Panorama Dec 2019

Read more on pages 11-13.

LADUE PANORAMA NEWSPAPER

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 66 YEARS.

12.19.2018 VOLUME 67, ISSUE 5 LADUE HORTON WATKINS HIGH SCHOOL 1201 S. WARSON ROAD ST. LOUIS, MO 63124

“If you were stranded on an island, what is one thing you would bring?”

Meet the

Panorama staff

EDITORIAL STAFF

Editors-in-Chief: Anya Tullman and Hannah Suffian Managing Editor: Katie Shaw

Writers: Daniel Chayet, Davina Lettau, Aman

Head Copy Editor: Adam Rush

and Cindy Wang Photographers: Lindsey Byer, Faith Deddens,

“A boat so I can leave.”

Design Editor: Felix Hu Photographer-in-Chief: Zach Weller

“I want to be on In-Depth Editors: Anna Liner and Ande Siegel the page, but I’m News Editors: Connie Chen and Sydney Crump so indecisive.”

Features Editors: Katie Holland and Bradford Siwak Sports Editors: Jackson Bry and Jacob Korn Opinions Editors: Cassie Beisheim and Alex Fu A&E Editors: Hugh Chan and Malavika Kumaran “Seaweed salad.”

Art Editors: Egret Jin and Jackie Zeng Panorama Photo Editor: Carolina Alisio Sports Photo Editor: Abbie Hoefer Digital Photo Editor: Rose Hauser

Letter from the

editors:

on homelessness

Editors-in-chief Hannah Suffian and Anya Tullman When we think of homelessness, one image immediately pops into our heads: a person sitting on a sidewalk with a blanket, ragged clothes and a soggy cardboard sign. However, homelessness encompasses a lot more than most people are aware of, let alone this image in our minds.

According to endhomelessness.org, 553,7742 people were experiencing homelessness as of January 2017. Homelessness is all around us, from kids to adults, but there are many resources in St. Louis to assist those afflicted. Read more on pages 8 and 9 to learn about homelessness and ways to help out in the community.

Corrections from the November issue: Beth Rapoff is an assistant principal. Basel Heyari’s name was spelled wrong.

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12.19.2018

2

CONTRIBUTING STAFF

“A knife.”

Rahman, Autumn Ryan, Hope Shimony

Samantha Fischer, Jordan Ganzer, Grace Hensley, “A friend.”

Nicole Kalishman, Rahul Khanna, Maggie Lochmoeller, Caroline Powell and Lou Ritter Artists: Anna Cui, Jill Goldwasser, Nathan Lu, Louisia Yang and Michelle Zhou

“A boat. Get me off this island.”

Web Editors-in-Chief: Anik Jain and Will Minifie Business Manager: Stephen Bowen Social Media Editor: Sunny Lu Online Photo Editor: Burke Howe Adviser: Sarah Kirksey

Behind the

cover

Photographers Jordan Ganzer, Zach Weller and Maggie Lochmoeller

As the clock winded down, we rushed to switch our lenses. The buzzer went off, and we hurried to capture the moments after the game. This photo was taken just after Ladue received the trophy. Still in shock, we squeezed our way through to take photos. The atmosphere was unforgettable. Winning state made the long hours standing in the cold worth it.

Spread design by Anya Tullman

Table of contents

Thank you to our generous

FEATURES

Panorama’s success would not be possible without your support.

IN-DEPTH

SPORTS

Snowed in ...................................................... 4 & 5 A look at how Dr. Jahnke decides to call a snow day.

Queen of kings ..................................................... 6 Freshman plays at chess championship in Greece.

Homelessness. Let’s talk about it .................. 8 & 9 Homelessness has a covert prevalence that goes beyond the appearance of one’s socioeconomic status. Learn how to help in the Ladue community. #11STRONG ..................................................... 11-13 After losing in the state championship last year, the Rams were hungrier than ever for a state title. For the first time in Ladue history, this dream came true.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Worth the Price .................................................. 14 Hot cocoa: are you getting your money’s worth?

Snow place like home ........................................ 15 Panorama explores three places to go this winter.

NEWS

Ladue’s hidden Juul: revisited ............................ 17 Juul Labs places restrictions after FDA crackdown.

New superintendent .......................................... 18 Jim Wipke will replace Dr. Jahnke as superintendent.

OPINIONS

Our

Pano perspective ....................................... 20 & 21 The importance of self care this finals week.

Fearing instability .............................................. 23 A Ladue student’s experience with homelessness.

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 surveys are completely anonymous. Panorama welcomes letters to the editors. Please bring signed letters to room 1311. Panorama reserves the right to revise submissions as long as original intent remains unaltered. Bylines display staff members’ Twitter handles.

Panorama is produced 10 times per school year by the journalism class of Ladue Horton Watkins High School at 1201 S. Warson Road, St. Louis, Missouri 63124. The publication lab is located in Room 1311, (314)-993-6447 ext. 5844. Read more stories online at laduelead.com. Follow @laduepublications on Instagram and Facebook and @laduepanorama on Twitter. Cover design and photo by Zach Weller.

sponsors.

Ladue Blue sponsors ($100+)

Judy Bowman The Hoefer Family The Holland Family The Howe Family Immerse + Atlas Supply Company The Jain Family Les Kaufman The Korn Family Ladue Education Foundation & Alumni Association Lochmoeller/Schulte Grandkids Frank and Esther Lu Chen Liu & Danielle Zhang The Shimony Family Amy and Stanley Small The Suffian Family Bob & Carolyn Suffian The Tullman Family

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Silver sponsors ($50)

Anonymous The Arun Family Walter & Leonssia Beisheim The Bry Family Christy Crump Bianca Daniels Terri Halsey Susie Harris Alan Korn Jeffery and Elaine Korn The Kumaran Family The Levy-Thomeczek Family The Page Family - Luke & Jake Patney Family Southern/Lochmoeller Team Vie Terry and Phyllis Weiss The Wolf Family

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3contents laduelead.com

BRADFORD SIWAK features editor | @bradfordsiwak

O

The day before a storm, Jahnke keeps her office TV — which sits catty-corner from her desk — muted as she periodically glances at the screen.

