21-22 Marquette Messenger: Issue I

the

MESSENGER

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VOLUME XXIX, ISSUE I | MO 63017 | MARQUETTEMESSENGER.COM | SEPTEMBER 2021

Students and faculty clash over district dress code See story on pgs. 8-9 “The general atmos phere of a school must be conducive to learning. If a stude nt’s general appearance attracts undue attention to the extent that it becomes a disruptive factor in the staff member will as school, a k the student to make the necess ary changes.

In the event that th e change does not take place in the time allowed, the admin istrator will prescribe the ac tio taken. Dress in good n to be taste.

The body must be modestly covered from shou lder to mid-thigh. Clothing that promotes disruptiv e behavior, including but not lim ited to, drugs, alcohol, toba cco and/ or its products, viol ence, sex or hate groups is proh ibite campus and must be d from covered or removed. Clothi ng which intentionally prom otes identification is proh gang ibited from campus. Tops or shirts must have sh oulder straps (one over ea ch shoulder), sides, and

backs ver the chest. and modestly co ef/ tops, handkerchi Halter tops, tube have bare bandana tops that , bare backs are es midriffs, open sid mesh shirts et not to be worn. N s are to be nt Pa d. ite are prohib t’s normal en ud st e th at worn ns and ai waist level. All ch must be lia na er spiked paraph s, hoods, left at home. Hat wed to lo and scarves are al school e th g be worn durin s and in on m m co day in the vided they the hallways (pro uption sr do not create a di nment). ro vi en to the school e rights to Teachers have th /hoods will determine if hats ed to be w or will not be allo time as s as worn during cl riate. op pr ap they deem ide ov pr ill w e The offic hing ot cl t means to correc to re ilu problems. Fa means comply with the ating pe re e th or offered over e ns of the same offe d se es dr ad time will be ” n. io at in rd bo as insu

INSIDE 03

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14 03 RSD CREATES DIVERSITY COMMITTEES RSD’s new director of diversity, equity and inclusion is creating student subcommittees in schools.

07 COLLEGE PROCESS IS TOO TAXING The college application process takes a toll on seniors who already have the stress of school.

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10 SENIOR EVENTS RETURN Beginning with the Powderpuff game, senior events are returning after COVID-19.

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13 SENIORS WEAR CHILDREN’S BAGS For their last year of high school, seniors are wearing little kid backpacks.

14 SPECTATOR SPORTS Spectators return to full capacity for fall sports.

MHS custodian illustrates children’s book. See full story on pg. 11.

ROLL CALL Editor in Chief Marin Ellington Associate Editors Aarushi Bute Akhila Swarna Copy Editor Stephanie Lei Online Editors Rue Siddiqui Arpitha Sistla Production Editor Ben Hughes Features Editor Lajja Patel Arts & Entertainment Editor Anika Talyan Sports Editor Taryn Moore Opinions Editor Liza Cooper Illustrator Mason Kellerman Staff Reporters Annie Alcorn Aiden Burkhardt Yasmin Cowan Elle Devous Carter Long Annabelle Miller Jacob Robinson Aleena Shaik Emma Tyulyayev Carter Van Buskirk Staff Adviser Emily Jorgensen

ONLINE Students participate in TikTok trend, BookTok. See full story on pg. 13.

PREVIEW

OUR POLICY The Messenger is published eight times a year by students enrolled in the News Production class at Marquette High School, Chesterfield, MO, 63017. The publication office is located in Room 226, (636) 891-6000 ext. 26228 Opinions of Messenger columnists or the Editorial Board are not representative of the opinions of the entire Messenger staff or the administration. The Messenger takes

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responses for any issue. Send these in at mhsmessenger@rsdmo.org.

The Messenger reserves the right to edit submitted material and to refuse to print material because of space limitations, repetitive subject matter, libelous content or any other reason the editor in chief and adviser deem appropriate, including advertisements and letters to the editor.

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Students and faculty members share their opinions on what makes MHS feel like home to them.

Prepare for Homecoming with these tips to survive both the school dance and to create evening plans for afterward.

by | jack favazza

by | rue siddiqui

issue I

NEWS

RSD creates diversity committees marin ELLINGTON The search for a new director of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in RSD has come to a close.

The hunt initially began after Brittany Hogan, who previously held the position, resigned in the spring.

With her experience working as a teacher and a principal in schools around the St. Louis area with a predominantly African American population, Dr. Aisha Grace stepped into the role, looking to address issues she saw in RSD. “I think that oftentimes we see equity and diversity in matters of race, but it’s way more than that,” Dr. Grace said. “We’re not going to create Dr. Aisha Grace. director of diversity, equity and inclusion, visits the Black Literature class to a system where we are ignoring other lead discussions on the curriculum in order to understand improvements in diversity that could be made. Photograph by Marin Ellington. people in the world around us.”

As a beginning step, Dr. Grace met individu“If we don’t have the proposed the creation of a sub-commitStudent ally with administrators opportunity to discuss [the tee of students to obtain a more diverse from schools within Demographics world outside of RSD] and perspective. the district and asked to learn about it inside the “It is important to see how students them to identify leaders classroom, how do we guar- connect with teachers, peers and their in their community to antee that kids are learning school in general,” Justin said. “We will serve as DEI champions. about that outside the class- be looking at how to make each group Shelly Justin and Dr. room?” Dr. Grace said. of students feel accepted, respected and Holly Hick have taken on Shelly Justin, language appreciated. “ this role at MHS. arts teacher, serves as one Dr. Grace visited Justin’s Black LitDr. Grace said the of MHS’s DEI champions erature classes Monday, Sept. 13. Yana hope is these leaders will alongside Dr. Holly Hick, Dragnev, junior, said it was insightful to allow an easy transition special school district hear from a professional perspective. into the development teacher, though the com“She seems like a very assertive perof DEI committees that mittee has expanded to son who knows how to communicate will serve as a liaison consist of at least 22 memthings to people,” Dragnev said. between her office and bers.

Dragnev is working to become the individual schools.

Justin said she is trying a part of the committee of students This will allow for more to be more active in bringincrease inclusion of minority groups Hispanic accomplishments as Dr. ing in a more diverse staff around the school, and recommends Grace will not have to of teachers. having Black Literature as a required Multiple spread herself as thin “We have barely begun class to ensure students are gaining races throughout the four RSD the process. We are looking an accurate understanding of Black high schools. at data first to see where we history.

“Some schools are stand so that we can begin “I felt like [taking Black Literature] at the very beginning of to correct or add to what was something that was necessary for American the DEI work,” Dr. Grace we already have in place,” me to do as an individual in a school Indian said. “It’s about ensuring Justin said. that isn’t really necessarily the most dithat all kids reach their Justin said she would verse,” Dragnev said. “It was something Pacific potential.” like to see equal academic I had to do to be a more well-rounded Islander Though initial steps opportunities for students person.” have been taken in of all races at MHS. Dragnev is optimistic toward the creating the committees, Members of the comeffect a student subcommittee can have Dr. Grace said she doesn’t expect any mittee are asked to do research on on the school. immediate results as the first step is topics that will be discussed at monthly “Teachers require comprehensive discussion. However, she said come meetings in order to effectively comtraining on topics that aren’t talked next year, change will be implemented, municate ideas and goals with staff. about,” Dragnev said. “I just think that and the following year will be used to Though the MHS committee there’s not enough education. evaluate the impact of these actions. currently consists of only staff, Justin

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Meet the Interim Superintendent

WHAT LED YOU TO BECOME THE SUPERINTENDENT? “Well, it’s pretty simple. My three children grew up here in the Rockwood School District. There seemed to be some need for help. I have lots of experience. I had supervised the district for the last 10 years for the Department of Elementary and Secondary ED.”

