Pilot Magazine OVERWHELMED with work things feel THROWN onto me everyone is worried SICK CLOSE the schools! more FLEXIBLE It’s a lot LESS
More WORK, less LEARNING a lot more HOMEWORK Wish we were 5 DAYS a week Phase 2 is GOOD I have to TEACH MYSELF Can’t FOCUS at home It’s a lot LESS I’m actually doing GOOD I CAN’T retain information Back to virtual NOW I HATE Phase 2 STRESSED!
PANDEMIC EDUCATION
Table of Contents Let It Snow Day- 3
Ready for Takeoff- 4 Trapped in Technology- 5 School Spirits- 6 Safety First- 7 Academic Resources- 8
Pilot Staff
Abigail Wagner Joshua Hezel Q Bess
Bobby Beckemeier
Audrey Branding Mallory Broom Kendall Conboy Jill Mayberry Amelia Means Elaine Ottens Adde Tudor Deja’ Winters
Editor-in-Chief Web Editor Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer
Letter from the Editor
More stories online at 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 located in Room 129. Opinions of Pilot writers 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 editor. These may be submitted by email to lhspilot@ lindberghschools.ws or by signed letters brought to Room 129. 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 Editor in Chief and Contents adviser deem appropriate. More stories can be found online Januaryat lindberghlookup.com.
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It’s hard to believe, but it’s been almost a year since the Pilot last put out an issue. 10 months ago, we sent our March 23rd issue to print, expecting that it would be distributed to students in the cafeteria. Since then, a lot has changed, including the fact that only a very limited number of staffers can work from the Pilot’s newsroom in Room 129, making this issue a little later than we would’ve liked it to be. In this issue, the Pilot focuses some on what’s changed at Lindbergh since the pandemic began, and some on what hasn’t, like the need for better study habits and snow days. Thanks for reading, and good luck this semester! Abigail Wagner Pilot Editor-in-Chief
The Cover Story This month’s cover highlights one of the main topics of our issue- how Lindbergh education has been affected by COVID-19. The words in the center of the graphic are student responses to a survey on their opinions regarding the virus and education.
Let It Snow Day o
A request for some normalcy in a year with almost none Abigail Wagner
It’s no secret that, for many students at Lindbergh High School, 2020-21 will be the most memorable year of our academic lives - and not for any good reasons. Those of us who were here last spring watched as spring break lasted two weeks, then a month, then five. We lost the chance to have friends sign yearbooks, to finish up our favorite classes, to go to the prom, to suffer through the stress of AP and finals season together, and to wave goodbye to the Class of 2020 on their last day. For many of us, this school year hasn’t been much better. It would be difficult to answer the question of how many events and traditions have disappeared this year, simply because the answer is pretty close to “all of them.” And, as several Pilot staffers discuss in this issue, students feel more stressed than ever, not just because of the fear of contracting COVID-19, but because of larger workloads, less easily accessible teachers, and little time in class. That’s why now, more than ever, we need to protect snow days. Our fear of losing one of the most cherished parts of the K-12 experience isn’t unfounded. The East Coast was hit by a snowstorm on December 16th- the type of storm that would have usually canceled school for most students who live along the country’s Atlantic coast, allowing them to spend the day catching up on sleep and spending time with their families. Instead, Bill de Blasio, the mayor of New York City, made a remarkably depressing announcement. “I know we all grew up with the excitement of snow days, but this year is different. Tomorrow will be a FULL REMOTE learning day for our students,” de Blasio said in a Tweet on the evening of the storm. Many schools on the Eastern seaboard made the same choice. When the opportunity arises, Lindbergh Schools should not. Snow days represent one of the most exciting experiences for students district-wide, whether they’re second graders at Long discussing wearing their pajamas backwards and flushing ice cubes down the toilet, or seniors at LHS checking the highly accurate snowdaycalculator.com in hopes that it will say
Editor-in-Chief
something other than “Limited Chance.” We’re not only asking that snow days still be granted if inclement weather occurs because we’re teenagers who would like an excuse to sleep until noon. (Although we are teenagers who would like an excuse to sleep until noon.) Snow days are an unexpected chance to let the hectic pace of life as a student slow down for a moment, giving us permission to take a noconsequences break. They allow Lindbergh’s incredibly hard-working staff a day to rest and spend time with family. And they might be the one tradition this year that doesn’t have to be canceled as a possible super-spreader event. Changing snow days to virtual learning days for 2020-21 sets a precedent that will lead to snow days going the way of blackboards and assignments that are actually on paper. Many of us have enjoyed snow days throughout our entire careers at Lindbergh, from kindergarten to senior year. We don’t want to see that classic childhood opportunity taken from the next generation of Flyers simply because they’re unlucky enough to live in a time when a Zoom call can act as a shoddy replacement for a classroom full of fellow