March 14, 2019 Image Magazine

theimagemagazine Lafayette High School - Wildwood, Missouri - March 14, 2019 - vol. 50, issue 5

pages 26-27 photo by TRAVIS BODELL

Opening 2

theimagemagazine

In This Issue: pg 6

pg 12

Opinions 4 6 7

LOOKING AHEAD The Image staff gives advice to new Superintendent Mark Miles.

PLANNED PARENTHOOD A decision by the Trump administration does more harm than good.

CLASSROOM SIZES Larger class sizes teach students necessary skills for the future.

News 10

SUBS IN ROCKWOOD Even a district with an above average fill rate has its difficulties.

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DR. MARK MILES

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RECYCLING The City of Wildwood is implementing big changes to its recycling system.

pg 22-23

pg 28-29

Lifestyles 21 22 24

MORNING ROUTINE Rashid Tutu talks about having to adjust to living somewhere else.

DOLLED UP Freshman Andrea Jacobson shows off her custom-made toys and dolls.

TASTE TESTER The Image reviews lattes from different local coffee shops.

pg 15

Meet the man who’s going to be Rockwood’s next superintendent.

Sports 26

ESPORTS

Features

15 16 18 19

FASHION FORWARD

Check out the trendsetters who are bringing today’s hottest looks to Lafayette.

DIGITAL ART

Meet the students who use graphic design and photography to express their creativity.

MILITARY MISCONCEPTIONS

The Image debunks some popularly-held beliefs about life in the armed forces.

NAMES AROUND WILDWOOD

Learn the story behind the names of some popular locations near Lafayette.

For senior Jake Umstead, playing Overwatch led to a college scholarship.

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MENTAL HEALTH

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STEPPING UP

Student-athletes reflect on their struggles with mental health due to sports.

Stay Connected The Lancer Feed

Sports leaders discuss what the position means to them and the team.

@thelancerfeed

General Information and Policy: This year represents the 50th volume of the Image.

The publication is produced by students in the News Production class. Free copies are distributed on campus.

The publication’s primary purpose is to inform its readers about events in the school and community, as well

as issues of national or international importance which directly or indirectly affect the school population.

While serving as a training ground for future journalists, we adhere to all rights and responsibilities granted under the First Amendment.

Operating as a public forum, student editors will apply professional

journalistic standards and ethics for decision-making as they take on the responsibility for content and production of the publication.

A full listing of all the policies and procedures used by student publications can be found at lancerfeed.press under the About Us tab.

@thelancerfeed

Web

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Opening 3

March 14, 2019

FROM US TO YOU W

hether it’s scrolling through social media on our phones, taking tests or doing homework on our Chromebooks or playing games on our computers, technology has become an immensely important part of our lives, and it continues to become increasingly prevalent every day.

As we’ve grown older and continued our journey through school, we’ve experienced several changes in the way we use technology in our education.

We’ve been first-hand witnesses in the transition from using minute keyboards in elementary school to depending on computers and tablets to complete all of our assignments.

Technology has not only expanded within the school walls, but it has also emerged outside of our education and

in our everyday lives. One of the most notable spheres that technology has appeared in is athletics in the form of electronic sports.

Esports have grown into a multi-million dollar industry, rivaling many traditional sports.

On pages 26-27 in this issue, we explore the significant transition that athletics have made into the technological world and highlight the remarkable impact esports has had on one student’s life.

In our constantly changing world, with new forms of technology persistently being developed, we, as the Image staff, work to not only keep our readers informed about those changes but to also highlight the way our fellow classmates are using those tools to improve upon themselves and their lives.

Image Staff: Editors-in-Chief: Travis Bodell Amisha Paul Web Editors: Chloe Baker Grace Kirtley News and Features Editor: Delaney Stulce Opinions Editor: Shelby Darnell Lifestyles Editor: Hayden Cottrell Sports Editor: Kayla Carpenter Social Media Editor: Jack Weaver

Advertising Manager: Jasmin Kim Artist: Grayden Kurtz Staff: Makayla Archambeault Elizabeth Elliott Hannah Fitts Morgan Goertz Lourdes Hindi Melina Hudak Caroline Kesting Carson Luther Maya Manor Alex Rozar Naomi Saegusa Sophia Scheller Corren Tipton Morgan Vehige Jacob Ward

Digital Media Staff: Digital Media Editor: Jack Weaver Staff: Emily Budde Jackie Day

Janka Gerber Sam Knutson Jonah Nickerson Ryan Post Ava Saegusa Colin Swan

Adviser: Nancy Y. Smith, MJE

Sponsors: Thank you to our sponsors for their support of the journalism program.

Kayla Carpenter and Morgan Vehige Sports Editor and Staff Writer

Carpenter Family Paul Family Baker Family McDowell Family Heather Pick, Berkshire-Hathaway Home Services

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OPINIONS

Staff Editorial: Hello

theimagemagazine

and Goodbye

Next school year, we’ll be losing a familiar face. Dr. Eric Knost announced his retirement from superintendency on Oct. 11, 2018. On Feb. 7, 2019, Dr. Mark Miles was chosen as the new superintendent.

Our staff wrote a letter to both, one, a farewell letter of appreciation towards Dr. Knost, and the second, a take on the direction Dr. Miles should take the next school year.

Dear Dr. Knost,

We appreciate everything you’ve done for the Rockwood School District and wish you the best for your future endeavors. Your equal focus on athletics, academics and activities was incredible and necessary. You promoted achievement in all aspects of education throughout the entire school district.

Your regular presence in classrooms across the district made a difference for all the students. Knowing our school district was led by someone we knew, and not an anonymous figure behind a desk made all the difference.

We know you probably spent most of your Fridays in the car, going from event to event, and we are thankful for that. The support you showed through your presence is immeasurable and will be missed.

Thank you for being a true leader in times of distress.

When events that impacted the school community occurred, such as flooding, controversial elections or even school shootings, your calm demeanor and thoughtful words provided a path for the district to follow. Taking the helm at these times offered clarity and guidance in how to proceed, and for that, we are grateful for.

Your clear direction extended beyond just times of distress.

You passed many bond issues that brought tangible changes to the district. These measures introduced turf fields for all

high schools and upgraded science labs and security system upgrades for Lafayette. Without your strong leadership, many of these changes would not exist.

The message of unity that you spread through the district and the greater Rockwood community, whether it be through selfies on Twitter or official statements, is noticeable in the culture of the district. Knowing that we can all rally around our superintendent “DK” is not something many other districts can relate to.

As journalists, we are thankful for the access that you granted us in writing our stories. No story, no topic and no person was off-limits, and your willingness to work with us made our jobs much easier.

We wish you luck in the next chapter of your journey in Lewis Central Community School District.

Farewell,

The Image Staff

Student editors determine the content of the Image including all unsigned editorials. Views stated in the staff editorial represent the majority opinion of the publication.

Opinions 5

March 14, 2019

Dear Dr. Miles,

There are certain things we, as students, like to see in a superintendent. There are things Dr. Knost did well that we would love for you to do as well.

We’d love to see you in our classrooms and at our games and events—it’s the best way to get to know you and for you to get to know us.

And in our digital age, it’s important to us that you are accessible and visible, even if you are not physically present. Using social media is another way for us to feel close to you, so we hope you will use it to stay connected with us.

However, we don’t just want a clone of Dr. Knost.

Bring the successful techniques from your old school. One big difference between your previous school district is the overall population—Rockwood is a much bigger district overall. But don’t be daunted by the size of the district; see us as individual students who want to learn and grow in our schools. Don’t let the size of the district distance you from the personal communities that are developed in each individual school because your presence has the power to change our experiences.

Activities, sports, individual students and teachers make up the district as a whole, and without them, Rockwood wouldn’t be here. We hope there is equal emphasis on students, teachers, athletics and other events. As incredibly important academics are, much of our heart and passion lies outside of the classroom.

As the voice of the student body, all we ask is that you understand the value of our work. Giving us accessibility to what is going on is important for our publications, and acknowledging our interests is something that we will be so grateful for.

Most importantly, we hope you enjoy being a member of the Rockwood community.

Sincerely, The Image Staff

Opinions 6

“Senioritis Begins”

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comic by GRAYDEN KURTZ

Budget cuts limit vital access to services The Trump administration announced on Feb. 22 that it will ban organizations that provide abortion referrals from receiving federal family planning money. This will most notably impact Planned Parenthood.

Many women’s organizations said the new requirements will interfere with health providers’ responsibilities to fully counsel patients about reproductive health.

The loss of funding could severely impact Planned Parenthood’s overall operations.

They provide more than just abortions—counseling, family planning, STD testing, cancer testing and many other services are provided by the organization. By banning them from being referred by family planning centers, the government is prohibiting women from receiving more than just abortions.

The Trump administration’s goal of prohibiting women from access to abortion isn’t very well thought out. If a woman chooses to have an abortion, and if a doctor or counselor at a family planning

center believes she should have one, they should be allowed to refer them to the proper clinic.

