Dec 16, 2016

[This Month] Hanukkah begins on Dec 24 and ends Jan 1. Before you leave for Winter Break, makes sure to tell your Jewish friends Happy Hanukkah!

Image lancerfeed.press @thelancerfeed

Thrifty Teens

Sweater Weather

The holiday season can be expensive. To treat yourself without breaking the bank, learn about thrift shopping and the benefits.

See Page 8

Today is National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day. See how two students celebrate all season long with their holiday fashions.

See Page 10

Dec. 16, 2016 [Volume 48, Number 4]

Lafayette High School 17050 Clayton Road Wildwood, MO 63011

OLYMPICS POKEMON GO ZIKA

DAVID BOWIE CHEWBACCA MOM

2016

DONALD TRUMP HARAMBE

ANGELINA & BRAD VIRTUAL REALTY

RUNNING MAN CHALLENGE DABS

SUPREME COURT OPENING

JOHN SNOW JUJU ON THAT BEAT good times, bad times

CHICAGO CUBS LEMONADE

FACEBOOK LIVEPRINCE

HILLARY CLINTON MANNEQUIN CHALLENGE

STRANGER THINGS KANYE WEST

CASTRO ALAN RICKMAN CARPOOL KARAOKE

AMERICAN IDOL FITNESS TRACKERS see pages 6-7 for more about 2016

Image

[2] OPINIONS

lancerfeed.press

[image editors] editors in chief opinions editor cover story editor asst. cover story editor sports editor encore editor webmaster digital media editor artist adviser

kayley allen & anna james jack deubner nick horstmann erin coogan tyler burnett brinlee frazier jessica cargill jimmy bowman ryan oberlin nancy smith

[reporters]

Volunteer work best measured in meaning Respect is due for those who volunteer to benefit their communities.

But, though volunteering takes time and effort, the real task is identifying where help is really needed and who truly wants to do it.

Community service opportunities through various LHS organizations give students the chance to donate time to benefit the community, but more often than not, students participate more for the personal benefits rather than the impact their volunteer work makes.

National Honor Society sponsor Nichole Ballard-Long said, “A lot of the organizations that ask for our help would probably have a hard time running their program without the help of NHS.” Very true, but if NHS chooses to be focused on helping our community, we think they should be doing more than “relations-building” inside the Ballwin and Wildwood areas.

NHS isn’t the only one making this mistake. It’s become all too common among organizations promising “help” to the community to not make a real difference.

To truly make a sustainable impact, the organization’s members should be taking on more impactful projects close to home and further away.

The organizations and the volunteers need to decipher the difference between just volunteering and performing real community service.

Though nothing prohibits NHS and other Lafayette-based groups from venturing into areas in the downtown St. Louis region, opportunities for volunteer points in those areas simply

PICK Five things you shouldn’t miss out on in St. Louis this month.

Go take a look at some beautiful scenery and lights at the history Anheuser-Busch Brewery lights!

don’t happen.

And, they’re not available to students for these reasons.

School groups cannot send students to events where there is alcohol being served (i.e. the Earth Day Celebration in Forest Park) or where sponsors don’t believe there is enough supervision for the volunteers.

The reality is students don’t want to go out of their comfort zone for volunteer work. They cite a variety of reasons, the most popular being the long drive or fears about safety outside the confines of West County.

But, that still leaves plenty of opportunities up for grabs for volunteers, but it takes a little bit more work to find important projects that truly serve the community and make an impact on those in need.

NHS encourages its members to volunteer outside the organization once they have met their “required service hours,” which is absolutely the right thing to do, but more often than not, it’s just not happening. This is no fault of the organization, it’s the members.

So, is it fair to say many NHS members, like members in other “service” organizations may not be in it for the service side of the organization?

It’s about nice looking college applications.

You know it, we know it, everyone knows it. This is unacceptable and should change.

Leaders of school organizations that perform community service, must make a better effort to encourage their members to participate in more vital, impactful community service work.

Or call it like it is and stop

Take part in a St. Louis tradition and visit Candy Cane Lane!

Located just a block away from Ted Drewes.

pretending that volunteering at a 5k telling runners which direction to go is real service work.

These programs need to identify real issues within our boundaries and try to do something about it.

We can’t accept this faux reality that showing up to help for three hours at a local trivia night will really make an impact.

Take the example of other groups who are taking on challenging projects in our area.

Sparkle Squad, a team of varsity cheerleaders and special needs students, is a local LHS operation that is making a lasting impact.

No points involved. The program was created solely to create an environment that included all students.

ROTC members facilitate a number of vital projects in the St. Louis area.

Volunteerism is one of their core values and class members are taught about the importance of serving others.

NHS, Student Council, Key Club and other groups that have service as one of their goals provide excellent volunteer opportunities and requires several hours of community service to maintain eligibility. And we get that.

But, it is more important that the lessons students learn from participation in service projects should be completely selfless, instead of pointbased. And they must be meaningful and impactful. That is the only way to create life-long volunteers.

Therefore, groups should turn away from point/hour requirements and instead find meaningful opportunities that will make a difference in the lives of the volunteers and recipients.

The Loop’s annual Ice Carnival is in January hosting lots of family friendly games and views of beautiful ice sculptures.

jackson bartholomew, suzy blalock, arpan das, emily dicarlo, kate golder, shwetha sundarrajan

[digital media staff] kiley black, emma grant, jack weaver

[student publications policy statements] general information The Image is published nine times a year by the News Production class. Subscriptions are $30. Free issues are distributed on campus.

The 2015-2016 Image received an All-American rating with four marks of distinction from the National Scholastic Press Association. It is also a Pacemaker Finalist. The 2014-2015 website received a rating of First Class with three marks of distinction. The 2014-2015 Image was awarded the George H. Gallup Award from Quill and Scroll.

philosophy statement 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.

contact us Located in Room 137A at Lafayette High School, 17050 Clayton Rd., Wildwood, MO 63011. Our phone number is (636) 733-4118 and our e-mail is thelancerfeed@gmail.com.

Visit us on the web at www.lancerfeed.press and follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @thelancerfeed

policy statements The Rockwood School District Policies and Regulations concerning official student publications as well as the specific policies and procedures used by the student publications staffs can be found at lancerfeed.press under the About Us tab.

Every second Friday of the month, KDHX 88.1 hosts Listener’s Cut, an event where people are invited in to listen to 5 songs, then vote on the best one at the end of the night.

