Senior Rewind

Editor’s Note

Hello Lindbergh Flyers! We invite you to join us as we send off our 2023 seniors, say farewell to retiring staff and get a closer look at our Gen-Z and Millennial teachers. For more stories and content not presented in our print edition, please visit lindberghlookup.com.

Pilot Policy

Pilot is a monthly newsmagazine published by students enrolled in the Pilot Publications class at Lindbergh High School, 5000 Lindbergh Boulevard, St. Louis, Missouri, 63126. The publications office is currently located in Room 401. Opinions of Pilot writers or the Editorial Board are not reflective of the opinions of the staff as a whole, the Pilot, or the administration. The Pilot welcomes responses and letters to the editors. These may be submitted by email to lhspilot@lindberghschools.ws or by signed letters brought to Room 401. The Pilot reserves the right to edit submissions as long as their original intent remains unaltered, and to refuse to print material for any reason the Editors in Chief and adviser deem appropriate.

More information about our editorial policy can be found on lindberghlookup.com.

Staff Writers

Elizabeth Cleary Editor-in-Chief

Lindsey Pham Indesign Editor

Lavia Raof Indesign Editor

Kyra Bast

Samuel Elliott

Joseph Haberberger

Gavin Berry Audrey Branding Meadow Roy

Natalie Van Elowyn Wells

-Elizabeth Cleary

Table of Contents

Natalie Van - POV of Gen-Z and Millennial Teachers (4 & 5)

Savannah Millheim and Samuel ElliottSenior Picnic (6 & 7)

Lavia Raof and Lindsey Pham - Retiring Admin & Staff (8 & 9)

Gavin Berry and Kyra Bast - Senior Year Memories (10)

Pilot Seniors (11)

Elowyn Wells - Bitter Sweet Serenity (12)

P.O.V of Gen-Z and Millennials Teachers

Getting the perspective of the younger generation of teachers at Lindbergh High School

Natalie Van Staff

As Generation Z students continue to flood into classrooms across the world, the old ways of teaching are being replaced with new and innovative approaches that prioritize social-emotional wellness and mental health. Many Millennial and Gen Z teachers are leading the charge in this shift, utilizing their tech-savvy backgrounds and modern perspectives to better engage and connect with their students.

One of the key differences between Millennial and Gen Z teachers and their predecessors is their willingness to adapt and evolve. As English teacher Nora Derry noted,“I think in my first year teaching I came out of the gate feeling like I wanted everything brand new. I wanted to reinvent everything to be super modern and technology-forward. But now I’m in my third year teachin; I’ve come to appreciate that sometimes things are done the same for a long time because they work… Also, make sure to appreciate English, there is nothing that beats out loud open-book discussions. So kind of a ‘don’t fix it if it ain’t broken’ approach.” This statement reflects the idea that while some traditional teaching methods may still be effective, there is a need for innovative ideas. Millennial and Gen Z teachers are incorporating technology and new pedagogical strategies into their lessons. At the same time, they are recognizing the value of time-tested methods, such as open-book discussions, to engage students in their learning.

Elizabeth Deister, a Biomed teacher, believes that building relationships with students is essential for success in the classroom. She emphasized the importance of considering both the students’ and the teachers’ socialemotional wellness. “In order to have a successful classroom, you have to create relationships with your students. You have to consider their social-emotional wellness; you also have to consider your own socialemotional wellness. You can always teach a new teacher content but building relationships, empathy and anything of that sort should be the top priority. Because if you as a student don’t feel safe in my classroom you’re not going to be able to learn,” she said. Millennial 4 Feature and Gen Z teachers are making a

students’ backgrounds and needs. They are creating a safe and inclusive environment where students feel valued and supported.

Katie Johnson, an instructional design coach at Lindbergh High School, highlighted the struggles of being an educator. “My personal belief is that education is a hard job; it is an underpaid job; it is a thankless job. But educators love children and want to do right by children. Even with these hardships, even if you ask any educator why they stay in the profession, it is because of the kids,” she said. Despite these challenges, educators stay in the profession because they love children and want to make a positive impact. However, the negative stereotypes in media and society can lead to teacher burnout. Millennial and Gen Z teachers are trying to combat this by advocating for better pay and benefits, promoting teacher mental wellness and showcasing the positive impact that teachers have on their students’ lives.

Millennial and Gen Z teachers are bringing a fresh perspective to the classroom, incorporating innovative teaching methods, and prioritizing the social-emotional wellness of their students and themselves. They are also working to combat negative stereotypes and burnout in the teaching profession. As education continues to evolve, Millennial and Gen Z teachers are working to pave the way for a brighter future for students and educators alike.

