April 3, 2009

the

Vol. No. 40 08

Image Lafayette High School 17050 Clayton Road Wildwood, MO 63011

April 3 2009

w w w. l afayet tepublic a tions.c om

what’sinside

See how seniors worked to help rebuild the community of Pearlington, MS over spring break.

See page 7

Check out pictures from Renaissance’s Renillennium Academic Pep Assembly.

Where is the line?

Max Thoman & Mina Yu, Staff Reporters With revolutions in technology, it is no surprise that cell phones have created new problems for both administrators and students.

As the use of cell phones among students has significantly increased, LHS administrators are working harder than ever to keep students from abusing their privilege to have cell phones as many surrounding school districts do not allow them in school buildings at all.

Associate Principal Jodi Davidson said that during first semester, there were 296 disciplinary actions regarding cell phones, iPods and other devices.

As administrators are cracking down, students argue that cell phones should not be taken away to be searched because it infringes on their privacy rights.

Tony Rothert, from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Eastern Missouri, thinks students are entitled to more of those civil rights. It is safe to say most students agree, especially when it comes to privacy.

“Students should have more rights. It’s unfortunate that the Supreme Court has interpreted the Constitution as providing students less rights than adults,” Rothert said.

Among the hot topics concern-

ing privacy are the rights students ilar story. have when it comes to their cell Hoog said in one of her classes, a phones at school. teacher caught another student usTake senior Jon Binkley’s story. ing a cell phone in class and confis“I was in a bathroom stall and cated the phone.

I got my phone taken. I guess Dr. At that time, Hoog decided to [Tim] Jones wasn’t in there when I first went in, but I guess he someStudents should have more rights. how knew I was on the It is unfortunate that the Supreme phone even though I was texting,” he said.

Court has interpreted the constitution Binkley said, “I as providing students less rights than don’t know how he adults.” knew I was on the Tony Rothert phone in a bathroom

ACLU stall, but when I came out of the bathroom stall, he asked for my phone and he took it from me. lock and shut down her phone, but Then, he called me in for a deten- just after she had completed this tion.” process, her phone was also taken He continued, “So, I came in af- away by the teacher. ter school and my mom said that “Later that day I was called to the he [Jones] read all of my text mes- Junior Office and told I could pick sages to her.” up my phone up at the end of the But Binkley said it didn’t end day.” Hoog added, “My phone was there. He said other administrators not searched but the other girl was then became involved and the par- called in while they went through ents of the students he was texting her whole entire phone, which I were contacted and the messages thought was unfair. Why search were once again read to them. one phone but not the other?”

Though the administration purIt may not be fair, but it is legal sued the contents of the phone, due to reasonable suspicion.

Binkley still said that the adminThe Supreme Court ruled in istration had no right or suspicion 1985, in New Jersey v. T.L.O. that that allowed for the search of his school officials, unlike police, may phone. search students without a warJunior Rochelle Hoog has a sim- rant when they have, “reasonable

See page 13

grounds for suspecting that the search will turn up evidence that the student has violated... either the law or rules of the school.”

Due to this case, school officials no longer need probable cause in order to conduct a cell phone search, only a reasonable suspicion that a crime against the law or school rule has been committed.

Probable cause can be defined as reasonable belief based on facts and evidence. On the other hand, reasonable suspicion is not as easy to define—as the Supreme Court has not defined it.

Rothert backed up this fact. He said, “If school officials like any other government officials, have a warrant or reason to believe that a crime has been committed, they can under some circumstances have a right to search a phone.”

But since reasonable suspicion cannot be defined plainly and simply, students remain uncertain.

Davidson said, “[If a student] won’t give a cell phone to me, I’ll say I’m just going to give it to their grade level office and they refuse to give it to me, then that turns into a situation where they are trying to hide something (reasonable suspicion). That’s when we know, we are able to look at it. Because, why won’t they give it to me and what they are trying to hide?” continued on Page 6

Lancer community begins charitable outreach for student, family Alex Davis, Editor in Chief

In an accident over Spring Break, senior Ty Krewson sustained a serious injury causing fractured vertebrae in his neck.

After being stabilized in Mexico, where he and a group of 16 other Lafayette students were staying for break, he was transported to Miami for emergency surgery. He will continue treatment there until he is stable enough to return to St. Louis.

“He is doing well. He is on a ventilator right now (as of 3/27), and the doctors want him to rest as much as

possible,” Assistant Principal Matt Dieckhaus said. “He has sensation in all of his extremities, but it will be a long process for recovery.”

The doctors believe he will be able to fully recover, it will just be a very “patient process,” Dieckhaus said. “[He will have] treatment in Miami for an undetermined amount of time.

He is in the best hands that he can be in,” Dieckhaus said.

Now, as he works to recover, students and staff are reaching out to help the Krewson family with expenses.

Students and teachers have started planning fundraisers and gathering

donations for the family.

“We were talking about making bracelets for him, putting flyers out and having a fundraiser at lunch. All of the money we get will go toward flights for the parents and medical bills,” social studies teacher Brittany Trott said.

One event scheduled by the Community Service class and FACS Department Chair Lori Sanders is a “Karing for Krewson” car wash at Lafayette on April 25 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

“Groups in the school have expressed interest in helping the family.

The LHS community has opened up their hearts,” Dieckhaus said.

Spring sports are under way, and many teams are seeing good results as the first games of the season take place.

See page 15

comingsoon April 4 ACT Test April 7 Sophomore Ring Ceremony, 6:45 a.m.

April 8 Choice Awards, 7 a.m.

April 13 NHS Meeting, 7 p.m.

April 15 STAR Meeting, 6 p.m.

Yearbook Sales End Senior Image Questionnaires due April 17-18 GSL Jazz Festival April 20 Yearbook Group Pics April 22 Senior Awards Night, 7 p.m.

April 23 Senior Field Trip April 25 NHS Induction, 5 p.m.

April 27-May 1 End of Course Exams April 30-May 1 Spring Play May 2 Prom May 4 AP Exams Begin

Ty Krewson

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Opinion

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April 3 2009

No one tells Criss Angel to stop learning new tricks

Contact Us

We are located in Room 213 at Lafayette High School, 17050 Clayton Rd., Wildwood, MO 63011. Our phone number is (636) 733-4118 and our e-mail address is smithnancy@rockwood.k12.mo.us Visit us on the web at: www.lafayettepublications.com

Policies

Opinions expressed on the editorial page do not reflect the viewpoints or official policies of the school administration. All editorials (unsigned) represent a majority opinion of the Editorial Board. Signed editorials, columns, editorial cartoons and reviews reflect the views of the author and not necessarily those of the Image Editorial Board.

Participation through letters to the editor by students, faculty and the community is encouraged. Letters must be signed but names will be withheld upon request and with the concurrence of the Editorial Board. Letters should be limited to 300 words.

The Image reserves the right to reject, edit or shorten letters.

Letters may be submitted in writing to Mrs. Nancy Smith in Room 213, or to any Image staff member, or via e-mail to smithnancy@ rockwood.k12.mo.us.

by Rachel Brown ArtistArtRachel Brown

If you’re complaining about getting caught with your cell phone out, our staff believes that’s your own fault.

Teachers reiterate every year cell phone use is not tolerated, and it’s also read to you from the intercom at the start or the school year.

The student body is also given a copy of the student handbook, and Rockwood’s rule and policy booklet at the beginning of each year.

If you’re caught with your phone out and punished, tough luck.

We do believe, however, that students do have a right to privacy.

Nowhere within the policy on cell phone use does the district mention any checking through of text messages or call histories of

Only seven weeks of school remain for seniors. Seven more weeks of waking up earlier than we should have to, seven weeks of zeros on homework and reading quizzes and seven weeks of barely skating by as our secondary education career comes to a close.

And only eight remain for the rest of the student body.

It’s common this time of year that we all give up. Students slack, teachers don’t want to grade papers at all and we all would just rather be outside.

A select group of students including myself have diagnosed these symptoms as a new disease, NDI syndrome.

NDI syndrome, which stands for Not Doin’ It, is essentially the most incredible disease to ever be stricken with. Basically, we just don’t care anymore.

Any paper or homework assignment deemed too time-consuming or cumbersome is simply labeled NDI, and we move on to anything else.

I love NDI syndrome. Heck, if it wasn’t for NDI, I would have waited until the very last minute to scramble some sappy text together to throw at you about safe sex or alcohol avoidance. Thanks, NDI, you really saved my tail this issue.

NDI is not alarming for seniors in high school searching for a new lifestyle or place of education, just as long as it dissipates by the start

of college or work.

Otherwise, NDI victims seem to have serious issues, jobless and not in school. Lifelong NDI victims are commonly referred to as bums or hobos.

Unfortunately, the all too large and all too unsuccessful United States government and its new talking head Barack Obama, along with its old one George W. Bush, are sending the message that NDI is acceptable.

The public acceptance of NDI all started back in September with the federal bailout of the two largest mortgage lenders, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, along with the rescue of insurance giant AIG. NDI was also embraced by the new administration when it decided to bail out more banks and cut taxes.

What is the government telling us? They too, are Not Doin’ It. They aren’t holding banks accountable for knowingly dishing out faulty loans, and they aren’t being fair to the American public.

Something we will be doing is paying for others’ mistakes in the form of taxes and greater national debt.

I stop here. No ranting this time, Not Doin’ It. I have real-life examples this time.

The main message the government has sent to us strikes deeper than the surface of taxes and bank bailouts. Essentially, it’s now ac-

ceptable to have NDI syndrome.

As I ventured down to Miami, FL with a few friends this past spring break, I saw NDI at its worst.

While at a snazzy restaurant, my friends and I were treated to some of the worst service ever.

Our waitress wrote us off as rich kids different from her usual patrons, and decided to ignore us.

She didn’t remember who ordered which dish at all, she never gave us a refill on water and she didn’t even check to make sure everything tasted the way it should.

But she still received an 18 percent tip from my always-dieting wallet.

This was not an isolated incident, however. Every restaurant in the Miami-Dade area had the gratuity added to its bills.

What kind of message does this send?

It’s acceptable to slack off. Good old Uncle Sam has your back, no matter how much he’s in debt.

In case you’re wondering, each citizen’s share of the national debt is $36,1239.15 according to the U.S. National Debt Clock. We can spend more than we earn and slack off and not pay it off.

The same principle applies to the waitress. She doesn’t need to work hard; the government has her

STAFF EDITORIAL

Deadly NDI epidemic spreads to public

.

The newspaper’s primary obligation is to inform its readers about events in the school and community and of issues of national or international importance which directly or indirectly affect the school population. The newspaper, while serving as a training ground for future journalists as part of the school curriculum, recognizes all rights and responsibilities under the First Amendment. Operating as a public forum, student editors will apply professional standards and ethics for decision making as they take on the responsibility for content and production of the newspaper. While the student staff encourages constructive criticism of any part of the newspaper, authority for content rests in the hands of the student members of the newspaper staff. Students will not publish material considered to be legally unprotected speech, or libel, obscenity, material disruption of the educational process, copyright infringement, or unwarranted invasion of privacy.

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under reasonable suspicion. This is different from probable cause, which is evidence of an illegal act, not just a hunch.

Students, if you are foolish enough to have something to hide, don’t hide it on your cell phones.

On the other hand, if you don’t have anything to hide, let the administration have your cell phone.

If they don’t find anything and you feel you were unreasonably searched, you can file a lawsuit against the district. We’ve seen it before.

Stop complaining about the policy and follow the rules. The only reason the administration even searches your phones is to keep Lafayette a safe place to learn.

Be thankful drug deals don’t go down every day in the hallways, and that you all have a safe place to attend school. The administration is only doing its job.

Whether you like it or not, that may include punishment for something that is against school rules not made to be broken.

Don’t abuse your rights.

in My

HUMBLE ..

Opinion Jared Anderson

ion Opinitor Ed

back. They won’t make her pay her share of the debt back.

If the government asks my parents to pony up $144516.60 for our share of the debt, you can bet they’ll do the same thing as the waitress and pull the good ole’ NDI and tell the government to take a hike.

It’s up to our generation to put an end to the NDI epidemic. It’s become obvious to me that the current one hasn’t.

We must be the ones to pick ourselves up by the seat of our pants and work hard and honestly, with a code of ethics never seen before.

Yes, I’m talking about dirt on your hands and knees, sweating up a storm kind of work.

Only hard work and an honest, motivated lifestyle can eliminate the presence of NDI’s convenient existence within our future.

To laziness and cheating I scream at the top of my lungs: “Not Doin’ It!”

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Editor-In-Chief

and read In My Humble Opinion, he’ll talk to you about that.

So, baseball season is upon us. I do not go to the games, but I know you all do.