Nonetheless, Planned Parenthood, despite being labeled by many as an “abortion clinic,” rarely performs abortions in comparison to their other services.

There’s a prevalent false statistic stating that 94 percent of Planned Parenthood’s services are abortions.

In reality, abortions account for around 3 percent of Planned Parenthood’s services, and according to the Planned Parenthood 2013-2014 annual report, 42 percent of their services were STI and STD testing or treatment, and another 34 percent of their work was family planning.

It’s hard to argue, then, that Planned Parenthood is all about abortions. People often scream at the women entering these facilities, protesting abortion, but don’t realize that woman is most likely trying to get an affordable test for a STD. Demonizing Planned Parenthood does more harm than good for those fighting to end abortion. If Planned Parenthood is defunded,

SHELBY DARNELL Opinions Editor so is affordable disease testing and contraception.

Furthermore, Planned Parenthood provides ‘discrete’ services, so women can get the help they need without having to schedule an appointment with a doctor and having it go on record. This is especially beneficial to people in our age group. If a teenager is having sex and wants contraception or STD testing, and needs to get tested, they’re highly unlikely to ask their parents to make an appointment with a doctor.

Many who are against abortion are also against underage sex, but it happens whether people agree with it or not. Planned Parenthood gives minors or those without

good medical coverage the family planning services that can prevent unwanted pregnancies.

The goal of defunding Planned Parenthood is to defund abortion, but nothing can defund abortion.

People will either go to Planned Parenthood for a safe abortion, or they’ll use unsafe methods in an attempt to terminate a pregnancy that could kill them and their child.

If the goal of defunding Planned Parenthood is to save lives, priorities need to be checked.

If a woman feels the need to get an abortion, she’ll get one, and defunding Planned Parenthood won’t stop that.

I am not Pro-Life or Pro-Choice, I straddle the line. Women shouldn’t sleep around then get an abortion because they don’t want a kid, but there are situations where an abortion is simply the right thing to do, and I respect that.

In the end, Planned Parenthood provides all types of accessible health services, and defunding the program in its entirety for a small part of its services is a move that could have serious consequences.

Opinions 7

March 14, 2019

Large classes have hidden benefits The average classroom size in a public high school ranges from 14-23 students per classroom, with some classroom sizes even reaching 30 plus students. Lafayette has nearly 2,000 students, which is roughly 500 students per grade.

From grades K-7, I attended a private school in Fenton, MO. At the time I left, my school had about 200 students. My grade level had about 25 students.

I spent all day, every day with the same people for eight years of my life. This had both pros and cons.

I got to stay with my best friends; however, I was also stuck with people I didn’t like so much.

The only change I experienced was moving one classroom down the hallway each year for a new school year.

When I moved out to Wildwood in 2017 and attended Rockwood Valley Middle School for eighth grade, it was a big change as far as school size. When I came to Lafayette, I just about had a heart attack.

The sheer size of the school shocked me. It was completely foreign for me to move across the building to go to a class with different people than my previous class.

As time went on, I began to prefer the structure of public school

classes over the one classroom I sat in all day at a private school.

Despite I found that a lot of students around me wanted to push for smaller class sizes. They claimed that they wanted the classes to be more peaceful and focused. What they didn’t seem to realize is the very thing they were advocating against was what benefited them.

Larger class sizes allow opportunities to bounce ideas off of classmates and incorporate more activities that allow the students to be social.

When you are in a class with the same people for eight years, you get to know each other to the point where there are no new people to be creative with While big classes get loud, it also forces students to communicate with each other, which is a skill you simply cannot develop by communicating with the same 25 people your entire school career.

Ever since I moved to the public school system, my communication skills with people I might have never talked to before has improved exponentially.

When moving into a grade level that was bigger than my previous school, I came to realize the greatest lessons you will ever learn are not in a textbook, but from those around you, and you can never

Stars: • A man in Oregon who was trapped in his car in the snow survived for five days off only Taco Bell sauce packets, bringing a new meaning to “Live Más.”

MAKAYLA ARCHAMBEAULT Staff Writer have that opportunity if you don’t actively engage in conversation with classmates who you may not know all that well.

Admittedly, large classrooms come with their own sets of problems, such as the teacher not being able to work as closely with students due to the large amount of them.

The purpose of school is to prepare us for the “real world,” and we won’t have teachers to fall back on in the “real world.”

Large classrooms teach students independence as well as how to work in a group setting comfortably, a skill that is necessary in order to survive the workforce.

While some students may work more efficiently in small class settings, please keep putting me in the large classes.

The next time you hear someone protest for smaller class sizes, think about the impact it could have on everyone in the class.

• Following the death of fashion icon Karl Lagerfeld, his cat, Choupette, will receive part of his $300 million inheritance. From now on, Choupette’s bowls will be filled with Meow Mix and caviar.

• Battle Royale video game Apex Legends amassed more than 25 million players in its first week. In other words, if Apex was a country, it would have a larger population than Australia. Crikey.

Gripes: • Duke basketball star and top NBA prospect Zion Williamson is likely out for the season following an injury when his Nike shoe collapsed on the court. Even if he recovers, Nike “just blew it.”

• Former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen testified against the President on Capitol Hill. We’re not legal experts, but usually your lawyers aren’t supposed to be the ones speaking out against you.

• Winter ends in six days, as does our hopes for another snow day. Sigh.

AP courses fail to provide opportunities for all students There are 38 classes offered through the College Board Advanced Placement (AP) program, according to the College Board website. Lafayette offers 25 of these AP classes, providing a challenge for many students as well as many rewarding qualities, such as a higher weighted GPA and the potential to receive college credit.

While Lafayette seems to have a wide course selection for students, we fail to meet every student's skill level. AP classes are focused on the test at the end of the year with the potential to receive college credit, which some students want.

However, not all students are suited for that environment.

In reality, Lafayette offers many AP classes that are not offered as standard classes. By doing this, the school glorifies Advanced Placement, which isn’t a good option for some students.

For many students, AP classes

CHLOE BAKER Web Editor don’t fit their specific needs. The pressure of a test at the end of the year that costs money and can alter college plans is intimidating. Some students also want more time to genuinely learn and understand the material, not just learn the mechanics of a test.

AP classes themselves have proven to be a great opportunity for many students to receive college credit early and to challenge themselves. However, the format and pressure associated with them simply isn’t for all students.

The issue that then comes into play is that there are several classes

that LHS offers as AP but not in standard form, such as AP Physics, AP Calculus and AP Music Theory.

Students who are interested in such classes should have the option to take them; however, the only option is an AP format, which isn’t suitable for all students.

Even when looking at the difference between many AP and non-AP classes, the difference is so drastic that it provides little flexibility for students. Those who belong in a more challenging course but aren't looking to take an AP class should have another option.

Simply put, there needs to be a distinct middle ground. Students need an option that provides a challenge but isn’t AP. AP classes are designed in a way that glorifies a test and developing a skill that merely pertains to it. The main goal of these classes is learning how to get a certain score on their AP exam

to get the most college credit.

Unfortunately, this draws students away from what learning is actually about.

Learning and education are about much more than a mere test.

Students should be focused on developing their critical thinking skills and finding their passion, not a test.

AP classes are a great opportunity, and we are privileged to attend a school that provides such an opportunity.

That being said, the school should also provide another option so students interested in music theory and different sciences have another option aside from the extreme of an AP course. There needs to be a middle ground because the stress levels caused

by AP courses aren’t for everyone, and learning course material should be praised more than studying for one test.

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NEWS

March 14, 2019

EOC changes create unreliable test results

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DELANEY STULCE News and Features Editor

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art by AMISHA PAUL

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CORREN TIPTON Staff Writer Each year, Missouri requires high school students in various courses to complete an Endof-Course (EOC) exam.

These nine standardized tests, taken across all four years in high school, are intended to calculate student progress as well as compare overall scores in Missouri districts.

Although the intent is to know how students are performing throughout high school, many recent changes in the tests have negatively impacted scores, causing some to question the usefulness of the tests.

According to Nancy Bowles, Communication Coordinator of the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), the state is currently in the process of changing standardized testing in order to fulfill Missouri House Bill 1490.

The bill, which was voted into law in 2014, outlines different regulations and requirements for Missouri standardized tests to follow.

With the change in law also came changes in Missouri’s standards for testing. The state updated their past standards, the Show-Me Standards, to the Missouri Learning Standards.

The Missouri Learning Standards is an improved list that defines what students should know and what skills they need after high school.

During the 2014-2015 school year, before enacting the new law, DESE began using Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC), a test-taking platform, allowing the state to compare scores to other states, otherwise known as complying to Common Core State Standards.

In the 2015-2016 year, DESE dropped SBAC and began to use assessments developed by Missouri educators, fulfilling the House Bill 1490.