Celebrate this New Years at Ballpark Village for their annual NYE Live! event.

Image Dec. 16, 2016

& Nice

Naughty Naughty

The hair salon is always booked this time of year, but somehow it’s easier to get an appointment there than it is to get one with a counselor when second semester schedules come out.

Donald Trump was named Time Magazine’s Person of the Year when we all know it should have been, a true American hero and icon, Gucci Mane.

We get out two days before Christmas, leaving no time for last minute shopping because we’ve been cramming for finals the whole week before.

On Dasher! On Prancer! On my internal stress toward exams!

On Comet! On Cupid! If ya don’t study, y’all stupid!

Mizzou has a mumps outbreak goin’ on, so watch out who you might step under the mistletoe with over break.

Nice

The Mall of America made history by debuting its first black Santa Claus, causing loads of controversy in those who don’t have anything else to be mad about.

Cardinals signed Dexter Fowler for a five-year/$82.5 million deal; which almost rivals the numbers in future hot dog sales that the ballpark will dish out this season.

Seniors only have one last semester of hard work, passion and dedication left! Right after they take a nap or two... or five, whatever.

OPINIONS [3]

Spend Christmas time making memories, not excuses “Back in my day, I went outside and played with my friends and didn’t spend all my time around so many electronics!”

“Put a sock in it, grandma.” That’s a fun phrase that’ll be thrown around plenty of times this holiday season, but can’t we as human beings look beyond that?

Over the last 30 or so years, electronics have been the craze amongst everyone. Seriously, everyone.

Lot’s of people in older generations have seen this evolution of the younger generations becoming enthralled in electronic devices like phones and video games as horrific, but why?

Things have changed in the world and so have people, so you’ll probably catch fewer and fewer kids rolling hoops through the streets

and more of them playing with electronics. Kids don’t initialize this, parents do. Little Billy isn’t gonna drop $400 on a new iPad to babysit him while his parents are watching O’Riley and drinking wine, Mom and Dad are.

As someone who grew up in this electronic heavy period of time, I had a nice balance of the two world of growing up and I think I turned out pretty all right.

I had some electronics, but nothing fancy.

Playing my older brother’s video games and riding my bike to the library for CDs took up most of my growing up, and here I am.

I definitely dropped plenty of hours on video games, but I also spent loads of my time outside because my parents told me to (and I listened) or even, get this, spent time

with me outdoors!

Raising kids and having kids are two completely different things.

Learn the difference please.

To those who think these technologies are ruining younger kids, here’s my message to you, take a look in the mirror.

You’re on the phone as much as we are, arguably more.

Facebook is riddled with technologically absorbed adults.

Mothers ranting about the election, violent music that’s ruining kids (don’t get me started,) sharing phony articles, etc.

I honestly see this blame game that adults are throwing around as an excuse for lazy parenting.

Why hire a babysitter when I can just plop my kid in front of the TV seven hours a day?

Next time you find yourself in

Yes, yes y’all, who got the vibe?

It’s the Tribe y’all, look alive y’all.

Tribe Called Quest, arguably one of the most influential rap groups to date, have returned with at full force with their (supposedly) final album.

We Got it From Here, Thank You For Your Service is the first album since 1998’s The Love Movement and most notably their first after the death of Phife Dawg.

Phife passed away in March of 2016 and according to Q-Tip, the prominent leader of Tribe, Phife left the group with “a blueprint” of how the album was supposed to be finished.

The occasional Phife Dawg line still appears in the finished version of the album, but the rapper definitely made his mark on the album.

Phife chose the name of the album

by Jack Deubner Opinions Editor

the mall, or any public area, try and spot how many parents you can see ignoring their child as they play on their phone while the Mom or Dad does the exact same thing So, instead of making this using this Christmas time to bloat your ego and how amazing your “perfect” generation was while you’re gifting an electronic babysitter to your young ones, make some memories this season ya’ fool.

Stop complaining about “first world problems” We can all agree Mondays are the worst.

Waking up earlier after a relaxing weekend and getting back to the daily grind isn’t something to look forward to. However, one particular Monday was worse than usual.

It started with my shower. As I was about to turn off the water, my foot landed on a plastic shampoo bottle cap that was on the bottom of the tub. It sliced my foot open, leaving small amounts of blood everywhere I stepped.

As I limped out of the shower and put on my robe, I realized I hadn’t put my clothes in the dryer the night before. I found them in a soaking mess in the washing machine.

I threw on an outfit with the few clean clothes I had, and sprinted out the door. My wet hair started freeze in the crisp morning air, so I quickly got in my car to turn on the heat.

I started my car and bursts of cold air smacked me in the face through the vents, and continued to do so for the entire car ride.

Of course my heat would stop

working on a day like today.

I pulled into the Dunkin Donuts parking lot to get my daily coffee fix to find the drive thru line wrapped around the building.

At this point, I was expecting it to be inconvenient, just like the rest of my morning.

I ordered my mocha coffee from the overly cheerful barista through the speaker. I pulled up to the window and the same cheery voice greeted me and said, “The person in front of you paid for your coffee. Have a nice day!”

I didn’t know what to say. Even though it was a simple act that costs under $3, someone who I didn’t even know decided to pay for my drink out of pure kindness.

This random act made me rethink my negative attitude toward my morning.

Sure, I have a cut on my foot, I didn’t get to wear my favorite outfit, and the heat in my car wasn’t working. But I’m thankful.

At least I have a shower to bathe in, a washing machine for my

plethora of clothes. A car to drive wherever I want, whenever I want.

Money in my bank account to buy coffee for myself.

All of my “problems” that put me in such a bad mood were first world problems, problems that occur because we lead privileged lives.

These problems are so miniscule to millions of people around the world. People are starving, working to death, battling illness and trying to survive in an infinite amount of other difficult situations.

Many times our mood is impacted by things that don’t go our way; however, a lot of times we fail to put into perspective how devastating it truly is. Most of the time it’s a first world problem.

Instead of complaining about things that only inconvenience our lives for that moment, we should think more about what we have, and be grateful.

A Tribe Called Quest release much more than a comeback album Jack Deubner opinions editor

[ ] Hi-Jacked

without really telling the other members what it means, but they chose to leave it in memoriam to the late great.

The song “The Donald” (no not that Donald) even discusses the impact Phife’s passing had on the group.

So here we are 16 years later and down one vital member, they’re just set up for failure.

