Panorama December 2017 by Ladue Publications

PANORAMA LADUE HORTON WATKINS HIGH SCHOOL // 1201 S. WARSON RD. ST. LOUIS, MO 63124 // VOLUME 66, ISSUE 4 // 12.14.2017

Read about the opioid epidemic on pages 8-9

2 Panorama Staff

TABLE OF CONTENTS Opinions: Will you stay focused enough to finish reading the article? Opinions: Staff Editorial: Participation awards don’t boost confidence Features: Acrobatic feats pose no obstacle for Ladue junior circus troupe member In-Depth: An eye-popping view of the issue of pill-popping

3 4 6 8

Arts and Entertainment: “Wonder” thrills audience with touching story of acceptance

News: Ladue switches to new company for substitute teacher supply

News: Principal Brad Griffith creates leadership council

Sports: Football team reaches second state championship in school history

Photo: Check out the winning photos of our photo contest

Editors-in-Chief Lily Hauptman Sophia Li Glen Morgenstern Ladue Lead Editor-in- Chief Max Baker

Photo Editors Rose Hauser Rhiannon Rhoads Zach Weller Art Editors Aleesha Shi Audrey Wang

Opinions Editor Alex Fu Features/A&E Editors Katie Shaw Bradford Siwak In-Depth Editors Hannah Suffian Anya Tullman News Editors Connie Chen Adam Rush

Sports Editor Jackson Bry

Writers Cassie Beisheim Ope Falako Felix Hu Anik Jain Malavika Kumaran Albert Liu Ryan Miller Hope Shimony Cindy Wang

Photographers Faith Deddens Claire Englander Burke Howe Madi Ward Artists Anna Cui Egret Jin Nathan Lu Louisia Yang Jackie Zeng Michelle Zhou Adviser Sarah Semmel

Panorama welcomes and encourages letters to the editors. Please bring signed letters to Room 216. Panorama reserves the right to revise submissions as long as original intent remains unaltered. Cover design by Lily Hauptman and Zach Weller. Read more online at laduelead.com. Follow @ laduepublications on Instagram and @laduepanorama on Twitter.

Scan the QR code to go to our website and see exclusive articles and photographs

Our 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 our readers. It aims to reflect the diversity of the population it serves and observe the journalistic principle of doing no harm. All anonymous surveys are completely anonymous. Panorama is produced nine times per school year by the journalism class of Ladue Horton Watkins High School at 1201 S. Warson Rd., St. Louis, Missouri 63124. The publication lab is located in Room 216, (314)-993-6447 ext. 5844.

opinions

PANORAMA

Will you finish reading this? I guess, in a way, they’re saying the same thing, but I’m self-centered, so take that, HGTV. Ha. glen MORGENSTERN Hold on, is that Robbie? My goodness, that’s Robbie. editor-in-chief Oh my gosh, that’s Robbie. Is this really happening? I opefully the headline interested you because this haven’t seen that kid for three years while he was at colpiece is going to blow your mind. It is absolutely lege. And now he’s back? Wow, what a miracle. I need to necessary that you read every word of this piece, go greet him and trash his fantasy team. Also his shoes and his phone. that’s how great it is. Seriously, by the end of this, you’ll So there are really only four faucet options. There’s know the meaning of life, your zits will have disappeared the classic center-set faucet, which most bathroom sinks and pretzel M&Ms will be raining from the heavens. Not have. In all honesty, though, it’s so 1980s. Can I get even just those regular M&Ms, we’re talking the good an Oldsmobile with that? Then there’s the widespread stuff. Don’t look up for the M&Ms yet, though. For any mount. It’s basically a gassy center-set faucet, so that’s a of that to happen, you’ll have to stay focused. I know you’ll get to the end because, like me, you’re out to prove no for me. You know what sounds good that the idea that smartphones and enThis piece is going to right now? A treat, preferably of the ergy drinks have destroyed our generablow your mind. high-calorie variety. Fried chicken. tion’s attention spans is a myth, peddled Or strawberry ice cream. Or a by an obsolete generation who believe danish. Or a cheeseburger. All right, that’s enough. I’m that the only civilized caffeine delivery system requires grabbing a Jell-O. 500 calories of cream and sugar. And now there’s this thing called wall mount faucets. Hey, was that my phone? Yep, trash talk in the fantasy Yup, you read that right. A faucet. Mounted on a wall. football group chat. I have to snark back. This is the future, people. Hide your kids, hide your wives, wall mount faucets are here to destroy the very Qqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqq foundation of the faucet industry. We are witnessing history, and we don’t even know it. Ok, I’m awake again. Anyway, like I was saying, So to sum up, the case for restoring Pluto’s status as when confronting the issue of choosing a faucet, you a planet is overwhelming and what’s more, the idea that might be thinking “eh, who cares?” I mean, it’s just a high schoolers can’t put their phone down long enough to faucet, right? Wrong. HGTV calls them “the crown jewsustain an argument is ... wait … I have to get this. v els” of the bathroom, but I call them kings of the sinks.

3 Letter from the Editors

Keeping a cap on prescription medication matters Hillbilly heroin. Happy pills. Smack. O bomb. Miss Emma. Juice. Though they have many names, one fact holds true for opioids: they are a form of highly addictive, dangerous medication. While talk of Juuls, marijuana and alcohol circulates the school hallways, we often forget to address the abuse of prescription medication — especially opioids — which, in some cases, results in overdose and death. According to CBS News, 8 percent of teenagers in 2015 abused prescription opioids, and the majority of them began by taking the medication after surgeries and for other medical reasons. We must address this issue. If you are struggling with addiction, call 800-662-HELP, and read more about these drugs on pages 8-9.

Bites of the Month: The last month’s greatest gab

“Well, I hope to represent the people of the United States, not the president.” –Alpine ski racer Lindsey Vonn while preparing for the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea “I have an email address that I email that actually changes every week.” -Singer Ed Sheeran on how he talked with Beyonce when they were recording their duet, “Perfect.” Quotes courtesy of CNN aleesha shi w ART EDITOR

PANORAMA

opinions

Staff Editorial

Is it just laziness?

