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Pattonville Briefs

Compiled by Jessica Brunts

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Pirate Press’ guide to college visits

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Get the story on Pattonville’s student bands

Pattonville High School 2497 Creve Coeur Mill Road Maryland Heights MO 63043 l Vol. 75 Issue: 3 November 2010

Losing streak continues as staff is defeated by Rolling Rams The St. Louis Junior Rolling Rams defeated the Pattonville staff 3028 in the 15th Annual Wheelchair Basketball Game Nov. 4.

The Wheelchair Basketball Game is a fundraising event for the St. Louis Junior Rolling Rams and all proceeds from admission, T-shirt purchases, raffle sales and the silent auction benefit the team.

In an extremely close game, the teachers fell behind early in the first half but came back to take the lead with the help of Shelley Ewig, Kelly Thames and Doug McGhee. In the final minute of the game, the Rolling Rams claimed the lead and were able to hold onto the victory until the final buzzer sounded.

At left, social studies teacher Ryan Brueckmann futilely attempts to lead his team to victory.

Photo by Jeremiah Williams

The Pattonville Education Foundation (PEF) will host a trivia night at 7 p.m. Nov. 19 at the Debonaire Banquet Center. Tables of eight cost $150 before Nov. 10 and $160 after. Funds raised will go to Pattonville Educators as part of PEF’s grant program.

1998 Pattonville Graduate, Vincent Paul Wallace Jr. will perform in three operas during the upcoming season at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. He will perform in three consecutive operas over the next eight months.

“Macbeth” was the first and opened on Oct. 1. He will continue with “The Girl of the Golden West” and will end with “Lohengrin.”

The Pattonville High School Band Boosters Association will hold its annual arts and craft fair from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 4 in the Pattonville auditorium. Vendors display and sell handcrafted arts and crafts at the events. 100 spaces are available for rent at $35 before Oct. 31 and $45 after Nov. 1. Proceeds benefit the Pattonville band and flags program.

Kelly Gould, 12, tied for 44th place with a score of 180 (89-91) at the Class 2 State Championship at Twin Oaks Country Club in Springfield, Mo. Theresa Ford, 12, finished in the top 8 at the State Tennis Tournament the weekend of Oct. 22-24.

John Abraham, a World War II veteran and Pattonville High School’s first male graduate, spoke at the high school at 9 a.m. on Oct. 27. Students from three World War II classes had the opportunity to listen and speak with Abraham. Abraham graduated in 1937 with the second class to graduate from the district.

>>> Briefs continued on page 2

pg. 6

Possible schedule change proposed; renewed focus on post-secondary options, careers Career Connections Committee has plans to increase information on careers, student involvement while taking feedback from both faculty, students

By Jacob Sharp

A

fundamental schedule change may be in the works for Pattonville High School, with the general goal of which being to increase student involvement and awareness of career information for post-high school. However, the plan is still very much in the planning stages, and presentations to students and staff have been gradually introduced over time, with feedback from both groups influencing the course of the changes.

“Our main goal is to provide increased career information to students, and give them opportunities to learn more about what it is they want to know,” Rebecca Krohn, a member of the Career Connections Committee, said. “Career education is an integral part of the district-wide Comprehensive School Improvement Plan, and our committee is trying to find a way to improve how we handle that in our school. We’re still far from ironing out the how and when.”

The committee has been researching how to implement increased career education in the high school for over a year. They have made site visits to other districts and schools to find more information and ideas for their own program.

And now with the growth and evolution of new technologies, there are many tools that the committee hopes to integrate into the curriculum, including creating online career pathway portfolios that follow the students over the years and give them

>>> See SCHEDULE page 2

Fred Weber Sanitary Landfill benefits Pattonville High School, community Landfill heats the high school, other local businesses

By Geri Farrell

F

red Weber is the fourth largest landfill in the nation and it is located right next door to Pattonville High School. It supplies the school with heat in the winter; however, it is also known for its unpleasant stench.

