20-21 Marquette Messenger: Issue 3

the

MESSENGER

n. III

VOLUME XXVIII, ISSUE III | MO 63017 | MARQUETTEMESSENGER.COM | FEBRUARY 2021

#makeInstagramcasualagain

Social media trend emphasizes authenticity See pg. 11

ROLL CALL Editor in Chief Associate Editor Copy Editor Online Editor Production Editor News Editor Features Editor Arts&Entertainment Editor Sports Editors Opinions Editor In-Depth Editor Social Media Editors Photography Editor Illustrators Page Designers Staff Reporters Staff Adviser

INSIDE

Waha Siddiqui Connor Del Carmen Zara Tola Arpitha Sistla Stephanie Lei Aarushi Bute Carter Van Buskirk Akhila Swarna Marin Ellington Annie McGinnis Molly Sillitto Lauren Pickett Sydney Goldsmith Rutaiba Siddiqui Grace Taylor Ben Hughes Emmie Foley Mason Kellerman Anika Talyan Lajja Patel Liza Cooper Taryn Moore Sophia Wasson Emily Jorgensen

Students work alternative jobs in their free time.

8-9

emotion

12

4

COVID-19 study Instagram trend reshapes teen online presence.

ONLINE Visit our website to view more stories and MHSNews: marquettemessenger.com

Students organize clean-up projects around St. Louis.

Senior runs photography business.

Masks inhibit the understanding of emotion.

RSD participates in national COVID-19 study.

alternative jobs Athletes who play spring sports condition before their season.

11

Instagram

14

conditioning

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. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Messenger will be published six times for the 2020-2021 school year.

Issue II was written and designed by 11 virtual and 12 in-person students.

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

Mission Mental Health Awareness calls for more mental health resources in RSD.

INSTAGRAM @YOURMHSNEWS

FACEBOOK @MARQUETTEMESSENGER

EDITOR’S NOTE Ah, hello 2021 and my sixth and final semester on the Messenger. You are the most dreaded yet outstanding moment thus far.

When I first joined the Messenger staff at the beginning of my sophomore year, I knew very little of what the journey would encompass-all I knew was that I loved to write and recount stories.

After two years, I still fail to fully describe what the journey was like. How does one describe a road so distinctive yet fascinating? However, I have narrowed down my thoughts to a few notions.

Student journalism is the most difficult yet simultaneously rewarding line of work. With a pen, notebook and a Canon camera, we are thrust into the world of intruding issues and told to recite the stories of our communities. And so, with courage, we do so.

At the same time, we are teenagers. We like to go to empty malls and find fun, laugh at inappropriate jokes and go on long drives with our friends with no particular destination in mind. We are young, but our naivete is quickly stripped with the issues that student journalism exposes to us.

It’s a beautiful misery, but it is also crucial. In our current political state where the integrity of journalism is on the lines, we are the roots of justice. Call us

the entire Messenger staff or the administration. The Messenger takes 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.

YOUTUBE @MHSNEWSPRODUCTIONS

TWITTER @YOURMHSNEWS

the fourth branch of government, if you will.

Working on the Messenger and eventually leading the staff opened my young eyes to the world around me, more than anything else would. Talking to journalists, sources and advisers all created an image that there is more to the world than meets the teenage eye.

And so with that, I leave the staff and my high school life a person with a nuanced perspective, and I encourage you to find that perspective in you as well.

Without it, life is a little bland, don’t you think?

In the third issue of this school year, I present you with a way to find that nuance. From news to human interest stories, the diversity in our coverage welcomes you. Open up to it, you won’t regret it.

Until next time, WAHA SIDDIQUI Editor in Chief

issue III

NEWS

3

Subcommittee discusses the reinstatement of Flex Time MHS admin’s goal is to bring Flex Time back at some point because it was productive for students said Associate Principal Dr. Tracey Waeckerle. connor DEL CARMEN IN THE MONTHS LEADING UP TO the 2021- 2022 school year, a subcommittee of principals and counselors from all four RSD high schools will meet to discuss the future of Flex Time.

Assistant Superintendent Supervision of Schools Dr. Lisa Counts said this subcommittee will propose multiple ways Flex Time could take place and then receive feedback from teachers. Aside from COVID-19 protocols, Dr. Counts said one of the main points of discussion surrounding Flex Time is how to improve its effectiveness.

The goals of Flex Time last year were to provide more academic, social and emotional support for students, Dr. Counts said. From a grade perspective, the number of Ds and Fs from first semester didn’t decrease so the question of effectiveness and improvement for Flex Time was brought up.

Dr. Counts said one of the main goals for organizing Flex Time will be to create a safe and effective system of contact tracing, while leaving enough flexibility for school administrators to conduct Flex Time in a manner that’s the most beneficial for students and teachers.

Associate Principal Dr. Tracey Waeckerle was on the committee that helped introduce Flex Time.

Dr. Waeckerle suggested RSD could start the year with a more rostered

Q

A

AND

Dr. Shelley Willott,

Assistant Superintendent of Learning and Support Services

HOW WILL THE NUMBER OF VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON STUDENTS AFFECT PLANNING CLASSES? “We’re getting those numbers now, and we’ll determine where we can build virtual sections and seated sections.”

During the 2019-2020 school year, Mayce McEvoy, senior, eats lunch with her friends in the hallway during Flex Time. McEvoy was also one of the students who signed a petition to keep Flex Time for the second semester of the 2019-2020 school year. Photograph by Marta Mieze

version of Flex Time with students in classrooms in order to avoid a “contact tracing nightmare.”

However, if the situation with COVID-19 next year is similar to right now, she said she’s not sure if they’ll be able to have Flex Time.

“Our goal is to get Flex back at some point because it was productive for our students to get work done,” Waeckerle said.

Yoon Seo Chang, junior, is involved

in multiple AP classes and extracurricular activities. He said Flex Time allowed him to be more productive last year because he could meet with teachers to review or catch up on homework.

“Unfortunately, I don’t think it’s possible to have Flex Time without everyone being vaccinated and cases being very low because it’s so hard to have contact tracing and maintain rules when kids are just wandering around the halls,” Chang said.

WHAT WILL ONLINE LEARNING LOOK LIKE NEXT YEAR? “Students will take online courses built

by Rockwood teachers and they will have a teacher assigned to them. They [teachers] will help them individually and give feedback. However, the lessons are pre-taped.”

WILL THERE BE VIRTUAL LEARNING DAYS? “We are not planning on having them next year. ”

RSD to limit courses offered online in the 2021-2022 school year aarushi BUTE

and who want to stretch their limits.

The online course offerings can be FOR THE 2021-2022 SCHOOL YEAR, viewed at “Rockwood Online.” online courses will be conducted asynShelly Justin, language arts teachchronously on an RSD-made platform er, said there are pros and cons to this with RSD teachers. Lessons will be decision but it mainly depends on the pre-recorded with one-on-one Zoom situation with COVID. calls with students and teachers when For learning and interacting with needed. others, Justin said in-person classes Some courses, including all AP work the best. classes, will only be “I really don’t want offered in person due to Scan the QR code to teach both at the staff shortage concerns. same time,” Justin said. to view Rockwood “It has been the most Principal Dr. Steve Hankins said RSD staff Online’s course difficult form of teachlooked at what coursing I have ever experiofferings. es they can offer, the enced, and I’m sure it’s curriculum and what been the most difficult they can staff to decide form of learning for a the 2021-2022 online lot of students too.” courses.

Justin said she is not “Teachers are opposed to having secrunning out of stamina tions of virtual classes and we need to go back as this form of learning into that school envifits certain groups of ronment,” Dr. Hankins students, but it should said. “It just isn’t susbe a true virtual extainable to ask teachers perience with teacher to do both online and in-school courses interaction at all times. at the same time.”

“But no matter what, I think next However, Dr. Hankins said the onyear will be better because we as line course catalog will be big enough teachers and students will have settled to meet the needs of students who in a bit and started to figure this whole want to have an average course load thing out,” Justin said. “I’m keeping my

Steven Schmitt, math teacher, teaches his AP Calculus class. All AP classes will only be offered in person for the 2021-2022 school year. Photograph by Zara Tola

fingers crossed that everything goes back to normal or at least as normal as possible next year.”

For Ritika Jagarlamudi, sophomore, the news of some classes being offered only in person didn’t change her decision for the 2021-2022 school year, as she was already planning to go in person. Jagarlamudi is taking mostly AP and honors classes next year.