There is a conference call for all St. Louis County superintendents to share and gather information in order to make well-informed decisions. The call is planned over email during the day and may start as early as 4:30 p.m. or as late as 9 p.m., depending on if other districts have board meetings. Most superintendents reach the same conclusion. After this call, Jahnke joins another one, exclusively with neighboring districts (Brentwood, Clayton, Kirkwood, Maplewood Richmond Heights, University City, Webster Groves), in case the poor weather conditions are headed elsewhere in the county. These districts rarely make a different call decisions than Ladue.

n many a frigid school night, when forecasts look just right, Ladue students tuck spoons under pillows, place oranges in freezers and flush ice cubes down toilets. They wear pajamas inside out and backward, and partake in the infamous “snow dance.” Put briefly: students love snow days. But there is a lot more that goes into the cancellation of school than mere superstition.

Many Ladue students know that Superintendent Dr. Donna Jahnke is the person who makes the legendary call to declare a snow day. The accumulation of factors that form her decision, however, are widely unknown and overlooked.

I take these Large buses rolling over icy hills, very seriously. I think it’s teen drivers, sidewalk accessibility, important for kids to be staff members coming from beyond the Leaving work after the long I but not at the district’s boundaries, students waiting day, Jahnke packs her bag to cain school, at bus stops and the Missouri Department pacity in case she cannot come in expense of their safety. of Transportation’s preparation are all of the following day. concern. For Ladue Schools, the matter is “Everything is set in place before — Ladue Superintendent further complicated by the large number of the night ever happens,” Jahnke Donna Jahnke municipalities the district serves. said. “Our transportation coordina“We serve part or all of 10 different mutor knows exactly what he needs nicipalities,” Jahnke said. “Each of those cities clean their to be doing in the morning. My director of facilities knows own streets off … Some do it very quickly, and others take exactly what he needs to be doing in the morning … everymore time. So there are times where one part of the school body has their role to play.” district is pretty clear, and other parts of the school district are not. And in terms of the snow day, it’s all or nothing. We By the 10 p.m. news, Jahnke always tries to have her call school for everyone, or we have school for everyone.” decision made. Calling families after this hour is often diffiOne way students tend to underestimate the complexicult for parents. ty of the decision to cancel school is by predicting Jahnke’s “Making a decision early is always great for everyone, call based simply on the amount of expected snowfall. But because parents can make decisions about what they want once the flakes come down, there are other factors that to do with their children the next day and [make] arrangemay or may not lead to a snow day. ments — it’s just so much easier than when we have to “I think it’s not the amount, sometimes it’s the timing of call at 5:30 in the morning and people may or may not be the snow,” Jahnke said. “Snow could start at three o’clock in scrambling around,” Jahnke said. “I would hope that parents the afternoon and end at midnight — we can get five inchwould make those plans for the possibility of a snow day. es — but it could easily be cleared off by the next morning.” But when they know early, it’s a whole lot easier for them.”

“

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calling a snow day Once Jahnke makes the call to cancel school, the news travels from one person to another rather quickly. First she notifies Director of Communications Susan Downing over the phone.

“We generally have communications ready to go in case we have a [snow] day. We send something out through Parent Connect, which is an email system for parents to get notifications,” Jahnke said. “And then the next thing I do is I tweet. I tweet out, ‘we’re going to have a snow day.’ I contact ... my administrators, my board members and then the robo calls start with our community.”

In the event that she has not yet made a decision, Jahnke goes to bed between 10 and 11 p.m. These nights are more difficult for her. Jahnke usually manages a handful of hours asleep, though she has had sleepless nights before.

“Even if they’re not calling for a lot of snow, they’re calling for some precipitation, you go to bed that night thinking about it,” Jahnke said. “I’ll get up at two in the morning or three in the morning again, to look outside and check and see, watch the weather.”

By about 3:30 a.m., Jahnke is back up and making phone calls. On a regular school day, she drinks tea. But when she arises for a potential snow day, she does not need caffeine.

“There’s a lot of adrenaline. So, I am up and awake and alert and ready to go. You don’t think about the fact that you’ve only had a few hours sleep, you get up kind of ready to make a decision and knowing you need to be on point,” Jahnke said. “I’m calling my director of facilities, calling my transportation coordinator, watching news again.”

Director of Facilities Mike Noonan drives the roads for inspection. People track Ladue’s campuses. Jahnke receives reports from Ladue’s bus company.

Spread design by Nicole Kalishman and Bradford Siwak; art by Anna Liner

At 4:30 a.m., Jahnke is again on a conference call with superintendents across the county. From there, back to the surrounding communities to gather a final consensus.

5:30 a.m. is the absolute latest Jahnke will make the call to have a snow day.

“People need to know what’s going on, whether or not they need to get their children some place, they need to go to work,” Jahnke said.

To begin working during a snow day, Jahnke lays everything out on her dining room table.

Though the day is a break for most, she still gets things done, including shoveling her driveway.

“I have my laptop and all the work that I need to do. You can do so many things remotely now,” Jahnke said. “Rather than actually physically meeting with people, I just call them on the phone.”

For most, snow days evoke relaxation and excitement. But for Jahnke, the soul person deciding whether to cancel school, they are inevitably stressful. Despite the serious nature of school cancellations, Jahnke appreciates the silly superstitions and absurd pleas for a day off she gets from students. Last year, a group of high schoolers tweeted Jahnke a message begging for school to be canceled — for safety, of course — with a picture of the teenagers huddled under a blanket.

“I just think it’s funny and I love it — I love getting messages from kids,” Jahnke said. “Before I call the day or after I call the day, it’s just interesting to me to see what kids have to say about it … I enjoy any kind of communication from our students. It’s fun to see what they have to say about it.” v

5 features laduelead.com

Queen of kings ADAM RUSH head copy editor | @adamrush01

S

urrounded by tables, timers and some of the world’s best chess players, 14-year-old freshman Iris Zhou took a moment to bend down and clasp her hands together. To the outside world, it seemed as though she was praying, but in reality, she was trying to remember the complex strategies she had planned for her upcoming match. As Zhou walked to her table, she was confident but not arrogant, excited but not nervous. Finally, she sat down opposite her opponent, and the game began. Zhou moved her pawn to E4 without a second thought; it’s the same opening move she used for all 13 rounds she played in the World Youth Chess Championship in Greece this October.

Zhou, who has been a member of the United States chess team for a total of five years, placed 26th out of 107 over her two weeks in Greece. Ranked 79th among female chess players in the United States and eighth among 14-year-old girls, Zhou has trained since she was 6 years old to be considered among the best youth chess players in the world.

