy.

“Dear Lord...”

“Lord Heavenly Father...”

“Please pray for...”

76 different prayers were said out loud or kept inside.

Billy’s turn.

“Dear Lord, thank you for this evening.

Please keep these students in your heart and keep your heart in theirs...”

Back to the field, back to the struggles and back to sharing their story with others. Billy and Chris left with that much more faith, not only in God but in the FCA program.

“I admired their courage to get up and tell everyone about a struggle in their life and how they overcame it,” Jake said. page by abbey grone

FHNTODAY.COM 09

Despite her unfortunate situation, Stallings had a lot of support from her family and friends during her treatments.

Stallings positive attitude helped her stay strong during such a difficult time in her life.

Sophomore Amanda Stallings holds up a photo from St. Jude's Children's Hospital where she received her treatments for the sarcoma cancer in her left foot. Along with many others, Stalling's handprint decorates the walls of St. Jude's Children's Hospital in Memphis, TN. Stallings still returns to get check-ups every six months to ensure she is still clear of it. (kaitlyn williams)

Stallings was diagnosed with Sarcoma cancer when she was eleven. It is more common in children and young adults and account for seven percent of childhood cancers. (kaitlyn williams)

The past can never be forgotten

Sophomore Amanda Stallings tells her story of surviving cancer and its effects abby west

The summer going into middle school, most kids are consumed with the worries of a new start in a different environment. But after Aug. 11, 2006, Amanda Stallings had much bigger things to consume her thoughts: Cancer.

At age 11, Amanda could barely understand the complex concept of cancer.

“I didn’t really understand why everyone around me was so upset,” Amanda said. “I also felt angry because no one would tell me what was going on.”

What Amanda was also unaware of at the time was her very rare type of cancer. She was diagnosed with Undifferentiated Soft-Cell Sarcoma in the top part of her left foot. Sarcoma is a type of cancer that develops from certain tissues, like bone or muscle.

Given her type of Sarcoma cancer, there was a need for radiation therapy every day for six weeks at St. Jude’s Children Hospital in Memphis, TN. With Tennessee being so far from her home in Missouri, the family was forced to make many tough decisions.

“It split the family with her treatments, and it was difficult,” mother Cathy Stallings said. “And with all our worries and concerns, it was hard on the family.”

While attending treatments, Amanda felt torn

10 FEATURES page by abby west

from her home and put into a new environment.

However, even under the circumstances, she still strived to keep positive.

“I made new friends, so I was never bored,” Amanda said. “And I was better off than most other people were.”

While in treatment, Amanda met a young boy named Justin. He too was going through cancer treatment and understood her difficulties. Sadly, he passed away.

“We were a part of each other’s normalcy,” Amanda said. “It’s like we weren’t there being sick, and we never really talked about it.”

Yet Amanda kept her positive outlook, always looking to the future. And in December of 2006, she was cleared of her disease. Friends and family relished the happy news.

“I tried to be there for her as best as I could, it was hard because I couldn’t begin to try to understand all she had been through,” sophomore Morgan O’Neill said. “I told her I was there for her whenever she needed me.”

Amanda is still sometimes reminded of this difficult time in her life when she returns every six months for a check-up. Even with haunting thoughts, that positive attitude always remains.

“I wanted to survive for my family, because I couldn’t imagine their life without me,” Amanda said.

CANCER PREVENTION Get Active- Being active is an important part of staying healthy. It may also lower your risk for certain types of cancer.

Eat Right- Good health starts with good nutrition. Eating the daily recommended amounts of fruits and vegetables can reduce your cancer risks.

Stay Away From Tobacco- By avoiding tobacco in your daily life you can greatly reduce your chances of developing cancer

Be Safe in the Sun- Too much sun exposure can have damaging effects on the skin. So cover up and use sunscreen when outdoors info from www.cancer.org

Many people say they live by the motto “live life to the fullest”, but how many actually do?

51. Ride every single ride at Disney World.

Spend your New Year’s Eve in 52. Eat at the most expensive restaurant in town.

Times Square in New York City.

2. Dye your hair a completely different color.

3. Visit all of the 50 states in the U.S. 4. Watch a lighting storm while at sea.

5. Visit all seven continents.

6. Send a message in a bottle to anyone.

7. Compete in and finish a triathlon.

8. Climb to the top of Mount Everest.

9. Learn how to juggle.

10. Learn how to horse back ride.

11. Date someone who isn’t your type.

12. Ride a mechanical bull.

13.Write a fan letter to your all time hero.

14. Go on an African Safari.

15.See Old Faithful at Yellowstone National Park.

16. Try food that you never thought you would.

17. Attend a Hollywood movie premiere.

Spend the whole night in a haunted house, by yourself.

19.Drive a car that’s worth more than your house.

20. Go on your ultimate dream vacation.

21. Watch a movie in a Drive-In theater.

22. Spend an entire month in Europe.

23. Help someone cross the street.

24. Attend at least one major sporting event.

25. “Do something crazy”- Krista Griffin, 11 26. Capture lightning in a photograph.

27. Rescue an animal from a shelter.

28. Act like a fool in front of strangers.

29. Get a private pilots license.

30. Walk on the Great Wall of China.

31. See the Aurora Borealis.

32. Anonymously give to a charity.

33. Go on a really long road trip.

34. Create your family tree.

35. Host Saturday Night Live.

Witness a total Solar Eclipse.

37. Sign up to become an organ donor.

38. Spend a night at the Ice Hotel in Quebec.

39. Read all of Shakespeare’s work.

40. Ride a zip line through the jungle.

41. Hike down then back up the Grand Canyon.

42. Watch the sun set and rise the next morning.

43. “Own a restaurant” -Amy Rice, 11 44. Forgive someone that you are mad at.

45. Learn to solve the Rubik’s Cube.

46. See the Taj Mahal in India.

47. Visit the birthplace of your ancestors.

48. Learn how to play the guitar.

49. Be a part of a paranormal investigation.

50. “Play in a wind tunnel.”-Rachel Garets, 10

53. Go white water rafting, and don’t fall out.

55. Scuba dive in the Great Barrier Reef.

Carve your name into a tree with your soulmate

56. Take a ride in a real hot air balloon.

57. Go to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

58. Take up a new and unique hobby.

59. “Be in an Ostrich race.”- Dan Graslaub, 11 60. Go on a archaeology dig in Egypt.

61. Earn a Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do. 62. Watch a caterpillar grow into a butterfly.

63. Crush grapes in a vineyard with your feet.

64. Celebrate Mardi Gras in New Orleans.

65. Play paint ball with a huge group of people.

66. Help someone that you don’t know.

67. Reconnect with five old friends.

68. “Travel by submarine.” - Alex Savala, 11 69. Quit at least one bad habit you have.

70. Spend an entire summer at the beach.

71. Stay up for three whole days straight.

72. Live in another state for at least one year.

Camp in the middle of nowhere with no flashlight.

74. Hike in Yosemite National Park.

75. Participate in a flash mob.

76. Drive a 18- wheeler.

77. Zorb in New Zealand.

78. Jump off of a waterfall for fun.

79. Hold a real live tarantula.

80. Have something named after yourself.

81. “Speak five languages.” -Lisa Saville, 11 82. Receive a standing ovation.

83. Design and build your own house.

84. Be a voice in a cartoon movie.

85. Learn to drive a stick shift.

86. Visit the Galapagos Islands.

87. Drive on the Autobahn.

88. Experience zero gravity.

89. Actually serve your jury duty.

90. See the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt.

91. Leave an inspirational note inside a book.

92. “Go skydiving.” - Sophie Gordon, 9 93. Try out for a play, even if you aren’t outgoing.

94. Go bungee jumping off a bridge.

95. Visit The Seven Wonders of the World.

96. See all your favorite bands in concert.

97. Snorkel or swim with real sharks.

98. Eat sushi in Tokyo.

99. Ride a camel through the desert.

Start a bussniess doing something you love.

page by emily forst

FHNTODAY.COM 11

Brittany Gooten, Joshua Gooten and Maggie Gooten stand in front of the fireplace at the Ronald McDonald House. “We definitely want to say thank to the volunteers for their time. Our lives are busy just as it is, so for them to come in every week is great,” Brittany said (lydia ness).