“I am a little hesitant,” Jagarlamundi

said. “But next school year is months away, so hopefully it will be safer with vaccine distribution and masks.”

The decision is a fair choice, Jagarlamundi said, because it’s hard on the teachers and students to be half virtual and half in-person.

“Regardless, I’m excited to finally go back next year to see all my friends and teachers,” Jagarlamundi said.

4

NEWS

feb. 2020

National COVID-19 study includes RSD lauren PICKETT

ALL RSD SCHOOLS ARE PARTICIPATING IN A study investigating cases of students and staff who tested positive for COVID-19 or identified as a close contact in an effort to research the impact of mitigation strategies on transmission in K-12 schools.

Participants undergo a specific case interview, take a saliva test 5-7 days after exposure, log their symptoms daily and are studied for a 14-day period.

Contact tracers are interviewed to understand the relationships between the case and contacts.

The project was piloted in select Missouri schools last December, with support from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services and The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. RSD schools started the study Monday, Jan. 25, partnered with the CDC, Saint Louis University and Washington University.

Participation in the study is voluntary for students, staff and families and their names are confidential.

The findings of the pilot study conducted last year are expected to be released in the upcoming weeks after of documenting data from 2,000 COVID-19 contacts.

Dr. Jason Newland, M.D., M.Ed., professor of Pediatrics, Infectious Diseases at Washington University, said the pilot data could have big implications in the fall and help school districts understand the most appropriate mitigation measures to prevent future transmission. The study will continue to investigate the prevalence and concerns of COVID-19 variants.

There are indirect impacts of the quarantine for those who have been quarantined a couple of times, Dr. Newland said. If the transmission rate is less than 1 percent, then it doesn’t seem right to punish the students and staff for doing the right things.

Dr. Newland said the results will be recognized by the CDC and the Biden administration and the research could lead to policy changes across the U.S. This research is essential in protecting school communities, especially as studies to approve the vaccine for children have yet to start, Dr. Newland said.

The study will add to the current understanding of the risk of transmission in schools because diligently tracking masked exposure cases while considering risks in outside-of-school activities and asymp-

New

When Travis Young, senior, was in quarantine, he did a range of activities including playing cards, video games and reading. Photograph by Stephanie Rohlfs-Young

tomatic cases is increasingly difficult.

The RSD community will be informed about the results from the RSD perspective of the project in a presentation

by Dr. Newland before a publication is released.

“We owe that to the community for the amazing partnership and wonderful collaboration,” Dr. Newland said. “It’s been really exciting and fun to get to know the community better and the people being impacted by this.”

Principal Dr. Steve Hankins said the concern is not directed toward community spread within the school, but rather spread from outside activities, such as within sports teams. He said he hopes the data will allow admin to reduce quarantines on students.

If the data does show an overwhelming amount of kids getting quarantined but not sick, Dr. Hankins said admin may look into reducing quarantines.

Dr. Hankins said various factors, such as the eased or tightened restrictions on the county level, will play a role in changes to school mitigation efforts in upcoming months. However, he said he would hesitate to lessen prevenPositive andandNew Quarantine Cases& Staff In Students & Staff tion tactics until the NewCases Positive Cases New Quarantine Cases in Students vaccine is more widely 300 distributed.

“It would be nice to Positive Cases have the data because 250 Quarantine Cases it would let our public know it is safe to be in school,” Dr. Hankins 200 said. “I have talked to a lot of students who are scared to come back because they don’t 150 want to get quarantined, and that’s a real fear.”

100 Dr. Hankins said it is unfortunate that since MHS implement50 ed a seven-class schedule, the number of quarantined students 0 increased because 2/8-2/14 2/1-2/7 1/18-1/24 1/25-1/31 there are more opporInformation from Rockwood Safe Together: Health Indicators as of Wednesday, Feb. 17 tunities for exposure.

Infographic by Aarushi Bute

He said he understands the frustration from parents, but he emphasizes students can still contract the virus while trying to follow COVID-19 guidelines.

Travis Young, senior, is 1 of the 115 MHS students who were quarantined between Monday, Jan. 25, and Sunday, Jan. 31, according to RSD Health Indicators.

He was quarantined four days prior due to familial exposure concerns.

“Even if I am doing everything right, it sometimes doesn’t feel like I have full control over my safety, which can be a little concerning,” Young said.

Young said he prefers being in-person and although it is frustrating to stay at home, he understands the circumstances could have been worse if someone he knew was infected.

Young said he will feel safe returning to school after his 14-day quarantine because confidentiality made it difficult for him to remember a scenario where he could have been exposed to the virus.

“I like the idea of the study allowing people to come back earlier than now, only if they test negative,” Young said. “Everyone who is exposed should be tested before returning to school even if they don’t show symptoms. There shouldn’t be a scenario in which they take away the quarantine period.”

Travis said helping improve the general understanding of how COVID-19 works was enough for him, but he was also influenced by the Washington University test being offered for free.

“I hope that anyone who is given the opportunity to help with the study would,” Young said. “I hope that people follow what science tells us, take the proper safety precautions and do everything to keep everyone safe.”

Stephanie Rohlfs-Young, Travis’ mother, said the process has been smooth and RSD and MHS have done a tremendous job of returning students to the classroom and keeping parents up-to-date even though they cannot regulate individuals’ activity outside of school.

She is proud of Travis for contributing to the study.

“We are a family that really believes in research, and we were encouraged by those who participated in COVID-19 studies,” Stephanie said. “Anything we can do to advance the study of this through science is of huge importance to us.”

issue III

75

OPINIONS

SPEAK OUT HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT VIRTUAL LEARNING DAYS?

AIDEN LACAVICH,

“I like sleeping in.

Sometimes I talk to my friends, do some chores, maybe play a couple of games. I would extend the class time. Thirty minutes isn’t really enough to get something done. Either that or get rid of it completely.”

freshman

The Messenger staff engages in various activities with their extra time before and after classes on virtual learning days. We applaud RSD for sending a waiver to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to extend virtual learning days into fourth quarter. Photographs by Connor Del Carmen, Julie Cooper, Marin Ellington and Arpitha Sistla

editorialBOARD

VIRTUAL LEARNING DAYS IN FOURTH QUARTER AFTER LISTENING TO FEEDBACK FROM THE to pause and ask questions. Virtual learning community, Superintendent Dr. Mark Miles days give teachers and students the opportunity recently sent a waiver to the Department of to intimately “check in” with each other to enSecondary Education (DESE) to gain approval for sure the best retention of information. Virtual virtual learning days in fourth quarter, Dr. Lisa learning days also allow for office hours, which Counts, Assistant Superintendent of Supervision was a part of our schedule in the first semester of Schools said. However, this waiver has not yet but not the second semester due to the block been approved. schedule.

Principal Dr. Steve Hankins said at the time of The late-start feel virtual learning days have introduction of virtual learning days, the adminand their engaging content mimic a collegiate istration had approval from DESE for only third learning experience, with casual lectures and quarter due to the seven course block schedule. more flexibility in our schedules before and RSD first introduced five virtual after school. In a year when many learning days in the third quarter aspects of academics seem unVirtual as a way to accommodate online controllable, this flexible time and in-person students in one learning days were allows us to take back some setting, allow for professional control. the first instances development for teachers and However, we understand where we met all of our some give students time to naviof the predicaments gate their own shortened and peers, both online and in of such a short period of flexible school day. person, and interacted instruction. Thirty minutes In this time of instability, seems too short for some with them as if our we applaud RSD for making the lectures and too long for lives were normal. other small activities. We recbest decision for both students and staff. ommend that the virtual learning At a time when social interaction days schedule change to 49-minute is abysmal, the first few virtual learning days classes, mimicking the old A day schedule were the first instances where we met all of our of past years. peers, both online and in person, and interacted Back then, that specific amount of time with them as if our lives were normal. seemed enough for teachers to squeeze in a lesMany of our teachers use virtual learning days son and an activity. While that would decrease as review days for content, skills enrichment or the amount of time we have before classes asynchronous work, and we thoroughly enjoy start, it could allow for more productivity and a the change in nature from the usual 90-minute glimpse of our past schedule that worked well. lectures during block days. While many of our In addition, if we are to have issues meeting teachers have brought up how the short class state-mandated minutes of instruction, a longer periods strain instruction, we alternatively bevirtual learning day could lessen the possible lieve the strain has forced our classes to be more disparity. engaging and creative.