People shouldn’t be awarded for participation

michelle zhou w ARTIST

alex FU

opinions editor

y most recent math test was a flop. This isn’t the first time I got a bad grade. If I did all the homework, if I used Seminar to pester my teacher about the test and if I stopped complaining about school and just dealt with it, I could’ve prevented such results. Why didn’t I prevent it, then? It is simply because I have little interest in math and just about anything else. No goals nor aspirations — that sums up my life. Unlike what some may assume though, this carefree mindset ironically crushes me. Every day, when I see my parents back from work, I’m reminded of their expectations of me despite having constantly let them down. The burden weighs me down, casting my gaze to my feet. My chest begins to constrict from frustration and shame for everything I don’t do well. But I carry on laughing and joking with peers and teachers. However, even for me, I near my limit after keeping this charade up for years. As my restlessness becomes more apparent, the most annoying and frightening question began to creep into my mind during ninth grade: “What is my goal?” In a family that expects a 4.0 GPA in a school filled with talented and competitive individuals, it isn’t easy to stay afloat. I need a statement of personal resolve. It could be as simple as “I can’t fathom getting below an A-,” or it could be as ambitious as, “I’m going to open a billion-dollar corporation.” I believe many of my friends are driven by some degree of desire, yet I have none, so I can’t help but feel a tinge of jealousy. Consequently, my lack of aspiration causes my writing hand to slow and my grades to drop. A common response to my falling grades is that I’m lazy, and I fail to understand the importance of doing well in school, even if I dislike it. But people don’t work diligently without motivation. No one can endure unwanted workloads with no end goal in sight. Instead, they fall into an endless cycle of monotony and regret. With Winter Break fast approaching, early decision results return to seniors, and the underclassmen get ever closer to an uncertain future. I believe many students try to find a purpose while struggling to prepare for the significant changes they will face eventually. It’s frightening to think that Americans live 78 years on average, and one wrong choice may haunt them for decades to come. Especially during high school, students who make future goals based on interests and passions will save themselves from worlds of pain and stress compared to others who have none. v

audrey wang w ART EDITOR

ight elementary school swimmers rest upon the starting blocks at a swim meet. The gun goes off, and the competitors simultaneously dive into the water. After the 50-yard race, each child runs over to the coach and parents to proudly show off his new award: a blue ribbon for first place, red for second, white for third and purple for the last five swimmers. The swimmers have smiles on their faces and feel proud of what they accomplished in the pool. Were these awards deserved, though? The first place swimmer showed more talent and potential for the sport than all his competitors. The last two swimmers took five times as long as the first-place swimmer to complete the lap, yet they still received a ribbon. Where do we draw the line? It doesn’t matter what the competition is — someone will finish first and others will not. Effort is important, but rewards should come to those who succeed. In order to avoid hurting feelings, we may fail to properly recognize those who have achieved success. That doesn’t mean refusing to reward the eighth place, one-armed swimmer who worked his way to an admirable time — that is success. This situation is rare, though. More common are the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventhplace swimmers who didn’t work hard enough to earn a ribbon. They lacked the motivation that the eighth-place swimmer possessed. All people are unique. Everyone has strengths and weaknesses. This is healthy. It is important to celebrate

differences throughout society. Some believe that trophies, plaques, medals and awards boost self-confidence and motivate us to perform at an advanced level. Most people agree that something which commemorates achievements feels good. “Achievements” that aren’t earned, however, deserve no award. Everyone stands out in their own unique way which makes them special, but this isn’t apparent at graduation. At the end of our four years at LHWHS, graduation highlights a student’s journey through a Ladue education. All students arrive at the graduation ceremony in caps and gowns but wear no cords or anything else to distinguish themselves from their classmates. At Ladue, we constantly strive for diversity, yet at graduation, all students dress alike. Ladue isn’t entirely to blame; our society promotes homogeneity. Nevertheless, if certain Ladue students excel due to their commitment, talents and hard work, why should we not recognize their advanced achievements? Susan Harter, a professor of developmental psychology at the University of Denver, says it is excessive to reward everyone. She believes that it lets people escape the reality that someone is better than them. Rather than continuing to needlessly reward children, “trophies” should be used to honor improvement. Many of us work hard and do our best, but it is a truth of life that others either worked harder or have more talent or an advantage. Even if it hurts, losing can be a good life lesson. v

Student stances

Should people be awarded for participation or purely merit? “Meaningful achievements. Mainly because, I mean, everybody participates in something, so I feel like it’s not a right to award everybody just for participating.”

- Sophomore Alec Hines

“It should be a balance between the two because when people don’t participate in class, they don’t learn as much, but just merit discourages people from participating.”

- Junior Alice Breternitz

“It depends. In some situations, your participation should be acknowledged, but in some cases, merit should definitely have more weight than participation does.”

- Senior Justin Lam

PANORAMA

opinions

Should school days start later? Students deserve to feel awake and prepared However, a change in habit will not be the easy answer to this problem. According to the National Sleep Foundacassie BEISHEIM tion, teens get their best sleep from around 11 p.m. to 8 writer a.m. and need at least nine hours to be fully rested. This eenagers are known for being three things: lazy, fact clearly disputes the idea that earlier bedtimes are social media-obsessed and most of all, tired. more beneficial than later start times. Teens simply aren’t Cranky teens running on four hours of sleep and built to sleep at 9 p.m. in order to get their recommended caffeine flood the halls of high school. It seems almost nine hours of sleep. inevitable that teens will be forced to slave over their It is also arguable that this change will economically homework until 3 a.m. The simple solution to this ever harm schools, as they’d likely have to hire new buses and growing problem is pushing back school start times. bus drivers in order to keep other schools’ start times the A simple change of same. In the long run, though, the an hour or two later start benefits far outweigh the costs. time could turn struggling The academic success linked to students into successful a healthy sleep schedule can lead students. To perform to their to a much more successful future. full potential, students must As the New York Times argues, be as awake as can be. By an appropriate start time will add giving students more time the equivalent of two months of to sleep, they will be more schooling to a student’s career. awake and able to fulfill These two months will add about their tasks as a student. $17,500 to a student’s earning A study done by Stanin their lifetime. This impact nathan lu ARTIST ford Medicine in 2015 on students’ later lives clearly aleesha shi ART EDITOR reports that the lack of sleep among teenagers causes outweighs any little cost which was estimated by the New extreme consequences. Teens who don’t get enough sleep York Times to be $150. get into drowsy car accidents, become depressed, lose the To empower students to work towards a brighter ability to focus and even have thoughts of suicide. future, later start times are necessary. Students deserve Understandably, some may argue that teens just need to feel awake and prepared every time they enter class. to get to bed earlier. Teens spend so much time each night Although many scheduling changes will have to take procrastinating that perhaps a change of mindset could place in order to compensate, the benefits help both the save our perpetually tired generation that has come about. students and the school in future endeavors. v

5 The

Polls of the people What topics would you like the Student Leadership Council to address? 188

53 28

Number of votes Ram Days

School Renovation

Tech Use

Mental Health

Student Voice

Other

How would you rate the new substitute teachers with 1 being the worst and 5 being the best?