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HOW DO YOU PLAN TO HANDLE ALL THE CONTROVERSY SURROUNDING RSD RIGHT NOW? “The controversies—there’s always going to be controversy. I just think you need to be open and honest to people about them. The district has a great set of policies, procedures, and regulations. You have to listen to people. Listen to the varied opinions people have.”

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WHAT ARE YOUR VIEWS ON THE MASK CONTROVERSY SURROUNDING RSD?

White

Black

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AT A GLANCE The A+ program is now accepting students who wish to attend community college or technical school with a financial incentive.

Junior Peyton Woley received the National Charity League’s Bronze Presidential Volunteer Service Award.

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On the first Tuesday of every month, CHADS Coalition will hold live podcasts at http:// www.chadscoalition. org/.

Rockwood Learning Council (RLC) has increased parent involvement in curriculum decisions from 10 seated representatives to 47 rotating members.

The Marquette Parent Organization (MPO) has organized a TJ’s Pop-Up Fundraiser event to support the Class of 2022 between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. at MHS Monday, Oct. 4.

Virtual parent/teacher conferences will be Wednesday, Oct. 6 and Thursday, Oct. 14.

RSD established funds to solely pay for building maintenance.

“I think that the mitigation strategies that we’re using are well within the scope of our responsibilities and our purview. We’re not COVID free and I don’t think anybody will be COVID free. For now, I think our mitigation strategies are working. Obviously, we recommend the vaccines. We recommend hand washing. We recommend social distancing 3 to 6 feet. We recommend masking.”

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FAVORITE PART OF WORKING HERE AT RSD AS OF NOW? “Kids. I’ve been to a couple football games. I’ve been to a couple sporting events. I’ve been to a couple student activities. I’ve been to every building.

In the first week of school, I went to every one of our thirty-six sites. I’ve been in and out of classrooms. If it wasn’t for the kids, we wouldn’t be here, right? The people really make it enjoyable to work here—students first, then great administrators and great teachers.”

WHAT DO YOU HOPE RSD GAINS FROM YOUR TIME HERE? “I hope they gain a little stability.

Once this new superintendent is hired, they will have had three superintendents in four years, so stability is really what I’m hoping for. I really have nothing in a career to gain.

Giving it all back is really what I’m about.”

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NEWS

sept. 2021

FALLING SHORT

RSD faces bus driver, substitute & cafeteria worker shortages aarushi BUTE • marin ELLINGTON • anika TALYAN As RSD returns to its first full in-person school year since COVID-19, staff shortages have affected transportation, substitutes and nutrition.

BUS DRIVER SHORTAGES Following a national trend, there has been a shortage of bus drivers in RSD resulting in fewer buses and longer routes.

Freshman Principal Dr. Dan Ramsey, who oversees transportation at MHS, said the district is constantly on the search for new drivers. These potential hires must have a commercial driver’s license (CDL).

“There’s a lot of training that has to happen from the time somebody’s hired to the time they first drive a bus,” Dr. Ramsey said.

The shortage has also affected the sports teams’ ability to get to games.

RSD offered coaches the opportunity to take an eight-week course to earn their CDL to make transporting teams easier.

Joseph Schoedel, swim and dive coach, said he knew right away this would not be for him.

“I coach two of the three seasons,” Schoedel said. “It didn’t really sound something very appealing to me.”

Mike Heyman, transportation director, said RSD usually hires seven to nine transportation employees each summer, with about five per year retiring. This year, even with RSD being one of the highest paying bus driver employers in Missouri, there were no applications, and even more retired than normal.

Heyman said there were 182 bus drivers in RSD five years ago when the decline started. This year there are 124 drivers, making this the most severe driver shortage in RSD history.

While RSD was virtual, some drivers got other jobs they still have now.

Others don’t feel safe driving students due to COVID-19, Heyman said.

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FAST FACT

The National School Transportation Association reported more than half of the student-transportation coordinators described their school bus driver shortages as either “severe” or “desperate.”

In August, the Missouri Board of Education (BOE) voted to lower the requirements to become a substitute due to teacher shortages.

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The National Guard has been activated as school bus drivers in Massachusetts.

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Before the RSD cafeteria staff had more than 250 workers, now there is 150

Helen Paschke, bus driver, loads students Wednesday, Sept. 21, while facing a nationwide bus shortage. Joe Wehrle, substitute teacher, reads a book to students as he substitutes for Jennifer Shipp, language arts teacher. A cafeteria worker hands out lunch to students during the shortage of cafeteria staff. Photographs by Shyam Punnachalil and Jacob Robinson

If a staff member refers a bus driver, that staff member will get a bonus of $1,500. The system has been in place for four years, but the reward increased from $500 because of the severity.

This reward system has only been used about 11 times since it started.

Heyman said he is optimistic they will fix the problem. They need 35 bus drivers to mostly fix the shortage.

“We can’t provide all the services that we used to do, that the parents enjoyed and that the students enjoyed,” Heyman said. “That’s disappointing to me because that’s not how I want my department to be run.”

SUBSTITUTE SHORTAGES Bus drivers haven’t been the only thing lacking in RSD as there also has been a severe shortage of substitute teachers.

For this reason, all field trips that are not a required part of the curriculum have been suspended.

Kallie Fisher, senior, is in Human Anatomy, a class that traditionally takes a field trip to see a cadaver dissection, but due to the sub shortage, they will not go this year.

“Just doing something on paper, seeing it over Zoom, isn’t going to be the same as actually seeing it,” Fisher said. “There’s that disconnect.”

Principal Dr. Steve Hankins said he also is disappointed teachers will not be able to have this addition to the learning within their class.

Dr. Hankins said a large portion of the sub pool is older, and many did not feel comfortable returning to such a large school environment. However, as the number of teachers calling in sick increases, so does the number of subs needed throughout the school.

“We need help. We’ll take volunteers. We’ll take your students. We’ll take anybody.”

- Carmen Fischer Director of Child Nutrition and Warehouse Often last-minute fill-ins are being called in order to cover for staff who are unable to teach. Other staff members and even hall monitors are also stepping in to cover for teachers.

“Everyone’s kind of chipping in where they can,” Dr. Hankins said. “It calls for all of us to have to do more in order to make the same process happen. It puts stress on the system for sure.”

“We need help. We’ll take volunteers. We’ll take your students. We’ll take anybody,” Fischer said.

The primary catalyst of the issue is COVID, the high workload and previous workers leaving for office jobs, Fischer said.

However, volunteers from the Parent-Teaching Organization (PTO) are planning to help out and other solutions are being investigated.

CAFETERIA STAFF SHORTAGES

RSD PLAN OF ACTION

Carmen Fischer, director of Child Nutrition and Warehouse, said the lunch staff shortage has never been this bad.

“I only have three people,” Fischer said. “It’s really hard on my staff and we’re all getting tired but we’re trying our best.”

Fischer serves as a director, but due to the shortage, is now serving as a cafeteria worker, just like many others on the staff.

“A lot of my own office staff is working here,” Fischer said. “Mostly everyone has other jobs whether it be at the warehouse or from the Child Nutrition office.”

Although the lack of cafeteria staff has always been an issue, the problem has gotten much worse with more than 50 open positions, Fischer said. Last year, MHS served approximately 600 to 900 students, but now serves 1,300 students while short-staffed.

Dr. Keith Kinder, Board of Education (BOE) member, said problems will be resolved when COVID gets better.

“It would be nice if we could convince people to come back and give everyone a reward,” Dr. Kinder said.

“But there is only so much we can do.”

Dr. Kinder said RSD is looking for inspiration on solutions from other schools.

“As of now, we are trying something that we could do a bit differently every day to get it to a better point,” Dr. Kinder said.

Interim Superintendent Dr. Tim Ricker said even with the rewards, people aren’t applying.