The instatement of the virtual learning Our teachers have had to compress and moddays showed us that RSD does prioritize our ify their usual curriculums, leaving little time for social-emotional health, and we hope they conreview and very few opportunities for students tinue to take that into consideration.

ANAHITA KAUL,

“I like Virtual Fridays because I get to sleep in. If I have a lot of homework, instead of staying up Thursday night, I can just wake up and do it on Friday. The shorter classes are much more manageable than the 90-minute classes.”

sophomore

“I love them because they feel more laid back and they’re obviously not as long as normal classes. It feels much faster paced than a normal school day.”

ANGEL AGUIRRE,

junior

“We are so behind in all of my classes, especially my APs, because of the reduced time. I would suggest that virtual days are on the same schedule as 1st semester classes, which began at 9:30 a.m., and then had hour-long class periods.”

IVY WILLIAMS,

senior

“Virtual Fridays are good for students and staff. At this time, I think a lot of people are stressed out, and the Virtual Fridays are allowing students to be in a more relaxed academic setting.”

CARL HUDSON,

Junior Principal

6

OPINIONS Instagram can never be casual

feb. 2020

Dismissal protocol needs to change

rutaiba SIDDIQUI

marin ELLINGTON

OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS, Instagram has become heavily commercialized. In its early years, the platform was used to share casual images, but the platform now focuses more on shopping and advertisements than photosharing.

What once was a photo-sharing forum is now a mock Amazon.

To combat Instagram’s commercialization, many users have taken it upon themselves to make #makeInstagramcasualagain a trend by posting frequent and candid photos.

While the idea of having a platform that praises authenticity is thrilling, it is nearly impossible to accomplish today’s cash grabs and marketing ploys.

In perhaps the least user-friendly update yet, in July of 2020, Instagram replaced its activity tab with a shop feature. The update was unpleasant as it made viewing likes, comments and followers a hassle.

Not to mention the fact that it does not pertain to Instagram’s purpose as a photo-sharing application whatsoever.

It is a very obvious money making ploy.

This makes it seem as though your photo has to be “perfect” to be considered “Instagram-worthy.”

This update commercializes Instagram and only makes it stray further from its original purpose as an app to post photos.

The platform is nothing like what it once was, and while it is impressive that so many teens are taking it upon themselves to authenticate the app, it is out of their control.

Instagram can never be casual again, simply because it has commercialized itself to the point of no return.

IT IS THE ROUTINE AT THE END of everyday: bus announcements and staggered floor dismissals.

Principal Dr. Steve Hankins said the thought process behind staggered dismissal was to find a way to get students to their vehicles or buses while avoiding having them congregate in large groups.

However, this daily staggered release is creating inconvenience for students when the risk is minimal.

The CDC defines close contact COVID-19 exposure as being within 6 feet of someone who has COVID-19 for more than 15 minutes. During dismissal, everyone has their masks on and even from the farthest end of the math wing, it is not a 15-minute walk out of the building.

Because the entire school is at half capacity, only a few people are moving during release times just as during passing periods.

In theory, congregation would be just as easily monitored with the same amount of faculty stationed around the building.

“Halls are at half capacity, so they are not as crowded as they would be normally,” Dr. Hankins said.

But, the same can be said for dismissal so the enforcement of this policy is inconvenient Not to mention, staggered dismissal proves difficult once students reach the parking lot.

In this winter weather, if students who carpool are released at separate times, they often have to stand in the cold outside to wait for their ride.

I also have witnessed many under-

While the dismissal protocol calls for staggered dismissal of each floor, passing periods do not have that same regimen. Photo Illustration

by Aarushi Bute and Photographs by Ben Hughes and Marin Ellington

classmen looking to catch last-minute rides home with older students they know. Often, though, they only have a parking spot number in a lot they are unfamiliar with and left to wander aimlessly in the cold. If students were released at the same time, these younger students would have the option to walk with older students and avoid spending more time than they need to outside.

Once students are outside, they disperse and some take their masks off. The concern of indoor congregating with masks is not nearly as troublesome as the much larger exposure occurring after school with no one monitoring that masks stay on.

CLOSE CONTACT COVID-19 EXPOSURE: BEING WITHIN 6 FT OF SOMEONE WHO HAS COVID FOR MORE THAN 15 MINUTES Information from the CDC

Virtual snow days are a reliable resource zara TOLA

The Activity Tab , which housed a user’s interactions, has been replaced with a Shop Tab, which allows businesses and individuals to market their products. Photograph by Molly Sillitto

Virtual snow days give Zara Tola, senior, additional time and flexibility to finish her homework. Photograph by Zara Tola

limited amount of time to get through content, these snow days are a nice balance between having a day off and THESE DAYS I WAKE UP IN THE spending seven hours straight hammermorning prepared to shovel snow and ing information into our brains. wait 15 minutes for my car windows to I get to have a break in the morning defrost before making the trip to school and rest so that I can learn efficiently at 7:18 a.m. in time for zero hour. for the time that we have in class. Even Previously, RSD administrators though each class is only decided snow days would As of Friday, 30 minutes, my teachers be online and reduced to a half-day schedule due to not Feb. 19, RSD make the most of that time and get through as having enough hours to meet has had three much as possible.

Department of Elementary Anything we don’t get snow days. and Secondary Education to becomes asynchronous requirements if students work, which is more beneficial than in missed full days due to inclement the past when lessons would be pushed weather.

This plan for inclement weather has to the next class and the entire class would get behind schedule. sparked negative reactions from parVirtual snow days allow students ents, teachers and students alike. to schedule when to do their work at While some dislike having to times that work best for them, increascontinue to do schoolwork on a snow day or the idea of having class with a ing the efficiency of their school days.

issue I

FEATURES

7

FAMILY MATTERS Tattoos help connect to close relatives grace TAYLOR PAIGE MATHYS, SENIOR, HAS TWO TATTOOS:

a geometric pineapple on her ribs and a date in Roman numerals on her wrist.

These tattoos are more than just ink. They are in remembrance of her late mother.

Mathys’s mother passed away in 2016. She said she didn’t have a super close connection with her mother because she had cerebral degeneration, a condition where nerve cells in the cerebellum deteriorate and die.

“Losing a parent is something no one should ever have to go through,” Mathys said. “When we moved houses my mom was sick for awhile, so we got rid of a lot of her stuff, so I don’t really have a lot. The things I did have, I like to cherish and hold on to.”

One item she cherished was a geometric pineapple necklace from her mother that broke, so she decided to get it tattooed on her body.

The other tattoo Ma“With my brother, it’s like thys has is the year her I’m carrying him with me,” mother was born and the Winter said. year she died.

On his other arm, Winter “Necklaces and jewelry has a cross that represents his and pictures are all temporelationship and journey with rary, but this is going to be faith. with me until I grow old.

Growing up, Senior Andrew It is a way to connect with Messina’s uncle was always her,” Mathys said. around and they had become For her next tattoo, she very close, but even closer when wants to get something his uncle was diagnosed with green, the mental health cancer. Messina said he always color, with the phrase “it remembers when his family doesn’t define you.” would go to the beach and he Jason Winter, choir would always notice his uncle’s teacher, has a few tattoos. tattoo.

His first tattoo is an abWhen his uncle died, Messistract wolf on his arm. na got the same exact tattoo as Winter said he was in his uncle but in black while his the woods playing with uncle’s was colored. Messina one of his friends and they said his tattoo is a tribal symbol After her mom passed away, Paige Mathis, somehow got separated. and has a sun with a crescent senior, got a tattoo inscribed on her forearm to Winter fell off a 5-foot drop remember her mom. Her tattoo has the Roman moon around it and inside the onto his face and looked up numerals LXXV (75), the year her mom was born, sun is a triscalade, which is a and saw a wolf about 20-30 and XVI (16), the year her mom passed away.

Buddhist symbol. feet away. The wolf then The sun and moon representPhotographs by Paige and Stephan Mathys. turned around and walked ed a balance of nature, and the away. triscalade was a symbol of any set of three such as He heard about all of these horror stories of wolf father, mother and child or alpha, beta and omega, attacks and decided to do some research. He found Messina said. that wolves, contrary to belief, are shy creatures.

