Dec. 12, 2008

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Vol. No. 40 05

Image Lafayette High School 17050 Clayton Road Wildwood, MO 63011

Dec. 12 2008

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

what’sinside

This January, fingerprint scanners will be installed in the Cafeteria to provide account security. It is a part of Nutrikids, a lunch account system that will be implemented next semester.

When Lemond Carmickle goes to a circus, he isn’t a spectator. He’s the star of the show.

See page 5

OPERATION:

’ You’re in school everyday, but do you recognize these letters around the halls?

See pages 10-11

Erik Dauster, News Editor

“

Gone are the days of memorizing account numbers and typing into keypads when purchasing food from the Cafeteria is concerned.

Approved in the 2008 bond issue, the spring semester marks the implementation of a new lunch account system called Nutrikids, which will bring security to parents and students.

Fingerprint scanning ensures

that students are who they say they are. Now, to buy food with another student’s account, you have to either bring that student with you or have their finger.”

Wendie Bening Cafeteria Manager

Print to Purchase The addition that will be most noticeable to students is the option of paying for lunch with a biometric scanner. To pay for his or her meal, all a student will need is a fingerprint.

The biometric scanner reads specific points on a fingerprint’s image, calculating it into a number, and links a student to his account.

After the account has been accessed, the fingerprint image will be deleted to guarantee identification security.

Carmen Fischer, Rockwood Director of Child Nutrition Services, said the biometric scanning process will provide added security to account access. “[The biometric system] will reduce stolen PIN numbers, misentered PIN numbers and students accessing other student’s accounts inappropriately,” Fischer said.

This system seems to be a necessary one, as PIN numbers are being stolen and accounts

abused until they are depleted.

“This year, more than ever, I have noticed students using other students’ lunch accounts.

You could even give your account number to your best friend and suddenly three other people are buying food with your account,” Cafeteria Manager Wendie Bening said.

Bening believes the biometric scanner is a practical solution to this problem.

“Fingerprint scanning ensures that students are who they say they are. Now to buy food with another student’s account, you have to either bring that student with you or have their finger,” Bening said.

This gives the biometric scanning the potential to expedite the process of buying lunch.

“Our goal is to move kids through the line so they have time to sit down and eat. I think the new system will help us with this,” Bening said.

Fischer said the primary purpose of Nutrikids is ensuring security for lunch accounts, and getting used to the new program will take a while Continued on Page 4

Construction on media center, classrooms begins Caleb Cavarretta, Staff Reporter For the past few years, construction has been a part of everyday life at Lafayette. This latest round will take up the rest of this year and part of next year, and is being paid for by the $74.5 million bond issue.

There will be three phases to the construction process. The first phase which is currently underway in the front west corner of the building will consist of adding 10 new classrooms and a new media center. It should end in August of the 2009-2010 school year.

“The second phase is renovating the old library, and turning it into several new classrooms,” Principal John Shaughnessy said.

The third phase will be getting rid of the trailers, building new varsity lockers rooms, a new elevator and a new recreation center.

While the new library is going to be larger than the current one, the new addition does not provide money for more books.

“As for inventory, it is just a matter of them giving money to buy books,” Librarian Nichole Ballard-Long said. “I’m hoping to arrange things differently, so people have better access to the books we have.”

The new library will have many new additions when it comes to resources. “We will have a lot more access to technology,” Ballard-Long said.

There will be more seating areas, three new smart boards, more computers, a wide screen television for student announcements or news, laptop counters, access to a video conference room and a new wireless hook up for computers, which will mean fewer issues with connectivity.

When it comes to whether or not these additions will make a large difference to students, BallardLong said, “I think it will definitely provide kids with better access to technology, and a more interesting space that people will be more interested in going to and hanging out in.”

The other new addition, which is the 10 new classrooms, will eliminate the need for trailer classes. “I plan on getting a new classroom next year from the construction, so it will affect my class greatly,” language arts teacher Paul Jaycox, who teaches in a trailer, said.

In his new classroom, Jaycox hopes to have more up-to-date technology not currently present in his trailer including a new smart

Each year, wrestlers must keep their weight in check. See how they get it done.

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comingsoon Dec. 13 ACT Test Dec. 15 Build a Band, 3:15 p.m.

Dec 16-19 Final Exams Dec. 20-Jan. 5 Winter Break Jan. 6 FAFSA Information Night, 7 p.m.

Jan. 6-12 Final Make-Up Exams, 3:15 p.m.

Jan. 12 NHS, 7 p.m.

Jan. 13 STUCO, 7 p.m.

From the Ground, Up

Photo by Alex Davis

Construction for the 2008-2009 school year officially started while students were away for Thanksgiving break. It completely knocked out the west entrance of the school. The new addition, scheduled for an August 2009 completion, will house a new media center and additional classrooms. board and possibly several student computers. He also hopes fewer students will be late since the class will be in the building.

Since the removal of the trailers starts at the beginning of the next school year, when the new classrooms should be finished, their destruction should not affect trailer teachers. “I only see positive reflections on my class from the construction,” Jaycox said.

Sophomore Jake Stergos shares the same opinion on the additions

and construction. “It does not negatively affect me in any way, except I can’t look outside,” Stergos said.

Stergos, who has a trailer class, said, “My language arts class is in the trailer, and we have about 28 kids in there. It would be a good thing to have more actual classrooms to put them in.”

While the construction will likely occur three out of his four years at Lafayette, Stergos thinks it is worth it. “It basically provides more opportunity to students,” he said.

Jan. 14 Variety Show, 7 p.m.

Jan. 16 Staff Development Day Jan. 19 No School Jan. 21 Curriculum Night Jan. 23 Winter Pep Assembly Jan. 29 Mr. LHS, 7 p.m.

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Opinion

2 2008-2009 Image Staff

Dec. 12 2008

Artist

Rachel Brown

Alex Davis Editor in Chief Erik Dauster News Editor Jared Anderson Opinion Editor Brooke Thibodaux Feature Editor Sydney Miller In-Depth Editor Melanie Hinzpeter Nina Walters Sports Editors Courtney McBay Business Manager Rachel Brown Staff Artist Nancy Smith, MJE Adviser Staff: Kendall Brewer, Rachel Brown, Mary Buttram, Kara Campbell, Caleb Cavarretta, Daniel Clutter, Chelsea Coleman, Austin Goodman, Adam Harris, Melina Loggia, Bre Vickers, and D.Anne Vollmayer

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.

Philosophy

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.

Contact Us

We are located in Room 213 at Lafayette High School, 17050 Clayton Rd., Wildwood, MO 63011. Our phone number is (636) 458-7200 ext. 2338 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.

Reasonable resolutions rule all for 2009

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ven though the New Year is still three long weeks away, the Image staff has been hard at work. e’ve been brainstorming for hours coming up with, you guessed it, those always annoying and never reachable New Year’s Resolutions.

This year will be different, however. We will reach our resolutions.

We hope to continue providing you with an entertaining paper that looks great, and we know we are capable and willing to do so.

In addition to creating our own reachable resolutions, in our good natured holiday spirit of sharing, we’ve also come up with some for other people.

First on our list of naughty and nice is the student body.

To this point, behavior by you, the students, at athletic events this year has been atrocious for the most part.

With the exception of the fondly-remembered Homecoming streaker who was finally set free, no one has done anything remotely smart before athletic events besides tailgate.

You know what we’re talking about. Stop drinking before school

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Image

STAFF EDITORIAL events, or even just at or near school in general.

Next on the docket for the students is bathroom etiquette. For health’s sake wash your hands and clean up after yourselves.

Didn’t your parents teach you anything?

Don’t text and drive either. It’s one of the most unsafe things we can think of for you to do while driving, right up there with drinking.

We in Room 213 also came up with a few resolutions for our administration and staff.

Foremost, don’t give up on the Senior Class yet. We know it’s hard to teach a bunch of kids who just don’t care about school, but stick with it. The Class of 2009 will be gone sooner than you think.

Next, do your best to keep us in line and keep the hallways moderately clear. We don’t want anyone trampled to death in the Flex Hall.

Also, if you would, continue in your efforts to keep the hallways as free of nasty displays of affection (NDA) as possible. Your proposed new motto: No NDA in any way.

Finally, to the administration, keep our newspaper staff as free as you have this year.

We truly appreciate the lack of prior review and the willingness to tell us what we need to know to make the best paper possible.

For the Rockwood School District, we also came up with a few simple, attainable requests.

Even though we all detest the age old adage of “Safety First!” it does ring true in certain situations, especially during winter.

Please keep our parking lot cleared during the coming months of weather turmoil.

We promise we won’t slip and fall if you clear off the parking lot and sidewalks for a change.

While on the topic of safety, we would also like to ask for the continuance of the great safety our district’s transportation staff exhibits each day.

Bus driving is a thankless job at times, but our district’s staff does a great job with keeping us on time and safe.

Last but certainly not least, the

Image staff set some major goals for this wonderful nation.

Unbiased media coverage would be a great start. Whatever happened to the days of news coverage that didn’t include a biased analyst of some kind?

It’s high time we let people think for themselves and form their own views instead of forcing our own on them in news. We believe it’s a newspaper first, then an Opinion forum.

Our next resolution for the not so United States of America is to become once again the very United States of America.

The best way to start this process is to determine what is right instead of who is right. Ideals will determine the success of this reeling nation in the next few months.

Politicians in Washington D.C. along with the citizens of this country must strive to work together.

In order for our economic and world diplomatic situation to improve, we must all try something new: cooperation.

It has to work better than the disagreement, strife and slander we’ve been trying lately.

From all our staff, have a happy New Year, and stick with it.

Search for something that makes you tick On the patchy green grass of the McCluer North football field rests an irreplaceable part of my life, and of the lives of an elite group of my fellow senior classmates.

We left four years of our lives out on the field that day. Four years of sweat, blood, bruises, tears and hard work lay in a grassy grave.

Inevitably, we fell short of our goal: to win State during our senior year, with what will prove to be the end of competitive football for most of us.

Tears were shed as we all walked off the field that day. High school and life in general will not be the same.

But that is not completely terrible.