Although the formatting of the tests was not changed for the 2017-2018 year, alterations were made for specific portions of the tests.

“Missouri used new tests in English language arts and math that aligned to the new Missouri Learning Standards approved by the State Board of Education in April 2016. The science test in 2017-2018 was a field test. Social studies tests remained the same,” Bowles said.

For the coming years, tests will continue to be altered in order to improve each test subject.

“Beginning in 2020-2021, tests should stabilize. That will allow the state to compare results from year to year and measure trends in student achievement and growth,” Bowles said.

Although the transitions are being made

to improve testing, many new problems have arisen from the constant alteration of the tests.

In 2017, EOC exams in Algebra I and English II were thrown out due to unreliable results.

Additionally, the results from the 2017-2018 school year EOCs were not officially released to the public until early Feb. 2019, only a few months before the tests have to be taken again.

The delay of the scores and the inconsistency that comes with changing the test has caused some Rockwood officials to doubt the point of the tests.

“Once teachers get this information the students are long gone from their classrooms, which provides no relevant information for students and teachers,” RSD Coordinator for Literacy and Speech Natalie Fallert said. “This year’s information was not even a breakdown of the test; it was just an overall score. This does not pinpoint the exact problem areas for students or teachers.”

Superintendent Eric Knost has also noticed the shortcomings of the state’s scores.

“We want to see the trajectory. Are our students annually doing better and better, and if we can’t see that, then what’s the use of that test?” Knost said.

The instability of the results is not the only reason Knost does not believe the EOCs are the most effective tool for measuring state successes.

“Standardized testing is an archaic measure.

It’s an attempt for accreditation purposes for the State Department to basically compare how school districts are doing: who’s doing well, who’s not doing so well. I think they’re very ineffective at measuring the health of a school building or a school district,” Knost said.

RSD administrators are not the only ones finding difficulties with the changing EOCs. Language arts teacher Melissa Schumacher, whose sophomore students take the English II test, has found trouble preparing students for the test.

“It’s a little difficult to schedule instructions around the EOC,” Schumacher said.

Although scores have wavered within the past few years, DESE is confident scores will rise when the new tests are integrated.

“As teachers across the state continue to implement the newest Missouri Learning Standards in classroom instruction, students will have the opportunity to demonstrate growth and mastery on the standards,” Bowles said. “As long as the standards do not change, teachers become increasingly familiar with them, and curriculum and classroom instruction increasingly reflect the content of the new standards.”

News 10

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KEEPING EVERY DESK FILLED

art by TRAVIS BODELL

News 11

March 14, 2019

Even in district with above average substitute teacher fill rate, filling every absence proves to difficult task for everyone involved TRAVIS BODELL Editor-in-Chief

P

ure joy for a high school student is walking into a classroom and noticing the teacher’s desk is inhabited by a substitute. From a student’s perspective, that substitute teacher’s day seems simple enough: show up, take attendance and make sure nobody does anything absurd or illegal.

The reality of their situation is much more complex.

Even in a district with an above average “fill rate,” the rate by which absent teachers are covered by substitutes, keeping every classroom occupied by a teacher or sub at all times is more challenging than it may seem.

Receptionist Marie Millsaps is responsible for keeping track of the substitutes in the building. Calling in last minute subs in the morning and making sure each absent teacher is covered are just a few of Millsaps’s duties regarding substitutes.

Having a classroom without a sub, and consequently having to fill the gap with other substitutes, is just part of the job.

“I would say I have to move subs around at least once a week.

Sometimes, it can happen two or three times. Sometimes, not at all,” Millsaps said.

It is not uncommon for Susan Curtis, retired Lafayette math teacher and substitute, to move from classroom to classroom while she works.

“When I sub, I like to sub for math teachers so that I can teach [the subject],” Curtis said. “Being moved to a different class to fill in can be difficult because it can be just about any subject I’m filling in for.”

Such a process could involve just one period of filling in for a different classroom, but could very well entail an entire day of switching from room to room for some

substitute teachers. This can prove to be especially difficult for subs who are unfamiliar with the building they are in.

“I’ve been subbing in Rockwood for three years, so I’m familiar with some of the buildings in the district now,” substitute teacher Joan Hoffman said. “Some of the high school buildings were confusing at first when I had to move around to different classes.”

Although moving subs is a frequent and necessary occurrence, it cannot be attributed to faults in Rockwood’s substitute teacher system.

The Frontline Research and Learning Institute reported a national average fill rate of 82 percent in 2018 and 87 percent for January 2019 in high school buildings.

Rockwood boasts a 96 percent fill rate, meaning only four percent of absences go uncovered in all of the district’s buildings.

Even in comparison to school years in the past, Rockwood substitute teacher system is operating efficiently.

As of the 2018-2019 school year, 450-500 substitute teachers are employed by Rockwood. This is an increase of about 50 subs from the 2017-2018 school year.

“We leave our sub job postings up all year and regularly review applications and conduct interviews,” Tracy Edwards, Director of Human Resource for Rockwood, said. “I would say with each board meeting we hire a minimum of 10 new subs.”

New to Rockwood’s substitute system this year is WillSub, the website by which substitutes pick up jobs, set their availability and express their job type preference.

Rockwood used Aesop Absence Management in the past. After the district’s contract with Aesop was up, a committee of teachers deemed WillSub the most proficient

“

All districts struggle every year with having enough subs to cover every room.”

— Tracy Edwards, Rockwood Director of Human Resources and affordable option.

“The feedback [to WillSub] has been mostly positive. Learning a new system always comes with kinks, but the teachers and secretaries are great at being patient and understanding,” Edwards said.

To Millsaps, one of these kinks is the difference in technology between the two systems.

“I’ve found that WillSub is not as user-friendly as Aesop was, and can be difficult for subs who aren’t technologically inclined,” Millsaps said.

Toward the end of the year, filling each desk becomes increasingly difficult. Retired teachers who work as subs typically stop subbing in the spring as to not breach the amount of hours allotted to retirees to work part-time.

“I’ve been doing this for three years,” Millsaps said. “The shortage has gotten worse at the end of spring each year so far.”

Rockwood’s above average substitute teacher system can be attributed to everyone involved in the process—teachers, subs and secretaries alike - doing their best to track and submit their absences as soon as they can.

“We really are doing well with filling absences,” Edwards said. “To help us, we encourage teachers to always put in absences in advance.”

News 12

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Meet Mark Miles

What to expect from the district’s next superintendent ALEX ROZAR Staff Writer Dr. Mark Miles is set to replace Dr. Eric Knost as superintendent beginning on July 1. The Image had the opportunity to speak with Miles about his career and what he hopes to see for the district looking forward. Here’s what to you need to know.

Experience Miles has over 20 years of experience in education. He is currently the superintendent of the Indian Hill Exempted Village School District in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he’s worked for the last seven years.

Previously, Miles taught social studies in the Columbia Public School District in Columbia, Missouri, and he was the deputy superintendent in the Park Hill District in Kansas City for 10 years.

“I lived in Missouri for 40 years before moving to Ohio,” Miles said.

“I graduated valedictorian of my high school class and attended the University of Missouri-Columbia. I was there for 12 years, and I have four degrees from Mizzou, so I’m a Tiger through and through.”

Rockwood School Board president Loralee Mondl said of all potential candidates for the superintendent position, Miles was chosen unanimously by the Board.

“I think the main thing I liked about him is his passion for kids,” Mondl said. “That was very important to our Board.”

Miles said he will look to Knost for inspiration as superintendent.

“I took some time to study Dr. Knost and the Board of Education,” Miles said. “I had an opportunity to visit with Dr. Knost on Feb. 9. He is an inspiring leader. I’m thoroughly impressed, and I recognize I have big shoes to fill.”

Miles said he is looking forward to returning to his home state.

“I am absolutely excited to join the Rockwood School District community,” Miles said. “I’m just looking forward to joining another outstanding school district, and I hope to make Rockwood home for a long time.”

“

I think one of our primary goals is not only to create an educational atmosphere that is second to none, but to create an atmosphere that builds young men and women of character.” — Mark Miles

Academics Miles said the main factor that drew him to Rockwood is a “reputation for academic excellence,” which is a quality all of the districts he has worked at share.

“It is certainly an environment to which I am drawn,” Miles said. “As you think about my experiences in Columbia, Park Hill, Indian Hill and Rockwood, there’s a commonality.

All of my experiences have been in high-performing school districts.”

However, Miles is aware that he will have to adapt to being in a much larger district. Indian Hill’s student population is about 2,000— Rockwood’s is about 20,000.

“I believe I am going to have to be extremely purposeful in the scheduling of my calendar,” he said.

“I want to get to know students, staff members, parents and community members, and I want them to get to know me as well.”

Athletics Miles said he stresses a commitment to balance in “the three A’s: academics, arts and athletics.”

He said he would be open to potentially expanding athletic programs in Rockwood, but under some conditions.