Delayed starts could easily cause more problems without extracurriculars and sports, a 30-minute reduction in free time after school may not seem like a big ryan MILLER deal. But for many students with several clubs or afterwriter school activities, this change may make finishing all of or anyone who knows a high school student, it is their tasks a struggle. Additionally, with sports programs clear that high schoolers could use more sleep. starting later and a limited amount of daylight each day, In every class, just look around and you will some sports practices may have to be cut or reduced to fit find dreary-eyed students who struggle to stay awake. into a tighter schedule. Although coffee, soda and energy drinks are often the Secondly, pushing back high school start times will go-to solution, caffeine consumption is by no means a affect middle and elementary school schedules because healthy solution. A number of studies have linked inthe the school district’s buses are shared between creased sleep with better mental health, physical the schools. Delayed high school start times will health and academic performance in high school undoubtedly create scheduling problems for students, yet despite the benefits of a good night’s working parents with younger children who need sleep, the average high school student will sleep more supervision in mornings and afternoons. approximately seven hours a night, which is Changing school schedules will also complicate two hours below the recommended amount. transportation to and from school, as later start times Various proposals exist to address the crisis mean students will encounter more traffic. For extracurof teenage sleep deprivation, and one of the riculars, fitting sports or music lessons into a student’s most popular solutions is to push back school schedule is already difficult, and losing time in the start times. It is easy to see why this idea is so afternoon could prevent some students from attending appealing to students. Who wouldn’t want to lessons after school. sleep in more? However, despite the allure of Finally, even if the school schedules were sleeping in every day, students will benefit changed, many students have grown accustomed egret jin ARTIST less than they think, and implementation to sleeping six or seven hours a night, and it’s may prove difficult. not much of a reach to imagine that they might In districts where school start times have been pushed simply use the later start time as an excuse to push back back, there have been a variety of unexpected problems. their normal bedtime by 30 minutes. In a perfect world, Starting school later invariably results in later dismissal perhaps the delayed start would be a good idea. In reality, times, giving students less time in the afternoon and delayed starts could easily cause more problems than evening for extracurriculars and homework. For students they will solve. v

1 (12.90%)

2 (15.90%)

4 (17.70%)

3 (44.10%) 5 (9.30%)

Average Rating: 2.9

Did you attend the state football game in Columbia?

33% of respondents attended the state game Yes

What school start time would you prefer? 13

129

103

<7:15

7:30 8:00

7:45 >8:15

Survey results based on 333 voluntary student responses

Juggling is no albert LIU writer

e've all heard stories of running away to join the circus, a place where joy travels contagiously through flips, flaming hoops and flashy routines. Junior Isabella Majzun does the latter half of the idiom, but lives the full dream of training for and participating in circus shows.

Taking the stage at the young age of 5, Majzun first joined the circus troupe, “The Saint Louis Arches,” inspired by a friend who was also a member of the troupe. She recently left the Arches to join Circus Smirkus, a Vermont-based international youth circus, and performed with them all summer. Now, she makes difficult skills, such as juggling and contortion, seem simple. The circus is as rigorous as any sport. Over the summer, Majzun and her circus performed two out of every three days, totaling 67 shows. She traveled to several states, including Vermont, New York and Massachusetts. Every show, Majzun trains to improve at her art. “I train four to five times a week at the City Museum and sometimes I perform in shows on the weekend,” Majzun said. “My favorite things are hand balancing, partner acrobatics, tumbling and juggling.”

features PANORAMA Junior performs around the world joke: as a part of multiple circus troupes

All of her tricks and performances are an accumulation of her consistent training. Without fail, her hard work attracts affinity from her friends and family. “[I go to see my sister at the circus] a few times a year — every time she has a show,” senior Riley Majzun, Isabella's sister, said. “I like seeing new tricks she learns and the acts she comes up with, and I've gotten to know a lot of the people involved with the circus. It's a really positive, energetic environment.” Beyond the curtains of the circus lie fun, family, friends and flying, Isabella has traveled across the world to perform with circus troupes. “One of the coolest places the circus has taken me is Israel,” Isabella said. “My partner acrobatic troupe planned to go [to Israel] for two weeks in the summer and meet up with another youth circus where we would [prepare] a show together and perform it around Israel for two weeks. Right after our final performance, the airport shut down and we had to stay an extra week.” Traveling and performing aren’t the end of the benefits that Isabella reaped from joining the circus. In addition to complex acrobatics, the circus actually taught Isabella several important skills and lessons that she can apply in many aspects of her everyday life. “The biggest thing I’ve learn[ed] is how to talk to people,” Isabella said. “When I was little, I was so shy and meeting new people was probably my biggest fear. But as I began performing more important shows to bigger audiences, I had to learn how to address people after shows.”

A CIRCUS PERFORMER //

Junior Isabella Majzun takes a break from practice and then performs one of her acrobatic tricks. Over the summer, Majzun traveled across the U.S. with Circus Smirkus. "It was a great experience that gave me a lot of self confidence and really taught me how to make conversation with strangers," Majzun said. (Photos by Rhiannon Rhoads)

Isabella’s circus career serves as a prototype for those around her. By being a strong and burgeoning young performer, Isabella and her work ethic have earned the praise of many around her. “Isabella has had to learn that failing, [such as] dropping in juggling, missing a tumbling pass, even falling, is all part of the path to success,” parent Bonnee Majzun said. “She knows from hours and hours of persistence that there are no shortcuts. And she’s learned the value of being part of a team — a joy-filled audience is magical.” In the end, Isabella is simply glad to be doing what she enjoys. “Lucky for me that people like sitting and watching me do something I love,” Isabella said. “And it’s really fun being able to impress people so easily.” v

Double takes : Celebrity lookalikes found in Ladue's halls

Junior

"Vampire Diaries" Actress

French teacher

"Stranger Things" Actress

Freshman

"Dark Knight Rises" Actor

Anna Spirtas

Nina Dobrev

Bridget Milford

Natalia Dyer

Matthew Levy

Joseph Gordon-Levitt

(Photos courtesy of Wikimedia and flickr)

A look back in 'Due time A look at unisex fashion

Unisex clothing has begun to reclaim its place in society. Panorama staff members displayed the term "unisex" for the first time in 1966. Vogue's August 2017 cover story gained controversy due to its confusion of gender identity with unisex clothing. It used terms like "gender fluidity" to describe cisgender people wearing clothing meant for another gender. Its December 2017 issue has part of a subheadline reading: "Womenswear, menswear: Drawing a line between the terms today is both pointless and passé. "

1966

PANORAMA

features

When it comes to families, the more the merrier ope FALAKO

writer

ne set of twins isn’t too rare of an occurrence, but the Zeldin family has two sets of female twins in their family. “Being in a family that has two sets of twins has its ups and downs, obviously,” junior Alexis Zeldin said. “We are all girls, so hand-me-downs are easier, but we [also] tend to fight quite a lot.” Alexis and Ashlyn are the older set of identical twins, while Hope and Paige are younger and are fraternal. Even though they are four and a half years apart, Alexis is thankful they are close to each other. “The most rewarding thing about being a twin has got to be that there is always someone by your side,” Alexis said. “I’m really close with my twin sister, and being able to know she’s always by my side and I’m able to talk to her is very rewarding.” Alexis also enjoys family gatherings where she sees her more distant relatives because she enjoys the comments about how rare her family situation is. “My grandparents or other family members that don’t see us on a daily basis compliment [us on] how we are growing into ‘wonderful individuals,’” Alexis said. “It’s fun to hear about how other family members talk about us and our uniqueness to their friends. Everyone is always so surprised and fascinated by the topic.”