Ronald McDonald House provides home away from home paige yungermann

B

rittany Gooden pulls at a pair of large, red shoes, opening a glass door. Walking inside with her is her husband, Joshua Gooden and their two-year-old daughter, Maggie. This white and redbrick house is set back in a grove of trees. Lining the steps are potted plants, and a playground sits outside.

This house with the Ronald McDonald shoes for doorhandles isn’t the home of the Gooden family. It is part of the Ronald McDonald House Charities. This House, and others like it around the globe, provides a safe haven to families like the Goodens. Families who live too far away to commute to St. Louis everyday. Families who can’t afford to stay at a hotel for weeks on end. Families who have a child in the hospital.

“It’s a good charity because it’s for children,” Brittany says.

“They do provide quite a bit for people with sick or hospitalized children.”

Walking in the lobby, Assistant House Manager Kim Gutknecht greets the Goodens. Kim started working here when she realized she needed a change in her career.

12 FEATURES page by sam dulaney

A volunteer enters into the Ronald McDonald House located on the campus of the St. John’s Mercy Children’s hospital. The House can accomodate up to 20 families and they only have to pay $5 a night to stay but families aren’t turned away if they are unable to pay (lydia ness).

This painting is hung in front of the house and was made especially for the Ronald McDonald House. There are Houses in 50 countries and 160 Houses in the United States (lydia ness).

nation boxes at McDonalds anymore,” Brittany says. “We plan to “I definitely changed career paths,” former business women Kim do something to give back to the home in the future.” says. “I wanted to work more closely with families. It’s part of my The Gooden family leaves their room, and heads back to the job to eat with all of the families and get to know them. I also make main level, going to get a snack for Maggie in the dinning area. This it a point to know everyone’s name. I love all my families here.” room can seat 20 families, the maximum number the House can The Goodens step inside the elevator to go put some shopping hold. But right now, only seven families are staying at the House. bags in their room. Aside from errands like today’s shopping trip In the dinning area, the Goodens sit down at a polished wood taand Joshua’s trips home for him to work a little each week, they ble, Maggie munching happily on her snack. While Maggie’s snack have spent almost their time with their newborn daughter, Viviright now is nothing more than candy corn, the Goodens will later enne. have a warm home cooked meal. Every night, a different Vivienne was born premature, and for two weeks group of volunteers comes to the House to prepare dinner now, she has been in the neonatal intensive-care unit for the families. at St. John’s Mercy Medical Center. This Ronald “If this place As Brittany and Joshua wait for Maggie to finish eatMcDonald House is located on the campus of St. wasn’t here, ing, a group of people carrying bags of food walks into John’s, with Missouri Baptist Medical Center less the kitchen behind the Goodens. These are La-Z-Boy emthan five minutes away and the Shriners Hospital for where would ployees. Tonight, they are the dinner volunteers, making Children only 10 minutes away. they go?” a meal for the Goodens and other families staying at the “[The House] has been really good for our fam- - jerri menefee Ronald McDonald House. ily,” Brittany says. “It’s a two and a half hour drive “[The House] is heartwarming,” dinner volunteer Jerri Menefee home to Anna, IL. It would pretty much be get here, turn around, said. “If this place wasn’t here, where would they go? The families head back home. We wouldn’t get much time with our daughter.” wouldn’t be able to afford hotels for months on end.”

Brittany, Joshua and Maggie walk into their white walled room.

The volunteers start laying out the ingredients and getting ready Joshua’s black tennis shoes move along the carpet. The rooms at the to prepare the meal. It is people like this that allow the Goodens to House each contain three beds, a private bath and a closet. Along enjoy the comforts of home in a strange place. with this room, the Goodens are provided with fresh cooked din“Before we came here we didn’t realize how many nice people ners, a laundry facility, and use of recreational areas-all for just $5 there are in the world,” Joshua said. “It was just really surprising to a day, though no one is turned away due to inability to pay. The rest see how many people are willing to help us.” of the funds come from a variety of donations.

As soon as Maggie finishes eating, the Goodens leave the House “We have talked about how we are not going to pass up the do-

page by sam dulaney

FHNTODAY.COM 13

Volunteer Marjorie Imming puts dishes into the dishwasher to get ready for the dinner they serve every night. “What you see with the families and the children is the families really appreciate it, no matter who is in to cook. they are just happy to have some place to eat,” Imming said (lydia ness).

LOCAL RONALD MCDONALD HOUSES Interested in volunteering at a Ronald McDonald house in the area? Follow these directions to one of the three St. Louis locations.

• • • • • • •

take 364 East merge onto southbound 270 take exit 12A/B Ballas Rd merge onto eastbound 64 take exit 37B Grand Blvd make left on S Grand Blvd make left on Park Ave

•

destination: 3450 Park Ave

• • • • • • • • •

take 364 East merge onto southbound 270 take exit 12A/B Ballas Rd merge onto eastbound 64 take exit 36A/B for Kingshighway make left on S Kingshighway merge onto Forest Park Ave make left on S Taylor Ave make right on W Pine Blvd

•

destination: 4381 W Pine Blvd

• • • • •

take 364 East merge onto southbound 270 take exit 13 Ladue Rd make left on Ladue Rd Take 2nd right onto S New Ballas Rd

•

destination: 615 S New Ballas Rd

14 FEATURES page by sam dulaney

Children are able to play tic-tac-toe on a wall and other games such as fooseball and ping pong and board games. There is a rec room for every floor and also a library and computer room, a playroom, living room area (lydia ness).

to go back to the hospital.

Walking out the front door, the Goodens pass under a number hanging on the building- 300. This is not the address number for the House. It is the number of Ronald McDonald Houses worldwide.

And on Sept. 29, this House not only became the third to open in the St. Louis area, but the 300th to open worldwide.

“I think it is so exciting, being number 300,” Kim said. “The employees and volunteers deserve this honor. We are the most caring, compassionate people. We are very giving.”

The Goodens will stay at the hospital with Vivienne for several hours.

FHNTOday. com They will not return For a video on the opening of the 300th Ronald McDonald House, visit back to the House FHNtoday.com and view this story. until the sun has gone down and dinner has grown cold. They will grab the door handle shoes and walk into the quiet House.

One day soon, the Goodens hope to travel home with Vivienne, living together as a family at last. But for now, they are happy to be staying at this House; happy to be only a short walk away from their baby girl. Happy to be one of many families who consider this House a home.

WINTER FASHION a preview to this winter seasonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fashion

Carhartt jacket JCPennys $70

Striped Polo American Eagle $30

Leather Bomber Jacket Macys $60

Sweater Aeropostale $25

Scarf The Limited $25

Dark Wash Jeans Target $20

Dark Wash Jeans Hollister $40 Boots Target $18 cody frazier,12

Bearpaw boots Famous Footwear $60

sam stubblefield, 12

page by nicole thompson

FHNTODAY.COM 15

GOT A

?

DREAM here are four people who do.

Aspirations, goals, ambitions. Dreams. This month the North Star takes an in-depth look into at four individuals, the big dreams that have shaped their lives, and the people who have helped them along the way.

HAMPTON KEEPS HIS logan ponche

FFreshman Jake Hampton sat in a chair in the gym after school on Wednesday, Oct. 20 pressing an ice bag to his side. Just a few hours before, he had taken the full force of a knee into his right ribcage from a tackle during football practice. Jake left the practice after the hit, and was left with bruised ribs that would force him to wear extra protection around his ribs for the next few weeks while playing football. However when asked about the injury, he shrugged and said ‘It’s no big deal.’

That’s the way Jake always seems to act when faced with a possible setback. At the age of one, doctors told his parents that he would never speak. At the age of two, he had to undergo a $50,000 surgery.

At the age of 12, they told him there was no way he

18 IN-DEPTH page by kelsey bell

should ever play football. Jake has never let any of these things become a big deal, so why should a bruised rib be?

“I’m supportive of whatever he wants to do,” Jake’s dad Mike Hampton said. “Watching him out there beats any game on Sunday, it’s just amazing what he can do.”

