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READ ABOUT HOW COVID-19 AFFECTS LADUE’S BUDGETING DECISIONS
Ladue Horton Watkins High School 1201 S. Warson Rd. Ladue, MO 63124 12.14.20 Vol. 69 Issue 5
THE DECEMBER ISSUE
EDITORS’ NOTE
December signifies the end of an unusual year, but also marks the turning point for various local and international events. This month, we chose to focus our in-depth on Ladue’s COVID-19-related budgetary changes. In a time when furloughs and layoffs are worsening nationwide, Ladue has actually increased employment in response to the need for more frequent deep cleaning. The in-depth also offers a look into the new responsibilities given to the
Grace Hu
Editors in Chief Hugh Chan Grace Hu Ethan Willick Associate Editors Domenic Fenoglio Rhea Patney Art Editor Danielle Zhang Photo Editor Grace Hensley News Editor Caroline Tyrrell
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district’s janitorial staff and their daily efforts to keep the Ladue staff safe. On an international scale, news about the pandemic is optimistic. Vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer are in advanced stages and are nearly ready to be distributed to healthcare workers and at-risk groups. After months of uncertainty and tragedy related to COVID-19, it seems that there is finally an end in sight. As the year ends, we reflect on the events — both good and bad — that have shaped the trajecto-
Hugh Chan
ry of 2020. In this issue, we rank the months of 2020 from best to worst and recall the most significant moments in a historically chaotic year. Finally, despite the hectic circumstances, it is important to retain a sense of normalcy and remember a crucial aspect of December: the holidays. Whether we’re ranking holiday songs or sharing holiday recipes from the Panorama staff, we aim to celebrate all holidays and cultures that are represented in December.
Ethan Willick
PANORAMA STAFF
Health & Sports Editors Katie Holland In-Depth Editors Erin Turkieltaub Marissa Mathieson Web Editor Sophia Liu Annie Pan Opinions Editors News Staff Zeru Marut Caroline Edgar Mika Kipnis Carly Woodhill Features Staff Arts & Abbey Carrico Entertainment Ryan Tung Editor Lucy Lochmoeller Features Editors Clayton Coughlin Oviya Srihari
STAFF & CONTENTS
In-Depth Staff Joanne Sung Opinions Staff Kanishk Shanmugam Nico Skapof Arts & Entertainment Staff Emily Walker Tariq Lashley
Health & Sports Staff Kiran Varadachari Tommy Margulis Staff Writers
Business Managers Jacob Korn Sarah Suffian Adviser Sarah Kirksey
Omar Al’Husseini Artists Nicole Gorrell Erica Shi Photographers Ginger Schulte
SPREAD DESIGN BY GRACE HU
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
NEWS
FEATURES
IN-DEPTH
OPINIONS
A&E
HEALTH & SPORTS
5. Pfizer and Moderna show promising results with COVID-19 vaccine 6-7. A look at the elementary and middle school return to in-person school
14. Pano Perspective: certain clubs should be able to meet in person 15. School start times should be pushed back 16-17. Panorama reviews and ranks the months of 2020
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8-9. A look at the work senior Anna Reis and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion director Dr. Riesemy are doing to increase inclusion in Ladue education
18-19. Panorama shares holiday recipes from our writers 20. Panorama reviews popular Christmas songs 21. Book reccomendations for the winter season
11-13. How Ladue’s COVID-19 budgeting decisions affect district employees and students
22. A look back at notable sports events from this year 23. How sleep deprivation can affect student health
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PANORAMA POLICY Panorama is a monthly newspaper that strives to inform and entertain students, staff and community members and to uphold professional standards of accuracy and fairness. The publication hopes to engage the student body by eliciting dialogue among students. It aims to reflect the diversity of the population it serves and to observe the journalistic principle of doing no harm. All surveys are completely anonymous and the results cannot be used against respondents. Panorama is produced 10 times per school year by the newspaper class of Ladue Horton Watkins High School at
ISSUE Ginger and Steve Lochmoeller
LADUE BLUE The Bezzant Family The Coughlin Family STL Med Law, LLC The Srihari Family Rangasami and Chandra Varadachari Wellstar LLC Cathy Woodhill
GOLD The Arun Family Diane and Roger Edgar
1201 S. Warson Rd., St. Louis, MO 63124. The publication lab is located in room 1311, (314)-993-6447 ext. 5844. Read more stories online at laduepublications.com. Follow @laduepublications on Instagram and @laduepanorama on Twitter. Editor in chief photo by Grace Hensley. Front cover photo illustration by Grace Hu and Ethan Willick. Front and back cover art by Grace Hu. Front and back cover design by Grace Hu. Corrections from the November issue: cover photo was taken by Ginger Schulte. Ginger Schulte was not included in the Table of Contents.