Her least favorite part about being a twin is that they are often mistaken for each other. She feels like it is hard for her to be seen as an individual. “Everyone knows us as twins, [but] people don’t know us as individuals, which [gets] annoying,” Alexis said. “People often call me by the wrong name, and although I’ve learned to answer from it, it does get frustrating that people don’t know me as myself.” Junior Ashlyn Zeldin thinks the most rewarding part of being a twin is seeing people’s reactions when she tells them about their family. Most people are surprised. “I have never met another family that has had two sets of twins,” Ashlyn said. “My parents always bring up that they got four for the price of two pregnancies.” v

SEEING DOUBLE // Fraternal twins Alexis and Ashlyn Zeldin, juniors, display a picture with their mom and younger identical twin sisters, Hope and Paige. “[I like] seeing peoples’ reactions when they hear [my family has two sets of twins,” Ashlyn said. (Photo by Zach Weller)

Families by the numbers

3.5%

Of births are twins, triplets or higher

7.5

Expected number of first cousins

Sources: Pew Research Center, International Society of Genetic Genealogy

1 Child (18%)

2 Children (35%)

3 Children (20%)

ouis

lvd

4 Children (12%)

Number of kids per immediate family

Traditional Chinese & Dim Sum 8224 O B . (314)997-3108 S .L , MO 63132 live

0 Children (15%)

A HUGE FAMILY //

Frankie and Gigi Goebel hold up a photo of 57 of their family members. “There’s always something exciting happening in the family like weddings, pregnancies, promotions, first communions, graduations, etc.,” Gigi Goebel said. (Photo by Claire Englander)

he end of the year brings the holiday season and family gatherings. Family gatherings are especially unique for the Goebel family because they bring all of the members in her large family together. “My dad is the oldest of 12,” senior Gigi Goebel said. “I have 33 first cousins on his side and am the fourth oldest of 37 grandkids. My grandma is one of 16, and my grandpa is one of 17.” Family gatherings are quite the ordeal in the Goebel family. During the holidays, the family has to rent out a building in order to get together. “It’s pretty cool to have the whole family together celebrating Christmas,” Goebel said. “We [also] do girl/ boy white elephant gift exchanges.” Having so many relatives can be difficult at times. She wishes she had more time alone with her whole family. “I don’t get a ton of one on one time with anyone,” Goebel said. “I’m really close with my aunts and a few of my girl cousins who are my age, but it takes effort to get caught up with a lot of them.” Even though there are ups and downs, Goebel is thankful for her large family. She thinks that her family will continue to grow even more in the future. “I think we are unique because of how close we all are,” Goebel said. “There are a lot of big families who just go through the motions, but we all know and love each other a lot. I think we’ll make it to 40 grandkids. However, 50 is a long shot. That’s just crazy.” v

OLIVETTE 9626 Olive Blvd. St. Louis, MO 63132 P: (314)274-7699 F: (314)274-7799

ROCK HILL 9737 Manchester Rd. Rock Hill, MO 63119 P: (314)274-7708 F: (314)274-7788

PANORAMA

in-depth

The opioid epidemic hannah SUFFIAN in-depth editor

anya TULLMAN in-depth editor

ddiction has reared its ugly head once more, as people across the said. “That used to be fairly unusual. It would happen in a week or a month in a world struggle every day to break free from their chemical depenbig city like Chicago or St. Louis, but now it’s a daily occurrence.” dence on painkillers. According to the National Institute of Drug The National Council of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse educates teenagers Abuse, 2.1 million people suffered from opioid abuse in the United States in the St. Louis area about the dangers of prescription drug misuse. According in 2012, a number that has increased in the past five years. Because of this to the NCADA, an adolescent’s brain is wired more toward reward than risk. epidemic, doctors face a constant battle: whether or not to relieve Therefore, many teens do not perceive misusing prescription drugs as harmful their patients’ pain and risk opioid addiction. as adults do. “We have changed our practice,” Barnes-Jewish Hospital trauma “A lot of teenagers think [prescription drugs are] less harmful than a street and acute care surgeon John Kirby said. “Nowadays, we try to send drug like heroin and cocaine because [they] came from a factory and a doctor you home with the smallest amount that we can get away with. If prescribed them,” NCADA prevention educator Becky Shimony said. “But all you are having pain, we want to treat your pain appropriately. But, these medicines have side effects, especially if they’re not needed for medicain the effort to try to treat your pain appropriately, we don’t want to tion.” contribute to the growing problem that people are using too many According to Shimony, one in every seven Missouri teenagers feels that of these medications.” there is little to no risk in misusing prescription drugs. Additionally, she said When opioids enter the body, they travel I started to get the creepy- that one in three Missouri teenagers report that it is easy to to the brain where they latch onto recepacquire prescription drugs from family members or friends. crawlies where it feels like tors, which temporarily decreases pain and “Eighty percent of heroin users started out misusing ants are underneath your prescription drugs,” Shimony said. “Most people do not produces a feeling of relaxation for the user. skin. There was anxiety; I’d never As an individual increases his daily dosage go straight to the heroin. Most people who start misusing experienced anxiety. I couldn’t sleep. prescription drugs started out with a legitimate prescription of prescription painkillers, such as oxycoThe worst experience of my life was and just had extra.” done and oxycontin, the desire for the high becomes more prominent and tolerance deThough he never abused prescription medication, physics going through that withdrawal. velops. In an effort to reach the same initial teacher Richard Witt experienced withdrawal. In July 2012, high, a person may take too many opioids and overdose. Witt got in a bike accident that left him with a broken clavicle, several bro“[Opioids] eventually stop your urge to breathe, and then they slow ken ribs and a punctured lung. Doctors decided that Witt’s condition required down your heart and drop your blood pressure, which can be very seri- clavicle surgery and a nerve block near his shoulder. ous,” Kirby said. “Emergency responders have more tools like nalox“At that point, their whole goal was to get my pain down,” Witt said. “They one, which is a drug that immediately blocks all the receptors for the restarted the morphine, [and] were giving me the oxycodone every 12 hours, opioid class of drugs. If we can get to [a person who has overdosed] oxycontin every four hours, and norco, which was hydrocodone with Tylenol, fast enough with the right group of reversal drugs, we can usually every six hours. So they had me on four different opioids to release the pain. It reverse the effects.” took about 12 hours.” Accounts of opioid misuse have skyrocketed in the last decade. AcTwo days after the surgery, Witt was released from the hospital with small cording to a study done by the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, the doses of oxycodone and oxycontin. When he tried to wean himself off the painnumber of people diagnosed with an addiction to opioids increased 493 killers, anticipating the start of school in less than a month, Witt experienced percent from 2010 to 2016. In 2010, 1.4 out of every 1,000 participants severe withdrawal symptoms. in the study had an opioid disorder while 8.3 out of every 1,000 partici“If you can imagine your body having no thermostat, it’s like you don’t even pants had an opioid disorder in 2016. know what your temperature is,” Witt said. “I started to get the creepy-crawlies “In the course of a day, we might get three or four people who arwhere it feels like ants are underneath your skin. There was anxiety; I’d never rive completely unconscious, not breathing, and their heart is beginexperienced anxiety. I couldn’t sleep. The worst experience of my life was goning to slow down or stop because they unwittingly ing through that withdrawal.” overdosed on opioids,” Kirby Essentially, prescription painkillers are highly addictive. The longer a person consumes them, the harder it becomes to stop. “This isn’t anything that anybody reading a high school newspaper should flirt with,” Kirby said. “It is very easy to get addicted to them, and now you’ve got yourself in a bad problem.” v

