April 2023

Source:The WashingtonPost

LEARN MORE... about how school shootings have permeated into American life

This is it — this is the last time our senior class will be reporting on you, Ladue. In the tradition of the magazine, we do indulge in our own issue, the Senior Issue, and the underclassmen will pursue their own endeavors. But what you’re reading now is our final chance to reflect this vibrant community.

Coming to high school these past four years has been no easy task, as any senior will tell you. It’s cliché at this point to describe the pressures of the academic setting. But it’s a modern phenomenon to ponder the morbid potential of a school shooting. As time passed, that potential only grew, and we, not only as a student body, but as a country, are coming to a tipping point. This month’s in-depth covers how Ladue is taking gun violence into its own hands to remediate the fear that grips the nation. We report on a student whose own family was tragically affected by a school shooting and a student who planned the middle school walkout.

Despite it all, high school is still a place where we come to learn and create. This month, we also cover the upcoming Kaleidoscope arts festival and an incredible young pianist. We give insight on feeling stuck with indecision and how to host a dinner party.

And in four years, we’ve found corners of the school where we feel wanted. Unfortunately, some have to work harder than others to reach that basic need. We cover the denial of trans rights and how the assumptions behind our speech can ostracize others. We each have the responsibility to make Ladue a loving place.

This is it — soon, we will say goodbye and leave Panorama into the hands of our wonderful staffers. Our presence might be fleeting, but we hope that the stories we told stay with you all for a little longer. Thank you, Ladue.

Panorama staf

EDITORS IN CHIEF

Max Eastman

Olivia Hu

Allen You

MANAGING EDITOR

Emmi Walker

ASSOCIATE EDITORS

Mac Huffman

Mimi Zhou

ART EDITORS

Tarek Al Husseini

Erica Shi

PHOTO EDITOR

Sydney Collinger

NEWS EDITOR

Avery Anderson

FEATURES EDITOR

Riley Coates

IN-DEPTH EDITOR

Annie Zhao

OPINIONS EDITOR

Pranavi Chintha

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Olivia Chen

HEALTH & SPORTS EDITOR

Luke Lochmoeller

NEWS STAFF

Mahith Samarathunga

FEATURES STAFF

Katie Myckatyn

Laura Shareshian

IN-DEPTH STAFF

Rory Lustberg

Arti Jain

OPINIONS STAFF

Richie Jiang

Emily Liu

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT STAFF

Joseph Baker

Jay Heintz

HEALTH & SPORTS STAFF

Lathan Levy

Michael Zegel

WEB EDITOR IN CHIEF

Rory Lustberg

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Vincent Hsiao

ADVISER

Sarah Kirksey

Max Eastman Olivia Hu Allen You

Under fre #ForSmith

Health & sports: Boys basketball reaches state fnal motivated by the passing of assistant coach Terrence Smith

Panorama policy

Our Policy

Panorama is a student-led monthly newsmagazine that strives to inform and entertain Ladue 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 on important issues. Panorama 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 unless otherwise stated and results cannot be used against respondents. Panorama will not share the names of anonymous sources. Panorama is produced by the newspaper class of Ladue Horton Watkins High School, and students on staff make all content decisions. Panorama operates as a public forum by practice and is not under prior review by administration. All opinions expressed in the Panorama do not necessarily reflect those of

the Ladue School District, nor do individual opinion columns necessarily reflect those of the rest of the Panorama staff

Scholastic Journalism Associations

Panorama is a member of the National Scholastic Press Association, Columbia Scholastic Press Association, Quill and Scroll and the Missouri Interscholastic Journalism Association. Panorama earned a Pacemaker in 2021, was a Pacemaker finalist in 2019 and has been a CSPA crown recipient since 2019.

Credits

Front cover and back cover design and illustration by Mimi Zhou. EIC photos by Mac Huffman. Correction from the February Issue: Caleb Flinn should be included in the committed athlete. He is committed to Missouri Valley College (page 29, Commited athletes). Correction from the Home Issue: Harfateh Singh's name is spelled wrong (page 28, Pedal to the medal).

In-depth: Community and schools cope with gun violence in American schools

Orchestra students host Kaleidoscope Festival

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Fighting for trans rights

New laws across country limit health care transgender people receive

by Avery Anderson news editor

Across the United States, a multitude of anti-trans laws are being put into place with the prospect of many more being introduced and passed throughout the course of the year. These laws, a majority of which are focused on health care, aim to limit the amount of treatment transgender people can receive.

The Missouri attorney general passed an emergency ruling that goes into effect April 27 and lasts for a year. This ruling makes it more difficult for transgender people to receive hormone therapy and surgery and impacts all members of the trans community, not just minors. The reason behind the ruling is because gender transition interventions are experimental and may have unknown or significant side effects; they have been prohibited by state laws.

“It’s dangerous for trans people to not have access to these procedures,” sophomore Amelia Goldwasser said. “It can be downright dangerous to their physical and mental health.”

Goldwasser publicly came out as transgender last year after be-

ing threatened to be outed. Being outed is when an individual who identifies as queer has their identity shared against their will by someone else. This can be over social media or in person to friends or family. Goldwasser has been on estrogen for seven months and hormone blockers for a month.

“The funny thing is that cis[gender] people are also affected by these laws,” Goldwasser said. “Some of the medication being withheld has to do with the effects of puberty, which can be used to treat cis people experiencing it too early or with unusual symptoms.”

Though these laws are becoming nationally widespread, the effects are undoubtedly being felt at Ladue and in its classrooms. Though not officially put into place, teachers at Ladue have been advised not to ask students pronouns, whereas before, it was a first day of school formality.

“Ladue’s a liberal area,” senior Alex Schepker said. “So it’s crazy to think that we’re being affected by this.”

Schepker explained discrimination within the queer community as a whole has risen. He talked about a recent issue where a gay couple was denied by a baker to have a cake topper of them creat-

Trans rights timeline

A glimpse into the milestones of the trans community

1952: Christine Jorgensen is the first American to have a sex reassignment surgery

By the numbers

1977: The Supreme Court rules that Renée Richards, a transgender tennis player, is able to play at the U.S. Open as a woman

1969: The Stonewall Riots, multiple demonstrations in retaliation to queer night club raids, begin and are led by transgender figures such as Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera

1999: Gwendolyn Ann Smith organizes the first Transgender Day of Remembrance in honor of Rita Hester, a beloved resident of Allston, Mass. and other murdered trans people

68% Due to showing ID with the incorrect information... experienced verbal harassment

ed on the basis that they were two men. Eventually, the case was taken to the Supreme Court and was ruled in favor of the baker. Schepker said that he believes anti-trans laws will soon extend to the entire LBGTQ+ community.

of trans people reported their IDs did not contain their correct name or gender

16% 9% 2%

were denied service were asked to leave the establishment they were at were assaulted or attacked

25% Sources:

2008: Stu Rasmussen becomes the first openly trans mayor in America in Silverton, Ore.

2009: The murder of Angie Zapata is among the first in which the hate crime law is applied to the murder of the transgender person

The transgender community is being targeted by local and national government. Goldwasser explained that because the trans community is viewed as such a small group, so they’re an easy target to suppress. The health care Goldwasser receives not only helps her to feel comfortable in her skin, but also helps her regulate her estrogen levels and other hormones.

“They want to get rid of anything they don’t understand; basically anything that doesn’t fit into their idea of perfect,” Goldwasser said. “Once they figure out they can suppress trans people, they’ll do the same to gay people and anyone who doesn’t fit into the idea of perfect.”

Goldwasser, like Schepker, said that she believes trans oppression will also lead to gay oppression.

“Just talk about it,” Goldwasser said. “If people talk about it, we can help save transgender people and raise awareness about all of the laws being passed. We can save lives.”