“It would depend upon resources available, and if there is a need and a desire for expanded athletic opportunities,” Miles said.

“The question is, are there any sports that we don’t offer that other districts around us are offering, that would provide an opportunity for students to be involved?”

DR. MARK MILES in his office. He currently serves as the superintendent of the Indian Hill Exempted Village School District in suburban Cincinnati, Ohio. Miles will replace DR. ERIC KNOST as Rockwood superintendent starting on July 1. (photo courtesy of INDIAN HILL)

Miles himself is an avid biker.

“I love to get out on my bicycle,” Miles said. “I try to do a century ride once a year to prove to myself that I can still do it. I would love to get involved in some potential community rides [in Rockwood]. It’s always fun to ride in a group.”

In high school, Miles played basketball and tennis. He cited the time he scored 37 points in a basketball game as one of his fondest memories from high school.

“I certainly remember that experience,” Miles said. “That was so enjoyable, the opportunity to be involved in a team. But certainly, as a valedictorian, I had success in school, and have the opportunity now to go to school every single day and hopefully create an environment for students and staff where they can excel as well.”

Snow Days

Social Media

Outreach

Similar to Knost, Miles plans to use social media to connect with Rockwood community members.

“For the transition, one extremely efficient way that I’m able to communicate with a number of individuals very, very quickly is through social media,” Miles said. “I will seek to utilize Twitter as well to communicate with students, parents and community members in a very efficient manner.”

Mondl also supports Miles using Twitter to interact with the Rockwood community.

“I think he’s going to be very similar to Dr. Knost in that regard,”she said.

Growing up in Missouri, Miles is well-accustomed to inclement weather, which he said is also frequent in Cincinnati. “[Indian Hill] had a couple of cold days earlier this year,” he said.

Miles said many of the cold fronts from St. Louis end up moving northeast to Cincinnati.

“Typically about 12 hours after it hits in St. Louis, it can hit Cincinnati as well,” Miles said.

Miles expressed concern for clearing roads during winter storms.

“I know that [the district] is very hilly at certain points,” he said.

Miles also said, like Knost, he would keep in contact with the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) during any potential weather event.

Miles and the Board will host a community outreach event open to members of the Rockwood community in late March, during the week after spring break.

“Our spring break [at Indian Hill] is the last full week in March,” Miles said. “So we plan to have a community reception during that time, and I will engage in some transition activities with students, staff and community members.”

Mondl said Miles will be in St. Louis during that entire week.

Miles remains confident for the start of his career in Rockwood.

“We’re going to make it the best year yet,” Miles said.

News 13

March 14, 2019

Check it before you chuck it

Wildwood institutes new recycling program in attempt to ensure usability, cleanliness of recycled goods MAKAYLA ARCHAMBEAULT Staff Writer

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ffective April 1, 2019, the city of Wildwood’s mainstream waste company, Meridian Waste, is altering its recycling program from singlestream to dual-stream recycling.

Currently, the majority of residents in Wildwood are accustomed to the Basic Trash Service, which includes a weekly curbside pickup service for $16.70 per month and $2.75 extra if renting a 95-gallon cart. Residents who are currently using the Basic Trash Service are offered, free of charge, a weekly recycle pickup as well as a recycling cart that can range from 65 to 95 gallons.

Single-stream recycling, which most residents are familiar with, puts all recyclable goods into a single recycling cart, which is picked up curbside once a week.

Dual-stream recycling includes separating recyclable goods into two different recycling carts which are then picked up curbside on alternative weeks.

Rick Brown, Director of Public Works in Wildwood said, “The goal right now is essentially to clean up the materials, to clean up the streams. What’s been happening with the single stream is you throw

everything into one container, and people have gotten lazy and the industry has not tried to keep people educated with regard to what should go in that container. By April 1, Meridian Waste residential customers will be sent a second 65-gallon cart, with the option to increase the size to 95-gallons, in order to separate two types of recycled goods.

The first category of recycled goods is referred to as “rigid” recyclables, which include plastic containers and metal containers such as aluminum, tin and steel cans.

The second category of recycled goods is referred to as “fiber” recyclables, which includes cardboard as well as mixed papers.

The new alternating schedule will begin with rigid recyclables the week of April 1, followed by fiber recyclables the week of April 8.

Any other recycled goods that do not fit under rigid or fiber recyclables’ qualifications will need to be delivered to a drop-off location provided by Meridian Waste. As of right now, the plan is to have the drop-offs located at Anniversary Park, Community Park, Bluff View Park and City Hall.

“The other change is that we’re not picking up glass curbside, so we’re asking people not to put the glass in their recycle bins, if they want to recycle glass, we are planning to have four drop off locations citywide where they can take the glass. Or they can dispose of it, if they

choose, in their garbage,” said Brown.

In 2018, China placed a ban on 24 types of recycled waste in an effort to fight pollution in their country, causing Wildwood’s change in receptacle planning.

Derrick Standley, Government Affairs Manager of Meridian Waste said, “China, in January of 2018, implemented Operation Sword and they stopped the flow of worldwide single-stream recycling, and so the markets then shifted into Southeast Asia, in Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Bangladesh, and those countries were even less equipped to handle out single-stream, so the ultimate answer is that we will build those plants here in the United States, where we can process it a lot cleaner, and probably do it better than it’s ever been done before.”

The recyclable imports banned

by China include 11 types of textile, eight types of plastic scrap, four types of metal and one type of unsorted paper.

The United States requested China to lift the ban, as China had previously been the dumping ground for approximately nine million metric tons of scrap plastic every year; however, the request has not been effective in removing the ban. This change left the nations that were importing wastes to China scrambling for a place to export their wastes to, including the U.S. As of right now, the U.S. is attempting to recycle the goods that

would have been exported to China in the United States. In order to do this, residents who had previously been throwing anything into the recycling bin now are required to be knowledgeable enough to sort the recyclable goods on their own before they go to the recycling plant.

Due to the extensive changes in the program, residents have become confused and have begun reaching out to Meridian Waste with questions and concerns.

“I think a lot of residents who are sad to see single-stream go don’t fully understand what was actually happening to their products that they thought they were recycling,” Meagan Huth, Recycling Education Consultant for Meridian Waste said. “A lot of the times in single stream, if that load’s contaminated after it’s all picked up, that whole load actually doesn’t end up getting recycled.”

The benefits of this program not only help to clean up the world to make it more environmentallyfriendly, but also extend to financial benefits.

Single-stream recycling costs an average of $100-$200 per ton to recycle, whereas dual-stream recycling produces a revenue of about $140 per ton.

“The only downside to [the program] is convenience, and I think people have to ask themselves, ‘What’s more convenient? Having clean water and clean oceans and healthy people, or being able to put your stuff in one can versus two,’” Standley said.

W h a t ’s D i f f e r e n t ?

Picked up on Week 1: “Ridged” Recyclables like Plastics and Metal

Picked up on Week 2: “Fiber” Recyclables like Paper and Cardboard

Not Recyclable:

For more information visit

Plastic grocery bags www.cityofwildwood.com/Recycling Ceramics Paper and plastic dishes Styrofoam Diapers Medical-use items Electronic waste and Batteries Lightbulbs art by AMISHA PAUL

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March 14, 2019

15

FEATURES

ELIZABETH ELLIOTT Staff Writer

Trendsetters make school their runway T

hrift shopping is an essential part of freshman Tom Classen’s look. With lots of denim, sweaters and polos, Classen’s style is all his own.

“I got inspiration from people I saw on Instagram, and it was a cool vintage style. I love thrift shopping. Clothes that aren’t new and aren’t necessarily trendy is what I like,” Classen said.

“It’s cool to wear clothes that have been worn and have a story.”

Classen predicts that this year will be the year that nice and casual clothing will become the new everyday look in mens fashion.

“I feel like polos and khakis and looking nicer has definitely come back,” Classen said.

Guevara incorporates fashion taste into own designs

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or senior Abi Mirikitani, her style wasn’t always representative of her. It wasn’t until her sophomore year that she really found it.

“Up until that point, style, to me, was what everyone else wore and what everyone else was into. After my freshman year, I kind of realized it’s not important to be like everyone else. It’s important to express your own style,” Mirikitani said, “If I had to fit it into a category, I would say it’s almost like happy grunge. I’ll wear darker colors, but I always like to add a splash of color in there to make it pop.”

This year, Mirikitani predicts, the 90s theme and skirts will make a comeback.

“I feel like a lot of the 90s have already come back, but something that has been more popular recently is different kinds of skirts. There are a lot of fun ones from the 50s and 60s,” Mirikitani said.

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afayette aren’t the only ones with style. French teacher Claire Ryan uses neutral tones and patterned pieces to make a uniquely styled outfit everyday.

“Growing up, I remember telling all my friends that my mother was fancy, and my mom is definitely the one with the style sense in the family. My sister and my mom are both really fashionable,” Ryan said. “I feel like I have to work really hard. It comes to them naturally and I’ve never felt like it does to me.”