PANORAMA

in-depth

41 percent of students receiving D’s or F’s misuse prescription drugs compared to 13 percent of students getting A’s who misuse them.

Americans die every day from opioid overdose. Number of painkiller prescriptions per 100 people 52-71 72-82.1 82.2-95 96-143

1,000

people are treated in emergency departments daily for abusing prescription drugs.

percent of adults abusing substances started misusing alcohol or drugs before the age of 17.

1 in 4 people who receive prescription opioids struggle with addiction.

Medical emergencies resulting from prescription drug abuse have increased 132 percent since 2010.

People who are addicted to opioid painkillers are 40 times more likely to become addicted to heroin.

Student Adderall use: Deaths due to opioid overdoses rose 415 percent for women and 250 percent for men between 1999 and 2010.

The number of prescriptions for opioids has increased from 76 million in 1991 to 207 million in 2013. Sources: CDC Drugabuse.gov Newport Academy Claad.org Drugabuse.imedpub.com

PANORAMA

A&E

What we wore

2017

katie SHAW a&e editor

bradford SIWAK a&e editor

Windbreakers

Luke Minkler

“I like [thrift shopping] because I really get into my character. It’s also a lot cheaper to purchase things and there’s a greater variety of clothes that I can pick from.”

Faux fur

Simone Liu “I bought my jacket at Urban Outfitters, and bought it because I love both the colors of the reversible jacket, and it was on sale because of Black Friday. I really like the whole faux fur trend because it’s really comfy, but it’s not real fur, which I like.”

90s Style

Emily Lesorogol “I like experimenting with pattern mixing and styles from different eras. 90s fashion is really in right now and I’ve been finding myself wearing a lot of mini skirts and chunky shoes and pigails. My top is thrifted, my skirt is from Brandy Melville, and my shoes are Dansko clogs.”

“I don’t usually shop at Gap, but I found [these] there and I love them.”

Wide Leg Jeans

Anna Liner

“I have a few pairs of overalls, but I really like [my rose pair] because the design is interesting and unique.”

Matt Shareshian

Floral Overalls

A review of a wonderfully curious film

Fast facts about Treacher Collins Treacher Collins affects roughly

1 in

Hearing loss occurs in about affected individuals.

1/2 of all

AR TI

Signs and symptoms range from unnoticeable to severe.

50,000 people. iw

ased off R.J. Palacio’s best-selling novel, the film “Wonder,” released Nov. 17, tells the moving story of a 10-year-old boy named August Pullman, played by Jacob Tremblay, who was born with Treacher Collins syndrome. The movie features Julia Roberts, Owen Wilson and Daveed Diggs as well as Izabela Vidovic and Mandy Patinkin. Directed by Palacio and movie producer Stephen Chbosky, “Wonder” was a box office success, grossing $27.5 million in its opening weekend.

All about Auggie’s syndrome

writer

Chbosky flawlessly crafts a tone that is both light and humorous, as well as thought-provoking and emotional. Though the tear-jerking quality of the film felt a bit forced at times, overall, “Wonder” delivers a powerful message about bullying and choosing kindness, rather than animosity towards others. At almost two hours, “Wonder” is a film longer than most typicaly are. While watching, I seldom felt bored. While many in the entertainment industry struggle to choose between conveying a message or having high entertainment value, “Wonder” manages to excel in doing both. v

an na

malavika KUMARAN

The film’s opening scene begins with Auggie in his beloved astronaut helmet jumping on his bed. Auggie then reveals his scarred face, caused by birth defects and 27 surgeries. As the film progresses, Auggie struggles with kids who bully him, all while proving his wit as the star science student and slowly forging a relationship with two other kids in his class, Jack and Summer. The ups and downs that Auggie endures are relatable on many levels, though most of the audience can only imagine the insecurity that comes with having craniofacial deformities. In this way, the audience is able to feel the vulnerability, insecurity, pain and damaged selfesteem Auggie feels throughout the film. Though the film begins with Auggie’s perspective and narration, it switches perspectives to his sister Via, his friend Jack and his sister’s ex best friend Miranda, giving the audience insight into multiple sides of the same story. This switching between points of view mimics the format of the novel and effectively adds to one of the film’s central themes: there is more than one side to every story. The film’s actors did a great job with timing and conveying their emotions. The audience sobbed, gasped and chuckled throughout the film. Most of the characters are portrayed as complex and believable who play phenomenal roles throughout the film. Other characters, however, fall flat and are portrayed as one-sided such as Auggie’s father and the main bully, Julian. Nevertheless, these supporting characters served their respective purposes in the storyline.

People with Treacher Collins usually have normal intelligence. source: U.S. National Library of Medicine

PANORAMA

news

Ladue employs new organization for substitute teachers Kelly system hopes to create more efficient way to employ substitutes cindy WANG writer

adue High School has begun to use Kelly Educational Staffing this year to supply its substitute teachers. Each day, Ladue faces the possibility of needing to employ substitute teachers because of various factors, such as sicknesses and family emergencies.