American Civil Liberties Union New York Times,

2012: Girl Scouts in Colorado accept any child who identifies as a girl

2013: The American Psychological Association places the term “gender identity disorder” with the term “gender dysphoria” in the DSM

2014: Laverne Cox becomes the first trans person to appear on the cover of Time magazine and to be nominated for an Emmy

2015: The White

House hires Raffi Freedman-Gurspan, its first openly trans staff member

"It'll be a great way for me to show some of my newer original music at the end of my high school career."

Orchestra students host Kaleidoscope Festival

by Mahith Samarathunga news staff

Orchestra students will host their Kaleidoscope Festival April 29 to showcase the talents of students in the arts. Many students were passionate to perform and share their talents during this meaningful event.

“It started last year,” sophomore Adam Ye said. “Mrs. Murry started the classical concert for orchestra students and she wanted all the orchestra people to participate.”

Many students are excited to perform during the event. Despite this, many students don't know the history behind the Kaleidoscope Festival. Twinda Murry, the orchestra director, wanted to start this at Ladue to expand students’ experiences and their level of creativity. This event started approximately five years ago.

“It kind of started out where orchestra groups could really perform with whatever they wanted to,” senior Cami Wise said. “It didn't have to be an orchestra instrument, and it could be any music they wanted.”

This year, the orchestra students spent eight months planning the layout

of the festival. With the support of Murry, students hope that this event will be a success.

“Mrs. Murry is great at organizing events and having this hype around [the] Kaleidoscope [Festival],” sophomore Yueheng Wang said. “She motivates students to play their instruments.”

There are many instruments and other kinds of arts that students want to showcase for the Kaleidoscope Festival.

“We do have some individual people; so like Gramm Raedeke, he's going to perform by himself," Wise said. "We also have some school groups like Viva Voce, orchestra groups and Lehde's Night, which is a band."

The Kaleidoscope Festival will be inclusive and encourages students to be a part of the Ladue schools community. It allows students to showcase their creativity and various talents that aren't usually showcased.

“The main thing is we just want to be able to show what Ladue is doing and how we have invested in more than just education,” senior Nicole Dong said. “It's more than that, and it's embracing the arts as well.”

The Kaleidoscope Festival features students’ diverse talents in which Ladue

can offer to all current students through various events for them.

“It's a great transition for involving not only students at the high school, but the community at the middle school and elementary schools," Murry said.

There are various types of arts that Ladue can offer to many students. Some of these include band, orchestra, painting and many other types of handmade art. Through these activities, students not only get to learn new skills but be a part of the community.

"Students that are going through Ladue High School will be able to see what kind of wonderful product there could be or how they can be involved,” Murry said.

Previously, students have participated in this well-rounded event by playing instruments such as the flute, different stringed instruments, trombone and piano. Now the event has expanded to all forms of arts. Students have created so many memories through being part of this event.

“My favorite part of being part of the Kaleidoscope Festival is that I just love playing the viola, and [I think] it's great to be able to socialize while making music,” sophomore Garon Agrawal said.

Sophomore Andy Dai, Garon Agrawal, Adam Ye, Margaret Leung and freshman Eric Mao gather during rehearsal. The festival will happen in the multipurpose room April 29. "I just hope to make the community happier by making a performance that they'll enjoy," sophomore Margaret Leung said. (Photo by Vincent Hsiao)

Gramm Raedeke (12)

Sara Rohatgi (10)

"My favorite part is being able to practice after school, create my own band [and] play with people I'm friends with."

"What's your favorite part of the festival?"

by Katie Myckatyn features staff

Asingle spotlight lands on junior Cindy Yan as she takes the stage at the Fabulous Fox Theater. The opening notes of piano chime out at the 13th Annual St. Louis Teen Talent Competition Finals and the crowd falls into raptured silence.

“Surprisingly, I wasn’t nervous,” Yan said. “Stage fright’s never really been a thing for me, and we’d done so much preparation that I just felt ready. I really wanted to play well and stay in the moment so I was focused on the music rather than the audience.”

Looking back, Yan never had a clear idea or plan of where her talent with piano would take her. Instead of focusing on a specific end goal, she enjoyed every moment of time she spent perfecting her craft.

“If a younger me saw where I am now and what I’ve been able to do, I feel she would be shocked,” Yan said. “I’ve played some crazy shows; I’ve played at Carnegie Hall and I’m about to perform at Fox Theater. I know all of the work I’ve

Key to talent

Junior Cindy Yan performs at 13th Annual St. Louis Teen Talent Show

put in to get here, but part of me still can’t believe it.”

At this point in her piano career, Yan’s near mastery of the basics allows her to apply more creative and expressive aspects to her pieces. Her technical ability comes from hours upon hours of repetition and experience, something evident in her performance at the Teen Talent Show.

“[Cindy’s] performances are always great,” sophomore Bohan Pan said. “She has a certain maturity and lyricism in the way that she plays music that’s so special and impressive to see, especially taking into account that she’s only a 16-year-old. Not to mention from a technical perspective, she’s out there demonstrating insanely difficult skills and passages.”

Laura Schindler taught both Yan and Pan to play piano. Schindler was a highly esteemed classical piano teacher in the St. Louis area and has worked with Yan since 2013. Schindler passed away March 23.

“[Schindler] has been my main source of support all these years; I’ve made it this far because of her,” Yan said. “I want to express

all my gratitude and emotions in my performance at the Fox and use it to honor her. After all, she’s the reason that I’m here; it’s all dedicated to her.”

One of the many lessons Schindler bestowed upon Yan was the way in which she views playing music. Rather than simply executing motions, Yan utilizes the piano to tell the story of the composition.

“Every classical piece has a story behind it,” Yan said. “Each sonata is more than just notes. They have their rises and falls, so I play them as a journey. Also, every piece was written by a person who had their own story and emotions going into it, so I try and express whatever the composer was thinking and intending when they wrote it.”

At the 13th Annual St. Louis Teen Talent Competition, Yan competed as one of 14 finalists. The Terry Lynford Classical Music Scholarship was awarded to her for her performance. While a milestone, this is not the end of Yan’s musical career.

“I don’t plan on stopping any time soon,” Yan said. “Playing the piano is something I’ll take with me to college and beyond.”

Junior Cindy Yan smiles from the stage at Fox Theater April 8. She has played piano since she was 5 years old. “I made my orchestral debut with the University City Symphony Orchestra when I was 10,” Yan said. “Since then, I’ve had the chance to perform with various local professional orchestras.”(Photo by Sydney Collinger)

RIGHT: A car drives along a street in Annecy, France. The Mont Veyrier and Semnoz mountains were visible in the distance. "[Annecy] is near Switzerland and it's very beautiful," Mina said.

BELOW: The sun sets above mountains that surround Annecy. The proximity of the mountains created unique opportunities. "During the winter, we have a lot of mountains around my house, so we can [go] skiing," Mina said.

(Photos courtesy of Matteo Mina)

Ask the host

"I loved having Julia [Gaspar] and showing her around St. Louis. We got along so well and made so many memories together. I really recommend hosting an exchange student if the opportunity ever comes up."

Stella Schober, sophomore

"I loved having Eva [Mauro], [and hosting her] was one of the best decisions I've ever made. Even though she was here for two weeks, we bonded, and when she left it was like a part of me left too."

Violet Cobaugh, junior

Au revoir, France

French students experience unique k-12 education

The school day at Saint Michel Annecy runs from 8 a.m.- 6 p.m.

Source: The French American Academy

Classes are more rigorous and strict in French schools.

"

"

[French school lunch] changes all the time, but usually it’s meat with rice."

Richard Sanz,

Salad/vegetables

sophomore

Glass of water

I'm surprised because you can do what you want. You can use your phone, listen to music [and] you can sleep. In France, if I just put my phone out on the table, I get out of the class. It's not the same rules."

After school, it's common for students to go out with friends.

We can chill or go to a cafe and drink something or just go out with friends from different schools. [I spend] around two hours out."