The fact that Jake can play football seems to be a big deal to those he’s closest to. Jake was, just like his sister Rachel, born with sensorineural hearing loss, leaving him completely deaf. From the age of three until eighth grade, Jake attended the MOOG Oral School, then St. Joe’s Institute for the Deaf where he was taught regular school curriculum, as well as a special curriculum to help him communicate with others through methods such as reading lips.

While he was at those schools, Jake was always asking his dad to let him play sports. But due to his deafness and his Doctor’s advice, Mike wouldn’t let Jake play.

“He was always asking me,” Mike said. “But I was afraid that he was going to get hurt.”

Finally, despite what the doctors were telling him, Mike decided to let Jake play football in middle school.

“When he was at those schools, all they kept telling him was to ‘do

S EYES ON THE BALL , and his dream.

anything you want,” Mike said. “But when he wanted to play football, the doctors said he shouldn’t. So I decided to let him start out with flag football, just to ease him in.”

When flag football was a success, Jake moved on to play for the Mid-Rivers Eagles in seventh grade and was one of five players from that team selected to play for the Renegades in eighth. Soon after that season, Mike contacted North to talk about Jake playing football there.

“Over the summer last year Jake’s dad contacted me,” freshman football coach Andrew Little said. “He called to let me know about Jake and to talk about getting a helmet that would fit around his cochlear implant.”

When Jake was two, he underwent surgery to receive a cochlear implant - a small electronic device that allows someone who is deaf to hear. Both Jake and his sister Rachel have cochlear implants, which cost about $50,000 a piece. However both were paid for by Mike’s employer, the army. Jake currenlty has a Xenith helmet that is specially shaped to fit around his implant, but he doesn’t wear the implant when playing football.

“If I wear my implant during practice I have to worry about if it breaks or if it stops working,” Jake said. “It makes me less aggressive in football.”

This year Jake started on the defensive line for the freshmen team, who went

2-6 on the season. He can only play defense because of the hand signals used when calling plays. On offense a snap count is called, which Jake has to hear, before he can move.

“It probably makes him a better player,” Jake’s teacher for the deaf, Yvonne Kehoe said. “While most players can rely on what they hear to play, Jake always has to watch the ball.”

While Jake can still play on defense normally, his coaches still let referee’s know that he is on the field, so they are aware of the situation and don’t whistle him for not hearing the whistle. However that is a rare occurrence according to his coaches.

“He’s not dirty at all,” Little said. “He’s very intense, you wouldn’t even know he’s deaf. Communication was interesting at times because we had to figure out how to communicate with him.”

Jake plans to play football again next year, he says that it depends on how much weight he can gain as to what team he can make. In the future, Jake says he wants to take football as far as he can, at as high of a level as he can - even to the SEC or the NFL- but for now, his goal is to make the JV squad.

“His commitment is to be a very good high school player,” Little said. “He wants to excel, and we’ll see where that takes him.”

page by kelsey bell

FHNTODAY.COM 19

ONE PAW AT A TIME Oleshchuk prepares for her future sam dulaney

O

n any given morning, the walk into the St. Charles Humane Society is filled with sights, sounds, and especially smells that are all lively. All the dogs are howling and barking excitedly in anticipation of the day ahead. They pace around their cages with pent up energy from the long night, charged and ready to get some food, some fresh air and some attention. This is what senior Abigail Oleshchuk knows she’ll dedicate her life’s work to - being a veterinarian.

Starting her life’s work at a young age, a two-year-old Abigail played with her toy animals. She checked their toy vitals with her stethoscope and helped them get well. As an animal lover and a studious learner, Abby was determined to become a veterinarian.

“I love working with animals and I’m into the medical side of it too, so I get to do both,” Abby said.

Abigail plans to attend Colorado State University which, she says, is the second best veterinarian school in the nation. She and her parents took a road trip to Colorado to visit the campus the Abigail has her heart set on.

“Academically we’ve supported her,” Abigail’s mom Ellen said. “She knew we were there for her. We encouraged independent thought and to look at different colleges and requirements so she could decide on what classes to take and what job she should have.”

20 IN-DEPTH page by kelsey bell

In order to be accepted into the veterinarian program at Colorado State University, Abigail is required to complete at least 1000+ hours in situations with animals with a vet and another 1000+ hours in situations without a vet in order to get her doctorate. At the Humane Society, she has been working with the cats and dogs in adoption, and learning how to give shots and basic medical care. “[The first time I gave a shot was] terrifying because it was a microchip needle, which is huge,” Abigail said. “There was some crying involved for the animal.”

Abigail’s mom, Ellen is also in the medical field, working as a nurse. From a medical stand point, she believes that Abigail will be able to do well as a vet.

“She is extremely good with time management,” Ellen said. “She is sharp, independent and she can juggle a lot of things. Her dedication will serve her well. She is following what she loves.”

Abigail’s dreams are to get a degree in mixed animals, both large and small animals, with a PhD in exotic animals so she can tend to wolves or even big cats such as lions. “[The best part is] definitely seeing sick, truly innocent and broken animals get up and be able to bounce around and get back to what they usually do,” Abigail said.

page by kelsey bell

FHNTODAY.COM 21

PROJECT RUNWAY

spurs on designer dreams

22 IN-DEPTH page by kelsey bell

aurora blanchard

D

uring his childhood, AJ Thouvenot (pronounced TOO-venoh) was known to his family and friends as Andy. Andy was a kid who put on puppet shows for his family and acted in homemade movies with his friends. He was a kid who used cartoons he’d drawn to direct and act in his homemade films. He was a kid who grew up in St. Charles, MO and went to Francis Howell North. Back then, Andy was just being Andy.

Now, Andy is known to America as “AJ” from Lifetime’s eighth season of Project Runway. The little Andy that had drawn cartoons and put on home performances was now AJ, a 26-year-old fashion designer.

He had made it.

AJ had realized his dream to be a fashion designer during his time at Lindenwood College. There, he began working hard on making garments for himself and his friends.

All of his designs were original, inspired by what he thought was lacking at malls and department stores.

Though AJ had never had any formal training in fashion design, he learned anything and everything he could on his own.

While AJ was attending Lindenwood, he went to New York for a summer to intern at Heatherette by Richie Rich and Traver Rains while it was still a fashion label. He quickly became saturated in the fashion culture and even got the opportunity to pick out clothes for celebrities.

After getting back from New York, AJ decided to put his designs to the test by entering the Cincinnati Fashion Week and St. Louis Fashion Week under the design label

Trashbiscuit, whose design is inspired by a clash of urban street wear and pop culture glamour.

“All those things made him think, ‘Well, it’s possible,’” AJ’s mom Rosemary Thouvenot said.

Having a strong fashion foothold in St. Louis, AJ was ready for something bigger. In the spring of 2010, AJ went to Chicago to audition for Project Runway.

“It was something in the back of my mind that I always wanted to do,” AJ said.

That May, he found out that he’d been one of the 17 chosen nationwide to fly to NYC and design on Project Runway. All of it happened through his own work, every garment he had labored over, every model he had fitted, and everything he’d studied about fashion had gotten him onto the show. It hadn’t mattered that he had only grown up in suburban Missouri.

“Some of the people who competed on the show had never been formally trained,” Rosemary said. “I don’t think you have to be from the big city in order to compete.”

AJ competed on the show until week five, when he sacrificed his originality on a group challenge and was sent home. If he wouldn’t have compromised his natural instinct, he might have survived that week of Project Runway.

“The biggest lesson he’s learned is to hold true to his integrity,” Rosemary said.

AJ thinks that having experience on Project Runway will help him develop as a designer. Many believe that AJ’s time on the show built an amazing fan base for him. AJ said that he learned a lot about himself during his time on the show.

“Project Runway definitely helped me grow as a designer,” AJ said. “It made me push myself to the limits. You get a clear understanding of what you need to do and what you need to work on. I’ve learned a lot about my strengths and weaknesses.”

According to Rosemary, AJ’s ability to take risks has taken him this far in his life.

“I think it’s important to follow your dreams and not take no for an answer,” said AJ. “The best way to achieve your goals is to be persistent.”

In the future, AJ hopes to have his own fashion line or design for a big label. Either way, many people believe he can be successful because of his ability to communicate and utilize his creativity, just like he did as little Andy.