“In day-to-day life, you know, things can hurt you, Winter said in high school he started volunteering you know, words, people just certain things can screw at the wolf sanctuary, and realized the things people with your day,” Messina said. “This tattoo is kind of a hear about others or animals aren’t always the truth. reminder that, no matter what happens there’s always “Something that stuck with me is how I treat my a balance between things and you need to find that interactions with people,” Winter said. “As a teacher, balance to be happy.” if I hear a story about a student that some teachers struggled with, you know I take that with a grain of Andrew Messina, salt and want to meet that student and have an opporsenior, got a tattoo of tunity to develop a relationship with that person.” a moon and a sun with On the same arm, Winter has artwork that coma triscalade inscribed in memorates his late brother: a New Orleans street it after his uncle passed lamp, a cigar and a beer glass. away. This tattoo was the Winter said the street lamp represents one of his exact same as the one brother’s favorite places to visit. The cigar relates to his uncle had, except it a story of when his brother and other family visited is black, while his uncle’s him for his college graduation, and that specific porwas colored. “I want to tion of the tattoo also reflects his grandpa. still keep that tattoo that There is a certain beer his brother used to drink was his alive and that that would come out the day after Thanksgiving memory of it,” Messina every year, and it was a tradition between the two, said.

Winter said. On the beer glass itself, there is a markPhotograph by ing etched that is the tattoo his brother had on his Andrew Messina shoulder.

Senior Sarah George, president of Speech and Debate, and other members prepare for one of their tournaments. Photograph by Nour Elbeshbeshy

Speech & Debate competes in record number of tournaments lajja PATEL WHILE MANY ACTIVITIES HAVE BEEN PUT

on hold this year, Speech and Debate has attended more competitions than usual through the virtual platform.

Head Coach Cate Sanazaro said normally they have 9 to 11 tournaments per session, but they have already completed 17 this year.

“We have far more tournament exposure this year because travel restricts us to a limited number of tournaments, ,” Sanazaro said.

Sanazaro said there is a more members attending meetings because it is more convenient for many to join the Zoom than to attend in-person meetings.

However, the environment of live debates and speeches, Sanazro said, is something left out this season as well as the comradery that comes along with joining this club for freshmen.

Sanazaro said the virtual format includes having meetings through Zoom and putting members into breakout rooms based on their event.

“There is a lack of aggressiveness and healthy competition that many newbies are missing out on, but captains are doing a great job preparing novices to perform well,” Sanzaro said.

Karim Elbeshbeshy, sophomore, is a captain for Congress debate and has guided freshmen through their first unusual year of Speech and Debate.

Elbeshbeshy said he missed bonding with others.

“The muting and unmuting is challenging and the inability to whisper to your partner to inform them of something is also another difficulty,” Elbeshbeshy said.

For novice Ronith Gouni, freshman, this session has not seemed out of the ordinary as he has nothing to compare it to.

Gouni said speech captains are making the most of the online situation and are catering to each novice’s needs wherever guidance is needed and the additional practice is also beneficial.

“Each competition I go to I always make changes to my debate cases and speeches and having more competitions is going to make me more prepared for next year,” Gouni said.

Gouni said he looks forward to speech and debate returning to normal and can’t wait to teach new novices based on his experience this year.

“Debate is all about learning and I am excited to continue to improve with the guidance of captains who have already made novices feel like family,” Gouni said.

Senior Sarah George, president of Speech and Debate, said she feels like she missed out on the full experience of face-to-face debates and key opportunities such as going to Nationals, but the group has done well in adapting to the changes this school year.

“The virtual lens has definitely not stopped speech and debaters especially those who are committed,” George said.

8

feb. 2020

IN-DEPTH

MASK USAGE LEADS TO DIFFICULTY UN

mason KELLERMAN

HAILEY BENTING, SENIOR, DOES NOT SMILE in the hall. Instead, she waves and excitedly flashes her eyes at peers.

Prior to COVID-19, a smirk or saying “hi” would suffice as a proper greeting; however, these once recognized facial expressions are now lost behind a mask.

Facial expressions, Benting said, are essential to the tone or feeling of the conversation.

“A lot of the time when people say something, you can read their facial expression and know that they’re lying or they feel differently,” Benting said.

Masks can make it harder to work with other students and socialize, she said, and social distancing only adds to this communication barrier in the classroom.

Benting actively participates in classes by asking questions and for clarifications. She said masks haven’t discouraged her from continuing to talk to teachers. However, it has created a barrier between her and classmates.

“Conversation can get lost and end sooner than it should because you can’t understand what the other person is saying or you misinterpret what they say,” Benting said.

She said students tend to simply give up on confusing conversation rather than seeking clarification. Hiding behind a mask makes it easier to ignore awkward misunderstandings.

Benting said students shouldn’t shy away from these issues but instead exaggerate their behaviors more in order to be more clear.

Remaining hopeful for the future of communication, Benting said masked conversation will encourage further emphasis on tone. Masks force people to be more direct with their speech because they can’t rely on facial expressions for how they feel.

“With masks, it’s important to acknowledge misinterpretations with what you’re saying or how you’re feeling,” Benting said. “People need to empha-

size clarity and emotion with their words because it’s one of the few things we have left to rely on.”

As a result of COVID-19, masks have become necessary to wear in public spaces, notices challenges with understanding emotion and nonverbal conversation cues.

Emily Stockwell, language arts teacher, stretches her smile muscles, attempting to show a grin through her mask in class.

Normally, she greets students in the hall with a subtle smile; however, masks have made it increasingly harder for her to connect with others.

“It’s frustrating to me that people can’t truly see when I’m smiling, so I can’t wait to smile at everyone I encounter when masks are a thing of the past,” Stockwell said.

Stockwell said she encourages students to speak up if they have a hard time hearing someone because there shouldn’t be anything awkward about asking someone to repeat themself.

Sophomore Principal Rick Regina has spent many years establishing relationships with the student body and he motivates student morale by continuing “Trivia Thursday” during lunch shifts.

Regina said it is unclear if school will return to a state of normalcy by the end of this year; however, efforts can still be made to maintain safety while encouraging interaction among staff and students.

“We’ve been able to do something for 100 years in high schools in America, but now we’ve realized that some of those things we’ve done, we’ll have to do differently,” Regina said.

He said the key to restoring last year’s buzzing atmosphere is to simply talk to students everyday; Regina makes use of his classroom visits by starting the conversation and learning new names.

CHALLENGES Stockwell’s son, Oliver, was diagnosed with moderate bilateral sensorineural hearing loss when he was 3.5 years old.

Talking in the car to Oliver, with road and radio noise interference, has been and continues to be a recurring issue. When facing a different direction in the car, sound travels away from Oliver’s seat adding to the miscommunication.

Now 8 years old, Oliver overcomes new challenges with his heavy reliance on lip reading when communicating.

Oliver has a DM system at school allowing him to hear his teacher in a hearing aid that is connected to a microphone on the teacher. Even though this sound remains muffled from the mask, Oliver’s hearing aid amplifies the volume enough so he can comprehend it.

“With Oliver, I encourage friends, family and teachers to check for understanding if it seems he may not be hearing them clearly,” Stockwell said. “As with any disability, I always think it’s best to ask the person what works for them or what you could do differently.”

Stockwell predicts this challenge will make hearing people aware of all aspects concerning communication and have a positive impact on communication in the future.

Stockwell hopes teachers and students realize the impact of visual cues on communication that we often take for granted. By overcoming challenges with masks, she redefines conversation as more than just speaking and listening.

“As far as lessons go, I think it’s so important to remember that everyone is different, and that’s a good thing,” Stockwell said. “But what we all have in common is that we’re people first.”Maddie Reed, junior, Reed takes on the role of a “friend” in the Acting 1 class with students who receive SSD services, an introduction to the theatre department through acting games, with assistance from theatre involved students.

With communication through masks, Reed emphasizes how important it is to be patient and seek understanding.

“I have never really taken a class like this or really worked with SSD students at all, but one thing I learned very quickly is you can’t ask a lot of questions at once,” Reed said. “It can overwhelm the students and cause frustration.”

She finds herself asking for clarification constantly because she can no longer lip read mumbling or quiet students. Reed said she has to work extra hard to be clear and loud as it’s the best she can do to communicate.

“I have to be more attentive and really listen rather than just focusing on subtle visual cues,” Reed said. “I have to rely more on voice to convey emotion which is not as clear.”

Similarly, Reed said she recognizes communication is a struggle for both sides of the conversation.

For students who receive SSD services, hidden facial expressions make it difficult to understand the tone of the message; for Reed, she said it can be hard to listen to mumbling.

FACIAL EXPRESSIONS

Kathleen Drissel, American Sign Language teacher, communicates with her class by signing the word “holiday.” Sophomores Ginny Pisoni and Madeline Bowen repeat the sign. Photograph by Ben Hughes

As an American Sign Language (ASL) student, Carson Hanis, junior, said facial expressions are essential to practicing ASL. He said students can’t sign emotions and that feelings like disgust must be shown in the face, not with the hands.