The high school was moved right next to the Fred Weber Sanitary Landfill in the early 1970s. It was not until 1997 that the idea of using the landfill’s methane gas to heat Pattonville emerged.

According to Scott Fouler, a staff member at Fred Weber, the idea to heat the school using the landfill’s methane originated from a student.

“What I’ve heard is that there was a student at Pattonville that wanted it [the landfill gas heating system].

The school got in contact with Fred Weber, but it all happened because of that one student’s recommendation,” Fouler said.

Because of the project, Pattonville now receives heat free of charge. According to the Pew Climate Web site, this saves Pattonville approximately $40,000 per year.

Also, methane is a natural gas that otherwise would simply be burned off

by Fred Weber.

“Methane is a natural resource,” Amy Schwendemann, science teacher, said. “Any methane that does not come to us, they have to burn off.

So it would be a waste of a natural resource.”

Even though a portion of the methane is given to Pattonville for heat, Fred Weber still has to burn large quantities of the natural gas in order to prevent a build up of methane gas in the atmosphere. Methane has been found to be combustible in high concentrations and has even

been traced to global warming.

Because of this, Fred Weber has recently partnered with AmerenUE to more fully utilize the natural gas.

“Fred Weber has a plan with AmerenUE and they can use that gas to produce electricity. They are working with Ameren to build an electric plant on their site,” science teacher Donna Schmidt said.

This project will be implemented in 2011 and will provide energy for approximately 10,000 homes in the St. Louis area.

“The bacteria that breaks down the garbage produces methane gas. They have to burn it off as waste because of government policies, but they give some to us,” Schmidt said.

In addition to heating Pattonville, the landfill also provides heat for Jaeger’s Greenhouse and Fred Weber’s on-site asphalt plant.

Fred Weber also provides Patton-

>>> See FRED WEBER page 2

Above, smoke billows from Fred Weber’s on-site asphalt plant. The plant is powered by the methane produced by the landfill. Photo by Jacob Sharp

NOVEMBER 2010 l PIRATE PRESS l

News

02

Election results show shift to right Locally, Proposition K passes with ease

By Hannah Johnson

I

n the mid-term elections on Nov. 2, Proposition K passed handedly with 75.79 percent favorable vote. 20 million dollars of the $41 million bond issue will be available to the high school. That means that construction is eminent for a new swimming pool, stadium and many other school-wide renovations.

Republicans gained the majority in the House of Representatives, although Democrats kept control of the Senate. However, neither now holds the two-thirds majority required to pass legislature without bipartisan approval.

John Boehner of the GOP is the new speaker of the house, replacing Nancy Pelosi. He is a representative of Ohio and claims, “we’re not going to raise taxes” according to the Miami Herald.

With each of the two bodies of congress controlled by belligerently different parties, it will be difficult for legislation to pass through both houses. This means that President Barack Obama will have to focus on a more moderate agenda if he hopes to get anything done.

Roy Blunt won the race for Missouri’s open Senate seat. He fought an ugly battle with Robin Carnahan, but came out on top by a landslide.

Proposition A passed meaning the current earnings taxes in Kansas City and St. Louis will be voted on in referendum every five years. No new earnings taxes will be imposed in Missouri.

Widely publicized by its emotional “puppy mill” appeal, Proposition B passed as well. The new law will regulate the care provided to dogs used for breeding. v

Possible Schedule Changes Proposed

A citizen brings a truckload of trash to the landfill at Fred Weber while a bulldozer compresses and organizes the new waste. Photo by Jacob Sharp

Fred Weber landfill Continued from pg. 1

ville with more than just heat.

“Fred Weber donates money to us as well for various projects,” Schwendemann said. “They are very generous to us. Anytime it smells really bad they have an atomizer that they spray so it doesn’t smell as bad over here,” Also, Fred Weber put up a large net by the H-Wing in order to catch stray trash that would blow over from the landfill.

The company also made attempts to help the school with the bird problem it had a while back.

“When the birds were pooping on our cars, they gave us those car wash coupons,” Dr. Sara Keene, principal, said.