Ryan’s predictions for this year’s fashion trends go a little further back than the 1980s.

“I feel like the 90s have kind of come back, and I also think that the next thing that might come back will be the 70s. I see a lot of flared pants or sweaters with belled sleeves,” Ryan said. “I feel like we are going to see some more of those older trends, but in a pared down way.”

Senior Macy Guevara isn’t just stylish. Guevara has taken fashion and design classes since her freshman year and plans to go into the industry.

“I definitely want to design. Right now in Fashion, I’m working on making a swimsuit and I want to make more to sell. At some point, I want to talk to boutiques to see if maybe they will sell them. My goal is to have my own brand,” Guevara said.

Guevara uses statement pieces and bright colors to make her style individual.

“I have always been into fashion. I enjoy creating outfits and helping other people create different outfits,” Guevara said.

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theimagemagazine

Creativity goes digital with graphic design and photography HANNAH FITTS Staff Writer MORGAN GOERTZ Staff Writer

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t the age of 5, sophomore Randle Smith found his passion for art. Throughout elementary school, Smith kept drawing and painting, but it wasn’t until middle school that he started graphic design.

“In the beginning, I went to a bunch of technology camps as well as gaming camps.

From then until now, I’ve learned on softwares like Adobe Photoshop and other Adobe products to do what I do now, on my own,” Smith said.

Now Smith takes Graphic Communications and Graphic Media Communications with Holly Green, business teacher, and is learning how to design logos for different brands.

“Graphic design, for me, is a way to express my ideas through art and getting people to think of the bigger, deeper picture. To get them to think about what they’re seeing,” Smith said. “I see art as a complex image, not as something simple.

You want to make people think outside the box.”

Graphic design in the post-war era, along with the other technological advances of the time, took some time to become the multi-million company it is today. The profession also became more accessible to more people and is now thriving. Over the past five years, the graphic design industry in the US has grown by 2.4 percent and earned 15 billion in revenue in 2019.

Green, as a former design student, provides advice on getting started in this business and how to spread one’s work.

“Using today’s technology and advances, it’s easier to spread your talent in this profession,” Green said. “The more practice that you can do on your own the better. Freelancing is a great way to get started, to get your work out there, to get feedback, to expand your thinking in design,” Green said.

Students like Smith can choose from many colleges that offer graphic design programs such as Drury University in Springfield, Missouri.

Students can also study as far away as the Academy of Art University in San Francisco California to further their knowledge of design and prepare for careers. Almost anywhere that students choose to go, there will be a degree in graphic design, but it’s just about finding the right fit.

“Any school that focuses on, or provides any classes for graphic design would work perfectly for me,” Smith said. “Obviously you got California with really good schools in LA. You’ve also got New York and many other places that

can provide an education for graphic design.”

At such schools, there are many majors within graphic design programs such as advertising, production artist and marketing specialist along with many others.

However, even though these schools offer specific classes, students are still allowed to venture and explore their interests.

“On my own time, I like to focus on more of the visual aspect of graphic design. I like the different colors, textures and moods that look really good all together. It has more emotion and I love to create that,” Smith said.

As technology advances, more and more students are beginning to pursue careers in graphic design. As someone with extensive experience and a great passion for graphic design, Smith believes that with determination and grit anyone can achieve their goals.

“I would encourage students, in order to be successful, to be themselves and to not let anyone tell them different. That often gets in the way of success,” Smith said. “I would also say hone in on what you’re good at. If you’re good at one thing just stick with it and keep going, over time you will get better and better and reach a point where you can say this is ‘my thing.’”

Instagram: randle_smith blyndspotclothing

art by RANDLE SMITH

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March 14, 2019

“

The type of photography I like to do is portraits. I really like having someone as a model with a cool background, maybe some props and all that sha-bang. It’s more fulfilling when you get an actual person in it rather than just using a model.

In the future, I want to shoot movies, that’s the number one goal. Photography would be plan B, but photography will be a big part of my future. Sometimes I’ll have people interested in shoots, so I’ll charge maybe $15 an hour. It’s not really about the business though, it’s about me wanting to do it. It’s not really about the money it’s about the fact that I get to do what I love. Mrs. [Meghan] O’Donnell is the type of person to bring that out of me. She’s been a great help.”

photos by JAKOB PORTER

Jakob Porter, senior

“

“My whole family is made up of artists. My dad especially was really into photography.

He showed me how to draw. I started getting really good, so my junior year I was put straight into Photography II. I started an Instagram my freshman year and people started recognizing me as an artist. I really like to include people and neon lights into my photography. I love the city and the people there. I don’t like photos without people because I feel like they lose meaning. My goal is to get a really awesome internship and then someday work my way up and be able to get a job at Rolling Stone.”

Lydia France, senior

photos by REGAN CARPENTER

photos by LYDIA FRANCE

“

“I have always loved pictures of people and I’ve always been drawn to creating artistic portraits. My mom is an email marketer, so seeing all the fun colors and techniques that she uses drew me in. Over the summer, I’ve started charging only $1 per photo shoot for a lot of my friends. I like promoting healthy self-images of people who don’t necessarily look at themselves in a positive way. We sometimes drive to Washington, Missouri to take photos because it’s a cute little town. I will always have photography as a hobby in the future, but I’m more interested in going into the medical field. All photographers have their own perspectives on style, so it’s been helpful to not compare myself to others’ photos.”

Regan Carpenter, junior

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theimagemagazine

Military Myths

Decision to enlist requires prior research NAOMI SAEGUSA Staff Writer Joining the military is a decision that cannot be made on a whim. With strict requirements, the military is not an experience for everybody. Here are the top six myths surrounding military life.

MYTH #1: Members of the military are always on active duty.

Contrary to popular belief, joining the United States military doesn’t automatically mean that someone has signed up for active duty 24/7.

“A big misconception that we hear a lot about, is that we’re always on duty—always working, never having time off, always in the uniform, never in our own clothes. It’s completely wrong.”

Army Police Desk Sergeant Kendrick Popa said.

In reality, most members have normal work days and are able to still enjoy their everyday lives.

“I work 9-5 for active duty—a normal workday.

When I get home I put on my regular clothes, and spend time with my family and my kids. We get to go out and do whatever we want, just like anybody else does,” Sgt. Popa said.

MYTH #2: Members of the military must choose the service over going to college.

Another misconception people have about the military is that choosing to join the service is an alternative to going to college.

This misconception couldn’t be further from the truth.

“College is highly recommended. Even while currently in the service, members are encouraged to go out and further their education,” Sgt. Popa said.

Not only does the military help pay for its members’ college expenses, but it’s also easier to get promoted with a college education.

According to Military.com, “[The military] will pay up to 100 percent of college tuition while you serve on active duty, and also offers the GI Bill (about $36,000) to use for college up to 10 years after leaving the service.”

MYTH #3: Individuals who don’t do well in college can always just join the military.

Similar to the previous misconception, many young adults think of the military as a backup option if college or their current job isn’t working out for them.

“I wish people didn’t think of any branch of service as a backup plan. I think going into the service should often time be someone’s first plan,” Sgt. Popa said.

Joining the military often helps to set one apart from their peer group during the hiring process, by instilling discipline, integrity and loyalty into its members.

MYTH #4: Mental illness will not affect my chances of joining the military.

One misconception that is at least partly true is the issue of mental illness. If an individual has ever been diagnosed with depression, they are unable to serve in any branch of the military.

“The military is a stressful job. We don’t want to put you in if you’ve been treated or are currently being treated for depression. If you were diagnosed before the age of 14, it’s sometimes possible to work out a way for you to serve, because the depression could’ve been misdiagnosed, but after the age of 14, it’s a no go,” Sgt. Popa said.

The part of the misconception that’s untrue is the ADHD/ADD factor. As long as an individual who was diagnosed with ADHD/ADD only took medication before the age of 14 they’re good to serve, even after the age of 14 it’s still possible.

“If you’ve taken medication for ADHD/ADD after the age of 14, you have to have been off the medication for two years before you can join.

The reason for that is you’re not supposed to be able to join if you are currently being treated for something,” Sgt. Popa said.

MYTH #5: Women can’t excel in the military.

The misconception that women cannot excel in the military may have been true in the past due

to stricter regulations on where exactly women were allowed to serve. However, in today’s world it holds much less truth.

Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen., Paul Selva, expressed his personal thoughts on the matter at the 2016 annual Officer Women’s Leadership Symposium outside Washington, D.C. “I am absolutely convinced—we haven’t got a single job in the military that a woman can’t do as well as a man. Leadership does not discriminate People do. When we promote capable, motivated leaders, the concept of leadership doesn’t discriminate,” Selva said.

Right now more than ever, women have opportunities to excel in the service.