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IN-DEPTH

NDERSTANDING EMOTION

Q A AND

Dr. Karen J. Preusser, Ph.D., Licensed Psychologist, Clarkson Counseling P.C. What do you think is a major misconception about communicating?

Illustrations by Mason Kellerman

Besides emotion, Hanis said lip reading is almost equally necessary for learning the language.

“Lip reading with ASL is very important because a lot of people in society don’t know ASL, and it can be almost impossible to communicate with someone who is deaf,” Hanis said.

He said for certain deaf people who can lip read, being able to see their mouth is much needed to communicate with members outside of the deaf community.

Hanis said wearing masks is a barrier to learning a language, even one with clear gestures like ASL because it heavily relies on facial expressions hidden behind a mask.

“Facial expressions mean everything,” Hanis said.

“Many times the words that people choose do not fully represent what they are actually feeling.”

TONE Ashley Hobbs, social studies teacher, said tone of voice remains one of the few cues not lost behind a mask.

Although this can be misinterpreted over text or email, she said, Zoom calls allow tone to be properly understood.

“Sometimes when you’re sarcastic, part of your sarcasm is that you’re not showing it on your face, so then it doesn’t read as well,” Hobbs said.

She experiences uncertainty in the halls when looking to greet a student because she is unable to recognize faces. Building relationships with students compared to years past has become more difficult for Hobbs.

Oftentimes, quick facial expressions are the hardest to read, but people have already learned the emotions conveyed with eyes. The sole reliance on eyes, Hobbs said, will make students and staff adapt

to reading these specific cues.

“The good news is that you already know what happiness looks like in the eyes and forehead,” Hobbs said. “It’s not as much about what we have to learn, but it’s becoming more in tune with our emotions.”

STUDIES SHOW • FACIAL MASKS MAY RESTRICT THE ABILITY FOR PEOPLE TO INTERPRET EMOTIONS BASED ON FACIAL EXPRESSIONS. •WHEN THE FACE IS PARTIALLY COVERED, PEOPLE TEND TO COGNITIVELY RECONSTRUCT THE FACE THEY ARE VIEWING. •THE EYES AND MOUTH ARE SIGNIFICANT IN FULLY UNDERSTANDING EMOTION. • WHEN PEOPLE CAN ONLY VIEW THE UPPER HALF OF THE FACE, THEY CONFUSE ANGER WITH DISGUST. Information from the US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health

“Nonverbal communication provides significantly more meaning than verbal communication. Watching someone’s gestures, eye movements and body language shows the feelings behind the words being spoken. The nonverbal communication adds such a richness to the words being expressed.”

What are nonverbal cues that people depend on most when communicating?

“I feel like a person’s eyes are the best way to improve our understanding of how the person is feeling.

By trying to read their eyes, whether they look sad, enthusiastic, scared, or angry, we can improve our communication.”

How do you think people can convey emotion or tone more clearly with masks?

“I believe communication can be more effective if we ask the person if our assumptions about their emotions are correct. We must be willing to ask questions in order to improve our accuracy of the emotion behind the words and be willing to look more directly at the person in order to use their nonverbal communication to improve our understanding of their feelings.”

How important do you feel facial expressions are in effective communication?

“Deeper meaning and connection to the speaker’s words are gained through nonverbal communication.

I feel people neglect the importance of our facial expressions. Instead, they utilize only the words being spoken which decreases the full meaning of the topic being discussed.”

FEATURES

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Annika Haas, senior, listens to her record player at home to cope with her anxiety. Haas said music has really helped her with school and college related stressors as well as elevate her current mood. Photograph by Annika Haas

feb. 2020

Abigail Kaber, senior, said she practices art such as paintby-numbers and diamond paintings after school three times a week. Photograph by DeAnna Kaber

Students find comfort in creative arts therapy lauren PICKETT

ART THERAPY ABIGAIL KABER, SENIOR, SAID HER THERAPIST recommended she try art therapy techniques outside of therapy for her anxiety and seasonal depression. She said she practices art such as paint-by-numbers and diamond paintings after school three times a week.

She said doing art has helped her to better prepare for her intermittent depressive symptoms and it allows her to start fresh on a new slate. Painting outside of her therapy sessions makes it easier for her to focus on what she could control when COVID-19 caused financial strains for her family.

“The first time I did it I was frustrated by it. If anything, it hurt me more than it helped,” Kaber said. “Once I finished the first one, I felt an overwhelming sense of pride and joy to create something that looks beautiful. It was a complete relief for my anxiety and all my negative emotions. From there, I haven’t doubted how it works since.”

Kaber said her art practices influenced her creativity in other areas, including her wardrobe, as she began to feel more confident in herself and reflect visions from her art into more colorful outfit choices.

Dr. Gussie Klorer, ATR-BC, LCSW, LCPCMA, is an art therapist and author of the psychology book “Expressive Therapy with Traumatized Children”.Dr. Klorer said art therapy is using art as the primary means of expression, which goes along with counseling. She uses two and three dimensional materials such as clay, oil pastels, paint and incorporates poetry and movement into her sessions.

“You help clients to express themselves in whatever way works best for them and then you understand what it is they are feeling that they may not be able to articulate but would come out in their artwork,” Dr. Klorer said.

Dr. Klorer said art therapy can be used to treat an almost limitless array of issues from depression to traumatic brain injury, and it can be used for all age groups. She said it is amazing to see how art taps into emotional expression, especially for emotions that are not easy to articulate.

Dr. Klorer said an example of this is when she worked with a client for 5 years from age 12-17 as he progressed through the foster care system. She said in his first session, he did not say a word and refused to speak about his troubled home life. He only ever made one piece of art, she said, and he took multiple sessions to create a wooden box, covered in sandpaper, nails and protruding toothpicks, on which he sealed his scribbles and feelings about his abusive family.

“He made this ugly piece of art that symbolized some incredible feelings he couldn’t talk about,” Dr. Klorer said. “That was such a powerful piece for him, and he realized it was a safe place for those feelings. ” She said teenagers are at a point of peak creativity in their lives and make for great clients because they have creativity and insight that allows them to naturally, and sometimes unconsciously, express themselves through art.

Pranav Nagila, senior, said after his friend passed over a year ago, he realized how impactful stress could be on one’s mental and emotional health. He struggled with anxiety since his freshman

year and after trying other outlets, he researched how art could serve as therapy.

Nagila said he had a negative mindset and view of himself, yet he was unable to see an issue with his self-dissatisfaction. Once he began drawing daily, he was on a path for self-improvement, and he turned his notebook into a story-like stream of consciousness.

“Originally I would be drawing random, insignificant doodles and took art with a grain of salt because I didn’t consider art to be therapeutic,” Nagila said. “As I progressed, I would start drawing more meaningful memories or the biggest moment from each day, whether it was good or bad, so I can have a better concept of where I should go from there.”

Over the years, Nagila said using art therapeutically lent him more than social anxiety relief as he became more open and gained confidence talking about his feelings.

MUSIC THERAPY Interventions for mental health concerns use musical interaction as a means of communication and expression.

Rachel See, MA, MT-BC, is a music therapist for the Special School District (SSD) that serves MHS. In high school, See witnessed her grandmother’s memory and speech production deteriorate when she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. See said when she played music, her grandmother remembered lyrics and sang along, like she was restored to her old self.

“When you look at an MRI while playing music, the entire brain is affected,” See said. “There’s some inherent qualities about music that can help them retain information and feel motivated where other mediums might not help them otherwise.”

In SSD, See works with students to meet their Individualized Education Plan (IEP) goals that may center around anxiety, self-image, self-esteem and interpersonal relationships. Music therapy also aids in social-behavioral, basic cognition and attention goals, especially for students on the autism spectrum.

See said an aspect students enjoy about music therapy is the feeling of security and relief associated with the familiarity and predictability of music.

“Letting them choose a song, have a control over how the music sounds, how they are singing or what they want to say in a song can really be powerful,” See said.

See uses music as a regulation and relaxation tool, a less intimidating way for students to communicate and come out of their shells while addressing their non-musical needs.

See adapted to using online music tools and sharing Zoom screens to do songwriting and lyric analysis with her students, but she said virtual sessions help them be more comfortable in their home environment with family and express their emotions.