In the past, Ladue used its own substitutes who were specific to the district. Substitutes, however, are sometimes not effective. Classroom rules have occasionally been relaxed, and, as a consequence, students are able to regain autonomy and power in the classroom. “[Substitutes] don’t really know what’s going on,” sophomore Angela Liu said. “Occasionally, the class doesn’t do any of the work because the sub doesn’t know what he or she is supposed to do.” Additionally, whenever there is a substitute, students may receive filler assignments, like videos, worksheets and games. Some substitutes are unable to effectively control the class, making the class period unhelpful to students attempting to learn. “The quality of substitutes varies greatly,” biology teacher Sima Oberlander said. “I have had some who make sure the work gets done and [has] students reinforce their learning, and I have had some who could not manage a class, and so nothing gets done.”

With the switch to Kelly, most of the original Ladue substitutes were incorporated into the Kelly Educational Staffing network. This new system simplifies the procedure for substitutes and helps to find more available substitute teachers. “The Kelly system allows the teacher to enter their need and select a specific substitute if desired,” Ladue Board of Education Treasurer Carolyn Jaeger said. “For our students, it opens our substitute network to other professionals in St. Louis. For instance, if we need a chemistry teacher, Kelly will locate a chemistry teacher if available.” The Kelly Educational Staffing system allows for a variety of substitutes in different backgrounds. Therefore, if these substitutes do have knowledge about the class curriculum or topics, the hope is that there will be an improvement in the overall quality of teachers and classes, although this is not always the case. “We have a new system this year, and I am not sure that subs are being properly vetted,” Oberlander said. “One of my subs this year was not able to handle the job. An effective sub can facilitate a smooth school day when a teacher is absent and help students to move forward with their learning.” The new substitute system is intended to promote more effective and productive substitutes, as well as provide a large range of substitute teachers to fill every empty class. However, for many students and teachers, there has not been a discernible improvement in the quality of the new substitute teachers.

GRADING PAPERS // Substitute teacher Alicia Litviak looks through papers while substitute teaching for Computer Science Principles Dec. 5. It was her second day as a substitute at Ladue. (Photo by Zach Weller)

“Substitute teachers offer new perspectives in regards to the subjects I learn in class,” Liu said. “It’s nice that they [can] offer new explanations of the material.” v

PANORAMA

news

Dueprov prepares for first competition Dec. 15 Club members make structural changes while preparing for this event davina LETTAU

writer

fter starting out as any other extracurricular, Ladue’s improvisation team, Dueprov, has become a competitive team that uses each practice for skill development. This year, senior and captain Katie Bohnert helped the team create both a varsity and junior varsity team, which gives underclassmen a goal and upperclassmen an opportunity to enhance their acting skills. “My junior year was a recuperating kind of year where we had a lot of new members and had to teach all of the games and rules of improv,” Bohnert said. “Now, we have altered the team into two groups so improv veterans [can] go further into their improv training and new members [can] learn the basics.” Despite the changes in structure, there have been smaller changes that have improved the group’s skills. Bohnert has brought in professional directors she hopes will challenge the club’s skills and help work on individual weaknesses that members may have. “This year, we are working a lot more with our coaches, whereas in years past we have traditionally had mostly captain led rehearsals,” junior Abigail Yearout said.

Newer members have noticed the difference in tone and believe the team has improved because of it. Sophomore Tori Campos believes the changes have made the practices and performances more exciting. “I don’t recall a day where Dueprov was boring or a day I didn’t want to go [attend practice],” Campos said. “We have instructors from outside of school and more strict schedules now. [This is compared to] my freshman year, where we played games and never worked on specific skills or how to get better.” After performing at the Siteman Cancer Center last year, the team began to notice different ways in which they could enhance their skills. Many members agree it was a rewarding experience that prepared them for Thescon, the biggest improv competition of the year. “At [Thescon], improv teams from across Missouri compete in head-to-head and team challenges to receive a rating on a scale of superior to good,” Yearout said. “Ladue traditionally performs extremely well in this competition [and we] want to maintain Ladue’s status as an improv team that is a force to be reckoned with.” The competition is not the only reason members continue Dueprov each year. The team participates in bonding activities that they hope will create lasting friendships throughout the year.

Tori Campos gives advice on how to be a good improviser 1) Be confident in your own ability 2) Do not overanalyze the situation 3) Focus on the now 4) Trust your fellow improvisers “We have a lot of discussions about self-confidence and being the best we can be,” Bohnert said. “We are a team that builds each other up and at the end [of rehearsals], [we] stand in a circle and have to say something positive that happened in the rehearsal that day, so we are always learning.” v

Rho Kappa buries time capsule for 50 years

Ladue’s social studies honor society brainstorms modern items to include

felix HU writer

In the Classrooms

ho Kappa, Ladue’s social studies honor society, plans to build a time capsule to take a snapshot of life in 2017. The hope is that the project will be finished by Winter Break, and that the capsule will be reopened by members of the high school 50 years from now. Decades from today, much of people’s current lifestyle will likely have undergone changes. For the students who witness the time capsule’s unboxing, Rho

Kappa sponsor Mike Hill hopes that students feel a sense of nostalgia when they see the items that are inside. “I want the future students to look at the differences between our time and theirs,” Hill said. “I also want them to notice things that will not have changed audrey wang ART EDITOR much. Fifty years from now, I want Ladue students to see that spirit is still there and [realize] that it is as strong as it is currently.” w

The design of and items in the time capsule are still being planned, since creating the capsule requires input from students and faculty. Each grade level and teaching department will choose memorabilia that they believe best represents what their daily life entailed. The remaining space will be filled with nathan lu ARTIST items that pertain to the community as a whole, such as eclipse glasses and an old iPhone. The goal for the capsule is to highlight different aspects of 2017 culture. w

Foods and Nutrition In Foods and Nutrition, senior Solomon Owolabi cleans the table after cooking a meal Dec. 6. The meal included various foods, such as chicken, rice and salad. In this class, students cook many times as well as learn more about nutrition. Other cooking classes at Ladue are International Foods and Culinary Cooking. (Photo by Connie Chen)

“We will let the Student Council officers from each class decide what item they want to offer,” senior and Rho Kappa co-president Laura Ewald said. “They will likely do polls so that people can vote on what they think best fits their grade level.” As of now there is no certainty as to what objects the time capsule will include. However, Rho Kappa has plans for the capsule to be buried next to the student entrance once the wing of the renovated building is open. “Classrooms will be moving to the new building during the time of the project’s undertak-

ing,” Ewald said. “[We] synchronized the timing of the capsule with the construction of the high school to signify a turning point in Ladue history.” Hill and other members hope that this project will extend beyond the 50 years the capsule will be buried. They will be happy to have other classes bury time capsules even after theirs is eventually dug up. “It would be a terrific idea for students 50 years from now to open our capsule,” Hill said. “After that, they can seal a new time capsule [for] 100 years from today.” v