Baguette

Questioning students on their experience hosting exchange students " Eva

Matteo Mina, sophomore

Mauro, sophomore

illustration by | KATIE MYCKATYN

Bonjour, Amérique

International students discover American culture and high school education

by Laura Shareshian features staff

Sophomore Matteo Mina was one of the seven students visiting from Annecy, France, April 7-19. Each student “shadowed” a Ladue student currently enrolled in the French program by following the same schedule and attending the same classes.

“The flight was long; we took the first plane from Switzerland to Paris, that was an hour or two hours,” Mina said. “The second plane was 10 hours.”

Mina’s adjustment was not as difficult or unfamiliar as one might think, as this was actually his second time participating in a foreign exchange program. In 2022, he spent three weeks of sophomore summer in a small city outside Sacramento, Calif.

“The first time [I came to the U.S.], my parents imposed me to just get out of the house and take a plane to explore another country and improve my English,” Mina said. “This time we [came] here with my class.”

Of his two experiences, Mina prefers the latter.

“I think I prefer here because I go to the school,” Mina said. “So I discover a new thing.”

Sophomore Eva Mauro, another of the seven students, noted similar differences.

“Teachers are more mean [in France],” Mauro said. “Like, you can't just have your phone. You don't have [a] laptop. You can't listen to music. You don't eat. You just have to listen and write what the teacher says.”

Mauro was hosted by the Cobaugh family, and shadowed junior Violet Cobaugh. During her stay, Mauro noticed other school-related variations.

High school students at Saint-Michel Annecy attend school from 8 a.m.- 6 p.m.. For Mauro, a typical evening following the 10-hour school day includes two hours of going out with friends, then two more of homework.

“In France, we have 12 subjects in common with everyone else,” Mauro said. “As options, we have like Chinese and more science, like computer coding.”

In 2021-22,

948,519

there were international students

TOP 9 COUNTRIES STUDENTS ARE FROM

China

Still, cultural differences go beyond the classroom – dress, recreation and everyday interaction can take different forms for French students, according to Mauro and sophomore Richard Sanz, who stayed with junior John Scudi.

“The school is more cool and welcoming,” Sanz said. “In France, people [are] very sad.”

Sanz took part in the program to improve his English and discover American culture. He would like to return to the U.S. and explore other locations, like New York City.

Although they were 4,500 miles away from home, the students maintained a sense of connection.

“Sometimes it's difficult, but you can call your family,” Sanz said.

Alongside keeping in contact with family back home, the visiting students found a sense of belonging and close connections with their host families.

Sources: Ivypanda. com, Statista

“The two weeks [Mauro] was here [were] probably the two best weeks I’ve had this year,” Cobaugh said. “I hope she can visit again or I can go visit her because I already miss her so much."

LEFT: Sophomore Eva Mauro fnishes dinner with her friend. She found that American students spent their recreational time differently. “In France, we [go to] more restaurants and more adult things for [Americans],” Mauro said. (Photo courtesy of Eva Mauro)

ABOVE RIGHT: The French students and their hosts eat dinner together. Exploring St. Louis was an enriching experience for the visiting students. “[I loved] showing her around St. Louis and hanging out with all the other exchange students," junior Violet Cobaugh said. (Photo courtesy of Violet Cobaugh)

BOTTOM RIGHT: The visiting students shadow their hosts. Their school in France, Saint-Michel Annecy, provided a different environment. “Teachers are more mean [in France],” Mauro said. (Photo courtesy of Violet Cobaugh)

Behind a meal

How to throw a dinner party: from planning to cooking and hosting

1

Build a guest list

Invite guests one to two weeks prior to avoid conficts. If there is a theme, let invitees know in advance.

Dinner party themes

Only new people: Every guest brings another person no one else knows.

Game night: Whether it's sports or board games, have a casual dinner spliced in between rounds of games.

Unnecessary black tie: Dress up to the max just to eat take-out.

Taste the world: Guests bring a dish from their own culture.

3

Mise en place

Do as much as you can to prepare before you start cooking to stay organized.

Implementing mise en place

Start with a clean kitchen

Read over the recipe, if there is one

Get necessary cooking utensils such as pans, bowls, knives or spatulas

Gather, measure and chop ingredients

Clean before moving to the next step

Start cooking

Don't panic

2

Create a menu

Decide between potluck style, where each guest brings a dish, or a true dinner party where the host cooks everything. Coordinate with guests about the food either way to ensure everyone has something to eat regardless of diet or allergies.

Common allergy Possible swaps

Nuts

Dairy

Sunfower seeds, chickpeas and dried fruits

Non-dairy milk, nutritional yeast and cashew cheese

Just Egg substitute, applesauce, fax egg and yogurt Egg

Buckwheat, quinoa, corn four, oat four and tapioca Wheat & Flour

4 R&B playlist

Queue the music

Have a playlist and speaker ready to go, otherwise guests will take control and you are never getting aux back.

5

Preventing the chaos

The period between guests arriving and eating is full of chaos. A group of hungry people is uncontrollable; plan on eating as soon as people arrive.

6

Keep it going

Don't let the party end with the last course — plan something for afterwards. In warm weather, a bonfre is always a crowd favorite. Movies or games are good for cold weather.

Solutions for common cooking mistakes to prevent disaster

Oversalted? Burnt food? Fire?

Get rid of the excess salt by neutralizing it with an acid such as lemon juice, covering it up with sugar or diluting the salt with other ingredients. Dilution is the most complicated but will generally yield the best results.

If it's only the outer layer, cut or scrape off the burnt parts and pretend like it never happened. If it resembles charcoal more than food, toss it and order takeout.

Turn off the oven, but don't open the door. The fre will put itself out due to lack of oxygen. If the fre is spreading, use a fre extinguisher or water to put it

Cut yourself?

First, apply pressure with a clean paper towel until the bleeding stops. Then put on a bandage. Secondly, learn how to cut. Use the claw method to protect your fngers. Keep your fngernails perpendicular with what's being cut so you don't cut your fngertips.

illustration by | TAREK AL HUSSEINI

Pop and indie playlist

Jazz playlist

photo by | MAC HUFFMAN

A group of students attend an outdoor dinner party to kick off spring April 7. Everybody brought diffrent dishes such as pizza, cake, salad and pasta. “It was fun working together with friends to make an amazing dinner," junior Lizzie Ester said. (Photo by Mac Huffman)

Content warning:

gun violence

Under fre

Community and schools cope with gun violence in American schools

by Arti Jain in-depth staff

by Rory Lustberg web editor in chief

Tourniquets shoved in drawers. Bandages placed on shelves. Ladders propped up in cabinets. Teachers trained to treat bullet wounds. Stocked like a medical facility, this is what Ladue High School looks like in 2023. With an increasing emphasis on safety comes new procedures and materials, a stark difference from just a few years ago. School safety impacts everyone: students, staff and the entire community, and their voices must be heard.

377

Since 1999, there have been school shootings

349,000 students have faced in-school gun violence

Sources: Offce of Justice Programs, CNN, Foundation for Economic Education, Education Week, Washington Post

The Dieckhaus family

March 27, six lives were taken at The Covenant School in Nashville, Tenn. That day, six families and countless communities were changed forever. The aftershocks traveled 397 miles, where junior Emily Dieckhaus faced the unthinkable — the loss of her 9-yearold cousin, Evelyn Dieckhaus. After this tragic event, Emily grappled with anxiety.

“There's always that background in your head like, ‘What can happen today?’” Emily said.

“You see so much [gun violence] on social media and it seems to be almost growing at this point. The gun violence just keeps getting worse and worse. And it's crazy

how you never know if it'll affect you, and then, it does.”

Emily first found out about the Covenant shooting on social media. She didn’t know about Evelyn’s death at the time, and initially saw the post as yet another routinely tragic event.