But, the album is a complete success, adding another great album to the Tribe Called Quest discography. Since when have rap comeback albums been great?

The beats and flow are all there, similar to those you’d find in The Low End Theory and Peoples Instinctive Travels… the only thing that’s really different is the fact that they’ve all grown up.

Q-Tip isn’t the skinny kid who left his wallet in El Segundo, he’s a 46 year old hip-hop legend, the same with Busta Rhymes (who of course is on this album) and the rest of the

Tribe gang.

The production reflects this aging respectfully, spinning the cleanest beats you’ll hear in any Tribe album.

Though not your typical jazzy bass driven songs you’d expect from earlier Tribe albums, the more spacey, Elton John sampling, classic hip-hop rhythm lead and funky reverb guitar driven beats keep this album fresh.

Features including Kendrick Lamar, Andre 3000, Jack White, Anderson Paak and even shoutouts to J Cole, Earl Sweatshirt solidify the real statement that a Tribe Called Quest album can make in 2016.

Overall, there’s honestly nothing wrong with this album, it’s another solid ATCQ album that brings back their old characteristics that make a Tribe record a Tribe record.

The group does this so soulfully without banking off nostalgia, which is (you can quote me on this) the greatest way to make a comeback

Kayley Allen editor in chief

In Case Missed It

record.

Songs like “Black Spasmodic” and “The Space Program,” keep me bumping along the same way songs like “Buggin’ Out” or “Push It Along” have over the years. If you’re a fan of more mellowed out, but still “flow” intensive hip-hop, do yourself a favor and take a listen to We Got it From Here, Thank You For Your Service.

And to be quite honest, we should be the ones thanking A Tribe Called Quest.

Childish Gambino’s new album Awaken, My Love! dropped on Dec. 2, and has been spreading Funkadelic and 70s p-funk vibes ever since.

Acclaimed producer Burial returns since his Rival Dealer release in 2013 with similar wispy vibes of spacious and electronic music

Image

[4] NEWS

lancerfeed.press

ROTC At Risk?

Program’s enrollment declines, but instructors stay positive Emily DiCarlo reporter In the past few years, the enrollment in Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) has declined and the threat to end the program looms overhead now more than ever.

This is especially shocking because 44 new cadets enrolled for the 2015-2016 school year, which was the second highest enrollment number the ROTC program had seen in recent years. But, the program requires 100 students to maintain its funding.

Currently, there are 91 students in the ROTC program.

The Department of Defense provides much of the funding through Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, AL. The other portion of the funding comes from the Rockwood School District however, it takes much more to keep the program running.

“They [Air Force] have high expectations and if we don’t meet the standard of 100 cadets, they threaten to put us on probation and if we still don’t meet that standard within our probation period then they take away funding and our program basically just goes away,” senior Cadet Colonel Clare Bueckendorf said.

Many students are disappointed that the 4 x 6.5 – BW program could be cut.

Bueckendorf has been with ROTC for three

years and is devastated by the news.

“Honestly, I’m heartbroken just because this class has been a saving grace for me. It was the single best decision for me in high school,” Bueckendorf said.

However, neither of the ROTC instructors are highly concerned and believe that enrollment numbers will rise again as they have in past years. “[The kids are] very defensive of their program., They own this program and they take a lot of pride in it. It’s a family atmosphere, and you don’t mess with my family, and they have that attitude. They got a little chip on their shoulder and they’re going do what they can to make sure that this is around for their children. For many of these kids, it just means so much to them that they take it personally,” said Master Sgt. Dave Cugier, Senior Aerospace Science instructor.

Junior Michael Wilson is one of the students who is concerned.

“Of all the programs you could get rid of [ROTC] is probably the last on the list of things that should go. I think it would be awful if I just sat by and let this happen, so I took a stand to try and fight it myself because that’s just the kind of guy I am,” Wilson said.

To try to build numbers for next year, Wilson is trying to spread the word to current high school students as well as incoming (Lafayette) freshmen.

Cugier said the class has many goals and that their mission is to teach students “integrity, service before self and excellence in all we do.”

ROTC also aims to “build better citizens, and simply to prepare young men and women for life after high school,” he said Cugier continued, “To do that there is the two separate curriculums of life skills and the aerospace science and imbedded in that is our core values. We are doing our best to prepare students for graduation.”

In addition, the program provides a lot of community service opportunities for students that result in an honor cord upon graduation.

Eighty hours of community service are required for the honor cord to be awarded.

Cugier said that requirement is easily exceeded by students who take part in ROTC’s community service.

“We did St. Peter St. Paul. We wound up going down there, cooking stew and feeding the folks who are in need,” Lt. Col. James Smith said.

Smith is new to the ROTC program this year.

He is a Lafayette graduate and was part of the ROTC when he was in high school.

In addition, the cadets participate in Pennies for Patients for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and H2O for Troops, participate in color guards within the local community and Adopt-aFamily for the holidays.

Cugier explained the significance of

including community service within ROTC’s curriculum.

“The goal of service before self is part of what we do, the goal is to give back to the community and with that they can get a community service honor cord, just to, you know, come out of that selfish side we all have and help other people,” he said.

Associate Principal Karen Calcaterra thinks very highly of the ROTC program and thinks the school should work to keep it at Lafayette.

“I sure hope that we continue to have the program at Lafayette because I think it’s an amazing program. I think it supports our school atmosphere and climate and mission and developing young men and women into strong adults,” she said.

Cugier encourages his students to remain level-headed and continue to support the program.

“Enrollment in this class is cyclical, in other words, it fluctuates, always has, always will. With the strength of our freshman and sophomore classes, all it would take is a minimum enrollment for next school year to get us over that magic 100,” Cugier said.

He said, “The Colonel and I are not worried about the longevity of this, we’ve been around 44 years, and plan to be around at least 44 more.”

For more information about ROTC visit Room 162 or speak with any class member.

A CUT ABOVE • SINCE 1981 •

“

After my

first tour of Grabber I knew that it was where

Start college before you even graduate high school.

Through St. Louis Community College, you can earn college credits that will transfer to universities nationwide.

To jump start your college career, call 636-422-2000 or visit stlcc.edu/Enroll.

I wanted to attend.

- Rachel Get the career education you’ll need to succeed from one of St. Louis’ premier cosmetology schools.

Visit us at GrabberSchool.edu or call 314.966.8888 to schedule a tour of our Crestwood campus. Need a new look?