Fred Weber also contributes to Pattonville educational programs by allowing science students to tour the landfill and by supporting Pat-

The asphalt plant compacts the limestone that is mined at Fred Weber. Photo by Jacob Sharp

tonville’s Home Construction Class program.

“The land that they [the home construction class] build the houses on is Fred Weber land,” Schmidt said.

Fred Weber also helped fund the program and the company’s employees currently reside in the studentmade homes.

“We try to be good neighbors. We try to get you what you need,” Fred Weber staff member Al Shrum said.

However, in addition to the positive aspects of having Fred Weber as a neighbor, there is one clear drawback to being in such a close vicinity to a landfill.

“The smell I think is a distraction to our learning environment,” Keene said.

Unfortunately, the pungent odor that frequently pervades the Patton-

ville halls is not just the garbage.

“On those days when it smells like poop, it probably is,” Schwendemann said.

This is because the Missouri Sewer District dumps much of the St. Louis County sewage in the landfill.

Fortunately, however, Fred Weber recently moved its dumping site further away from the school in hopes to decrease some of the unpleasant fumes.

“They moved to the north side of their pit. The south side [where they had previously been placing the waste] is pretty much in our backyard,” Keene said.

The company hopes to remain using the north side of the property for at least 50 more years until they run out of room and are forced to move back to the south pit. v

Continued from pg. 1

information and aid in learning about possible options after graduating.

Missouriconnections.org is an example of a possible Web site that can help with the implementation of the committee, as well as the district’s, goal.

Solely focusing on college is not a goal of the committee.

“The truth is that not everyone is going to go to college, so we also want to make sure we give them information in regards to tech school or any other career. The primary goal is career education as a whole, whether that includes college or not,” Krohn said.

Presentations have been given to the faculty as well as BSAAC. They have also met with each course department and are working actively with the School Improvement Team.

“We want to help students make more thoughtful choices when picking their curriculum and try to help them gear it towards a specific goal or career they want to go in. For instance, we want to make sure that a student that says he or she wants to go into business is taking business classes, and maybe getting involved in DECA or FBLA.” Science teacher Sandra Bahr gives high applause for the Committee, and said, “they are extremely organized and do a lot of research. I think most the staff agrees that offering more information for kids to learn about opportunities after high school is a positive thing. They’ve shown that

there are students that graduate from Pattonville and aren’t ready for college, they end up in remedial classes.

When we’re presented with that sort of information, in some form, something is going to be done.”

There have been many different plans and changes to implement a new focus on career education that have been presented and discussed among the committee, teachers and students.

One possible scenario is that the normal ‘C’ days would be extended to make room for a career focused advisory. Each student would be assigned a teacher based on their career cluster, and would stick with that teacher throughout their high school career.

“I’m supportive of it, but it can not cut into instructional time, as that is the sole reason we come to school. Yes, being involved in clubs and sports is important and can be beneficial to students, it’s secondary to the main reason we come to school-to learn,” Randy Pierce, English teacher, said.

One thing that the majority of staff agree with is that any plan that is enacted must not interfere with instructional time, and that, for the most part, the idea is positive, but a plausible how and when must be determined.

“You can’t argue that it won’t have at least some sort of positive impact, it is just a matter of correct implementation,” Bahr said. v

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Above, the distribution manifold at Fred Weber controls the distribution of the methane gas produced at the landfill. Gas is delivered to Pattonville High School and Jaeger Greenhouse. Photo by Jacob Sharp

03 l PIRATE PRESS l NOVEMBER 2010 Social networking sites Facebook, Twitter popular among students [through Facebook] can be taken more personal because it is outside of school and written on their own profile,” Mike Mooney, Student Resource Officer, said.

Posting things on Facebook, gives viewers something fun to do: Facebook Stalking.

According to the Urban Dictionary Web site, Facebook allows the stalker to secretly gather information about the person they are interested in and monitor the stalkee’s personal life.