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LETTER TO THE EDITOR
In the article “The Electoral College is vital to America’s transfer of power,” the author posits that under a system of popular vote, large cities would “decide every presidential race and run the country.” This concern is commonly expressed in opposition to the abolition of the electoral college, but it does not hold up. The population of the top 10 largest metropolitan areas combined is only 26% of the
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SPONSORS, POLICY & NEWS
U.S. population. Even the residents of the top 20 largest metropolitan areas only represent 37.9% of America’s population. Furthermore, it would be impossible for every citizen from one location to vote for the same candidate. Places such as Los Angeles and New York City, while they typically vote Democrat, still have millions of Republicans. In our own St. Louis County, where 328,000 voters chose Joe Biden,
there were still 200,000 people who voted for Donald Trump. Clearly, it would be impossible for the top 20 largest U.S. cities to come close to “deciding every presidential race.” A candidate needs to appeal to the entire nation in order to win under a popular vote. Signed, Johnny Yeldham
SPREAD DESIGN BY RHEA PATNEY | ANNIE PAN
NEW VACCINES GO VIRAL New mRNA vaccines bring expectations of ending COVID-19 pandemic
MIKA KIPNIS news staff
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fizer and BioNtech, a biopharmaceutical company partnership, announced Nov. 9 that their new mRNA-based vaccine had 90% efficacy after two doses according to their first Phase 3 interim analysis. Nov. 9 will not only be remembered as the day that the U.S. surpassed 10 million COVID-19 cases, but also the day that created a breakthrough in science and restored hope for normalcy in our daily lives. “I think we’re on the cutting edge of medicine and science,” Ladue nurse Nikki Harrison said. “Of all the bad that’s happened with COVID-19 and not being able to get a handle on it yet, this is something that has made doctors and scientists shine.” A few days after Pfizer confirmed that their vaccine efficacy rate was 95% in preventing COVID-19, another mRNA-based vaccine developed by Moderna confirmed a 94.1% vaccine efficacy rate. Both Pfizer and Moderna vaccines show promising results from their Phase 3 clinical trials of 43,538 and 30,000 participants respectively. Pfizer was the first vaccine approved for emergency use in the U.S. for COVID-19 by the FDA Dec. 11. “I was really surprised and excited when I saw that this vaccine came out that quickly and had that high of an effectiveness rate,” science teacher Molly Mannix said. “Historically, vaccine development takes a long time and early trials don’t have as high of effectiveness rates.” While previous vaccine techniques relied on injecting antigens or weakened versions of the virus into the body to create immunity, the new mRNA-based vaccine only requires the pathogen’s genetic code. After injecting an mRNA into the body, cells produce millions of spike proteins — a protein found in COVID-19 that is LADUEPUBLICATIONS.COM
harmless without other viral comachieved by November 2021 if 60-70% ponents — prompting the immune of the population has COVID-19 imsystem to create munity, whether that antibodies that build be from contracting COVID-19 immunity the virus or receivand resistance. ing the vaccine. I think we’re on the “All of these dif“We’re getting cutting edge of medicine close, which is ferent mechanisms and science. in which vaccines incredible because work is like a trial it hasn’t even been NIKKI HARRISON | nurse and error process,” a year since we’ve Mannix said. “We first heard about need to decide which mechanism is COVID-19,” Harrison said. “Hopefulgoing to be the most effective and ly, we’re going to see the light at the safe for human use.” end of the tunnel.” p One of the biggest differences between Pfizer and Moderna is that Pfizer’s vaccine must be stored at negative 70 degrees Celsius, while Moderna’s ork W vaccine can be s e stored at 4 deaccin V 9 1 grees Celsius. This OVID C makes transporting w body Ho o t n and managing Moddi ecte j n erna’s vaccine much i A mRN easier for local clinics and pharmacies. o A int “To come up with N R a vaccine that’s so ate m l s n a tr effective is a hard thing Cells proteins to do and I think it’s groundbreaking,” senior spike Shriya Koneru said. “For scientists to be collabostem 19 y s e rating with peers when it’s un IDImm ces COV dangerous is commendable.” u According to American prod dies infectious disease expert o antib Anthony Fauci, vaccine distribution is estimated to begin as early as December and will prioritize those who have underIS lying medical conditions, are over IPN K A 65 or are healthcare or frontline MIK & L workers. Fauci believes that the REL OR vaccine will be readily available for G LE CO the general public by June 2021 and I N | by herd immunity in the U.S. could be on i t a str illu 12.14.20
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COVID SAFETY FOR
Middle, elementary schools return back to in-person learning during
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ZERU MARUT news staff
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adue elementary schools returned to in-person learning Oct. 19. This move back to in-person marks the start of the reopening process for the district. The schools have made many changes to ensure a safe learning environment. While academics is important, the health and safety of the students and staff comes first. “Our focus has been on safety from the very beginning,” Chris Schreiner, Reed Elementary principal, said. “Everything else, academics and so forth, has come second because we have to make sure kids are safe before they can learn.” Staff responsibilities have shifted to match the heightened focus on safety. For some, their job is far different from before the pandemic. “[My job] is COVID focused,” Cindy Woodruff, Spoede Elementary school nurse, said. “It’s making sure teachers have the right supplies, it’s making sure students are wearing masks.” Changing responsibilities isn’t the only problem. Administrators must find a way to balance safety and education. “[One challenge is] being able to follow a master schedule with the safety protocols that we have to put in place,” Schreiner said. “How do we make sure that we can be safe and teach everything that we want to teach?” Making decisions that will affect hundreds is not easy. For Schreiner, this means struggling to come to a decision on certain matters such as how students will eat lunch. “I think the most difficult part is making decisions based on facts and not emotions,” Schreiner said. “A pandemic can be very scary, and sometimes we are reluctant to try things or do things because our feelings are involved.” Although the district has been following guidelines, parents have concerns. As such, there were those who chose not to return in person. “My parents just thought it was the safest option to stay home,” senior Franklin Liu, whose sister goes to Old Bonhomme Elementary, said. During this time, the district has put strict rules in place. Students, teachers and parents have followed the guidelines in order to keep a safe environment. “Everyone has been a lot more compliant than I thought,” Woodruff said. “Kids are wearing masks, even the 5-yearolds. Parents are screening the kids beautifully at Spoede and not sending sick kids to school.” p