Book an appointment to enjoy our indulgent salon services.*

95%

of Grabber grads passed their State Board exams**

95%

of Grabber grads found jobs**

Where excellence is always in style.

*Services performed by Grabber School students under the supervision of licensed educators. **2015 Statistics.

Image

NEWS [5]

Dec. 16, 2016

Exam Cram

Anna James editor in chief

You waited until the last minute again. Now what?

Finals Schedule Studying with a group Keep yourself When it comes to studying the night before finals, scientific testing has proven the most efficient way to “cram” is by keeping your body stimulated.

Eating a sweet treat, staying hydrated and keeping your body moving every half hour are important ways to stay alert and retain the information you’re studying.

of people who are learning the same things as you is a great way to build on your knowledge of material.

“

I think the only reason kids cram for finals is because we get piled with assignments and projects at the end of the semester, and there’s too much to focus on.”

-Ally Kang, 12

• Write down all key formulas or facts on a piece of paper more than once, repetition helps the brain.

• It is important to sleep a full cycle before the exam (minimum of three hours) so your brain can rest and retain information.

Dec. 19 (altered schedule) 5th Hour Dec. 20 (half day) 1st/2nd Hour Dec. 21 (half day) 3rd/4th hour exams Dec. 22 (half day) 6th/7th hour exams

engaged during class.

It will help you narrow down the material you have to refresh yourself on come final time.

“

For More Help!

I don’t judge students for cramming; it’s a huge part of their final grade.

However, it’s not really the best way to learn material.”

-Melissa Schumacher, language arts teacher

STUDY SKILLS

M AT H

S AT / AC T P R E P

www.testtakingtips.com/cramming/ greatist.com/happiness/better-studytips-test opportunity.org/learn/lists/10-habitsof-successful-students

WRITING

READING

HOMEWORK HELP

Ashley S. AGE 17

I was accepted into my dream college.

The Path to College Success Starts Here A R E Y O U R E A D Y F O R T H E A C T ®?

The college admissions process can be a nail-biting experience. (Bet it’s stressful for your child, too!) Our SylvanPrep for ACT can help reduce your student’s stress and increase test scores for one of the most important exams of his or her academic life. Students get: • skills and strategies needed to score high on the ACT • 24/7 online access to thousands of video lessons • interactive vocabulary builder with hundreds of common ACT words • multiple full-length, timed practice tests • flexible scheduling Registration is under way for test prep sessions, so call today!

Chesterfield

636.537.8118

Ballwin

636.394.3104

chesterfield@sylvantutors.netballwin@sylvantutors.net ®ACT is a registered trademark of ACT, Inc.

SYLVANLEARNING.COM

NOW ENROLLING for ALL TUTORING SUBJECTS! GET 2 FREE HOURS of TUTORING when you mention this ad!

Offer Valid at Listed Locations Only

Sports

[6 & 7] COVER STORY Nick Horstmann cover story editor

Erin Coogan asst. cover story editor

Jakob Molskness

TV & Movies

#OscarsSoWhite

Popular Movies Deadpool Star Wars Zootopia For the second year in a row, Finding Dory all of the acting nominees were The Jungle Book white. Celebrities such as Chris Captain America: Civil Rock and Jada Pinkett Smith called for a boycott against War the academy.

Top 5 Most Watched Original Netflix Shows Fuller House Orange is the New Black Stranger Things Making a Murderer Daredevil

American Idol airs its 15th and final season.

Chicago Cubs win the World Series for the first time in 109 years.

After having five concussions from both football and wrestling, Jakob Molskness, junior, decided to begin training for the Missouri Cowbell Marathon, a 26.2 mile run.

Molskness began his training with short runs that progressively got longer, running three miles on the first day and five miles at the end of the first week.

During the run, Molskness ran along the Missouri River in Historic St. Charles. He didn’t run the entire marathon. He walked to the water stations that were posted every two and one-half miles.

Molskness finished the marathon in 4 hours, 23 minutes and 59 seconds and placed in second in his age division. If he were to run another marathon, he would prepare differently.

“I didn’t have very long to train,” Molskness said.

“I probably would have waited longer, stretched a lot more beforehand and worn an ankle brace because I couldn’t walk afterwards.” - story by Ty Prozorowski

49 people killed 53 people injured

Police Shootings Dallas, Texas 5 officers killed Baton Rouge, Louisiana 3 officers killed Charlotte, North Carolina 2 officers killed

Tennessee Wildfire over 14,000 evacuated

22 deaths 1.5 million evacuated

Zika Virus spreads through the Americas.

Brussels Bombing

North Korea conducted a hydrogen bomb test.

32 people killed

Rio Olympics

iPhone 7 Released on September 7th, Apple’s enhancements included the removal of the headphone jack.

th 6 straight

3746 38

3 83% of

new world records

medalists were collegiate athletes

Olympic games topping the medal charts

210

athletes took home a medal

7 Years

Drake ft. Wizkid & Kyla

While some people go to the pool or the beach over the summer, Jill Reando and her family traveled to Wisconsin in July for a Taekwondo tournament.

The entire family is black belts and compete in various Tae kwon do events. In the Wisconsin competition, Reando competed in Koryo Poomsae which is a form for black belts.

There are a lot of different components to Taekwondo tournaments.

“We do forms, which is using different techniques we were taught.

We do board breaking, sparring, and forms with weapons,” Reando said.

She tied for first against another competitor. It was decided that Reando would get the trophy; however, rather than keeping the trophy, she gave it to her opponent.

“She came from across the country and placed first too, I wanted her to have something to show for it,” Reando said.

Lukas Graham

I Took a Pill in Ibiza Cheap Thrills

Mike Posner Sia

This is What You Came For Calvin Harris ft. Rihanna

*according to officialcharts.com

Hamilton won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama

Adele’s 25 became the most sold album of the year

David Bowie, Prince, & Leonard Cohen passed away

- story by Erin Coogan

Memes

Harambe

Cincinnati Zoo gorilla was shot to save boy. The internet was distraught.

Mannequin Challenge

Even the Presidential Metal of Freedom recipients joined in on this one at the White House.

The app took the world for a short period of time, encouraging people to catch em’ all.

Social media went crazy over a 15 year old and a pair of white Van shoes.

A simple talent show performance turned into a viral sensation.