However, despite their dedication to improving education and prioritizing student wellness, young teachers still face numerous challenges. Burnout is a common issue among educators, particularly those who are new to the profession and feel overwhelmed by the demands of teaching. Negative stereotypes about teachers in the media and society can also take a toll on morale, making it difficult to feel appreciated and valued. Yet despite these challenges, many Millennial and Gen Z teachers remain committed to their work because of their love for their students. As instructional design coach Katie Johnson noted, education is a tough job, but it’s also incredibly rewarding. Millennial and Gen Z teachers may face obstacles, but their dedication to creating a better future through education is unwavering. 05.22.23

conscious effort to understand their

The P.O.V The P.O.V

“I think in my first year teaching I came out of the gate feeling like I wanted everything brand new. I wanted to reinvent everything to be super modern and technologyforward. But now I’m in my third year teaching. I’ve come to appreciate that sometimes things are done the same for a long time because they work” -Derry

“In my opinion, a lot of times when you talk about those hot button issues when it comes to education there is usually a huge misunderstanding following it, and I think about bringing in inclusivity and social-emotional wellness into the classroom being essential” - Deposki

“I hope that society changes its values on education more by viewing and making teaching a more competitive job just like how it is to become a doctor and seeing teaching as a priority to society” -

Klohmann

“In order to have a successful classroom you have to create relationships with your students. You have to consider their social-emotional wellness; you also have to consider your own social-emotional wellness. You can always teach a new teacher content but building relationships, empathy and anything of that sort should be the top priority “ -Deister

“The message is that believing in the mythology of the martyr teacher, of the self sacrificing teacher, of the teacher that’s burnout is worth it is not realistic. Even when believing in that unrealistic mythology there is no action to back it up.“ - Cocos

Senior Picnic of ‘23

Seniors attend final gathering on may 5

Seniors were once again treated this year to a Senior Picnic. Taking place Friday, May 5th at Vetta Sports, seniors paid a small $15 fee and were welcomed to participate in sports activities and complimentary lunch. The food provided was pizza, ice cream from Culvers, chips, cookies and more! This annual event saw over 300 seniors participating this year, with the main attraction being the yearbook signing.

Dr Fick, Senior Principal, elaborated more on the purpose of the event. “Students can get their yearbooks and write notes to each other to help them remember their senior year. It’s a great wrap-up to the year.”

Seniors were given the opportunity to get their yearbooks earlier than the rest of the school, and were encouraged to do yearbook signing at the event. Mrs. Rapp, the yearbook advisor, and the yearbook students spent the entire event giving out yearbooks to those coming in. Needless to say, the seniors being in one place made for a convenient year-book signing.

“It is a time when the school gives up some of its time for seniors to have the opportunity to come together as a class,” Fick commented on the importance of the event.

As seen every year, the seniors were given one last opportunity to get together as a class. Getting away from school, they could discuss their plans for their future after high school as they ate lunch together. Regardless if the students chose to leave for college or not, they got to say goodbye to people they’ve known for years.

“I’m going to miss seeing my friends everyday in all the classes I have with them.”

Brian Heisner

(12) said.

Savannah Millheim | Sam Elliott

Maddie Pott

Whatwasyourfavoritethingabouttheseniorpicnic?

What was your favorite thing about Senior Picnic?

whatwasyourfavoritethingabouttheseniorpicnic?

“I get to see my friends, and we get to look at the yearbook. Its just nice.”

- Megan Krippner

“All of us are here in one place, so if theres somebody you’ve not been able to connecnt with over the last four years, you can see them here and now at the very end of things.”

- TJ Shay

CJ Kult Tina Safron

Aidan Myers

Noah Van Ess

Vernon Lin Alex Shehan

Emira Ajkunic

Cait Phelan Ben Behrens

Bethany Goodson (11)

RETIREE SPOTLIGHT

Lindsey Pham (Indesign Editor)

Lavia Raof (Indesign Editor)

FOUR OF THIS YEAR’S SEVEN RETIREES SHARE THEIR FUTURE PLANS AFTER DEPARTING LHS

Q: What are your plans after retirement?

A: I don’t know is the simple answer, but I’m going to get another job eventually. I just need a change, you know I started teaching in 1988, and it’s my 24th year. So I’m going to try to get another job, what kind? I don’t know. I don’t know if I‘m going to try to go something like Kohl's, Costco, something easy, or if i’m gonna try like get a second career and being really like embrace something new. I got a couple trips, family trip in June, just my husband and me in September.