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NEWS
illustration by | JOANNE SUNG
GUIDELINES Each table and desk that seats more than one person has plexiglass set up which allows classrooms to remain functionable and COVID safe
ELEMENTARY DATA data from the district’s health tracking page
ACTIVE STUDENT AND STAFF CASES (data as of 12/13/20) positive
quarantined 107
90 60 30 8
PK-5
SPREAD DESIGN BY CAROLINE TYRRELL
IN-PERSON SCHOOL global pandemic while following various health, safety guidelines
MIDDLE SCHOOL CAROLINE TYRRELL news editor
F GUIDELINES Following CDC guidelines, the Ladue School District has made it a requirement for students and teachers returning to in-person learning to wear a mask
MIDDLE SCHOOL DATA data from the district’s health tracking page
ACTIVE STUDENT AND STAFF CASES (data as of 12/13/20) positive
quarantined
90
92
60 30 9
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LADUEPUBLICATIONS.COM
or high school students, virtual learning is currently the only option. However, Ladue Middle School students have had the opportunity to decide on continuing with the online path or shifting back to in-person learning. Many middle school students returned to the classroom Nov. 10. The shift to in-person learning has allowed students to see if virtual or in-person works best for them. “I like being in-person more,” eighth grader Jacob Gold said. “Communication is easier and there are no internet issues to worry about.” Many people worry about attending in-person school during these times. However, the middle school has made accommodations to ensure a safe environment. “We wear masks, social distance, wipe down our desks and I eat outside,” Gold said. In addition to the changes made inside the building, the pick-up and drop-off process has also been altered. Senior Ellie Gold takes her brother to and from school every day following the new carpool method. “Carpool is a lot different,” Ellie Gold said. “We have to get there a lot earlier because there are rows of cars that you file into. Then they announce over a speaker that the kids can get out of the cars and go to their entrance and then a new wave of cars comes in.” For some students, learning virtually is not a problem and some even prefer it. However, many students have chosen in-person not only for the learning, but for the social aspect. “I’d say at least 70% or more of students want to be at school for the social experience and want to be there because their friends are there,” eighth grade science teacher Harold Webb said. “They want someplace to go, they want to have those relationships with their friends and teachers, they want to join clubs and they want to be in sports.” While many students are returning to the classroom every day, there are still a number of students that have chosen to remain virtual. These students, while remaining at home, are unable to obtain some parts of the school experience. “It’s not that we feel like the [virtual students] aren’t getting the curriculum; their quizzes and test scores show that they are understanding,” Webb said. “What they are missing out on is the experience, and that’s something you can’t measure. You can put a grade on whether or not you know the periodic table, but you can’t put a grade on the experience.” p 12.14.20
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STRIVING FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Coordinator Jennifer Riesenmy advocates for change cultivated by English to Speakers of Other Languages programs. “The ESOL program was arginalization, inequity and incredibly inviting and helpful,” exclusion. Everyday, these sophomore Artur Breternitz said. three words resonate with “You can really tell [the teachers] care Jennifer Riesenmy — not just as about their job and kids.” surviving relics of the American However, despite demographic education system, but as motivation diversity, ensuring equity has to reform Ladue School District into a proved challenging. Because of more equitable home for learning. past discrimination built into the Riesenmy, Ladue’s diversity, education system, marginalization equity and inclusion coordinator, within Ladue still remains. represents a growing movement “We have to recognize the within the district to address urgency that we need change now,” exclusivity in education. After years Riesenmy said. “We can change of being a part-time role, the position policies, but changing the way people has been made full time for the first view the world — that’s hard.” time this school year. The COVID-19 pandemic has only “I work with teachers on how to amplified this inequality. Unequal fuse equity and inclusion into their access to resources, combined teaching practices and curriculum with health and financial concerns and also at home, have resulted in groups experiencing disproportionate losses in learning. “Ladue is making a difference on diversity, equity and inclusion, [but] COVID-19 has brought challenges to the ESOL program,” Diana Hsu, coordinator of the district ESOL program, said. “It has been difficult this year to reach all students at a Walking through Riesenmy’s variety of levels virtually.” typical activities Despite these challenges, district administrators continue Presentation for Superintendent to push for meaningful reform. assistants across the region on Until everyone can have humanizing antiracism equal access to education, Riesenmy refuses to quit. “The education system was built for the majority,” Riesenmy said. “We have Meeting with Director of to change systems in Communications to broaden school so that it serves support of district affinity groups everyone that we say we value. Everybody has the right to learn.” p
RYAN TUNG features staff
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A DAY WITH
look at our structures from a district standpoint,” Riesenmy said. Since embracing this full-time role after 22 years working in the Ladue district, Riesenmy has taken action to address disparities within the district. This year, Riesenmy coordinated the rethinking of outdated, district-wide disciplinary policies to enhance student equity. “Prior to now, there were students who were disproportionately sent to the office [through] 70 different discipline codes that were subjective and based on assumption,” Riesenmy said. “Now, our discipline code is very specific and is about helping heal relationships and reflection, not punishment.” While slow, this work has brought progress towards making a welcoming environment in the Ladue curriculum. Today, the Ladue School District is home to students of 59 different language backgrounds — a level of diversity
DR. RIESENMY photo by | GRACE HENSLEY
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Meeting with lead ESOL teacher about testing access and inclusion FEATURES
SPREAD DESIGN BY OVIYA SRIHARI
Senior Anna Reis creates social justice oriented history curriculums ABBEY CARRICO features staff
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uman rights violations, international atrocities and pursuing criminal justice are just several of the topics senior Anna Reis has delved into. Reis has been working to compose new curriculums for middle and high school level social studies courses. Through her work with several professionals at Washington University’s Whitney R. Harris World Law Institute, Reis has composed multiple lesson plans about these social topics. She, along with help from Ladue teachers and administrators, has started to implement her curriculum into classes at Ladue, Clayton, John Burroughs and MICDS. “The only real time Ladue students learned about human rights violations was in middle school, through the Holocaust,” Reis said. “Human rights violations have not stopped since the Holocaust; there