Some students spend up to three hours “stalking” their friends on

“[On Twitter] People gang up on each other. Most of the time it is just multiple users tweeting about the same person in a negative way at once,” Rebecca Keathley, 11, said.

By Jacqueline Neil When this happens, people re-tweet ocial networking takes over and spread that content around. the lives of many students Users can either tweet what is at Pattonville High School. on their minds or what they are curPeople of older generations either rently doing. question this phenomenon or become Sometimes people vent in their a part of it. tweets.

One factor that may cause this “I know some people who talk bad obsession is the ability to see what about the people who are subscribed occurs in everyone’s daily life. to their tweets and use that as indiIn October, Facebook announced rect confrontathat the Facetion,” Audrey book population Masek, 11, said. reached 550 One feature million. This that Facebook makes Facebook does not have the world’s most is the ability to popular Web follow someone site. and that person Facebook is a does not have to utility for indifollow back. rect confrontaThis way, tion. someone can When Faceshow up on a book users are homepage, but online, there is then the person a little red box being followed that they become is not obligated attached to. to do the same Depending thing. Tweeters on what that red have a Followbox has to reveal, Although Facebook is blocked at school, Twitter is accessible by students.

Above, students check Twitter during class. Photo by Jacqueline Neil ing-to-Follower the content of ratio, and are its delivery may Facebook. paranoid about it. alter a user’s attitude. This red box is “I’m worried that my personal life “I want more followers than the known for giving Facebook notificawould be too exposed to a student, amount of people I follow. I feel lame tions. even if I didn’t put much of it on Face- if the number of people I follow is “I don’t like all the notifications book,” Beth Moritz, English teacher, higher. It just makes me feel good I receive. I get dozens of them said. about myself,” Akeem Lewis, 11, who every hour,“ Tyler Yarnell, 11, said.

As for Twitter, that obsession can follows 68 people and has 86 followThroughout the day, many things be very personal. ers, said. are posted via Facebook, whether it Twitter, the world’s third most Celebrities can also be followed on is from a friend or someone that a populated social network, has 89 milTwitter. Those celebrities are verified. person would know just by name. lion members which are also known “I like the fact that I can follow Some posts may have a purpose as Tweeters.

Justin Bieber and know it’s actually of catching up with old friends, but Twitter is where people update him. I feel like a true ‘Belieber’ since I sometimes posts are classified as their statuses for their followers to follow him,” Masek, 11, said. v cyber-bullying. see.

“Some [bullies] feel it’s necessary Like Facebook, Twitter is a place because it is not face-to-face. They for cyber bullies. also think that bullying someone

Social networking provides a platform for a new era of socialization

S

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Hai r S

Pattonville Briefs Senior Hannah Johnson ran at the State Cross Country meet on Saturday, Nov. 6. Johnson came in 141st place, with a time of 21:07.

The Financial Aid 101 evening session for college bound juniors and seniors is Tuesday, Nov. 16 at 7 p.m. in the auditorium.

Cellist Eric Bateman, 10, and violinist Kirsten Gindler, 12, were selected to be a part of the the SLSMEA All-Suburban Honors Orchestra. In addition, violinist Anjali Fernandes was named as an alternate for the group.

Patrick Dornbach, 12, gives blood on Friday, Oct. 22, at the Red Cross Blood Drive. The drive was sponsored by the National Honor Society. Photo by Jeremiah Williams

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Softball players Mikala McGhee, 11, Kailey Utley, 11, and Kristin Hanna, 11, were selected as players for the First All-Conference Team.

McGhee also made the All-District Team. Mary Cradick, 12, Mallory Jacobson, 11, and Erica Morgan, 12, were selected for the Second All-Conference Team. Seniors Chelsea Hawkins and Shayla Chier received Honorable Mention.