We will miss the smell of freshly cut grass, and the crunching of our shoulder pads and helmets into our hated opponents’ facemasks as we drove them into the ground.

We will miss the team dinners every Thursday. Where else we would stuff our faces and share the bond that is high school football?

This story simply does not end with a turn down nostalgia lane, however.

There is a deeper meaning.

I learned a great deal about myself in the sweet-smelling locker room over the seasons.

Football taught me how to be a man. I had to face up to challenges every single time I stepped onto the practice or game field.

I had to show a sense of dedication during and after the season, keeping myself in football shape, while becoming stronger mentally and physically.

Most people wouldn’t enjoy putting this amount of time and effort poured in to anything at my age. Essentially, football fused with school became my career.

It consumed me, you could say, but I cherished every moment of it.

You could say that I found something that made me tick. I urge you to do the same.

The end of football helped me come to a realization. What would I have done without this incredible sport which tapped into a different side of me?

Honestly, I don’t know. I was lucky to have been a part of it, and to have had little difficulty in finding what makes me tick.

Again, I urge you to do the same. Not everyone is going to be able to find something as meaningful as I did so quickly.

I get that. But never give up the search.

Athletics are a great place to start. Whether it is football or anything else, sports can provide an outlet to forget about the stress of school and leave it all out on the field, on the track or in the gymnasium.

Maybe sports aren’t your thing. Plenty of other options do exist.

Immerse yourself in the Fine Arts Department.

Use the creative juices flowing through your veins to craft something innovative and eye-catching.

Join a club. There are plenty of options for all types of people. Social, religious and just purely fun extracurricular clubs are out there.

Find work. Some of us just want to earn money and feel like we are contributing to society after a long night on the job.

If you don’t believe me, sit around and do nothing with your high school years.

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Information

in My

HUMBLE ..

Opinion Jared Anderson

ion Opinitor Ed

Maybe that makes you go, drives you toward what you believe in. If you want to be lazy, be my guest.

But as the last year of high school comes into sight, I have learned one lesson from this place that stands out more than any other: time is valuable, and it doesn’t stand still, so make use of time wisely.

Find something that makes you tick, that makes you live.

What’s important to you?

What do you believe in?

If you haven’t found out yet, that’s okay. Keep trying, and once you do find out, don’t sit around and wait to be a part of it.

Make something of yourself.

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Opinion

Dec. 12 2008

Lack of clothing, publicity catch readers’ attention Dear Editor,

Dear Editor,

There are quite a few things in this school that have come to my attention in the past few weeks, one of which I find utterly disturbing: the way females dress here.

I understand that personally I may not be the most fashionable and I’m no expert on fashion either.

However, I do know enough about fashion to realize that there are particular articles of clothing that are of great necessity.

So why aren’t girls even wearing pants!? Leggings get me the worst.

They are to be worn for warmth.

Even under a skirt, sure.

But Good Heavens, they are not

pants. By no means does anyone under any circumstances look even remotely respectable without pants.

It’s unflattering and ridiculous.

Not to mention those particular females willing to squish their feet into those god awful, ugly boots to go with the tights.

They are indescribably ugly, and when asked why they wear them the usual response is “it’s so. . . cold.”

Of course you’re cold. You’re only wearing tights, honey, they don’t insulate well. Truly kids, it’s science. Winter is cold.

S

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incerely, Emily Hipp

I am extremely disappointed in the lack of publicity surrounding many school events.

For example, last week the Choir Department hosted a Madrigal concert that I would have enjoyed attending.

The problem is, when I went to buy tickets, it was too late.

There were no posters advertising this event and that is a loss to students like me.

Also, the upcoming school trip to the Presidential Inauguration caught me by surprise.

Hopefully, I found out about it in time and will attend, but many of my friends were completely oblivi-

ous to the trip.

In fact, my social studies teacher did not mention it in my class.

Groups and clubs need to do a better job advertising their events.

As Publicity Head for Thespians Executive Board, I vow that everybody in the school knows about the Spring Musical, Thoroughly Modern Millie.

S

incerely, David Adams

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Editor-In-Chief

And there is no store that has deals on those; those are on you.

MasterCard has said it, and so will I: the time you spend with your family is priceless.

Honestly, the presents don’t add much to the equation.

I would be remiss, however, if I acted as if excluding this time with your family could only be positive.

The family dynamic is why receiving presents is so special.

And that’s why Christmas has been marketed into what it is.

It’s a time of camaraderie and jubilance. It’s a time of laughing and memories. It is that one time of year where people are allegedly ‘warmer’ towards one another.

You and I both know that hasn’t been the case, though.

Francesco Petrarch would roll over in his grave if he was aware of the animosity that takes place during Black Friday.

Pretty soon, people’s eBay accounts will be getting hacked on Cyber Monday.

It’s Christmas. It’s Chanukah.

It’s the holiday season. That is reason enough to be around each other.

“Beware of the 3rd Quarter slump.

Don’t let up.”

9

Kirti Mehrotra “Don’t be tardy to class!”

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“Take advantage of all opportunities. You can’t prepare enough for the ACT.”

Matt Dieckhaus

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•Adopt A Spot.

Community service has never been so much fun.

Grab a friend and do something nice for the area in the spirit of the season.

•New Year’s Eve. The holiday that has come to be synonymous with Dick Clark’s Rockin’ New Year’s Eve is right around the corner. ABC never looks better.

•December, which is National International Calendar Awareness Month. What better way to know when the Australian Labor Day is than to go out and buy yourself a new International Calendar?

gripes to: •Black Friday death. It’s clear that the American public has lost its mind.

New Yorkers would clearly rather have a nice HD television than spare an innocent life.

•Cold hallways. We understand it’s winter, but some additional insulation and maybe a bit of a thermostat tweak would go a long way.

•The newly-built fence around the Art hallway drop-off lane. As if traffic isn’t already rough enough to get out of, it just got worse.

•Finals. Take it easy on us this year, staff. It has been quite a semester already, and we’re sure you don’t want to spend your break grading all our papers, right?

Tim Jones “Keep your foot on the pedal, and try to make a positive memory.”

•Winter Break. A total of 16 days this year, the Holiday season will be long lived and the Monday hangover from Break more brutal than ever.

•Responding to all on emails intended only for one other person.

Already crammed in boxes don’t need your chain letters and extra RSVPs to the latest event or question.

Asst. Principal

Asst. Principal

Asst. Principal

Asst. Principal

class for the upcoming semester?

Renee Trotier

stars to:

•The new fingerprinting system at lunch. The days of the kid behind you looking at your keypad number and having lunch paid by you are dead and gone.

What advice do you have for your

?

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

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

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That is not what is real.

What is real, and what should be embraced is a little bit of humanist philosophy that has been lost over the years.

As much as I do not want to come off as a Humanist preacher, Humanist doctrine affirms that human beings have the right and responsibility to give meaning and shape to their own lives.

So, when you hear about stories of fists thrown and people trampled, basic law of detachment alludes to the fact that people do not think much of their own lives.

Like I said before – get real.

It’s just a Wii. It’s just a TV. And it’s not just the parents that are freaking me out. When I see the inconsiderate dad holding an XBOX360, I wonder, is my generation going to turn into this heap of holiday anger and angst towards the guy to your right and the woman to your left? I hope not.

Why would a person lend themselves to two or three very unpleasant weeks of shopping, just so that they experience one day of family, presents, and warm pie with even warmer feelings?

Personally, I have yet to experience a bad Christmas. And maybe that’s just because getting what I wanted has never been that hard.

Or, it may just be because Christmas is inevitably going to be enjoyable, as long as your whole family is present.

Yeah, sure, I may have gotten everything that I would want during my (Christmasi), but when what you want is a good memory, it ain’t tough.

v

? This Month, the Image asks...

GameStop.

It’s a retail job, which I have learned to love very much over the years.

I have been able to witness the growth of an industry I fully support, while maintaining a high school life and other activities.

Nesting in my little nook across the way from the Food Court has left me prone to many different sights, and anyone who works in retail knows you are granted the privilege of meeting a wide, wide variety of people.

Receiving my second dose of holiday shopping, variety is definitely not what the retail industry lacks. No, no, there are still plenty of crazy people.

Sanctity of the fellow man - that is what the retail industry lacks.

I mean, really, trampled to death? Get real.

I’ll leave that to rest. Even thinking about that incident can spin me into a day of vertigo.

And it is not necessarily just the brutality of everybody that shocks me, it is these parents. Aren’t they supposed to be parenting first and foremost?

A Guitar Hero game won’t do the kid any good if he saw his mom hipcheck the pregnant lady for it.

It’s gotten so ridiculous; I try to avert my attention from it.

Next time I am at work and a savage of a parent asks for a DS game, I’ll just say ‘look for Imagine AngryShopper, it’s accomplishing the same thing.’

In all seriousness, I am not contending that people should be singing and dancing all over the tile jungle that is the mall.

stars & gripes

•Spirit Scarves. At least someone’s trying to pump up the school during the cold winter months.

A modern day rebirth: Have a Happy Holiday

Humanist: a person having a strong interest in or concern for human welfare, values, and dignity.

The 14th Century’s Francesco Petrarch, a man that is renowned for his title of Father of Humanism, pioneered a trend that has carried a sense of morality all the way through to modern times.

Understanding that man is the measure of all things and that the fabric of the society in which we live is directed by the humanity that each and every one of us contributes, to some extent, has played a part in any decision dating back to then.

Christmas is a prime celebratory example. What better time to consider the well-beings of others than when you can hear the faint ringing of sleigh bells?

What I have learned from the 17 Christmases (Christmai?) that I have spent on this rock is that with evolutionary growth as a human, comes multiple perspectives.

In every instance of life.

For example, 10 years ago Dec. 1 would mark the day that I begin the countdown to the day of the messiah’s birth.

About five years ago, it transformed into the constant reassurance that there won’t be any school for a good two weeks.

Two or three years ago, the aching lull of finals and studying always ailed my mind until they were complete, so my window for catching a good tiding would be rather small.

And currently, based on how my Thanksgiving Break played out, my Winter Break will most likely consist of me clocking in and out of my conditionally fulfilling job at

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•No regular water in the vending machine. A consistent problem last year, this shortage has resurfaced. For now, we’ll blame the tough economic times.