232 Electoral Votes 48.2% of popular vote

239 Seats in the House

194 Seats in the House

51 Seats in the Senate

46 Seats in the Senate

Missouri Governer Eric Greitens Missouri Senator Roy Blunt

Evil Kermit

Arthur’s fist

Confused Mr. Krabs

Caveman Spongebob

Joe Biden

Skai Jackson

Damn Daniel Water Bottle Challenge

Election

46.3% of popular vote

Jill Reando

One Dance

Self-Driving Car Google makes advancements by adding improvments to their self-driving car.

306 Electoral Votes

lancerfeed.press

Trends

Technology

Grace Rook

While the majority of her friends were comparing schedules, catching up after being away on Winter Break and celebrating the start of a new year, Grace Rook, sophomore, was struggling to make the commute from class to class without having to rest on the hallway floor.

Rook started having episodes of fatigue while playing soccer and it soon became a serious concern.

“It was hard at the time because I was a freshman and all the upperclassmen would stare down at me,” Rook said.

The cause of the fatigue was originally determined to be cerebral, but was later discovered to be a malfunction in Rook’s right coronary artery, in her heart.

On July 24, 2016 Rook underwent open-heart surgery to fix the problem. With only two weeks before the 2016-2017 school year started, it was clear her recovery would last into the semester.

Rook continued to have episodes that required a hallway pit-stop, but these became less frequent.

Having her belongings carried by a peer became less necessary, and she was able to play soccer again.

“The whole thing made me realize who my true friends were, because people I considered to be close with weren’t there to support me when I needed them,” Rook said.

- story by Travis Bodell

Denver Broncos win Super Bowl 50.

the plan” and the process, which includes lots of paperwork and a citizenship test covering the United States’s history, was underway as soon they were eligible for citizenship.

Through the dual-citizenship status that both girls will be attaining, they feel that they are balancing their two cultures and identities perfectly.

“I don’t think it’s betraying my country in any way,” Ines said. “I think it was the natural thing to do.”

“Since we are under 18, our parents just have to apply for citizenship and we will be considered citizens along with that,” Yasmine said.

The sisters will become official citizens in the coming months, as their papers have just been submitted. Although the application process didn’t affect their lives much this year, both agree that having their citizenship will reap positive benefits in the future.

- story by Amisha Paul

2016 RECAP

Britain exits from the European Union after referendum.

Image

Music Top 5 Most Streamed Songs

Villanova made a game winning 3 vs North Carolina in the NCAA Basketball Championship.

Balancing American pride and Tunisian pride have been topics of discussion in the Abdennadher household. Of course, these are natural discussions that occur when a family is acquiring their citizenship.

Yasmine Abdennadher, senior, and Ines Abdennadher, freshman, moved to St. Louis in 2010, after living in Tunisia, a country in northern Africa, for two years.

“In Tunisia, we lived in an international community where people had a sense of the outside world. Here, people have mostly lived here all their lives, they’ve always spoken English and their family is from here,” Yasmine said. “The transition from such a culturally open-minded community to a more closed off one was difficult.”

Despite the difficult transition to the American lifestyle, the sisters couldn’t be more excited to finally be getting their citizenship. The decision to become citizens had “always been

World

Hurricane Matthew

Leicester City won EPL with 5000-1 odds.

Yasmine & Ines Abdennadher

Tragedies Pulse Nightclub Shooting

Cleveland Cavaliers win Cleveland’s first major sports title since 1964.

Clowns

It started as isolated cases of people loitering in clown masks, turned into a nation wide man hunts.

Eric Frings

Eric Frings, senior, took part in a Spanish immersion trip in Spain this summer for a month. During which, Frings traveled to Salamanca, Valladolid, Tordesillas, Madrid, Galicia and Barcelona.

While in Tordesillas, Frings stayed with a host family which included his host brother, Ignacio. He found that he and his host brother shared many of the same interests, such as soccer and basketball, despite their four year age difference.

The host family knew how to write in English, but they didn’t know how to speak it. It took Frings until around the second week within the home to become more fluent.

“I immersed myself into the culture in Tordesillas by visiting lots of museums,” Frings said.

He also went on sightseeing excursions with his host family and separate excursions with his group of 12 other people and chaperones. Frings observed Gothic architecture, forts and castles; he was also able to attend a concert inside a fort.

The trip was beneficial to Frings. He was able to refresh on verb tenses and improve his ability to speak Spanish, and had the opportunity to meet people who he never thought he would meet.

- story by Gehrig Prozorowski

[8] FEATURES

Poppin’ Tags

Image lancerfeed.press

Thrifting helps broke teens discover unique fashion Suzy Blalock reporter Bad Christmas sweaters. Mildew smelling couches. An ancient book you need for your English class. Decadent costume jewelry.

The thrift store. Home of everything used, except for, you know, some things you don’t want to buy used.

Thrifting has been around for a long time but has grown in popularity for teenagers. A multitude of reasons has pushed thrifting into the limelight.

For example, pop culture stars have embraced thrifting. Social media stars Maddi Bragg, Lohanthony and Kailee McKenzie frequently mention how they thrift during videos and Instagram posts. Macklemore’s song Thrift Shop that talks about how cool thrifting is.

Thrifting also helps the community. Many thrift shops take a portion of their profits and donate it to charities.

Thrift shopping can help the environment.

By buying something that’s already been made, it prevents something new from being made, which lowers carbon emissions. Also, many thrift stores work to prevent clothes they don’t sell from ending up in landfills.

Mike Swisher, Class of 2016, worked at

Savers in the community donation center.

“If you were to donate shirts with holes in them, they would be shredded and sent to India for repurpose. If clothing had a nasty stain, it’d be shredded, too,” Swisher said.

Teens who don’t want to spend a lot of money but still want to look fashionable often find themselves at the thrift store.

John Hardie, senior, has been thrifting since May of 2015. He got into thrifting because realized how expensive it was to go to stores at the mall or shop online.

“It’s like a scavenger hunt. You don’t really know what you’re looking for when you go in there, but you always come out with a great find,” Hardie said. “Also, you get one of a kind pieces, so most the time you never run into someone with the same clothes.”

His best finds have been a pair of Adidas shoes for $8 and a Champion sweatshirt for $7.

“I also got a pair of dad jeans for $1 and altered them to fit really well,” Hardie said.

His top store to shop at is Savers, though his favorite used to be Red Racks, which recently shut down.

“They’ve got everything so well organized and at a decent price,” Hardie said.

He also likes Avalon, a store in the Loop, but finds the clothes a little pricier.