are many things that have taken place since then.” After realizing this flaw, Reis began to look for ways to solve it. Once she joined the Harris Institute program, she spent over three months crafting content to be placed in specific classes through middle and high school. Reis sent her curriculum to her past teacher Lalia Crabtree, the english language arts and social studies coordinator for the district, so she could distribute it to the social studies departments. “One of [the lessons Reis] wrote was International Criminal Justice and Atrocities and then the other one is the International Human Rights Overview,” Crabtree said. “I feel like those are topics that we don’t cover very often or explicitly in our social studies scope and sequence.” Reis had the support of previous teachers, but also the community involved in the Harris Institute’s initiative. She worked briefly with Leila Sadat, a professor at the institute, in addition to other Ladue
students involved with the program, such as senior Sam Cobin. “It’s the first year of implementing [the curriculum] and COVID-19 causes a lot of complications, but I do feel good about it,” Cobin said. “I’m happy that kids at Ladue will start having a more holistic view of the world, and really understand what’s going on around them.” Although reactions to the new curriculum are forthcoming, many agree the curriculum will be beneficial to the students’ comprehension of the injustices they might not acknowledge otherwise. Reis plans to continue her work next summer and develop more ideas regarding human rights. “I got two lessons last summer, so writing two or three more would be great,” Reis said. “It would be great to pass the torch to someone next year from Ladue and say, ‘You can either continue writing classes or come up with a new project idea.’ I think that’s my intention for the future.” p
NAVIGATING REIS’S HISTORY CLASS g the new history n i c u d o r Int
LESSON 1:
ENFORCING HUMAN RIGHTS What this lesson covers: has signed s the U.S. e i t a e r T enforcing human nal bodies o i t a n r e e U.N. - Int , such as th w a l s t h rig nizations such as ne by orga al o d k r o ion -W y Internat Amnest
curriculum designed by Reis
LESSON 2:
INTERNATIONAL C RIMINAL JUSTICE What this lesson covers:
- The International Criminal Co urt - How the ICC operates, its his tory and current challenges it face s - The four crimes the ICC prose cutes
photo by | GINGER SCHULTE LADUEPUBLICATIONS.COM
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SPREAD DESIGN BY CLAYTON COUGHLIN | SOPHIA LIU
PAYING FOR A PANDEMIC A look into the effects of budget allocation on administration and employees
SOPHIA LIU in-depth editor
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ith the unemployment rate reaching historical highs at a staggering 14.7% in April, the pandemic has caused the number of furloughs and layoffs to soar. The furloughs and layoffs have also hit close to home. For example, located just 25 miles away, school bus providers were forced to lay off 127 bus drivers at the Northwest School District in Jefferson County, Mo. At Ladue, the administration avoided furloughing or laying off any employees by readjusting the budget for the 2020-2021
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fiscal year. Ladue also received several grants for COVID-19 relief. To alleviate pandemic safety concerns, Ladue has elevated routine sanitation services, enforcing procedures for deep cleaning and installing plexiglass. Consequently, the custodial staff has seen an increase in hours and even number of workers. However, with budget modifications, Ladue avoided additional expenses from the supplemental cleaning services. Let us take a closer look into how Ladue has calibrated budgetary affairs and its effects on employees such as the custodial staff. p 12.14.20
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NUDGING THE BUDGET An overview of Ladue’s budget shifts as a result of COVID-19
SOPHIA LIU in-depth editor
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n recent months, employees in all industries and fields have been wrought with a new wave of questions related to job security as countless companies were forced to furlough and lay off workers in order to avoid losses in revenue. While the Ladue school district has not furloughed any employees, members of the board and finance committee have had to reapportion preliminary budget distributions in a diligent manner to help mitigate the impacts of COVID-19. At Ladue, pandemic-related expenditures are currently estimated at $1.9 million. “We have a facility committee and we run basically anything that costs money through a finance committee before taking anything to the final board,” Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources Julie Helm said. “For the budget, you have your resources, so it really comes down to how you can look at things differently.” As a result of the pandemic, many schools have sought opportunities to apply for federal and St. Louis County grants issued by the government. The grants help supplement budget dollars that districts resorted to spending for COVID-19 relief during the early months of the pandemic. For instance, even though the Before and After School Care program and Ladue Early Childhood Center lost roughly $2.2 million in fees and tuition, the losses will be mitigated by government-issued grants. The district has been approved to receive $601,951 in governmental grants with the bulk of the grant money deriving from the CARES Act, which has a relief fund designated for elementary and secondary schools. Assistant Superintendent for Business and Finance Jason Buckner oversees business affairs for the district, analyzing financial actions and tracking the aftermath.
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IN-DEPTH
“There are multiple budget changes due to COVID-19-required expenditures, as well as revenue received due to [grants],” Buckner said. “The [grant] money will be saved to offset unpredicted COVID-19-related expenditures and loss of revenue.” Another shift lies in custodial services and staff provided by ABBCO, a janitorial service provider. Since not all schools are in person, it may be easy to assume that budget money allocated to cleaning services has gone down because not all students are in school. However, this is not the case, as Ladue is implementing additional cleaning services, such as deep cleaning, in the schools that remain open. Furthermore, schools are now open on Sundays, allotting teachers extra time to prepare for their students; this has led to an increase in custodial services by amplifying sanitary protocols to accommodate safety concerns. “There’s a lot of additional deep cleaning and sanitizing, so ABBCO has added on some extra staff to make sure it gets done,” Helm said. “Every evening, ABBCO goes in to wipe everything down, thoroughly disinfecting things like door handles and light switches so that those high traffic areas are hit extremely well.” As the first semester comes to an end, Buckner and the Business and Finance Department are preparing for the 2020-2021 Mid-Year Budget Update to the Board of Education Jan. 25th, 2021. Board members will then determine whether modifications need to be made to maximize the budget while facilitating a safe and meritable learning and teaching experience for students and faculty members. “Our relationships with vendors like ABBCO have been quite instrumental in helping the district keep students and staff safe,” Communications Director Kimberly McKenzie said. “As district employees, we are always striving to be as fiscally responsible as possible.” p