“We’re offering signing bonuses for our bus drivers. We’re offering packages and benefits for full-time workers in other areas. But people just aren’t applying,” Dr. Ricker said. “So we are hoping and looking to get creative in this emergency situation.”

issue I

NEWS

5

Admin react to TikTok challenge arpitha SISTLA

The mens bathroom in the G-wing and outside the gym were closed for a day to be cleaned after students who participated in the “devious lick” challenge stole soap dispensers. Photograph by Ben Hughes

Dr. Hankins said the trend is not only illegal and reckless but also creates safety hazards. He said one of the Soap dispensers smashed onto the most important things people can do to floor, paper towels clogging toilets, faucet handles ripped off of sinks -- this stop the spread of COVID-19 is washing their hands and maintaining good is the description administrators gave hygiene. The trend, he said, takes away of several boys’ bathrooms in the MHS one of the most important measures building this past week. against harmful germs.

The “devious lick” challenge, a new Administrators have been lookTikTok trend, is the inspiration behind ing through security camera the vandalism of school bathfootage, urging teachers rooms and classrooms across to maintain logs of the country. A “lick” is the act of successfully stealing “It’s vandalism when their students the restrooms or damaging something that is wasting your use and checking that belongs to someone parents’, your friend’s bathrooms two else. The more damtimes an hour in aging and destructive parents’ and our order to deterthe prank is, the more taxpayer dollars.” mine the students devious it is deemed. responsible for the Principal Dr. Steve - Carl Hudson damages.

Hankins said he had first “I don’t think heard rumors about the Principal kids realize the hours trend last week, but did not upon hours it takes to see it happen in MHS until a few clean up the messes they have days ago. created,” Dr. Hankins said. “The other “From the start, this trend has been day, I walked six miles back and forth damaging and literally goes against the through the halls while inspecting law,” Hankins said. “It starts off with a kid thinking that stealing soap is funny, bathrooms. That is time and attention we could have used for much more but kids like to one-up each other. The important things. And for what, so situation has not gotten out of control, someone can post a TikTok?” but the entire Marquette staff is on the Senior Principal Carl Hudson overlookout to make sure this goes away.”

sees building maintenance.

Like Dr. Hankins, Hudson has had to spend extra time monitoring halls and bathrooms and disciplining students.

Hudson said he presses students to realize that their prank is not just a prank, but is vandalism.

The costs of replacing soap dispensers, paper towels and toilet papers add up quickly, Hudson said.

“It’s vandalism that is wasting your parents’, your friend’s parents’ and our taxpayer dollars,” Hudson said. “It’s a shame because those dollars should be going towards benefiting MHS students.”

Micah Schneberger, custodian, said that the trend has made work significantly more difficult for the entire custodial crew.

Schneberger said he wishes students understood the repercussions of how the actions they think are funny may harm other people. For staff members who have physical balancing issues like him, Schneberger said, soap and water on the floor is a serious safety concern.

“Students need to think about what they are doing and how their actions are affecting people,” Schneberger said.

“What they are doing is vandalism, and it is not OK whatsoever.”

Full-time virtual language arts teacher joins MHS staff emma TYULYAYEV In the quiet closet of the Flex Room, Megan Fink, language arts teacher, answers emails as the Study Hall class passes behind her door.

Fink is new to MHS and teaches about 115 online students, 35 of them from MHS. Fink is one of four teachers at MHS who is teaching students through an online asynchronous schedule. Catie Gray, Spanish 1 teacher; Thomas Cook, Spanish 2 teacher; and Stephanie McDaniel, Art Fundamentals teacher, are teaching online part time, while Fink is the only fully online teacher for MHS. Although this is Fink´s first year on the MHS staff, this is not her first time teaching online students. Until 2020, she worked at the Individual Learning Center (ILC) in RSD, but the ILC closed this year. Knowing that a lot of her students from the ILC were transferring over to the RSD online, she said taking the virtual LA position gave her a way to stay connected to them. ¨We´re asynchronous now, so my students pretty much get to work whenever they want,¨ Fink said.

Shelley Willott, assistant superintendent learning and support services, said this year’s online schedule isn’t too different from last year except this year students are asynchronous.

“This affords students the opportunity to learn and revisit lessons anytime, anywhere,” Willott said.

“Students still have a teacher available to support them and answer their ques-

Students & staff reflect on returning to school after a virtual year

Megan Fink, language arts teacher, creates assignments through Canvas for her language arts students who are fully virtual. Photograph by Emma Tyulyayev

tions. This does require the student to be motivated to work out a schedule that works best for them.”

Taylor Litteken, Study Hall teacher, is Fink’s roommate and said Fink deserves to have a de-cluttered space of her own instead of a space filled with supplies and belongings previous staff members left in the office. ¨If they would come and clean out the cabinets, then take the belongings they have left, she could put a table in there and have a space more adequate for teaching and to put her belongings,¨ Taylor said.

Although her office space is smaller than a normal classroom, Fink said she likes it. She has decorated it with different colored lights, posters and more.

She also doesn’t mind sharing her office with classes in the Flex Room because she gets to socialize with others throughout the day.

Fink said she has found that online students are more open and personal with her because they don’t have to see her face-to-face. Even if it is online, Fink said building relationships with her students is vital. ¨If you don’t build relationships with your students then there is nothing going on in your classroom,” Fink said. “It is the most important thing a teacher can do.”

One of Fink´s students, Owen DeArmond, said he enjoys Fink’s class because it allows him to have time to focus on his passions of coding, music, and film. ¨I would say it’s actually the best language arts class I’ve ever had and not just because of the grade,” DeArmond said. “The grade is only 60 percent of the reason it’s the best; the 40 percent is because I feel like I’m able to have more freedom in what I write.”

“I feel like I am getting a fresh start, even though it is my last year of high school. It is a huge change to go from being in my room doing Zoom everyday to actually being in school with all my friends.”

Jenny Yang, senior

“I’ve been a high schooler for over a year now but [MHS] still feels like a whole new school to me. The pandemic essentially took away my freshman year.”

Rudra Kansara, sophomore

“Remember that this is a new year for everyone; everyone needs help and everyone has questions.

I am very proud of everyone in the Marquette community for working hard to re-establish what it means to be Marquette. ” Principal Dr. Steve Hankins

issue I

76

OPINIONS

SPEAK OUT SHOULD RSD MANDATE COVID VACCINES FOR STUDENTS & TEACHERS?

“I think yes because of the pandemic.

Even though it’s not as deadly as we originally thought, it’s still killing thousands of people.”

ASHLEY TAMULAITIS,

freshman

“Yes, because it is not only beneficial to have a vaccine, but it also helps people go back to normal public settings.”

JACKSON BRUSATTI,

sophomore

“I don’t think they should because getting a vaccine is something personal.”

GAZELLE JOHNSON,

junior

“Honestly, for me no, I don’t think so.

But that’s just me, because I believe that people should have the right to choose if they want it.”

JACOB STORY,

senior

“I believe that getting the COVID vaccine should be a personal choice.

However, having said that, I believe if the majority of people get the vaccine, we could get to herd immunity.”

KAREN HOHLEN,

School Store volunteer

Illustration by Mason Kellerman

‘Devious lick’ disrupts learning environment Students here and all around the St. Louis area have recently been vandalizing and trashing school bathrooms, motivated by a trend that has been circulating TikTok. The “devious lick” challenge is a trend in which teenagers attempt to steal or destroy someone else’s property. Items such as soap dispensers, toilet paper rolls and even urinals are among the bathroom amenities teens have taken an interest in at schools.

At least two bathrooms at MHS have been vandalized with soap dispensers smashed, paper towels clogging toilets and faucet handles ripped off sinks.

The custodial staff taped over bathroom doors to prevent students from disturbing them while they were cleaned, which caught the attention of many students on their way into school.

The damage forced the custodial staff to clean up these large messes which diverts their attention away from their day-to-day priorities.

Because of COVID-19 administrators, teachers and other staff have had to work harder to keep students safe while also prioritizing their main job of providing an environment that makes students excited to learn and want to come to school. Hitting a “lick” on a bathroom stall makes the school day less enjoyable for everyone.