Whenever he walks in a store, he typically

looks for certain items. He said he likes brand name items, but also appreciates a funny or unique T-shirt if he finds one.

“There is something for everyone. You just have to search, and you’ll eventually find something that fits your style,” Hardie said Senior Maggie Maloney visits the thrift store every now and then to pick up items for costumes for spirit days. She says can get unique items without breaking her budget.

“I really enjoy thrift shopping because it is a way to get all the parts you need for a costume without having to spend a fortune. It’s fun to just look at all the stuff and see what they have because it’s very different from what you see In stores at the mall and such,” Maloney said.

Senior Michael Christian found cheap items for his America Day costume during Homecoming spirit weeks.

“I bought some American bandanas from Savers for America day because they were a good accessory and were cheap,” Christian said.

Hardie offers these tips to anyone who wants to start thrifting.

“Search through everything. All sizes, styles, colors. Stuff is hidden. You just have to know how to style. Always keep an open mind while you’re shopping, and don’t take it too seriously,” Hardie said. “Also, if you feel unsure about it, bring a friend with you.”

John Hardie Shows Off His Thrifty Finds

Repurposing Thrift The last few weeks, girls have been selling their closet on Instagram. They set up accounts where they sell name their old brand or trendy clothes.

They post a picture of the item with the starting bid, and other people will bid on the clothing item until the sale closes. Senior Millie Schofield began selling her closet over Thanksgiving weekend.

Q: What was your inspiration for starting the account?

A: My friend Emelie Orlando did it this summer, and I loved the idea.

Q: Why did you decide to do this?

A: I just have a lot of clothes that were too big or I didn’t like anymore.

Q: How much money have you made so far?

A: So far I’ve made over $500.

Outfit 1

Top: $8, Avalon Pants: $1, Red Racks (altered) Bag: $9, Avalon

Outfit 2

Shirt: $8, Avalon Shoes: $8, Savers Rings: $25, Avalon

Outfit 3

Top: $5, Savers Jacket: $9, Savers Shoes: $8, Savers Watch: $7, Red Racks

Q: What kind of clothes are you selling?

A: I sell a lot of athletic clothes because that’s mostly what I like to wear and there’s a couple of nicer clothes that I never wore.

Attention Seniors-Juniors ACT/SAT Tutoring

Call Dr. Jack Arnold 314-805-4561 Appointments Tuesday/Thursday Evenings Saturday/Sunday afternoons www.JackArnold.org

Image

FEATURES [9]

Dec. 16, 2016

Staffs’ secret lives outside classroom might shock students Rap Dreamin’

There is only one thing business teacher Scott Beaver would rather be doing than teaching: rap.

Beaver was first introduced to rap years ago when he was in his confirmation class. He recalled a friend listening to a new Master P song “Make ‘Em say Scott Beaver called Uh” on a CD. After hearing that song for the first time ever, Beaver said he was “instantly hooked.”

“I heard that song, and it became an addiction. Even now at 32 years old I’ll walk around the house and rap,” Beaver said.

Music has always been apart of Beaver’s lifestyle. He said he’s always enjoyed making music playlists for people, as well as himself.

It wasn’t until a few years later that his sister gave him the idea to pursue being a DJ as a side job alongside being a teacher.

“After that, I went home, wrote up a business plan, bought equipment from a guy I knew, made some business cards, made a website, and purchased a bunch of music,” Beaver said, “and then through word of mouth and Facebook I was able to get my first few gigs.”

Soon after, Beaver began getting gigs at least once a week where he would do weddings and parties making money from $200-$600, depending on the event.

With his business picking up speed, Beaver thought it was only appropriate to give himself a DJ name. He used rap artist’s name Bizzy Bone as inspiration to create Bizzy Beav.

The DJ equipment was kept at his house where he and his friends would hang out and have “jam sessions.”

When asked if he would rather be a DJ or

teacher, Beaver replied, “I would definitely rather teach than be a DJ, however, I’d love to be a rapper over a teacher.” More specifically, Beaver said, “I’d prefer to be a Christian or faith rapper over everything.”

- by Danny Huffman

Mr. Mom Overseas Getting pick pocketed, climbing through a window after being locked out of his apartment, chilling on a yacht and being mistaken for the father of three at the age of 23 were just a few things Spanish teacher John Becker was up to his career at John Becker before Lafayette.

At this time, Becker, fresh out of college with a Spanish major and pretty impressive sideburns, decided to start the new chapter in his life in Spain.

So naturally, he became a nanny.

Most people would expect their Spanish teacher to have traveled or lived in country of their learned language, but somehow, “nanny” just doesn’t come to mind. Although, knowing señor Becker’s natural ability with children, it’s not surprising he would be an Au pair.

“It’s a culture exchange as well as a nanny situation, and I ended up being an employee but also apart of the family,’ Becker said.

In some ways this became his first teaching job. From 8 a.m. to 8. p.m. he would carry out the domestic responsibilities of the day. One task was to tutor the 8-year-old in English.

His main job was to take care of the twins which meant feeding them four times a day and then dealing with the subsequent clean up.

But he would also help out with feeding the cats, ironing and washing the dishes, and other

Support Local!

636-527-7027 15480 Clayton Road Ballwin, MO 63011 shadygroveclothing.com

137 South Central Eureka 63025 Hours: Tues-Wed 11-9 Thurs-Sun 10-9 (636) 735-0136

household chores that don’t change across culture, even 4,500 miles from his native Iowa.

But being a nanny had its advantages, too.

Often times he would take the twins to a cafe that overlooked the north mountains. There was an old lady who worked there who loved them, and sometimes brought a fruit platter for the babies.

“It was kind of a strange and kind of a hard thing to do, but I learned a lot of things that I couldn’t otherwise.”

- by Annie Wilhelm

Digging the Dirt Although Theresa Gornet has spent over 30 years teaching Spanish, another passion of hers is digging in the dirt with her green thumb.

Gornet said, “I garden a lot. I’m working towards my Master Gardener certificate.”

Theresa Gornet Gornet has had an interest in gardening ever since she was young, which led her to pursue taking classes and earning certification.

The St. Louis Master Gardener organization is associated with the Missouri Botanical Gardens. This group began in 1983 and is involved in volunteer work around St. Louis.

The Master Gardeners are adults of all ages who have a passion for gardening and want to share their knowledge with their community.