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SPREAD DESIGN BY MARISSA MATHIESON & JOANNE SUNG
CLEANING DURING COVID Impacts of COVID-19 on Ladue’s maintenance staff
MARISSA MATHIESON in-depth editor
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LADUEPUBLICATIONS.COM
ared Walker, a janitor at Ladue Horton Watkins High School, gets up at 4:15 a.m. every morning, five days a week, to drive to work. “A lot of our custodians have a large challenge before they even get into the building, as far as dealing with the realities of COVID-19 and just getting to work in general,” Mike Noonan, Director of Facilities, said. When Walker arrives at 6 a.m., he first checks if anything is out of place, then moves on to a litany of tasks: moving furniture, setting up classroom dividers, sanitizing heavily used areas and making sure the school is safe. “We have to thoroughly make sure everything is wiped down and clean for the next group or the next day so we don’t have any outbreaks happen,” Walker said. As COVID-19 continues to spread, janitorial workers around the world have continued to work despite fears that they could potentially contract the virus. Even though high school students at Ladue aren’t back for in-person schooling, janitorial workers continue cleaning, which has consequently caused an increase in the Ladue budget for such services. “At first, it was a little nervewracking; anxiety was high because we didn’t know what was going on,” Walker said. “We feel like there are a thousand different spaces somebody can be so we just want to make sure to keep the staff and students safe.” To assist janitors with the increase in cleaning, the district provided services through ABBCO, a janitorial service provider. Utilizing this service, Ladue has been able to obtain additional daytime custodians at each elementary school to help sanitize more spaces. Luckily, no one from the maintenance department has been furloughed or laid off. “When you’re a small department, the rest of the department really has
to kick in and get it all to keep going,” Noonan said. “So it’s been interesting that we have been able to maintain staff even though we have had a few infections.” With thousands of businesses and organizations scrambling to stay afloat during the pandemic, many have resorted to reducing their employees’ pay. However, the maintenance department’s salary has stayed the same due to a wide variety of grants Ladue has received. “When it first started and we were at home, we kept our pay,” Walker said. “So overall that was a blessing because it hasn’t affected me financially.” Guidelines such as social distancing, cleaning areas separately, adding dividers and handling an increase in tasks have reduced the time janitors spend together. However, in spite of the challenging conditions, the janitorial staff has still found a way to grow closer and bond — even from six feet away. “Truthfully, we’re closer because we’re trying to look out for each other,” Walker said. “Even though we work one area per person, we’ve gotten closer because of family life and stuff like that.” Before the pandemic, janitors typically wouldn’t get around to deep sanitization until the evening, but now they are required to clean repetitively throughout the day to keep the school sanitized. Finding a way to handle the increased challenges and tasks while adhering to guidelines may seem difficult for those not accustomed to the job, but the janitorial staff manages to push through even in the most difficult conditions. “I’ve really been impressed throughout this whole process,” Noonan said. “ [The janitors] have really taken ownership of the building despite COVID-19. They have provided us with both extra cleaning and extra sanitization measures to make sure employees and students are safe.” p 12.14.20
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illustration by | DANIELLE ZHANG
PANO PERSPECTIVE If school sports are back in person, school clubs should be as well 29 out of 30 Panorama staff members agree
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hroughout the ever changing process of planning a return to a normal school atmosphere, Ladue sports programs have shut down and reopened, receiving guidance and clearance from administration to practice in person. However, non-athletic clubs have not received the same treatment. While some may be able to meet virtually without losing the ability to complete their activities, clubs such as Viva Voce, Ladudes, theater and robotics rely on in-person meetings to function. Thus, Ladue administration should allow necessary clubs to meet in person. Numerous restrictions have been put in place surrounding the return to sports, and this allowed for fall sports to complete their season without cancellation. For example, athletes must fill out a survey indicating they have no symptoms in order to enter the building and participate in their sport. The success of fall sports proves the possibility of safe in-person interactions. If clubs receive a plan with as much intricacy as the one given to sports teams, they will not be at a large risk. In fact, clubs present an even smaller risk, as they do not compete against other schools at the same frequency as sports. If masks are worn and safety guidelines are followed, the spread of COVID-19 will be reduced and clubs can meet without endangering
their members. If the school administration does not allow for in-person meetings of clubs but permits sports to compete, it sends a message that athletics are valued more highly than academics. This is a dangerous message to send to the student body, as many students choose to engage in academically-focused events. The school should provide equal opportunities to the entire student body, and this can be achieved with permission for clubs to meet in person. The benefits of clubs like robotics — which encourages the development of skills useful to students who are interested in computer science or engineering — are meaningful to participants. Colleges are aware of these advantages, and students place themselves in a better position for admission to college with the aid of clubs. In some cases, students may utilize the skills they learn in their clubs to apply for and receive a scholarship to college. It stands to reason that if sports are deemed safe enough to return, clubs should follow suit. They should receive the same treatment as sports, and their members deserve an opportunity to participate fully in the activities they enjoy. It is imperative that the administration works to create a safe plan for the return of clubs. p
Editorial Note: Each editorial, Panorama selects an issue that the staff thinks is important to address and expresses a view that belongs to the majority of the staff. Panorama welcomes the opinions of its readers, and encourages letters to the editors. Please bring signed letters to room 1311 or email Panorama at publications01@ladueschools.net. Panorama reserves the right to revise submissions for length as long as original intent remains unaltered.