students. When snow days were changed to virtual days for the East Coast in December, one superintendent made a different call than many of her peers. Realizing that the students of her district had already lost so much to COVID-19, Dr. Bondy Shay Gibson closed the schools of Jefferson County, West Virginia completely in honor of the year’s first snow day. She stated her reasons for doing so in a December 15th press release. “For generations, families have greeted the first snow day of the year with joy. It is a time of renewed wonder at all the beautiful things each season holds. A reminder of how fleeting childhood can be. An opportunity to make some memories with your family that you hold on to for life… We will return to the serious and urgent business of growing up on Thursday, but for tomorrow… go build a snowman,” the statement said. If given the opportunity, Lindbergh should follow its lead. Opinion
January
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Ready Ready for for Takeoff Takeoff
LHS’s new Copilot program solves glitches, connects students to tech Q Bess Staff Writer
Lindbergh’s new one-to-one technology program has Copilot’s task can sometimes be made more difficult greatly expanded student access to technology- and with by providing services to fix technological issues for much it, the number of tech issues the district faces every day. younger students such as elementary students. In order to handle some of these problems, students at ¨A lot of times second graders fill out a ticket with the Lindbergh High School helped to create a new tech support headline “MY IPAD BROKEN!!! PLEASE HELP!” and class- Copilot. you really could not get more broad than that. It’s pretty ¨We use an online help desk system where Copilot impossible to offer advice when you don’t even know what students will work together as a team to respond back the real problem is,” Stimac said. to customers seeking technical support,¨ Keith Loveless In order to ensure that Copilot finds the correct answer (Technology Support) said. to a student’s problem quickly, Stimac suggested that Copilot allows juniors and seniors to fix the problems students provide as much specific information as possible. of both their peers and staff members, with student The more broad the request is, the less possible solutions technicians available in Room 22 during the school day. Copilot will have. ¨Our goal with Copilot is to support students, The Copilot team said it has a detailed plan for the especially during virtual learning and uncertain times. We future, including making answers more easily accessible hope to become Lindbergh’s hub for all things technology, and expanding their reach to allow more people who are specialized for students, parents, and teachers alike,” interested in technology to get involved. Margaret Nigh (12), who is on the Copilot student team, said. ¨We actually are working towards and already have At the solutions on our website that beginning of the year, you can access right now. The during Phase 1’s entirely Copilot website is constantly virtual schedule, Copilot being updated so make sure received many tickets to utilize the resources we are every day, with very hand-making for you,” Nigh limited students to said. handle them. These posted solutions ¨I don’t think are organized by category, and people realized we only then by subcategories to make The Copilot logo, designed by Ellen Stimac had about 20 students looking for a solution easier. trying to manage 600 tickets on the first day alone!” Ellen Currently they only have solutions posted in the Chromebook Stimac (12), another member of the student team, said. category, but future categories shown on their website Stimac, another member of the Copilot student team, include iPad, Tyler SIS, Canvas, Zoom, Internet/Wifi, and also stated that many students misunderstood the lag in Google Apps. Copilot also has plans to expand outside of response time, and thought Copilot was inefficient and would tech support. only give out basic solutions instead of trying to help fix ¨In the future we plan to create a club centered specific problems. However, this only occurred because of around all things technology related! The Copilot club will Copilot’s limited staffing. be open to anyone interested in graphic design, computer ¨Sometimes, I think people forget that there are actual programming, marketing, and teaching,” Nigh said. people behind each ticket, and sometimes they can get very This will open up more opportunities for students who snarky with their replies,¨ Stimac said. have an interest in tech, but may not want to commit to Lately, Copilot has encountered many tickets for a whole semester of a class. It could also help people meet upkeep tasks on people’s devices. others with similar interests. ¨Most times it’s a quick fix where we remind people Copilot is working hard to help students and staff deal to update their ChromeOS or do a hard restart on their with the problems created by Lindbergh’s move towards Chromebooks, but other times we have to ask them to bring more technologically advanced education. However, the in their device for repairs,” Stimac said. program is still growing and eyeing even larger goals. According to Stimac, despite the rarity of in-person ¨We hope to inspire the next generation of innovative repairs, people who need them don’t always show up for their technology makers in the Lindbergh School District!” Nigh appointment. If there is no response, it is said. News Copilot´s policy to close their ticket in 2-3 January school days to lessen their large workload.