“I have loved chess since the moment I was introduced to it,” Zhou said. “Chess has been a part of my life for so long that I don’t know who

I would be without it. If I stopped in local tournaments, often with the completely, it wouldn’t be like cutting Ladue chess team. Through practicing off a limb, but like cutting off two of with Zhou, sophomore and Ladue my fingers.” chess player Katie Eisenman believes Despite being one of the top that Zhou has improved both her own ranked competitors among chess play- game and the chess team’s with her ers her age, Zhou has managed to stay unique skill set. humble about her accomplishments.

“Iris spends so much time working In order to keep and improving, and improving, she it inspires me to strives to practice I think chess is a lot like life. try and improve at least an hour a my [own game], You have to plan ahead, day to stay in top even just a little but you don’t know exactly bit,” Eisenman form for every match she plays. said. “The Ladue what’s going to happen, so Math teacher chess team has you have to be prepared.

Garrett White, a really good - Iris Zhou (9) the sponsor of chance to win the Ladue chess the state champiteam, feels that Zhou’s intense work onship this year, largely due to the ethic is on display each time she faces fact that Iris is one of the best Board 1 an oppenent. players we could possibly have.”

“Nobody sees the time Lebron While Zhou initially felt that she James puts in to be the best basketwould play chess her whole life, she ball player in the world,” White said. “It recently began to doubt whether it takes natural ability paired with hard is a career she would want to explore work, the same as in chess. It may be outside of high school. However, for a bit early and unfair to compare [Iris] the time being, Zhou’s love for the to Lebron, but the idea applies. Most game keeps drawing her back to the people only see the effect of the work: chess board. when Iris beats them in chess. They “[Chess] doesn’t make a lot of do not see that she has spent years of money, and I honestly can’t see myself her life trying to become as good of a doing it every single day,” Zhou said. chess player as she can be.”

“I don’t know what career I plan to In addition to competing on the pursue, but I know chess will always world stage, Zhou frequently plays be a part of my life.” v

“

CHECKMATE Freshman Iris Zhou visits the World Chess Hall of Fame in Central West End during late November. In middle school, Zhou started a chess camp to mentor up-and-coming young chess players in the St. Louis region. “When I help [them] succeed, [it] makes me feel better than when I just do it myself,” Zhou said. (Photo by Carolina Alisio)

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Page design by Hugh Chan, Katie Holland, Bradford Siwak & Nicole Kalishman

Saying HI to STL

Freshman moves from Hawaii, lives with extended family AUTUMN RYAN staff writer | @autumn_elise6

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alm trees, sandy beaches and clear oceans were all that surrounded her, until she made a big decision that brought her to a beautiful, windy and loud city. Marissa Mathieson, a freshman from Waikoloa, a village in Hawaii, has just recently came to Ladue to further her education. After seven years in Hawaii, she has been living in St. Louis with extended family and going to Ladue High School for over five months.

Some of the best experiences for Mathieson have occured with the new people she has met. Mathieson found a good friend to help her through the transition to her new home. Mathieson met Freshman Sophia Liu when she first arrived, and the two have been inseparable ever since.

“We met at freshman orientation and instantly clicked,” Liu said. “Marissa is very funny, amazing, nice and supportive.”

It wasn’t always Mathieson’s plan

While Mathieson hasn’t been at to leave Hawaii, but she found herself Ladue for long, she has appreciated searching for new experiences. While the school’s inviting atmosphere. For she will always adore her hometown, Mathieson, one of the major differencshe is also developing an undeniable es between here and Hawaii has been love for St. Louis. the quality of the schools she has “Hawaii is beautiful and I loved attended in the past. living there, but [there] was a limited “The people are very welcoming amount of things to do, and I wantand I really like the classes I am cured to branch out,” Mathieson said. “I rently taking,” Mathieson said. “Ladue didn’t really think about leaving until is very different from my last school I got the opportunity to come here because I to attend a better went to a school.”

Hawaii is beautiful and I private school.

Now that loved living there, but So, going from Mathieson is in [there] was a limited amount a small to bigSt. Louis, she is of things to do, and I wanted ger school was enjoying explorquite a bit of a ing a new part of to branch out. change.” her country. She Ladue has helped Mathieson leap initially thought St. Louis would be out of her comfort zone and try new boring and unwelcoming, but now things like sledding. She has also startshe’s experienced a change of mind ed to feel like a part of the community. throughout her time in the city.

“In what short time I have been “St. Louis isn’t as bad as people at Ladue, I have made great friends, think it is.” Mathieson said There is joined a club that I really enjoy, and definitely a lot to do here, and I like found a way to be a part of the comthe change of seasons as opposed to munity here,” Mathieson said. v the constant, warm weather,”

“

School: Hawaii vs. St. Louis

HI

» Schools are much smaller

» More

frequent and better field trip opportunities

» More

picturesque location

STL

» Stronger sense of community

» More

clubs and organizations

» More class options and electives

Page design by Nicole Kalishman, Katie Holland & Bradford Siwak

PLANTING NEW ROOTS Sitting at a friend’s house, Marisssa Mathieson shares her experience of moving from Hawaii. Mathieson found the move to be rather smooth. ”I have made quite a few friends at debate, and I have found that I really enjoy the community and the people that are in it,” Mathieson said. (Photo

by Zach Weller)

7 features laduelead.com

homelessness.

ANDE SIEGEL in-depth editor | @andesiegel ANNA LINER in-depth editor | @liner_anna

T

let’s talk about it.

he door to Gateway 180 is welsouri-St Louis’s Public Policy Research come to all. The entrance is lined Center, in the last few years, the indiwith its hand-painted logo above vidual need for homeless shelters has the reception desk, greeting those who increased — especially in St. Louis City. arrive with open arms. People of all ages, The 2015-16 year has seen an increased races and family sizes return from shop545 individuals in homeless shelters from ping, leave for tutoring and socialize with the 2010-11 year. As conditions worsen, each other. At a glance, Gateway 180 has made it is difficult to know its primary goal to who is homeless and The people experiencing empower individwho is not. In the uals, children and homelessness, they’re back office sits Execfamilies to achieve our neighbors, they work safe and comfortutive Director Kathy Connors, a woman with us, they go to school able housing. who has made it her “Now that [homewith us. They’re just mission for the past 14 less people] have years to help struggling experiencing a rough a temporary home, families across St. Louis they have a place time in their life. rebuild their lives. where they know “The people expethey’re coming home riencing homelessness, they’re our to every night,” Connors said. “They know neighbors, they work with us, they go to where their belongings are every day. school with us,” Connors said. “They’re They’re able to go to work. They’re able just experiencing a rough time in their to go to job interviews without parting life … [Gateway 180] becomes their sup[with] their belongings and without port system, teaching them to become revealing that they are homeless to the their own support system.” individuals they encounter. They’re able According to the University of Misto have a home base from which to

“

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8

move their lives forward.”