“AJ’s smart and charismatic,” fellow Project Runway designer Michael Drummond said. “He’s got the world at his feet.”

page by kelsey bell

FHNTODAY.COM 23

DETERMINATION,, HARD WORK puts Ponche on the right page taylor bartram

Head of St. Charles Patch.com, which is starting up at the beginning of December, Kalen Ponche has always had admiration for writing. Kalen has now created her own newspaper just like the one she created when she was younger except probably now with fewer errors and a little more professional. The Ponche Press, was created by a little girl in elementary school who had always showed admiration for writing. In the evenings at her house, Kalen would interview her mom about what they were going to have for dinner, she would draw a picture of spaghetti to demonstrate, and write about her younger brother Logan Ponche getting in trouble. She would turn all of these stories and drawings into her own little newspaper that she would hand out to her family.

Ever since then, she has always dreamed of having her own paper to write in and be in charge of. Some find it hard to realize their life long dream at a young age. Kalen, however, knew what she would love to do.

“I realized when she was really early in grade school, she was always a really good writer,” Kalen’s mom Diane Ponche said, “And it was something that came easy for her.”

The first major step to help make her dream come true was when she was a sophomore in high school. Kalen joined the newspaper at North.

Her junior year she became an editor, and as a senior she was the Editorin-Chief. That year Kalen wrote a story about a teammate on the Tennis team who had been struggling with anorexia, which was one of the things that lead her to win 2003 Missouri Journalist of the year. FHN publications adviser Aaron Manfull encouraged Kalen to apply for the Journalist of the year, she knew it wouldn’t be easy because she had to write a story for the yearbook and work with multimedia which she had never done before.

“It was neat opportunity to try new things and I was really surprised,” Kalen said, “I burst into tears I was so excited.”

After graduating from North, Kalen attended Truman State University and majored in Journalism. While attending Truman, Kalen studied abroad in England for six months, where she continued to study Journalism.

“I think it was really cool that my sister got to study in Europe,” Kalen’s brother Logan Ponche said. “I feel she learned a lot when she was over

there, that something I think I might want to do sometime.”

Kalen accepted a job at Suburban Journals, shortly after graduating from Truman. Eventually she would be head of the education section, but first she started working in the Courts section. She would have to sit in St. Charles courts, listen to the trials and write about the cases. She remembers once writing about a lady who drank so much during her pregnancy her baby came out with an alcohol blood content level that was too high even for an adult to live through. The lady was later charged with murder.

“She has always been determined to do her best and she has constantly worked to improve on what she was doing,” North publications adviser Aaron Manfull said, “I think that is what helped put her in the place she is now.”

Kalen just recently accepted a job at Patch.com, where she will have her own website specifically for St.Charles. Patch.com is a website where you can search by cites in the U.S. and read their latest news and upcoming events. Patch was created to involve local events and news in the area like high school football games and other school or charitable events. Kalen has been working to add additional writers and photographers to the staff to help increase the amount of content that is put on the site.

“Kalen is a better leader than a follower, she likes to be in charge rather than follow” Diane Ponche said. “ I’m very excited for her to have this job because she loves to set high standards and she will have the ability to set high standards a meet them.”

Kalen has exceeded her dream of having her own newspaper, she wrote for a newspaper and now she has her own kind of newspaper online where she is in charge. Kalen also recently received Suburban Journal’s MPA awards for first place in education and outdoor writing. Although it has taken her many years and a lot of experience to get to where she is now. She stuck with what she wanted to do and didn’t give up and she is doing what she loves and what she wants to do for the rest of her life.

“I want to work for a place that I can do good work and be able to grow as a writer and continue to help people with their writing,” Kalen said, “I feel Journalism effects change in the community or just makes some ones day better.”

24 IN-DEPTH page by kelsey bell Ho w lo n wh g hav e y you ou r fa vor i at is

WHO CAN HELP ?

All high school students in one form or anther have some kind of dream. There are several teachers at North who strive to help students out with their own dreams.

These individuals have gone above and beyond to help students dream big.

JON TRAVIS

Gifted Education Facilitator

What job involves: Helping students figure out an idea and plan for their independent project, as well as working with students on test taking with the ACT, and preparing for college.

Student who was affected: Kyle Steele, a 2004 FHN graduate.

What they did after high school: After high school, Steele went on to teach 4th and 5th grade while in the Teach for America program. After a few years of teaching, he decided to go to graduate school at the University of Wisconsin to get his PHD in History of Education.

“Being in Spectra helped me in life because it focused a lot on self-corrective learning and the academic freedom I had helped me teach myself,” Steele said. “It gave me a chance to explore my options and then mess them up and learn how to correct them afterwards.”

“He decided his goals and went after them,” Travis said. “He was very self motivated. I kidded with him about being too normal for Spectra. He took good care of himself. I didn’t really have to worry a lot about him. I warned him that most high school sweethearts didn’t marry but he proved me wrong. Everybody loves Kyle Steele.”

LORI LUTZ Business Teacher and DECA Sponsor What job involves: Teaching Marketing and Desktop Publishing Students who were affected: Melissa Spears, a 2010 FHN graduate.

What they did after high school: Spears is currently attending Lindenwood University and working to earn her degree in Marketing.

“She cares about her students and she gets to know them,” Spears said. “She took the time to have a conversation with us about our weekends and stuff.” “[Melissa] is caring, optimistic, and dependable, Lutz said. “Melissa always had a smile on her face and got along with all types of students.”

DONNA MALKMUS Chemistry Teacher What job involves: Teaching Honors Chemistry and AP curriculum to AP students.

Student who was affected: Nick Laneman, a 1991 FHN graduate.

What they did after high school: Laneman went to Washington University for his undergraduate and is currently going to graduate school at Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he is studying communication electrical engineering. “[Malkmus] has the ability to recognize when a student is willing to learn more,” Laneman said. “She creates ways to let them push themselves. She really just goes over and above what most teachers normally do.”

“I pushed him into the science fair project and gave him the push that he normally wouldn’t have had,” Malkmus said.

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Hunting as a hobby Juniors Beth Noble and Summer Carson have gone against the norm and are representing females in a male- dominated sport: hunting. The girls were born into the sport, and love what they do.

Junior Summer Carson and her father Tracy Carson take a 140 pound doe to be processed, which includes skinning, cleaning and removing the meat from the animal. (photo submitted)

Junior Beth Noble sits with her uncle Richard Noble, cousin Bobby Staff, and father Brad Noble with Richie Noble’s deer. This photo was taken in the 2009 hunting season in Bowling Green, Missouri. (photo submitted)

Juniors Noble and Carson enjoy going hunting in their free time elizabeth diggs

J

uniors Beth Noble and Summer Carson sit in their deer stands from 5:45 in the morning to 6:15 in the evening, waiting for the perfect moment to aim their Remmington .243 rifle right behind the shoulder blade and successfully takedown a deer.

“It’s such an adrenaline rush,” Carson said. “When I hear a deer move, my hands shake. My heart beats so fast and when I shoot, I don’t breathe.”

Deer hunting season is fast approaching. On Nov. 13, hunters are free to shoot big game rather than just trap shoot, which is a practice strategy performed by shooting at clay pigeons that are flung through the air. Both ladies attended a field trip on Oct. 26 with John Brune’s Outdoor Education classes, and they already have plans to go hunting each weekend throughout the hunting season.

The girls have had much success in this sport. Carson has already had the exhilarating experience of shooting a nine-point buck last season in her own front yard. Noble enjoys hunting because of the outdoor experience and the potential the sport holds for her future. She will soon be applying for a trap shooting scholarship to Lindenwood University.

“I love the outdoors,” Noble said. “It’s the one place I can get away and think. I want to be a Game Warden someday, so I will get to be outside all the time. You can just focus on yourself.”

There are many things one must do in preparation before

30 SPORTS page by elizabeth diggs

going hunting according to Carson and Noble. A lot of target practice is necessary, along with “siting-in” the gun being used, which means making sure it shoots accurately. All of the gear being used must be dry, scentless and loaded. The girls must shower with unscented shampoo and soap as well.