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4 Club News Adopt a Spot

The Adopt a Spot program was designed to improve the appearance and the beauty of the school. Lafayette’s Community Service class has designed a way for clubs and other groups to get together to make Adopt a Spot possible.

Seniors Rachel Dotson and Paige Park gave a presentation to the staff on how this program could benefit the campus.

The goal of the program is to assign spots around campus that need to be cleaned and maintained.

Groups can add extra flare including murals, decorations for the holidays or simple accessories like a bench.

Funding will come from the community service fund and the recycling done by classrooms throughout the school.

Funding will be used to buy signs and obtain necessary tools.

Groups can choose which spots are offered indoors or outdoors; to date, more spots have been assigned outside.

Teams or groups must fill out applications and meet requirements to be involved. If they don’t meet the requirements, their spot is removed from their care and given to another group.

“Adopt a Spot is an awesome plan. It brings a sense of being at home to Lafayette,” Lori Sanders, FACS Department Chair said.

-Elle Swedberg

ROTC

Some St. Louis area men, women and children are not properly clothed for the winter, but the Air Force Junior Reserved Officer Training Corps (AFJROTC) did something about it.

Teaming up with the Family and Consumer Sciences (FACS) Department and National Honor Society (NHS), AFJROTC was able to collect more than 75 fifty-gallon trash bags full of clothing for adults and children.

Colonel Mike Berenc said, “It was one of the best years yet.”

The clothing will benefit St. Patrick’s Homeless Shelter and AFJROTC’s sister school, Bryan Hill Elementary.

Second semester, AFJROTC will help in the Leukemia Society’s Pasta for Pennies Campaign, which will support Leukemia and Lymphoma research.

-Max Thoman

Key Club

Key Club will take part in Eagle Days at the Chain of Rocks Bridge Jan. 18.

During Eagle Days, people can go on the bridge and watch Bald Eagles fly over the Mississippi River.

About 30 Key Club members will help set up and use scopes for viewing the eagles, and transport people to the bridge.

-Jessica Zadoks

Dec. 12 News 2008 Idling harmful to environment, vehicles Kara Campbell, Staff Reporter At the end of the day, after students race through the hallway and out of the school door, there is still one thing to be conquered. The parking lot.

In the parking lot, there is a race to see who can get out the fastest.

However, the buses beat a significant number of people out of the lot.

This makes for many cars idling or leaving the engine running, which is harmful to the environment.

The California Energy Commission has compiled facts on the harmful effects of idling car engines.

For example, idling a car for more than 10 seconds damages the engine, emits extra air pollution.

On average most people idle their car about 5-10 minutes a day.

In addition, they found that idling wastes fuel; every two minutes a car is idled equals the same fuel amount it takes to drive a mile.

Even in the cold weather, the best way to warm up ones vehicle is to drive.

Idling also contributes to health problems such as asthma attacks, impaired lung function, heart problems and even death.

Police Officer Jason Oesterriecher said St. Louis even has a law about idling cars. He said, “You can’t leave a vehicle running and not be around the car. You have to be near the car.”

This is because St. Louis City sometimes has a problem with people breaking into windows of idling cars and stealing them.

Denver, CO has harsh consequences. “Idling a car for 10 min-

Photo by Kara Campbell

Sitting Idly By

Caused by the chaos of students and buses leaving campus while parents are entering, long lines of cars form as students wait to be picked up. This scene is a common one, and may be negatively impacting the environment. utes could land you a fine of no less than $999 and/or imprisonment for one year,” according to Gavin Hudson author of How to Save Gas in 10 Seconds…Or Go to Jail.

Hudson also writes, “A similar fine of $1,000 and a year in jail applies to anyone in the County of St. Louis for idling a car for just three minutes.”

Laws against car idling are becoming more and more prevalent

around the United States.

As of April 19, 2008, 25 states plus the District of Columbia now have regulations against car idling.

Senior Keely McCaskie, Earth Club President, doesn’t idle her car after school or in the morning during the winter to warm up her car.

“Excessive idling can actually damage your engine components, including cylinders, spark plugs, and exhaust systems,” according to

the Consumer Energy Center, “Fuel is only partially combusted when idling because an engine does not operate at its peak temperature.

This leads to the build up of fuel residues on cylinder walls that can damage engine components and increase fuel consumption.”

Earth Club will run an “AntiIdling” campaign during second semester. McCaskie said the campaign is “to raise awareness about the harmful effects of idling and the power of the individual to do their part.”

Earth Club wants people to carpool and walk to school to help the environment.

She doesn’t idle her car because she believes, “It is not necessary for modern engines.”

McCaskie recommends, “If drivers are going to be stopped for more than 20 seconds, they should turn off the engine.”

Car idling isn’t something Earth Club has discussed much, but they are planning to raise awareness concerning the issue.

Earth Club member, junior Teresa Avila, said, “It’s [car idling campaign] in the works for Earth Day. Our goals are to encourage biking and walking to school in the spring.”

Avila doesn’t drive to school.

She said, “I’m able to look at it in a critical view, because I don’t have to make my way out of the parking lot after school.”

The opinion of Hudson, however, is there is too much of a difference between the laws and the enforcement.

He also said, “Start arresting St. Louis residents for idling and you’ll have a lot of ticked Missourians.”

Operation Fingerprinting Regiment will perform in Continued from Page 1 San Diego’s Holiday Bowl Caleb Cavarretta, Staff Reporter

for students and cashiers.

Registering for the biometric system has taken place throughout December, and today, Dec. 12, is the final day to register during lunch in the Commons.

Biometric registration is optional. Students will still be able to purchase food with cash or their keypad account.

E

System Secured Another service Nutrikids offers is the opportunity to deposit funds into student accounts through credit cards or Paypal.

Paypal is a worldwide leader in online payment solutions and is widely used.

It has received VISA’s highest security rating for cardholder information security.

Paypal will process all financial transactions, even if a credit card is used to make a deposit.

Nutrikids will also give parents more control over student accounts.

“Parents will be allowed to signup for email notification when account balances drop below a certain level. They will also be able to pull up a 30-day history of purchases on the account from the web site,” Fischer said.

Some students think this accessibility is unnecessary.

“Parents should trust their children more and should have expectations that their children can be responsible for themselves,” freshman Alexa Benson said.

Photo by Daniel Clutter

Identity Confirmed

To register in the Nutrikids system, junior Jordan Tuchmann gets her fingerprint scanned. Today, Dec. 12, is the last day to register and can be done during lunch in the Commons.

For some parents, being able to check the balance of their child’s account and receiving an email when it is low will make it convenient when they manage their account.

“My son just comes home and says, ‘Mom I need you to put $20 in my account. It’s out.’ Email notification is a great idea,” parent Joan Bohm said.

Students will be automatically entered into the Nutrikids system, and all funds in their current account will be rolled over into their Nutrikids account.

Each family will have one meal account, not one for each student, to provide convenience for parents.

The Nutrikids system goes live Jan. 6, 2009.

very four years, the Lancer Regiment applies to get the chance of a life time to perform at a College Football Bowl Game.

In the past they have traveled to participate in the 2001 Holiday Bowl halftime show and parade in San Diego, and the 2005 Gator Bowl parade and halftime show.

This year, the Lafayette Regiment will travel to San Diego for the Holiday Bowl.

About 20 different high school marching bands from across the country will be in attendance, playing simultaneously for the halftime show.

Lafayette’s Lancer Regiment will be the only one representing Missouri at this year’s bowl. They will be playing jungle-themed music for the halftime show.

“It will be kind of your standard bowl game halftime show,” band director Brad Balog said.

“We will be playing classic rock songs with jungle and animal motifs, performing songs like ‘Catscratch Fever’ and ‘Jungle Boogie,’” senior saxophone player Taylor Criswell said.

They will also be a part of the Holiday Bowl Parade.

“I am really excited to go to California and be broadcast on television, supporting our school,” sophomore baritone player Justin Nauman said.

One problem the marching band has had to deal with is that they are smaller compared to most bands.

“The difference with our band and some other school marching bands is that ours is extracurricular only, and most school bands require their students to march, so only a portion of the band program marches,” Balog said.

Freshman baritone Brett Herbers said, “We are a smaller band compared to most others, but I think we have better talent.”

When it comes to preparing for the half-time show, sophomore saxophone player Daniel Lamers said, “Once a week after school, we either practice memorizing the music or parade march, and when we get closer to the bowl, we will start to practice two or three times a week.”

“We will be well-prepared for the bowl because we have been working hard on the music,” Balog said.

To prepare for the two-mile parade, the band will march laps around the track during practice.

While Balog is not sure how Lafayette will compare to other school bands, he did say, “They are going to be good. They will perform well out there.”

After their performance, the band will trek to Disneyland, where they will celebrate New Year’s Eve. About 70 marching band students will take the six-day trip to San Diego starting Dec. 27.

Dec. 12 2008

Leap Of Faith

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News

5

Photo courtesy of Jessica Hentoff

Riding bare back, Lemond Carmickle performs a professional style trick called “Ianna.”

The trick requires the rider to stand and do a “jump rope” style movement with a whip while the horse is in motion.

‘Defy gravity...’

Photo courtesy of Jessica Hentoff

Soaring With Confidence

Performing with the St. Louis Arches, Lemond Carmickle finishes a “person leap” in the Circus Flora’s traditional style show. Usually the last person to finish this display is the tallest but Carmickle’s ability to leap higher than the others earned him the stunt.

Student acrobat learns life lessons through circus Bre Vickers, Staff Reporter Only four cities in the United States have a resident circus. Not only is St. Louis one of those cities, but one of the performers is Lafayette freshman Lemond Carmickle.

The Circus Flora combines traditional European circus with modern techniques as an extension of the work of The Circus Day Foundation’s original project, which was to bring together Jewish and Muslim children.

Later it developed into bringing together Jewish, Muslim, Christian, Caucasian, Hispanic, African-American and Chinese children.

Within the Circus Flora there are a variety of troupes that perform. The main performance group is the St. Louis Arches. The initial performance group was established in 1987.