Loaves and Fishes is another organization that provides a home base for up to 29 people in Maryland Heights. Similar to Gateway 180, this organization provides intensive case management, as well as other forms of assistance like a food pantry and a soup kitchen on a weekly basis.

However, despite their work, Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry Coordinator Alan Ellis believes that outside of the shelter, there remains a negative stigma associated with homelessness. “[If you’re homeless], people expect you to be dirty, maybe stealing things,” Ellis said. “But not everyone who’s homeless is a thief. There are some people that you would not even expect to be homeless. You could look at them and they’re clean, they have nice clothes, but they’re still homeless. If you’re homeless, you don’t want to be treated like you’re homeless. You want to be treated like a normal person.”

St. Louis County is not immune to this stigma. In fact, 54.5 percent of 145 Ladue students surveyed said that they would not donate food or money to a homeless

1

Donate

Big Brothers Big Sisters of America

works to support St. Louis children and teens

person on the street. Despite this, senior and Hunger Outreach Program member Davina Lettau stresses that homelessness goes further than someone’s appearance or socioeconomic status.

“If you look around, [there are] homeless students that even attend Ladue,” Lettau said. “A lot of it is just moving, couch-surfing, not being able to find a job, staying at friends’ houses, struggling with drugs [or] mental illnesses. Homelessness is everywhere.”

After growing up in the foster care system, Lettau has learned from personal experience the impact volunteering can have. Volunteering through clubs at Ladue such as HOP, Habitat for Humanity and Amnesty International can also be an important way to eliminate misconceptions about homeless people and grow communal understanding.

“I think one of the best ways to help the homeless is to support the entities that offer the resources to direct individuals,” Connors said. “Volunteer, have the opportunity to be put in a position where you get to see firsthand that people are people. This is our community.” v

2 Covenant House Missouri

provides safe housing for homeless youth

Volunteer

Gateway 180 Homeless Service

Loaves and Fishes

offers child care opportuni- provides soup kitchen Wednesday nights ties Monday-Thursday

q&a with katina

Katina White, 33, is a resident and mother of three at Gateway180 Panorama: Tell me about your situation here.

Katina White: Well, I kind of hit a bump in the road with the housing situation with my private landlord.

P: How long have you been here?

KW: I haven’t been but two weeks, and my two weeks always feel comfortable here at Gateway. They always make sure my kids are fed, we have clothing and we have hot water to wash our bodies.

P: What’s the community like for your children?

KW: We have the playroom down here. They have tutoring and get the kids to be kids. [It] just lets [us] erase that we live upstairs, you know what I mean? So it’s not only for the little ones, it’s for the big ones sometimes.

P: What is a message that you want others to take away from your experience?

KW: I want them to be open, to know that everybody has some type of problem ... That’s the message I want my kids to get, that it’s okay [to be homeless]. It’s not like a whispering thing, it’s not nothing to be ashamed about, it’s not just us.

Spread design by Anna Liner & Ande Siegel; photos by Sunny Lu

9 in-depth laduelead.com

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ON THE HUNT At the state championship game against MICDS Nov. 30, senior Andrew Hunt carries the ball down Faurot Field. After the Rams lost the state final last year, the team knew hard work would be necessary for another shot at the title. “We had to work a ton in the off-season to get to this point, and to achieve our goal just felt awesome,�

Hunt said. (Photo by Zach Weller)

#11strong WAR ON WARSON Final score of state:

48-11

STate

Champions Page design by Jacob Korn

sports

11laduelead.com

FINaLLY

Ladue football wins state for first time in program’s 66 year history the challenge, the team headed back to Columbia. The Rams defeated their rivals down Warson Road 48-11 to he Ladue Rams had been there complete the team’s perfect season, before. Playing with a state going 15-0. championship on the line under “You know what won everything some of the biggest lights in Missoufor me?” senior captain Moses Okpari wasn’t a new experience for the la said. “When we went to team. As the players ran onto the field, Webb City and kicked their memories came flooding back. After all, you know what. We this field was the site of the team’s last went to Webb City, they loss, a little over a year ago. beat us in the state game After losing to Webb City 14-0 in last year, but we came last year’s state final, the Rams vowed back.” to come back and win it all. However, However, reaching state would be no easy task. just because This year, they would have to play in the team their stadium and come out on top, did not lose which they did in dramatic fashion. a game all After scoring a 19-yard touchdown season does not with six minutes left to give them the mean they didn’t lead, Ladue only needed one more face challenges. stop. This stop came from two sacks by They had to beat senior Lincoln Grench and junior Brian Class 6 teams Faulkner. The Rams were going back to Pattonville and Faurot Field.

Kirkwood during the After knocking off Webb City, they regular season, teams had one last test against MICDS to with highly esteemed become state champions. Ready for programs.

JACKSON BRY sports editor | @jbry422

T

“Only one team gets to win it all,” head coach Mike Tarpey said. “To be that close so many years in a row is challenging. Our kids really bought into how close they were [to the championship] and thought if they continued to work hard and stay healthy, they would win it all.”

This state championship marks the first time that Ladue has won state in all of the program’s history. Although they came close a few times in recent years, this was the first team to bring the state title to Ladue.

“It’s a really cool feeling to be a part of such a great team with so many great coaches and players,” senior Andrew Hunt said.

“It’s an awesome feeling to be the team that finally won for Ladue and the team that will go down in history.” v

captains' Careers OKPALA

CHESSON 5 fumble recoveries 149 total tackles 14 sacks

2,183 total yards 35 touchdowns 8 interceptions

50 7 87 15 8

GRENCH

GARLAND

278 total yards 115 total tackles 13 sacks

sports

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12.19.2018

635 total yards 6 touchdowns 9 interceptions

HUNT 3,542 total yards 46 touchdowns 4 interceptions

Spread design by Jackson Bry

r eco 0 5 1 r

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS The lights at Faurot Field shine through the fog onto senior captain Lincoln Grench as he talks to head coach Mike Tarpey Nov.30.

Ladue defeated MICDS 4811 in the state final to win the school’s first ever state championship. (Photo by Zach Weller)

d

“To win was just amazing. It was a special experience to be a part of.”