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Trapped in Technology How social media has affected students’ lifestyles in 2020 Elaine Ottens Staff Writer
is concise and easy to understand, while some articles Movements and marches for racial justice, can be confusing for some younger audiences. The women’s rights, transgender rights and climate change. information also matches information coming from Burning forests in Australia and California. An election. credible sources,” Chloe Thomas (12) said. These all occurred in 11 months in 2020. Many things Whether or not social media is a reliable news have been closed down as well. COVID-19 has students source is unclear, especially to teenagers. Data from the going virtual and masks are required in workplaces. Boredom rises as lifestyles change, and people turn to one Pew Research Center study shows that only 37% of teenagers use social media as a source of trustworthy of the only forms of entertainment left: technology and information. social media. “Obviously there has been a lot of posts about “[My screen time has] increased because I’ve had political events and Covid, and it is just hard to know more free time to go on social media. I’ve also been more what is real and what isn’t. One bored, and when I’m bored I go time I saw a post about statistics on social media,” Sierra Lucas of Covid… but then another (11) said. post said that the original one However, despite the completely exaggerated numbers. lack of other activities, many I guess for some aspects it’s been students still feel the need to helpful, but for some it’s been not. reduce their time spent on A lot of the times [social media is social media. a bad way to get news], because “I think it is a not-sosometimes it’s just people posting good thing because I tend to their opinions. I’m not saying get caught up in the stereotypes that news channels are any better, and the fake news, but it can be but I think all news is somewhat a good thing because some stuff opinion-tainted,” Simpson said. that is posted is really funny. I Although 2020 was a unique would love to cut back,” Lily year, young people’s use of social Simpson (10) said. media was not. A large majority Besides being on of teenagers in the Pew Research social media as a form of study said that using social media entertainment, some teens find that getting important news Nathan Ottens (9) checks social media app Snapchat made them feel more included, often comes from the platforms while watching a video on math notes. “Although I try authentic, and outgoing. This to watch the video, I find it difficult to concentrate,” trend makes students more likely they scroll through. Ottens said. to continue posting and scrolling, “A lot of teens don’t shaping how younger generations look at the news but they look view major events. Thomas offered some advice for her at social media, and they often get the information from fellow students as they attempt to use technology wisely. there,” Lucas said. “ There are a lot of biases that can occur when Social media has also become one of the main outlets that young people use to stay informed about and posting things through social media because a lot of people post information that support their opinion on participate in constantly changing current events. In a 2018 Pew Research study, 66% of teenage respondents the matter. It doesn’t give both sides of the story and stated that social media helped them show their support the viewer has misleading information as a result. Even for causes. trustworthy organizations can post snippets of the big “[Social media] has informed me of the BLM picture, so it’s always good to fact News movement, case numbers rising/decreasing, the current check,” Thomas said. oppression of minority groups globally, and the election. January It has been extremely helpful because the information