The Arches focus on many circus arts such as acrobatics, aerial, juggling, clowning, balancing and bareback horse riding.

Carmickle started at Center of Creative Arts (COCA) where he learned to juggle, and an instructor realized his passion for the arts and encouraged him to contact the Circus Flora.

Carmickle has been performing with the St. Louis Arches since the age of seven.

The Circus Flora’s mission is to teach art of life through circus education.

“We teach the kids how to defy gravity, soar with confidence and leap over social barriers all at the same time,” Jessica Hentoff, St. Louis Arches choreographer, said.

“We are crossing cultural boundaries artistically and socially while improving children’s physical, mental and emotional well-being,” Hentoff added.

Through COCA and the Circus Flora Carmickle worked with many instructors and a variety of people to recognize character.

“I like being in the circus, not just be-

cause of the performing but that it teaches you how to work through every day life.

It’s like if you can fly through the air and land on a horse, you can do anything. I’ve learned how to be social,” Carmickle said.

Carmickle said initially he was afraid to try out the different stunts, but after a while, he was more interested in entertaining.

Carmickle said when performing there’s a lot of adrenaline with dynamic stunts and the support from his family and friends keeps him going, even when he gets tired from practicing and performing.

“I’m able to perform for all sorts of people. The audience is never the same, sometimes there will be older people, sometimes they may be disabled and sometimes they’re kids, but that doesn’t matter because my role is to entertain,” Carmickle said.

Carmickle originally did not do any other sports but in recent years found an

interest in track.

“Being in the circus is as difficult, because it’s not like any other sport. We meet and perform all year long,” Carmickle said.

The Arches have performed in various locations, ranging from The City Museum in St. Louis almost every Saturday, to performing in Israel.

“When we traveled to Israel I was amazed. It reminded me of America and there was the common interest of the circus,” Carmickle said.

Carmickle said he would like to continue performing in the circus for as long as his body allows him to physically perform.

“Lemond has so much natural energy when performing, I’m just glad I’m not his school teacher,” Hentoff said.

“I don’t know what he’s like at school but I know he should never say he can’t do something. He does somersaults on top of galloping horses,” she added.

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Skimping on the S ap Brooke Thibodaux, Feature Editor wash their hands more beEven (1%) Do you think boys cause they are cleanly and care about their appearance. Girls or girls wash their don’t want to hold guys’ hands if they hands more in the Boys (18%) don’t wash. That’s nasty,” junior Sara restroom?

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But other tricks of the trade are alcoholbased hand sanitizers.

According to Purell Instant Hand Sanitizer, their product kills 99.9 percent of most common germs.

Girls (81%) “I always use hand sanitizer. The hand dryers take too long when you’re trying to rush to class,” senior Stephanie Weider said. e “Hand sanitizers are the best, when there is no ud st 5 soap or a sink to use,” Worley said.

32 But hand washing is still the best routine before making food, eating, after going to the bathroom, petting animals or when someone nearby is sick. he Proper hand washing includes washing for ad 20-30 seconds, using warm water and lathering c hands fully.

Q) How often are the bathrooms Hand dryers prove to be more hygienic cleaned? than paper towels. Not only do they cut laA) “We try to power wash a set of bathrooms bor cost and save trees, but studies have (boys and girls) once a day. The rest are cleaned shown that dryers banish bacteria from skin, stopping their growth. like they would be at home every night.”

No matter what form, cleaning Q) How often are supplies in the bathrooms one’s hands effectively helps prerestocked? vent disease that can be easily A) “They are re-filled and checked every night.” contracted in a big environment such as Q) Do the students leave the bathrooms in school. we re

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Handrails, door knobs, even friendly hands are contaminated with germs. With students confined in one place, school is a great place to pick up germs that cause disease. But the best way to prevent illness is through hand washing.

“It [hand washing] prevents the spread of disease. I just heard it’s important to get friction. Singing the abc song isn’t enough. Washing your hands is the best way to avoid viral upper respiratory, conjunctivitis [eye infection], flu and mono,” nurse Lynn Weaver said.

The Soap and Detergent Association gave Americans a C-minus in a Clean Hands Report. In fact, 39 percent of the U.S. population does not always wash their hands.

“I wash my hands 98 percent of the time. It gets rid of the disgusting germs by eliminating them,” junior Elizabeth Worley said.

But what happens when she doesn’t get a chance to wash her hands? “I find it gross. I definitely freak out a bit,” Worley said.

Senior Justin Davies, on the other hand, admits he doesn’t always wash his hands.

“It’s like a flu vaccine, it [not washing one’s hands] builds up your antibodies. You become more immune to things. Through last year I only missed three days. I’m sick on average two to three days a year,” Davies said.

“I think girls

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In-Depth

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Dec. 12 2008

Texting @ the Wheel Teens find dangerous distraction addictive Sydney Miller, In-Depth Editor Doing makeup in the car, driving with the knees and even talking on the phone are now lesser evils behind the wheel. The public has seen a recent increase of deaths related to texting while driving: a Metrolink crash which left 25 dead and 135 injured; an accident involving a tractor trailer which killed five recently-graduated high school seniors, just to name a few of the nationally reported accidents.

National headline-making accidents like this caused a band of State Representatives to introduce bills to ban or restrict cell phone use during driving.

Missouri has just introduced a similar bill, proposing to restrict cell phone use while driving. As of now, Missouri is one of the few states with no restrictions.

“I would think in the future that speaking on the cell phone or texting while driving will be banned or limited to some degree,” Matt Landwehr, Driver Education teacher, said.

Landwehr said a restriction on cell phone use should be in place because “driving is not a right, driving is a privilege.”

“If you violate the rules of the road and the law, then that privilege can be taken away. So texting while driving is something that’s dangerous, and it not only puts you in danger, but it puts others in danger,” he said.

Landwehr said the Driver Education class spends time talking about handling distractions- the number one being texting. However, the issue of texting while driving is not always selective. Despite the fact that according to a Nationwide Insurance Study, 66 percent of texting drivers are ages 18 to 24, several accidents include older adults. However, teenagers seem to be the dominant force in an up and coming technological world.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, in 2007 4,946 teenagers died in car accidents.

1,000 of those deaths were caused by texting.

Officer Ollie Helbig said statistics can be ambiguous, since “sometimes they [texting drivers] don’t admit it.” Helbig also said more young adults text than older adults, as a result of a generation gap. “[Teenagers] grew up with that technology and they get good at it. There is an age factor about people that text. Younger drivers a lot of times have more accidents because they’re younger drivers, they’re inexperienced,” Helbig said.

Junior John McBee has had two texting while driving accidents.

During the first accident, McBee said, “My phone dropped and I went to go grab it, and I looked up and there was a car. I hit the brakes, and I just hit the car.

That was a tow, which was $81.”

“The second one I was looking on my girlfriend’s phone, and she was looking to see what I was doing, so no one was paying attention to the road. I slammed into the back of a car, and there was more damage this time because my car was totaled,” McBee said.

However, McBee’s accidents have not stopped his texting in the car. When asked what it would take to make

him stop texting while driving, he laughed and said, “Forgetting my Matt Landwehr: “I think phone.”

“I’m a very social person, and they text because a lot I know the feeling when you text of kids think they are someone and they don’t text you back. But now I look at the road, invincible behind the not at the phone when I’m texwheel. They think they ting. I don’t have to look down at all, but the last time I was lookare a good enough driver ing down at the phone to find and it won’t happen to something that time,” McBee said. them; that they won’t get Many believe the new hurt.” ‘hands-off’ Bluetooth phones and ability to text without having to look away from the road diminishes the distraction.

However, Helbig said, “I’ve heard a lot of people who can drive and text, and not look down- but it’s still a distraction. Even if you’re not looking down, your mind is on something else and not on driving, like it should be.”

However, for senior Brianne Flaherty, one unusual run-in with the law was enough to give up texting in the car.

“I was driving home from a friend’s house, and the day before I had gotten a new phone. I was trying to figure out the buttons, because on the [old phone] I didn’t even have to look down. I kept looking down, and when I got pulled over he said I was swerving within the lines,” Flaherty said. “I didn’t tell him I was texting, beyou’re following her when she’s texting, because she cause one of my friends just got a $250 fine.” goes a little off the road and then a little back on,” she Flaherty told the officer she had not been paying atsaid. tention, and was surprised when he asked her to step out But not many teens stop after being warned. Even of the car for sobriety test, despite the fact she had not though Landwehr said Driver Ed focuses on distractions been drinking alcohol. such as texting, and despite reprimands by concerned “He held a tap and he made me follow it with my eyes. parents, teenagers feel safe multitasking in the car.

He had me stand on my foot and count back from 1,006 “I think kids still text because a lot of kids think they to 999. He made me start from L and say the alphabet to are invincible behind the wheel, and they think they are W, but I don’t know if it’s just me but I can’t just start in a good enough drivers and it won’t happen to them; that the middle of the alphabet,” Flaherty laughed. they won’t get hurt,” Landwehr said.

After passing the sobriety test, she was let go with a Reckless behavior, Landwehr said, is dangerous to warning. Since then, Flaherty said she no longer texts in other drivers as well as passengers. the car.

“That’s the biggest thing- other people may be follow“He [the officer] said I never crossed either of my ing the law and doing everything safely, but you’re not lines, but he said I could’ve been a distraction. I kind of and you can not only hurt yourself and others in your verealized what he was talking about, how it could be a dishicle, but you can hurt others [on the road] as well- that’s traction. I know that one of my friends, you can tell when where there are big problems,” he said.

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Dec. 12 2008

Accessories To Boot

Page

Feature

Photo by Mary Buttram

Heels doesn’t just carry heels, but has ‘boutiquey’ things as well. A wide array of purses, jewelry, candles and the occasional scarves, Heels has many gifts in addition to the abundance of shoes. Heels is a playground for shoe lovers.

9

Photo by Mary Buttram

Trend Central

Pure by Jen has many styles for ladies no matter what age. From formal dresses to casual hats and scarves, the store caters to every event. Like many other boutiques, Pure by Jen has purses, belts, gloves, jewelry and tons of accessories for any occasion and all ages.