All of this preparation begins at around three in the morning so that they can be out in their deer stands by 5:45 a.m, dressed in lots of orange clothing for safety purposes, and sometimes they harness themselves to a tree so they do not fall out of the deer stand.

“You have to stand down-wind of the animals because you do not want them to pick up your scent,” Carson said.

According to the girls, shooting with a hunting rifle is easier to make a clean kill than using slugs in a shot gun. Both girls own a Remmington .243 and Carson also uses a Wincheser .30-30 as a back- up rifle. The Remmington .243 is considered a female rifle, but it shoots just as well as the rifles men prefer. In all other ways, being a girl in a male- dominated sport doesn’t pose many differences with participating in the sport if you’re a boy or a girl according to Noble.

“It makes me more competitive because I want to beat my dad and my uncles,” Noble said.

One must be a good marksman if they wish to make a clean kill, which is key in the sport. If the hunter misses the shoulder blade or neck, the animal would suffer because it would be struck somewhere that wouldn’t make it die right away. If the animal still has the capability of running, the hunter would have

POINTS ON A BUCK Not all protrusions on a deer’s antlers qualify to be counted as points, and there is a system for determining what constitutes an antler point.

Carson sits with a 140 pound doe she shot while hunting last season. Carson goes hunting with her father; opening day for hunting season is on November 13. (photo submitted)

1 2 3

Measure each point from the area where it leaves the main beam to its tip. If it measures at least one inch in length from the main beam, it is counted as a point.

Count the end tip of each main beam as a point.

Measure points that come off of other points by starting the measurement where the base of the point meets the other point, rather than from the base of the main beam.

4

If the brow tine, or the lowest point visible on the deer’s head, is bigger than an inch, it can only be counted if it is a whitetail deer.

One can not count the lowest point if it is a mule deer.

5

Add up all of the qualifying points for a total count.

information from ehow.com

Be

am

Less than an inch= not a point

ain

to rely on the blood trail the animal leaves behind to find it once it expires.

“It’s fun to make noises to get the animals to stop moving,” Noble said, “That way, you won’t miss and make an unethical shot.”

Both Carson and Noble shoot deer and turkey, and would like to pursue shooting elk, water foul and ducks at some point. There are some rules that must be followed when hunting for male deer, or bucks. The hunter is not allowed to shoot unless the buck is a four-point buck, or has four points on its antlers. This rule was set because of the over population of female deer. Hunters are encouraged to hunt for fewer bucks than does.

Noble and Carson go hunting with their fathers. Noble also hunts with her uncles and cousins. Her father is very proud excited that she shares his passion.

“I think it is really cool for me to share this with my daughter and to see her love the sport as much as I do,” Brad Noble said.

Along with having the support of their fathers and the other male figures in their families, the girls have support from staff members at North. Environmental Studies and Biology 2 teacher, Joe Brocksmith has been hunting for 25 years and is proud of the girls for representing females in the hunting community.

“I think women are more patient and are a better shot,” Brocksmith said. “They are better snipers than men. They have a better ability to control breathing and women tend to be more conscious of making ethical shots.”

illustration by elizabeth diggs

M

Noble crouches low to the ground as she stalks a whitetail deer, or waits for the animal to stop moving to increase the accuracy of the shot. (photo submitted)

Brow Tine: The lowest point on the antlers

page by elizabeth diggs

FHNTODAY.COM 31

CROSS COUNTRY PERSONAL RECORDS

The majority of Cross Country runners have PR’d (personal record). They were also asked how they think they have improved.

Michelle Mottin, 9

Junior Brianna Schroer competes in Sectionals at McNair Park on Oct. 30. Brianna finished the race in 31st place, out of over 70 other girls. She finished one place away from qualifying for State. (michelle spencer)

Sectionals end season Despite for theall but Grone narrow loss of her fellow teamsam dulaney

Sectionals. Oct. 30. 10 a.m. Senior Coleen Grone and junior Brianna Schroer begin their race. The Class 4-A girls race, the biggest and most competitive female race in high school Cross Country. All was going well, for the most part anyway.

“I have a displaced rib so I knew it would be difficult and painful but I just got through it,” Grone said. “I did really well. I finished in the top half of the qualifiers.”

Grone finished in 14th place among 70 runners in her race. Brianna also was running her hardest, coming in at her fastest time to date 20:41; this is also her personal record. However, only meters from the finish line another runner overtook her, taking the final slot, the 30th place which assured her a place in the State competition.

“I was mad, but she’s an 800 [meter] runner in track, so she has more sprinting skills,” Schroer said.

mate, Grone is still glad to have Schroer with her, at the very least on the sidelines to cheer her on.

“It was kind of a bummer at Sectionals with Brianna,” Cross Country coach, Beth Phillips said. “You just never know what people are going to do. It’s good Coleen got it, though, because it’s her senior FHNTOday. com year.”

To see the results of the state meet, check out FHNtoday.com today in the sports scores section.

State competitions were held last Friday at Royal Oaks Golf Course in Jefferson City. But despite not running with her teammate, Grone was glad to run with other friends.

“It’s awesome that the girls are really nice,” Grone said. “It’s super cool that running connects us all. I can go to other schools and people know who I am.”

The Worst

The Best

28:00

23:32

“I feel like I improved alot; I’m really happy.”

20:16 Chad Conaty,10

“I feel like I’m doing good.”

20:30 Brenton Griffith, 10

19:02

“I think I improved pretty well.”

23:00 Danielle Meyer, 11

19:06

21:59

“It doesn’t seem like that much, but a minute is a big difference.”

Volleyball team bonds, has high hopes for next season shannon ward

The varsity volleyball players huddle around each other in joy of a good season. (sarah teson)

32 SPORTS

page by nick bussell

The girls volleyball season went very well according to the team and the coaches. The team made it to Districts but lost to Marquette in three games.

“It was good, we played as hard as we could at the end,” senior Sarah Peth said.

Throughout the season, the girls worked together to keep everyone on the team optimistic and upbeat and provided the team members with energy to keep going.

“The girls rebounded from their losses and never went into a game over confident,” Coach Robyn Yeude said.

The bond of the team kept everything running smoothly due to the effecient communication that was pivotal for the team. Without

this they would not have had this successfully season.

“There wasn’t any cattiness or fighting during the season,” junior Maggie Curran said. “I think everyone was satisfied with the outcomes.”

Most of the team feels content with the outcome of the season and take pride in what they have accomplished during the year: They went 15-5 and made it to Districts. The girls never lost a home game during this season.

“I think they should be proud of what they did,” Assistant Coach Michelle Oppenborn said.

And with the success that they had this year, they have high hopes for an even better season next year.

“The success this year gives us promise for next year," Yeude said.

Soccer goes for 16th District title abbey grone

Junior Samm Worsley dribbles the ball around his opponent at the game on Oct. 12. The Knights defeated the Indians with a score of 2-1. FHN had a successful season with a record of 16-7-1 and was seeded first in the district tournament. (lydia ness)

After a productive season and finishing record of 16-7-1, before heading to Districts on Oct. 30, the Varsity boys Soccer team is excited to move on to State and take on their competition.

“I’m looking forward to playing in tougher competition,” senior Jordan Flack said. “There’s less teams playing [in sectionals than districts] so it’s exciting to know you’re one of the better teams.”

The team took first in conference with a win against FHC on Oct. 19. With this win the team was guaranteed a spot in the second round of districts, playing their first district game on Nov. 2. The boys won the game against Fort Zumwalt South with a score of 1-0. “[Winning the game] was amazing,” Head coach Larry Scheller said. “Basically when you’re in the post season, the objective is to move on to the next round and that’s what we did. We missed a few shots early in the game but we made up for them and finished the game on top and we’ll move on.”

Aside from the championship games, some of the team thinks the season wasn’t as good as it could have been. Senior Brendan Harney believes the amount of losses should have been less.

“I feel like the season has gone well,” Harney said. “We played good against the good teams and bad against the bad teams. We could have done a lot better.”

Swim dives into State before season ends kevin beerman

Junior Austin Doeren does the breast-stroke in the meet against CBC. The Knights did their best during the entire swim meet. (michelle spencer)

This Saturday, the Varsity boys Swim team will have their competition at State, and whatever the outcome, Head Coach Steve Kelley still considers this a productive and successful season.