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OPINIONS
SPREAD DESIGN BY CAROLINE EDGAR | KANISHK SHANMUGAM
BEAT THE BELL School start time should remain late for students to maintain a healthy lifestyle NICO SKAPOF opinions staff
7
:30 a.m. is a time that brings chills to any Ladue High School student. The morning race to beat the bell forces exhausted students to wake up at ungodly hours. Additionally, with students coming back from virtual school, many will struggle transitioning from the 10:00 a.m. start time. Getting to school on time shouldn't be a challenge; thus, the current start time of 7:30 a.m. should be changed to 8:30 a.m. The normal start time is damaging the health of students. Students aren't getting enough sleep, and many aren't even eating breakfast. Asking students to be at school near dawn makes these simple tasks needlessly difficult. Pushing the start time back would make it possible for students to get the rest and nutrition that they
need to perform well in school. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that middle and high schools start no earlier than 8:30 a.m. Forcing students to get up earlier than 8:30 a.m. imposes poor sleep habits that have significant consequences for their health and academic performance. Ladue students would feel and perform substantially better if school started just an hour later. Starting school so early also leads to some safety concerns. A study by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine found that pushing the school start time back drastically reduces the amount of car crashes on the way there. The commute to schools becomes especially dangerous during the winter months, when exhausted teenagers have to deal with pitch black skies and icy roads. Delaying the start of school gives students a larger window of time, unclogging the
roads and as a result, creating safer driving conditions. Opponents of moving start times back often argue that doing so would force extracurriculars to do the same, thus making the extra time gained worthless. While students may lose an hour in the evening, it is highly unlikely that students are using that evening time to sleep. Even if they are, one hour doesn’t give students enough time to enter the later sleep phases, where the brain recovers the most. Pushing school start times back effectively moves that hour from the evening to the morning, which the average student would use to extend their sleep. Ultimately, the benefits of pushing school back just one hour far outweigh the near nonexistent negatives. With in-person school coming back soon, Ladue should alter the start time from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. p
ST. LOUIS SCHOOL START TIMES A look at different start times within public and private schools near Ladue PUBLIC PARKWAY CENTRAL: 7:35 KIRKWOOD: 7:45 CLAYTON: 8:10
LADUEPUBLICATIONS.COM
PRIVATE JOHN BURROUGHS: 8:45 CHAMINADE: 7:45 MICDS: 8:30
12.14.20
15
A YEAR IN
RHEA PATNEY associate editor
REVIEW
Panorama ranks and reviews the months of 2020
1 2 3 4
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OPINIONS
FEBRUARY
illustration by | DANIELLE ZHANG
We know we’re talking about 2020 when the best month of the year also has the stock market crash. The Kansas City Chiefs won the Superbowl, proudly representing the state of Missouri and the corresponding halftime show featuring Jennifer Lopez and Shakira was a much needed improvement from Adam Levine in 2019. February also happened to be the last month where I didn’t think twice about going into buildings. Some extremely sad things did happen, though, including Ahmaud Arbery being shot while jogging in Georgia.
NOVEMBER November was a relatively positive month. Joe Biden broke Barack Obama’s record for most votes ever cast for a U.S. presidential candidate. In addition, we are finally beginning to see the light at the end of the COVID-19 tunnel — Pfizer and Moderna both created over 90% effective vaccines.
DECEMBER
As of Dec. 14
Arriving at December means we can finally almost put this horrible year behind us. The end of the COVID-19 tunnel draws closer, with the FDA approving the Pfizer vaccine Dec. 11. Also, the U.S. banned owning large cats as pets, attempting to prevent another Tiger King-like story from happening again.
JUNE June was a month of activism, especially among the youth. Around 550 Black Lives Matter protests occurred across the U.S. June 6; there was a major surge in youth advocacy surrounding the movement. June was also pride month, a chance for members of the LGBTQ community to celebrate their identity.
5 6
OCTOBER
Eight days before the Nov. 3 election, Amy Coney Barrett was named to the Supreme Court. Donald Trump also contracted COVID-19 and power outages swept California due to the raging wildfires. October did have some positives, though. Halloween fell on a Saturday with a full moon, Lebron James and the Lakers won the NBA championship and people began voting in the election.
JULY
Three weeks after Donald Trump held a rally in Tulsa, COVID-19 cases surged in Oklahoma. The Trump administration also attempted to pass a law requiring international students to leave the country if their university classes were held entirely online, which was eventually rescinded. July also saw the death of Glee star Naya Rivera, who drowned in a lake while trying to save her four-year-old son. SPREAD DESIGN BY RHEA PATNEY
7 8 9 MAY
AUGUST
SEPTEMBER
George Floyd was killed by the police May 25 in Minneapolis, increasing the momentum of the Black Lives Matter movement with a greater focus on police brutality. St. Louis, having the second highest number of COVID-19 cases in Missouri, was also under a stay-at-home order during this time. Also, we can’t forget the discovery of “murder hornets” in the U.S.
August was a month of tragedy; many lost their lives. The U.S. surpassed 170,000 COVID-19caused deaths. Chadwick Boseman passed away Aug. 28 and ammonium nitrate exploded in Beirut Aug. 4. On a more positive note, Joe Biden declared Kamala Harris his running mate which was the first time a woman of color was appointed to the presidential ticket.
Tragedy continued into September with the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Additionally, the police officers who killed Breonna Taylor in March were abdicated and Black Lives Matter protests entered their 100th consecutive night. Donald Trump and Joe Biden had their first televised presidential debate, which ended up turning into a chaotic event filled with bitter exchanges.
10 11 te
getative Ve
Sta
APRIL
JANUARY
In April, the global number of COVID-19 cases surpassed one million and the U.S. reached the highest COVID-19 death total in the world. Governor Parson issued a stay-at-home order for Missouri April 6. While this order slowed the spread of COVID-19, suicide and domestic violence rates rose. Kim Jong-un was also thought to be in a vegetative state in April, which ended up being a false claim.
It’s amazing how the month that is ranked second to last is also one of the only months where COVID-19 was not a problem in the U.S. Qasem Soleimani, an Iranian general, was killed in a U.S. drone strike. This increased tensions between the U.S. and Iran, causing World War III memes to circulate social media. Australia was ravaged by wildfires and a helicopter crash killed nine people, including Kobe and Gigi Bryant.
12 LADUEPUBLICATIONS.COM
MARCH COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization March 11, and the U.S. was put into a state of emergency March 13. Breonna Taylor was killed, the Olympics were postponed and toilet paper became the most coveted item at the grocery store. “Tiger King,” a show that I actually never ended up watching, also swept the nation, allowing viewers to get lost in the world of exotic animals and murder. March will forever be remembered as the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S. It is a month that will be written about in history textbooks. 12.14.20
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GRANDMA ELSIE’S CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES recipe and photo by | ETHAN WILLICK
RECIPE
1) In a large bowl, cream Crisco, sugar, brown sugar and vanilla together with a fork. 2) Stir in eggs, flour and baking soda and mix until semi-homogeneous. 3) Mix in chocolate chips and coconut until a crumbly dough forms.