Don’t you just love the feeling you get once nacho cheese and soda stains your shirt because of the instant reaction you get from jumping out of your seat when you hear that all-familiar, Albert Pujols, ‘crack!’

No one wants that taken away.

These entertainers (baseball players) are just doing their job - entertaining.

If they do not want to pump themselves full of testosterone, well, they should go get a 9-5 job, like most people.

Pearlington, MS: Where the water met the sky In June, 2007, I had the opportunity to go to New Orleans, a city devastated by Hurricane Katrina, where I worked on several construction sites trying not just to rebuild homes, but to serve a community.

For part of the week I worked in Musician’s Village, which is located in the lower ninth ward, one of the hardest-hit sections of New Orleans.

As I was there, able to see the devastation first-hand, a recurring thought remained in the back of my mind: “Katrina hit in August, 2005. It has almost been two years now. Why are families still living in FEMA trailers? Will this city ever return to what it once was?”

Fast forward nearly two more years, to March, 2009, when 104 students and staff from all four Rockwood high schools went to Pearlington, MS for the same reason, myself included.

Although conditions there were significantly better than they were in New Orleans, my questions remained the same: “Still? What is

? This

?

going on?”

I then realized how oblivious the rest of the country is toward the victims’ situation.

Days after Katrina hit the coast, the media packed their bags and headed elsewhere.

Accounts of both destruction and miraculous survival became old news and slowly disappeared from our thoughts.

The victims just were not a “story” anymore.

The Pearlington trip helped me to understand that just the opposite is true. Everyone I talked to had a story.

The town’s sheriff sought protection from the water near the top of a pine tree and stayed there for hours.

One woman and her family had gotten onto the roof of their twostory house as the swells of water had gotten as close as four roof shingles from their feet—all before the wind reversed direction and blew everything back at them.

They could not make out the horizon; they could not differenti-

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ate where the water stopped and the sky started.

The hurricane’s aftermath revealed that Katrina had been the costliest tropical storm in history.

Yet even when total wreckage engulfed these areas, many had decided to stay put. “This is home. This is all I know,” they had said.

When I asked what else I could do for them, they simply said, “Tell my story.”

So here it is: In August, 2005, a Category 5 tropical storm hit the gulf coast, with winds that peaked at over 170 miles per hour.

Entire cities had been devastated, but individuals in this area would not let this hurricane destroy anything more than their material possessions.

They held on to the only thing they had left: each other. Together they started to rebuild their home, piece by piece.

Challenges still face them. Families still today have to make do with FEMA trailers while trying to

?

Every month, the Image will ask students/staff members at random what we deem as the question of the month.

The opinions expressed are those of the individuals, and not of the Image staff.

9

“You should be able to express your opinions wherever you are as long as you don’t offend anyone.”

Dominic Manno

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“You should be able to say what you want without getting in trouble.”

rebuild homes.

Even organizations like the Pearlington Recovery Center, the one we worked with, are faced with insufficient funds to take on larger projects.

For the residents of Pearlington and other towns still trying to rebuild, consistency and normalcy are, as of now, things of the past.

Routine has become an abstract concept.

But stronger than ever are the residents’ hope and drive to return to it.

Ronnie Loewenstein

11

“You should have the same rights you have in school as you do in public.”

•Fox Television Network.

The communications giant has officially extended the contract of the Simpsons comedy show through the 2012 year.

Mmmm... Simpsons.

•Daylight Savings Time.

The extra hour of light causes less depression and less energy consumption.

•Going Green. Thanks to Earth Club and Community Service, it’s now become clear to students where to throw things away, and where to recycle.

•The Senior Field Trip to Busch Stadium scheduled for April 25. At least the seniors won’t be here wasting teachers’ time as they don’t pay attention.

•Concrete barriers and wooden panels blocking the sunlight out of rooms in the social studies and art hallways. At least the construction will be done next year, right?

•Chris Brown. Even if the domestic abuse charges against him aren’t proved, the rumors circulating around him should destroy his career. Come on, Chris didn’t your mother teach you anything? Don’t hit a girl. Period.

•Michael Jackson. If not already creepy enough, Jacko now decides he can announce his own comeback. Doesn’t the media usually do that for you after you’ve done some new material?

•ER’s end on network television. NBC simply won’t be the same without one if its signature drama shows. The likely replacement: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Woot.

hat rights do you think you should have as a student in a public school?

Sarah Vessell

•Plans for a new movie theatre off Taylor Road and Highway 100. The distribution of freshmen on Friday nights will now become more equal between the Chesterfield mall, the valley and the Wildwood town center.

gripes to:

Month, The Image asks...

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stars & gripes stars to:

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Philosophy

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confiscated phones.

It isn’t fair to search through someone’s phone just because they have it out in class. That’s not the punishment for the action.

The only reason an administrator should be allowed to search through a cell phone is for reasonable suspicion as it was explained in the Supreme Court in 1985. (See page one for more details.)

The district has not outlined any concrete policy that is universally applicable to all school-related phone offenses.

A clear definition should be outlined now for the next school year for cell phone use only, including reasonable suspicion guidelines.

Though it will likely be the same as it is for drug and weapon searches now, a new policy ought to be outlined now. Until then, we just don’t know what the policy is.

We do know students can deny the seizure and subsequent search under their Fourth Amendment rights. Unfortunately, this refusal leads you straight to the legal authorities, who will search you, also

the

nightclubs being thrown up in New York, formerly known as ballparks, it doesn’t look like the economy will be affecting this game any time soon.

Who cares if the players are pumping juice, you’re entertained. I don’t like baseball, and I am at least halfway entertained.

It’s not like there is any sanctity in the sport, anyway, no matter how much you want to think there is.

Baseball is an industry, and when an industry accrues as much revenue as baseball does, that idea of a coveted tradition goes down the drain. It’s all about the money.

But that doesn’t affect you. If the players want to degrade their bodies for the sake of your entertainment, let ‘em.

It’s like that crazy nanny said right before she jumped from the mansion, “It’s all for you, Damien.”

And in this case, we are Damien.

But, you know, without all the demonic baggage.

There are more important things to worry about right now - like, I am just throwing this out there, but maybe our national debt.

But go to the left and down a bit,

3

v

The Image is published 10 times a year by the Newspaper Production Class. Subscriptions are $25. Free issues are distributed on campus. The 2007-2008 Image received a rating of First Class from the National Scholastic Press Association.

or years, the issues of privacy and rights of speech have been debated within the halls of Lafayette, along with every other high school in the nation.

It’s natural; there’s a constant power struggle between the administration and the students, and though the administration usually wins, students have been fighting their noble cause for years.

The new age of technology and the use of cell phones have ushered in an era of convenient communication for students.

It’s never been easier to communicate. Students can text message their friends in class, or check their voice mail behind the sheltered walls of the bathroom stalls.

With these opportunities also come more rules.

As you should all know, it is Rockwood School District policy that cell phones are to be shut off during school hours.

Anyone caught with a cell phone on faces confiscation of the phone and detention.

the fielders, because I understand you’ve got to be a spectacular athlete to pull off some of the acrobatic plays I have seen.

It’s just that a Reggie Bush-esque hurdle into the end zone, or a Ray Lewis pounding that knocks someone’s bandana off from under their helmet is so much more adrenaline pumping then an uncontested leap on the field.

But you know, on those ESPN top 10 clips, every now and then Albert Pujols takes the plate, and sends one to the heralded Big Mac Land, with a resounding ‘crack!’

Now to me, that’s impressive.

It’s fun to watch because it’s just sheer strength.

The Home Run – next to the hole-in-one, it is the most impressive accomplishment in sports.

It is definitely the most entertaining element about baseball.

Now, my question is, why try to bring it to an end?

We have reached a point in sports that has been dubbed The Steroid Age. Or the Steroid Era. Or the HGH Dynasty.

Whatever you call it; baseball has been thriving for the past decade and a half since the strike, and with the new state-of-the-art

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Information

Privacy and suspicion: What are our rights?

Last June, some buddies and I went downtown with tickets to see Dave Matthews Band concert at Busch Stadium. This was the first concert ever held in the new stadium. It was so intense, I nearly lost my mind.

Just being able to make a fool of myself to the sweet sound of a saxophone was amazing, and on that June night, none of us had a care in the world. We just enjoyed the moment, and the summer.

There it is. My only memory of the new Busch stadium. In the past five years, I haven’t gone to see a Cardinals game. I don’t know, I’m just not a baseball fan; it bores me.

If you know me, you know that I am a rabid college football fan–and if you don’t know me, then now you do. That’s all there is to Alex Davis.

So, to go from watching a sport where every week, your season and your success is on the line, to watching a sport where teams can win the World Series with 70 losses, I just get bored.

In the summer, when there is no football, basketball or even hockey, ESPN’s top 10 plays of the day are only filled with a double play, or a diving grab, that all look exactly the same. Redundant, redundant.

Not taking anything away from

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2008-2009 Image Staff Alex Davis Editor in Chief Erik Dauster News Editor Jared Anderson Opinion Editor Brooke Thibodaux Feature Editor Sydney Miller In-Depth Editor Melina Loggia Entertainment Editor Melanie Hinzpeter Nina Walters Sports Editors Courtney McBay Business Manager Rachel Brown Staff Artist Nancy Smith, MJE Adviser Staff: David Adams, Kendall Brewer, Rachel Brown, Kara Campbell, Caleb Cavarretta, Daniel Clutter, Chelsea Coleman, Adam Harris, Andrew Martin, Katharine McLaughlin, Mia Schenone, Max Thoman, D.Anne Vollmayer, Gian Wessel and Mina Yu

Page

Opinion

April 3 2009

Rob Eames

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“Students should be afforded their Constitutional rights as long as we have maturity not to use our freedoms disruptively.”

•A new initiative started in the Missouri Legislature to allow the St. Louis Zoo, Science Center, History Museum and Art Museum to start charging admission fees to non-St. Louis city residents. It’s too bad a price tag can be placed on anything.

•Waking up to snow on the ground last Sunday.

Spring officially started March 20, so this means the snow fell during the wrong season. Thanks, for checking your calendar before letting it snow, Mother Earth.

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News

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Club News

Student Council

The 2009-2010 Student Council officers include: Varun Mehrotra, president; Cory Clayman, vice president; Nowrin Haque, secretary; Kelsey Steis, spirit director; Josh Bring, treasurer; Carly Jelinek, dance chair; Caroline Peetz, assistant dance chair; and Rachel Desnoyer, historian.

Elections for the class officers will take place April 15 at lunch. Any student who is interested in running for a class office must turn forms in to STUCO sponsor David Choate by April 8.

Diversity Alliance

Members will participate in the Day of Silence on April 17. The event protests silence faced by oppressed people and their allies in school. It aims to fight harassment, prejudice and discrimination.

Music

At the Missouri State Large Solo & Ensemble Festival, musicians are given a 1-3 rating with 1 being the highest.

Concert Chorale and Women’s Chamber Choir received 1s while Mixed Chamber and Treble Chorale received 2s.

Wind Ensemble received a “Superior” at State Large Ensemble Festival and Symphonic Band got an “Excellent.”

Sophomore Natalie Ferree has also been selected as a member of the All-State Band.

The following students received “Superior” Ratings at District Solo and Ensemble Festival: Nicole Weise, piano solo; Nicholas Maluf, Mihir Parthasarathy, Adam Lutz, Christian Pierce, sax quartet; Ryan Beike, Sonja Glaser and Lucas Shapland, mallet solos; Allye Wollenberger, Kelly Lamarche, Kendra Fullmer, Carissa Sanchez, flute quartet; Wollenberger, Lamarche, Sanchez, flute trio; Lamarche, flute solo; and Adam Whiteley, trumpet solo.

April 3 2009

District superintendent Larson announces plans to retire at end of next school year Erik Dauster, News Editor

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Rockwood Superintendent Craig Larson has announced his plans to retire following the 2009-2010 school year.

Larson said he is able to reDr. Craig Larson tire at 100 percent of his salary because of his record of service in the Public School Retirement System.

The 2009-2010 school year will mark his 38th year as an educator and his seventh year as Rockwood superintendent.

As the Board of Education

works to hire a new superintendent, Larson plans to prepare a no-tax increase bond issue to provide support for technological and maintenance needs.

He also wants to add a strategic plan that will aim at implementing assessments and grading practices that measure student mastery, as well as improving attention to all students’ success, especially those in the middle ranges of achievement.

“Dr. Larson has a strong vision for where he sees our district going. He will continue to accomplish the goals as are set. He is a man of integrity and only wants to make good decisions and plans for our students,” Board of Education Director Darla Baker said.

Baker ran in last year’s board election as a part of a group with Vice President Rao Kaza and Director Kim McGuiness who wanted to keep Larson in office. As a result of all three being elected, Dr. Larson’s contract was extended.