Boutiques offer alternative shopping experience Mary Buttram, Staff Reporter Shopping seems to be one of the most popular ‘sports’ among the ladies. It is not just about the ability to spend money, but brands, price, quality and quantity are also huge considerations to take into account when shopping.

Around the St. Louis area, there are a lot of shops that students may not be aware of. Not the shops in the mall, but more upscale and non-franchised boutiques like Crush and Pulse offer a different style of shopping.

“Boutiques have unique items that you wouldn’t normally see at your average ‘mall shop,’” junior Julia Morris said.

Junior Carly Voloto agrees.

“They have rad clothes no one else has,” she said.

Although there are tons of boutiques in Central West End and Ladue, more boutiques in the West County area have been established.

Pure by Jen and Heels are boutiques located in the new Wildwood Center off of Highway 100. They offer clothes and shoes unique to the area.

Pure by Jen carries True Religion, a line that offers hats, scarves and other accessories. The prices are in no way cheap, but for the quality and style of the clothes and shoes, the price is right.

Heels is a shoe store, carrying brands such as BCBG Girls and Anne Klein.

Wish Shoes in Ladue offers shoes too but, with a more expensive price tag. On the other hand, Heels has a little more within their store such as jewelry, purses and Mizzou memorabilia.

Boutiques offer a different experience, with unique clothes not from the mainstream malls and department stores.

“I hate the mall. Whenever you’re there its the same shirt in 20 shades and everyone has it.

They (Boutiques) help you and always are nice,” senior Caitlin Condren said.

Located in the Clarkson-Clayton center, Marta’s is a boutique with styles ranging from casual to formal attire.

Women of all ages will enjoy the corner shop full of clothes, shoes and jewelry. Marta’s showcases clothes by many designers from Ed Hardy to Belldini to Jimmy Crystal.

Prepare to spend forever in these shops. The employees and owners are extremely welcoming and chatty. They make shopping fun and personable.

A little farther away is Pulse.

Pulse is a boutique located on Clarkson in the new shopping Photo by Mary Buttram area next to Barns & Noble and Inside Marta’s St. Louis Bread Co. With a wide variety of designs and collections, Marta’s is a true boutique. During the dance seaIt carries a lot of independent sons, be sure to check out their many dress options. In addition to clothes, there is a large jewelry designers along with popular den- selection as well. The ambiance is warm, and has a sophisticated feel to it. im designers such as Miss Me and Adriano Goldscheild.

She added, “They also have a lot of junior Alyssa Barford said.

Pulse not only carries trendy tops and different things you can find there that a Another high-end boutique, Susan bottoms, but also has a wide variety of lot of people can’t necessarily find other Lynn’s, is located right off Long Road. purses. places in St. Louis.”

Carrying shoes, handbags, jeans, tops, Handbags are just as important as One of the negative aspects of shop- dresses and jewelry, Susan Lynn’s is a clothes at Pulse. Complete with stylish ping at boutiques is the price. little boutique less than 10 miles from our purses, from Melie Bianco to Charlotte Practical shoppers express their out- school.

Tarantola and Ed Hardy, this is the place looks on boutiques.

Without the crowds, the boutique exto get them.

“I really like the dresses that they perience can be more peaceful.

“I am Jewish, so it’s really neat to shop [Pulse] have but its way too expensive,” “The reason people shop at boutiques at Pulse because the owner is Jewish as senior Hallie Darnell said. is because it’s less crowded. It’s more well. There are lots of unique and styl“They have really cute stuff but some- personal. They treat you because it’s one ish Jewish accessories,” Sam Laiderman times it’s overpriced. You can find just as tiny shop with cool stuff you wouldn’t find said. cute clothes at Splash or Buckle for less,” somewhere else,” Laiderman said.

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Dec. 12 2008

One of winter’s costliest sports: snowboarding Melina Loggia, Staff Reporter

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Experienced snowboarder senior Nick Pontello knows the high cost involved with being a snowboarder. He has traveled to Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Idaho for snowboarding. He said Breckenridge is his favorite spot. “It has a T-bar which takes you up to the peak of the mountain that is pretty unique, most places don’t have that,” Pontello said. He started with skiing and then started snowboarding in 6th grade when one of his friends asked him to give it a try.

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Students recall™ past injuries from sledding Phone 314-348-4067 • Fax 877-650-6968 Melina Loggia, Staff Reporter

him, the tree flipped him into a thorn Ramps are also a dangerous sledbush. He was unconscious for a min- ding trend. With his sister and neighWhen the first flake falls, it’s time to hit ute and walked away with a bruised rib bors, freshman Brett Kaprelian built a reviewofyourthe ad prior to printingcage. and make any corrections. Sign and return one copy as soon as possible. ramp to sled off of. the hills. Sledding Please is one most “I was going really fast down the hill “The horror, the horror,” Danny Dipopular winter sports, but also one of anora said, when recalling his sledding and going straight down, trying to do a the most dangerous. flip and it didn’t work out,” Kaprelian Every year thousands are injured accident.

“He [Dianora’s brother] got the said. due to the snowy peril.

He crashed down on his collarbone New sleds are designed to be sleeker bright idea of ‘Hey why don’t you go and faster with fewer steering abilities, in the front Danny?’ So I said ‘Oh sure and ended up breaking it. It took six to eight weeks for the broken bone to leaving the sledder hopeless if the trail that’ll be fun,’” Dianora said.

Multiple trees in their back yard heal, but even after suffering, Kapreleads them into a tree.

One victim of this accident was ju- only added to the risk factor. His foot lian still gets back out on the hills.

While a lot of snow-related injuries nior Matt Martin, who was on an in- was in front and bent backwards when they went hurtling toward the tree, are due to matters that are beyond flatable sled. reach, keep in mind that trees do exist, “I was thinking a tree was going to causing Dianora to break two toes.

“My brother had to pull me back up and packed snow is hard when hit at stop me. But on the ground there was high speeds. a log,” Martin said. Instead of stopping the hill in the sled,” Dianora said.

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A. Mural in the Flex Hall B. Lafayette Band Trailer C. At school entrances, indicating C day D. Lancers Landing logo E. Exit sign F. “Fairness” banner next to the shelf G. “Grab and Go” on the shelf H. “LHS” sweatshirt in Lancers Landing

I. Amnesty International symbol Q. “QRS Recycling” bin J. “Juniors” ceiling tile, Junior Hall- R. “Renaissance” sign, Flex Hall way S. Parking Lot space T. “Starbucks” trash can K. Sign in the FACS area U. “Earth Club” bulletin L. Football Field Entrance V. “Diving” bulletin M. “State Champions” east entrance W. “We Care Like Family” mural N. “Juniors” mural, junior stairwell X. “Clothing Donation Drop Box” O. Sign in the art hallway Y.” Lafayette” main entrance sign P. “No Cell Phones” locker room Z. Second level in front of elevator across from the Commons

Answer Key Answer key on bottom

Rachel Brown, Staff Reporter

Would you say that you are able to recognize all of your surroundings at school?

If so, are you able to guess where these letters of the alphabet are located?

’ of

The

Feature

Dec. 12 2008

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$hopping $mart

Dec. 12 2008

Economy leads shoppers to cut back holiday spending More Bang for Your Buck Kendall Brewer, Staff Reporter

Substitute teacher Kay Klimes is changing her holiday plans due to the current economic crisis. Not only that, but she is cutting back her expenses overall.

Klimes said, “This Christmas we are drawing names for one person instead of getting gifts for everyone. We usually spend about $300 per kid, but this year we are setting a limit. We will be cutting back, period.”

“We are also saving by making gifts for the grandmothers,” she added.

Klimes said, “The kids are on board with this.” Junior Kameron Klimes is one of her three children.

The Klimes family has not only cut back on their holiday spending, but has also found other ways to save money.

“We’ve cut back on eating out. I have to look at the menu for the whole week; it takes planning ahead to eat at home. Also, we’re looking on the internet to learn how to groom our dogs. This will save about $90 per month,” Klimes said.

Saving money this holiday season has rewards for the Klimes’ family.

“It will help us with enjoying the true spirit of Christmas. We are following through completely on our plans this year to help the community. We might go downtown and connect with a refugee family, or we will go to a soup kitchen,” Klimes said.

She added, “When you help people, their gratitude humbles you. We are hoping to find some way to help on Christmas day. This is the true spirit of Christmas.”

Not only have parents been impacted by the economy, but some students are watching their savings.

Junior Michelle Steele said, “I’m more cautious of what I’m spending now. I bring my lunch and try not to drive as much.

I’ve been saving; it’s definitely in my mind that I should be watching my money.”

“Save where you can, and splurge where you have to. The way I look at it is you can buy a lot of little things that don’t work well, or buy one really big thing that’s great,” she added.

Students who work have noticed the differences in their job since the economic crisis. Senior Adam Polson works at Target, where he has noticed a significant decrease in customers.

Polson said, “The economy is hurting business. Target is definitely not as busy;

there is a lot less traffic in the store.”

“People aren’t buying stuff anymore.

Target offers credit cards, and I haven’t seen one card sold since the economic crisis. People don’t spend much more than $100 now. People used to spend a lot more; a $250 purchase was common,” he said.

The economic crisis, however, hasn’t hurt Polson directly.

“It’s made my job a lot easier. It’s slow and relaxed. On the downside though, I’ve been given less hours,” he said.

“All the stuff with Wall Street and the economy isn’t affecting me. I still make $8 an hour. It hasn’t changed my income, so I’m not cutting back,” Polson added.

Another student employee, senior Caroline Johnson, has noticed the same trend at Chevy’s Mexican restaurant.

“People haven’t been going out to eat as much. People want to spend their money wisely or not spend it at all. I’ve been cutting back my spending to save money for college, but that’s normal,” Johnson said.

Although business has been slower at Chevy’s, Johnson doesn’t believe the restaurant is in danger.

She said, “Smaller businesses are in danger, but Chevy’s has been around for about 17 years. The restaurant will be fine.

The main difference I have noticed is that new people aren’t hired as easily.”

Social Studies teacher Krista Silvernail is one of the people who has been eating out less and choosing inexpensive family activities. She will be saving during the holidays.