To become certified, as Gornet will be, one must take the training course coordinated by the University of Missouri Extension and the Missouri Botanical Garden.

The training classes teach a variety of agricultural topics such as plant relationships, anatomy, and flower gardening.

Tests are a mandatory aspect of the course, and occur online and during training classes.

Those accepted into the Master Gardener Volunteer Training program must participate in 40 hours of volunteer work and to have 10 hours of continuing education each year.

- by Abby Karandjeff

Playing the Field Jennifer Pautz, language arts teacher, has been playing rugby for seven years.

It all started in college when she happened to look out her window and saw a sign that advertised free donuts for attending Jennifer Pautz a rugby meeting. She told her roommate they should attend, and from then on, it has made a big impact on her life.

Pautz started out playing intramural at Truman State, competing against teams like Mizzou and Washington University.

“It gets a lot of aggression out while playing” Pautz said. “My stress level increases when I’m not playing.”

Pautz described rugby as a very inclusive sport. “No matter what body type, amount of speed or athletic ability there will always be a position for anyone on the field,” she said.

She said that if you play rugby and you meet someone in the real world who also does, it’s “an instant bond” that can help you get along.

Pautz is the captain of her team, The St. Louis Women’s Sabres, but also helps as the forwards coach.

She believes the sport will continue to grow in the U.S. in the years to come and said 10-11 girls contacted her after the Olympics, a sign she believes shows a growing interest.

- by Dawson Albright

Follow thelancerfeed or visit online lancerfeed.press

[10] FEATURES

Image lancerfeed.press

Have yourself an ugly little Christmas sweater shwetha sundarrajan reporter Typically people associate Christmas sweaters with quirky grandparents or elementary school teachers counting down until the holiday break.

The Christmas sweater saw a rise in the 80s, making its debut on the Cosby Show.

Bill Cosby became known for sporting his oversized, colored sweaters; spurring the trend to grow before disappearing into obscurity in the 90s.

However, in the early 2000s, the trend came back into fashion and companies like Tipsy Elves came on the scene selling nothing but ugly holiday sweaters.

The demand for old-fashioned, over the top Christmas sweaters has grown especially as Ugly Christmas Sweater parties and contests have increased in popularity.

The LHS staff even has an Ugly Sweater contest at it’s staff holiday luncheon.

Senior Bridges McElmurry does his part to carry out out the Christmas sweater trend at Lafayette with his friend, senior John Harrop.

“I started wearing Christmas sweaters sophomore year, along with Harrop. Sophomore year was when Savers came to St. Louis, and when we went, John and I loved the sweaters. When we went there together, we found so many sweaters there so we started buying them at a cheap price,” McElmurry said.

Harrop also started wearing his sweaters starting his sophomore year. He has collected 12 sweaters, of which include Christmas and Thanksgiving themes, as well as some simply designed for amusement.

McElmurry said, “When people saw my sweaters, I got a lot of respect for my game, and they enjoyed to see the new ones that Savers will bring me.”

The pair says there was no specific reason to why they started wearing the sweaters. They just wanted to get some laughs from people.

“For the light up sweaters we have to order online, because Savers doesn’t have those kind because they’re slightly more expensive.

Typically, light-up sweaters cost around $25-$300,” Harrop said.

Due to the wiring inside the light up sweaters, it makes it difficult to wash them.

“I’ve only worn my light up sweater three times, because I still haven’t figured out how to wash them without causing damage,” Harrop said.

Where To Get Your Ugly Sweater

1. tipsyelves.com 2. amazon.com 3. theuglychristmas.com 4. thesweaterstore.com 5. ultimateuglychristmas.com 6. youruglychristmassweater.com 7. rustyzipper.com

Seniors John Harrop and Bridges McElmurry show off their festive Christmas sweaters.

Lots of Lancer students and staff wear holiday sweaters right before break, but this duo starts sporting their holday sweaters early in December. [photos by Shwetha Sundarrajan]

JOB OPPORTUNITIES NOW HIRING FOR SUMMER 2017!

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

(314) PRO-POOL www.swimpropool.com

Image

SPORTS [11]

Dec. 16, 2016

Sports Opinion: QB is toughest position in sports Arpan Das sports reporter

Playing quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) is no easy task. In fact, I argue that it’s the hardest task in all of sports.

It boils down to a few things that make it the most difficult position. The brain’s mental demand, the body’s physical demand and the NFL’s demand.

Physically, the quarterback has a very intensive job. The dimensions scouts look for is a height between 6 foot, 2 inches and 6 foot, 6 inches and a weight between 210 and 250 pounds. Like any sports, there are exceptions to the rule. Among starting quarterback heights, the exceptions include Russell Wilson, Drew Brees, Tyrod Taylor and Brock Osweiler.

Of these starters. Brees and Wilson are regarded as top 10 if not higher by most “rankings,” Taylor is an average starter who the Buffalo Bills are content with because he’s better than anyone else in their recent history and Osweiler is one of the worst starters in the NFL based off statistics, though maybe not entirely due to height. The only exception for weight is Brees at 209, not too far from the norm anyway.

They also have to be able to take hits again and again from people even bigger than them, and play through any injuries resulting from those hits. Cam Newton got slammed on social media for not diving on a fumble late in the game that was by him, but in reality, he was rattled and hurt from the beating he was taking from Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware all game.

There’s also cases like Andrew Luck and Philip Rivers, where they just play injured. Luck wasn’t performing particularly well in 2015, but it was later revealed that he was playing

through an undisclosed rib injury throughout the season. This was also before Luck suffered a lacerated kidney midway through a game, and still playing and going on to win the game at hand against the Denver Broncos, before being ruled out for the season. Rivers played the entire 2007-2008 AFC Championship on a torn ACL. A torn ACL is one of the most severe injuries in sports and one that takes several months to recover from, meaning Rivers put his career on the line to try and win that game.

Another major aspect of a quarterback is accuracy and ball placement. This is what can make or break a quarterback when grading for the NFL Draft or scouting in college.

Players that are spectacular runners and know everything mentally but are still inaccurate will still sometimes struggle because inaccuracy leads to interceptions and incompletions, which kills drives.

On the flip side, in the modern day NFL, football is getting faster and leaner on defense, with players like Mark Barron and Deone Bucannon moving to linebacker despite being built like safeties. Nowadays, being mobile is becoming a necessity rather than an asset while looking for future NFL quarterbacks.