INGREDIENTS
1 c. Crisco ½ c. sugar 1 c. packed brown sugar 1 t. vanilla 2 eggs 2 ¾ c. flour 1 t. baking soda 12 oz. bag of chocolate chips 7 oz. flake coconut
4) Form dough into balls the size of ping-pong balls and place on a greased baking sheet two inches apart. 5) Bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes or until golden brown. Cut apart and serve warm or freeze for up to six months.
ETHAN WILLICK
WRAPPED UP RECIPES N ES O AT HI M IS SA AR re c
ip e
an d
ph
4) Form dough into balls and place on a parchment covered baking sheet. 5) Bake at 350 degrees for 14 minutes or until just golden around the edges. Let cool slightly. Best served warm.
|M
3) Mix in toffee, chocolate chips and pecans until well incorporated.
1 c. butter ¼ c. brown sugar 2 large eggs 2 t. vanilla ½ t. salt 1 t. baking powder 2 ¼ c. flour 1 c. toffee bits 2 ½ c. semisweet chocolate chips 1 c. chopped pecans
by
2) Add vanilla, salt and baking powder and mix well. By hand, gently fold in flour until a dough forms and no dry clumps remain.
INGREDIENTS
ot o
RECIPE
1) In the bowl of a stand mixer, mix butter and brown sugar until combined. Beat in eggs one at a time until fluffy.
MARISSA MATHEISON
recipe and photo by | MARISSA MATHEISON
KAREN’S CHOCOLATE CHIP TOFFEE COOKIES
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A&E
SPREAD DESIGN BY TARIQ LASHLEY & EMILY WALKER
PEPPERMINT FUDGE recipe and photo by | LUCY LOCHMOELLER
INGREDIENTS
1 can sweet condensed milk 3 c. chocolate 1 t. peppermint extract Crushed candy canes Cwhocolate bars (chopped)
RECIPE
1) Cover a pan with tin foil and spray with oil to prevent stickage. 2) On low heat, gradually melt the chocolate of your choice and add in the can of sweetened condensed milk. Stir until chips are fully melted and it is smooth. 3) Pour the mixture into the greased pan and spread out the mixture evenly. Quickly add the crushed peppermints and the chopped chocolate bar. 4) Chill in the fridge for at least 2 hours. 5) Cut and enjoy!
LUCY LOCHMOELLER
Panorama staffers share their favorite holiday recipes INGREDIENTS
10 c. popped popcorn 12 oz. vanilla candy melts 5 candy canes (finely crushed) ½ c. good quality chocolate chips
RECIPE
1) Melt the candy melts according to the package, then pour over popcorn and toss evenly. 2) Add all but 1 tablespoon of the candy canes and toss to coat. Spread on large-rimmed, parchment-lined baking sheets. 3) Melt chocolate chips on in the microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring between intervals. 4) Drizzle the chocolate over the popcorn with a spoon. Sprinkle remaining 1 tablespoon of candy cane over chocolate. Allow chocolate to set, then break into pieces.
DOMENIC FENOGLIO
recipe and photo by | DOMENIC FENOGLIO
HOLIDAY PEPPERMINT BARK POPCORN LADUEPUBLICATIONS.COM
12.14.20
19
CHRISTMAS SONG CRITIQUE A detailed and honest review and ranking of popular Christmas hits
LUCY LOCHMOELLER a&e editor
illustration by | NICOLE GORRELL images courtesy of Genius
ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS YOU
Mariah Carey
Despite being a very successful R&B singer, Mariah Carey has made quite the name for herself in the Christmas music world. According to Business Insider, Carey has made $60 million from “All I Want for Christmas Is You.” It would be a crime to not crown this work of art with the title of best Christmas song. It’s as if once the familiar little chime melody is heard, everyone around is entranced. They stop what they’re doing, perhaps even stand up, take a deep breath and begin to belt out the lyrics — no matter how off-key — with Carey. Carey has cursed us all, but I don’t think anyone is mad about it.
1
2
3
4
ROCKIN’ AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE
HOLLY JOLLY CHRISTMAS
I WANT A HIPPOPOTAMUS FOR CHRISTMAS
Brenda Lee
Michael Bublé
Gayla Peevey
This 1958 Christmas classic is a timeless, catchy and upbeat song. This song gets extra points for being in one of the most iconic parts of “Home Alone,” when Kevin dances around and creates a fake party with mannequins. It’s also a perfect sing-along song that people of all ages can enjoy.
This wouldn’t be an accurate Christmas song ranking without the Christmas King: Michael Bublé. Every winter, Bublé makes his appearance on holiday radio stations. Bublé’s version of “Holly Jolly Christmas” fits his style of jazzy music. It could be catchier, but it’s still a Christmas favorite.
Sorry, Peevey, but this is easily one of the worst Christmas songs to date. While it is a popular hit in the 1950’s style of music, but it has become a disgrace to good Christmas music over the years. It hurts to listen to, the lyrics don’t blend well together and Peevey’s deep yet child-like voice is no help either.
20
A&E
SPREAD DESIGN BY LUCY LOCHMOELLER | DOMENIC FENOGLIO
PANORAMA BOOK CLUB FIND THE BOOK AT
Subterranean Books, 6275 Delmar Blvd.
$16.95 SNOW FALLING ON CEDARS David Guterson
Panorama offers books perfect for a winter time binge read illustration by | GRACE HU
GRACE HU
editor-in chief
David Guterson’s debut novel, “Snow Falling on Cedars,” is a study of forgiveness, family and race relations packaged as a murder mystery. Japanese-American fisherman Kabuo Miyamoto is standing trial for the murder of fellow fisherman Carl Heine. Covering the trial is Ishmael Chambers, the editor for the local paper and high school sweetheart of Kabuo’s wife, Hatsue. As the trial unfolds, Guterson takes the readers into the pasts of the main characters. He describes a childhood love between Chambers and Hatsue, racial tensions that ripped apart Kabuo and Heine and how Japanese internment changed each of the characters. Through these conflicts, readers are invited to contemplate what forgiveness really means, and if it is enough to heal divides. If you’re in the mood for a murder mystery, history lesson and exploration of humanity all wrapped in one, check out “Snow Falling on Cedars.”