-BROCK Jones (11) sports 13 laduelead.com

Hu

gh's

Reviews

Pan oram a com pared three di fferent HUGH CHAN A&E editor | @hugheychan

price e h t worth s a w e hot chocolates to see if each on art by ANNA CUI

Swiss Miss $ The beloved American classic hot chocolate, Swiss Miss, fails to live up to the childhood nostalgia that many associate with the brand.

The color of the brewed liquid is a robust chestnut, but any flavors of chocolate are instantly overpowered by the dominating sweetness. The moisture in my mouth is absorbed by the unnecessarily high concentration of sugar. Hot chocolate aficionados who crave the delicate chocolate notes typically found in a high quality drink will be disappointed in Swiss Miss. Even for only $2 a box, Swiss Miss is not worth the unpleasant experience it will deliver.

Starbucks $$ The cocoa mix at Starbucks is grounded finely and releases a rich, fragrant aroma when brewed, but the color of the liquid is an unappetizing grayish-brown reminiscent of mud-tracked snow. The taste of chocolate is clearly pronounced in each sip, and leaves a bittersweet aftertaste similar to dark chocolate. Despite the lack of sweetness, Starbucks’s hot chocolate is of a higher caliber than most competitors.

For those who enjoy a more bitter chocolate, a $12 tin of Starbucks mix is an excellent deal.

Williams-Sonoma $$$ The hot chocolate mix at Williams-Sonoma is, in contrast to other brands, not a powder mix but shaved flakes of real chocolate. The preparation is slightly more time-consuming than a traditional powder mix due to the necessity of a stovetop. However, a cup of the mixture feels like a restaurant-worthy experience and is well worth the wait.

The deep, velvety flavor of the chocolate pairs with the elegant yet restrained sweetness beautifully to develop a near-perfect mug of hot chocolate. For those willing to spend $20 for a tin, Williams-Sonoma’s hot chocolate mix will satisfy all customers.

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Page design by Hugh Chan

JILL GOLDWASSER artist | @jillgoldwasser

art by

Snow Popular placewinterlike home attractions in St. Louis C MI

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Steinberg Ice Rink

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With lights strung overhead across the ice, Steinberg Ice Rink in Forest Park is a beautiful setting for spending time with friends and family during the holidays.

There is a firepit to the side of the rink for extra chilly nights as well as a café.

Entrance and skate rental are both $7.

The rink is open until Feb. 28.

Winter Wonderland

People of all ages can experience the wonder that is the Christmas lights of Tilles Park in either the warmth of a car or a horse-drawn carriage. Light displays include the 12 days of Christmas, a light “wall” and other dazzling arrays.

Another St. Louis classic, Winter Wonderland is open until Dec. 30.

Wild Lights at the Zoo

Unexpectedly, the zoo in the winter was a great experience. There are a variety of activities to choose from at Wild Lights, including a “den design zone” near the polar bears, s’more making and 4-D showings of Polar Express. The price is raises from $9 to $10 per person on weekends.

Nationwide nostalgia: The movie remakes of 2018 DANIEL CHAYET staff writer | @chayet_daniel

Ocean’s 8

A Star is Born

Unlike its predecessors in the series, this movie has an all-female ensemble cast, including Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett and Rihanna, along with a new director. The heist film grossed nearly $300 million globally.

The fourth remake of the 1937 classic stars Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper, who also served as director.

It received critical acclaim, garnering a 90 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes and earning gold recording industry certifications in four countries for its soundtrack.

The Grinch The third screen and second animated adaptation of Dr. Seuss’ classic Christmas story boasts an all-star voice cast led by Benedict Cumberbatch as the titular character and Pharrell Williams as the narrator.

It is the second Seuss remake by Illumination.

Tomb Raider Alicia Vikander stars as Lara Croft from the popular Tomb Raider video game series. The film grossed nearly $57.4 million in the United States and Canada, with a 50 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

It was the best reviewed live-action video game film at its release.

(Photos courtesy of Google Images) Page design by Malavika Kumaran; photos by Grace Hensley & Zach Weller

15 A&E laduelead.com

2019-20’s new classes: which ones should you take?

Start here: Electives or core classes?

Core classes

Electives

Social studies or STEM?

Social studies Fine arts, practical arts or regular electives?

Fine arts

World History and Geography

Practical arts

Regular electives

In this class, students will learn about the intersection of world history and geography. Students will also use the tools of historians and geographers.

Introduction to Business

Advanced Piano

This course will teach lessons that cover repertoire, technique, listening and theory exercises. The class will reinforce concepts from the Introduction to Piano course and develop more advanced proficiency on the piano.

Ladue LEADS

In this class, students will develop their character skills to influence their community in a productive and positive way. Activities in the course include self-reflection and evaluation.

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In this course, students learn about the integral role that business plays in today’s global economy.

CAPS Business/ Entrepreneurship

Students will get the chance to work with local businesses and get a hands-on experience in the business field.

Multi-Media Sports Production

Students will write, direct, shoot and edit sports multimedia videos to play on the Ladue athletic scoreboard during selected athletic events and games.

STEM

Math or science?

Math Cybersecurity (Project Lead the Way)

In this full-year course, students will engage in in-depth learning about cybersecurity and compete in Capture the Flag cyber events.

Digital Electronics (PLTW, Math or PA credit)

This class provides a foundation for students who are interested in electrical engineering, electronics or circuit design.

(Not all courses have been confirmed)

Science

Medical Interventions (PLTW)

In this third-year course of the PLTW Biomedical Path, students follow the life of a fictitious family as they investigate how to prevent, diagnose and treat disease.

Through different cases, students explore a range of interventions.

Page design by Connie Chen

Ladue’s hidden Juul:

Revisited Juul Labs discontinued the production of select flavors to decrease adolescent Juul use

ANYA TULLMAN editor-in-chief | @anyatullman HANNAH SUFFIAN editor-in-chief | @hannahsuffian

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uul Labs CEO Kevin Burns released an action plan on the company’s website Nov. 13 outlining the steps it will take to lessen the use of the Juul by minors and non-smokers. According to Burns, Juul Labs’ ultimate goal is to “improve the lives of the world’s one billion adult smokers” and “eliminate cigarettes.” However, this plan was enacted in response to intense pressure from the Food and Drug Administration and public health experts in order to restrict teenagers’ access and subsequent addiction to the company’s product.