Though she ran to keep Larson in office, Baker is happy for Larson and his decision to retire.

“I am supportive of Dr. Larson and the plans that he wishes to pursue personally. He has been instrumental in moving our district forward. I am very aware of the extreme time commitment that he shares with us,” Baker said.

Larson said he is optimistic about the state of the district as he plans his retirement.

“As I think about retiring, I am

Students escape tax man

Lower income means less IRS paperwork Caleb Cavarretta, Staff Reporter High school students are no strangers to change in their lives. As they grow older, more and more responsibility is piled on them. One of these responsibilities is taxes.

Students earn income in many different ways, from lawn care and babysitting, to working part-time jobs.

Sophomore Austin Baehr earns money refereeing for a club lacrosse league. While he says he could easily make over $600 for the job, he does not pay taxes on it.

Baehr said, “They (the IRS) would not come after me for it. It is not that much money.”

He said he does not think students should have to pay taxes on that sort of income.

The league does not deduct tax from his payments, but according to CPA Michael Stillman, they should.

“Payments from any church or sports organization is taxable income,” Stillman said.

“Most people at this age don’t do their taxes,” junior Steven Scheller said. He has a job at Steak’n’Shake

and paid taxes on earnings and tips and filed a tax return.

According to the IRS, income earned wages, salaries, tips, babysitting, lawn mowing, vendors, newspaper distribution, investments, contest prizes and even scholarship money not used for tuition fees earned by students are still considered taxable income.

“Most scholarships and grants are non-taxable. There are no benefits for student workers. They must pay taxes just like everyone else,” Stillman said.

One question students may have is how much do they have to make before they have to file a tax return?

If a student is filed as a dependent, has unearned income over $900 or whose earned income was more than $5,450, then he must file a tax return.

The IRS said there are different filing requirements for people claimed as dependents, which would be most student workers.

Scheller said that a lot of students don’t do their own tax return, and have their parents do it, “because it is important and it needs to

be done so the parents do it.”

“There are no real problems for filing a tax return for a student worker,” Stillman said.

The IRS still suggests even if a student does not meet these requirements, he should still file a tax return if he had income tax withheld from his pay and if he qualifies for the recovery rebate credit.

Senior Blake Douglass, owner of the entertainment company Beyond Magic, filed a 2009 tax return.

“I did not get back anything on my taxes. I actually ended up paying more for filing a tax return,” Douglass said.

What about students such as Baehr, or students that mow lawns or babysit?

“If a person paying for babysitting wants to claim credit on their return, then the person receiving the benefit must include that on their tax return,” Stillman said.

When it comes to things such as lawn mowing, Stillman said, “I personally would not include lawn mowing as income.”

Lafayette student workers who meet these requirements will need to file a tax return.

Make an Exciting Entrance to your Prom!

call Jim Miller Great Highland Bagpipes 5/8/09

proud of the work we have all done to move Rockwood forward over the past six years and I am confident the district will continue to improve its service to students and the community,” Larson said.

Looking back on the six years he has spent with the district, Larson said some of his major accomplishments have been maintaining a solid budget while improving teachers’ salaries and bringing in new programs like Project Lead the Way, a nationally-certified curriculum for pre-engineering students.

Larson said his post-retirement plans will most likely include teaching graduate school and consulting work, but his primarily goal is to have more time to spend with his wife and family.

5/8/09

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Tax situation: all but EZ

The most commonly used tax form for students, the 1040EZ form, is shown above in its entirety. The 1040EZ is used by student workers who earn less than $100,000 in taxable income. Most students file dependently, meaning their parents or guardians claim them as their responsibility. The form is available online at www.irs.gov.

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News

April 3 2009

5

Glory of Missouri winners travel to Jefferson City

Fourteen seniors were presented Glory of Missouri awards on March 30 at the Capitol building in Jefferson City.

The awards were created to recognize high school seniors who demonstrate one of the 14 virtues that are engraved in the Chamber of the House of Representatives. These virtues remind our legislators how they are to serve in Missouri government.

Inscribed with the virtues is the phrase, “All the foregoing human qualities bind into one theme the Glory of Missouri because no people attain these virtues unless they are great.”

Missouri Representative Tim Jones presented the students with framed awards in the Chamber of the House of Representatives.

To qualify for this award, students are nominated by staff members and then winners are selected by a committee.

Receiving the award were Danny Kenny (Law), Alex Mace (Justice), Tyler Sellers (Enterprise), Adam Polson (Charity), Keely McCaskie (Equality), Hannah Bliss (Education), Brent Folan (Progress), Patricia Yang (Knowledge), Ashley Mace (Virtue), Erik Dauster (Liberty), Ashley Zerr (Temperance), Laura Dick (Honor) and Katie Moorkamp (Truth).

Not pictured: Ian Moore (Fraternity).

photo courtesy of Tim Jones

THE END

Things get a little hectic as the end of the year approaches, especially for the seniors. Here’s what’s coming up for the Class of 2009:

May 2- Prom: The masquerade-themed dance will be held at the Chase Park Plaza Hotel from 7-11 p.m. Tickets can be purchased during all lunch shifts on April 22, 23 and 24 and will be $70 per person.

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April 22- Senior Awards Night: Students will be recognized for their hard work and dedication throughout their high school career. Awards presented will include departmental awards, scholarships, academic recognition and character awards.

April 23- Field Trip: Seniors will be leaving school after third period to board the bus going to Bush Stadium. The Cardinals will be playing the Mets that afternoon. Today is the last day for ticket sales. Tickets are $25 and include transportation, a box seat, a hot dog and a soda.

May 24- Graduation: The graduation ceremony will be held at the Saint Louis University Chaifetz Arena at 2 p.m.

1213141516171819202122232425 May 19, 20, 21- Final Exams: Because this school year is the first one with the hybrid-blocks schedule, the final exam schedule has not been determined.

May 24- Celebration: Students will be locked in at the Double Tree Hotel in Chesterfield from 10:30 p.m. until 5 OFF night ANY a.m. This drug- and$50 alcohol-free will include enterCOLLEGE PREP tainment including large inflatables, Monte Carlo, a hypPROGRAM notist and more. Tickets are on sale for $75 through May SYLVAN THE ONLY 23 and are available at theIS door for $90.

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6

News Briefs MAP Scores

Rockwood School District has 49 appearances in Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) top 10 lists, the most out of Missouri’s 524 school districts.

Lafayette is the only Rockwood high school to be included in all three high school groups: 10th grade mathematics (fourth place), 11th grade communication arts (second place) and 11th grade science (eighth place).

Rankings are determined by the percentage of students scoring in the proficient or advanced levels.

Staff Awards

Allyn Workman has received the Missouri Driver Safety Education Association Teacher of the Year Award.

Workman is in his fifth year teaching Driver Education at Lafayette.

Also, Shallee Lessmeier, tech support, and Pamela Mulenex, receptionist, have been nominated for the Cornerstone Award, an award that aims to recognize support staff.

The Big Give

Lancers Landing, the school store, has been accepting donations for their “Big Give,” a program that will donate all money given to a charity.

Students voted yesterday on which charity will receive the combined dollar amount (Lafayette and the Lancer Parent Organization match the amount students give).

Donations will continue to be accepted until the winning charity is announced mid-April.

News

April 3 2009

End of Course exams replace MAP Tests Katharine McLaughlin, Staff Reporter

Taking the place of Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) this year are End of Course (EOC) exams, which will be administered to students in Algebra I, Biology and Sophomore English.

Some of the EOC exams will count toward a student’s grade but some tests are just pilot tests meant to see if they are valid and reliable.

Algebra II, Geometry, Freshman English, Government and American History students will be administered as pilot EOC exams.

EOC exams will take place from April 27 to April 30 and makeup exams will be held on May 1.

From April 27-30, the schedule for all students will be altered for the EOC exams. Classes will be two hours long and students will only have four classes per day.

“For example on Monday, you

would go to 1st, 3rd, 4th and 5th hour. And if you are in a class that tests 1st Hour, because you are in Algebra, you will take your Algebra test,” Associate Principal Jodi Davidson said.

Other students not taking EOC exams will remain in their class for two hours. And the next day, students will go to the other hours.

Some teachers now must prepare students for the exams which will count for four percent of a student’s final grade.

To prepare for the exams, “All the math teachers went through the EOC exam and picked which topics we weren’t covering in the curriculum already and we each made ten multiple choice questions,” math teacher Lorraine Weiss said. “So we made worksheets to go with each of the topics to go over in a couple of weeks before the EOC exam.”

Although Rockwood wants EOC

School Resource Officer Oliver Helbig said, “If I [police] am doing a drug arrest or something, I can seize your cell phone as evidence, but here at school, administrators may also have a right to look at it.”

Helbig added, “For example if you’re text messaging in class, and a school administrator takes your cell phone and they want to know how long you have been text messaging in class that day, they may look through your phone and they are allowed to do that because it’s a part of their investigation.”

In this case, law enforcement can get involved because the administration has provided probable cause.

If a student refuses a search by the administration, additional consequences can be added on.

Principal John Shaughnessy gives an example concerning the administration of a Breathalyzer test.

“If a student said, ‘I’m not going to take a Breathalyzer,’ that’s fine. I have reasonable suspicion to think

that you’re under the influence and I’m still going to instill 10 days out of school suspension, with or without you taking the Breathalyzer, because the Breathalyzer may prove that you are guilty, but it may prove that you are innocent,” he said.

“If you choose not to do it, and you have the right to do that, it doesn’t change that I’m still going to instill the discipline that goes along with the infraction,” Shaughnessy said.

And though some students have claimed the phone searches have even been an invasion of privacy, this claim does very little to budge the district.

Rothert said, “It’s [the cell phone] not something that is in the public, it’s not a locker, its something private and students have the right to demand and expect some sort of privacy.”

Yet, unfortunately for the students, Rothert also sees the reality.

“The difference is that in school there are some ways that you would have less of an expectation of pri-

exams to count toward a student’s grade, some students and teachers feel differently.

Sophomore Kristen Trout, taking the Sophomore English EOC exam said, “It [EOC exams] is just a review and survey for the Rockwood School District. It shouldn’t be counted for anything.”

While EOC exams are seen to some as an improvement from MAP testing, there are still flaws being exposed when dealing with how much the exams will count for and the necessity of the exams.

Weiss said, “I don’t think it [EOC exams] should count for anything right now because it’s a trial and error and because they have never given it before.”

Previously, the Sophomore and Junior classes were required to take the MAP test. Elementary and middle school students still take it.

“MAP testing tested a broad sub-

ject, EOC exams should match up exactly with what we are teaching.

So students are being assessed on what they have learned in that year and that subject,” Davidson said.

“Standardized testing is the top indicator of where our students are in terms of not only curricular knowledge but also in practical application of that knowledge,” the Rockwood School District School Improvement Plan stated.

Davidson said the Department of Education of Missouri requires students take EOC exams in order to monitor how the students should do.

Testing coordinator Paula Reavis said, “Based on the testing manual by the state of Missouri, EOC exams are meant to identify students’ strengths and weaknesses... serve as the basis of state and national accountability plans and evaluate programs.”

Student Rights: Where is the line? (continued from Page 1) vacy than you would have at home.

Yet, a student at home has the same rights as an adult at home. At school there is less of an expectation of privacy,” Rothert said.

“Basically, the bottom line is, the law says that while you’re at school, the school administrators are your parents, and they have to protect you for your safety and security. So, they have a lot of control over the students while they’re at school,” Helbig said.

Though many could argue the limits of control the administration has over students, the law is blank so far.

“No court has officially said if reading text messages is legal,” Rothert said.

Rothert said about the legality of the searches, “I don’t believe that they have the rights to look at text messages or photos on phones. I know some school officials disagree, but they can’t strip search you, and to me going into someone’s phone and looking at that information is akin to searching under someone’s

shirt.”

Included within the theme of searches and seizures in schools are also the drug dogs who search lockers.

“The dog is not considered a search of a car or the search of a locker because the dog is sniffing the air around your locker, around your car, so it’s not a search because it’s not intrusive,” Helbig said.

Helbig added a search was only a violation of rights if the search was intrusive such as sending a drug dog into the locker, whereas the police need a warrant to search your locker or even conduct a search at school.

But, if there is a safety or security issue at hand, an officer is able to search a locker if he has the authorization of a school administrator.

“We don’t want to go through your phone, and we don’t want to see them. I think more than anything, they [students] need to understand that if you follow the rules, you have no problems,” Assistant Principal Renee Trotier said.