Restrictions on all students’ ability to use the bathroom have also been implemented in an

EDITORIAL

attempt to prevent the “devious lick” issue, despite only a few individuals being involved. Bathroom breaks, specifically during Academic Lab, are now restricted to the 30-minute mods rather than the passing periods and they are timed and limited to five minutes with the threat of removing bathroom privileges if the time limit is violated.

In addition to the time spent cleaning the bathrooms, the damage comes at a cost and is illegal.

Though we understand the desire to keep up with the constant push of new ideas via social media, the line must be drawn at the destruction of property and vandalism. It is counterproductive to the learning environment that school is meant to be. These new trends are no longer amusing; they are criminal offenses.

Before students hit record, they should consider whether their post is comedy or destruction and what possible consequences their post could have on others and their future selves.

Negative or illegal actions done in social media posts can also be extremely harmful to all students that may want to pursue higher education, play sports or apply for a job later in their life.

Thousands of videos are posted daily, and the likelihood of gaining popularity amongst the extensive variety of content is slim to none.

Remember: virality is unknown and improbable, but the consequences are guaranteed.

BOARD

OPINIONS

7

Keep 9/11’s legacy alive liza COOPER I’ve never considered myself a lucky person. I have never found a four-leaf clover or had a wish I made at 11:11 come true.

As the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks came and went, however, I found myself reconsidering the amount of luck I possess.

In fact, I might be one of the luckiest people in the world.

On September 11, 2001, my father was stationed at an Army base in Fort Lee, Va., just over 360 miles from the World Trade Center.

He first saw the attack on TV as he was putting his boots on after morning physical training. After that, chaos ensued. He watched in horror as the second plane hit the towers, and later that day his commander said they might be deployed.

In almost all the stories I hear from people who witnessed 9/11, including my dad’s, confusion is prevalent. Who committed this terrible crime? Why this time, place or location? Will it happen again?

Photographs by Liza Cooper

Although Fort Lee is relatively close to New York, my dad did not have to leave his station that day. ​​He was sent to Egypt 10 days after 9/11, but returned home safely several months later.

If my dad had been part of the National Guard stationed in New York, or the New York Police or Fire Department, the situation could have been drastically worse. He could have been

injured, or one of the almost 400 servicemen killed.

My grandparents could have lost their son. My mom could have lost her husband.

I could have never been born.

But thanks to fate and luck, I am here now.

At the same time I am thanking fate, the families, friends and neighbors of the nearly 3,000 who were killed during the attacks are cursing it. Their losses resonate inside them every day.

We must honor these people and their lost loved ones. 9/11 should not just be remembered and observed on its anniversary. We need to give thanks everyday that we and the people we love are alive. This perspective helps us to empathize with those who are mourning and understand the fleeting nature of human life.

Even though I might not win the lottery or bet on the right team to win the Super Bowl, I’m still lucky. The legacy of 9/11 sheds light on the fact that life is a game of chance, and I am grateful for every day I have on this earth.

Teens deserve better job benefits ben HUGHES

Various signs in the Chesterfield Oaks shopping center urge people to fill empty positions. Erica Easter, a cashier at Chipotle, works in an understaffed kitchen. Photographs by Ben Hughes

School and work. This is the reality for national economies. If teens are not many high school students across the working, they are not making money or country. Or at least it used to be. spending it. This can take a toll on the During the pandemic, teens and businesses that partly rely on their revadults alike avoided working the high enue to stay open and pay employees. risk service jobs that companies are If businesses want workers, they desperate for now. must offer a position that provides for There is a large enough teen workthe needs and wants of the worker. force to fill the positions needed, but They deserve to be rightfully compenmany jobs are still left unfilled, even as sated to make up for the sacrifice that the pandemic diminishes. they make in other areas So, why don’t teens of their lives. just get a job?

Teens especially need More than 28,000 The “lazy teen” steworkplace reform to help workers left the reotype is used to explain pay for one of the largest retail the shortage of minimum expenses of their life: colindustry in wage workers, but it is lege. Average tuition plus August 2021 simply untrue. The new room and board for a fourgeneration of workers year public university has - US BUREAU OF increased 2.78 times since has come to realize their LABOR value to the economy and 1991 according to College how they can affect it.

Board. Federal minimum Teens not working is a good thing. wage has only increased 353 percent For now. from $1.60 to $7.25 in the same time The shortage of teen labor is a volframe, according the US Bureau of untary crisis. Teen workers are knowLabor Statistics. Students would have ingly or unknowingly banding together to work 52 hours a week every week, to enact a positive change for their every year to afford college. future. Institutions that rely on the Compensation could mean higher labor and revenue of teens will quickly pay or more benefits, which can help realize how important teens really to alleviate the huge economic burden are to not only the local but national higher education can have, especially economy as well. on lower income families. This can Teens often support local small allow more teens to pursue higher paybusinesses in the retail and food ining careers that can allow them more dustry, helping to improve local and economic freedom later in life.

sept. 2021

College process is too demanding lajja PATEL

It’s senior year.

The dreadful feeling of coming to school five days a week vanishes as I find myself cruising through the day going from class to class, each similar to a study hall.

These feelings lasted only for a few hours on the first day of school until I heard a group of peers conversing about college applications.

I am starting to feel the pressure of beginning the college process as other classmates have gotten a head start.

Where to start is the burning question because I feel as if I have been thrown into the pit of college applications without any prior assistance.

I decided to begin with creating a list of schools, which required heavy research of location, cost and acceptance rate.

Formulating the list also came with the burden of figuring out personal interests and choosing my future profession.

College information from college counselors has overtaken my inbox at the beginning of this year, making it hard to digest all the instructions and steps provided.

Each school’s application has different requirements; therefore, the complexity results in nothing being completed within a few sittings.

Seniors must manage their time so they can finish work from classes, attend before and after school club meetings and keep up with sports while completing applications creating an extreme time crunch.

Instead of making applications an afterthought, there should be assistance and emphasis on sophomore and junior years from college counselors and teachers.

A majority of the information may not be able to be completed until senior year, but knowing what will be needed for the forms would be beneficial so students can start planning ahead of time.

The preparation for what is to come can result in less procrastination and fewer all-nighters in the last year of high school. A head start as an underclassman may just be the cure for ongoing stress seniors undergo.

8

Cracking the code

IN-DE

Changing fashion trends result in student protests of the dress code

Illustrations by mason kellerman

mason KELLERMAN • rue SIDDIQUI During the first Academic Lab, Dr. Tracey Waeckerle presented the dress code via Zoom. Since then, increasing numbers of students have voiced their discontent with the policy.

Among these students is Audrey Bast, junior, who was given a warning to abide by the dress code policy or “get dress-coded,” which she was approximately 20 times last year, and continues to be.

On her way to an administrator’s office to express her grievances, Bast, in her crop top, zip-up hoodie and leggings, was advised to zip up her jacket.

“I was confused because it was only like an inch of my stomach; it’s not that big of a deal.”

Since then, Bast said she has been dress-coded, or found in violation of dress code, at least twice a week.

“Every time I get dress coded, I get so mad and that’s all I can think about for the rest of the day,” Bast said.

DISTRICT POLICY The district dress code, approved by the Board of Education (BOE), states that clothing that promotes disruptive behavior or displays images pertaining to drugs, alcohol, tobacco, violence, sex or hate groups is prohibited. Pants must be worn at an appropriate waistline and undergarments should not be visible. Additionally, shorts and skirts should cover a student’s entire bottom, which means they should reach the bottom of fingertips. In terms of tops: strapless tops, strapless dresses, halter tops, spaghetti-strap tops, mesh shirts or shirts that show a bare midriff are not allowed to be worn without a jacket. Hats are allowed.

Chains and spiked accessories are not.