According to the plan, Juul Labs stopped selling cucumber, mango, creme and fruit pods, flavors that are attractive to adolescents, to 9,000 retail stores. In order to deter users from reverting to cigarettes, Juul Labs will continue to have mint, tobacco and menthol flavors available for sale in every store that sells their product.

Juul Labs will also revamp its online age verification process, since Juul products are meant to be prohibited to those under 21. The company will require two-factor authentication, which includes verifying a user’s identity by a code sent to the user’s cell phone as well as a real-time photo requirement. Additionally, online customers will be limited in their orders to prevent bulk sales to minors.

Finally, Juul Labs announced it would shut down its Instagram and Facebook accounts, use Twitter for non-marketing communication and limit its Youtube presence to show only testimonials from adult smokers who switched to Juul. Juul Labs says that it will reach out to major social media platforms and ask to monitor the promotional posting for cigarettes and e-cigarettes alike on the feeds of underage users.

Since its creation in 2015, the Juul has become an obsession for many Ladue students. Some even use the product on school property, which was made a rule violation punishable by a three-day suspension last year. While the changes implemented by Juul may seem like a step in the right direction, Principal Brad Griffith has reservations about the company’s new intentions.

“I am really hesitant to believe an industry will completely abandon practices that are designed to essentially hook people to the product [and] allow it to be profitable,” Griffith said. “As much as I’d love to say ‘yes, I believe them,’ I don’t.”

In the Nov. 13 report, Burns writes, “Our intent was never to have youth use Juul products.” However, according to the New York Times, more than three million middle and high school students use e-cigarettes. Dean of Students Mike Tarpey feels that the e-cigarette market in its entirety targets a younger population than those who smoke traditional cigarettes.

“People my age and older probably aren’t gonna switch from cigarettes to Juuling,” Tarpey said. “[Juul] was a way to try to target a market and profit, and so I think the impact that that has on any school is negative because it distracts from why you’re coming to school.”

Even though School Resource Officer Rick Ramirez believes that Juul may be attempting to conform under pressure, he considers their recent changes to be a case of too little, too late.

“Since forever, there are going to be kids who smoke and think it’s cool,” Ramirez said. “Are we ever going to get rid of that?” v

Page design by Felix Hu; photo illustration by Carolina Alisio & Abbie Hoefer

17 news laduelead.com

District hires Dr. Jim Wipke as new superintendent Wipke will replace Dr. Donna Jahnke, who is retiring after the 2018-19 school year CINDY WANG staff writer | @cindy_wang_123

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he Ladue School District has selected its new superintendent, Dr. Jim Wipke, after an extensive search that began this past summer. Wipke will officially replace retiring superintendent Dr. Donna Jahnke on July 1, 2019.

After the Ladue Board of Education analyzed the backgrounds and qualifications of 23 candidates and comprehensively interviewed the finalists, Wipke was bought out of his contract and unanimously selected by the board.

“The board believes Dr. Wipke combines the necessary experience, skills and passion to continue the legacy of leadership that Dr. A NEW BEGINNING Dr. Donna Jahnke presents Dr. Jim Wipke with his first piece of Ladue Schools apparel.

Jahnke has provided over the last Wipke was welcomed into the district at the announcement event Nov. 7. “My set priorities are going to be five years,” president of the Ladue to continue to work with the board of education and continue to follow the priorities that have already been School District Board of Education, outlined through Dr. Jahnke’s work,” Wipke said. (Photo courtesy of Susan Downing) Andy Bresler said.

Throughout the upcoming semester, Wipke hopes Born and raised in St. Louis, Wipke has held a plethora of to embark on a major listening and learning tour of the prominent roles in several local school districts. From teachdistrict. During this first phase, Wipke intends to interact ing fifth grade in the Rockwood School with Ladue students to identify areas District to serving as the superintendent where the district can continue to of the Fox C-6 School District, Wipke has Ladue has just such a rich grow and improve. Fortunately for a background in nearly all levels of public school education. tradition; [it has] a culture Wipke, many students at the high school are more than willing to give “I’ve been that middle school teacher, of excellence [and] high their input on school policies, espe[and] I’ve been that high school principal,” expectations in terms cially on after-school activities.

Wipke said. “There are certain dynamics to “I think a focus on funding certain of achievement. It’s a all of those positions, so just having those experiences alone helps navigate issues wonderful community to extracurriculars would be great,” sophomore Anna Reis, Lincoln-Dougand problems that can pop up in a school be a part of. las debate coordinator and president district.” of Spanish Club, said. “A lot of educaTo help make the transition from one tional extracurriculars could always use more support from superintendent to the next as smooth as possible, Jahnke the school in terms of budget.” announced her retirement 16 months in advance. Since After Jahnke officially retires, Wipke will enter his secWipke is the current superintendent of the Fox C-6 School ond transition phase and fully begin work on committees, District, this time frame will allow his district to find a the board of education, curriculum and community work. quality replacement and Wipke to immerse himself into the Through this process, Wipke hopes to apply his personal Ladue community. values of love, service and care to the Ladue community.

“The first phase is more of a respectful integration,” Wip“Ladue has just such a rich tradition; [it has] a culture ke said. “I want to be really respectful to [Ladue’s] current of excellence [and] high expectations in terms of achievesuperintendent, and I want to learn and get to meet people ment,” Wipke said. “It’s a wonderful community to be a and build relationships over the next course of the second part of. I can’t wait to get right to work.” v semester of the year.”

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Spread design by Connie Chen & Sydney Crump

Snapchat declines in value STEPHEN BOWEN business manager | @stephen_bowen17

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n March 2017, Snapchat moved from a privately owned and funded social media giant to a publicly traded company, similar to Facebook and Twitter, and became known as Snap Inc. After an initial surge in share price and, consequently, company value, the worth of the company began to unravel. The results showed that Snap Inc. failed to live up to its financial hopes. Now, its current value touches on less than one quarter of its initial worth as a public company.

Over the past decade, other social media giants have thrown themselves at the mercy of the stock market as popularity rises and value is shown.

Snapchat as an application maintains a massive following with over 180 million daily active users worldwide. One of the users, senior Tripp Lochmoeller, feels that Snap Inc. has a responsibility to make money for its shareholders, which is often a challenge with social media companies.

“Look at companies from our generation, like Vine, that had a difficult time monetizing,” Lochmoeller said. “I think [Snap Inc.] is going through similar struggles.”