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School Spirits Students, teachers express mixed emotions about LHS COVID policy Bobby Beckemeier Staff Writer Abigail Wagner Editor-in-Chief
Lindbergh High School’s transition to Phase II However, not every member of Lindbergh’s staff is has been met with passionate feelings. Both teachers convinced that the high school made the correct decision and students want to return to a learning environment in returning to traditional instruction. that protects their health, but also allows them to “I wanted to be back with students because, like experience the best education possible. Some agree with every other teacher, I do this job because I love interacting the district’s decision to bring students back to in-person with students. However, I wanted to know that I would learning, while others believe that Phase II represents be safe to come to work,” a teacher who wished to remain an unnecessary risk to the health of LHS students and anonymous said. teachers. While students face higher workloads and struggles Almost three hundred students Were you pleased that Lindbergh with self-teaching some material, responded to a recent survey teachers have had to deal with decided to move to Phase 2? regarding their opinions on and other challenges. experiences with Phase II and “[Neglect] was a bit of a Lindbergh High School’s approach problem early on… Good students to in-person learning. A majority of have been using both [Canvas and the respondents to the survey said Zoom] efficiently and responsibly, they were pleased with Lindbergh’s and students who ordinarily were decision to switch to in-person not very diligent, engaged and learning, with many of them stating organized are still that way,” that Phase II had significantly Tobias said. decreased their workload. The other teacher agreed However, many of the that student work ethic, not survey’s respondents said they technology, is the real indicator of were displeased with the switch, success in the 2020-21 school year. with many of them citing rising Much more controversial among COVID-19 cases in the St. Louis area staff, however, is Lindbergh’s and fear of contracting the virus at school as the cause. decision to transition to, and remain in, Phase II. Eighty-nine percent of students who responded “There are no absolutes. But, I believe they have to the survey did not agree with Lindbergh’s decision done their best trying to balance getting the students to return to in-person instruction stated that they were the best education possible and keeping students safe,” “somewhat” or “very concerned” about contracting Mr. Tobias said, agreeing with the majority of survey COVID-19 while at school, compared to 73% of all survey respondents. respondents. The other educator strongly disagrees. A majority of the respondents said that their “Have you seen the graphs of surging case numbers workload has changed this school year. Most of these in Missouri? Or more specifically, our area? How anyone participants later stated that their workload has increased could look at that data and think opening schools is a due to the circumstances of this year. good idea is beyond my understanding,” they said. Teachers also have mixed opinions on how Lindbergh can In the early days of second semester, with cases still make education more safe and effective. rising and little agreement on the best way to educate in a “ I was certainly nervous about exposing students pandemic, Lindbergh has yet to change its current phase and teachers to the potential risks of the virus, but I status. Regardless of the school’s future decisions, both believe that in-person instruction is the only way students and staff will continue to debate how learning education can truly work,” Brian Tobias (Social Studies should work in a school year like no other. Department) said.