Jim Thomeczek, a school law expert who represents

districts across Missouri, said the district cannot put a dress code policy in place without having a reason to do so.

“That reason has to be pedagogical or it has to be intended to promote a better learning atmosphere, and any board that can’t show that can’t impose a dress code,” Thomeczek said. ”As long as you have reasons that are related to the educational experience at the school, for the most part, courts are going to allow it.”

In regards to what is specifically outlined in the code, Thomeczek said that lies entirely with the administration and BOE. “The board gets to decide what is and what is not a distraction, but they have to back it up with facts, and generally speaking, they’re going to rely on the administration and teachers to provide them with the facts,” Thomeczek said. “A distraction for you may not be a distraction for me.”

From a legal standpoint, Thomeczek said students’ response to the dress code, whether it be a protest or a verbal denunciation, is protected by their First Amendment right, as courts have debated.

ADMINISTRATOR’S STANCE Although no new changes were made to the dress code, Senior Principal Carl Hudson said administrators have chosen to focus more on the dress code this year following the actions of other RSD schools and surrounding districts.

Hudson said he encourages students to wear outfits that are appropriate for the school setting as they would wear outfits appropriate for the workplace.

“For most of their jobs, if a student wanted to have their middle section out, they can’t do that because there’s a policy put in place, and that’s the way it works here,” Hudson said.

For dress code violations, Hudson offers students to either change the clothing item or cover up with another clothing item. If a student is brought to the office, the violation could be documented in their disciplinary file, parents could be contacted or the student could face detention or ISS. Associate Principal Dr. Tracey Waeckerle said dress code plays a role in school just like everything else.

“We have rules regarding cell phone usage and maintaining polite and respectful conversation in the hallways, which play a part in undistracted learning,” Dr. Waeckerle said. “All of our policies serve a purpose, and I think they’re all equally important.”

Dr. Waeckerle said there are certain things students have to do in school that are different from what they have to do out in the community, with their friends or on the weekends - dress code being one of them.

“One thing that I like to keep in mind is that as a staff we have dress code policies too,” Dr. Waeckerle said. “As people walk into the building, there’s an expectation of this just being a school.”

CHANGING FASHION As a teacher and a parent of a 16-year-old daughter, Jennifer Chapman has the same message for her daughter as her students: that certain outfits are inappropriate for situations like school.

“There are times when we are shopping and I’ll say, ‘That is really cute, but you won’t be able to wear it to school’,” Chapman said.

Chapman said the distinction between where to wear certain clothing has evolved, meaning people today wear the same thing to work out, go to work or go to church rather than separate wardrobes.

Chapman asks students to think of dress code as no different than a business policy.

EPTH

“Would students dress the way they do [at school] for a job? If the answer is no, why is school taken less seriously?

Is it really the dress code that has changed or the idea of what a school is?” Chapman said.

By contrast however, senior Courtney Fritz, Fashions II student, said the current fashion trends and the amount of dress code violations aren’t correlated.

“I think instead of teaching people to dress against their preferred style, the district needs to teach people to not think of students as objects versus people,” Fritz said. “I personally don’t think a quarter inch or midriff is hurting anyone.”

Fritz said she looks forward to the day when students can keep up with the trends and not be punished for it on school grounds.

“Dressing the way you want lets people be more confident in themselves and appearance, and if you feel more confident, you’re in a better and happier mood all day,” Fritz said. “So I really do think that letting students express their style would help their work ethic.”

PROTESTS Kennedy Payne, sophomore, said the dress code is outdated as it is difficult for her to shop for items to fit the policy.

“I think people who are writing dress codes haven’t shopped for a girl in a long time,” Payne said. “You walk into any store and it’s so hard to find normal fitting clothes that aren’t to your knees or to the bra.”

Payne, after being dress-coded twice this school year, has stopped worrying about the consequences.

2008 1969

High school students wore black armbands to protest the Vietnam War, and the case went up to the Supreme Court. Here, the court determined students’ First Amendment rights don’t end at the schoolhouse gate.

A school policy did not allow students to wear maxi coats.. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of the students and limited the reach of the dress codes to items that proved to be a clear and imminent danger to student’s safety or a disruption to the classroom.

Tinker v. Des Moines

1972

Gardner v. Cumberland

Liberty High School had a dress code that required uniforms. Kimberly Jacobs, junior, did not abide by the dress code and was suspended on five separate occasions. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of the school stating that because the uniforms were neutral and the school cited that they used uniforms to promote safety, the school was not infringing upon the students’ rights.

Two students wore bracelets that read “I Heart Boobies (Keep A Breast)” in support of breast cancer awareness. The administrators suspended the students. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of the students stating the language didn’t have a sexual connotation to it.

Jacob v. Clark

2013

B.H. and K.M. v. Easton Area

9

“I think it’s funny how every time I get dress-coded, administrators say it’s because it’s ‘distracting’,” Payne said. “What? My shoulder? Everybody has a shoulder, and you kind of need your arms, so that whole excuse is stupid to me.”

Payne said she is fed up with administrators who are cracking down hard on the code, and even actively avoids them on her typical routes around school.

After an uproar of scrutiny of the dress code from the student body at Lafayette, a handful of students from LHS violated the dress code purposefully as a way to protest from Sept. 1 through 8.

Taryn Muntean, LHS junior, broke the dress code consistently for a week for the movement.

“I figured that I’m getting dress coded everyday anyways, might as well make it mean something,” Muntean said.

Though Muntean and her friends’ efforts to make a statement didn’t make a massive impact, she said that if enough people speak up, change is inevitable.

“Truth be told, students from all the high schools are tired of it, and it needs serious change,” Muntean said.

SEXISM Jack Cason, sophomore, said the dress code targets women as their clothes tend to be of a tighter fit, of shorter length and with thinner straps.

He said specific clothing items in the dress code shouldn’t be changed, but rather the entirety of the rules need to be re-evaluated.

“I feel like there’s a need for part of the dress code as in wearing things that may be inappropriate such as drugs and alcohol on t-shirts,” Cason said. “But I feel like [administrators] shouldn’t be able to tell someone to cover up their body.”

Though Cason has not been dress-coded, he has noticed more girls and women being dress coded in comparison to boys and men.

On other hand, Apurva Ganti, freshman, said the dress code holds all students to the same standard, regardless of gender.

“It enforces some pretty good ideals because students shouldn’t be showing everything,” Ganti said. “This is school, and it’s a learning environment, not a fashion show.”

Though Ganti said certain factions of the policy need altering, such as allowing tops that show shoulders, are strapless or have thinner straps, she said the remainder of the policy promotes professionalism.

“Your style should be able to work in a variety of environments,” Ganti said. “Of course you have the freedom of expression, that’s a civil liberty, but there are some places where showing everything is not appropriate, such as school.”

Additional reporting by aarushi bute • ben hughes • marin ellington • anika talyan

10

FEATURES

COMEBACK: elle DEVOUS

Football games are open to spectators, the School Store has reopened and senior events have returned.

With the high number of COVID-19 cases over the past two school years, MHS along with many other schools had to cancel senior festivities.

“During my senior year, social interaction was blocked because of COVID,” Evan Miller, Class of 2020, said.

Miller said he had plans for these events and he was bummed when he heard about their cancellation.

Senior Principal Carl Hudson said students need events to feel a part of school.

“Part of school is having fun whether it be the Wacky Olympics, the senior field trip or community service,” Hudson said.

Hudson said by bringing these events back, the staff is hoping this is a way to include the seniors, but also a way to get the underclassmen excited for what’s to come.

“I’m beyond thrilled to participate,” Taylor Donatelli, senior, said. “Especially after COVID-19 hit, and it looked like there was a possibility of these things not happening, I’m so happy that we’ve found a way to make it work.”

sept. 2021

Senior events kick off with Powderpuff Seniors line up during Powderpuff practice facing each other with offense on one side and defense on the other.