With “Maybe you Should Talk to Someone,” clinical psychologist and author Lori Gottlieb has crafted an informative and touching story about therapy and the importance of self-awareness. The novel is a pseudo-memoir that follows the journey of several of Gottlieb’s patients and her own journey in therapy. Gottlieb brings the reader into the therapy sessions of a newlywed with terminal cancer, a woman who cannot forgive herself for not leaving her abusive husband and a callous TV executive. However, the larger purpose of the book is to understand self-awareness. With each patient, Gottlieb utilizes prose filled with personality to explore the concept of likeability while laying down a clinical framework for how therapists treat their patients. She highlights her patients development of self-awareness: they now understand how their actions affect others. If you’re in the mood for some self-reflection, this book is definitely worth a read.
FIND THE BOOK AT Half Price Books, 630 N Mcknight Rd.
$8.49 NORMAL PEOPLE Sally Rooney
LADUEPUBLICATIONS.COM
FIND THE BOOK AT Left Bank Books, 399 N Euclid Ave.
$28.00 MAYBE YOU SHOULD TALK TO SOMEONE
Lori Gottlieb
Breakout Irish author Sally Rooney weaves a heartbreaking, poignant and breathtaking story about the experience of living in “Normal People.” The novel follows the relationship between the wealthy but troubled Marianne Sheridan and intelligent but reserved Connell Waldron. Sheridan and Waldron first meet in high school and begin a complicated relationship muddled by anxiety and secrecy. As Sheridan and Waldron grow older, Rooney uses cutting prose to highlight the winding paths of their lives that often converge and diverge due to inexplicable circumstances. She explores the role that class struggles, insecurity and academic success play in everyday interactions. The book is an analysis of how painful and beautiful it is to grow up in a tumultuous world marred with social divisions and global upheaval. For the long afternoons where one may want to glimpse into the world of two normal people, this novel is a perfect escape. 12.14.20
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2020 PLAY-BY-PLAY Panorama looks back at this year’s defining sports moments KIRAN VARADACHARI
illu str at ion
health & sports staff
by
ANNE SUNG | JO
JANUARY 13
Louisiana State University defeats Clemson University 4225 in the College Football Playoff National Championship, completing its perfect season of a 15-0 record
SEPTEMBER 24
The Tennessee Titans report the first out of 18 cases of COVID-19 on their team, becoming the first NFL team to face a COVID-19 outbreak
OCTOBER 11
The Los Angeles Lakers defeat the Miami Heat by a series score of 4 games to 2, winning the franchise’s 17th NBA Championship
22
HEALTH & SPORTS
FEBRUARY 2
The Kansas City Chiefs defeat the San Francisco 49ers 31-20 in Super Bowl LIV, marking Kansas City’s first Super Bowl championship since 1970
JULY 23
The MLB becomes the first major professional league in the U.S. to start play since the beginning of the pandemic
NOVEMBER 10
The NBA announces a start date of Dec. 22 for the 20202021 season, where each team will play a 72 game schedule SPREAD DESIGN BY ERIN TURKIELTAUB | KATIE HOLLAND
WAYS TO COMBAT AND PREVENT
SLEEP DEPRIVATION 1
MAKE A SET ROUTINE
Create a routine for yourself with time for what you need to accomplish. Be sure to give yourself time to unwind before going to sleep.
2
illustration by | ERICA SHI
DECREASE SCREEN-TIME
Cutting back on screentime is imperative to bettering sleep habits. Try and make it a habit to put down electronics around 30 minutes before bed.
3
LET YOUR BODY REST
Let yourself rest and listen to your body. If you feel yourself growing tired, allow yourself the time you need to sleep and recharge overnight.
STOP DROP AND SLEEP Panorama investigates detrimental effects of sleep deprivation on students
OMAR AL’HUSSEINI staff writer
S
leep deprivation among students is at an all-time high, with nearly 73% of students not getting enough sleep each night. Because of the early mornings and late nights, many students don’t get anywhere near the recommended eight hours of sleep. “Teenagers need about eight hours of sleep per night because of how much they’re growing and developing and just where they are developmentally,” psychology teacher Molly Beck said. “So we know that teenagers need about eight hours of sleep a night, and if someone is up until 2 a.m. and in class at 7:30 a.m., they’re not getting that sleep.” On top of developmental issues, sleep deprivation can lead to poor mental health. This poses as a danger to those predisposed to mental illnesses. “Sleep deprivation can lead to all of these biological and neurological effects,” Beck said. “So then what you’re dealing with is a teenager who has a developing brain. I mean, you’re just setting yourself up to not be in the best space in terms of mental health.” LADUEPUBLICATIONS.COM
Many students experience sleep deprivation and feel as if it keeps them from being themselves. Students also notice changes in moods impacting school performance. “When I’m tired, I’m just not in a good mood or happy, so it’s affected me in the way that I’m just not myself during school days,” junior Armi Mubeen said. On top of the health issues that surface due to lack of sleep, many students believe that this lack of sleep is negatively impacting their grades. As the school year continues, students have become increasingly sleep-deprived, leading them to start looking for solutions of their own. “I use melatonin, which is like a sleeping drug when I can’t sleep or am looking for a way to break my bad sleeping habits,” Mubeen said. “It helps when I’m getting like six hours of sleep at night to be able to fall asleep at like nine for example.” Breaking bad sleep habits and getting back on a schedule may seem like a difficult task. This can be made manageable by creating a nightly routine and slowly transitioning into it. “It doesn’t have to be an all or nothing,” Beck said. “Try going from sleeping four hours to sleeping five hours a night. It’s all about letting your body adjust.” p 12.14.20
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HEA
IN LTH SERVICE SPEND HAS DECREASED BY
16%
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