“Everytime I find out a student said their first words in music therapy, it reminds me of how important music therapy can be when you are helping a student find their voice,” See said. This is a job that is very reciprocal—they give me hope, inspiration and joy.”

See said music therapy is a relatively young field and often faces misconceptions such as music therapy is intended to make someone a musician or anyone can become a music therapist. She said music therapists are skilled in psychology and behaviorism and spend hours developing music interventions rooted in science and music theory.

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FEATURES

Instagram users keep it casual As seen on pg. 1 waha SIDDIQUI FOR MANY YEARS, SENIOR Christie Legate’s social media routine was the same: dress up, hang out with multiple friends, always check the lighting and positioning, edit to perfection, then seal the deal with a cute and relatable caption. That is, until things changed last year.

“It was just stressing me out how much I cared about my looks, likes and follows,” Legate said. “The only way I could break that down was to not care.

It started off by posting a selfie, and after that, the pressure was lifted.”

Legate said she found herself isolated in her own company during the stay-at-home order after the initial spread of the pandemic, and she indulged in diversifying her fashion sense and internet presence. Now, she has become comfortable with herself enough to post “casually” on Instagram.

The trend to #makeInstagramcasualagain unofficially started to gain traction during the social isolation that followed the spread of the pandemic, where people were forced to get creative with their social media presence, Legate said.

Instagram has about 1 billion active users, all of whom observe the consistent software updates, according to Statista. One of the recent updates that confused users like Legate, was in July of 2020 when the “Activity” tab was moved to the top corner instead of the bottom toolbar, and was replaced with a “Shop” tab. There, users can discover products from featured brands and creators.

It was then that Legate and her friends observed the app becoming commercialized.

“My friends and I were in the car one day and we were talking about how we wished Instagram was casual again, and I was like ‘why don’t we [just post]?’” Legate said. “So, I went and selected the first photo I could find and posted it.”

The initial post received immediate feedback. Legate said she saw a drop in followers and likes, but her close friends continued to interact with her.

“This was my most authentic side, so I didn’t really care for who didn’t like that,” Legate said. “After I started posting casually, I didn’t care what attention it was getting because it was fun for me. That’s all that really mattered.”

When she was younger, Legate said she observed her older sister Katie, now 25, being active on social media, but also focusing on creating memories without the pressures of manufacturing a smile.

“I saw that my sister and her friends didn’t care about likes and follows,” Christie said. “They captured the moment and didn’t try so hard, and I wish we were like that.”

Juliet MacMurray, senior, sees the positives in the #makeInstagramcasualagain movement, but she sees it from

the perspective of someone who likes to post formally on Instagram.

In her elementary years, MacMurray made videos on Musical.ly and Video Star, and she loved to edit those clips. Then in middle school, the avid editor discovered VSCO, the photo-editing and sharing platform, and LightRoom, which allowed her to develop her interests in photo editing.

She developed her passions for editing and filtration to the point that she started to create presets, or custom filters, her sophomore year and sold them on Etsy because many of her friends asked her to edit their photos.

“A lot of my friends send me photos to edit at the exact same time, and I actually don’t get annoyed,” MacMurray said. “I love editing photos. It makes me so happy.”

MacMurray said she uses editing and filters as a form of creativity and self expression, and she finds joy in it. At the same time, she disapproves of using Photoshop and FaceTune to heavily change one’s look, as she said the individual doesn’t look the same anymore.

MacMurray said the trend to #makeInstagramcasualagain is beneficial for people to increase their confidence in their everyday appearance and disvalue the importance of putting on a show, even though that has its fun for MacMurray.

She hasn’t participated in the trend as of yet, and she attributes that to working on her confidence and gathering the nerve to post a selfie someday.

She awaits the time she goes to college, where she said her confidence may increase along with a new environment.

Christie Legate, senior implements the concept of casualness in her everyday life. Legate has a bulletin board where she pins selfies with friends and family along with printed quotes and other memorabilia. Cover photograph and photographs on page by Waha Siddiqui

BY THE NUMBERS

SOCIOLOGICAL VIEWPOINT Joshua Hyde, sociology teacher, understands both Christie’s desire to break down societal barriers and MacMurray’s desire to use the barriers as self expression. From a sociological viewpoint, Hyde said it all comes down to socialization agents, someone who influences a group of people to act in a group, Hyde said, and one such agent is social media and celebrities and influencers on it. If a famous person exhibits a behavior, others are inspired to emulate it. Hyde said in that same regard, trends are popularized because people want to be one with the crowd.

“Technology is an extension of what has already been [a socialization agent],” Hyde said. “With social media, you can reach more people in a shorter time, and get instant gratification.”

Hyde said, for now, society doesn’t know the significance of the #makeInstagramcasualagain movement because it hasn’t been around long enough to see an effective change. That contradicts both Christie and MacMurray’s belief that the movement will lead to more body acceptance online.

“We will just have to see how long individuals stick with it [the trend],” Hyde said.

1+ billion users 1.16 billion potential audience reach for advertisers 90 million users tap on a product tag in a month’s span 9 out of 10 users follow a business account 67 percent of 18 to 24 year old users log on more than once a day, a percentage higher than any other age group.

Information from Hootsuite regarding Instagram’s demographics in 2021

Legate brings her Instagram casualness to real life, by printing out her recent favorite albums, pinning them onto her bulletin board and posting about them online.

Her current favorite albums are “1” by The Beatles and “A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships”

by The 1975.

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FEATURES

feb. 2020

BACK TO WORK

At a time when traditional jobs are unstable, students pursue alternative ways to make money. marin ELLINGTON

Junior Jess Willsey works to fill an order for a customer of her baking business J Dubs Sweets.

“I have had the thought of opening my own bake shop when I grow up for a few year now,” Willsey said. “I always prioritize my orders over some of my fun personal things.”

Photograph by Amy Willsey

Willsey's cupcakes and sugar cookies

Henderson's glass album covers

Posing with her fellow party princess, Sarah Henderson, junior, finishes up entertaining as Disney Princess Anna from Frozen. Henderson also makes glass album covers, and she holds the finished product of a glass album cover that she made for one of her customers.“A lot of people have seen them on various social media platforms and had always wanted to buy one,” Henderson said. “Mine are fairly inexpensive so they were excited to purchase from me.” Photographs by Jennifer Ferry and Sarah Henderson

Sarah Henderson, junior, was inspired by tutorials on Pinterest and TikTok on how to make glass album JUNIOR JESS WILLSEY’S DREAM covers. is to open her own bakery in Chicago, “I wanted to make one for my but for now she’s opening her own bakfriend’s birthday, and it was pretty simery out of her kitchen in Ballwin. ple so I thought, ‘Why not sell them?’”

Willsey used her free time during Henderson said. the stay-at-home order last March to Henderson first prints a screenlaunch J Dubs Sweets. Having made the shot of the requested song and puts it logo for her business in a Graphic Deunder the glass before tracing it with a sign class prior to the Alternate Learnwhite paint pen and glueing the picture ing Plan, she was able to start with a brand and has grown her requested to be the album cover.

Though previously $8, Henderbusiness since then.

“All of my friends and son now charges $12 per album cover because the demand and time to make family have been super them have both increased. The glass supportive and think it’s comes from Dollar Store frames, and so cool that I’m already instructions are shared with customers starting to achieve my about how to hang the plaque on the dream,” Willsey said.

“My friends always make wall as well as hooks.

She communicates with her customme laugh because they alers via Instagram Direct Message and ways say ‘remember me has delivered most packages to peoples’ when your bakery gets doorsteps. famous’.”

The plaques can be customized for She has made more friends or family with their favorite than $3,000 since April.

In addition to running this business, artists and songs.

Though she considers the profit Willsey also started working at Crumbl she makes from these plaques relativeCookies in Des Peres. ly good money, this serves as a “side “I make more money consistently hustle” for Henderson who has anothwith my actual job, but I like being er job working as a party princess for able to know my customers and make Enchanted Events singing and interactpersonal connections and get all the ing with kids at their parties as Disney feedback directly,” Willsey said. characters.

Gooey butter “I wanted to make “I do not keep cookies and sugar cookies have been one for my friend’s track of the money making from most popular rebirthday, and it was I’m this because I see it cently because they pretty simple so I as a very temporary look good and taste good and the sugar thought, ‘Why not sell thing,” Henderson said. “I don’t see mycookies can be decothem?’” self selling outside of rated to your liking, my friends and peoWillsey said. who follow me on Cupcakes also SARAH HENDERSON ple social media.” have become a JUNIOR Chloe Inman, popular treat among junior, also works as her customers and a party princess and goes beyond just she even receives the occasional cake birthday parties. She works meet and order. As for delivery, customers can greets as well as charity events. Inman, either pick up or meet her halfway or who participates in theater and show Willsey can drop off orders; however, choir, enjoys the way she has been able there is a fee depending on the disto incorporate her passions into her tance.