“All these shootings happen all the time and you see the names and you kind of scroll over them,” Emily said. “But now that name is standing out to you; my last name is on this social media post.”

After learning of Evelyn’s death, Emily and her family drove to Nashville. There, the community rallied around them — offering transportation, food and even medical assistance for the family dog. She saw this as a double-edged sword,

as it provided comfort, but it also carried the weight of appearances in public.

“This was the one thing that really hit close to home,” Emily said. “You really never ever think it'll happen to you until it does. Especially her being so young and then the whole school shooting aspect of it and then it being on social media. [We got] approached in grocery stores [by people saying,] ‘Are you the Dieckhaus family? We saw your name on the news.’”

Emily was very close with Evelyn, who was a beloved member of the family.

“Evelyn had her own little connection with everyone, her own little thing with everyone, and her being the youngest, she was just everyone's little baby,” Emily said.

The Dieckhaus family traveled together often with all of the cousins, so Emily and Evelyn spent a lot of time together. Evelyn was only 9 years old when she died — but even so, her vibrant personality was apparent. To honor that, the family wore pink to her funeral.

“We said in her eulogy that she liked the color pink and she liked the color black,” Emily said. “She would wear combat boots, but she would also wear skirts and it was like she had these two sides to her.”

After Evelyn’s death, Emily couldn’t help but notice the vulnerability of school safety, no matter the precautions taken.

“There's talk about how the

shooter was able to shoot down the door and just walk right in and it makes you wonder, ‘How did no one see this on camera?’” Emily said. “It's just kind of weird. It makes me wonder, ‘It's really that easy?’ I don't understand how it could be that easy. It makes me wonder if only someone had spotted the person first or they had bulletproof glass or something and then all this would not have happened.”

The grieving process has been tumultuous for Emily and her family. Evelyn’s death left an enormous hole in their lives, one that can never be repaired.

“At one moment we can all be laughing and having fun together, and then the next minute it all hits us and then we're sitting there talking about her [saying], ‘How could this have happened?’”

Dieckhaus said. “Every single day, it gets a little bit better, but deep down I know that I'll always be changed by this.”

Government

School safety starts at the top — the government and their regulations. However, some feel that not enough is being done by the government; especially when considering that there are no standardized requirements for school safety procedures. This idea concerns student and Community Services Assistant Superintendent Derrick Wallace.

“At this point in time, there are no national or state standards regarding school safety,” Wallace said. “[It] would be helpful if we

95% 8%

had national or state standards on safety. Think about it. We have standards for driving a vehicle: you have to have a driver's license, you have to drive on the right [and] the steering wheel is on one side. So it would help with consistency.”

shooter drills

of public schools practice active and lockdowns

Governor Mike Parson of Missouri signed a bill Feb. 27 to allocate $20 million to school safety. Standardizing procedures would allocate additional funds to aid in the implementation of more extensive security measures.

Annually, Oct. 14, 2022,

U.S. schools the Department of Justice

spend awarded

“Yes, [I wish we had national or state standards for safety] because then I think [that] would free up funding,” Ramirez said.

$3.1 $190

billion million

on security in grants to

features support school safety

This number rises around each year

Governmental policies regarding mental health have also played a large role in the national gun violence debate. Jessica Meyers, director of the St. Louis Area Violence Prevention Commission, feels a holistic approach should be taken. She believes that the availability of mental health resources, or lack thereof, is a root cause of gun violence incidents.

“We have way too few mental health services in the country, especially for youth, whether it's counselors, peer support or psychiatrists,” Meyers said. “Not everybody needs medication, but some people do and the fact that it can take months or years to get someone under 18 in to see a psychiatrist is disgraceful. How are we putting them, their families and their communities at risk by not being able to appropriately treat that person?”

Administration

Another entity responsible for school safety is that of administration. Student and community services assistant superintendent Derrick Wallace has his own goal of safety for Ladue.

Violence running rampant

In 2023,

“Safety means you all as students can come and thrive and achieve at high levels, our staff can come to work and function at a high capacity, working with you all as students,” Wallace said. “So that really is the hope.”

The increasing prevalence of active shooter situations in schools has caused schools to implement new and creative safety measures. During the 2022-2023 school year, Ladue high school students experienced their first active shooter drill, practicing the 4 E’s procedure: Educate, Evade, Escape, Engage.

“Before, there was no training for an incident like this, and now we're really pushing for the change,” Ramirez said. “It's a public outcry or we've seen it on TV and I think there's a need for it. So it evolves. We're gonna evolve with it.”

In order to stay vigilant, Ladue continuously updates security measures. In the future, Ramirez anticipates additional measures that will help to better protect schools.

“There are several systems that we're putting in schools,” Ramirez said. “By [this] time next school year, they should be up and running. We

stay on top of that, and I think Ladue really does an excellent job compared to the Missouri area.”

Response

Regardless of the strides made by Ladue administration, active shooter situations are often on the forefront of their minds. As shootings have become commonplace and schools are often targeted, many have felt increased anxiety.

“This issue of gun violence is [an issue] that directly affects our lives as students,” eighth-grader Calvino Hammerman said. “[It’s] one of the biggest because we are in school, we have to be there and we should not be subjected to the dangers.”

illustration by | MIMI ZHOU

“Kids have to feel safe to be able to learn. The safer they feel, the better off they are in a learning environment."

Richard Ramirez, school resident ofcer

Lives and legislation

Gun-related statistics by state

30

Missouri's 2007 repeal of the permit-to-purchase law, requiring background checks, was associated with a 47% increase in gun homicide rates. 25 20 15 10 0

Sources: CDC, Center for American Progress, Everytown for Gun Safety, Gun Violence Archive, Pew Research Center and World Population Review

“First thing I think of [when hearing ‘school shooting’] is ‘why?’” Harrison said. “Why has society devalued life so quickly in the 23 years that I’ve been [at Ladue]?”

This concern is also felt by Reed Elementary second grade teacher Lindsey Anderson. She has been teaching for 23 years and has consistently felt like Ladue should do more.

“[I don’t think Ladue is doing enough to prepare], but I think that that’s universal,” Anderson said. “Schools in general are not prepared.

I think there should be bulletproof glass in all schools. We have a lot of security measures as far as our doors; our exterior doors are all locked, [and] there’s a little vestibule before you can actually enter the building. So we have put things in place, but I don’t think that it’s necessarily a Ladue issue, I think it’s a universal issue. It needs to be taken a little more seriously.”

sons. She feels that additional funding is needed to be adequately prepared.

"It needs to start with legislative measures to have stricter gun control. [The prevalence of school shootings] makes us all on edge knowing that at any point in time, we’re not safe."

Lindsey Anderson, teacher

After asking for safety supplies to keep in her classroom, Anderson was turned down due to budgetary rea-

“I would love to see all possible measures considered, and not considered from a financial standpoint, but from the mental, emotional, physical well-being of students and staff,” Anderson said. Though the cause may seem helpless, there are actions students and staff can take. Wallace hopes that students will tell an adult when they hear anything regarding safety concerns — even comments that may be perceived in a joking manner.

LADUEPUBLICATIONS.COM | APRIL 2023 IN-DEPTH 15

“That adage ‘if you see something, say something’ seems so simple, but the more that we can remind everyone to do that, the better off we will be,” Wallace said. “There are times where, as students, you might see something, and then we look into the situation and find out [that] someone didn't say something earlier. And as early as we can share whatever in-

The U.S. has the highest amount of frearms per capita in the world.

It also has the highest amount of frearm deaths among the most developed nations.

formation we have on the topic, the better it is going to be. We can provide some additional support to someone; we can get an evaluation for someone.”

In order to advocate against school shootings and for gun reform, Hammerman organized a walkout at Ladue Middle School April 5. A total of 350 students participated, leaving their classes to send

a message and spread awareness. Hammerman believes that events such as these serve as a platform for students to engage with the world around them.