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Photo Essay

April 3 2009

TOUR III Pearlington, Mississippi

7

Students, staff from four Rockwood high schools help rebuild the Katrina-stricken community over their Spring Break photos by Erik Dauster and Sydney Miller

1

1. Laying the Foundation Working on the foundation of a house, senior Sam Beushausen tears out insulation.

The owner said when the house was on stilts, it fell, completely destroying the foundation.

2. Door to the Future Senior Jill Cherkas puts tape around the borders of doors while painting at the Community Center. Cherkas, with her Lafayette team and volunteer group from Virginia, spent two days at the Community Center, painting the entire exterior of the building.

3. Taking Out the Trash While taking a break from painting the First Baptist Missionary Church, senior Taylor Paglisotti beautifies the outdoors. After the Rockwood students completed their project at the church, they continued work by picking up trash in the surrounding area.

4. Stepping Up to a Challenge On a ladder, senior Trevor Peters helps build the frame of a Quonset hut. Quonset huts are durable, weatherproof storage structures- practical for ‘the hurricane belt’ in Mississippi.

5. Food for Thought Lafayette seniors and Assistant Principal Tim Jones listen to the story of a Pearlington resident. After some members of the town provided an authentic Cajun dinner for the students, Connie, a Hurricane Katrina survivor, relayed her struggle to survive in the flood after the storm.

6. Mr. Sandman Working on the town’s Community Center, senior Zach Holmes sands down doors in order to paint them. The students completed painting the entire building in one day.

7. Seeing Red In an effort to rebuild Pearlington’s Community Center, senior Meghan Lamberth paints the roof of the new building. The Community Center was expected to be completed in Fall of 2008, but weather and lack of volunteers delayed construction.

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8. The Rockwood Group On the last day of their Spring Break, the students from all four high schools gather outside Pearlington’s former elementary school. The elementary school, which flooded during Hurricane Katrina, now serves as the Pearlington Recovery Center.

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In-Depth

8

April 3 2009

Students have used their cell phones to communicate, cheat and now, to sext. With the rise of its popularity, administration and police warn teens of the real danger and consequences.

T

Sydney Miller, In-Depth Editor D.Anne Vollmayer, Staff Reporter exting is no longer just a way to send a quick “I’m on my way.” As technology has evolved, cell phones have opened new gateways to trouble for teens.

The term ‘sexting’ has become well known due to the recent storm of media attention it has received.

According to a nationwide online survey conducted by Tweens, Teens and Twenty-Something Research (TRU) and the National Campaign to Support Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, 22 percent of teens have admitted to sending and receiving sexually explicit photos and texts via cell phones.

The Image interviewed two students about their sexting habits.

They will be referred to as John, a sophomore, and Jane, a junior, to protect their privacy.

“I call it dirty texting,” Jane said. “I’m really open about a lot of things, but it’s not like I’m going around telling everyone, ‘Guess what I did with my boyfriend last night…we sexted.”

Jane claims to sext with pictures, and although she has heard stories of escaped photos, she said it is not a concern of hers.

“As long as they don’t get out, and you know they won’t get out. I know my boyfriend won’t send it to his friends because he’s protective of me,” Jane said.

However, according to stayteen. org, a website dedicated to informing teens about sex, 37 percent of teens say their sexual images were shared with someone other than the intended recipient.

This is not news to Lt. Joe Laramie of the Glendale Police Department, who heads the St. Louis chapter of Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC).

Laramie’s job is to track a sexually explicit photo online and through cell phones of a minor through the trail of people who have sent it.

His job exists because teens who sext, like Jane, send photos to those they think they can trust.

“We don’t get [pictures] from the first person who got that picture, but the second or third. I think they don’t think anything will happen to them. But what is a picture of a naked 14 year old to a classmate? It’s gold,” Laramie said.

Laramie said a common excuse for teens who get caught is to say, “I sent a picture to my boyfriend and he sent it to a bunch of other people.” “[Police] don’t go and look at your cell phone for no reason,” Laramie said. “I say [to teens] your level of trust is admirable, but naïve.”

There is also a false impression among teens that what stays on their cell is private, but sexual pictures of minors, even consensual, can be legally damning.

Recently, national attention has been drawn to the sexting issue with stories of teens facing a variety of charges including child pornography charges due to content of sext messages.

At Lafayette, the tolerance for sending and receiving kinds of sexually explicit messages is low.

Rockwood policy says the punishment could be anything up to 10 days out of school suspension.

John said he sexts because, “I have to do it. I’m in long distance relationships.”

In his opinion, pictures have the potential to cause more trouble, and said, “I don’t do pictures. I think that’s trashy.”

John said, “I don’t think the school has the right to just go through your phone. They have to have a reason. I consider it an invasion of privacy, and if they do find stuff like that, they’ll maybe bring it up to the counselor or parents, but I wouldn’t take it to the cops.”

However, Assistant Principal Matt Dieckhaus defends the school’s right to search with “reasonable suspicion.”

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We don’t get pictures from the first

person who got that picture, but the second or third. I think [teens] don’t think anything will happen to them. But what is a picture of a naked 14 year old to a classmate?

It’s gold.”

Lt. Joe Laramie

Internet Crimes Against Children

Dieckhaus and the Supreme Court maintain the school has every right to search for inappropriate material- including sexting- on phones.

However most students, like Jane and John, do not consider sexual material to be the criminal activity reasonable suspicion requires.

“It’s my phone. I can be dirty to my boyfriend if I want to,” Jane said.

Laramie has a different take.

“The law says it is illegal to possess sexually graphic pictures of someone under 18, send or manufacture them. The law doesn’t say if you’re an old guy, it’s not okay, but if you’re a teen, it’s okay. They [teens] think it’s just age appropriate; if it’s a kid doing it with a kid, it’s okay. But the law doesn’t differentiate between age,” he said.

Whether students think it should be a private matter and out of the school’s hands, it won’t always be.

While officials point to the dangers of sending nude photos, other students defend sexting as an outlet for those making a commitment to remain abstinent until marriage.

“It keeps kids from actually having sex. The only reason I did [have sex] was because we loved each other, and we thought it was going to work,” Jane said.

The pressure Jane felt has been demonstrated in a dance and drama group, Breakdown St. Louis, which

visited LHS during last month’s STAR meeting.

Jenna Imergoot, Executive Director of Breakdown St. Louis, said sexting is not the safe outlet to remain abstinent, as some, including Jane, feel it can be.

“I think that you get into the emotional things, and you’re letting your mind go somewhere where it probably shouldn’t go. I think it’s probably a dangerous place to go,” Imergoot said.

“I think first of all just that so many students are told it’s not possible [to remain abstinent], or it’s not common. I meet students every day that tell me, ‘I didn’t know people waited, I didn’t know that was a choice,’” she added.

John said, “You’re having verbal sex still, and part of abstinence is to stay away from sex until marriage.

You’re not physically doing it but you’re talking about it.”

Despite ‘fair warnings’ from police and school administration, students continue to sext- sometimes finding themselves in a bad situation.

Most don’t consider potential legal conflicts.

Laramie said, “We don’t want to put kids in jail. Once a picture is out, it’s out there, and there are usually disgusting, bad guys who are using them. Their reputation is in jeopardy, their identity and name are all attached to what they do through this technology.”

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Feature

April 3 2009

9

The Real Inspector Hound

Spring play replaces One Acts Adam Harris, Staff Reporter This spring season will be complimented with a new addition to the Lafayette Theater Company lineup: Tom Stoopard’s The Real Inspector Hound.

Normally the spring production consists of the Student-Directed One Acts, which are the final exams for students in Theater Arts III: Directing.

“The decision to have a spring play was made for me, rather than the supposition that I, as a sponsor, decided. This class (Theater Arts III) was not offered this year due to lack of enrollment, so the StudentDirected One Acts could not be offered,” Theater teacher Kate Slovinski said.

“I believe at this point in the year it will be better to have a spring play than it would have been to have an exhausting series of One Acts. Last year we had to handle seven One Acts at the same time, and it would be difficult to have to follow through with that same process this year. A nice single spring play should be enough to brighten the season as it is,” senior Adam Zanzie said.

Zanzie directed The Night No One Died last year for One Acts.

Slovinski said the spring play is a great choice because, “We have a student body that is aware of literature and have a keen sense of humor, so this play satisfies both demands of our audience.”

The Real Inspector Hound follows Birdboot and Moon, two critics hoping to have a normal night at the theater.

That is “until Birdboot and Moon find themselves wrapped in the world of the play, literally. A madman is on the loose,

the gun shots are real and suddenly the trite dialogue of the mystery becomes a means for Birdboot and Moon to find out who the real Inspector Hound is, and if he can save them,” Slovinski said.

The roles of Birdboot and Moon will be played by senior Matt Voigt and junior Maddie Conklin.

“In this play there isn’t really a main role. It’s too short for a difference in lead and co-star parts. That kind of makes it more special. Everyone has an equal share,” Voigt said.

“I’m so happy, this is my first time on the show scene at LHS and to get a big role is really an honor,” Conklin said.

To prepare for the role of Moon, Conklin said that she will be reading over the script and practicing lines with family.

Junior Sarah Worley plays the role of Felicity, the house guest of the Lady of Muldoon Manor.

“I’m very happy about my role. It is a supporting role, yes, but I think that supporting roles actually have more personality because with leads, their personality is all set up. I’m just grateful that I got in,” Worley said.

“Since it is a smaller cast, hopefully it will be a more ‘put together’ performance and will speak to the audience more intimately,” Worley added.

The cast also includes junior Megan Hasenmueller who will be playing the part of Mrs. Drudge.

“I expect the play to be a major hit.

The cast is fantastic and the script has so many clever and subtle puns, it’s hard not to love,” Hasenmueller said.

With a complicated plot, Hasenmu-

photo by Dan Clutter

Learning The Lines

While running through their lines at play rehearsal, senior stage manager Adam Zanzie provides senior Matt Voigt and junior Maddie Conklin with advice on their roles. The decision was made to have a spring play due to a lack of enrollment in Theater Arts III. eller said, “Knowing your lines is just as important as understanding all the complications (in plot).”

“Theater is a study that requires rigorous commitment, perseverance and imagination. The students have that in abundance, so I know they are up to the challenge. It is my job to make sure they are equipped to face that challenge,” Slovinski said.

The Real Inspector Hound will be per-

formed April 30 and May 1 at 7 p.m. in the Theater. Tickets are $5 in advance and $6 at the door.

The box office will open one hour before the performance and advance ticket sales begin during lunch hours starting April 23.

“As I often say, there is a reason we call them ‘plays’ because it is a lot of fun, too.

Most of the time I forget that I am working,” Slovinski said.

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April 3 2009

Gymnast competes at State today Kendall Brewer, Staff Reporter “I don’t have much time to be a normal high school teenager. I get home from school, get ready for practice, go to the gym and get home around 9:15 p.m. But gymnastics is definitely worth it. I love it and would give up anything for it,” senior Christina Grigore said.

Grigore, who started competing at age 15, will have competed in 48 competitions total by the end of this season.

She practices 20 hours a week at AllAmerican Gymnasts, every day except Monday and Friday. All American is an independently owned gym, whose members make up a team.

Although Grigore has participated in gymnastics since she was young, she was not always passionate about the sport.

Grigore was a serious figure skater, but stopped competing on the ice once she moved to Missouri.

“In Missouri, the rinks were only open for about two hours a day for figure skaters. I used to skate about 15 hours a week when I lived in Portland. I still love skating, but the rinks aren’t open long enough.

The rinks here are mostly used by the hockey players,” Grigore said.

Today Grigore is competing in State. If she qualifies, she will compete in May at Regionals. Last year, Grigore placed third in the State competition at Mizzou.

Freshman Whitney Hennrich, Grigore’s teammate, has trained with Grigore for two years. Hennrich is anticipating the State competition, and feels confident in her teammate.

“I think Christina will do pretty well at State. She is just getting back from an ankle injury, but it won’t affect her too badly. She gets back on her feet quickly and competes well,” Hennrich said.

Grigore sprained her ankle badly in December, causing her to miss some of the events this year.

However, she is practicing with Hennrich and the rest of her team. Grigore’s ankle is still hurting, but she plans to compete in State despite the pain.

Although Hennrich has been competing in gymnastics since she was 8-yearsold, this is her first year with All American. She enjoys participating on the new team with Grigore.

Hennrich said, “Christina is a really good friend and helps a lot of people out.

She makes competing with the team fun as she cheers for everyone. I know a lot of people look up to her for support; she’s a

Photos courtesy of Christina Grigore

Balancing Act

At one of her gymnastics competitions, senior Christina Grigore performs on the balance beam and on the floor. Grigore also competed on the vault and bars. Grigore has attended approximately 16 competitions this year in Arizona, Illinois, Florida, California and Iowa. very good role-model.”