Pattonville High School had seven band members selected to the St. Louis All-Suburban Honors Band. They are Kim Edwards, 9, Clarinet; Megan Jones, 12, Clarinet; Lexi Kendall, 11, Clarinet; Laura Deutschmann, 11, Trumpet; John Sorsen, 11, Baritone and Trombone; David Lindsay, 11, Trombone; and Jacob Johnson, 11, Bari Sax First Alternate. John Sorsen and David Lindsay were also selected to the All-Suburban Jazz Band. All of these students will audition for a spot in the All-State Band or Jazz Band in December.

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The Pattonville Education Foundation launched its first Web site which features information on the PEF’s grant program and upcoming events. The foundation’s annual grant program provides financial support that enables Pattonville teachers to meet the instructional needs of a diverse student population.

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NOVEMBER 2010 l PIRATE PRESS l

Key Club promotes community service

By Courtney McNeese

“K

ey Club is a completely student- run community service organization that is committed to inspiring leadership in schools, communities and the world,” according to Key Club’s president, Luke Morin, 11.

Mark Basi, Key Club sponsor, added that the club is sponsored by Kiwanis, an international group that organizes local service groups like Pattonville’s Key Club, and has established Key Clubs all over the world.

“Key Club is involved with lots of community service events in and out of school,” said secretary Megan Jones, 12. “We read to elementary students, help with school events like the Blood Drive and raise funds for different causes like Trick-or-Treat for Unicef.”

Vice President Tashay Dabney, 12, added a few more activities. “We do everything. Stop the Bop, food drives at Schnuck’s and Concert at the Park.”

There are a total of five officers in Key Club. Each officer has specific duties.

“As President, I oversee all of the goings-on. I make sure that meetings are productive, that members have something to do, that officers do their jobs and that we keep up with school and community standards. Overall, I make sure the club stays organized and people do their jobs,” Morin said.

When Morin is otherwise occupied, Dabney makes sure operations run smoothly.

“I support and help Luke,” Dabney said.

As secretary, Jones said, “I record the minutes at every meeting. I’m also in charge of making sure members get their community service

hours, and fill out service forms of what we did each month.”

As historian, Meagan Galluzzo, 11, said she is in charge of the newsletter, as well as the scrapbook and poster for the convention in March.

“Key Club helped with NHS’s Blood Drive and Trick-or-Treat for Unicef,” Dabney said. With Unicef, club members took an orange box and went around the school and neighborhoods collecting change for Uruguay.

Upcoming events include Key Club Week. According to the officers and Basi, Key Club Week is Key Club’s version of Spirit Week. Starting Nov. 1, each day will have certain attire to wear.

“Everyone is able to participate.

The purpose is to spread awareness about Key Club and maybe get some people to come to meetings,” said Basi.

The only requirement needed to join Key Club is a due of $13, which puts the student on the roster and pays for a Key Club T-shirt.

“You don’t have to be a Key Club member to help with projects. You can come and help just to help, but to get credit you have to pay the $13 and be a member. But ‘unofficial members’ are always welcome,” said Basi.

Overall, the club hopes to acquire more members so they can tackle more and larger projects. Everyone is welcome and everyone is encouraged to attend a few meetings, projects, or join the club. Be sure to listen to announcements for more projects and activities.

For more information on Key Club, any of the officers can help, or see Basi in the math wing. Key Club is also on Facebook and Twitter. v

Hannah’s Health

Stay healthy over the food-filled holidays

By Hannah Johnson

F

or most high school students, dieting is far from a priority. That is how it should be for the majority of teenagers with soaring metabolisms, but the sugar-loaded, stuff-yourself-to-thebrim holidays can make weight gain a concern for many students.

However, athletes need to make healthy diet choices and other students may need to put forth effort to maintain their weight, or even lose weight.

Do not try to lose weight unless you have already discussed the possibility with your doctor.

Do not let the cold weather discourage you from exercising. If you cannot stand the frigid air, there are still plenty of workout opportunities. For example, the weight room at Pattonville is open after school on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

The fitness center is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Another alternative that timecrunched students can take advantage of at home is simple plyometrics.

For bold souls, throw on a layer of sweats and go for a run anyway like Corey Purcell, 11. “I don’t do anything new. I’ll go running every now and then,” he said. Kristy Linkogel also added, “I run 3 miles every morning.”