“[The walkout participation] proves that [students] do have a voice and we do care about what's happening,” Hammerman said. “We are not disengaged from what's happening in the world."

Violence prevention resources

Gun violence prevention and education can be acquired through various resources, from the greater St. Louis community to our local Ladue community.

St. Louis Area Violence Prevention Commission

Missouri Foundation For Health

illustration by | ANNIE ZHAO & MIMI ZHOU

Pano perspective

Administration should improve intruder safety training to ensure student and faculty safety

17 out of 20 Panorama staff members agree

Since preschool, fire drills have been a constant event, recurring multiple times each school year. The familiar ringing of the alarm and the crowded, but calm walk to the nearest exit has become almost a second nature to students and faculty. But when there hasn’t been a death from a fire in a school since 1958, and guns are the leading cause of death for children and teens, it leads one to wonder if the amount of intruder drills needs to be increased. In a world where school shootings have become a shockingly normalized occurrence, clear-cut exits and strategies have become just as necessary as any core curriculum.

According to the Washington Post, as of April 3, more than 349,000 students have been affected by gun violence at school. There are infinite circumstances students may need to prepare for in the event of an armed intruder, and while impossible to adequately prepare for every situation, it is not enough to only practice an escape route in one class. More comprehensive safety training and planning are undoubtedly needed.

The Four E’s — Educate, Evade, Escape and Engage — is a plan of action that students can follow in the event of an emergency. However, the most problematic of the Four E’s, engage, is an anxiety-inducing prospect that puts students in possible danger. Though administration made it clear this is a last resort,

it is possible that with better planning engaging may be avoided even more. As opposed to spending our time scouring the room for possible weapons, our time would be better spent planning safe routes out, therefore undoing some of the stress student’s experience from the protocol that encourages student-led engagement with an active intruder.

Though preparedness may never be total, further information and practice on how to exit any Ladue building would help to increase our ability to evade an intruder and in turn, lead to a feeling of preparedness and security.

Time would be better used by reviewing maps of the schools with visual displays of exits as well as drills from all class periods throughout the day, so students and faculty know how to exit the building safely from any room at any time.

Ladue’s administration has made massive progress in terms of increasing the amount of safety training, but progress can still be made.

School should be a place where stress is minimal and caused by tests and quizzes, not the fear of not knowing how to escape in the event of an intruder.

School systems, in general, must do better at preparing all students and faculty for intruder emergencies as it is not only crucial in alleviating unease, but also in saving lives.

illustration by | ERICA SHI

Permanent foreigner

Asking where someone is from during small talk can be alienating

by Emily Liu opinions staff

Where are you from?” is a question we commonly ask and get asked when struggling to navigate the cataclysm that is small talk. At first, it seems noninvasive, inviting the other person to share how they came to be standing before you. However, such a question, while often asked out of curiosity, could uproot something much deeper within us: our sense of belonging. For many, including people of color, this harmless intent can read much more like alienation.

Despite being normalized in spaces such as work or school, inquiring on one’s identity is often a microaggression or an everyday statement or action that results in subtle or unintentional discrimination. It is no coincidence that the group confronted the most on where they come from are people of color, people that look visually different from the light-skinned white “norm.” For these individuals who may already view them-

selves as different, the question feels much more like a racial or ethnic call-out, as if to say, “you don’t belong here.”

Asking where someone is from can also have damaging psychological effects on an individual already struggling to understand their own culture and identity. For a person of color born and raised in America, or someone of mixed race, it can signal that they aren’t “American” enough, despite being American from birth and being raised as such. Especially if they do not currently identify strongly with their racial heritage, this may lead to feelings of isolation, or can negatively affect their self-image. This is the problem with microaggressions; individually they may seem harmless, but taken as an aggregate, they can make you feel disrespected or uncomfortable.

These questions have wider societal harms as well. They carry bias and assumption that only serve to validate surface-level beliefs on ethnicity and culture. It intrinsically ties each individual to their race and ethnicity, and can reduce their complex

and lifestyle to mere stereotypes, closing the door to further conversation on who they really are, aside from where their roots come from. This is particularly reductive as none of us identify singularly with a culture or lifestyle and can each belong to multiple different ethnicities, cultures and identities at once. Any indication otherwise merely reinforces the implication that we ought to label ourselves or fit into wider stereotypes.

As we continue to operate under the shadow of decades of racial separation and exclusion, we must be more cautious of the questions we ask along with the manner in which we ask them. Your response and tone are crucial when inquiring about one’s origin, as there is a stark difference between responding with respect and acceptance versus the all too common “Where are you really from?” No one should have to prove their identity, or even conform to its standards, and being aware of the privilege of looking like the “standard” may hold us accountable and help us better navigate the divide between curiosity and microaggression.

illustration by | EMILY LIU

On racial discrimination and identity

Sources:

Time to decide

People should be more firm when making decisions, even when they have limited information

by Richie Jiang opinions staff

If you’ve ever been paralyzed by indecision, you know it’s not a good feeling. This uncertainty is often worsened when the choice is one that greatly impacts your future, and you only have limited knowledge on where the different decisions might lead. After all, how are you supposed to know what exactly will happen in your future?

This lack of knowledge can be our greatest obstacle, with the risk of stepping into the unknown being too daunting to overcome. So, instead we might cope by withdrawing, over-preparing, or worst of all, resigning ourselves to following the decisions of others. So how can we persuade ourselves into making a risky decision when we just don’t have the amount of information we’d like?

Well, making decisions based on limited information has been part of our lives since the beginning of human existence. And of course, not all of them unfold exactly how we’d like them to. Whether it was eating those strange berries that we thought weren’t poisonous, but are now making our vision blurry, or deciding to invest in the stock

In hindsight

market right before the Great Depression, we have always made objectively “bad” decisions due to insufficient knowledge.

However, in our modern age, we have more resources at our disposal to gain a better understanding of what our future options look like. Gaining more information, whether from others or online, about the possible repercussions of our decision is one way to address the uncertainty. Another key step to beating this paralysis is being able to make that risky decision while still missing “crucial information.” Sometimes the risk can seem too great to not wait for more information, but we also need to consider what that waiting can cost us. The stress of trying to determine what may be an unknowable outcome can lead to us doubting ourselves and our judgement, in addition to the multitude of other problems mentioned above. Furthermore, what truly counts as “crucial” knowledge? This endeavor to acquire more information can also ultimately end up unhealthy if you put too much emphasis on trying to prevent any and all negative results or know and control the unknowable. If you feel that the future causes you too much stress, try addressing that through

Most common big life decisions categories

Career-related

Educationrelated

Family-related

Finance-related

Relationshiprelated

Relocationrelated

Self destructionrelated (e.g. addiction)

Self developmentalrelated (e.g. religion/ spirituality)

Source: Podcast Notes

Scan to learn more about what causes indecision

healthier methods, rather than obsessing over what can’t be known.

Indeed, the only way forward is for us to acknowledge the uncertain outcome and risk of our choices, and then, be able to take it still.

This problem of not being able to decide when lacking information is often compounded by the knowledge of when our past decisions might have panned out in a way we didn’t like. Once we’ve committed to a path, too often we are consumed by the thought of what could have been if we had just known what we do now. The knowledge of this can lead to us wanting to avoid making such a mistake again, even if it means resorting to one of the coping methods mentioned above.

This rumination on the past is fruitless and self-demeaning. Our past decisions are set in stone, and if you did what you thought was best at the time, then that’s all you can ask of yourself. Learn to accept that, and better understand what possible outcomes of the decisions in your life are, while recognizing that some will remain unknowable until they happen. You might find yourself a more prudent and confident decision maker.

And maybe just stay away from strange berries.

P

Students and staff share hard decisions made in their life and how they made them

“Choosing volleyball over tennis was a big decision for me. I had to weigh the pros and cons. I chose volleyball because it was a new sport for the school; it’s good to be a part of Ladue history.”