“We have had more people qualified for State and most of the swimmers have hit their personal best times,” Kelly said. “The new people are getting faster times and more experience” For the fist time in history at North Nate Weiss, Austin Doeren, Patrick Fountain, and Nick Ganousis qualified for State. Another highlight of the year includes Weiss and Fountain qualifying for State in September at the Francis Howell TriMeet.

“It was one of the most competitive meets I

have ever seen,” Assistant Coach Chip Crow said.

“But it was a lot of fun.”

Even though the end of the season is still not here, team members have began to look forward the season next year.

“The most exciting thing is that I will be a senior and lead the team,” junior Jared Hurr said.

The team sees next year as a rebuilding year.

After this season, the team will be losing four seniors, including Weiss, who has been a pivotal team member since qualifying for State in the beginning of the season. In spite of this, the team still walks away from this season satisfied.

“Next year is going to be a rebuilding year,” Kelly said. “But I would say it has been a good season overall.”

Tennis seniors: What was your favorite memory of your last season of tennis?

“Winning and hanging out with the tennis girls. That’s when we bonded the most and came together as a team to defeat our opponents.” Briona Perry

”Placing in the Centrals Double Tournament. We did real well and all of our practice paid off.” Ellyn Yarde

”Being Christa’s partner and having sketchy adventures with Christa.” Alcia Johnson

page by sidney shelton and elizabeth diggs

FHNTODAY.COM 33

Softball participates in post season shenanigans paige yungermann

A yearly girls softball tradition is to TP coaches’ houses at the end of the season. This year the team threw toilet paper on the Coach Louis’ house and front lawn in addition to sticking signs in the grass. (photo submitted)

When coach Jenelle Louis heard her dog barking, not much after midnight, on Oct. 10, she knew instantly what was going on. She was being TP’d by the members of the Varsity Softball team.

“It is a tradition with the Softball team,” catcher Barbi Bateman said. “It is closure for the year because it was one of the last chances we would get to be together as a team.”

The softball players TP’d both Louis and coach Bob Dunahue. “[The coaches] knew it was coming,” first baseman Savannah Teuscher said. “They were excited to see what we had done to their houses.”

While the coaches did have to clean up the

toilet paper, they are not planning on reprimanding the girls for the TP’ing. Louis especially understands the importance of this tradition. She was the one who started the tradition in 1992, during her time as a student and Varsity Softball player at North.

“I just laughed,” Louis said. “I started the tradition a long time ago and you can’t really get mad at something you started.”

Unlike most years, the softball season was already over when the girls did the TP’ing. The team went 14-12 and hopes to keep their success, both on and off the field, going for next season.

“I think [the TP’ing] made us closer,” Teuscher said. “Maybe it won’t be as cliquey next year and the girls will all get along.”

Q & A WITH GIRLS GOLF After the end of their season, three Lady Knight golfers give a brief overview of their success.

Ashley Butterfield, 10 Junior Amber Robinson, and sophomores Monica Cattorn, Jessie Stein and Becca Maloney practice their cheers in the gym at their hockey cheerleading practice. FHN hasn’t had a hockey cheerleading squad since 2007-2008. (nicole thompson)

Hockey has something to cheer about christy maupin

For two years now, Hockey Cheerleading has been nonexistent at North, however as of Oct. 12 the squad is back.

This year’s new Hockey Cheerleading squad is being coached by Courtney Patrick, a 2007 graduate from North. She first heard from a family friend that there was not a Hockey Cheerleading squad at North anymore.

“I called the Mid-States

34 SPORTS page by aurora blanchard

Club Hockey Cheerleading Association (MSCHCA), and that’s when I found out there hadn’t been a squad for two years,” Patrick said. “I think Hockey Cheerleading is important for North because most students don’t even know we have a Hockey team.”

Even though the squad started up in October instead of April, they still plan to have ten cheers ready by this by Gold Cup on Nov. 6. As a new team, there are only 8 girls, but all of

them are staying positive despite their size.

“It’s nice that the squad is small,” captain Ally Dake said.

“We all get along so well.”

All the girls have formed sister-like bonds on the team.

During practice, they will break off into pairs and the older girls will teach the younger girls cheers.

“I love cheerleading,” cheerleader Monica Cattron said. “[I like] having fun with the girls and learning new cheers.”

Q: How did the season go for you as an individual?

A: I learned a lot and improved too. I made a lot of friends.

Julia Brady, 10

Q: What was your personal best this year?

A: 51 strokes for 9 holes

Ashlee Schneider, 12

Q: How do you feel the season went for the team as a whole?

A: We worked as a team and did the best in North’s history.

UPCOMING EVENTS

The winter sports season is kicking off. Here are a few of the games coming up during the remainder of the semester.

The JV wrestling team will have a FHN tournament at 9:30 a.m. at home.

wrestling 11/11

boys basketball

JV/Varsity will play against Duchesne at 5/6:30 p.m. at home.

girls swimming

Varsity girls swim team will play against Hazelwood Central at 4:00- Away.

11/14

Junior Bryan Ryberg recieves a pass from senior Clint Toedtmann. The Knights put up a fight against the FHC Spartans but lost 21-28 for their final game. They ended their season with a record of 3-9. (kaitlyn williams)

12/06

Players wish to have had a better end to football season abby grone

the same problem- we had a lot of potential but couldn’t convert and win a lot of our Winning three of close games.” their nine games and As most people would wish for their keeping a close score team, junior wide receiver Caleb Lavezzi with several of the other wishes the season would have ended with a com games, some of the ToFHNToday. better record. read stories and to view photos from the members of the varsity games and other events during the 2010-2011 “It was a decent season,” Lavezzi said.

Knight’s football team football season check out FHNtoday.com.

“I wish our record was better though; we believe they had a pretshould have won a lot more games then we ty good season overall. did.” “[The season] came out to a slow start but we Coach John Brune chooses to look past the ended up playing as a team,” senior Andrew Richrecord and would rather focus on how the team art said. “Our record doesn’t really reflect on how played on the field in games. He believes the our team should be.” team was a good competition and put up a good With last years record of 4-5, Richart believes fight all throughout the season. the problems they had last year carried over to this “I think, similar to last season, we had our year but so did the strengths in their chemistry. high moments and our low moments,” Brune “We had a lot of team chemistry when we did said. “But I think we competed well in just work together,” Richart said. “Last year we had about every game.”

girls basketball

Varsity girls basketball plays against Marquette at home at 6:30 p.m.

12/10

boys basketball

Varsity boys basketball plays in a tournament against Seckman- Away

12/27-29

wrestling 12/29

page by olivia ong

Varsity wrestling plays in an FHN tournament at home at 9:00 a.m.

FHNTODAY.COM

35

Winter Sports Warm-Up Here is the line-up for your FHN winter sports season beginning in November

Ice Hockey nicole thompson

After finishing twelfth at State last season, the Hockey team has plans to improve on their problem spots and redeem themselves this year, despite having lost four defenders during the off season. “[The] season didn’t go bad, but we could have been better,” Head Coach Paul Bruemmer said. “[The] kids underachieved.”

Bruemmer has coached the team for the past four years.

The four veteran defenders are being replaced, which concerns the coaches. “[Our] main loss is defense,” Bruemmer said. “[The] defense is young now compared to last year.”

All players will contribute this season. Senior Drew Ortscheid will be taking over as captain, while seniors Ryan Gannon and Michael Pavolka will be the assistant captains. New players include freshman Kyle Kateman, sophomores Brendan Johnson and Ryan Toco, and juniors Michael Thorton and Alex Morse.

“We have a good combination of new players in forward and defense. We can use them in different plays,” Kateman said.

Girls Swimming elizabeth diggs

Practicing Monday through Friday from 8- 10 p.m., the girls Swim team is preparing for the upcoming season, despite having no seniors and fewer team members than last year.

“I want to have a little bit bigger of a team this year,” Head Coach William Crow said. “We have a really young team. I hope they build on the experience.”

There were four seniors on the swim team last year; now the team must compete with none. As usual, the goal for the team is to score well as a whole, but also for the members to focus more on trying to improve as an individual. The team works together really well according to Crow.