Many students pick up jobs to bring work.

“I am always acting and singing at in extra money for themselves or their household, and some, like Willsey, ven- this job, and that is something I really enjoy," Inman said. ture outside the traditional job market to do so.

The youth unemployment rate decreased from 26.9 percent in April 2020 to 18.5 percent in August 2020.

Information from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

A FEW YEARS AGO, SENIOR JACK WALKER'S parents gifted him a Crosley record player. Since then, Walker has preferred listening to music on his record player over streaming on Spotify or Apple Music.

“Something about playing a record on a record player is a bit more relaxing and fun than listening to music on my phone,” Walker said.

Specifically, Walker’s favorite vinyl to play is Mac Miller’s 2018 “Swimming” album.

“It’s one of my favorite albums of all time and playing it on the record player perfectly fits the vibe of the album,” Walker said.

While Walker is glad to see more teens dive into the vintage music device, he said most teens purchase record players simply because it’s trendy, but a record player is a medium of music that should be reserved for avid music listeners.

According to a survey conducted by Consequence of Sound, 2020 was the first time in 20-30 years that physical vinyl sales exceeded CD sales.

Sanjana Iyer, junior, is glad an older trend was able to gain more appreciation “It started as a popular social media thing that went with the vintage aesthetic, but more and more people have started appreciating records from all different music tastes and styles, which I think is really cool,” Iyer said.

Iyer said she loves listening to records such as “Wonder” by Shawn Mendes, “Don’t Smile At Me”

by Billie Eilish and “Folklore” by Taylor Swift on her tried and true Crosley record player.

Iyer says the difference between the audio through an iPhone speaker and the audio coming from a record player is noticeable.

“The music speaks to me more when it’s on vinyl and almost as if the artist is right in front of me,” Iyer said. “It creates a sense of appreciation for the vocals and lyrics that go into creating music that are sometimes overlooked.”

Like Iyer, fellow Crosley owner Maria Mcadamis, junior, said teens are currently drawn to a vintage aesthetic and record players are a good way to express that.

Mcadamis enjoys listening to “Folklore” by Taylor Swift as she said the Indie-Folk tone of the album is perfectly conveyed through it.

“I like listening to records most when I’m doing homework because it’s much more calming than listening to it off your phone or computer,” Mcadamis said.

Sarah Abbas, senior, has owned her Victrola record player for approximately two years now, and her vinyl collection gets bigger by the second. “‘Melodrama’ by Lorde and ‘Circles’ by Mac Miller are both religious experiences on vinyl,” Abbas said.

“They’re good albums on their own, but listening to them on a record player is a whole different experience.”

Abbas is also happy to see her peers indulge in record players.

“Having your music as something tangible and as something you can collect and discuss is a really cool thing,” Abbas said. “Not to mention the fact that the sound quality is top notch.”

Neil Landow, manager of Euclid Records in Webster Groves, said listening to a record is a completely different experience.

“A vinyl has texture, warmth and it makes the music sound smooth,” Landow said. “Truly, it is an experience that you wouldn’t have had through phone speakers.”

Landow sees that most teenagers tend to own Crosleys, and said it's ironic because they used to have a bad reputation for scratching and ruining vinyls.

He said Crosleys are a good beginning point for people newly getting into records.

Landow is also responsible for purchasing vinyls for the store, so he has seen the increase of record sales firsthand. For Euclid Records, record sales have increased tremendously in the past four to five years and he attributes that to the increase in teenage record fanatics.

“It seems to be more of a revival, rather than a fleeting trend,” Landow said. “Teens have grown up in this digital age, but now they’re being reintroduced to record players through older generations.”

HOW TO MAINTAIN RECORD PLAYERS:

1 2 3 4 5

Purchase a protector case that covers the player to protect from dust and scratches. Typically ranging from $15 to $30, a case can increase the longevity of your player.

Clean the needle of your player after each use by using a designated stylus-cleaning brush at least once a week. Additionally, replace the stylus every two years for optimal sound.

For a more thorough clean, dampen a lint-free soft piece of cloth with rubbing alcohol and wipe down the surface, starting from the center and working your way out in a circular motion.

Make sure your record player is placed atop a leveled and clean surface. Unaligned players will cause your record to curve or be damaged.

Use a record clamp to have the perfect amount of pressure on both the stylus and record. This prevents scratching.

Information from Victrola Infographic by Waha Siddiqui

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Record players, vinyls make a comeback rutaiba SIDDIQUI

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V I VA L Maria Mcadamis’s favorite

Sarah Abbas’s favorite

Jack Walker’s favorite

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SPORTS

feb. 2020

Athletes condition in preparation for tryouts carter VAN BUSKIRK MANY COACHES EMPHASIZE THE NEED FOR conditioning during pre-season including varsity baseball coach, John Meyer.

“It is a vital piece of a successful program,” Meyer said. “The Weight Room reveals a lot about an athlete. It does a lot for confidence, resilience, chemistry, toughness and determination.”

For Meyer, the work off the field is paramount to the success of a team.

“For our schedule and the competition, we must face in the postseason, our players know they have to be physically prepared because natural ability will only go so far,” Meyer said.

In a typical year, baseball has summer, fall and winter workouts that lead into the spring season.

Meyer credits their workout regimen, taking place three days a week, to having the upper hand when the season starts.

The majority of conditioning done in preparation for the season is strength training. The focus is on speed, sprints and explosion rather than cardiovascular exercises.

Senior Ethan Koop, varsity track, has a contrasting cardio approach to his training. In the offseason, Koop runs indoor track with a local club team.

“I have to come ready to run long distances in preparation for the 3200 meter events I run in,” Koop said. “Two weeks before the season, the team gets together for more intense runs. These are geared toward really finding your event.”

This year, he is looking forward to another successful spring track season. Koop has appeared at State three consecutive years and has been named first team all-metro by Big River Running and the St. Louis Post Dispatch.

“I would never have been able to receive the awards I have if it weren’t for my teammates push-

Nick Schowe, freshman, participates in a series of exercises during a preseason workout for baseball run by John Meyer, varsity coach, on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. “These things can be taken away from you in the blink of an eye,” Meyer said. “We’re a year removed from what we’re doing here so we should be able to take advantage of any time we get to be together.” Photograph by Marin Ellington

ing me in practice everyday,” Koop said. “We hold ourselves to a high fitness standard through the hard work and dedication we put in. In a sport as vigorous as track, we all know we have to stay in the best shape.”

Chris Kenny, varsity girls soccer coach, starts his training by posting a progression of workouts to the MHS soccer website, such as distance runs, track work and sprints.

“We have certain fitness standards that we use to help us reach the goals of our regular season,” Kenny said. “I have rarely seen high school soccer teams make it far into the postseason without a physically tough core.”

Leading up to the week of tryouts, his teams go through a series of fitness tests assessing their

preparation on the most crucial aspects of the game.

Kenny usually begins the week of fitness testing with a distance run, usually three to five miles, followed by repeated 200, 400 and 800 meter sprints.

“The most successful high school programs use four major pillars of development, which are physicality, technicality, tacticality and mentality,” Kenny said. “You have to take care of all of the controllables to give your team a chance at winning.”

And as spring sports begin, that’s the goal standard at MHS. “As the season progresses, we’ll see if our preseason efforts prove to be effective,” Kenny said. “If not, then we have to have the courage to change it. That’s why we condition.”

Spring sports return after canceled 2020 season marin ELLINGTON WHEN THE TRACK AND FIELD SEASON WAS delayed last spring due to the pandemic, Matt Nienhaus, head coach, assumed at the time that they would be out for a couple of weeks.

After a few weeks of practice last spring, the entire 2020 season was canceled for all spring sports.

Many seniors lost their last high school season, and coaches lost valuable time developing the skills of their players.

Now, only a week away from spring sports tryouts on Monday, March 1, coaches and players of all sports are preparing for a different type of season.

Due to his experience as a cross country coach this season, Nienhaus suspects participation in track and field may be down this year by 25 percent from their usual 90 to 110 athletes, despite it being a nocut sport.