Child Development In Child Development, sophomores Mara Miller (left), Alysha Jackson (middle) and senior Simone Daley (right) play with toddlers Dec. 7. The students learn about the growth of children and how to work well with them through study and practice. “I really enjoy taking this class,” Miller said. “I think it’s a great experience.” (Photo by Jordan Ganzer)

PANORAMA

news

Leadership council seeks changes within school Students and administrators discuss Ram Days, mental health and more issues adam RUSH

news editor

hirty-five years ago, Ladue High School formed a Student Leadership Council to provide an outlet for students to voice their concerns to the school administration and vice versa. Although the council was disbanded in 1992, it has returned this year so that both sides can work together to solve issues in the school. Currently, the Student Leadership Council is led by Principal Brad Griffith and composed of about 20 students. While they have only had two meetings, they have already discussed the ongoing school renovations, Ram Days, mental health and a variety of other topics. “One of the things that I’ve noticed over the last seven years is that we do not have a representative panel of the student body,” Griffith said. “So the idea is to bring that back to establish some student voice in the decision making process.” In the past, some high school students felt a disconnect between themselves and the administration. Senior and council member Olivia Schroder believes that the new council has the ability to bridge the gap between the two and allow everyone in the student body to effectively have their thoughts heard.

“[The council] brings that connectedness back,” Schroder said. “Now, it is almost like a friendship between the administration and the students. We are able to discuss things we felt weren’t able to be talked about last year.” The main goal of the Student Leadership Council is to take what is being discussed in the meetings and to translate that into action from the administration. However, before that can be done, the council feels it must earn the trust of those it is attempting to represent. “We need to make sure we put it out there that we want to be and are leaders of our student body,” Schroder said. “[Our goal is] to have discussions more within our student body [first] and then bring it back into the meetings.” Sophomore Giuseppe Di Cera was selected to join the leadership council because of his work representing the student body. He hopes to one day expand the council so that more than just the 20 members can bring up their concerns about school policy. “I speak to many of my classmates every day, and I hear about their issues [within] the school, ” Di Cera said. “I try to provide a voice for these students, and discuss areas of change they would like [in] the school.” Although the administration and the council members view their discussions as productive, discussions so far

have been preliminary. The council is taking its time forming plans and is waiting for the right moment to convert student input into definitive action. “The first step was getting input from students,” Griffith said. “We had to start somewhere. And the idea of starting somewhere is that we can talk about what we are, and then, most importantly, what we want to be done.”v

SOLVING PROBLEMS // Sophomore Jill Goldwasser, senior Dee Nichols and junior Andrew Hunt participate in the second Student Leadership Council discussion. “I hope to be able to make the Ladue environment one that everyone feels comfortable in, regardless of their situation outside of the school through increased inclusiveness,” Goldwasser said. (Photo by Jordan Ganzer)

All new for Ladue: A look ahead at construction in 2018 January 2018

In the Clubs

Demolition of library and completion of third floor of new building

Building of a new turf field and stadium commences

Spring 2018

April 2018

Opening of outside courtyards for student use during lunches

TED-Ed Sophomore and club president Anna Zhong works on the new TED-Ed club. Participants will build their own Ted Talk from the ground up, and present their project in April of this year. “[The] club is currently in the beginning phase of constructing TED Talks,” Zhong said.” “The club’s goal is to create a platform [that] sparks curiosity and celebrates student ideas.” (Photo by Zach Weller)

Construction on school cafeteria extends to the library

August 2018

Summer 2018

Completion of the majority of the school, including the Commons

Character Cadre Character Cadre members work on filling envelopes that contain letters asking for donations at Gateway 180 Dec. 6. “I really like how Character Cadre provides us with opportunities to expand our involvement in school and the variety of voluteer opportunities available to us,” sophomore and club member Jenna Gold said. (Photo courtesy of Yordanose Atanaw)

PANORAMA

sports 11 STRONG //

The lockdown defensive line waits on the snap from the Webb City offense at the University of Missouri’s Faurot Field. Ladue’s defensive line came up big all season and forced two fumbles in the state championship game Nov. 24. (Photo by Madi Ward)

hope SHIMONY sports writer

he lights of Faurot Field shined down on the team and the whistle blew, bringing an end to a bittersweet football season. The Ladue varsity football team lost 14-0 to Webb City in the state championship game Friday, Nov. 24. In fact, the 2017 squad was only the second to make the state championship in Ladue history. Since 2003, no other Ladue football team had been able to grind through the postseason and reach the state championship. The other team, the 2003 squad, lost 43-0 to Kearney in the state championship. This year, the team’s hard work throughout the season was rewarded with a chance to compete in a state championship again. “[Going to state was] a huge accomplishment, especially knowing we were one of only two teams in Ladue’s

history,” senior quarterback Jordan Jackson said. [individuals] get to show [their] pride. That’s one thing In order to reach the championship, the football team [that] sports [do], whether it’s at the high school level [or] had to win five straight Class 4 playoff games. The final at the college level. It’s not that you have to be a sports game, however, didn’t go as planned. fan; it’s that idea that you are proud of where you came “You are always disappointed as a competitor to not from.” win, but only one team wins,” head coach Mike Tarpey This year’s state appearance didn’t come out of nosaid. “There are 64 teams in where. The football team had been workWe try to pride ourselves ing toward this achievement all year long, [Class 4].” on a program that’s a As the Ladue football team from offseason weightlifting and summer family, and I tell the guys practices to grueling fall practices. continued their postseason run, more and more fans joined in to [that] I look at them as an “Winning state was always our main support. The football team drew extension of my family. goal heading into the season, so playing large crowds, especially at the [at the] state [game] gave us a chance to district championship game against MICDS, the backachieve it,” junior wide receiver Reece Rode said. and-forth state semifinal game against Parkway Central A large part in achieving their goals came from the and the state championship game against Webb City. team dynamic. The team is a community of individuals “There is a sense of pride for people that live in the who celebrate each other as family. This respect and aparea and go to school here,” Tarpey said. “Very rarely do preciation for one another helped lead the team to victory.