Grigore plans to continue her gymnastics training after high school. In the fall, she will attend Maryville University and continue practicing at All American Gymnasts. After a year at Maryville, Grigore will be able to attend Mizzou and join the gymnastics team.

“If I could do gymnastics professionally, I would love to. However, I just started too late, and don’t think that can happen.

If I could change anything, I would have started the gymnastics team at a younger age,” Grigore said.

Out of nine levels, Grigore is a level eight gymnast. During the summer, the girls work on skills to reach the next level.

The coach will then decide if the gymnasts are ready to move up.

Grigore’s coach, Edye Kendrick, said, “Christina stands out through her dedication and work ethic. She always gives 100 percent. She expects a lot out of herself and is a wonderful role-model. All of her teammates look up to her for her dedication and passion for gymnastics. She never complains and pushes others to their fullest potential.”

She added, “There is no telling where Christina would be [as a gymnast] if she started at a younger age, but she should be proud of where she is and what she ac-

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complished in such a short time. She has definitely achieved more than most for the time she has spent in the sport.”

Grigore’s love for gymnastics doesn’t come for free, however. Not only does she sacrifice her time, but the sport is also expensive.

“We enjoy traveling and watching Christina’s competitions, but it is a lot of money. We pay for her five coaches, travel, food, the hotel and a fee to enter the competition. It is about $8,000 per year for competitions. I also have to pay

to watch her compete, but that’s okay,” Sanda Grigore, Christina’s mother, said.

However, Grigore believes the sacrifices are worth the joy she receives from gymnastics. Grigore has learned a lot from gymnastics, both as an athlete and a person.

She said, “I love gymnastics because it teaches me a lot, not only in the gym, but also outside the gym. I’ve learned how to face my fears, which really goes to show where hard work and determination get you.”

Love Cooking?

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See your counselor for more details about enrolling in Culinary 1 and Culinary 2.

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April 3 2009

Feature

Vandalism replaces harmless fun

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Senior pranks take on more negative tone Chelsea Coleman, Staff Reporter

As the end of the school year draws closer there are many memorable events that seniors can participate in.

Between Prom, finals and Graduation, the last few months of any senior’s high school years are very hectic.

But one lasting memory that has been missing from the past graduating classes is a senior prank. Whether the pranks were funny or destructive, long-time Lafayette teachers shared senior pranks of the past.

“There was a prank where the Senior Women hung bras in the court yard and had a sign that said, ‘The Senior Women are busting out’. The thing was that Dr. [Dan] Edwards, who was the principal here before Mr. [John] Shaughnessy, didn’t think it was funny, which to me he was overreacting,” social studies teacher Jay Buck said.

Social Studies Department Chair Susan Glenn also remembers this particular prank.

“It was creative and it didn’t hurt anybody. Then, everyone was always joking that the boys were going to hang their jock straps and have a sign that says ‘Senior Men support the Senior Women’. The girls (that hung the bras) got in trouble.

They (the administration) almost didn’t let them walk for graduation. The girls had to come in during the last few weeks of school when the seniors don’t come to school. They had to work at the Counselor’s office,” Glenn said.

There were some impressive pranks that transpired when the school’s campus

was located at pranks in the past Crestview Midas well.

No one thinks ‘Who’s going dle School.

“Once, a couple to clean that up? Who’s going “Someone guys, who had too put a car on to fix the damage? Where’s that much alcohol, spray the roof. They painted the school money going to come from?” took the car They ended up not apart and they at Gradua-Principal John Shaughnessy walking had ladders on tion and had felony all sides of the charges against building and then reassembled the car on them,” Buck said. top of the school. But we had a big, old car Peters also recalled pranks that have on top of the school,” Glenn said. been more vicious.

Language arts teacher Jean Peters also “There have been some horrific ones remembers this prank. that were first off vandalism and second “When they got a Volkswagen Beetle of all they were targeting at specific faculup on the roof, I was like ‘How did they ty members, many coaches. The more depull that off’. It was amazing, yet harm- structive pranks have been rare but they less,” she said. have happened,” she said.

Peters continued, “One year, the Spray paint has been involved in pranks school had a plant potting area and they that caused more harm than amusement. filled it up with gold fish and, of course, “I know a couple years ago, some stuall the gold fish died. Another year, they dents got into the school and spray paintsuper glued coins to the floor, so you think ed in the Commons up on the skylight you’re going to pick up a quarter then it’s and, at the time, my son who was working glued down to the floor.” for Rockwood had to remove the spray Senior boys also put together their own paint and clean it up,” Buck said. prank in the past.

Lafayette has also faced an insect inva“All the senior guys got together and sion brought on by a senior prank. rode bicycles down Clayton Road. It really “The seniors let crickets lose once. They disrupted all the traffic. Then we parked were all over school. That was not good the bikes all through out the parking lot,” because crickets tend to get into carpets business and driver education teacher and they eat paper. They tried and tried Matt Landwehr, Class of 2001, said. to catch them, but crickets don’t stay in He continued, “There was no destruc- one spot, they travel all over,” study hall tion of school property. There was noth- teacher Jeannine Wesley said. ing offensive to anybody. It was an inno“Some of them (pranks) are stupid, like cent prank.” the crickets. It was destructive and I don’t But there have also been destructive think it’s that funny,” Glenn said.

Some daring students take the risk for a day of glory and a laugh for the rest of the school, while many fear the consequences of any hoax on school property.

If the pranksters are caught, they face steep penalties.

Assistant Principal Tim Jones said, “We haven’t had a prank in a few years.

If any student is caught then they won’t be able to walk across the stage to graduate.”

He continued, “It’s a big risk someone is taking to be funny. They have to weigh that out.”

Pranks also can carry a heavy price tag to repair damages.

“Sometimes the pranks can get to a point where they can cost people a lot money to repair caused by the prank. No one thinks ‘Who’s going to clean that up?, Who’s going to fix the damage, Where’s that money going to come from?’” Principal John Shaughnessy said.

The principals also stressed that pranks can be potentially dangerous and disturb the normal school day.

“I look at pranks as a safety issue, I look at it a ‘What could go wrong with these pranks?,’ not how funny they are.

That’s just because it’s my job to protect everyone who is there, I don’t want anything to happen to any student,” Shaughnessy said.

He added, “We don’t want to put a damper on anybody’s senior year, but in a school this big, with this many kids, in efforts to keep a safe and healthy environment, we can’t let any thing potently dangerous happen.”

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April 3 2009

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April 3 2009

‘09 Academic Pep Assembly

Page

13 Opening with a hopping New Year’s party, the March 11 Academic Pep Assembly recapped events from the millennium through the present, along with highlighting students for their academic successes.

1. Master of the Beat During the teacher/staff

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dance, Special School District aide Trung Tran struts his stuff in front of the group.

2. Memorable Moment Surrounded by her family, science teacher AnnMarie Gilman receives the Teacher of the Year award from Superintendent Craig Larson.

3. Renalicious Giving the Colbert Report, sophomore Alex Eklund boasts about the word of the day and Renaissance.

4. Pop Star During the Freshman Class skit, Connor Wolk performs as a member of the ‘90s boy band N*SYNC. 5. Most Improved FACS teacher Lori Sanders presents an award to senior Micheal Berry as he holds his daughter, Kamori. He improved his grade point average the most during senior year.

6. Famous Faces Recreating a famous scene from daytime talk television, sophomore Racheal Rice portrays Oprah, while sophomore Nathan Russell imitates a Renaissance-obsessed Tom Cruise.

7. Can I Have Your Notes? Playing off the YouTube skit, senior Kyle Lindner begs senior Tori Benson to be his study partner. photos by Ali Balducci, Liz Desloge and Melina Loggia

Make note of the new number for LHS Student Publications:

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Feature

14

April 3 2009

What do you use it for?

Students either use or abuse iPhone’s purpose in school Rachel Brown, Staff Reporter

photo illustration of Jill Cherkas by Rachel Brown

At just un- is an increasing number of der $400, students like Benson who use Apple’s iP- their phone for means other hone has than communication. been purSophomore Justin Grant chased by estimates he uses his iPhone more than roughly three hours a day.

10 million “I think if they actually let A m e r i - you use your phone in school, cans. Many you could take notes and keep rich. Many teen- organized better, because it agers. would all be in one place,” iPhone owner Grant said. junior Kevin Cui Principal John Shaughgot his the first nessy feels the pain of the day it was re- student population. leased, paying a “It is definitely an area we hefty $600. have to begin to address be“I use it for cause the phones now serve calls, and text as planners or some sort of messages. It’s organizational tool,” he said. always good He plans to address the isto have it in a sue on an upcoming adminispinch if I want to trative retreat. browse the interHe himself uses his own net and check my phone as a planner and for grades,” Cui said. email.

“It’s the way I com“I think they should let municate with other us use what would help us in people.” class during class, and let us Senior Tori Ben- listen to music without askson is another en- ing if it’s a phone or not,” thusiastic iPhone Grant said. owner.

This year Grant received a “I have lots of Saturday detention for listengames. And I have ing to his iPhone.

Spore and Face“Teachers think you’re dobook. You know, ing other things besides listhe necessities,” tening when you’re just trying Benson said. to choose a song,” Grant said.

Besides enter- He now keeps his phone off at tainment, Benson school. uses her iPhone as However, Assistant Prina calculator, cal- cipal Matt Dieckhaus said endar and email. that some teachers would 4 FREE HOMEWORK “I keep some of make exceptions for kids usmy assignments on ing their iPhones for good, TUTORING SESSIONS! my notes,” she said. not evil.

However, there USE “I am quite confident that MORE STUDENTS

if a student raised their hand and asked, ‘Could I update my calendar real quick?’ many of our teachers might look the other way and let them do it.

They’d still be in violation of the policy as it stands now, but we’re not trying to hurt kids,” Dieckhaus said.

Dieckhaus believes cell phone policy will not be changed to compensate for students with iPhones because of cheating.

“A student with a camera can go ‘click’ and you’ve lost all integrity of the testing situation,” Dieckhaus said.

However, the solution is not clear cut. Many students are also able to access websites like YouTube and Facebook.

“If you sign up for the wireless through AT&T you don’t need the school’s network,” Benson said.

“For every person that is using their phone appropriately, whether as an organizer or some sort of research tool, there is a kid who misuses it,” Shaughnessy said.

“Cell phones also provide communication for illegal activity. Lafayette regularly investigates text messages arranging to jump someone, meet up for sex or purchase drugs,” Dieckhaus said.

Administration has begun to discuss the installation of a radio frequency device that would disable cell phones within the building during the school day.

“It’s nothing worth investing a lot of time in at this point,” Shaughnessy said.

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Students reveal favorite apps “Beer Pong, because it’s something fun to pass the time.”

-Jake Finley, senior “Light Saber, because it’s good exercise.” -Graham Lauff, junior “Facebook Application because it’s Facebook on the go. I can go out and still be on Facebook.” -Jill Cherkas, senior “Shazam, because if you don’t know a song you can instantly identify it.” -Ashley Bonn, sophomore “The Weather Channel, because the weather’s always changing and you never know what to wear in the morning.”

-Brooke Pontello, sophomore “I like the flashlight application. I use it at night when I get home at one because that is my curfew and parents have turned off the lights.”-Kelly Lacey, junior “Cowabunga, because it’s challenging.”-Kelsey Heitkamp, freshman “Pandora, because I can listen to a lot of cool music.”-Jared Webber, freshman “ iShoot, because I dominate.”

-Luke Robbe, freshman “iSketch, because it lets me be creative.”-Missy Balducci, freshman “Cube Runner, because graphics are so realistic, it’s like you’re flying.”-Ethan Brunk, junior “iCopter, because it makes you want to win.”-Chris Lenz, junior

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Sports 15 Water polo team returns experience, seniority April 3 2009

Melanie Hinzpeter, Co-Sports Editor This season, the water polo team will be full of experienced juniors and seniors coming back from last year.

“I am looking forward to having a veteran team. We have had many freshmen and sophomores on varsity the last two years,” Coach Jamie Waeckerle said.

This year, the team has nine seniors returning to play, all of whom are experienced and ready to take on the task of leading the team.

“Although both seniors last year were very hard working, they only accounted for three total goals, so we should be in better shape with nine seniors this year,” Waeckerle said.

But the team realizes they have things to work on in order to be successful.

“We need teamwork and to focus and communicate,” senior Steven Grott said.

Waeckerle said that the team needs to remain focused through the rest of the school year in order to be successful.

“As the weather gets nice and we near the close of school, it becomes difficult to keep the entire team focused on the team and working to get better,” Waeckerle said.

The team won their first two games against Oakville 8-5 and University City 13-2.

This past weekend, they took part in the Midwest Classic at Schaumberg High School in Chicago.