Q: What has been your favorite memory from working at LHS?

A: 2015 maybe, but we did this school wide video (LHS Lipdub)... where the whole school participates and we took like a half day and we all got out in the hallways and even if you weren’t in it in it, you know you went to the hallways, cheering and screaming and stuff. I say that was fun and that was one of my favorite memories.

Q: What is best part about your role at LHS?

Darlene Burns

Q: What are your plans after retirement?

A: My husband’s been retired, so we’re gonna probably travel a little bit to go see some family and friends; we have 6 six grandkids with one on the way. Just being able to enjoy being off for a while and do things I’ve been not able to do while I’m working.

Q: What has been your favorite memory from working at LHS?

A: I guess it would have to be all of the friends I’ve made here– since I’ve been here for 21 years; we’ve had a lot of great, amazing counselors come in and then they’d leave, and then more amazing ones would come. I think I’m going to miss coming and seeing everybody, but hopefully– outside of work– I can still see some of them.

Q: What is best part about your role at LHS?

A: Well, I work with the college and career counselor, and being able to work with the seniors, making sure that their plans are ready for after high school, and helping her out with seeing the kids and planning different things for them; it’s just nice. It’s gonna be hard to quit seeing that because I always enjoy seeing the kids. It’s nice when you hear where they got accepted here and they’re going here and what their plans are. It’s kind of interesting, and it’s fun at the same time.

Q: Who’s your LHS BFF?

A: Probably Kate Keegan, the college counselor but also the other secretary, Ms. Altgilbers

A: I would just say, I’d say relationships with the kids and, well, my staff members, too.

Q: Who’s your LHS BFF?

A: Mrs. Switzer.

Michelle Wedig

David Early

Q: What are your plans after retirement?

A: Just to spend more time with my family. And I do plan to substitute teach and possibly teach some summer art programs. So, a little bit of teaching still, I’m not like the kind of person that’s like, 'I’m never teaching again!' You know what I mean? More time with family and stuff like that.

Q: What has been your favorite memory from working at LHS?

A: I would say that this (is) the thing to reflect on quite the most is just like having so much fun with the students and joking around with the students over the years. I have different students every year and just how students interpret the project or the artwork or whatever we’re doing and just interacting with the students.

Q: What is best part about your role at LHS?

A: I think maybe the most fun would be introducing students to do different types of art they haven’t done. I have introductory classes, and they never tried a certain thing before and when they have low expectations and they try it and they’re like, 'This looks amazing!'”

Q: What has been your favorite art piece you’ve done at LHS?

A: Over the years I’ve evolved from more of a painter and a printmaker like standard art at home; I started doing woodworking. I start my sketchbooks now with drawings of credenzas, dining room tables that I wanna design, and add my own little style to it.

Q: What are your plans after retirement?

A: My plans are to do a lot of traveling. Like to the national parks, a little bit of camping, and stuff like that.

Q: What has been your favorite memory from working at LHS?

A: I have a lot of them. I guess my favorite memory is you know coming in and seeing all the students and the students recognizing me, and at other places, but just to see the best memories of you know Christmas times, kids dressing up for Halloween. I know what it is, dressing up for Halloween! Having the kids walking around in costumes. That is a great thing, and I really enjoy that very much.

Q: What is best part about your role at LHS?

A: Meeting the students and seeing that there are a great number of very smart, intelligent students that attend this school. They’re not like your average teenager.

Q: Who’s your LHS BFF?

A: Susan Merz

Teresa Pollien

Senior Year Memories

As the end of the school year is rapidly approaching, seniors take time to reflect on their beloved past memories. Lindbergh Pilot Publications would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and share these experiences with all of our readers!

Bands of America

After 11 years, Lindbergh High School’s marching band made it into the finals for Bands of America! They placed 14th out of 62 different bands, making their school - and themselves - proud. This was definitely a wonderful way to close out the band season for seniors.

Class Related

Special Olympics

This year had the perfect weather for Special Olympics. Bright sunshine, a nice spring breeze and a comfortable temperature let everyone who came out to the event experience it to the full- est. Buddies and athletes alike had a wonderful time playing softball, doing something fun in Victory Village and mak- ing new friends.

Sometimes, the best memories come from simple moments. As seniors reflect on their time in Lindbergh, plenty of their favorite memories were experienced during the times where they were with friends, eating lunch or in their favor- ite class. After grad walk, seniors remembered their time spent here in our community, and prepare to head into the next step of their lives.