“My side of the family has decided that we will buy for our nieces and nephews, but not the adults this year. We feel there is nothing we need and to us Christmas is about the kids, especially while they are young,” Silvernail said.

“Each of my three siblings buys a gift for one or two of my children; I have four children, which helps to cut down on the cost as well,” she said.

The economic crisis will not affect her Christmas plans, however. “Because we have young children, we do not travel during the holidays, but we will definitely choose activities to do over the break that are inexpensive choices for our family,” she said.

This holiday season, students and staff are saving their money and keeping their budgets in mind, finding ways to have an enjoyable and inexpensive holiday.

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Feature

Dec. 12 2008

Page

13

Pageant winner shows beauty from the inside, out Chelsea Coleman, Staff Reporter Every little girl dreams of being a beauty queen wearing the dress, performing in front of hundreds and receiving a sparkling crown.

For freshman Sydnee Stottlemyre this dream has become a reality.

“I started doing pageants when I was 7-years-old. I started with National American Miss.

You could enter for it and for the State Pageant,” Sydnee said.

“And if you won State then you go to Nationals. I started with a simple system,” she said.

Her mother, Tricia Stottlemyre, said her daughter loved performing and enjoyed the glamour of the pageants.

“Sydnee participated in her first pageant when she was 7.

We received a promo card in the mail wanting contestants. Sydnee loved to dress up and perform, so of course she wanted to take part in the pageant,” Ms. Stottlemyre said.

“Her father and I discussed it and decided she could participate. We thought it would be a great experience,” she added.

Sydnee has competed in the National American Miss and the Miss Outstanding Teen circuit.

She has competed in over 15 pageants.

She was inspired to start competing in pageants by a former runner-up in the Miss America pageant.

“I had a friend, Lindsay Douglass, and I went to see her [in a pageant] and begged my mom to let me be in a pageant,” Sydnee said.

But competing in pageants isn’t all about the pretty clothes and having a bright smile; there is a lot of preparation and time put into a single pageant.

“The prep time we put into before competition was lengthy. We danced every week, sometimes twice, up to the last week before competition. We also started her interview help at the same time.

It took months of preparation and Sydnee worked the entire time,” Sydnee’s choreographer Caitlin Corry said.

Pageants also can help with fears on public speaking.

“I think the experience of public speaking, interviewing and volunteering is something she can use in everything she does, forever. After competing in pageants, a classroom presentation isn’t something she gets nervous about, which is not true for everyone,” Ms. Stottlemyre said.

All the hard work Sydnee committed paid off this past August.

“I went to Nationals for Miss Outstanding Teen and got fourth runner-up,” Sydnee said.

While at Nationals, Sydnee got the chance to meet many new people and take in the experience.

“I really enjoyed meeting everybody from all over the place because it showed me the diversity of America and how many different people there actually are. It was really cool to hear different views from all over,” she said.

Through pageants, Sydnee has also become involved with the charity, The Healing Power of Pets through The Research Center for Human-Animal Interaction (ReCHAI).

“I started working with the Stray Rescue and then I won State. They asked me if I wanted to work with Reach Out, which is an organization that deals with animal and human interaction at the University of MissouriColumbia,” Sydnee said.

She continued, “So what I do is go to programs like Reading With Rover, which helps children who struggle with reading by having the kids read to dogs, and Walk a Hound Lose a Pound, where elderly individuals from nursing homes come and walk a dog to build muscle tone, so they don’t have to use their walkers.”

“I work at the MU College of Veterinary Medicine and saw a great opportunity when I met Sydnee. Her interest in the relationship between humans and pets and the importance that pets play in our health and happiness was sincere,” Kelley

Marchbanks, Development Officer at MU Veterinary School, said.

“She has been invaluable to ReCHAI as she promotes the healing power of pets to an audience that had been relatively uninvolved,” Marchbanks said.

Corry said that through pageants Sydnee has grown into a well-rounded person.

Corry said, “Sydnee amazed me with her determination. She is the hardest working and driven young woman I have ever had the privilege to work with.”

But Ms. Stottlemyre said most people don’t think that girls that compete in pageants require communication skills or having high academic standards.

“If there is something I could change [about pageants] it would be the perception that pageants are all the same and girls are all the same. The Miss America system that Sydnee competes in requires communication skills, talent, community service and academic achievement,” Ms. Stottlemyre explained.

She has also found many benefits in her daughter competing in pageants.

Ms. Stottlemyre said, “I would love for Sydnee to continue to compete in pageants. I see her learn and grow each time she competes. She has gained so much experience at a young age and learned Photos courtesy of Sydnee Stottlemyre so many skills for success Royally Received in her future. Right After receiving her crown, Sydnee Stottlemyre waves to the audience. She won Then there is Miss Missouri’s Outstanding Teen. Left Sydnee performs her dance at the Miss Outthe scholarship standing Teen Pageant. money.”

Sydnee plans many amazing opportunities for system; I have made lots of very to continue to enter pageants in me, and have taught me some close friends through competing the future. very valuable life lessons. I also and love being a part of each pag“Pageants have opened up so love just being involved in the eant I enter,” Stottlemyre said.

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Sports

14

Dec. 12 2008

Is the pain worth the gain?

Some wrestlers choose to lose and gain weight during a season using extreme methods.

But do they sacrifice health with these methods in order to make their weight for a meet? on is the most effective because it is really hot and you sweat a lot,” sophomore Ryan Eat. Sleep. Wrestle. A poster that takes up Siebert said. such little space on the center wall of the Sweating plays a big role in losing wrestling room takes up so much of the weight, although the weight can be gained lives of Lafayette wrestlers. again once a wrestler is rehydrated.

It encroaches into their eating and ex“For example, the locker room down ercise habits, but it is a part of the sport stairs has very poor ventilation and we that cannot be avoided. turn all 24 showers on hot and we have For those who are not familiar with our own little sauna,” Campbell said, the sport, each wrestler is separated into “From there we just put on a couple layers weight classes depending on a reasonable of sweats and run, do whatever it takes to weight for that individual. get the sweat going.”

“Because the state requires a certificaBesides sweating off calories, some tion process to lose weight, the wrestlers wrestlers said they don’t eat at all for a aren’t allowed to drop too fast. They get day or two to make weight. certified at a specific weight and then they “It’s probably one of the worst feelhave a time frame which they can lose that ings I’ve ever experienced, especially not weight within,” Head Coach Scott Sissom eating big meals during Christmas and said.

Thanksgiving,” Olejnik said.

But in doing this they must take into ac“I hate not eating; it makes me want count calorie intake and exercise to main- to quit, but I have to deal with it,” Siebert tain and achieve said. that weight.

Losing the

It’s probably one of the “I’m looking weight takes a to lose about 17

worst feelings I’ve ever ex- lot of support, pounds right now not just from perienced, especially not eating to make weight the teammates big meals during Christmas and but from the and then lose some more so coaches as well.

Thanksgiving.” that I won’t have know Andrew Olejnik it is“They to worry about hard to lose Senior weight and still my weight during the season,” wrestle, but the senior Robby Campbell said. coaches have all been through it before,” “The smartest way is to come into the Campbell said. season leaned out so you don’t have to The coaches are also supportive, maklose any weight,” Sissom said. ing sure that the wrestlers lose the pounds “I start cutting back on my calorie in- at a safe rate. take about seven to eight weeks before we “Basically they decide what weight have to certify for our weight class; losing class they want to wrestle and if they want 13 or 14 pounds a couple of days before to drop to a weight class that might rea weigh-in is definitely unhealthy because quire them to lose some pounds,” Sissom your body will burn muscle if short term said. weight loss occurs and you feel weak and “Our coaches will only encourage us if dehydrated,” senior Andrew Olejnik said. it is a weight we want to wrestle and feel Athletic Trainer Heather Carroll said healthy wrestling at. They typically will dehydration is an effect of losing weight just make sure we are making smart deciin a short period of time sions in terms of what we eat and check Those who try to drop weight too with us to make sure it is still something quickly are also more susceptible to get- we want to do,” Olejnik said. ting sick because their immune systems Not being able to drink anything is as are slower if they are not getting all the taxing on the mind as not eating. nutrients they need.

“Most wrestlers would rather be able But not all wrestlers take the early ad- to drink than eat,” Campbell said. vantage, and some must lose the weight Though challenging, most wrestlers in a short amount of time using various pursue their goal of winning even if they methods. do have to shed a few pounds to achieve “Running around the pool with sweats it.

Adam Harris, Staff Reporter

“

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Sweat To Succeed

Photo by Daniel Clutter

Senior Robby Campbell conditions by jumping rope in sweats after practice to shed some pounds. Campbell had to lose a total of 17 pounds before the season to meet his desired weight class of 285 pounds.

Pin on the Mat

Photo by Daniel Clutter

In his first varsity match of the season, sophomore Ryan Siebert brings an Oakville wrestler down to the mat. Siebert said he sacrificed many meals and many calories to meet his weight class for the meets. “I hate not eating; it makes me want to quit, but I have to deal with it,” Siebert said.

Sports

Dec. 12 2008

Page

15

Alternative basketball league stirs up competition Austin Goodman, Staff Reporter With the changing of seasons comes the changing of sports. Replacing the outdoor sports, basketball is here and is taking center stage in the lives of many high school students.

For those students who elect to not be made subject to hours of basketball every day, there is another option - one which over 150 students are participating, in the St. Albans basketball league.

Though the league is mostly composed of guys, junior Megan Otis participates in the league as well.

“I like it because it’s more competitive and intense than playing with the girls. I learn more and become tougher by playing with the guys,” Otis said.

The league offers two divisions, Freshmen/Sophomore and Junior/Senior. This is a unique league in that there are no tryouts.

The students pick their own teams and captains, so all teams are full of closely bonded players.

The league was founded by Joey Meyer and the Class of 2007 three years ago. It has since then grown to over 200 players exhibiting their skills outside of Lafayette.

“This league offers not just the competition that you find on school teams, but it gives the players a flexible schedule and the chance to overcome the game’s obstacles in being their own coaches, as well,” League Director Don Newsham said.