Being a great running quarterback with average passing and mental understanding can be deadly. Colin Kaepernick ran for 181 yards and destroyed Packers defense in a 2012 playoff win. Being mobile, does not only mean scrambling. The most famous play from Super Bowl 42 was the helmet catch by David Tyree, but often forgotten along with that play is the mobility of Eli Manning in order to escape multiple sacks and keep the play alive. On top of escaping sacks and running as a main form of attack, as they are often expected to scramble

for a few yards if not a first down if no one is open.

Finally physically, quarterbacks need strong arms. Weak arms usually don’t win games by themselves. Late Peyton Manning and Alex Smith both have very good defenses, meaning that even a game where they struggle can still be a win. Not to say a very strong arm will always win either. Jay Cutler has a very strong arm, but has lacked decision making skills to win games in the last few years.

There is still several aspects of football that are mental rather than physical. Lafayette quarterback Ryan O’Connell said, “We have to go through all the plays, what the wide receivers are doing, what the lineman are doing, what the running back is doing and, obviously, what I’m doing.”

A great quarterback can “read” the defense pre-snap and make any audibles and adjustments to help make a play successful.

During the play itself, the quarterback has between two and three seconds on average to throw the ball, and has to find an open receiver which can also be an arduous task for some.

A bigger burden is memorizing several playbooks worth of routes, as several of the offensive plays can change in an instant depending on what team you’re facing, when an offensive coordinator or head coach changes.

In short, the quarterback has to be smart and “football smart,” which can be summed up as making good decisions when passing and making adjustments.

A quarterback like Ryan Fitzpatrick, who went to Harvard and has the second best Wonderlic, NFL’s IQ test, score of all time, is clearly very smart. However, even he has struggled with decision making, being one

of the few quarterbacks to ever throw six interceptions in a game.

A quarterback can never play scared and be afraid to get hit. Blaine Gabbert used to play scared; he even has a picture where he closed his eyes before throwing. Although it was for a multitude of reasons that he didn’t turn out nearly as good as he was expected to be, playing scared was a big factor. The quarterback has to be the complete opposite of scared, they have to lead the team through any situation, knowing that they will receive a big part of the blame, win or loss.

O’Connell is also a baseball player, and he mentioned several baseball positions as difficult to play, but he ultimately said, “I would say that quarterback is the most difficult position because you have the most going on and everybody looks to you to be the leader, and you either build the success or bring the team down.”

Sometimes, the quarterback is asked to outright carry the offense, with the rest of the world knowing full well that the supporting cast around the quarterback is dreadful, with the most notable example being Luck.

There’s a reason quarterbacks are always drafted high and given MVP awards over legendary players at other positions, because they are the glue to almost every team. It’s often debated whether there are even 32 starting quality quarterbacks in the NFL. A team like the current Houston Texans have an amazing supporting cast, but the term thrown around with them is that they’re “a quarterback away” from winning.

With the high demand and the tough mental and physical demands at all levels, quarterbacks have the hardest job in all of sports.

APPLY TODAY

4 SEASONS OF FUN! SixFlagsJobs.com

Image

[12] ENCORE

Hot Chocolate on the Cheap

This season, fill the tank without breaking the bank

1. QuikTrip

2. BP

3. Phillips 66

Ratings (out of 5): Heat

Ratings (out of 5): Heat

Ratings (out of 5): Heat

Creaminess

Creaminess

Creaminess

Chocolate Flavor

Chocolate Flavor

Chocolate Flavor

After Taste

After Taste

After Taste

Cost of 16 oz. Cup: $1.17 w/tax

Cost of 16 oz. Cup: $1.40 w/tax

Cost of 16 oz. Cup: $1.36 w/tax

“The creaminess exceeded my expectations for gas station chocolate and I was satisfied with the overall price.”

“It could have been mixed better, but at the end of the day it’s still hot chocolate and it’s still all right.”

“Overall, this hot chocolate was extremely decent. You are paying for what you get and it is gas station hot chocolate; however, job well done, Phillips 66.”

reviewed by Tyler Burnett

reviewed by Arpan Das

reviewed by Jackson Bartholomew

'Tis the season to be crafty Brinlee Frazier Encore editor

Sharpie Mug Materials: ­A blank mug ­Sharpie paint markers (regular ones do not work) ­Pencil

1. Wash mug and let it dry completely.

2. Using the pencil, sketch out the design or words.

3. Carefully go over the pencil with sharpie paint marker.

Once the paint is dry, let it bake in over on 360 degrees for 20 minutes. Be careful taking it out.

Tip: To make the gift more exciting, throw in a hot chocolate mix package, or fill the cup with candy!

Sugar Lip Scrub 2 tsp. sugar 1 tsp. coconut or olive oil 1/4 tsp. honey 3­4 drops lavender essential oil

Mix all the ingredients together in a small bowl and pour in an airtight container.

To use: Spread amount on lips and scrub gently. Remove with water and apply lip balm.

TIP: You don't have to stick with lavender. Substitute it with any other essential oil or herbs.

There’s a way to give heartfelt gifts without dropping cash — make it yourself! Tune into your creative side and make a mug, T-shirt pillow or lip scrub to give to a friend or family member. You’ll end up saving money by constructing the presents yourself. For more DIY holiday gift ideas, visit online blogs or Pinterest for inspiration

Make a Jersey Pillow in Six Steps!

1. Cutting a jersey in half along the sides so you have 2 pieces, a front & back.

2. Create a frame from your cardboard/paper by cutting out the center to about an inch from the outside. Place the paper frame on the front piece of the jersey to center the design. Trace around the outside of the frame onto the jersey front in washable marker to give yourself cutting lines. Do the same process to the back piece of the jersey.

3. Cut out the squares along the lines. NOTE: If your front design is close to the neck of the jersey, you’ll need to add a piece of fabric behind the neck opening so there won’t be a gap when you sew your pillow together. Once you’ve drawn your squares, you can use a piece opening closed from the left over fabric to fill the gap.

4. Cut a piece slightly larger than the neck hole from the excess fabric. Place this “patch” piece behind the neck opening, both right sides facing up, and pin. Sew the patch on.

5. Place both the jersey front square and the jersey back square right sides together and pin all the edges. Sew along the edges with seam allowance of about ½ inch. Leave a 6- to 8-inch opening along 1 side.

6. Turn it inside out and gently stuff the pillow form into the opening. Then slipstitch the opening closed. Via hallmark.com