Seniors Taylor Donatelli and Adeline Leonard laugh and embrace each other in Powderpuff practice enjoying their last year of high school. Photograph by Elle Devous

Donatelli is participating in Powderpuff this year and said she is most excited to make memories with people she cares about.

Hudson said seniors should expect to see the return of all the traditional senior events, with the exception of Mr. Mustang. It had lost the interest of seniors in its last few years, so MHS decided to cancel Mr. Mustang.

Hudson said there could even be a new senior event focused on community service on the Tuesday, April 5, testing day. This event would focus on connecting seniors to their community in a way that benefits both parties.

“Instead of having the seniors having to go to some assembly that they probably wouldn’t like, we’re going to try to do something with the local municipalities where our seniors would go out and do some community service on that date,” Hudson said.

Another change that could occur is the location of the senior field trip. A Cardinals game could take Six Flags’ spot for the senior field trip, Hudson said.

Lindsey McGee, senior, said the return of these events will lift students’

spirit.

“These events are a chance for students to connect with their school pride and the other students in general,” McGee said.

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issue I

FEATURES

11 Wissman has a binder of raw pages of his illustrations from the children’s book. Wissman said he spent over three hours daily on these illustrations and said this is some of his best art work thus far.

Photograph by Anika Taylan

Jeff Wissman, custodian, holds up a book that he illustrated. This is the third book Wissman has illustrated. He loves making whimsical and colorful illustrations. Wissman said his kindergarten teacher catapulted his interest for art by complementing his drawing in class, and he recalls the teachers saying she liked what he did and the colors he choose to use. Photograph by Anika Taylan

Custodian illustrates children’s book anika TALYAN

Jeff Wissman, custodian, has been crebecause they want it to become part of ating colorful and whimsical illustratheir homes. However, the tree does tions since kindergarten. not want to be chopped down, and the “I like this style of art because it book covers the lesson of respecting is what I do naturally,” Wissman said. nature.

“From the time of childhood, I have Wissman has illustrated two other been obsessed with children’s books, the style of drawing “Snowball the the great animators Amazing Duck’’ Drawing is a great of Warner Brothers and “Slama Jama in and Disney have the Jungle,” before freedom for me. produced.” but feels the most Wissman said he prideful about “The JEFF WISSMAN likes to draw because Big Beautiful Purple CUSTODIAN he has things to say, Tree” because he was and it helps him a part of the project express that. from the beginning.

“Drawing is a great freedom for “I think my skills improved, and I me,” Wissman said. had more say in this book,” Wissman In the spring of 2020, he was sent said. an advertisement from his cousin. The Because he has a full-time job, Wissad was asking for an illustrator for a man spent 5 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. almost children’s book called “The Big Beautieveryday illustrating the book. He said ful Purple Tree.” it is “a labor of love.”

Wissman contacted the person who Wissman said his biggest challenge put out the advertisement and they with illustrating the book was restartstarted to work together on the book. ing illustrations he did not like.

“The Big Beautiful Purple Tree” is “That’s what’s hard because then about a town called Green Pines with a you start over again, and starting is big purple talking tree the town loves. always the hardest,” Wissman said.

The townspeople want to chop it down His wife Angela Wissman has been

by Wissman’s side since he started illustrating books.

Angela said she has seen his drawings evolve with each new book. His talent and passion for drawing helped her fall in love with him, she said.

“I’m extremely proud of him,” Angela said. “This is something he really loves to do.”

The author of “The Big Purple Tree,” Brian McKanna, is an RSD alumnus like Wissman.

Something both McKanna and Wissman were passionate about in the book was the tie-in to RSD. McKanna wanted to put an homage to his old school, Green Pines Elementary, so he named the town in the book after his old school.

Wissman saw what McKanna did and also wanted to put his own school into the book. He represented Ballwin Elementary by putting their school mascot, a brown bear, in the book.

McKanna said Wissman helped him with the harder concepts of the book.

“It was a great time working with Jeff,” McKanna said. “He is an absolute visionary.”

Wissman included aspects of Brian McKanna’s, author, life into his illustrations such as these green pines. They symbolize the RSD elementary school McKanna attended as a kid called Green Pine Elementary.

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THE TORTOISE & THE HARE

SOPHOMORE

GREEN

JUNIOR

THE NIGHT NIGHT BOOK

SENIOR

BIG NATE: IN A CLASS BY HIMSELF Information from Redbook Magazine

12

sept. 2021

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Sarah Henderson

LEGALLY This September

blonde go blonde!

Photograph by Ben Hughes • Illustrations by Emma Tyulyayev

Fall musical cast begins rehearsals

emma TYULYAYEV

Standing out in the parking lot with his friends, Adriano Robins, continuously refreshed his Google Classroom, eagerly waiting to see the casting list. Finally, the list appeared.

There it was: Adriano Robins, male lead. ¨I saw that my name was at the top of the list, and I've probably never screamed harder in my life because I love this show,” Robins said. “I was very ecstatic.¨ Robins, junior, along with his cast members, auditioned for three days for the first Marquette Theatre Company (MTC) production this school year: “Legally Blonde.”

Robins has participated in the multiple MTC shows and was Mr. Wormwood in Spotlight’s, a Rockwood and Parkway theatre group, "Matilda" show over the summer.

In preparation for this role, Robins watched the “Legally Blonde” movie and the show recording on YouTube to look over the characters and see what he wanted to audition for. He also met up with his vocal coach to practice technique.

¨I kinda had an idea of what the and Sarah Henderson, are both likable characters felt, and what their expeand hard-working students who have riences were, so it was also easier to worked with her on past MTC shows. portray that,¨ Robins said. ¨I think we feel really confident in The story of ¨Legally Blonde'' everyone that we cast,¨ Blindauer said. follows the bubbly main character Elle Blindauer said this year there is a Woods as she goes through Harvard record high of 16 boys out of about Law School, originally trying to win her 40 students, with special appearancboyfriend back. Through the journey, es of Associate Principal Dr. Tracey she learns about herself and her ambiWaeckerle and social studies teacher tions while mainJustin Spurgeon taining her optimisElle´s parents.

I saw that my name was as tic persona.

The marching band at the top of the list, Rebecca and some Mystique Blindauer, theater and I've probably never members are pardirector, said the this year screamed harder in my ticipating cast is excited to as well. life because I love this finally start rehearsWaeckerle is ing. set to play as Elle’s show.

Some COVID mother in the murestrictions, like sical. Blindauer had limited in-person emailed her about - ADRIANO ROBINS rehearsals and no the part because live performances Waeckerle was the in 2020, were reduced, which allowed principal assigned to the performing for in-person rehearsing and perforarts department. mances in masks this year.

She has been exposed to a lot of She said this year should be sigtheater because her brother is a theater nificantly easier than last year when director. Waeckerle said this exposure COVID limited rehearsal. helped influence her decision to be in Blindauer said the two leads, Robins the musical as well as working with

students.

“I thought it would be fun and I would be able to work with students in a different way,” Waeckerle said.

Before Sarah Henderson, senior, was casted as lead, she participated in the Muny Teen Ensemble shows for the 103rd season this past summer. She said it was a great learning experience.

She got to see how professional theatre looks compared to community theatre.

However, the Muny had to cancel the last three performances because a few cast members contracted COVID. “So it was really not good news, but then that night we got the cast news and that definitely lightened my spirits,'' Henderson said.

In preparation for her role in MTC’s play, Henderson watched many versions of the “Legally Blonde” show and evaluated how different people performed the character. From that, she made her own interpretation of Elle Woods. ¨I think it's important to definitely be prepared if you have time to know the show beforehand,” Henderson said. “That'll make you stand out from people who haven't seen the show and haven't learned the songs.¨

issue I

13 7

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

BookTok influences reader’s choices carter LONG Evelyn Hubmeier, freshman, first encountered BookTok as she scrolled through her TikTok For You Page during the stay-at-home order in the spring of 2020.