“The hope is that everyone realizes that this is a great outdoor sport that can be used to, in an organized way, get you back into shape as we exit the winter doldrums,” Nienhaus said.

A large concern for Nienhaus is getting experience for freshmen and sophomores to allow them to succeed because they barely had the chance to work in the program.

Track athletes also have been staying in shape during the offseason by running indoor track and following programs given by Nienhaus. Many of the athletes he works with also play football, which has been offering strength and conditioning sessions multiple times a week.

Many athletes who participate in other sports such as Luke Arens, senior, haven’t been so lucky to have this opportunity for offseason practice.

Luke Arens, senior, looks to see if he has a shot on goal during a water polo game against Parkway North last school year. MHS won with a final score of 15-8.

Photograph by Kevin Arens

Arens plays varsity water polo, and though he has been back in the water swimming, he hasn’t been able to practice water polo.

“It isn’t a sport that you can just practice anywhere and anytime you want,” Arens said. “I feel a little rusty with my water polo skills, but I know I’m in pretty good shape and can get back in the swing of things quick.”

Team sports that rely on player interaction suffered from the loss of time spent working together last season, but players such as Arens work to ensure this season will not be canceled by wearing his mask and following safety protocols.

“I’m a little scared that this season could get canceled because it is my senior year, and I don’t want to

miss both of my last two seasons,” he said.

Other students such as junior Mary Kate Miesner, who made j.v. soccer before the shutdown, have decided not to return after last season was canceled and COVID-19 restrictions have come into play.

“At first, I was really upset because I wanted to play for [Coach] Conway, but I realized we were in the middle of a pandemic,” Miesner said.

Due to the gap between seasons, Miesner has not participated with an organized soccer team since the end of her freshman year. COVID-19 restrictions have also caused a delay in her cheer season, altering it and pushing it back to the spring.

“This season in cheer has been a rollercoaster of ups and downs, but we have worked so hard as a team in order to put together a routine for Nationals,” Miesner said. “I couldn’t quit on my team now, and that made going out for soccer nearly impossible.”

Alex Nelle, boys varsity tennis coach, has few concerns regarding whether his team will continue to be allowed to play.

“Tennis was one of the first sports to come back in the area, as the sport is conducive to social distancing,” Nelle said. “I don’t think the canceling of the season last year will really impact our player’s performance much, as most of them have been playing tennis at the various racket clubs for the last several months.”

He said the biggest weakness after not having last season will be helping the players to understand different strategies of play.

“The players in our program are extremely talented, so our focus this year will be to get them to understand the strategies that we use in matches,” Nelle said. “If we are successful in getting that taught to them, then I think we have a great season.”

15

SPORTS

issue III

Senior wrestler achieves hallmark of 100 wins Rudman advances to the Sectional Qualifiers Saturday, Feb. 27. grace TAYLOR WALKING INTO THE COMPETITION Aidan Rudman, senior, was confident he was going to secure a win. And he did.

On Thursday, Jan. 14, at the Chaminade quad dual, Aidan had his 100th varsity win. Rudman described this victory as a sense of relief through his body after he finally achieved his goal.

“I trusted all of my preparation leading up to that and knew I was going to get it,” Rudman said. “I didn’t know the opponent but my mindset wouldn’t have changed even if I was wrestling against the best in the state.”

He, his parents and coach had been anticipating the 100-win mark since he started wrestling on varsity his freshman year.

Rudman said it is rare to earn 100 varsity wins. It requires not only being on varsity all four years, but also earning a lot of wins freshman and sophomore years.

Mat time and practice were important for Rudman to meet this milestone. He also focused on increasing cardio strength, which helped him get in shape before matches.

Jake Dieffenbach, varsity wrestling

coach, has coached Rudman since he was a freshman on the varsity wrestling squad. He said Rudman has become a much stronger and technical wrestler since his freshman year.

“He’s a fierce competitor and has never missed a practice in his four years in the program,” Dieffenbach said. “Aidan has great character and has been a pleasure to coach.”

Brody Rudman, freshman and varsity wrestler, witnessed his older brother achieve his 100th victory.

Aidan and Brody have wrestled alongside each other since little league wrestling.

It is tradition for Aidan to give Brody pep talks before matches or when cutting weight for upcoming competitions. “[Aidan] shows me to lead the room, and that I need to be an older brother for someone else in the room,” Brody said.

Derek Rudman, Aidan’s father, has been to every one of Aidan’s matches

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Aidan Rudman, senior, competes against St. John Vianney during Senior Night Wednesday, Feb. 3, riding on a high from achieving his 100th win.

Rudman has been a part of the varsity wrestling squad since freshman year. and he currently has a 29-3 record for this season, which began Monday, Nov. 2 2020. Photographs by Shelly Nicozisin

the past 12 years and was able to watch his son accomplish his milestone in person.

Derek coached Aidan in little league wrestling up until high school. Derek said by the time Aidan was in high school, Aidan had taken full ownership of his career and became more of a loving and supportive role.

Every significant match in Aidan’s wrestling career, always ends in an embrace between them, Derek said.

“A big turning step in his career was when Aidan wrestled for himself.”

Derek said, “He made a decision he wanted to wrestle for all the right reasons, and that has made the biggest difference.”

issue III

16

SPORTS

New season, new coach

Varsity girls lacrosse team and new head coach return to the field after experiencing a year gap annie MCGINNIS RENEE ABROLAT, PREVIOUSLY the varsity assistant lacrosse coach, stepped into the head coach position last season, hoping to grow the program after participating in it herself in high school.

“Getting the call saying I was going to be the new head coach of the girls lacrosse team felt surreal,” Abrolat said.

But then COVID-19 canceled the entire 2020 season.

After missing what would have been her initial head coaching experience, Abrolat eagerly awaits the upcoming season to adjust to her position and watch the athletes return to the sport they are passionate about.

Spring sports, including girls lacrosse, return for tryouts Monday, March 1. Recently the lacrosse team began preparation during the open fields preseason.

Abrolat said her coaching style varies between hands on and observational, and she implements new drills throughout practices to see how the athletes initially respond to them.

“Having played myself, it is a little

easier for me to see if a player is out ple victories, such as earning second in of position or something else needs to state in 2018 and beating the difficult be adjusted if I am in the middle of the MICDS girls varsity team in 2019. drill,” Abrolat said.

“Winning games is only one importShe also finds it effective to talk ant part of a high school sport,” Kathy with the athletes individually to recsaid. “Having a coach that believes in ommend options on ways to improve the players is effective and is a positive their game on the field, such as small role model to the players is an essential adjustments to their part as well.” stick work, foot work Kathy said she “I have been waiting sympathized with the or shot placement.

Abrolat said she too long to play a full athletes over their looks for athletes who season, field game, and I’m canceled demonstrate not only especially with Carready to bring it all oline, who was going fundamental skills, but dedication to to lead the varsity out on the field.” improving and workteam as a captain last ing to connect with season.

RILEY GORING their teammates and “I truly love coaches. watching Caroline and SENIOR Lacrosse parent the other girls play Kathy Kilo, parent of in the games,” Kathy Caroline Kilo, senior, said she respects said. “The girls are so talented and it’s former coach Chris Elledge’s work fun to be with all of the other players’ with the athletes, but looks forward to parents.”

Coach Abrolat continuing the varsity Kathy looks forward to cheering on team’s success. her daughter who will be experiencing In previous seasons, when her her last season with the team. daughter was coached under Elledge As someone who has been a memand Abrolat, the team embraced multiber of the varsity lacrosse team for

The varsity lacrosse team raises their sticks before a match against Francis Howell in 2019. This was Coach Chris Elledge’s final year of head coaching for the varsity lacrosse team, and Coach Renee Abrolat’s final year as the assistant coach before being promoted to head coach for the 2020 season. Photograph by Bob Miller

three years, Riley Goring, senior, created a bond with Coach Elledge.

She admired how he consistently provided a fun practice environment for the athletes while also maintaining a drive to win.

Elledge resigned from head coach to move to Connecticut to support his wife in a residency program for doctor’s at Yale University.

As strong as her bond was with Elledge, Goring said Abrolat will be a strong head coach replacement having previously observed her assistant coaching abilities throughout her varsity seasons.

Although lacrosse did not compete last season, Goring said Abrolat stepped into her head coach position and made positive decisions for the team for the limited season they had.

Goring eagerly awaits the upcoming bonding, competitiveness and intense lacrosse season after the disappointment of not competing last year.

“I have been waiting too long to play a full field game, and I’m ready to bring it all out on the field,” Goring said.