“We are supposed to be the team to beat. Our seniors have experience and we have a lot of starters with experience,” senior Kyle Olney said.

photo by Melanie Hinzpeter

Gun For The Ball

In a race to the ball, junior Taylor Foye (left) and a player from Oakville battle it out to gain possession of the ball. The team went on to beat Oakville 8-5. Senior Chris Powell scored six of the eight goals.

Baseball wins first game, attracts professional attention Andrew Martin, Staff Reporter

The varsity baseball team looks to rebound after a 9-12 season and a sixth place finish in the Suburban West Conference last season.

“It is a new season. Last year is over with,” Head Coach Steve Miller said.

The team has a lot of seniors who received valuable playing experience last year. Four players received All-Conference Honors last year, including seniors Tyler Boraz, Nate Goro, Kyle Grana and Luke Voit.

Over Spring Break, the team had they had four practices the Friday and Saturday at the start and end of break.

The players were required to come to at least two of these practices in order to fulfill the 14 practices required by the Mis-

souri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) before their first game.

Unlike last year, the team has been able to have practices outside this year due to the cooperating weather.

“With the good weather this year it really helps identify the players’ potential,” Miller said.

“We have to take this season one game at a time and go from there,” junior Jacob Ripp said.

With the season under way, the boys are running practice every day after school. The words going around the diamond are to ‘work hard’.

A player to watch this season is Grana, who is looking to duplicate or even improve on what he did last season. He led the Suburban West Conference in 9.55 strike outs per nine innings last season.

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“I have just been working out in the offseason and trying to get better,” Grana said. Grana is averaging an 89 mph fastball so far this season, and he topped out at 93 mph at a showcase.

The team, stacked with senior talent, is also showing promise in key younger players.

“Jacob Ripp and Jeff Kammer (both juniors) have shown promise both starting for us this year,” Grana said. With each practice Miller looks to evaluate the young talent and enormous potential surrounding the team.

The team has high expectations this year.

“I can see us making a deep run in the playoffs” Grana said. Ripp agrees, saying they have solid depth throughout the line up.

Miller is excited about the season but does not want to get ahead of himself.

“We just need to go out there and compete and do the best we can,” Miller said.

The team is also enjoying a new scoreboard which will be installed for this season. It was donated by former Lafayette alum Ryan Howard, who plays for the World Series Champion Philadelphia Phillies.

The Lancers were victorious in their first game against Rockwood Summit 7-5.

At the game there were three scouts from the Red Sox, Marlins and Royals Minor League System.

With the key seniors returning this year, some underclassmen stepping up to the plate, good weather and an experienced coach, look for the Lancers deep in the playoffs this upcoming season.

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Sports

April 3 2009

Girls lacrosse returns 9 starters from last year Melanie Hinzpeter, Co-Sports Editor After being knocked out of the State tournament by Ursuline last year, the girls lacrosse team is back and ready to make another run at State.

Losing only a few seniors and finishing 7-0 among the public schools, the girls return with roughly nine starters with a lot of experience under their belts.

“This is the most balanced team I’ve coached,” Head Coach Dee Wilkinson said.

Up and down the field the team is evenly balanced. There are strong defensive, midfield and offensive players.

“We have good even players. The team (as a whole) is much better,” Wilkinson said.

As for the potential of the team, senior captain Anna Margherita is excited for this season.

This is the first year that the girls team is playing on Lafayette fields, calling the

lower practice football field their home.

Last year was the first time the sport was state-sanctioned, but the girls had to practice and play on Babler and Wildwood fields.

“I’m excited about playing all the private schools and playing on our own field,” senior captain Abbey Frederick said.

Wilkinson is depending on every single one of her players to step up on the field.

“Any one player can be a standout in any game,” Wilkinson said. “It is just going to depend on who we’re playing against.”

The girls played their first game of the season against Parkway South on April 1, and then played John Burroughs on April 2.

The team faces one of its biggest rivals of the season, MICDS, tonight at 4 p.m. at MICDS. “(I) feel proud of not only myself by my team because this year we have the potential to go all the way,” Margherita said.

Defense Drill

photo by Daniel Clutter

At practice, junior Mina Yu (left) and sophomore Hannah Hayes (right) get set to receive a pass during a defensive drill.

Boys tennis starts season with Eureka Invitational win Mia Schenone, Staff Reporter The boys tennis team started its season on the right foot, seeing a large number of players at the no-cut tryouts.

“We do not cut, so practices are really full. It’s great to see a lot of players,” Head Coach Mark McAllister said.

Roughly 50 people came out for the squad this season, and McAllister said practices are full and are going well.

“Practices are going really well. We’re still conditioning and working on skills getting ready for this season’s matches,”

senior Brent Folan said.

Alongside many new faces, the returning varsity players are showing their skills due to their years of experience playing at a high school level.

Each day, McAllister puts the boys in a competitive match to get them ready to play real matches.

“We have to be mentally prepared to play at a high level given the talent we play against in our Conference and Districts,” McAllister said.

Girls tennis went undefeated last season and McAllister hopes the boys do

the same. McAllister even hopes to bring home a State championship to LHS. “Our goal every year is to win our team District, team Sectional and make the State tournament,” McAllister said.

“We have a really strong, deep team this year, so we should go really far this year,” Folan said.

Team bonding is another big aspect that the squad is doing this year.

Folan said that they have already had a team dinner this year to get the boys better acquainted with each other, so that practices and games are more enjoyable.

“Bonding with the team is big, but also just playing a lot as well, and taking practice seriously and giving 110% all of the time,” Folan said.

The team started the season with a win at the Eureka Invitational March 27.

The team played March 30 against Parkway South and won.

“They look really great,” McAllister said.

They played at Lindbergh on April 1 and against Parkway West on April 2.

The boys have a tournament this weekend, the Edwardsville Invitational.

Sports

April 3 2009

Page

17

Girls soccer starts season strong, beats Mehlville 7-0 Nina Walters, Co-Sports Editor

Coming out of two undefeated seasons, losing only one key player and picking up a tougher schedule, the girls soccer team plans on having another successful season.

“I think that we have new people that won’t take Nikki Rivera’s spot, but will still help out. I’m expecting that we are going to go to State and do really good,” sophomore Jessica Hanson said.

Instead of playing the typical schedule without private schools, this year the team faces Incarnate Word, the defending State Champs and top private school.

Along with a tougher schedule, they will travel down to Springfield, MO, again where the competition is always tough.

“Our Conference is really good and we are playing a tougher schedule and some private schools this year. But I am looking forward to see how the youngsters fit in with the veterans,” Head Coach Tim Walters said.

The team returns all but one starter and has picked up several freshmen who

will add a lot of young talent all over the field, along with a couple of sophomores and juniors who have been brought up.

“The underclassmen are a great addition. They have awesome talent,” senior Kelsey Calvert said, “The way they are performing all of our starting spots are up for grabs.”

In their first game against Mehlville on March 26, the team proved to be off to a strong start, winning 7-0 and with six different goal scorers.

Senior Emily Brcic wasn’t able to start or play due to a knee injury in practice that week, allowing freshman Kelsey Clayman the opportunity to step up.

Clayman wasn’t the only new player to see playing time. About halfway though the first half, the team changed out all 10 starters putting in 10 new players.

“I am really anxious to see if we play better as a team instead of relying on Nikki the whole time. I want to see if the veterans will step it up,” Walters said.

And, stepping up is what the veterans did. They scored six of the seven goals and had five of the seven assists for the game.

Take Aim

photo courtesy of Kelsey Haberberger

After receiving a pass from sophomore Jessica Hanson, senior Korie Klosterman dribbles in to take a shot on Mehlville’s goalie. The team went on to win their first game 7-0, and played against Marquette and Oakville earlier this week.

Top performers, leaders return for boys golf Gian Wessel, Staff Reporter

An experienced boys golf team began its season on March 25 against Fox. After a tough start to the season last year, the varsity team finished with a 6-4 record. Junior varsity won every game except one.

“We are going to be a solid team. Most everyone is back from last year, so there is a strong bond between the players,” Head Coach Brian Reed said.

The team has 15 upperclassmen.

They are hoping strong leadership can pave the way for the underclass players.

“We’ll help the younger guys deal with pressure in tournaments, course etiquette and situational stuff,” senior Zeke Dieckhaus said.

Reed added that one of the team’s shortcomings is their lack of available practice in the off season.

The condition of golf courses in the winter makes it difficult for players to im-

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prove their short game.

“Most golf courses do not cut the grass that often in the winter, so we are battling mother nature most of the time,” Reed said.

He also said the players’ skill levels are improving with the arrival of warm weather.

Junior Austin Goodman returns this season after leading the team with a 42.1 scoring average last year. Goodman also won two medals, which was good for sec-

ond on the team, behind senior Josh Day who had four medals overall.

The Lancers placed 10th in the Bulldog Battle at Winghaven with a score of 342 last season.

Senior Ryan Orr had the best round in that event, shooting a 77 and placing 13th.

The team will look to send its seniors out on a positive note with a successful season this spring.

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Sports

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April 3 2009

Rugby not so foreign to four Lancer athletes Gian Wessel, Staff Reporter

For hundreds of years, rugby has been a popular sport in the rest of the world. The sport first surfaced on American soil in 1874, at Harvard University when the first official game of rugby was recorded.

Since then, the sport has spread in popularity to cities all around the country. Now, men as well as women can easily find a rugby team close to them.

The closest Missouri Rugby Football Union (MRFU) rugby club to Lafayette is Eureka High School’s team, the Eureka High School Boys Side.

Eureka practices at Eureka High School and plays its games at Forest Park, Creve Coeur and Sport Port.

Roger Tucker has coached the Eureka team since its creation in 2004. He has been playing rugby for various travel teams since 1985.

Tucker said that all of his players joined the team without any prior experience playing the sport.

“They all start from scratch,” Tucker said, “We like getting freshmen on the team so we have them for four years because there is no better teacher than experience.”

He added that most of his players hear about the sport from their friends and some have fathers who have played before.

Eureka had its most successful season last year when they won the MRFU Championship and advanced to the Western Finals.

The Eureka team is made up of students mostly from Eureka but also from Lafayette, Marquette, Pacific and Washington. Senior Sean Siebert and juniors Chris Cooper, Ryan Finnegan and John

Mcbee are the only Lafayette students on the team.

“Everyone’s really cool with each other.

There’s no school tension and I meet new friends,” senior Sean Siebert said.

Ryan Ellison is a junior at Eureka and has played on the team for three years. He is one of the team members who became interested in the sport through his father.

Ellison said that parents are concerned mostly about head and neck injuries. Rugby players do not wear pads, however, there is a rule against hitting above the neck and players are trained to tackle at the waist.

“Rugby comes off rough, but there are no broken bones. There are probably more injuries in cross country,” Ellison said.

“It’s not all about hurting people,” Siebert said.

Currently, there are 15 MRFU rugby clubs in the St. Louis area. Several high schools aside from Eureka have their own rugby team, such as Francis Howell Central, DeSmet, Kirkwood, Priory, St. Louis University High School and the St. Louis Sirens High School Girls Side in Forest Park.

In order for Lafayette to create its own rugby team, Cooper said it would require coaches and 30-40 interested players.

“There are some former rugby players out there, so it would take some nudging to get them to commit their time to coaching,” Coach Matt Strickland said.

“It would take serious devotion,” Ellison added.

With the sport gaining popularity like it has locally, rugby teams will continue to emerge. While there are only six local high school clubs, the rapid growth in interest may allow schools to create their own individual teams in the future.

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Dog Pile

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In the middle of a scrum, the Eureka High School Boys Rugby team attempts to gain possession of the ball against DeSmet. Four boys from Lafayette play on the team, including senior Sean Siebert and juniors Chris Cooper, Ryan Finnegan and John Mcbee.

Rugby Basics:

• A rugby team consists of 15 players • The object of the game is very similar to football, where both teams attempt to cross the opposing goal-line with the ball but forward passes are not allowed • Teams can kick the ball downfield to gain field position or when faced with bad field position • The backs stay behind forwards and pass the ball advance down the field • A scrum occurs as a result of a penalty committed by one of the teams. During a scrum, the forwards on each team huddle together and attempt to gain possession of the ball with their feet • Forwards participate in scrums and must tackle the opposing ball-carriers to prevent them from scoring • Penalties can result in a free kick, which counts for three points. The kick must pass through the goalposts like a successful field goal in football • Players must stay on their team’s side of the ball or be called for an offsides foul

Page

Sports

April 3 2009

Volleyball opens with loss to Summit Andrew Martin, Staff Reporter

photo by Daniel Clutter

Middle Hit

After a quick set in the middle from senior Ryan Verner, senior Cam Slauter reaches high to make contact with the ball.