Since the traditional concept of building a business doesn’t always translate into some of today’s newer companies, they may struggle to maintain financial expectations. There is little to no tangible equity in a social media company, meaning that Snap Inc. must rely on its users to justify its value. “[Snap Inc.’s] revenue growth is slowing,” economics teacher Jim Goldwasser said. “Their cash on hand is rapidly dwindling, from $3.27 billion in the second quarter of 2017 to $1.4 billion today. The number of daily users is dropping [in addition to] the stock price dropping to reflect these issues.”

Snap Inc. is currently experimenting with different ways to generate revenue. Users may have noticed a spike in advertisements invading stories, some of which are not skippable.

Currently, Snap Inc.’s value remains on the decline as it struggles to stabilize its revenue sources.

While a financial blow like this would finish traditional companies, business teacher Chris Geisz believes there is not a cause for concern if Snap Inc. ends up bankrupt and is forced to liquidate.

“If [Snap Inc.] somehow goes into bankruptcy or somehow finds itself unable to keep the platform alive, somebody will buy it,” Geisz said. “If I were a Snapchat user, I would not be overly concerned that it’s going to just disappear, at least not soon.” v

SCHOOL GEAR Senior Courvaun Hill restocks clothes in the Ram Shack Dec. 6 during lunch.

The store opened in November 2018. (Photo

by Nicole Kalishman)

Ram Shack opens to students DAVINA LETTAU staff writer | @laduepanorama

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hole in a brown wall that once divided students from Ladue spirit gear is now a modern, renovated walk-in store with shelves on the walls, mannequins showcased behind glass and clothing racks for students to peruse.

The Ram Shack — where students go to buy Ladue merchandise — was completed and opened Nov. 1.

Students currently enrolled in the Ram Shack class started designing clothing in August, anticipating a completed walk-in store by early October. However, due to construction issues, the Ram Shack “unofficially opened” for business Nov. 1 without shelves or cases installed. Although the shop is not entirely finished yet, most shelves were installed Nov. 28.

“It feels like a genuine clothes shop because when you go inside there are racks holding clothes and hat racks holding the hats,” junior and Ram Shack employee Daniel Volobuev said. “It’s a very fun yet professional atmosphere in which a student can actually come in and shop for clothes.”

In addition to the racks and a walk-in space, the new Ram Shack also has display cases outside of the store to better advertise its merchandise to students. Ram Shack members are able to customize Ladue gear and then showcase it during school hours to students, promoting the store and ultimately increasing sales.

“We were unable to fully connect to our customers due to the wall that separated our customers from our products [with the old Ram Shack],” senior and Ram Shack employee Lauren Vanlandingham said.

Many students have noticed an increase in revenue between early and late November due to the quality of the merchandise. Most of their designs from the beginning of the year are being worn by their peers and some items have sold out, such as the “Friends”-themed long sleeve t-shirt. However, the store is still expecting a few finishing touches, as final decorations and display items are still being installed.

“It’s a great responsibility, and I don’t take it for granted because we work to serve the needs of every student, staff member and parent we encounter in the store,” junior and Ram Shack employee Giuseppe Di Cera said. v

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pano perspective

Why taking care of yourself is the only way to thrive in high school

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t’s 2 a.m., once again. With a study guide, a set of Advanced Placement history notes, an essay still incomplete and notepaper scattered everywhere, a student would give just about anything for a second of rest. Most of us crave any moment of peace we can find during finals season, but with the impending doom of end of semester grades looming over our shoulders, it can be extremely difficult to take a break from studying. Despite this fear, as teens, we cannot deny ourselves one of the most important factors of our own mental health — self care.

While self care is vital, it can be difficult to integrate into the hectic lives of teenagers. Thus, it is best to take small steps when introducing it into one’s routine. According to Psychology Today, physical, emotional, intellectual and social interactions qualify as self care.

Specifically, physical self care can include listening to your hunger or fullness cues, having a stable sleeping schedule and exercising. Emotionally, self care can include the acceptance and release of your emotions and finding outlets for stress, such as taking up hobbies or seeking additional help. Socially and intellectually, self care can include career exploration by discovering one’s interests and maintaining key relationships with friends as well as family.

While practicing self care seems unimportant to some, it is clear that taking a break and planning some time away from stress can be beneficial. According to studies done by Harvard University neuroscientist Sara Lazar, an act of self care such as meditation has shown to

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alleviate stress and help people adapt more to stressors, such as school or work, in their everyday lives. While some may think that self care takes too much work, it is crucial to remember that the benefits of self care can be monumental for many students. Making time in a schedule for 30 minutes or less to focus on oneself is minuscule compared to all the changes and events we have to juggle as highschoolers and is worth the time lost in the long run.

While anxiety alleviation and healthy habits are great outcomes of regularly practicing self care in our daily lives, we must also understand the serious risks that come from bottling up anxieties, rather than taking time out of our day to deal with them. Depression, insomnia, back pain, dizziness, frequent colds and even suicidal thoughts can result from massive amounts of pressure on any person, as stated by the American Institute of Stress. These symptoms can be detrimental to our lives, and it is up to us to utilize self care in order to relieve some of the pressure.

Despite the countless benefits, self care can be hard to fit into our crazy, overwhelming schedules. However, as finals become a major stressor, the importance of trying to free some time every day — even if it is just 10 minutes ­­— for yourself is crucial to maintain and positively impact mental wellbeing in the long run. While we cannot directly change the many endless assignments, projects and challenges we must confront in high school, we can at least try to lessen the stress and anxiety levels by practicing self care. v

Spread design by Cassie Beisheim & Alexander Fu; photo by Bradford Siwak

iDestress

Apps to better your self care routine

happify

various activities and games to help you lift your spirits

The fourth time around

headspace

beginners meditation app that allows for decompression

Advice from a senior as finals come to a close

sleepbot

track your sleep cycle and wake up to soothing sounds

AMAN RAHMAN staff writer | @itsamanrahman

Dear high schoolers, All of us at some point have felt stressed to the max, trying to get ourselves together, not allowing a moment to breathe. As a senior, I have felt this on numerous occasions.