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Feature
January
Safety First Lindbergh implements procedures to slow spread of COVID-19 Audrey Branding Staff Writer
Many schools around the world have reopened despite quarantine policies. the global pandemic. Some health experts feel that schools Under the current rules, students who test positive should open up, and some believe they should not. This is for COVID-19 must be out of school for 10 days after they because of the high risk of transmission of COVID-19 in test positive or begin exhibiting symptoms. If a student is indoor places. considered at high risk for exposure, they must quarantine The CDC recommends opening schools with the for 14 days, and if a family member tests positive for the approval of the local health officials, because the local virus, quarantine lasts for 24 days. health officials know when there is a spike in the number of These strict policies, which cause lower numbers COVID-19 cases in St. Louis County. of students in attendance at in-person classes, have led The organization also states that if a school reopens it to assumptions that COVID-19 has spread widely in the should institute health precautions, including preparing for district. In reality, as of January 11th, there were 172 positive tests of students and teachers and wearing masks, students and staff quarantining district-wide. Only 18% of due to the high likelihood of an increase in cases if a school those quarantining had tested positive for the virus. does not follow the correct Despite these procedures. new regulations, many The CDC also students and teachers recommends opening have been quarantined schools with the approval due to exposure, positive of the local health officials, tests, and family members because of their experience getting COVID-19. Many and first-hand knowledge classes have, at one point, of spikes in cases in the had less students in the area. classroom than on Zoom In high schools, it due to exposure to the is possible for viruses to virus. This has led some spread quickly because students to question of low ventilated spaces whether Phase 2 is the This graph tracks the number of quarantines and COVID-19 cases and close contact between safest option. present in the district. It updates weekly and can be found at teachers and students. This “I think schools go.lindberghschools.ws/Page/16079. can cause an increased chance should open when of people passing COVID-19 from person to person. everything is good to go. What’s the point of school if half “It’s very likely that even with careful screenings, kids of the kids are getting sent home?” Grace Maleas (10) said. are going to end up in school with infections,” Dylan Chan, a Maddie Heine (10) agreed. professor of medicine of the ear, nose and throat at UC San “In my opinion, I think that schools should open once Francisco, said in a recent interview with EdSource. we receive a vaccine to avoid exposure to COVID-19 and There is no way to keep students one hundred percent make our experience at school more enjoyable, since more safe from the virus, but the spread can be limited. students would be attending,” Heine said. Lindbergh has required social distancing and masks Despite these opinions, Lindbergh has remained in at all times since the move to in-person instruction the Phase II, depending on the safety procedures already in week of October 26th, along with enforcing a new hall pass place to prevent spread. The district’s most recent statement policy designed to decrease the number of students accessing on the virus, from Dr. Tony Lake (Superintendent), stressed restrooms at a time. The high school has also instituted strict the importance of personal and family responsibility in contract-tracing procedures, including rigid seating charts in keeping LHS open safely. classes and a new QR-code system to track where students “We can’t control what happens outside of school. sit in both cafeterias and the commons. Your decisions matter,” Lake said. The school district has also taken the CDC’s advice in Feature following the recommendations of St. Louis County Health Department officials. Lindbergh used guidelines released January by the Health Department to create their exposure and
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1. Need help with writing?
Maintain and improve your grades this semester with
ACADEMIC RESOURCES Mallory Broom
Staff Writer
During Phase 2, the Writing Center tutors are available Tuesday through Friday during periods 1-7 and Academic Networking on Thursday and Friday. Visit the writing center’s website for more information and links to schedule your meeting with a tutor or request Ms. Lee for ACT prep!
2. Access to reliable sources
All LHS students are invited to join the Canvas course Lindbergh High School Students as well as Lindbergh Library. If you go to “Britannica School,” you have access to LHS’s student version of Encyclopedia Britannica, which has plenty of useful articles, images, and videos. If you find an article you want to use for a paper or project, click the box with a checkmark and the site will cite it for you in MLA,
3. Math Tutoring is available!
Join the Canvas course Math Department Tutoring to Zoom for help with math during your learning lab, or for ACT tutoring with Ms. Herbig 2nd, 5th, or 7th hour, or after school 2:45-3:45. If you’re not meeting with Ms. Herbig after school, you’ll need to use a Google Form to schedule your appointment.
4. Use the LHS Library page
You can check out books online using the “ebooks” tab of the LHS Library Canvas page, check out books for curbside pickup, or click on the page “Citation Help” if you need help citing your sources. Click on “Research Databases” if you need to find database articles for a paper or project. You can find all usernames and passwords for the databases on a Google Doc under this page too.
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Advice
January
5. Customize your Canvas notifications Want to know when your teachers have graded, uploaded, or changed the due date on one of your assignments? Or maybe you’d prefer a daily summary of recent Canvas notifications emailed to you every day. Click on “Account,” then “Notifications” to customize these settings and more in just a few seconds.
FOR MORE STUDENT RESOURCES, SIGN UP FOR THE LHS CANVAS COURSE (LINDBERGH HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS) OR FOLLOW @GOLHSFLYERS