Ashmit Tendolkar, junior

“Talking to my parents and siblings about my top priorities in a school helped me make my decision. I looked at my schools again with the new priorities I made with my parents.”

Jordan Hunt, senior

“My big decision recently was moving my family to California. We have talked about moving many times. This time we had a really great offer and thought this was a great opportunity.“

Rachel Garavaglia, teacher

Exploring the outdoors

Everything you need to know before going camping around the Midwest

by Joseph Baker a&e staff

How to plan for when you’re camping:

Knowing when it’s a good time to go camping is extremely important, because if you go and the weather turns out to be really bad, it could put your life at risk. Taking precautions like checking the weather before you go camping and making sure you’re in a safe place are really important. You must also be aware of wild animals like bears and snakes. It might be best to go with a group of friends or your family.

Where to go camping in Missouri:

Going on a camping trip can be really awesome if you know where to camp, but if you don’t want to travel 1,171 miles to Florida, there are some great places to go to in Missouri. Places like Silver Dollar City offer many locations to visit like lakes and theme parks, along with Lake of the Ozarks, which has beautiful lakes that are great to visit on your camping trip. Some honorable mentions include Mark Twain National Park and Camdenton.

How to set up your tent: Scan for more instructions on tent set-up.

Camping 101

Scan for a detailed guide to camping: from how to light a fre to what camping gear to bring.

What to bring and how to stay safe:

Camping can be a great way of taking a break to connect with nature. Before you go off camping, it's really important to have a place for shelter, such as a tent and a sleeping bag. If sleeping on the ground isn’t your thing, you can also bring a sleeping pad or an inflatable mattress. If you’re more into modern camping, where you want to enjoy the scenery of camping but don’t want to be in a tent, having a camper or an RV is a great option to take into account.

To be safe while you’re camping, it’s essential to bring items that can protect you while you’re out camping. Bringing flashlights, bug spray and sunscreen is really important to your camping experience to prevent getting a sunburn or mosquito bites. Just in case you get lost, it’s always good to bring a compass and an emergency kit. If somehow you’re separated from your group, it might be a good idea to have a survival book and the emergency kit just to be safe.

1. Find a good spot for your tent

2. Clear the space of twigs

2. Assemble the poles and make the frame of the tent

3. Place the pole thought the rings of that garment

4. Attach the body of the tent to the poles, and put on the cover for the tent

5. Nail your tent into the ground so it doesn’t move

illustration by | MIMI ZHOU

Plenty of plastic

Shocking statistics on plastic pollution

Most commonly found plastic waste include: bags bottles

instead of plastic straws:

Less than

10%

of plastic waste is recycled

Sources: Because Health Center for Biological Diversity, Earthday.org, UN Environment Programme

metal straws

Use: Helps you sip drinks

Care:

Use dishwasher or soak in warm water with soap, then rinse

$

Produced from: Food-grade stainless steel alloy

instead of plastic wrap:

beeswax wrap

Use: Can be wrapped around food as a seal to ensure freshness

Care:

Gently wash by hand using gentle detergent

Produced from:

Although I personally don’t use straws often, it’s handy to have a reusable straw at home. Metal straws work just like your average plastic straw; the only difference is you can’t bend them, which isn’t a huge deal. At first, the metal straw left a very subtle metallic taste in my mouth. But, after a couple of uses, it diminishes and is unnoticeable. The washing process is fairly simple, but make sure to fully clean the inside with soap and rinse to prevent the risk of bacterial growth. Metal straws will last much longer than a plastic straw without the sogginess of other sustainable options, such as paper or bamboo straws.

instead of plastic grocery bags:

$$$ $$

Organic cotton, beeswax, tree resin, organic plant oil

While plastic wrap does a good job of keeping food fresh, it produces a large amount of plastic waste. Recently, beeswax wrap has gained popularity. At first, its sticky coating made it difficult to use and sometimes left a residue, albeit easily removed. Ultimately, the stickiness becomes easier to work with, but it’s important to keep the wrap clean and dry after use. Beeswax wrap performs even better than plastic wrap and allows for food to stay fresher for longer. It can be molded to fit any fruit or to cover any bowl. Not only that, beeswax wrap comes in various adorable designs while being reusable. I recommend pur chasing a larger wrap, because its size can’t be adjusted to your liking like plastic wrap can.

jute bags

Use: Can carry any items such as trips to the beach or for groceries

Care: Gently wash by hand using gentle detergent

Produced from:

Natural fber extracted from outer skin and stem of jute plant

Jute bags are less convenient compared to plastic grocery bags, especially if you organize your items in a certain way. However, they feel much sturdier compared to plastic and paper bags and are most similar to cotton tote bags. An issue I struggled with is plastic bags constantly forming holes due to their thin and weak material, which the strong jute material prevents. You may need to purchase several jute bags to hold all your groceries, but even just replacing plastic bag use with any bag you already own does better for the en vironment. Jute bags last long and are friendly to the environment, unlike single-use plastic bags.

Sustainable living

*the best option for the environment is to reuse any bags you already own

illustration by | OLIVIA CHEN

Research says that by 2050, plastic will outweigh all the fsh in the sea

The Offspring is a rock and pop punk band that was very popular in the late 90s and the early 2000s. This concert is more for people who enjoy nostalgic bands and more intense music, their most popular songs are "Pretty Fly," "You're Gonna Go Far Kid" and "Gone Away." They are going to be performing at the Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre with the bands Simple Plan and Sum

In downtown St. Louis from 6-11 p.m., Guns N' Roses will be performing at Busch Stadium. This is one of the bigger events this year. Guns N' Roses is a band for people who like hard rock. Their most popular song is "Sweet Child O' Mine" from 1987.

Sept. 09

Sept. 09

Hozier Paramore

Hozier is a artist who makes songs that are a mixture of catchy beats and slow indie rock. Good for late drives at night, Hozier's most popular songs are "Take Me To Church" and "Eat Your Young," but I also enjoy "Work Song" and "Like Real People Do." Hozier will be performing at the St. Louis Music Park Sept. 9.

Paramore is an early 2000s rock band, so their concert will be more enjoyable for rock listeners and people looking to listen to nostalgic feeling tunes. Paramore will perform at the Enterprise Center at 7 p.m. July 30. Their new album was released earlier this year and will most likely be on the set list for this concert, along with some of their older and more popular music.

Aug. 27 July 30

Summer setlist

Tyler Childers

Tyler Childers is an artist for lovers of country music to dance or drive to at night. Some of his best known songs are "All Your'n" and "Nose on the Grindstone." This summer on July 29, at the Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre in Maryland Heights, Childers will perform at 6:30 p.m.

Country Indie

June 09 July

Cavetown

Cavetown is an indie staple that includes soft ukelele. With both calm and electronic sounding music, this artist's music differs from each other more than any others on the list. It also caters to more people. Cavetown is most known for the "Animal Kingdom" and"Lemon Boy" albums. Cavetown will play July 28 at the Saint Louis Music Park in Maryland Heights at 6 p.m.

July 28

Sam Hunt Hippo Campus

Another artist for country lovers, Sam Hunt is know for songs like "Body Like a Back Road." But I also enjoy "Ex to See" and "Make You Miss Me." As someone whose favorite genre is not country, I do enjoy Sam Hunt. Sam Hunt will be performing June 9 at the Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre showcasing his Summer On the Outskirts tour, beginning at 7:30p.m.

Hippo Campus is an indie rock band from Minnesota. The most popular songs by them are "Way It Goes" and "South." Hippo Campus plays more soft songs with a mixture of folk in them. They will be performing at The Pageant with Gus Daperson May 22 at 8 p.m. Though this show is on a Monday, it is defnitely worth it.