Theater

It’s been an excellent year for the theater troupe as they wrapped up their final performances of the 22-23 school year. The Beauty and the Beast musical, senior directed one-acts and the arrival of a new black box theater certainly made for an exciting end for the senior class.

“My favorite senior memory was Spe- cial Olympics. I ended up cheering on kids at the different fields and yelling a lot. The kids were really happy and they all really appreciated that we were there.” -Adrian Mruckovski

Sports

It’s been a packed year for Lindbergh’s sports teams. A vari- ety of sports groups have accomplished so much, such as the LHS softball team making it to State Quarterfinals, the boys swim team gaining the Conference Title and records being broken across the board.

“Being

“I like getting to go to the football games. Since they bring out a side of me that is almost always absent. But when I’m those football games, it’s the highlight of my week.”

-Robbie Chavez

in set crew for Beauty and the Beast. It was the most fun I've had in any year of doing set crew, I've made a bunch of friends, and I'll miss them a lot.”

-Michael Shaw

“Making it to BOA finals with the marching band.”

-Oliver Newkirk

“Going to the art museum for a school field trip and having a picnic outside with a bunch of my friends.” -Gianna Valencia

Kyra Bast Gavin Berry

PILOT SENIORS!

“Is this the Krusty Krab?”

“No, this is Patrick.”

“The universe said, ‘I love you,’ because you are love.” - Minecraft

“I got rejected three times over Google Hangouts.”

“I love Pilot just as much as I love Popeyes. By the way, I really love Popeyes.”

“We can taste the bittersweet of goodbye.”

Natalie Van

Sam Elliot

Savannah Millheim

Audrey Branding

Krya Bast

Elowyn Wells

Bitter Sweet Serenity

Elowyn Wells

As the year comes to an end, the senior class of 2023 collectively joins together in sweet sighs of relief. No more homework, no more essays and no more wasted minutes in parking lot traffic. Along with these sweet, sweet feelings of serenity, the bitter taste of “goodbye” sits on the tongues of many.

Personally, I feel that senior year might be the most challenging year of high school. Junior year wins in the category of “most shock value” for academically challenging AP class choices, but there is no comparison with senior year’s life and school balancing act. Senior year introduces a time when students are on the verge of adulthood and must adapt. With impending senioritis, students are stressed by their soon-to-be college decision, scholarship applications and maintaining their ever-valuable GPA. On one occasion, I remember telling my mock trial coach, Mr. Deposki, that the last semester was gonna turn out to be more of a “crash-and-burn” scenario. he homework keeps coming, the grades are recorded and burnout is becoming more and more prevalent. hese are the things that make the “goodbye” so much sweeter and the serenity so much more obtainable. But it wouldn’t be bittersweet without the bitterness, too.

That’s where friends come into the mix. Friends and involvement, that is. Sometimes they seem like your lifeline, the one thing you can go back to when everything feels overwhelming– the fun. I know for me personally, high school has given me the opportunity to develop some of my closest friendships today. Specifically, the friendships that encourage the late night ice cream runs, and the visits to Waffle House before Senior Sunrise. These friends push you to get out there and do something. So sometimes, you feel that the time spent on sports, arts and volunteer work, once described as an obligation for a resume, prove to be more of an outlet and an opportunity. Although, the most fun memories are made out of the simplest events. The events that you’ve heard about all your life, like prom, may not live up to the name, but they’re made so much better by the company of other people, people that will lay on the dancefloor without embarrassment. Eventually, that’s all you look for, the sunshine in the clouds. Amongst the stress, you begin to hang on to the dream of what will be, what is yet to come– the fun. And that makes the goodbye so much bitter.

Senior year, put simply, is overwhelming with the demands of work and the transition into adulthood. But utilizing the hope, the friends, and the encouragement, will change the pressures of growing up. As many of us have dealt with a taste of the grueling obligations that life brings, it can be softened by the support brought by others. This year, we’ve all experienced the pain in one form or another, but the connection between each other and our community has aided in the process. In times of seriousness, we call upon the people around us to change the tone, and to be a guide. Those connections foster, and they strengthen with each day. Eventually, the stress and overwhelm seem to have competition with hope.

So as we, the seniors, begin our end to high school, we reach serenity– finally mitigating the demands, and replacing them with enjoyable memories. This serenity waits at the end of a long road, but it is met with tears of joy and accomplishment, maybe even an “I did it.” With those final moments, we must say goodbye to the people that helped us dream of the day we could say those three words. And that’s what makes the “goodbye” so bittersweet. As we leave, reaching that serenity, we must not forget the taste of that word. Because then, we can feel the impact of our time here. We can taste the bittersweet of goodbye.