The team members also believe that team bonding is important. “[I’m excited about] seeing everyone on the team get better and bond well,” junior Kayln Jones said. “That’s why I keep doing it.”

36

SPORTS page by katy toebben and abby west

Girls Basketball Boys Basketball kevin beerman

After losing six seniors in the off season, as well as two coaches, the Varsity girls Basketball team is preparing for a tough season ahead of them.

“I’m not so much nervous,” junior Erin Powelson said. “We’ve had open gyms, camps and a fall league to prepare.”

The new coaches, Matt Watson and former North player, Rachael Viehmann, have been working with the players since the summer, trying to maintain team performance. And even though they are taking over a team, Watson feels less nervous and more anxious to take on the challenge.

“It feels great. I’m excited for the season,” Watson said.

And while it was a shock to the players to have such drastic changes in the off season, they also feel charged and prepared to start the new year.

“It was definitely a surprise,” Powelson said.

“The new coaches are doing an amazing job, though.”

Wrestling kendra barnard

This season, players and coaches alike expect wrestling to be more intense than ever before.

Coach Harold Ritchie is going to push the players so that they can qualify more wrestlers at State. Returning State qualifier, senior Harold Ritchie, expects it to be a difficult year.

“This year is going to be harder because the coaches are going to push us harder, and I’m going to try my hardest to win state,” Ritchie said. Last season Ritchie placed fourth at the State competition.

The coaches are going to train the players to work harder this year because they lost many team- leading seniors last year. They are looking for the two wrestlers who placed last year- seniors Jason Shell and Harold Ritchie- to place again.

“We have two guys that placed last year, and I’m expecting them to place again and hopefully do better then last year, like being State champions,” coach Ritchie said.

lydia ness

The Varsity boys Basketball team is looking forward to a successful season, building off a sense of improvement from last year.

Last year’s record for the season was 10-16, but with the hope of doing better, players on the team have realized a necessity to improve individually.

“I need to stay focused, work hard, and keep my mind where it needs to be,” senior Clint Toedtmann said.

Not only the team, but also Head Coach Bill Moyer, is looking forward to a new season and a fresh start.

He plans to develop the team’s coherence and player potential to capitalize on the energy for the new year.

“I always look forward to working the players and the competition and trying to find new ways to maximize the talent,” Moyer said.

Bowling

wade dismukes

As winter approaches, so does the competitive season for the FHN Bowling team. This year, the team plans to do even better than last year by playing more consistently and keeping up their average. “[The backbone of the team is] each player’s bowling average,” Head Coach Denise Lupo said.

The Bowling team is broken down into five smaller teams. Many of the assistant coaches of these teams will be returning this year, and with Denise Lupo returning as Head Coach, they are expect to rise above the competition. They plan to do this through a rigorous practice schedule to get them prepared for the season and keep them ahead of their competitors throughout the year.

“We have been practicing every Monday and Wednesday,” senior Darin Voyles said.

This practice, which is conducted at Cave Springs Lanes, will surely take them to great heights. Pins will fall and games will be won.

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FHNTODAY.COM 41

NORTH STAR TAKE: Ads stifle drive to vote It’s 2010, and just last week, the country elected Congress. This year, like every year really, the gloves of the candidates came off. The insults flew left and right. The commercial spots between moments of Glee were filled with left and right slighted promotions and attack ads from one candidate to the other. The election seemed less and less appealing with every “I’m a hopeful Congress-person, and I approve this message.”

It’s no wonder that there was such a low expected turn-out of voters our age.

This is the generation that gave cat-fights a new name; that lives in the world of Jersey Shore and Gossip Girl; that sees hostility everywhere they look. Politicians seem to be out of touch with the cares of this generation. Attack ads aren’t what help them decide. They just remind them of things that aren’t working as it is. People hardly like to pick winners in fights among their own friends. To pick between a candidate these days

is like trying to pick which of two rotten oranges you are going to eat.

And it wasn’t just this year- although it did seem to be the epitome of slanderous campaigning- that these spotty ads. Every election it seems that the candidates think that the voters base their decision on which candidate has the most degrading argument, so they set out to put together a media campaign of “Person X voted with the Other Side 9-out-of-10 times” and “Person Y takes bribes, stifles tax payers and wants to eliminate freedom.”

They seem so out of touch with this generation that they don’t know how to get us to work for them. Word of mouth works these days, but if all that people have to say about a candidate is the bad things that others have said, the conversation remains short- if existing at all.

Campaigning is a cut throat thing. People un-

derstand that. It is hard for a candidate to separate their platform and ideals without cutting down the other side. Political scientists say that there needs to be a higher turn out of young voters. All that candidates have to do is engage them, but instead they choose to overload them with negative attack ads. Young voters would come out if the campaigns would appeal to their sense of logic, not their willingness to engage in a fight.

It is hard to pick who to vote for these days, and attack ads don’t make the process any easier. They get in the way of informing voters of the issues and how a candidate is going to address problems. With the stigma that surrounds politicians in Washington these days, you would think that candidates would be going out of their way to show that they are here to debate ideas, not talk about the other guy.

On behalf of the editorial staff

Beerman stresses over finding the right path in life kevin beerman

Kevin Beerman stares at different job opportunities, clueless about what to do with them. Many teens face the problem of deciding what to do with their future. ( jessica streiler)

42 OPINIONS page by amanda cornett

When I was 11, I wanted to be a doctor.

When I was 13, a stand-up comedian. My dreams changed, but I always thought there was time to figure out what my true niche was. Now, I have come to realize: I don’t know what I want to do.

Suddenly I’m running out of time to figure it out.

It is nearly impossible to sit down and say, “I know exactly what it is I would like to do with the rest of my life.” Making the decision that could make or break your happiness, living standards and basically every other aspect of your life is one of the most difficult things that teenagers have to deal with during adolescence.

When I go to my counselor to ask for guidance on the subject, I’m always asked, “What are you interested in?” Well, it depends on which day you ask me. People like a lot of things, and it is

a monumental undertaking to try and settle on an interest that is your true passion.

With college fast approaching, this back-ofmy-mind thought has shoved its way to the front of my preoccupation and muddled my every thought with worry about my future and where I want to take it. I know that I want to go to college but as far as what I am going to do once I get there, I am clueless.

Choosing a career always comes across as one of the pesky problems that never gets the worry it should. There needs to be more guidance on this, but not like aptitude tests. It’s not a matter of what students are good at but rather what their true passion is. If there was just a little more help available, it would make the whole world easier to decide where to take our futures. Until then, it’s pin-the-career-on-the-future, and I’m all over the place.

Think before you speak, it could save a life chelsey damalas

W

hoever thought bullying was acceptable is wrong. The idea of going up to some random person you hardly know and teasing them about their appearance, ideas, religion or lifestyle just puts chills down my spine. What bothers me the most is when someone gets harassed for their sexuality. And those who cause the problems hardly ever realize what they are really doing to the conscience of the person they’re bullying. The victim might be angry or it may not faze them, or they could consider committing suicide if the ridicule gets harsh enough.

Homosexual suicides are becoming more common. You may have known about this problem before or you may just be slowly starting to hear about them on the news. Most of the time the cause is from rejection or bullying, brought on by other kids or family members. According to Paul Gibson, Therapist and Program Consultant, gay youth are 2 to 3 times more likely to attempt suicide than other groups of young people. It’s sad to say that people are ending their lives just because of the words of rude, ignorant people. This topic is something that needs to be brought to the attention of adults, teens and young kids.

According to a 2009 study by Family Rejection as a Predictor of Negative Health Outcomes, adolescents who were rejected by their families for being homosexual were 8.4 times more likely to report having attempted suicide.

Every person is entitled to have an opinion. But when your opinion is being preached so harshly that the ending result is death,

Articles talk about how bulling affects homosextual suicides. Suicides among homosextuals have been a problem for a while, but the media is just now starting to investigate the topic further. (kelsey habighorst)

there is no longer any need for it. Even if the result isn’t death, people will still be suffering. And something to remember is that suicides are something that can be prevented. It just goes to show that, “if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all” actually does mean something. So the next time that you feel like saying something rude to someone, step back and bite your tongue. Just because some people get enjoyment for one second after harassing someone, that will never be worth more then the loss of one person’s life.