May 22

Sources: Sire Records, Caleb Wright, MCA Nashville Records, Hickman Holler, TAURUS, Rubyworks Records, Carlos De La Garza and Concord

10 to 20

people attend concerts each year

32 million 18 to 34 46% of concert attendees are ages songs are played in each concert

illustration by | JAY HEINTZ Buy tickets here

#ForSmith

Boys basketball reaches state final motivated by passing of assistant coach Terrence Smith

by Lathan Levy health & sports staff

Coaches, to many athletes, are more than just another authority figure or someone always telling them what to do. Coaches are role models and leaders; they also aid athletes in their journey of becoming the best versions of themselves. Coaches are there to support the needs of athletes — to help them strive to be positive members of their communities. Coach Terrence Smith was one of those coaches.

Led by head coach Chad Anderson, the Ladue boys basketball team made it all the way to the

state semifinals against Jefferson City, then the state finals, falling short to Cardinal Ritter.

Although the team was hopeful for the season, many talented seniors graduated last year, and some players were apprehensive about how their season would unfold.

“Fischer Thompson and I talked about what our record would be before the season, and we both thought we were gonna go 20-6 in the regular season, and we were actually pretty close to that,” senior Jack Steinbach said. “And then we thought we had a good chance at winning districts, but after that, we weren't too sure. We made it way further than everybody else thought.”

2022-2023 season

1,990 26-6

points scored this season

Season record

Although there was drive for success from the players, the motivation fueled by the passing of Smith pushed the team even further. Smith passed away Nov. 27 after a heart attack in his home.

“Coach Smith worked in the building and about seven years ago, he came up to me in the gym one day in practice and kept hanging around,” head coach Chad Anderson said. “Finally, I asked him if he wanted to be a part of the program. We didn't have a paid spot, but I told him he could be a volunteer and the next day he was there and we never turned back."

Coach Smith was an extremely reliable member of the program, and always made time to be there

The team celebrates their win in the district fnal game against DeSmet March 6. This was a turning point in the season where many players started to believe that the state title was possible. "I did not think we were going to make it this far," senior Jaylen Swinney said. "I don't think anybody did. But we proved a lot of people wrong." (Photo by Vincent Hsiao)

Scan for Class 5 state championship

ABOVE: Coach Terrence Smith gives senior Zion Hamption a celebratory high fve after a win at the pre-season jamboree. This was one of the last times the players got to see Smith. “I think these [are] times that the kids will never forget; the things we accomplished and how much fun we had doing it,” head coach Chad Anderson said. (Photo by Gabby Shafman)

LEFT: The team huddles before a game against MICDS Dec. 16. They wore shirts that read, "I'm proud of you all. - Coach Smith." “He always did the stuff behind the scenes and he would always be at practice early,” sophomore Trisiah Edwards said. (Photo by Vincent Hsiao)

TOP LEFT: The scoreboard displays a "#ForSmith" graphic before a game starts. The season was very diffcult for all involved, but it brought the team much closer. “Smith would give us constructive criticism, but he'd never yell at us,” senior Jack Steinbach said. (Photo by Vincent Hsiao)

for the team. He was always the positive coach who never had anything bad to say about anyone.

"Coach Smith was just a great, kind soul who made everybody else around him happy," Anderson said. "He would always tell the kids he was proud of them, no matter what. He really helped keep all of the kids' heads up and focused on learning from their mistakes and moving forward.”

Smith was an extremely kind hearted person who treated everyone with compassion. He was very important to both the program and to all the players on the team, especially Steinbach.

“Smith was a great guy,” Steinbach said. “He would give us constructive criticism, but he would never yell at us. He would always keep us under control and

give us the best advice.”

The passing of Smith affected all members of the team, including Chad Anderson, who has been a coach in the program for 23 years, 15 of them as head coach. Although the passing of the coach was extremely tragic, it allowed the team to bond on a different level which helped them throughout the season.

“It was definitely something I never imagined that I would have to deal with,” Anderson said. “It was very, very tough for the first three or four weeks after. It was tough all season, but I think once we had some conversations about how to deal with it, we were going to commit to making our season for coach Smith, so I think it motivated our kids.”

Coach Smith was an influental person in many of the players' lives. The death

was a huge surprise to the entire team, as they had seen him at practice just the week prior.

“When we heard [Smith] passed, it was very shocking because it came out of nowhere,” senior Jaylen Swinney said. “We got the phone call from our team saying that he had passed away. We all got on a Zoom and everybody was very shocked and sad.”

The passing of such an integral member of the team served as a powerful driving force to propel the team towards victory. With one of the best seasons ever recorded in Ladue history, it is clear that the motivation from the passing of a member of the team served as a instrumental factor to the team's unprecedented success.

“I feel like it made me play for him,” sophomore Trisiah Edwards said. “It made me play harder knowing that he wasn't here, and we had started off the season with him dying so it felt like we were playing the season for him.” P

"Our seniors defnitely left their own legacy with our team, but I think they also showed our younger guys how to lead by example."

Chad Anderson, head coach

All the pieces in play

Taking a look at the chess team's past successes

by Luke Lochmoeller health & sports editor

Ladue High School is very decorated, with award winning academics, record-breaking fundraising clubs and state titles across many sports. However, one club specifically has been on a state winning streak: the chess club.

“Our team has gone undefeated in league play,” chess club coach and Ladue teacher Zach Garrison said. “We won the Gateway League two years in a row. Then, we won state two years in a row. Two years prior to that they didn't have [state], then there was one year that there were no tournaments. The year before that they won as well. So technically, we've won three years in a row.”

Despite being a mostly individual sport, the Ladue Chess team takes pride in the camaraderie and sees the importance of having a strong friendship within the team.

“The chess team has taught me that you have to contribute to the team in order to win,” senior Andrew Stappenbeck said. “State, for instance, is all about the team, and making sure everyone does their part.”

Chess can be a stressful sport. It requires hard thinking, and the competitive nature can be draining. However, the closeness of the team combated this.

“I enjoyed playing this year because I was at a point where I was tired of the constant competition,” freshman Celina Zhou said. “The league matches are more casual and fun and I think helped rekindle some of my love for the game.”

As coach, Garrison takes pride in the strong team spirit of the chess club. The closeness of the team has contributed greatly to their constant success within competitive chess.

“I'm most proud that we are a pretty tight group,” Garrison said. “Everybody you know, helps each other get better and it's a fun group to be around."

Pinning and winning

Looking at senior Scarlette Maier's girls wrestling redemption season

by Luke Lochmoeller

From freshman year's unexpected but deserved run to states semifinals, to senior year placing third overall in state, student Scarlette Maier has come a long way while breaking records, dominating girls wrestling and paving the way for more girls to participate.

“I first started wrestling my freshman year,” Maier said. “My volleyball coach said I should try out and go for it. And I just said, 'alright.'’’

it because I had just been wrestling and then all of a sudden I made it to districts and I qualified for state. I was the first girl for a while to do that. I don't think I actually processed it until a week later.”

However, throughout her years on the team it wasn’t always smooth sailing. Like many athletes, Maier fell victim to injury.

"I was surprised I made it because I had just been wrestling, and then all of a sudden, I made it to districts and qualifed for state."

Scarlette Maier, senior

When she first started out, Maier was a bit skeptical. However, her captain and team quickly gave her a foundation to help her feel more comfortable and adjust to this brand new sport.

“My first wrestling captain, Myles Bassett, made me realize I was actually going to love the sport because he threw me straight into the fire by throwing me, literally,” Maier said. “Then, coach Clawson made me stick with it because he's a really good coach.”

Even though it was her first year playing, Maier quickly excelled, breezing through the competition. Even though her talent was evident, Maier was shocked by her success.

“I made state my freshman year,” Maier said. “I was surprised I made

“About halfway through the season I tore my [pectoral] a little bit during a big national tournament,” Maier said. “That kept me out for a couple weeks. Then I had the coaches put me back in [the lineup] even though it hurt."