Your body will quickly warm up, so dress for weather about 20 degrees warmer than it actually is.

As the weather cools down, many families turn to hearty, warm meals.

These comfort food dishes are filling, but are often high in fat and low in other nutrients.

At parties, avoid grazing from buffets since you may lose track of how much you are eating. Instead, put your food on a plate so that you know how much you have eaten.

Jacob Masek, 11 uses this technique.

He said, “I try not to overload myself with food. I use fixed quantities.”

Beware holiday drinks as well. Hot chocolate, flavored lattes and eggnog are all calorie-packed.

Stay on the lookout for healthy versions of your favorite foods. For example, leave the gravy off of your mashed potatoes. Instead of making sweet potato casserole, try roasting or grilling the potatoes.

Go ahead and enjoy seasonal pies, but don’t eat the crust. The extra buttery layer can add a frightening amount of calories.

Perhaps the most important thing to remember during the holidays is to chew slowly. This will help you to maintain reasonable portion sizes and avoid overeating.

Getting overstuffed at one meal can stretch your stomach out for weeks. That means you will continue to feel hungrier than you need to for a long time after a single binge meal.

The powerful teenage metabolism is up to just about any challenge.

Sophomore Aliya Smith doesn’t feel she has to worry about holiday eating. ”I don’t really try, I just eat what they make,” she said. However, the holiday season can sometimes put a strain on almost anyone’s health. You may want to pay attention to what you eat this winter.v

04

“Health”ful hints from students

“I eat a lot of fruit and workout.”

Saul Hernandez, 12

“I swim.”

Torrie Generally, 12

“I jog, go bike riding, shovel snow, use weights and swim.”

Tyler Banko, 9

05 l PIRATE PRESS l NOVEMBER 2010 Students discuss visit experiences Pattonville students visit out-of-state universities

The Pirate Press

Guide to College Visits C B

By Elise Moser

eginning a college search can be daunting, especially when your only frame of reference comes from a Web site. One of the best ways to narrow down the college search is to visit the campus.

Going on a college visit allows a student to be a part of the campus experience before ever committing to a school.

Julie Kampschroeder, college counselor, believes the most important factor in a college decision is the fit—referring to whether or not the student feels that he or she fits at the school.

“A student will not understand the fit until they set foot on campus,” Kampschroeder said.

However, a college visit can be a frightening experience without careful planning.

How should a student decide which schools to visit, especially if they have a long list?

You should begin by narrowing down your college list. One important factor is distance from home. Both you and your parents should consider the travel distance for a school. A good rule of thumb: if the school is too far to visit, it will probably be too far away to attend.

Another thing to consider is the chance of acceptance. Before deciding which schools to visit, research your chance of acceptance at each one. The

Cappex Web site is a great resource for this. Using GPA and ACT scores, it can estimate a student’s chance of acceptance at most schools in the country. It may be feasible to visit one or two reach schools, but more than that would probably be a waste of money and time.

Before the visit The first step is to schedule the visit with the school. Most schools offer a way to schedule a visit online, but if not, call the admissions office directly. Many schools also offer information meetings for specific programs, something to consider attending along with the regular visit.

Before going to any college campus, a student should write out a few questions specific to the university.

The Pattonville High School College Planning Guide, which Kampshroeder provides for every student, has a long list of questions to be answered during a college visit. Copies of the guide can be picked up in the College Counseling Center.

Finally, pick up a college visit field trip form from the Counseling Office if you are going to miss school for the visit. Get it signed by all of your teachers and return it to the Attendance Office before you leave.

During the visit Use all of your senses during a college visit. Look at the students on

campus and consider how you would fit in with them.

Consider how welcoming the school feels. Does it feel comfortable?

Remember that it could be your home for four years.

Make sure to visit the building which houses your major’s department. Get as much information about the program as possible.

Finally, Kampschroeder suggests visiting the town around the university.