After two consecutive State finals appearances for the boys volleyball team ended in defeat, the team looks to rebuild, having lost experienced seniors last season.

Coach Doug Ell is optimistic coming into the season saying the team will be entertaining to watch this year and wants to make sure teams don’t look past them this season.

They have six experienced seniors returning to play this season.

The team feels good with the group of upperclassmen they have, including seniors Alex Mace, Drew McMahon, Tyler Rigman, Cam Slauter, Jake Welchans and Ryan Verner.

These players have an “anything is possible attitude,” according to Ell, as they enter this upcoming season.

Coach Ell has also gone to underclassmen to step up to the net and perform.

One player that has caught Ell’s eye is 6-feet, 6-inch freshman Luke Kreienkamp.

He is showing promise, but Ell said he is young and big and is making some rookie mistakes, but he will be cleaned up at the end of the season.

Another underclassman seeing time on varsity is sophomore Paul Mcgee who is looking to play outside hitter.

“An advantage they (younger players) have is youth and they all have that hunger to succeed, but with every young team the inexperience factor and speed of the varsity level can take getting used to,” Ell said.

Ell has been putting the team through hard practices to help get them mentally ready for the varsity level.

“It was tough, but we know we will be in shape once the season starts,” junior Jon Kuanfung said.

The team opened up the season with a loss March 27 against Rockwood Summit.

The team played Parkway South March 31 and Mehlville April 2.

They play CBC April 6.

Girls track in rebuilding mode, opens season at Missouri Relays Mia Schenone, Staff Reporter

The girls track team is full of new and old faces this season. With over 100 athletes, Head Coach Marty Margalski is trying to get the girls in shape and ready for this season’s meets.

“Because of Spring Break we are kind of rushing it,” Margalski said.

But with a lot of new faces, the team is expected to do its best since a majority of the new runners have never been on a high school track team before.

“I’m expecting them to be as good as they can be because so many of them have never been on a track team like we have this year,” Margalski said.

Margalski believes there is a lot of talent in

the new runners and hopes that with time and experience their talent will come out.

Last season the varsity team tied for second place with Belleville East in girls team rankings with 112 points.

Margalski is expecting all the girls to do their best this season, and for the older girls to help with the first few meets until the new freshmen get a good understanding of what to expect for their future meets.

The Missouri relays at Mizzou took place March 27, and Margalski is trying to get the girls ready and in shape for tough competition.

“We have to kind of put the relay together as we can, and some of the more experienced people might have to be the ones who have to kind of carry into the relay,” Margalski said.

Off the Block

At the Missouri Relays sophomore Anastasia Harris pushes off the sprinter’s block in the 200-meter race. The team participated in the Relays March 27, only to have the second day cancelled on March 28 due to the snow showers, the heavy rain and cold temperatures night before. photo by Hannah Schneider

Boys track returns experienced runners, looks to underclassmen Mia Schenone, Staff Reporter

this year, but I think we have some other younger guys coming out there this year who should be pretty good,” Seagrist said.

Senior Ian Moore agrees with Seagrist that there are some good freshmen on the team.

“There were a couple of good ones (freshmen), but I think they probably should do pretty well,” Moore said.

But Seagrist takes note about how many freshmen came out for track this season.

“That is something I’ve noticed with this Freshman Class. A lot of them go out for sports,” Seagrist said.

“Right now we have 88 guys out

After winning Districts last year, expectations are high for this year’s boys track team.

Every day Head Coach Randy Seagrist is preparing the boys to get them ready for upcoming meets.

“This is our fourth week of practice, and we have our first meet next week which is the Conference relay,” Seagrist said.

But until then Seagrist doesn’t know the full potential of the team.

Luckily only a few seniors were lost, so most of the guys are still around racing to the finish line for first.

“We have most everyone back

for track but we have quite of few who are freshman, probably about 30 or so,” Seagrist said.

But the freshmen aren’t the only ones getting pumped up for the season.

Moore said he is looking forward to getting out on the track and running hard Last year, Moore ran a 48.47second 400-meter dash, a 22.05second 200-meter dash, and a 16.21-second 110-meter high hurdle.

Fellow teammate senior Jordan Levy ran a 52.50-second 400-meter dash.

Junior Eric Volstromer ran a 10:15.34-minute 3,200-meter

19 Spring Calendar Girls Lacrosse 4/3 @ MICDS 4/6 vs. Rockwood Summit 4/8 @ Parkway West Boys Track 4/6 vs. Lafayette Quad 4/11 @ Charlie Beck Invite 4/16 @ Henle Holmes Invite Girls Track 4/7 @ Conference Festival 4/11 @ Jackson Invite 4/18 vs. Lady Lancers Invite Baseball 4/3 vs. Parkway North 4/8 @ Oakville 4/10 @ Sedalia Tourney Boys Golf 4/6 @ Bulldog Battle 4/7 vs. Parkway South 4/8 vs. Marquette Boys Tennis 4/3 @ Edwardsville Invite 4/7 @ Parkway Central 4/9 vs. Oakville Water Polo 4/3 @ Conference Tourney 4/6 vs. Kirkwood 4/14 @ John Burroughs Girls Soccer 4/3 @ St. Charles West 4/7 vs. Northwest 4/9 vs. Parkway West Girls Volleyball 4/6 vs. CBC 4/7 @ Northwest 4/8 vs. Eureka

run with brother junior Alex Volstromer trailing behind only by nine seconds.

But even with fast race times, the team still has to prove if it can keep up the District champs title from last year, and only time will tell.

Both Moore and Seagrist agree that the team won’t know just how good they are until after the first meet next week.

Then they can get ready to improve and bring home the District championship to Lafayette once again.

“We expect to do pretty well this year, but only time will tell,” Seagrist said.

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April 3 2009

April 3 2009

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Sports

21

School-sanctioned not all it’s cracked up to be Every day, we hear the athletic schedule for the day’s events being announced at lunch.

Whether it is a game or a result, it is usually announced, with some exceptions.

We have several sports that are approved by Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) that are school sponsored.

These sports do not include boys hockey and boys lacrosse.

Most students believe this is due to both sports being a liability for the school, which is not true at all.

They have just as much contact, and are just as much of a liability as any other sport here at school.

“They are the same liability as football and any other sport,” Activities Director Steve Berry said.

The real reason is that for some time, our lacrosse and hockey team did not want to be sponsored by our school.

Another reason is there are not enough schools and teams that want to be school sponsored in those sports.

“The member schools vote on the sports that they wish to sanction and have governed by MSHSAA. Both boys lacrosse and boys ice hockey have not been voted on and have not been proposed to vote on. We have schools propose differ-

ent sports and if there are enough schools interested, then it goes out on the annual questionnaire. The MSHSAA office does not decide what it wants to sanction, it is the member schools of MSHSAA that decide,” MSHSAA representative Kerwin Urhahn said.

And why would you want to worry about being sanctioned?

Your jersey already says Lafayette and you already get plenty of fans.

Plus, you are not restricted by all of Rockwood’s rules.

Lacrosse has the same rules now as MSHSAA does, but if any sport becomes sanctioned, then Rockwood would have to enforce the same consequences for having detentions, suspensions, or any other punishment like they do for any other school sanctioned sport.

You would also have to start abiding by the rules set by MSHSAA if you became school sponsored.

If those rules were followed, then some changes would need to be made in order to be sanctioned.

Only Lafayette players could be on our lacrosse team, and the players from other schools would have to find another team.

Which is stated under requirements on the MSHSAA website: “you must be enrolled in and regularly attending classes at the member school to participate in a

school sanctioned sport.”

The 8th graders would not be able to try out for freshman teams until high school, no matter how good they are.

“You are not eligible to compete with or against students enrolled in the 10th grade or above when you are enrolled in either the 7th or 8th grade,” as stated in MSHSAA rules on their website, under age requirements.

Also, they would only be allowed so many road trips that would be paid for.

Otherwise it still comes out of their own money.

The way they are used to playing the game would be altered in one way or another.

There is an upside though. You are given playing space. Along with that the field is paid for.

Yet at this rate, if boys lacrosse became sanctioned, there would be no room for them on our school grounds.

All of the fields are full during the spring season and the only field that was open now belongs to girls lacrosse during the spring.

And if hockey became sanctioned, they would still have to use the facility they use now, since we don’t have a hockey rink on school property and are not getting one anytime soon.

“We have no more fields right now.

Deadlines Are Closer Than They Appear!

Co-Sports Editor

Heroes ARE

Remembered Nina Walters We would have to look to Babler or to the middle schools for a spot for the guys lacrosse team to play and practice,” Berry said.

Along with that, your uniforms are paid for, and so are road trips to some extent.

Also the referees are paid for.

You would also be restricted to only play Lafayette lacrosse during that season and not allowed to play club in the spring.

MSHSAA says while playing for a high school team, you may not participate in a nonschool team or in any organized nonschool athletic competition for the same sport.

Basically your expenses are less, but you are more restricted and still won’t have a playing field.

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Entertainment

22

April 3 2009

St. Louis Community College hosts eco-friendly festival Melina Loggia, Entertainment Editor With the continuous decomposition of planet Earth, it’s the small ways of preserving that make the difference.

Driven by being “green” the St. Louis Community College at the Wildwood campus is hosting a festival entitled “Art Exhibition and Green Living Expo” on April 18 in order to promote nursing our sick planet.

The college is already one step ahead with a “green” campus and an LEED gold certificate.

“The design and materials of the building create a healthier work, learning and living environment, conserve natural resources and reduce the building’s impact on the environment and the community,” Deborah Ward, project coordinator, said.

To bring in more sunlight, the building has T-shaped windows. To add to the affect, classrooms have light shelves to reflect the light.

“The lighting system automatically balances to accommodate variations in natural light,” Ward said.

For irrigation purposes, 80,000 gallons of water can be gathered from rain in the school’s four cisterns.

“There is also a sedum roof (sedum is a plant) that overcomes the “heat island” effect from the building by reflecting heat from summer sunlight and insulating the building in winter,” Ward explained.

To celebrate it’s eco-friendly campus, Dorothy Welty, a faculty member, wrote a grant for the festival, which was her idea.

The art teachers at high schools near the campus were informed so that they would tell their students to submit artwork in the art show, which will be displayed from April 13 to 18.

Senior Nancy Pappas is displaying her work.

“I like showing my art at those kinds of festivals,” she said.

The piece being shown is two fish in the symbol of a Yin Yang. Photo test strips collaged together form the fish, with acrylic paint in the background.

Her piece fits in with the theme of the festival, “With the Yin Yang with the fish its unity with the eco-friendly stuff,” Pappas said.

Junior Ali Balducci is also showing her art. In AP Art Studio they had to choose a topic for their “concentration” pieces and create three projects on them throughout the year. Balducci chose the theme “Urban vs. Rural.”

“This one is a city scape made out of foliage and then I spray painted it black to make it monochromatic,” Balducci said of her current piece being shown.

Her artwork also flows perfectly with the theme of the festival, she utilizes different mediums for her art. Before her foliage project, she constructed a piece of art out of recycled soda cans.

“I think its a good way to show how art can be useful to get the message out there,” Balducci said.

“It’s celebrating land,” senior Abby Katsev said of her current artwork.

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sev painted on a “tube used for concrete.”

The piece is a landscape inspired by a photo she took in Florence.

At the festival, visitors are welcome to vote for their favorite piece for the “People’s Choice Award.”

Katherine Rhodes Fields, an environmental artist will judge the artwork.

Fields is from the Glasglow School of Arts in Scotland.

Each high school will have a 1st, 2nd and 3rd place. A cash reward will be given to those who place 1st, 2nd or 3rd in the whole show.

From the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on April 18 an array of activities will be available.

Entertaining visitor’s ears will be the sounds of bands formed of high school students.

For children, “The Raptor Project,” a mix of music and the Wild Bird Sanctuary, will perform.

Handmade crafts, alternative material clothes, body products and more will be displayed by vendors.

Workshops will be held to teach more about green living, nature and even how to create a recycled book.

A way to help out the Green movement is to bring old electronics, or “E-Scrap,” for the Earthbound Recycling.

Finally, visitors will be invited to a campus-wide scavenger hunt to explore

the prize winning campus.

This eco-friendly festival seems promising to deliver entertainment and information on how to be more Earth friendly and lend a helping hand.

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Page

Entertainment

April 3 2009

Afro Samurai Adam Harris, Staff Reporter

Made after the animated television series Afro Samurai the game of the same title loosely follows the story line. Throughout the game, Afro seeks out to be the number one warrior and to avenge the death of his father.

The game takes place in a traditional feudal style Japan but with a modern twist, incorporating hip hop culture into the game play with music produced by RZA from Wu-Tang Clan.