Shooting for success: W

anik JAIN sports writer

ith a host of experienced veteran players, as well as a fresh crop of newcomers, the Ladue girls’ basketball team is poised to make a deep run this season. The team has added some much-needed depth with four new freshmen. Additionally, they have a new head coach who praises the team’s selflessness and teamwork. “Everyone shares the ball and works hard together,” head coach Rich Hay said. “Our defense and offense is more orga-

nized, and everyone is starting to trust and believe in the system.” To go along with improved team chemistry, the basketball team is dangerous on both sides of the floor. A winning season would go far in establishing Ladue as a top-tier high school basketball program in the area. “A lot of surrounding schools underestimate us because we go to Ladue, but this season is going to change that,” senior Khalifa Muhammad said. The team members strive to maintain strong relationships amongst themselves to provide a safe space for every member of the team. Some players, such

Girls basketball starts new season with high hopes

as sophomore Sarah Nselel, are keen to improve their own game, which is just as important as building teamwork. “I hope to improve my ball handling and use my right hand more often,” Nselel said. Nselel and others continue to improve on the fundamentals associated with playing the game. They hope that with their hard work and dedication, they will see favorable results. “We have a really special team this year, which I am very grateful to be a part of, and I’m excited for everyone to see our hard work pay off during the season,” Hay said. v

FLOOR GENERAL // Sophomore guard Jordan Peete scopes out the court for an open teammate. The varsity girls won their game at McCluer North in a 47-43 nailbiter Dec. 5. Peete had nine points in the game, and sophomore forward Mia Collins led the game with 10. (Photo by Faith Deddens)

sports

PANORAMA

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS “I really feel like the bond between each of the players really caused the success this year,” Jackson said. “There was never any bickering about playing time. Everyone enjoyed each other’s company and wanted to see the next man get better.” The players recognize the impact that the Ladue football program has had on their lives. Football teaches the importance of strong bonds, cooperation and family, in addition to physical strength. “I appreciate how football really teaches you life lessons and how each and every aspect of football can relate back to your everyday life,” Jackson said. “For example, you need every player on the field to do his job to be successful, which relates to your daily life because there [are] not many things you can do successfully by yourself.” Another factor in this team’s success is the players’ selflessness. The players’ support and encouragement of each other, even when they face defeat, create a collabor-

Senior Sit Down Each month, Panorama sits down with a senior athlete. This month’s featured athlete is hockey player Jake Gould. Jackson Bry: What was your favorite memory playing hockey for Ladue? Jake Gould: My favorite memory has to be when I was by myself exploring Scottrade last year at state. I just walked out onto the rink and it was unreal. JB: How does the team get hyped up and ready for games? JG: We normally just run outside and kick soccer balls at each other. It’s a lot of fun, and it gets us in a good mood for the game.

JG: I really looked up to Jordan Stern and Sam Shevitz. They were great captains and great role models for the team.

ative atmosphere that cultivates teamwork. This mindset is visible both on and off the field. “One of the best things about this team is that it is a very unselfish team,” Tarpey said. “[It is easy to] get excited because your team is winning, but are you really excited for that individual who made that play or those plays? When you have that, it brings out the better in you and in turn creates an atmosphere that’s contagious.” The mutual respect and admiration stems beyond just the players. Tarpey and the other coaches see the football team as a part of their extended family and attempt to construct a program that encourages members to excel and improve. “We try to pride ourselves on a program that’s a family, and I tell the guys [that] I look at them as an extension of my family,” Tarpey said. “As a father, [I am] proud of my daughter; I’m [also] proud of seeing [the players] and what they’ve become.” v

JB: What are you looking forward to for the rest of the season? JG: Winning every single game on our schedule, beating SLUH in the playoffs and making it to state again.

Jackson’s hot takes The PHILADELPHIA 76ERS will beat the CLEVELAND CAVALIERS in the first round of the 2018 playoffs.

The GREEN BAY PACKERS will regain Aaron Rodgers and make a deep run into the playoffs.

The ST. LOUIS BLUES will carry on their great season into the Stanley Cup Finals but will choke in the clutch.

This 76ers team is the future of the NBA. Center Joel Embiid and guard Ben Simmons are both emerging superstars. The young studs, with the help of J.J. Redick, Robert Covington and Markelle Fultz, are too much for The King to handle by himself.

The Packers still have a decent chance at making the playoffs. Star quarterback Aaron Rodgers looks to return in Week 14. If he can be clutch, which he has been, the Packers will improve on their record. However, the Packers will not make it to the Super Bowl.

The Blues season is great so far. The team is currently sitting on one of the best records in the NHL. Point-producing monster Brayden Schenn has proven to be a genius addition. Unfortunately, I fully expect sadness in my heart come June when they lose.

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PANORAMA

Winter Photo Contest

Ladue students exhibit their favorite winter-themed photos

rose HAUSER photo editor

rhiannon RHOADS photo editor

zach WELLER photo editor

ARIZONA VIEWS // (Left) On a beautiful, clear day

in Sedona, Arizona, freshman Joshua Wolk took this stunning photo of the banded red rock cliffs. The snow on the ground complemented by the crisp blue sky adds to the overall beauty of the photo. Wolk traveled to Arizona last year over winter break. “I like it because the rocks resemble ones out of a Road Runner cartoon,” Wolk said. (Photo by Joshua Wolk)

BRITTLE BRANCHES // (Above) Waking up to a cold, icy day, sophomore Brynne Bursack uses her film camera to photograph frozen tree branches. “My favorite part of the photo is how there’s a branch out of focus in front of the branch that’s in focus,” Bursack said. “The photo almost looks black and white, which kind of adds an even colder feeling.” (Photo by Brynne Bursack) SNOW BUDDY // (Left) Walking her dog out to the backyard, senior Hana Sadoff captures her fuzzy companion catching snowflakes last winter. “I love the residue of the snow on my dog’s face because it shows how playful he is and he looks very photogenic in it,” Sadoff said. (Photo by Hana Sadoff)

WINTER FROST // (Above) During a particularly chilly night

last winter, junior Nathan Lieu walks along the side of Creve Coeur Lake. “I like the sunset and how the ice is broken up on the waves of the lake,” Lieu said. (Photo by Nathan Lieu)

A TOUCH OF SPARKLE // (Right) Holding an ornament in

front of her Christmas tree, freshman Lauren Pesce savors the excitement leading up to the joyful holiday. “I really like the focus on the ornament and how it makes the background lights look cool,” Pesce said. (Photo by Lauren Pesce)

NIGHT LIGHTS // (Far right) During a walking event in Tilles Park, junior Davina Lettau explores the winter light display. “I really like this picture because I love the holiday season,” Lettau said. “Also, the colorful lights make the entire shed stand out in the darkness. I also just love the colors in general because Christmas is probably my favorite holiday; it’s all jolly and spirited.” (Photo by Davina Lettau)