“Females might actually be able to advance faster than males right now, at least in combat jobs, because the Military is trying to fill their combat ranks with women for more diversity,” Sgt. Popa said.

MYTH #6: Boot camp and military life are realistically portrayed in pop culture.

American society has a shared misconception about what Military boot camp is really like due to pop culture and movie scenes depicting it falsely.

“It’s not like Saving Private Ryan or anything, You do get yelled at, but it’s not hands on. They don’t touch you. They wake you up and say something like, ‘You have 5 minutes to get dressed, shave and get downstairs.’ Obviously, it’s not accurate, you can’t do everything in 5 minutes. They just want to give you unrealistic time goals, so you try a little harder, push a little faster,” Sgt. Popa said.

The point of the boot camp experience is to help soldiers in training work under stress, and become more physically and mentally prepared for active duty. Additionally boot camp is used to weed out any recruits who aren’t cut out for the service.

According to The Balance Careers, [Training Instructors (T.I.’s) and Drill Instructors (D.I.’s)] do this by applying significant degrees of physical and mental stress, while at the same time teaching you fundamentals of military rules; and the policies, etiquette, and customs of a particular military service.

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March 14, 2019

The Name Game

Creve Coeur

County’s most beloved locations possess unique histories

MELINA HUDAK Staff Writer

Legend has it that an Indian princess fell in love with a French fur trapper, but he did not love her back. She then jumped off a ledge over Creve Coeur Lake and the lake then formed a broken heart, resulting in the name which means “broken heart” in French.

Queeny Park What is now Queeny Park used to be part of the estate of Edgar Queeny. Queeny was the former president of Monsanto Chemical Company, which was founded by his father, John F. Queeny.

Babler State Park Babler State Park was named after Dr. Edmund A. Babler by his brother, Jacob L. Babler. Jacob donated the original 88 acres to preserve his brother’s name, who was a renowned St. Louis surgeon that spent much of his time helping the needy. The park opened in 1934 and would later have 800 acres added to it.

CHESTERFIELD

FLORISSANT HAZELWOOD

TOWN & COUNTRY LADUE CLAYTON

Grant’s Farm

WILDWOOD KIRKWOOD

EUREKA

Grant’s Farm is named after Ulysses S. Grant who farmed in the area prior to becoming a Union Army general. His wife, Julia Dent’s family gave the property to the couple as a wedding gift. Grant farmed and built the log cabin that still exists today but eventually had to file for bankruptcy. August A. Busch Sr. purchased the cabin and lands in 1903. photos by MELINA HUDAK art by TRAVIS BODELL

Lafayette High School Marquis de Lafayette was a French General who fought in the American Revolutionary War and partook in the siege of Yorktown. He brought French forces to help fight in the war. In 1960, Lafayette High School opened with the name in regards to the General.

Daniel Boone Library Daniel Boone was a frontiersman who was credited with exploration and settlement of Kentucky, fought in the French Indian War and led the exhibition that discovered a trail to the west through the Cumberland Gap. The St. Louis County Library branch in Boone’s name was opened in 1966.

Manchester Road Manchester Road was originally called “Rue Bonhomme” while under French control and was an extension of Market Street.

St. Louis County Court approved the act to lay out Manchester Road, and became the first official state road in St. Louis County in 1839. It was eventually expanded to four lanes in 1963.

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March 14, 2019

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21

LIFESTYLES

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GOOD MORNING, ST. LOUIS

Tutu compares life in STL County to life in STL City JACOB WARD Staff Writer

S

enior Rashid Tutu moved to St. Louis County in 2017 after living in St. Louis City for 15 years. With the move down I-64 came many changes in Tutu’s life, including his morning routine.

“In the city, I had to wake up at 4:30 every morning so that I could quickly get myself ready and walk with either my mom or dad to my bus stop,” Tutu said. “Now that I live here, I get to get up at 7 a.m., and I can drive myself to school, as opposed to the complicated routine I had in the city where I would get up, get everything ready, and go to my bus stop and then have to take

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a long bus ride to and from school,” Tutu said.

It’s not just the mornings that have become easier for Tutu.

Overall, the entire day is much shorter now that his commute isn’t as far.

“When I would stay after school for Robotics, I would get home around 7:30 or 8 p.m. some days, and I would still have homework to do. I wouldn’t get to bed till early in the morning at like 12:30 or 1 a.m., and then I would get up at 4:30 in the morning and I would start my day all over again,” Tutu said.

The impact of the longer days was evident in Tutu’s school work as well.

“I couldn’t be as productive with the time I was given as I am able to

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here,” Tutu said. “This would really make it hard for me to get good grades because of these factors that went against me, but I would still try to manage to be a good student in my classes.”

Tutu’s parents felt that city life was progressively getting too dangerous.

“My parents were also worried because the neighborhood my bus stop was in was very dangerous.

They worried a lot of the time,” Tutu said. “I felt really scared at times when I would wait there.”

Despite the easier days, there are some things that Tutu misses about the drive.

“When I rode the long bus rides every day, I felt comfortable being around friends I made on the bus

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and just being surrounded by people who know what it’s like to be African American,” Tutu said.

Tutu finds that many people don’t understand the difficulties of being an African American teen in the suburbs.

“Some people in this area I find don’t really understand that aspect as much, and the adversity of it all,” Tutu said. “I hear people say things that I know they think are jokes about certain races, including mine.”

But Tutu takes others’ comments with a grain of salt.

“Sometimes, it may offend me, but I realize that they aren’t really trying to be serious,” Tutu said. “So I have definitely become more accepting, and everything has made me very open.”

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photos by LOURDES HINDI

Lifestyles 22

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All Dolled Up Freshman ANDREA JACOBSON arranges and fixes her dolls. Each doll has its own outfit and name. Jacobson crafts the hair, clothes and makeup of every doll. To view more of Jacobson’s doll creations, visit @doll.on.a.music.box on Instagram. (photos by HAYDEN COTTRELL)

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March 14, 2019

Jacobson describes her unique crafting experience creating different dolls, objects for fun HAYDEN COTTRELL Lifestyles Editor

This doll’s makeup is in the shape of Cancer, a zodiac sign, with her hair jewelry in the shape of the crab, another Cancer sign. Her entire appearance is based upon the zodiac signs in a collaboration with many doll designers. (photo by HAYDEN COTTRELL)

A doll’s head is about to be reattached to the doll’s body. “The hair’s always been hard, and no matter how much I tried, I’ve never really gotten a good grasp on it.

Yeah, they usually have terrible hair, but you know what?

I’m fine with that,” ANDREA JACOBSON said. (photo courtesy of ANDREA JACOBSON)

“

Andrea Jacobson, freshman, possesses two different Instagram accounts. One is for herself, and the other is used to showcase different dolls that she has refurbished and redesigned.

Jacobson has been redesigning dolls for the past year, allowing her affinity for toys and dolls to take on a larger role in her life.

When her house caught on fire while she was in elementary school, all of Jacobson’s dolls and toys were destroyed.

“I lost all of my dolls and toys at a really young age, so I suppose, partially as a result of that, I’ve never gotten out of that toy phase and I’m trying to make up for that. I saw people online who are taking old fashioned dolls from stores and turning them into these amazing works of art. I really wanted to try my hand at that,” she said.

Jacobson first started designing dolls based off of online step-by-step kits and guides.

“Every now and then I do [follow guides online].

I used to do that a lot when I was first starting out, but now I just kind of like going into things on my own,” Jacobson said.

While deciding how to design the look of each doll, Jacobson tries to focus on the doll itself and decide what they are capable of being.

“Before you do anything, you need to look at the doll itself, and sort of see what are the physical limitations and decide what do you want to come out of it. Sometimes I go in blind, and sometimes I do a sketch beforehand,” she said.

Jacobson gives dolls new hair, which are wigs made of yarn, repaints their makeup and sews them new clothes.

“You can pretty much do anything you want.

Really, the sky’s the limit,” Jacobson said. “If the dolls that I get are missing limbs or something, I

try to incorporate a prosthetic into their design, or have flowers come out of it, or something like that.”

Remaking the doll requires many unique steps, including taking off the doll’s head.

“It’s really creepy. You have to take off the doll’s head and strip away all the glue on the inside of their head to get the hair out of it. Then you have to wipe their faces completely clean with acetone. And then from there, it’s pretty much a blank slate,” she said.

Jacobson normally doesn’t refurbish dolls for other people; however, she has done collaborations with other doll crafters.

“Sometimes, if I have a really close friend, I make a doll for them. Mostly, though, I just keep them to myself and then sometimes share them on my Instagram if I think they’re good enough.”

Jacobson’s favorite part of the process is the very end when the entire process is nearly complete.

“I think it’s got to be at the end when you’ve already had the base and hair down, and you’re just getting the outfit together. It’s just all the little finishing touches—it really comes together,” Jacobson said.