What I wish I had at the time was someone who could offer me tips on how to manage school while also taking care of myself. Although some of these tips may seem obvious, you would be surprised how many high schoolers don’t follow this simple advice.

pigment

art by JACKIE ZENG

color a beautiful image and share your finished products

•Get seven to eight hours of sleep per night

The perfect nap Tips on finding the best way to speedily get to sleep

keep it between 15 and 40 minutes consider designating a specific nap room”in your home don’t eat too much before napping use the nap to break up long periods of hard work source: bettersleep.org

Many teens stay up until the last minute to finish an assignment. As high schoolers, we have to manage homework, extracurriculars, sports and so on, but sleep is very important. Studies conducted by the National Center of Biotechnology Information concluded that sleeping less than six to eight hours increases your risk of death by up to 12 percent.

•Don’t start studying right before a test My main struggle in high school has been my habit of procrastination. It is something that provides temporary relief, but ends up doing more harm than good. If you have a class that requires a lot of work, set aside some time to work on it every night. Sometimes you might not get to it, and that is okay, but cramming an entire unit in one night is not only damaging to your grade, but to your health as well.

•Most importantly, have a good time Find a good group of friends to hang out with, join clubs that interest you and choose classes that you will enjoy.

While working hard in high school is important, your life is not dependent on it. My biggest advice is to enjoy yourselves throughout these four years. v

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Affirmative action picks favorites It fails to properly address socioeconomic status and non-minorities ANIK JAIN web editor-in-chief | @anik_jain

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ffirmative action in the United States is a practice where people who belong to a historically disadvantaged minority group are given priority status when it comes to employment or education. Affirmative action is mostly practiced in colleges and has grown to such a degree that some applicants often complain that the system is unfairly skewed towards minorities and does not address the socioeconomic status of non-minorities. The government need to amend affirmative action, as it fails to take into account every minority and especially disadvantages non-minorities who have low socioeconomic status.

In 2010, researchers at Princeton University analyzed data on 9,000 students who attended one of 10 highly selective schools in the northeast. This research revealed that Asian American applicants must score 3-4 points higher on the ACT and up to 140 points higher on the SAT than their African-American and Hispanic counterparts, when other factors are controlled.

While the intent of affirmative action is to create an equal playing field for high school applicants, affirmative action excludes applicants who have low incomes or do not qualify as a minority.

There are several myths that exist with regards to affirmative action.

For instance, many supporters believe that racial preferences help the “disadvantaged.” In reality, according to the Hoover Institu-

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tion, preferences ultimately help applicants who are from middle and upper-class backgrounds. This results in a vicious cycle of destitution, as colleges’ racial preferences hurt applicants that don’t meet such requirements and have lower socioeconomic status.

Another common point of contention among supporters is the idea that affirmative action is necessary to create “diversity” on campus. I would argue that if diversity was a primary goal, then admission would be given based on unusual talents or skills. The assumption that only minorities can add fresh perspectives and ideas is inherently racist, as it implies that all minorities think a certain way. Furthermore, affirmative action can reinforce negative stereotypes, such as the notion that people aided by affirmative action often are not qualified. In fact, a review of leaked documents from the ongoing Harvard v. Students for Fair Admissions court case revealed the widespread use of a “personality ranking” in the admissions process where Asian-Americans were intentionally ranked lower than other races.

When the facts show Asians and other minority groups needing to score substantially higher in order to make it in to the same school as other students, it has become imperative to amend affirmative action so that it more accurately adheres to what it originally was intended to develop: a level playing field. v

Page design by Cassie Beisheim and Alexander Fu; art by Jill Goldwasser

EVICTED An anonymous commentary on the misconceptions of homelessness “

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Spread design by Cassie Beisheim & Alexander Fu

without a home, the topic is quite sensitive for me. When I’m asked for money in the Loop by a homeless person, only for my friends to disregard them, I can’t help but imagine my brother, an educated, unlucky man who could be in the exact same situation.

I am aware that homeless people are more likely to experience addiction. Thirty-five percent of homeless people struggle with substance abuse, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. I am also aware that my charity could be misplaced, but I take that chance because I know that homelessness does not solely stem from laziness or lack of education. Each of my family members who has been homeless graduated high school and held a stable job in the past. One even supported some of the most reputable names in their work industry, but ended up on the streets due to unexpected circumstances, not a lack of work ethic.

One thing that I’ve come to learn in life is that most everything that is bad stems from human

greed. It perpetuates poverty, and the idea of “hard work” being the key to success is so skewed that people turn a blind eye when witnessing genuine misfortune. Issues like mental illness, addiction or systematic racism can easily set someone many steps behind someone privileged, even if they work just as hard. It is imperative that society recognizes its privilege and biases. We all too often view the homeless as having no ambition, people who deserve to live a life of struggle. This stigma is largely what keeps these people struggling in the first place.

Whether it be volunteering at a shelter or giving up your Insomnia Cookies in the Loop, we all can help the less fortunate. Humanizing the homeless betters their lives and ours.

But, if you still have misgivings, just know that there are faces in your own school who may have been the people you ignored on the street. v

EVICTION NOTICE

art by NATHAN LU

ou can’t tell anyone about this,” he says to me quietly.

I prepare myself to hear a life-changing secret, like a murder or a long-lost sibling. He opens the center console of his car, and I find myself utterly confused at the sight of $1, $5 and $10 bills. I give him a quizzical look before he explains that he keeps the cash in there for a very unexpected reason: he holds onto these bills to offer them to every homeless person he sees on the side of the road.

I remember turning my head forward, focusing on the road ahead of us and mustering a response like, “That’s really cool!” In retrospect, I don’t think he ever noticed how flustered I really was. My mind had spiraled into long-repressed memories. Surrounded by affluent neighborhoods and now being fortunate enough to afford a house, it was easy to block out the memories. But now, I remembered the eviction notice on the door when I returned home from school, the pride in my family that prevented us from asking for help.

The night I spent homeless was one of the most numbing moments of my life. It felt surreal — kind of like a blurry dream.

I’ve tried to ignore the problems in my family for years. From addictions to mental illness, it seems as if the lives of those I love are constantly at risk of falling apart. Having had numerous homeless relatives, some still

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JOINT SUPPORT (above) Junior Brock Jones holds up his fingers, which he tapes for support. As a linebacker, Jones defends the middle of the field.

POSTGAME MOOD (top left) Senior Andrew Hunt stands after winning the state football championship. Hunt ran for 154 yards and scored two touchdowns.

TO THE HOUSE (far right) Senior Dale Chesson runs for a 42-yard touchdown.

“It’s pretty sad to leave, but going out on top is an amazing feeling,” Chesson said.

LET’S GET ROWDY (bottom left) Senior Grant Powell cheers during the game.

Ladue students crowded the stands in support of their football team.