“I thought it was interesting how many people found a love for reading,” Hubmeier said.

Hubmeier, who loves to read, said she discovered many books on TikTok such as the book “We Were Liars,” which she checked out upon recommendation on the app.

TikTok is steadily growing in popularity with about 170 million users worldwide.

Books of TikTok or BookTok, is a more recent TikTok tag. This tag can contain anything from a full-blown book review to a 5-second video of someone crying over a book.

The MHS library has recently created a showcase of TikTok books in the entry display window.

Melissa Twombly, librarian, helped assemble it and said the Library is ordering more copies of these popular

books.

The new display features some older titles such as “A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder” by Holly Jackson and “The Book Thief” by Markus Zusak.

Twombly said she finds this interesting because titles like these and “We Were Liars” were popular at least seven or eight years ago.

“And now people are talking about them again, so they’re becoming big checkouts,” Twombly said.

Twombly first downloaded TikTok to look at local Olympian athlete Tyler Down’s page. She then found BookTok, which she thought was only a few people sharing their thoughts about books.

Soon after, she learned BookTok was an international phenomenon that many people around the world followed and posted about daily.

“Our goal as librarians is to foster reading,” Twombly said. “And so if this is the way that young people are going to get book recommendations, I say that’s wonderful.”

Anahita Kaul, junior, said she first stumbled upon BookTok before she

realized what it was.

Kaul said she was getting videos about various topics such as book recommendations, skits, reviews, trailers and even videos from authors themselves before she figured out this content existed under the label of BookTok. When at a bookstore, Kaul spoke to the employees and found that many people were coming in and asking about the same books that are on BookTok. She has also seen BookTok sections in bookstores.

“I definitely think Booktok is influential in sales and library checkouts, especially among younger readers who read lots of YA books,” Kaul said.

Since then Kaul has mostly been browsing through normal TikTok content, such as comedy, but still enjoys BookTok. “It is so cool because it allows people to share book recommendations and their opinions on books and stuff in a way that it reaches so many more people,” Kaul said.

649.9 Million Views

Seniors embrace childhood backpacks marin ELLINGTON Brightly-colored and unconventional, images of youthful culture like unicorns and princesses decorate backpacks.

Are little kid backpacks the new trend for senior year?

Senior Max Harris thinks so. Harris said his friend group made an effort to get a large number of people involved when deciding to participate to find safety in numbers and enjoy the trend together.

“It’s not just gonna be one person who wears it,” Harris said. “It’ll be multiple.”

The trend became popular on social media apps and has spread within the school.

Harris said their backpacks are met with mostly amusement from other classmates, but he often feels self-conscious around teachers.

“They might think, why is this 18-year-old kid coming in with a sixyear-old backpack?” Harris said.

Alex Nelle, history teacher, has Harris in his 4th hour class and said he was surprised to see him wearing such a bag, though he did not have any problems with it.

“Max is a great kid who tries to make a positive difference in the lives of others around him,” Nelle said. “If the backpack makes someone happy then I don’t see anything wrong with it.”

Josh Syfert, senior, wears his backpack with pride.

“We’re seniors, and it doesn’t really

Senior Max Harris ordered a Paw Patrol backpack off of Amazon prior to the start of the school year. “I’ve always kind of joked around with liking Paw Patrol,” Harris said. “Once [his friend’s] asked me if I was gonna do it, I was gonna get it.”

Photograph by Ben Hughes

matter,” Syfert said. “We don’t really care if anyone judges us.”

The tradition originated at MHS in 2017 with the baseball team whose pitchers wore a child’s backpack to school every time their opponents score a home run off their pitch. The bag is functional as a way to carry certain pitching gear and bands as well.

John Meyer, baseball coach, said the bags are a conversation starter.

“You get to know the kid a little better, and it shows they have a sense of humor,” Meyer said Meyer played a large role in implementing the use of the child’s backpack on the baseball team, which is modeled

after many major league sports teams who engage in something similar.

Although it eventually developed into a lighthearted tradition, wearing the backpacks in major league sports began as a hazing ritual.

Meyer said at MHS, however, the implementation of the backpack for the pitchers was never designed to be a punishment. Despite this, Meyer said he was surprised the athletes chose to continue this outside the baseball season, but he is happy with the positive atmosphere his players’ confidence has created.

“It’s just something so you don’t take yourself so seriously and just kind of keep a little balance about the situation,” Meyer said. “To me, it’s teenage boys showing that they’re kind of comfortable with being themselves and not taking themselves too seriously.”

Josh Syfert got his Jojo Siwa bag from Target and said he had specific reasons for choosing the backpack that he did.

“She is a really good person,” Syfert said. “She gets a lot of hate, but she always just sticks true to herself.”

Despite the recognition the trend has gained throughout the school, students stopped wearing children’s backpacks in favor of a more traditional style after the first week. Syfert, however, said he plans to wear his bag until it breaks under the weight of his textbooks.

“I can’t fit basically any of my stuff in there, so I’m kind of sacrificing some school work,” Syfert said. “The backpack’s awesome, so I don’t really care.”

13 Million Views

8.7 Million Views

4.8 Million Views

14

sept. 2021

SPORTS

Seniors Nick Jensen and Nick Wherry cheer the Mustangs on at the first game of the season Friday, Aug. 27, at Parkway Central. The Mustangs beat the Parkway Central Colts 48-0. JaQuari Parks, senior, breaks the tackle of the Parkway Central defender to extend the possession. Later in the drive, the Mustangs scored, adding to their lead, rushing for 57 yards in seven carries in the game. Photographs by Jacob Robinson

Mustang fans return to fall sports stands taryn MOORE Lucy Kreh remembers watching her daughter play field hockey as a little girl.

“Ever since she was a little girl, when Cece feels like she is the underdog or that she has been slighted, she gets this look in her eye and you know it’s game on,” Kreh said. “That is when she truly plays her best and it is the most fun to watch her.”

Once again, Kreh has been enjoying watching her daughter, junior Cece Kreh, play field hockey for MHS. “Watching Cece play again feels normal,” Kreh said. “I think having full spectators will help the field hockey team.”

After over a year of restrictions

on spectators due to the COVID-19 pandemic, fans are finally allowed full access to games.

Field hockey coach, Nina Walters, said having spectators back at the games is amazing.

“Spectators create a whole different environment, and it will definitely be good for the players to have their friends and family members at the games,” Walters said.

However, not all fans are able to return to the stands to cheer on teams.

Gabby Kensy, sophomore, is unable to attend games or activities with large crowds to keep her and her baby brother safe from COVID-19.

“It’s because of how crowded it is and that masks are not a requirement,” Kensy said.

Fall Sports At A Glance

3-1

Football v. Pattonville

7 p.m. @ Home Sept. 24

3-5 Field

Hockey v. Kirkwood

Kensy said she has tried to convince her mother to allow her to attend games by saying she’ll wear a mask but her mother won’t budge on the matter.

“She thinks I’ll take my mask off during football games, which I don’t think I would do that, but she thinks I would because of peer pressure,” Kensy said.

Activities Director Shane Matzen understands the frustration when it comes to the new mask mandate of outdoor sporting events.

“If you want to wear a mask, no one’s going to stop you,” Matzen said.

“I do what I’m told, but I trust our district to make good decisions.”

Matzen finds it important for the community to be mindful and ready for change to occur.

“We will see different rules where we go,” Matzen said. “We just don’t know what the whole atmosphere around this is.”

Matzen said there have been large crowds at home football games, coming out to about 2,000 people in attendance.

For outdoor sports in fall of 2020, only two family members per player could attend games and only if they wore masks. Admission for games was free last year because of all the regulations.

“I really appreciate everyone’s cooperation,” Matzen said. “In the end the main objective, regardless of what your beliefs are, in my opinion, is to do whatever it takes to allow our students to participate in activities.”