This doll is currently having a new set of makeup applied. There are a lot of different paint and color experiments completed in order to come up with a unique makeup look for each doll. (photo courtesy of ANDREA JACOBSON)

Along with crafting the dolls themselves, doll crafters also design different props for their dolls. Currently, a cigarette and a bird cage have been created for ANDREA JACOBSON’s dolls. (photo courtesy of ANDREA JACOBSON)

I think it’s got to be at the end when you’ve already had the base in hair down, and you’re just getting the outfit together.

It’s just all the little finishing touches it really comes together.”

—Andrea Jacobson, 9

Lifestyles 24

taste tester

theimagemagazine

Latte Edition

F

or this issue, the Web Editors took a break from the site to go find the best coffee for your money. They compared McDonald’s, Miller Haus, Russell’s, Starbucks and The Wolf. Here are the unfiltered results:

CHLOE BAKER Web Editor

art by GRACE KIRTLEY

GRACE KIRTLEY Web Editor

Lifestyles 25

March 14, 2019

McDonald’s

Price: $2.18

C

While this latte came in a decent sized serving for it’s price, the cup was not filled to the top. The flavor tasted more like water than coffee or milk. The only positive quality of the latte was its warmth, as it took a few minutes to cool off. The wait was approximately 5 minutes with friendly employees.

A

Price: $3.15

This new coffee house in Wildwood impressed us with its quick service of three minutes and welcoming atmosphere which included the presence of locals and their dogs. Although the latte would be best in a mug with flavoring, it did have a distinct coffee flavor and a nice foam to top it off. The Miller Haus was one of the closest to Lafayette and was one of the cheapest.

Russell’s Price: $3.80

Miller Haus

A+

Although Russell’s is the farthest away from Lafayette, it provided a great service and atmosphere to the latte tasting. In a perfect serving sized mug accompanied by a cute saucer, this latte was sweeter than the rest and had a great milk to coffee ratio. The seating was roomy and modern, and the wait was less than 5 minutes on a busy Saturday afternoon. Overall, Russell’s was a great experience.

D

Starbucks Price: $3.55

Starbucks was a surprising let down. While it came with a decent serving size, it lacked much true flavor. However, if you need to grab a quick latte, this is the place, with a fast paced atmosphere and only a minute wait. One plus to the coffee itself is the sweet side to it, as well as the plethora of foam despite the lack of coffee taste. The cup was also filled to the top, making the most of the cup size.

The Wolf Price: $4.07

The Wolf latte was in a sturdy mug with a great amount of foam with the perfect ratio of milk to coffee, and it wasn’t too sweet. The $4.07 latte was worth the price with the great ambiance of the cafe and local business support. Although the latte was great, the order was lost which resulted in a 20 minute wait. The Wolf is a great place for a sit down and quality drink.

B

26

SPORTS

Esports Evolution

theimagemagazine Senior JAKE UMSTEAD will be attending Mizzou next year. (photo

by JACK WEAVER)

Playing Overwatch leads to college scholarship

KAYLA CARPENTER Sports Editor

A

t 3:17 p.m., the dismissal bell rings, and some students race to their cars to beat the buses out of the parking lot, so they can get home and do things they’ve been wanting to do all day.

Among those students is senior Jake Umstead.

When Umstead returns home, he finishes his homework and gets on his computer to play Overwatch, a popular team-based multiplayer first-person shooter video game.

However, unlike most who play video games, Overwatch is more than a pastime for Umstead—he takes the game extremely seriously.

“I do a warm up before I play the game,” Umstead said. “I do a hand-eye coordination warm up. I play games that take a lot of reaction speed and stuff like that, so I’m attuned to when I get into the game.”

Umstead began playing Overwatch in 2016, and with consistent practice and commitment, he has greatly improved his skills.

“At the peak of my game, I was in the top 500 players in the nation,” Umstead said.

In fact, Umstead has improved so much that he will be playing

on the University of MissouriColumbia’s Esports team in the fall. The school is one of about 125 programs in the nation that is a member of the National Association of Collegiate Esports, which offers scholarships for esport competitors.

Its first season will be the fall of 2019.

“Mizzou is treating it like how’d they normally treat a normal sports team, so, yes, I’ll be competing for the Mizzou team, but we’ll be competing in collegiate stuff all across the country. Mizzou is definitely pouring as much money into it as they would any other normal sport,” Umstead said.

“Mizzou’s making a pretty big deal out of it, and it’s making me really excited.”

The University of Missouri’s Esports Head Coach and General Manager Kevin Reape thinks Umstead’s skills will help the collegiate team to success in its first official season this fall.

“Jake’s ability to communicate while playing an extremely vital role in the game is a combination that teams have a huge desire for. Jake will bring his incredible skills to the team, but I also think his personality will be a great addition to the team when they aren’t competing, but living life together and doing,” Reape said. “Everything else that comes with being a college student

at Mizzou. I think Jake’s a natural leader and I look forward to getting him on campus and watching the success he’s going to have at Mizzou and beyond.”

Practicing for and competing in Overwatch will be vastly different for Umstead at Mizzou. One of the most significant differences for him will be the structure around training.

“We are developing a program that won’t be like any other program in the country, and with that comes doing some things different,” Reape said. “I think our players will have about 20 hours of required time to be devoted to the program, and that 20 hours will be made up of practice, team meetings, competing and study hours. Players will likely practice outside of that time, of course. We will be providing resources to ensure their success– tutors, coaches and regular grade checks.”

Despite his current success in Overwatch, Umstead had some initial minor obstacles with the game.

“My parents really didn’t like me playing video games that much because they were like, ‘It’s an addiction. You’re obsessed.’ because I was going really hard at it, but once I actually got money for it, they were really supportive,” Umstead said.

Not only has Overwatch

provided Umstead with an opportunity to compete in college athletics, but it has also provided him life lessons and new friends.

“My favorite part of the game would probably be the team aspect and the fact that everything you do in the game hands on how well you work as a team,” Umstead said.

“I’ve also made a lot more friends internationally. I have a lot of friends that live in South Korea now that I wouldn’t have known if I hadn’t played the game.”

The United States Esports market is expected to reach about $1.1 billion in revenue by the end of 2019, and along with this growth, it is becoming increasingly prevalent in everyday life and providing more opportunities to several people.

“It’s been a dream come true to watch Esports grow to what it is now. When I was a kid, being a head coach of an collegiate esports program that offered scholarships wasn’t something I would have considered a possibility,” Reape said. “Games like Overwatch and League of Legends are helping to drive esports into the mainstream media. Young kids can now look at video games differently than in the past- college scholarships are available to those who can be among the best in the game and in the classroom, and it is so exciting to be a part of it.”

Sports 27

March 14, 2019

Esports becomes growing field for career opportunities Home Home

MORGAN VEHIGE Staff Writer Electronic sports, or esports for short, is a massive franchise that continues to grow year in and year out. Usually through a multiplayer game, people can either participate in a team or sit back and watch. It’s competitive video gaming taken to an elevated level.

There are multiple forms of esports for each player’s individual tastes, like multiplayer or in-game strategy.

Even though they may not fit the traditional athlete build, lots of effort still goes in to make the esports players great, both mentally and physically. They need to have handeye coordination, good posture and a healthy diet that gives them the right amount of energy to get through the day.

While the future of esports is unclear, large leaps in the last few years have led to esports becoming a multi-billion dollar industry. New methods of gaming are rising like virtual reality headsets and advanced consoles, along with increased mobile gaming.

The recent popularity isn’t slowing down one bit. Even with an unclear future, esport fanatics and casual viewers alike are immersing themselves in the life of esports, and don’t seem to be going away anytime soon.

Money to be made: Esports Industry in 2018 GAME PUBLISHER FEES $116.3 MILLION

In 2017 global revenue for esports was $655 million MERCHANDISE & TICKETS $95.5 MILLION

In 2018 global revenue for esports was $906 million

MEDIA RIGHTS $160.7 MILLION

13%

18%

11%

2018 TOTAL $906 MILLION

19% Top Viewed on Twitch: 2017 League of Legends: $274.7 million

40%

ADVERTISING $173.8 MILLION

SPONSORSHIP $359.4 MILLION

Counter-Strike Global Offensive $232.9 million DOTA 2 $217.9 million

Top global esports based on cumulative prize pool 2018: In 2017,

DOTA 2: $41.26 million

2,077,897,606 hours

Counter-Strike Global Offensive: $22.47 million

were spent watching esports

Fortnite: $19.96 million art by HANNAH FITTS and MORGAN VEHIGE

Games To Look For:

Apex Legends

DOTA 2

Fortnite

Hearthstone

Overwatch

Apex Legends hit the esports market on Feb. 4, 2019, and it’s already breaking records across the board. In this freefor-all battle royale, players choose their characters to fight against others to find the last one standing.

Defense of the Ancients 2, most commonly known as DOTA 2, puts teams of five against each other to destroy each other’s bases. In this game, there are multiple characters with different powers in order to ensure success.