Through the ups and downs of her journey, Maier has contributed much to the involvement of women in wrestling. Even though this is her last year on the team, she has certainly left her mark as a trailblazer in the wrestling community as well as leaving records to beat.

“I'm the first female wrestler from Ladue to qualify for state, to place in state and to get top three in state,” Maier said. “Because of that, I've been able to get so many other girls out both from our school and from other schools interested in wrestling. That just feels really, really good. Also, knowing that something I've worked at for so long I made happen is like the cherry on top and made it all worth it."

P

TOP: Senior Scarlette Maier poses with family at senior night. She is one of four seniors being honored. "My family is a large part of how far I got with wrestling," Maier said. (Photo by Vincent Hsiao)

RIGHT: The chess team plays against Belleville West. This was the state fnal. “I'm glad we could fnish the season undefeated,” coach Zachary Garrison said. (Photo courtesy of Julie Stappenbeck)

health & sports editor

illustration by | LUKE LOCHMOELLER

RIGHT:

A concept has

Scan here to be taken to the Ladue Education Foundation’s website to donate. All donations aid in speeding up the construction at the West Campus.

Campaign for cover

Ladue Education Foundation agrees on providing new amenities for West Campus

by Allen You

editor in chief

This past summer, the Ladue Education Foundation board met to decide what project they wanted to pursue for the school year. By unanimous vote, they cast their top priority as solving the lack of amenities and restrooms at the Fifth Grade Center, or the West Campus, athletic fields and courts.

“At LEF, our new motto is to go ‘Above and beyond for all students,’” LEF board secretary Jodi Minkler said. “For sports… all of those groups use that area and there’s no permanent rest area with bathrooms [and] no drinking fountain with a covered area. So we started thinking that that’s a huge need. And the district has a plan to build something like that, but not for [at least] five years.”

So came the West Campus Plaza Capital Campaign, a crowdfunding effort amounting to $550,000 to expedite the construction process of a new facility that would include bathrooms, a rest area and vending machines. $200,000 would be supplied by the school district’s facil-

ities budget, leaving $350,000 to be desired from community fundraising.

“We’re hoping that there’s going to be a grassroots effort of families that really want this to happen to get together and talk to their friends,” Minkler said. “Once we get the advertising [permission], we’re hoping that maybe some families who have businesses in Ladue will purchase the advertising.”

Businesses will be allowed to advertise on the fields for the first time, but a large portion will still come from individual donations. There are two main incentives for donating coming from the LEF. One is a donor plaque, where certain dollar amounts will be recognized for their contributions. wther is the Coach’s Corner plaque, where $5,000 can be raised for a Ladue coach to get recognized by name on the plaque. Still, the overall incentive is to alleviate the current pains of spectators and athletes that comes with attending sporting events at the West Campus.

“The back portion the fields of the Fifth Grade Center is our secondary athletic facility,” athletic director Nick Gianino said. “We have two full-sized turf fields. There is our baseball field, our softball field and tennis courts. But we do not have permanent outdoor restrooms on the West Campus or the Fifth Grade Center. And that’s been something we’ve been discussing for a long time, because it’s a beautiful facility. But it’s a beautiful facility that uses porta-potties as a means of restrooms, so it impacts what we do on a daily basis from an athletic standpoint.”

If $550,000 can be raised by the end of the 2022-2023 school year, then according to Minkler, what would’ve taken years can now be done in just a few months.

“They told us that if we can raise the money by the end of the school year, they could break ground this summer,” Minkler said. “And, assuming there weren’t any major surprises, it would be done in October.”

“What can we do to help, go above and beyond for students? looking at some of the current needs of the district, this one jumped out at us.”

Jodi Minkler, LEF board secretary

A banner hangs in place of where new construction will begin. The construction is set to begin in October. “We talked to the district and we could help fast track this build because it’s everybody who utilizes it,” Ladue Education Foundation board secretary Jodi Minkler said. (Photo by Sydney Collinger)

LEFT:

been designed and implemented into the promotional content. The design is currently being voted on. “When we have the funds, we’ll start moving forward,” athletic director Nick Gianino said. (Illustration courtesy of Arthur Floyd)

SCHOOL SHOOTING INCIDENTS AND THREATS FROM JAN. TO JUNE 2022

Childpeace Montessori School. Columbus School Bus. Auburn High School. Florin High School. Valley High School. Gaithersburg High School. Pyburn Elementary School. Seminole High School. Manor High School. Pittsburgh Oliver Citywide Academy. Anacostia High School. Magruder High School. McNair High School. Sunrise Mountain High School. Bartram High School. Montgomery Elementary School. Carroll High School. Beloit Memorial High School. South Education Center. Rufus King High School. Academy Park High School. Alessandro Volta Elementary School. Logan County Community Technology Center. Speight Middle School. Southwest DeKalb High School. Wenonah High School. Catonsville High School. Mount Vernon High School. McKinley High School. Minneapolis School Bus. Eagle Academy. Lake City Middle School. McClure Elementary School. Tewksbury High School. Camelot Elementary School. Wilson Middle School. McColm High School. John Carroll Elementary School. Liberty Point International Middle School. Alief ISD Center for Advanced Careers. Woodbridge High School. West Mesa High School. Sonnie Hereford Elementary. Dunbar High School. Boys and Girls High School. JW Sexton High School. Olathe East High School. East High School. Kimball High School. North Gardens High School. Espanola Valley High School. Cora L. Rice Elementary School. Rock Canyon High School. Hamilton Middle School. Fairland Middle School. De Anza High School. Jerstad-Agerholm Elementary School. New Foundations Charter School. Kraemer Middle School. Eisenhower High School. Tech Academy Boston. Paul Lawrence Dunbar High School. Forest Park Middle School. Loma Vista Middle School. Redington Jr/Sr High School. Madison High School. Barrington High School. Central Baldwin Middle School. Leap of Faith Middle School. Desert Canyon Middle School. Mahone Middle School. James Madison Middle School. Woodrow Wilson High School. New Smyrna Beach High School. Rippon Middle School. Royse City High School. Brighton High School. Highland High School. Oakdale Elementary School. North Crowley High School. Western High School. Lucy Addison Middle School. Booker T Washington High School. Kingman High School. Tanglewood Middle School. West Philadelphia Achievement Charter Elementary School. Bloomington High School South. Erie High School. Ripley Middle School. Roosevelt High School. St. Monica Catholic School. Lynn English High School. Pine Bluff High School. Shelters Elementary School. Neshoba Central High School. Gar-Field High School. Meredith Middle School. Mott-Regent High School. Houck Middle School. Edmund Burke School. Mountain View Middle School. Hazelwood Central High School. Wisconsin Conservatory of Lifelong Learning. Marietta City Schools Bus Yard. Aspen Ridge School. Southwest High School. Morrill Elementary School. Coquillard Elementary School. McKee Middle School (McKee Stadium). Hamilton Stem Academy. Louise A. Benton Middle School. Arrowview Middle School. Lowellville K-12 School. Dothan City School Bus. Riverside Elementary School. Eden Ii Institute. Andrew Jackson High School. Heights High School. Hot Springs High School. Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts. Southwest High School. Meadow View Elementary School. Belmont Elementary School. Mexia High School. Walt Disney Magnet School. School Bus. Palmetto High School. Riverdale High School. East Kentwood High School. George Wythe High School. Hammond High Magnet School. South Elementary School. Potomac High School. East Lake Elementary School. Canal Winchester High School. Mary W Burroughs Elementary School. Simon Gratz High School. Robb Elementary School. Powell Elementary School. Riverside University High School. St. Margaret of Scotland School. Mevers School of Excellence. Duff Elementary School. Daniel Webster Public School. Helix High School. Morris Jeff High School.

Source: Center for Homeland Defense and Security