Westboro shows no respect for fallen soldiers sidney shelton

T

he Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kansas views tragedies like dead soldiers as God’s punishment for America’s tolerance of homosexuality. Because of their views. Westboro has chosen to display their opinions on posters with vulgar language at the funerals of fallen troops and other events. The church does have a right to voice their opinion through pickets, no matter how vulgar, but there is a time and a place for their voices to be heard and a funeral is not the time nor the place.

Since their inception, Westboro has conducted over 30,000 pickets. In May 2006, they were sued by Albert Snyder, the father of Lance Cpl. Mathew

Snyder after they protested at abuse to the First Amendment. his funeral on March 6, 2010. And that soldiers that Westboro Snyder sued the pastor of the believes are now in hell, are the church, Fred very reason Phelps, for his that America is church represenas free as it is. tatives holding But according up signs at the futo Westboro neral which said they protest such things as at the funerals “Thank God for because God’s dead soldiers” wrath is abidand “God hates ing on this naAmerica.” On tion and he sent March 8, 2010 those troops to the case Snyder hell. And that v. Phelps is now the goal of a Supreme Court their protests ‘Thank God For Dead Soldiers’ is a case revolving poster used at protests by the Westis to deliver a around the First boro Baptist Church that many people faithful mesfind offensive.

Amendment. sage of God to 400 of Westa nation whose boro’s pickets have been at the destruction is imminent. This is funerals of fallen soldiers. This incredibly rude and disrespectpage by adam rapert

ful. Soldiers and family of soldiers at FHN feel that they are abusing the First Amendment in very disrespectful way and should show restraint and more feelings towards the people who have lost someone.

The Supreme Court is scheduled to make a ruling on this case before 2011. Even though I strongly believe in the right to free speech and the believe that it is one of America’s best qualities; I am also a supporter for the thousands of men and women who support our country with their lives everyday. I think that the Supreme Court should rule that the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, KS may continue to protest, just not at the funerals of the men and women who died for this country.

FHNTODAY.COM 43

DRINK elizabeth diggs

Tuesday mornings are the worst. Tuesday is the day that you get back into the whole waking-up-at-6:15a.m.-forschool thing. I half wake-up but just can not get out of bed.

With the help of a local QuikTrip, I can get up and moving; all I have to do is spend a tiny dollar. Quik-Trip has many different coffees to choose from in the morning, but my personal favorite is Pumpkin Spice. Now that autumn is here, it only seems fitting that I go with the more fall-oriented coffee. It has the cappuccino taste, with some cinnamon flavor mixed in. QuikTrip also offers the Butterfinger coffee, which is also delicious.

I highly recommend this coffee if you are interested in starting your morning off right.

Sam Dulaney models what she thinks a bad driver is. She feels that too that too many drives aren’t courteous while driving on the road. (michelle spencer)

WEAR shannon ward

I recently discovered the newest Revlon mascara, Grow Luscious, and this product actually showed improvement in the length and volume of my lashes. This no-clump formula separates each individual lash which allows them to look as long as possible. The brush is long and it touches all of the lashes and gives them volume to last through out the day. Not only does this makeup stay on all day, the Revlon formula makes the lashes grow when you take it off. I definitely recommend this to anyone looking to increase the quality of their lashes.

44 OPINIONS page by scott jones

There is no such thing as a good driver Dulaney expresses her road rage on bad driving sam dulaney

I won’t lie; I have very little patience for bad drivers. I’m not afraid to admit that I’m the first one to start screaming when I get cut off. I don’t discriminate; there are so many different kinds of bad drivers that drive me up the wall.

‘The Swerver’ They’re either texting, falling asleep or who knows what, but they can’t seem to keep their vehicle in their designated lane. First of all, texting while driving is very illegal and very dangerous. Secondly, if someone was falling asleep while driving that is a whole other kind of danger. Nobody wants to be driving along and then get sideswiped by Snoozing Susan.

Newsflash! Swervers need to stay in their lanes and stop endangering others.

‘The Speed Demon’ I get it, you’re in a hurry.

So is everybody else on the road. If we were not in a hurry, we’d walk. Speed limits are not just excuses for cops to give out tickets. They’re there for

a reason: so people don’t lose control of their vehicle. Those signs really need a bit more attention, and would be a little easier to see if they weren’t a blur on the side of the road as you speed past. I wish I could stick a metaphorical foot out and trip those speeders. Maybe that would slow them down.

‘The NASCAR Wannabe’ Commonly known as tailgaters, Wannabe’s are very frequently also a member of the Speed Demon category. They get up right on top of the poor unfortunate driver in front of them and play some weird form of chicken. And no, despite what their bumper stickers say, they are not merely drafting.

Drafting is for the professionals. Not highway traffic.

‘The Weaver’ Also a common member of the Speed Demon category, these drivers not only need to get to where they’re going as fast as possible, they will cut you off to do it. Commonly wannanbes turn into Weavers as soon as tailgating the person in front of them does not urge the

driver in front to speed up. To do this, they apply the “slingshot method”, where they draft as close as they can to reduce wind resistance and then whip around the draftee like a slingshot. Beware draftees, you will be getting a hostile glare as the Weaver zooms past. Feel their speedy wrath.

‘Tuttles’ On the opposite end of the driving spectrum are those people who ride with their nose to the steering wheel and 15 MPH under the speed limit. These drivers should probably be reminded that the accelerator is on the right. Even my grandmother drives the speed limit. She’s the one that’s yelling “MOVE ALONG, TUTTLES!” as she comes up on the anti-speed demon. Traffic must keep moving.

Please don’t slow the rest of the world down.

Driving politely and intelligently is not just for the test to get your license. A little common courtesy and common sense goes a long way.

Harry Potter Head -toHead

I

stared in wonder at the commercial on the TV screen. Finally, after what has lasted almost three-fourths of my lifetime, I was going to see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the last installment of the Harry Potter saga. In that moment, I was overjoyed. But then I saw five small characters below the title that abducted my elation like a screaming child: P A R T 1.

For Warner Brothers to split book 7 into two movies is a crime worse than child-abduction. It is a decision based solely on greed. Splitting up the last movie means one more round atop the boxoffice, one more round of DVD sales, one more round of Harry Potter hype that I, quite frankly, am just plain tired of.

I’m tired of looking at book and movie countdowns; tired of hearing promo’s for midnight showings and releases; tired of all the mania crap that comes with this series.

I understand that book seven does have a complex plot, but pretty much all six of the previous movies have already cut dozens of chapters and sub-plots to fit each book into their respective movie, so why start now?

kevin beerman

W

STAFF Editor-in-Chief: Sam Dulaney Managing Editors: Logan Ponche Kelsey Bell Editors:

News Editor: Chelsey Damalas Features Editor: Abbey Grone Sports Editor: Elizabeth Diggs Opinions Editor: Adam Rapert Publicity Editor: Taylor Berra Copy Editor: Kevin Beerman Assistant Copy Editor: Nicole Renner

Logan Ponche and Kevin Beerman debate over the separated ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows’ movie logan ponche

NORTH STAR

General Staff:

hen the first Harry Potter book came out, it was an undertaking that warranted attention to detail, something that the filmmakers took to heart (except for the Daniel Radcliffe age dilemma. But who cares if he is 21 playing a 17-year-old. He looks 15 anyway, so it averages out.) While the filmmakers could scrape by in the past by jamming these epically crafted tales into two-and-a-half hour films, the seventh installment is far too filled with plotdriving and story-changing content to be rushed through in one movie.

This is a film that needs two parts for the story to be told as J.K. Rowling intended it to be seen, it is going to take two films. Let’s face it: pieces of majestic literature, such as this series, require lengthy pictures, and in all honesty, who would want to sit through a five hour long movie anyway. Must I remind you of Return of the King? Or King Kong? Or Titanic? And while some may say that we have been waiting so long for this last film that they should just get it over with I say, Nay! We have waited 10 years for this moment. Another seven months won’t kill you.

Abby West Amanda Cornett Aurora Blanchard Christy Maupin Emily Forst Katy Toebben Lindsey Harms Morgan Carlson Morgan May

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