Complete with a few famed dances, Fortnite is another esport that quickly rose through the ranks. Players drop down to the map to gather materials and weapons in order to stay inside the storm and live until the very

One of the veteran esport games that is still around today is Hearthstone. Set in the Warcraft universe, the game requires players to use their cards against each other to earn powers in order to win.

The original Overwatch game mode involves two squads of six going head to head for fame and glory within the Overwatch universe. Only the best heroes will win.

Sports 28

theimagemagazine

The

MENTAL game

During his 2018 football season, junior Joey Moorkamp, starting quarterback, tore his ACL. He was unable to play sports for eight months, triggering a decline in his mental health. (photo by JACK WEAVER)

Sports 29

March 14, 2019

Athletes put under too much pressure, may face stress, loss of interest, depression

A

SOPHIA SCHELLER Staff Writer

Sports & Depression

t Lafayette and every other high school across the country, many eyes are on athletics. Those who make the game winning shot or touchdown are consistently praised and admired, but underneath what fans are able to see is a whole other side to sports: the mental aspect.

A lot of athletes struggle with the pressure to perform at high levels whether it be rooted in expectations from parents, coaches or themselves, the need to not let one’s team down or the wish to give one’s best effort night in and night out.

For senior volleyball player Staciana Stock, a combination of these pressures resulted in burnout: the destruction of one’s physical and mental health caused by exhaustion through overwork.

“The constant go-go-go of it all [caused me to burnout].

I wanted to have a normal life and do other things and have other opportunities,” Stock said.

Although there were performance pressures, such as Stock’s expectations to effectively lead her volleyball team to a successful season, the senior also felt the positive aspects of her position in addition to the negative.

“The pressures hurt and helped in some ways because with hurting my mental heath, it was the pressure and balancing my time with school and volleyball, but the pressures helped me learn to be a leader,” Stock said.

Stock also had to hold the team to high standards while maintaining a positive state of mind.

Although an athlete’s life may seem glorified due to a number of films, the reality is that there are constant pressures to perform both inside and outside of the sport.

Such outside pressures are keeping up with a high academic workload.

“I am in difficult classes, so time management is key. I set aside study time each night to make sure I’m all caught up,” Stock said. “[When participating at a high level] you have your priorities; time with friends and family is minimal. I have to be checking in with my teachers and keeping my coaches in the loop too. Obviously good grades come first, so sometimes I have to sacrifice sleep to make sure all of my assignments are done,” she added.

One 2015 study conducted by Andrew Wikanin, Michael Gross and Eugene Hong found that:

Up to 1 in 5 athletes may be clinically depressed.

While the pressure of expectations in a person’s sport can lead to damaged mental health, injured physical health can also lead to the destruction of mental health.

Such is the case with junior Joey Moorkamp.

Moorkamp tore his ACL during the 2018 football season which hurt his mental health.

“I couldn’t play sports for eight months, so it kind of interferes with everything,” Moorkamp said. “I had more time to do homework, but after school, I would want to go run or workout, and I just couldn’t. So I wasn’t sad, just down and got bored really easily and the small things are fun.”

As a high level athlete and competitor, the constant performance pressures, whether it be in school or sports, are nonstop.

“Whenever you’re not at practice, you have to find time for school and studying, but if you work it out right, then it all blends together,” Moorkamp said.

The mental aspect of athletics can be extremely significant in one’s success. In fact, Moorkamp believes that mental health is even more important than being physically ready.

“As long as your mentally prepared, it helps you physically. If your mentally out of it, you can get hurt easier,” Moorkamp said.

Often times, because athletes a significant amount of time with their coach, they are one of the first to notice signs of depression or other mental health struggles in the athlete.

“Poor mental health can encompass a lot of things,” Boyd Manne, head baseball and football coach, said. “As far as if a player is down on themselves or things aren’t going the way that they want, everybody is going to react differently. Some might exhibit poor body language, others might get really quiet and not communicate with others. A lot of it comes down to knowing your players and knowing how each of your players reacts with positive as well as negative situations.”

This year, the baseball team, under the direction of Manne, will be working more on the mental aspect of the game. The mental preparation includes things such as visualizing the pitch and staying positive throughout the game.

“I think some of the things for a successful coach is to make sure that your athletes feel good about themselves mentally and physically,” Manne said.

Athletes with a previous injury reported higher depressive symptoms than their non-injured counterparts.

Athletes may be more prone to underreporting depression to attempt to keep a positive light on them.

Sports 30

theimagemagazine

Ladies of LHS taking charge

Ralph takes reigns of boys volleyball program MAYA MANOR Staff Writer The Educational Amendments Act of Title IX, signed in 1972, is a federal law stating that, “no person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”

Title IX applies to both public and private educational institutions that receive federal funds.

This law also applies to athletics.

“Title IX requires that women and men be provided equitable opportunities to participate in sports. Title IX does not require institutions to offer identical sports, but an equal opportunity to play,” according to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

Soon after ratification of Title IX, many women began participating in sports, particularly in the coaching field.

Research conducted by the NCAA shows that in 1981, just nine years after Title IX was passed, women coached more than 90 percent of collegiate womens teams. Additionally, 55 percent of NCAA womens teams had a female coach.

However, recently the number of female participants in coaching and directing sports has declined.

The NCAA reported that in 2016, 40 percent of NCAA women’s teams had a female coach.

Furthermore, in 2018, women coached less than 50 percent of collegiate women’s teams. Also, only 20 percent of NCAA athletic directors are female. Of the NCAA mens teams, merely three percent of the coaches are women.

Despite the decrease of females in sporting careers, there are still women taking action, including women at LHS. Out of the four coaches in the boys volleyball program, three are female. One of these women is new boys volleyball Head Coach Whitney Ralph. Ralph has been coaching at LHS for 11 years.

“I think when it comes to coaching it has to do with your coaching knowledge, but for some females, I guess it could be an intimidating prospect. They might not feel comfortable,” Ralph said.

Outside of LHS, Ralph coached girls volleyball at the Rockwood Thunder Volleyball Club for four years. She also coached girls varsity volleyball at Brentwood High School for three years. Currently, Ralph is coaching the Eureka High School girls freshman volleyball team.

When Ralph first began coaching at LHS, she coached the freshman boys volleyball team. After eight years of doing so, she spent two years coaching the boys junior varsity team.

“I really enjoy coaching boys volleyball at Lafayette from the coaching staff to the boys, we all have a lot of fun,” she said.

Although Ralph coaches both boys and girls teams, she maintains the same coaching style.

“I do not approach or teach boys differently than girls. I have the same coaching style regardless of who I am coaching,” Ralph said.

Typically, there’s not a large number of female coaches who coach boys teams. Ralph was given an opportunity to get involved in the boys program and excitedly took advantage of it.

“I managed the boys program when I was in high school, and when I graduated from college, I was given the chance to coach in the boys program,” she said. “I do not think there was motivation to coach boys over girls. There was just an opportunity at the time.”

Senior James Henneberry carries great

Decline of female coaches 1981

aspirations for Ralph and the varsity volleyball team this season.

“I feel like we will go far this year; I can definitely see us going to the State finals,” Henneberry said. “I think with Ralph, her coaching staff and our team’s work ethic, we will exceed expectations for this year.”

- 40 percent of NCAA womens teams had female coaches

- Women coached less than 50 percent of collegiate womens teams

2016

2018

2019 1981

- 55 percent of NCAA womens teams had a female coach - Women coached more than 90 percent of collegiate womens teams

2017 - 3 percent of the coaches for NCAA mens teams are women - 20 percent of NCAA Athletic Directors are female

Sports 31

March 14, 2019

Calling the Shots

AUSTIN OHLAND, 12 BASEBALL

What the leaders of some spring sports say about their experiences on the team

What does it mean to be a leader?

AUSTIN OHLAND: “Bringing the whole team together DESEAN REESE, 12 TRACK & FIELD

for the common goals of winning and being a team instead of just being a group of guys.”

KATHERINE GODDIN: “Being held to certain standards

KATHERINE GODDIN, 12 LACROSSE

and being someone that anyone can come to for help with the sport or outside of the sport.”

MASON REGA: “It means leading a team and setting a

good example for the players.”

ROBBIE CAMPBELL, 12 VOLLEYBALL

What are some qualities you think a leader should have?

DESEAN REESE: “To be able to adjust and adapt to

KENDRA ERICKSON, 12 SOCCER

any situation. Also, to be a voice of reason for your teammates and to not try and make yourself seem like you are above everyone else.”

ROBBIE CAMPBELL: “Being outgoing. Not just strong

physically, but mentally, so you do not cave easily and have a good work ethic.” pho

tos

by

MASON REGA, 11 WATER POLO LOU

RD

ES

KENDRA ERICKSON: “Being patient, responsible and

hardworking.”

HIN

DI

LOURDES HINDI Staff Writer