“You’re so busy in college that you don’t really have hours and hours, but sometimes on weekends you’re going to get off campus,” she said.

Consider eating a meal at a local restaurant or driving through downtown to get a feel for the area surrounding the campus.

After the visit Sit down after the visit to go over what you learned with your parents.

Discuss your major’s programs, campus life, costs, and, most importantly, your overall perception of the school.

Talking about a visit afterward can help cement the experience in your mind, especially if it is high on the list of your possible schools.

Also, remember that you do not have to apply to all of the schools you visit. The point of a college visit is to see how a campus feels to you. If you do not like a campus, cross it off your list. v

Pirate Press University The admissions office is the first stop on most college visits. Arrive early and locate the nearest parking beforehand to prevent a stressful situation before the visit has even begun.

Illustration by Chris Babb

ollege-bound juniors and seniors have made their way across the country touring college campuses. Students have visited schools as far away as Harvard University, University of Arizona, Marquette University and even University of Victoria and University of British Columbia, which are both in Canada.

Erica Ream, 12, visited seven schools on the West Coast, including two universities in Canada. However, her visit to the University of Washington made it her No. 1 school.

“It was not as strong on my list [before I visited],” Ream said. “I found out how awesome their theatre department was and I decided this is where I want to go.”

When Eli Phillips, 12, visited schools on the East Coast, his college list also changed. Prior to his visit, Columbia University was his first choice. When he returned, Harvard University had topped his list. New York University was completely dropped from his radar.

“I thought NYU had a very elitist attitude,” he said. He also disliked the campus, which he described just as a collection of buildings instead of a campus. Phillips preferred Harvard and Columbia because they were more down-to-earth.

“Both of them were very humble.

You would think that Harvard and Columbia would have an elitist attitude,” but Phillips was surprised to find just the opposite.

Junior Jessica Redensek visited two schools in Chicago as a part of her college visit project in Honors English 11. She was interested in the University of Chicago but also visited Northwestern University in order to complete her project and was surprised to find that she preferred Northwestern.

“It just had a nicer feel than U.

Chicago. More friendly,” she said of Northwestern. “I definitely wouldn’t have felt the same way if I hadn’t visited them.” After visiting University of Chicago, Redensek discovered it was not for her.

Kaylen Iberg, 12, also visited a school she thought she was interested in for her English project. Iberg traveled to the University of Oklahoma to discover it was too large for her.

“When we were walking, we could barely get through some parts of the school because it was so crowded,” she said. Before going on college visits, students did many things to prepare.

“I had to call ahead and make all the appointments,” Melissa Fulton, 12, said. Fulton visited six colleges over the summer, including Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wis. and several schools near Denver, Colo.

Before visiting, Fulton considered many factors.

“I thought of the safety, what their cross country teams were like, student life, cost, scholarship opportunities and transportation,” she said.

Ream said she prepared a spreadsheet with specific criteria on everything she wanted in a university. She said although the spreadsheet helped her make sense of all the schools she visited, actually stepping on campus helped her get a better idea of what the school was really like.

“There were schools that I wasn’t as enthusiastic about before and when I went there I really liked it,” Ream said. She added there were other schools that looked better in the spreadsheet than in person. Although not all college visits are successful, most students agree that they are a necessary part of the college search process.

“They’re really helpful,” Redensek said. “You just get a way better feel for what the school’s actually like.” v

Visiting the library could give you a good idea of the school’s academic environment. Pay attention to how many students are studying in the library and what the study environment is like.

Visit the recreation center to see what the facilities have to offer.

Most schools charge a required fee to use the center so it will be available for you to use during the school year.

Eat a meal in a school dining hall.

Getting a taste of what the food is like is important if you are going to eat two or three meals on campus everyday.

Make sure to walk by or even stop at your major building. You will likely have many classes here throughout your undergraduate experience.

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06 Entertainment

NOVEMBER 2010 l PIRATE PRESS l

Fall TV Overview Get the scoop on the season’s most popular shows

By Armand Hayes

F

or once, the television schedule has not been all that bad.