Newsham and his staff, other volunteers like Barney Hinkle and Keith Ellis, have made this a popular league and place for athletes to play outside of school.

For both divisions, practices are held every Wednesday and Thursday from

8:45-10 p.m., with games on Sunday nights beginning in January.

“It gives me somewhere to play competitively, without the commitment of practicing everyday after school throughout the winter,” junior Grant Hinkle said.

“The practices are late and it gives me time to finish up my homework and study for any tests that I have the next day,” Otis said.

The league costs $75 and winners of each division receive T-shirts and the bragging rights. There is also a playoff system to crown one team the winner of each division.

Last season during playoffs, junior Kyle Swerczek and his team won the sophomore division.

“We plan to win it again this season; at least that’s our plan,” Swerczek said.

During some of the weekday practices, the league sponsors various contests like free throw and three point competitions.

Winners last year received coupons for 54 Mulligan wings for their win.

This season, Brickhouse is sponsoring a shooting contest where winners receive gift certificates to the restaurant.

The league boasts Missouri State High School Athletic Association (MSHSAA) sponsored referees and scorekeepers, similar to the high school team.

At the first practice on Nov. 19, over 90 people showed up in just the junior and senior division alone, tripling the number of those who showed up at Lafayette basketball tryouts.

“Its pretty cool seeing how far the program has changed and grown over the last few years. It’s a tribute to the players and their recruitment of people from various parts of the Lafayette student body,” Newsham said.

Pass To Play

Photo by Austin Goodman

At a late night St. Albans practice, junior Kyle Swerczek blocks junior Landon Rohowetz as they run down the court at the St. Albans Church gym. Both are in the Senior/Junior league, and Swerczek’s team won the sophomore division last year. “I like the St. Albans league because it gives me a place to play with and against my friends. It is an alternative for those who just want to play basketball and have fun,” senior Trevor Johnson said.

Girls basketball faces low numbers at tryouts Melanie Hinzpeter, Co-Sports Editor

Photo by Daniel Clutter

Inside Dribble

At the Randi Perkins Memorial Tournament, senior Lauren Hall dribbles around a Howell defender. Even though the team won the games against Howell and Fort Zumwalt West, they lost to Nerinx Hall in the Championship game.

This season, things are changing for the girls basketball team. With a new head coach and freshmen composing a majority of the program, they are a young but experienced team.

Head Coach Jennifer Porter takes over after being the assistant to former Coach Denise Meyer for eight years.

“She (Meyer) really gave me the opportunity to do a lot of coaching. She gave me a lot of freedom,” Porter said.

And with that freedom, Porter has developed her own unique coaching techniques. But those plays and systems are still similar to what Meyer used for the past years.

“We have a similar philosophy on how the game should be played,” Porter said.

But one thing Porter wasn’t planning on was the low numbers of girls at tryouts.

“Our freshman group is very large and we didn’t have very many kids from last year’s freshman team come out for the junior varsity team,” Porter said.

“It (low numbers) definitely made us closer because there’s only 9 or 10 girls on varsity and they all want to work hard and go all out,” senior Katie Moorkamp said.

Three freshman that have been brought up to varsity include Marilyn Dick, Jordynn Martin and Allie Novak.

“They really proved to us in tryouts that they could come up and help us out,” Porter said.

Seniors Lauren Hall and Jessica Steinmetz are the team’s returning strength for the upcoming year.

“Those two have been our senior leaders throughout the off season and have done a really good job of baptizing those freshmen and sophomores into the program,” Porter said.

In their first tournament, the Randi Perkins Memorial, the Lady Lancers made it all the way to the finals where they lost to Nerinx Hall 70-40 in the Championship game.

“I’m very excited about this team,” Porter said.

The team takes on Oakville on Dec. 12 and Northwest on Dec. 19.

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Dec. 12 Sports 2008 16 Out-of-state teams prove to be big hurdle for Lancers Austin Goodman, Staff Reporter The Lancer boys basketball team has many expectations, all of which the team believes they are capable of meeting.

“We are looking forward to an exciting and successful season, hopefully culminating in a State Championship,” senior Jake Finley said.

With so much pre-season hype surrounding the team and senior phenom Tyler Griffey, the Lancers have taken the national spotlight.

Griffey was recently front paged in Rise, an ESPN magazine that focuses on high school athletic standouts.

“It was an honor to be recognized by the magazine. It gave our team added publicity, while at the same time raised our expectations as a team,” Griffey said.

Although the squad is 3-2 this season, they had an exciting nail-biting win over private-school powerhouse CBC. They also find themselves atop the Suburban West and were ranked first in the Post-Dispatch large school rankings before losing to McCluer last Friday night; all under first year Head Coach Scott Allen.

“I think he’s done a great job preparing us so far this season. He’s put in a lot of work and it is paying dividends for us,” Griffey said.

Allen took over the Lancer basketball program after long time Coach Dave Porter retired last season.

“All the coaches play a major role and also offer different skills which will be beneficial to the program,” Allen said.

He said he will be using similar game strategies to Porter’s but will also add his

own philosophy.

The players seem to be catching onto the system and hope to add to another Conference and District Title.

“The way he [Allen] carries himself has translated into our team’s attitude as a whole,” Finley said.

Griffey, a University of Illinois signee, leads the team with 25.3 ppg and 10.7 rpg during the first five games. Fellow big man, senior Will Kirksey follows with 12.7 ppg and 9.3 rpg.

The team has a had a tiresome schedule as of late, playing two games within 15 hours, in two different states.

The Marshall County Hoopfest Shootout played in Kentucky put the team on more of a national stage.

Although the team lost their lone game against South Laurel (KY) 73-68, they gained a lot of experience that will pay off later on in the season.

“It was awesome to play in a shootout of that magnitude. It taught us a lot and showed us what we need to improve on,” Finley said.

The Lancers, Co-Conference champions last season, look to erase the ‘co’ this year as they begin Conference play next week, hosting the Northwest Lions.

Big games include Oakville and Mehlville, concluding in what will most likely be the Conference Title game.

“I’m looking forward mostly to avenging the loss to them from last season and defeating them in front of a packed house,” Griffey said.

The Lancers play against a Tennessee school in the Best of the Midwest Shootout on Dec. 13 and against Northwest at home on Dec. 19 at 7 p.m.

Storming The Front

Photo courtesy of Mike Kurlowski

Knocking down a defender in his path, junior Mike Messer takes it to the hoop strong.

Messer, a two-year varsity guard, averages 6.3 ppg and has four assists. During this Championship game against McCluer in the Pattonville Tournament, the team lost 52-61.

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Page

Sports

Dec. 12 2008

Girls swimming loses few, keeps senior leadership Nina Walters, Co-Sports Editor The winter season has taken off and with it the girls swimming and diving team hopes to have a season close to last years, with one exception, winning State.

“We lost Amanda Grammar, but hopefully we’ll replace her. We also have more senior leadership this year,” junior Samantha Wright said.

Last year the team went undefeated and placed first in Conference and third in State behind Glendale and Blue Springs.

“I am hoping for a State Championship for the team and for an individual one,” junior Shannon McCoy said.

The team has a tradition of winning that has been passed on for close to two decades.

“They have won Conference 23 years in a row,” Head Coach Todd Gabel said.

And to top it off they are running for a State title this year.

Hoping to lead the team are seniors Rachel Dotson, Amanda Haushalter, Liza Levko, Hayley Mathews, Leah Norman, Katie Pulley, Shannon Toomey and junior Ashleigh Grammar.

“The seniors direct us a lot and keep us in line with any drama that starts,” Wright said.

The other role the seniors have is pushing the other girls.

“They try to have us train harder then we usually do,” McCoy said.

Their first meet was on Dec. 9 away against Parkway West.

The Rockwood quad and Marquette relays will take place at home on Dec. 12.

Their final meet for 2008 will be against Wentzville-Holt on Dec. 15 at home.

“The girls team expectations are to be competitive all year and run for a State title,” Gabel said.

Cutting Through Water

Photo by Melanie Hinzpeter

At an after school practice, senior Hayley Mathews practices the freestyle.

Mathews is one of the seniors who are leading the girls swim team this season to what they hope will be a State Championship.

Wrestling comes back with three State qualifiers from last year Adam Harris, Staff Reporter

Last season the wrestling team sent seniors Robby Campbell and Andrew Olejnik, and sophomore Danny Wrocklage to State. They didn’t end up coming home with a trophy in their hands.

But this year will be another year, and another chance at the State title.

“Our goal for this season is to be competitive. We would like to be top three in each tournament

we are in and maybe qualify seven or eight kids to State,” Head Coach Scott Sissom said.

From last year the team lost three key wrestlers including senior Zach Hagy, who no longer attends Lafayette because of his move to Singapore.

He was a two-time state qualifier.

Junior Andy Early, who suffered a knee injury in football, and junior Tommy Copeland, who no longer attends Lafayette, were the others

the team lost.

“We are looking at our top returning wrestlers that qualified last year in Andrew Olejnik and Robby Campbell. Both were a match away from placing last year. Also Danny Wrocklage went down to State and qualified as a freshman last year,” Sissom said.

“I always like to set my goals high and then work to achieve them so right now I am looking for an undefeated season and a possible State championship,” senior An-

drew Olejnik.

He said he hopes to make it to the State finals and at least medal in the top three.

“I think I’m more focused and am working a lot harder this year,” Olejnik said.

The season started of with a win against Oakville high school with a score of 78-6.

“The attitude is really good every one is working hard and seem to be focused and ready to go,” Sissom said.

Hollywood

17

Jason Struble legacy put on larger stage “I am very pleased so far with our guys’ attitudes and work ethic. We realize we’ve got a long way to go and our goal is get better everyday so that we are playing our best basketball as the season progresses,” Head Basketball Coach Scott Allen said.

The new coaching era is underway, and along with altering play styles, traditions have submitted themselves for change as well.

The annual Jason Struble Shootout, held to honor a former player who died of Testicular Cancer, has turned into Jason Struble Night, Feb. 6, when the Lancers face rival Marquette.

Allen said he, the varsity boys basketball booster club and the coaches at Marquette were behind the change.