*As of 9/21/2021

5-2 15-6 4-1-1 3-2 Girls Boys Girls Golf

v. Lafayette

Softball v. Lindbergh

3:45 p.m. @ 4:30 p.m. @ Home Forest Hills Country 4:30 p.m. @ Home Sept. 29 Club Sept. 28 Sept. 24

Soccer

Tennis

14-2 Girls

Volleyball

v. Eureka

v. Parkway West

v. Francis Howell Central

4:30 p.m. @ Home Sept. 24

4 p.m. @ Parkway West Sept. 27

5:30 p.m. @ Home Sept. 27

issue I

15

SPORTS

Sophomore shoots for success in competitive archery marin ELLINGTON

“Everybody was like, don’t look at that last arrow, just focus on the next one,” Sonn said. “I was feeling kind of A young Sydney Sonn was fascinated discouraged cause I was like ‘I can’t get with observing the Korean Olympic this down’ and then like a year later I archers. By the age of 10, Sonn had was like ‘oh, I finally got this’.” begun to do much more than Sonn said most peoobserve. She had joined the ple have the common Little Hills Youth Armisconception that chery Club and began archery is not a training. competitive sport Now a sophoCompound and is only for more, Sonn has bows allow for hunting when continued to improved accuracy in reality, the practice arfrom a greater distance opposite is true chery and has while recurve bows are for her. participated in lighter but require “I’ve never tournaments all more practice and closer been interestover the state. proximity to the target. ed in hunting, “When I first Information from: I guess. I just started, all the Academy Sports Outdoors don’t like shooting coaches were just animals,” Sonn said. really nice, and that “It’s very disciplined. really made me love it You have a specific form, more,” Sonn said. and then there’s a lot of Though COVID-19 patience to it because you won’t get restricted her ability to practice at it in the bullseye the first time.” her club facility, Sonn’s father coaches Though she has long-term goals to archery and had built a shooting range continue to develop her skill in a more in their basement. Sonn also owns advanced way, Sonn’s immediate goal is her own equipment, contrary to some to make the switch from her compound of her younger fellow club members, bow to a recurve bow which is more which makes it easier to practice on difficult to maneuver, but more comher own. monly used amongst professionals.

When the facility was previously Sonn said she wishes archery was open, she was able to attend her weekly practices on Saturdays where she could more mainstream and appreciated.

Her father, Thomas, also sees that interact with her coaches and work on the sport is not as popular, though he her form.

Sophomore Sydney Sonn participates competitively for archery in competitions throughout the state. Sonn said that archers compete individually at tournament, however they can identify the club they train with if a title is won. Sonn trains both with a club team and with homemade shooting ranges at her house. “It just takes patience and a lot of determination,” Sonn said. Photograph by Thomas Sonn

enjoys Sydney’s dedication to it as it is something they can do together.

“It’s just nice to always be there to help her and learn new things together,” Thomas said. “I’m so proud of her and just to see her grow through the years as a better, more improved archer.”

With any club sport comes expenses. Thomas said that compared to more traditional club sports, the cost of the equipment is not nearly as bad though it does require a little bit of research in order to find out what’s available. However, he has found the Bass Pro Shop to be a good resource.

Fast Facts

Archery Tournament Structure • • •

• •

Ten rounds per archer Three arrows per round One beep signals for archers to move into position with equipment Two beeps signals for archers to shoot Three beeps signals to retrieve and score arrows According to Sydney Sonn

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16

sept. 2021

SPORTS

The student section cheers on the football team in their game against Eureka High School on Sept. 3.

The Mustangs' next game is against Pattonville at 7 p.m. tonight at home . Photo by Christine Meisner

GAME DAY stephanie LEI

Mustangs face Pirates tonight Stang Gang brings back spirit stephanie LEI Although STUCO will not be holding the annual Homecoming carnival this year, the football team is expecting an even larger turnout as it will be the first Homecoming game for both freshmen and sophomores.

The Mustangs will play the Homecoming football game tonight against Pattonville, a long-time rival since districts of 2018.

“We know that it’s going to be a rough and rowdy match out on the field on that Friday night,” Michael Stewart, head coach, said.

Thus far, the Mustangs have played Parkway Central, Eureka and Parkway North, with a current record of 2 wins to 1 loss. Coach Stewart said much of their success is due to how much they practice and dedicate to learning the game.

“There are things that they do outside of just being out on the field that a lot of people don’t notice,” Coach Stewart said. “On Monday, we’ll do a lot of film review right after school. Tuesday and Wednesday, are heavy, heavy practice times for us where we are trying to iron out the game plan. Thursday is a little bit lighter practice, trying to kind of protect their bodies a little bit and make sure we’re not wearing them out before we step on the field on Friday night. The next day, they will be up here at 7:15 for about five hours of film work.”

This Homecoming game is particularly significant as Pattonville ended the Mustangs’ season in Districts of 2018.

carter VAN BUSKIRK

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“They’re a team that year in and year out, they’re gonna cycle through a lot of talent, and they’re going to always have a ridiculous amount of speed on the field and everything like that,” Coach Stewart said.

This game, the Mustangs are looking forward to bringing back the community and alumni.

Quarterback Jack Ahlbrand, junior, said the student section and the crowd fuels the team.

“At the Homecoming game, there is normally a pretty big audience, the biggest one of the season, so I’m really excited to see how many people come,” Ahlbrand said.

Ahlbrand said the Mustangs have been playing well this season and he predicts a win tonight.

Cheerleader Lindsey McGee, senior, said cheer has spent extra time practicing their routines for Homecoming.

During all the games, the cheerleaders keep the audience spirited and enthusiastic, even when the Mustangs are down.

“It is like the same way that music helps pump people up with adrenaline,” McGee said. “I’m sure it’s the same way for the crowd and for the football players or Mystique.”

Tickets will be available for purchase at 6 p.m. tonight at the Stadium gate for $5. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.

and ready to have my own impact on After a year of waiting, students were the students in the stands and the playfinally able to attend the first home game of the 2021-2022 football season. ers on the field.”

Activities Director Shane Matzen The stadium saw a packed crowd of assists Jensen in running Stang Gang. students and parents as MHS took on “My goal is to make sure my Stang Eureka, Friday, Sept. 3.

Gang leaders understand that they MHS’ student supporters group, have to set a good example for the othStang Gang, led the charge with leader er students,” Matzen said. “If the game Nick Jensen, senior. starts to go south, they can be there to “It’s been over a year since the last time I went to a game under the lights,” cut back any poor behavior represented by students.”

Jensen said. “I think everyone was Matzen said being a Stang Gang grateful they could go watch the Stangs leader can be a difficult job because of again. Despite the outcome of the the sheer size of game, everyone was MHS. However, still in good spirits.” it also can be For the first rewarding when Friday home game, @stang_gang_insta the Mustangs are Jensen’s Stang Gang, performing well. open to all students, “Winning wore blue color out always helps stushirts, which were dents latch on, but the Mustangs have sold at school the week before. always had a pretty good following,” “The first home game is always Matzen said. “I would consider the pretty standard where we sell shirts student section at MHS to be as good for our students and parents to wear,” or better than just about anyone.”

Jensen said. “For the rest of the seaJunior Connar Owens, linebacker, son, I want to get more creative with appreciates the crowds at the games. the themes. I’d like to get people more “Everyone on the team will tell you excited to go to the games with themes they appreciate the students coming unique to MHS.” out to our games,” Owens said.

Jensen said he prefers to ask his “I love this sport, and for people peers what they would like the football to be by my side throughout the game themes to be. After evaluating their means that much more,” Owens said. suggestions, he then announces the “When I step on the field, I am doing it final decision on social media. for myself, the players next to me and “When I was younger, I always the students that walk the same halls as liked to see the seniors leading the me. It’s all for Marquette.” students,” Jensen said. “Now, I’m older