Samuel L. Jackson is the voice of Afro’s “traveling companion” Ninja Ninja, who alerts you of dangers ahead on your journey. While the voice of Samuel L. Jackson is very well done in the game the colorful language is not something a parent would appreciate hearing.

The mature language goes hand in hand with the blood and gore that takes up most of the screen as Afro slices and

dices through waves of enemies. With 120 unlockable combo moves, there is never a dull battle.

With a “focus” feature in the game, which causes the screen to go gray, and time to slow, Afro’s attacks are more accurate and deal more damage. No enemy is safe during battles as Afro severs their bodies in half horizontally and vertically, blood gushing and splattering to the floor.

Along with the stunning combat, is the intricately textured and gritty water brushed background that gives the game a very unique look.

Another cool feature of the game is how Afros afro and clothing sways in the wind as he acrobatically leaps through the air putting his enemies to rest.

The only flaw in the game is it was obviously made for its combat platform and not for its basic navigations. Throughout the game the position of the camera changes frequently which is a bit nerve wracking when running through different environments.

Overall Afro Samurai is a very entertaining “hack-n-slash” game with a very unique look that is sure to please any fan of the animated series and newcomers alike.

23

Resident Evil 5 Daniel Clutter, Staff Reporter

Four years after the release of the revolutionary Resident Evil 4, Capcom unleashed the newest game in the series Resident Evil 5. The newest installment in this classic survival horror series brings back some old characters and enemies along with a new array of allies and zombies.

Resident Evil 5 places you in the middle of an African village which has been infected with a mysterious virus causing chaos and violence. You play as Chris Redfield and/or Sheva Alomar, members of the Bioterrorism Security Assessment Alliance (BSAA) who are sent to investigate the possibility of bioterrorism.

Redfield is a character that fans of the Resident Evil series will recognize from original Resident Evil and a game later in the series, Resident Evil Code: Veronica.

Redfield is the more powerful character of the two and therefore deals more damage

with melee attacks and in co-op situations can assist Alomar in jumping across gaps or up on to balconies or roofs. His partner Alomar makes her first appearance in the Resident Evil series but has a history connected to the Umbrella Corporation.

The game play itself is extremely entertaining and frantic. However, the game is not completely run and gun; there is a lot of strategy involved as well. You have a limited amount of space in your inventory and ammo for your weapons is sometimes scarce.

Also, a lot of your weapons can be upgraded to hold more ammo and do more damage which is a huge help later in the game. Along with the main story is an unlockable game mode called “The Mercenaries,” where you basically kill as many zombies as you can in the time given.

Overall the game looked amazing and was fun to play. The controls were really easy to get the hang of and made every action seem really smooth.

Some of the cut scenes in the game were interactive and you had to time your actions with the buttons that came up on the screen to avoid being killed. This game is recommended to anyone who enjoys zombies, blood, gore and guns. Lots and lots of guns.

Monsters Vs. Aliens

The Decemberists

Monsters Vs. Aliens is good solid entertainment.

Though not as ground breaking as Wall-E, or as funny as Shrek, the visual effects are topnotch and the voice-work is perfect. The story opens on Susan’s (voiced by Reese Witherspoon) wedding day to weatherman Derek (Paul Rudd).

Before the ceremony a giant rock from space lands on her and she grows to be 49 ½ feet tall. She is placed in a top secret government facility where she meets other monsters such as B.O.B. (Seth Rogen), Dr. Cockroach (Hugh Laurie) and The Missing Link (Will Arnett).

These characters are parodies of the movies The Blob and Creature from the

The only way to describe this album is enchanting. The album’s an indie, rock opera that tells a classic love tragedy. The basic plot line is of two lovers who meet: the “Queen,” who is the man’s mother, bans them from being together, but her wish comes true when the “Rake” kidnaps her. As all classic, tragic love stories go, the man sets off to rescue her, but gets stopped by a raging river. He crosses by permitting the river to “render me a wreck when I come back.”

It ends after the rescue and the lovers accept their fate dictated by the river.

“The Rake” is a low-life who gets introduced in “The Rake’s Song,” which is a little more upbeat then the rest of the

David Adams, Staff Reporter

Black Lagoon.

Susan is told that she will spend her entire life stuck in the facility, that is until Aliens attack the earth and the monsters are needed to fight back. From this point on, the action is nonstop.

Seeing this movie in 3-D is a must, as objects fly off the screen, it’s easy to forget that you’re only watching a movie. The audience favorite was definitely B.O.B, the blue goo with no brain but a big heart.

Seth Rogen brings his lovable stoner qualities to the character just as he does in his life action films.

The story occasionally takes a back seat to the action, but the laugh out loud moments more than make up for it.

Adults and teens will enjoy this movie just as much (if not more) than children.

There are countless references to old 1950’s monsters movies and quite a few adult jokes that will go straight over the little one’s heads. Overall, Monsters Vs. Aliens is an enjoyable treat for everyone.

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Melina Loggia, Entertainment Editor

The Hazards of Love

album. Surprising since it tells of how he killed his three kids. “The Rake’s Song” is one of the catchiest songs on the album and probably one of the only ones that could be a single. The album is definitely meant to be listened to as a whole. If listened to straight through, it’s hard to distinguish when the song switches.

In most songs, it’s the lyrics and singing that get stuck in the listener’s head, but with this album it’s the melodies and guitar riffs that stick, with the lyrics more in the background.

“The Wanting Comes in Waves/ Repaid” is one that clearly stands out on the album. It starts out soft with an acoustic guitar then the guitar switches to electric.

The guitar kind of sounds like something off of a White Stripes album.

The majority of the album is softer and melodic. However, it does have a few more suspenseful songs. There’s a certain mood necessary to listen to the album though, it’s perfect for just relaxing.

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24

Entertainment

Green” Festival at the St. Louis Community College on April 18.

MOVIE: Adventureland: Out today, this comedy, from the director of Superbad, has fantastic buzz from Sundance. It could very well be a cult-classic in the making.

RESTAURANT: Penn Station: Best cooked sandwiches BOOK: I Just Want My Pants Back by David Rosen. This novel follows the journey of a New York guy trying to retrieve his pants that were stolen after a one night stand.

UP&COMING DVD Releases:

In the St. Louis area, there is so much to do that we don’t take advantage of. The Entertainment staff decided to try some of these places out and share our experiences in hopes you’ll see how much fun we had on a low budget, and broaden your mind beyond Chesterfield Mall and your friend’s house.

*Dates below are subject to change

The Tale of Despereux; Not Easily Broken; The Day the Earth Stood Still; Yes Man; Doubt; Bedtime Stories

April 3

April 7

In theatres: Fast and Furious; Adventureland

CD Releases: Unstoppable: Rascal Flatts; Jigsaw: Lady Sovereign; Fantasy Ride: Ciara

LONE ELK PARK March 7, 2009 12:55- After driving for around 20 minutes, we find the park. We drive through the gates and gaze upon a lake. After about a half a mile drive we find a nice open field to enjoy our picnic. After eating lunch, we explore and notice a creepy, industrial cave in the woods. Upon inspection, we find a rusty sink, other rusty metal machinery and a trash bag full of empty beer cans. Someone knows how to party.

1:06- Still no elk in sight, but plenty of elk-droppings. The cool part of this park is that there are building ruins, but other than that, without the elk, we prefer Babler, it’s way closer.

1:11- Leave Lone Elk Park after learning sundown is the optimum elksighting time.

ST. LOUIS ZOO March 7, 2009 2:00- Arrive at the St. Louis Zoo. We decide to fork out $11 for zoo parking, though we could choose to park for free inside Forest Park. Luckily, admission to the zoo is free.

2:07- First, we walk through the River’s Edge. We notice a fake, rotting deer carcass sitting in a tree. While gross, it’s just something more to giggle at. The zoo is crowded on this day. Despite the crowd, the animals are still a sight to see and it’s a good

un ree

PICKOF THEMONTH EVENT: “A Different Kind of

Melina Loggia, Entertainment Editor David Adams, Staff Reporter

DVD Releases: Frost/Nixon; The Wrestler; Notorious

DVD Releases: The Spirit; The Reader

April 10

In theatres: Hannah Montana: The Movie; Observe and Report April 8: In Theatres Dragonball: Evolution

ALBUM: Punk Goes Pop 2: Punk bands cover pop songs.

This CD is simply a great album to party to.

April 14

CD Releases: Swoon: Silversun Pickups; It’s Blitz!

Yeah Yeah Yeahs; Little White Lies: Fastball

April 17

In theatres: Crank: High Voltage; 17 Again; State of Play

April 21

April 3 2009

place to goof around at. It’s easy to see why it was voted one of the top zoos in the country.

2:20- We half run to the Primate House, excited to see our closest relatives. The most entertaining feature of the monkeys is watching them eat.

One particular monkey is able to enchant us simply by nibbling on some food for a good five minutes.

2:33- Wishing we had just a little more time to see the animals, we exit the zoo and journey to Turtle Playground, only a five minute walk.

TURTLE PLAYGROUND March 7, 2009 2:38- Arrive at Turtle Playground.

Immediately start a balancing act across the giant snake-like creature that is encircling a nest of eggs, all made of concrete of course. It is like walking through the wardrobe into the magical land of Narnia; we are transported back to our childhood, to a time where it was okay to let our guard down and act like a 5-year-old.

2:40- One thing we find amusing is taking a ton of pictures here, seeing which ways we could contort ourselves around the giant turtles. Unanimously we agree this is a great place to take pictures for a dance.

We find a small crevice underneath a turtle and try our luck to fit in. Somehow it works and we find ourselves beneath a turtle. Also, we squeeze ourselves inside of the turtle’s mouth, which is very entertaining.

2:46- Sadly, we return home.

What we find is a ventilation system we get to crawl through, it’s just like the movies! Then...everything goes black and we tumble down a slide.

4:55- At the end, we find another slide and slide down all three stories and arrive near the shadow wall and the electrostatic generator. David tries the generator, but his hair is too short.

Melina does it, and oh man, her hair goes everywhere, instant rock star. At the shadow wall, we perform handstands and jump on the wall in attempt to make crazy shadows. It works.

5:10- We wander around the Children’s Village. First we go to the bank, where we write checks for a million dollars, then we try to crack a safe; unfortunately, we fail. We wander into the Grocery Store and fill our carts with plastic loaves of bread and cartons of milk. We walk up some stairs and David climbs a little ahead. When Melina walks up, he is fully dressed in an apron and shouts, in an Italian accent, “YOU WANTA PIZZA?!” Apparently he was the owner of the pizzeria. We notice a news anchor room.

Instantly, we mimic Anchorman and read the hilariously simple scrips available on the table. After that, David tries to catch some fish, but fails; he’s distraught when the kids next to us are catching fish when he’s not. So we work on a fake car and conclude we must go.

5:30- We walk back to the car and reminisce about our trip, it’s impossible to frown in the Magic House.

DVD Releases: Nothing but the Truth; The Uninvited; S. Darko; Bride Wars; Hotel For Dogs

April 22: In theatres: Earth

CD Releases: Sounds of the Universe: Depeche Mode

THE MAGIC HOUSE March 11, 2009 4:00- Pay $8.50 to get into the Magic House, definitely worth it, although admission is free every third Friday.

4:03- We find giant musical instruments, including a huge xylophone you drop balls in to make it play “Ode to Joy.” 4:06- Venture through fairytale land. We play dress up and go down a Jack in the Bean Stalk Slide.

4:15- We discover the bubble organ, possibly the greatest invention created. When you play a song, bubbles in the tubes above you correspond! We are entertained for about 5 minutes by funny noises until we glance over and see an impression wall.

4:20- The first thing David does is run and throw his body across the impression wall. The impression wall leaves quite an impression on our easily amused minds.

4:30- Even though the Magic House makes us feel like a small child again, the limits of this theory are tested as we both almost get stuck in a small tunnel designed for toddlers.

4:35- Find a dress-up room, complete with a table and teacups. Of course, we have a tea party.

4:40- We move our way up to the second floor to discover a spy center.

Our dreams come true; we find a secret passage. Now the Magic House is really awesome. We start pulling books from a bookshelf and poof! We’re in!!

April 24 In theatres: Obsessed; Fighting; The Soloist

April 28 CD Releases: Together Through Life: Bob Dylan; The Rebirth of Venus: Ben Lee

DVD Releases: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button; Last Chance Harvey

May 1

In theatres: Battle for Terra; The Ghosts of Girlfriends Past; X-Men Origins: Wolverine

May 5 CD Releases: Outer South: Conor Oberst; Family Time: Ziggy Marley

Information compiled by David Adams, Staff Reporter photos by Melina Loggia and David Adams

Other fun & low budget ideas: St. Louis Science Center Babler State Park The Loop St. Louis Art Museum Butterfly House Castlewood Park