“It’s usually a great turnout and we decided it was a great chance to get Jason’s legacy out there once again,” Allen explained.

“We’re still in the planning phase for Struble [night]. We obviously want to dedicate the night to Jason and continue his story. It should be a great night,” he said.

-Alex Davis, Editor in Chief

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Sports

18

Underclassmen Teams: Girls Swimming and Diving

“Girls swimming is a varsity sport although we will run junior varsity heats at meets. I do see Kelsey Pischel and Katie Golden to make an impact who are new to the team and I also see freshmen Hannah Chobanian and Kelsey Kirchhoffer make an impact to our State teams. All the new and freshmen that join the team, I mainly want to them to have fun and get the experience from the season to carry them to next years season.”

-Swimming coach Todd Gabel Players to watch: Senior Kelsey Pischel, sophomore Katie Golden and freshmen Hannah Chobanian and Kelsey Kirchhoffer

Freshman and junior varsity coaches look forward to successful seasons

Wrestling

Girls Basketball

“Its too early to tell who the top two are right now. We have high expectations for all levels in our wrestling program, we are not very experienced as far as a lot of kids who have little league experience coming in. They [junior varsity and freshman teams] started off their season with a pretty big win against Oakville 78-6 but they will come across a lot tougher teams along the road. They will get a better taste of what high school wrestling is about.”

-Wrestling Coach Scott Sissom Players to watch: “It’s too early to tell who the top two are right now,” Sissom said.

“I want the girls to practice hard and play hard, and definitely have fun. We only have eight girls so they are all going to get to play. Our main goal is to go undefeated.”

-Freshman Coach Ashley Lewis

Boys Basketball “We have a talented and coachable group of freshman players.

As a result, we will have two teams this year to allow our 23 players more opportunity to get playing time. The strength of this team is its balance of athletic ability.”

-Freshman Coach Allyn Workman “Our talent this year is above average on the sophomore team.

The expectations are that our players will practice intently to improve as individuals and as a team.”

-Junior varsity Coach Terry Hayes Players to watch: Sophomores William Montgomery and Aareon Smith

Dec. 12 2008

“We are mostly freshman. We have a young team but we have a lot of experience. We also have a new manager. Anthony Lewis is our new junior varsity manager.”

-Junior varsity Coach Mike Martin Players to watch: Freshmen Leanne Beasley, Emily Bush, Marisa Costley, Kayla Hall, Claire Norfleet, Colleen O’Connell and Sarah Perry

Club sports provide numerous benefits, but they need to tone down Let me clue you in on an event that I was very excited about not participating in. A few weekends ago, club tryouts for volleyball took place.

And let me just say that I was extremely happy not to be going to them.

Every second weekend in November for the past six years of my life, I have endured the excruciating pain known as ‘Club Tryouts’.

I never really liked them, mostly because that meant I had to be playing close to 10 hours of volleyball that weekend. It was exhausting and obnoxious at the same time.

The weekend was spent running from tryout to tryout, for those of us who weren’t fortunate enough to be able to be on the same team each year.

Teams broke up, new teams formed, and almost every year I ended up on a new team. Why this happened to me, I’m not sure.

But that horrible weekend was worth my time, because the volleyball team I decided to play on would be my family for the next six

months.

And by saying ‘worth my time’, I am stretching the truth. I hated the tryouts, and I don’t think I can say that enough to get my point across.

Which is why I was really excited not to be going. My foot decided that volleyball was no longer going to be in my activities description as I hurt it for the fourth and final time. It was a depressing few days as I realized that I could no longer play volleyball.

But I perked up a little when my mom told me that this meant I wouldn’t have to do club tryouts.

Regardless, I think that club sports in general are a little too crazy.

Usually, six to seven months out of the year are spent devoted to club sports, and this turns out to be a little extreme.

Sure, club sports are fun and everything. I get that. But practicing every day and working out six-plus times a week isn’t necessary.

Sure, staying fit and in shape is important. I get that. But sometimes things like that can get a little

carried away.

I understand the necessity to stay on top of your game, because for many, sports will shape their future college and maybe even professional careers. But I think that club sports are evolving a little too rapidly.

Every day I see kids hobbling around on crutches, and most of them are athletes.

To think, athletes now spend all year playing sports, between club, high school and multiple sport athletes. Our bodies weren’t built to handle that, and I can personally attest as I saw the damage it did to me.

I’ll probably have foot problems for the rest of my life. Yes, I can blame a portion of the problem on my parents, whom graciously gave it to me through genetics.

But playing volleyball year round for the past six years has had an effect on it, even if you want to argue it hasn’t.

I’m not saying club sports are bad. They are awesome, and they

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Rolling the

Crease

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Winter Line-up Girls Swimming and Diving 12/12 @ Rockwood Quad/Marquette Relays 12/15 vs. WentzvilleHolt High 1/8 @ Lindbergh 1/13 @ Webster Groves 1/14 vs. Hazelwood West Wrestling 12/12 @Kirkwood 12/ 29 @ DeSmet Invitational 1/7 vs. Parkway South 1/9 @ Hazelwood Central Tournament Boys Basketball 12/13 @ Marion Shootout 12/19 vs. Northwest High 12/26 @ Meramec Tournament 1/6 @ Oakville Girls Basketball 12/12 vs. Oakville 12/19 vs. Northwest High 12/20 @ Visitation Tournament 1/6 @ Seckman High

get you ready for whatever sports life will throw at you. But you only experience high school once.

If sports is your life, fine. Marry a baseball or a soccer ball. But I highly doubt you will take on that lifestyle.

All I’m saying is that we need to take a step back and ‘chill’, more or less. Act like 16, 17 and 18-yearolds, not like professional baseball players.

Experience high school as you should, and treat sports as just an extra-curricular activity, not like it is your life.

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Sports

Dec. 12 2008 Fall Signings Volleyball

Page

19

Fall sports finish off post season

Brooke Boggs Creighton University

Undefeated Swim

Members of the boys swimming and diving team (left) hold up their trophy following a first place finish. The team won the Suburban South/West Conference. They had 521 points with Parkway Central being the closest with 440 points.

Along with winning Conference, they went undefeated in the regular season. Senior Matt Welsh was the only swimmer who qualified for State.

Natalie Davis East Central College Soccer

Kelsey Calvert Iowa State Baseball

Photo courtesy of Lynn Welsh

Nate Goro Wichita State Basketball

Tyler Griffey University of Illinois Softball

Photo by Ali Balducci

Point Of Victory Post Game Talk Meghan Lamberth Northwestern

Photo by Daniel Clutter

After a 22-10 win against the CBC Cadets, the team listens to Coach Boyd Manne give a post-game speech. Their season came to an end after a loss to McCluer North 14-23 in Sectionals. The boys won the Suburban West Conference Title for the first time since 1994, and finished an outstanding season 8-3.

After a goal, the boys soccer team celebrates. The team lost to Parkway West in the first round of Districts 1-2. The season ended at 16-5. They led the Conference in goals with 51 and were second in goals against allowing only 22. Senior Kyle Biernacki led with 31 points (13 goals and 5 assists). Senior Matt Bleazard had 19 points (8 goals and 3 assists).

Field Hockey

Road Trip Time Out

Emily Brcic Missouri State

Chelsey Medlock Missouri State

During their car ride to the Cincinnati tournament, the field hockey team gathers during a pit stop. In the State tournament they advanced out of Sectionals beating defending State champ, Villa Duchense. In the Quarterfinals they fell short to MICDS 1-2, bringing the season to an end with an 18-3-1 record. Along with making it to Quarterfinals, the team also captured the title of Public School Champions. Among the area leaders was senior Nina Walters being first in goals with 26 and junior Christine Hibler was fifth with 23 goals. Walters was second in the area in assist with 20, followed closely behind by senior Korie Klosterman who had 18.

Photo courtesy of Joe O’Connell

The Last Laugh

Nina Walters University of Albany Swimming

Matt Welsh Missouri S and T Lacrosse CJ Gentile St. Andrews

At their last Sectionals meet, the senior team captains had one more laugh.

Two of the seniors, Steven Stallis and Brooke Thibodaux, made it to State, along with freshman Maddie Henning, sophomore Kurtis Harshman and juniors Eric Volstromer and Elizabeth Worley. Racing against 160 runners Henning placed 102nd, Thibodaux placed 58th, and Worley placed 48th.

For the boys, Harshman placed 78th, Stallis placed 65th and Volstromer placed 89th.

Photo courtesy of Alicia Brands

Page

T r e LOST a o s h

Dec. 12 2008

FOUND

ure

On Dec. 19 the contents of the Lost and Found in the Welcome Center will go into the yellow donation bin outside Lafayette. From there, everything will go to children’s homes and women’s shelters in St. Louis.

?

Tras

20

Feature

What’s The Worst Thing You Ever Lost?

“I lost my car keys sophomore year and they are still missing. Now I just use my extra set.”

Kyle Olney,

12

“I’ve lost four hoodies throughout my years here. And one of them was really fuzzy.”

Christine Hibler, 11

“My mom got earrings from my grandpa from Italy. I wore them the first day of freshman year. One of them fell out and I was devastated.”

Check out the

that have been lost:

•Dance Costume •Colored Pencils •Planner •‘Doodled on’ Binder

•Tennis Racket •Wooden Hair Brush •Heels from Homecoming •Literature Textbook

Sam Laiderman,11

“I lost my sunglasses. They were from H&M and now they don’t make them anymore so I was mad.”

Kelsey Witbrodt,

11

“I left my jacket out at the pool side pick up circle after practice one day last year. I ran back to get it and it was gone!”

Emily Harvey,

10

information compiled by D. Anne Vollmayer

You don’t have to.

Did you know you can enroll in classes right now at St. Louis Communiy College at Wildwood – and get high school and college credit at the same time? It’s called Dual Enrollment, and it’s a great way to get a head start on your college education and experience college life firsthand.

Stop waiting. Start doing.

Ask your guidance counselor about Dual Enrollment at STLCC-Wildwood or check it out at www.stlcc.edu/DualEnroll.

Crystal Crawford STLCC Dual Enrollment Student

REGISTER NOW. CLASSES START IN JANUARY.