Turn the TV on and there usually are some shows to watch and actually enjoy.

New shows that will be coming in the fall that will stretch into the 2011 year will be shows like NBC’s “The Cape” which will be starring David Lyons as Vince Faraday, the main character.

The show starts off as Faraday, an honest cop, ends up becoming framed. After going into seclusion, he becomes his son’s favorite super hero.

He then starts to take the law into his own hands, fighting criminals while still being a family man.

“True Blood” on HBO is a show that takes yet another spin on Vampires. “True Blood” was originally a book created by Charlaine Harris, then was turned into a show by producer Alan Bell Sept. 8, 2008.

On MTV, “The Dudesons in America” is a show produced and directed by Johnny Knoxville. It is just a new-age “Jackass” starring Jukka Hilden, Jarppi Leppälä, Jarno Laasala and Hannu-Pekka “HP” Parviainen.

During the show, the group performs insane stunts. The show started in 2006 in Finland, then immigrated to American television in early 2010.

“Jersey Shore” is on Season 3 this year and consists of SallyAnn Salsano, Paul DelVecchio, Nichole Polizzi, Michael Sorrentino, Sammi Giancola, Ronnie Ortiz-Margo, Jenni Farley, Vinny Guadagnino and Angelina Pivarnick. The show is about the life of party-hard people who encounter problems among themselves while they live under the same roof.

The odd show on Discovery Health, “I Didn’t Know I Was Pregnant,” tapes the lives of several women who have unexpected pregnancies. Sometimes they do not show the signs or even feel the contractions. It can be an interesting show, but gets repetitive after the first few times viewing it.

“Family Guy” recently returned with its ninth season and continues with its comical jokes that entertain several ages. If the show seems like there is no true plot, it is because there is no plot.

“Family Guy” is just a cartoon that pokes fun at the American society’s funny bone, by making jokes out of historical characters and actors alike.

“Glee” is early in Season 2, and doing very well with a No. 2 in the television rankings. With their versions of Paramore’s “The Only Exception” and REO Speedwagon’s “Can’t Fight This Feeling,” the show offers a variety of music. It’s nothing like “High School Musical” and the story line is actually decent.

On Fox, “House M.D.” is on Season 7 and shows no signs of stopping there. The British actor, voice artist, writer and musician, James Hugh Calum Laurie, stars as the lead charter, House, a brash doctor who uses different tactics to help his patients, while usually fighting problems of his own.

“Bones” is another Fox program that dives into the forensic side of FBI cases, showing the anthropology and archaeology that goes into each case. Dr. Temperance Brennan (Bones) played by Emily Deschanel is teamed with her FBI partner Seeley Booth, played by David Boreanaz.

The show is a comedy drama and is in Season 6.

“Fringe,” the science fiction thriller, follows the Fringe Division team and their unorthodox science to investigate unexplained mysterious.

BET show “ American Gangster” comes into Season 3, with Ving Rahames as the narrator. The show premiered on Nov. 28, 2006, and became a big hit with a million views.

The show documents the lives of several real-life gangsters that are portrayed by actors.

On USA Network, WWE’s “Raw” dominates the Monday night 8 p.m. time-slot. It just shows that even though watered down from its TV-14 rating to a TV-PG rating, wrestling still can attract the attention and awareness of anyone who cares to watch it.

With all of the acting and violence, the sport of entertainment continues to claim the attention of younger children when losing some of their older fans. v

New ‘Call of Duty’ release is a success Black Ops delivers on single and multiplayer fronts

By Jacob Sharp

F

or years, Treyarch was saddled with the being the ‘other’ developer in charge of the Call of Duty franchise, spouting out games between the releases of Infinity Ward’s more well received Call of Duty: Modern Warfare titles.

After years of living in Infinity Ward’s shadow, Treyarch is finally done playing catch up and delivers a top notch and surprisingly provocative experience in Call of Duty: Black Ops that shows that they can add their own touch to the insanely popular franchise, and has no need to follow Infinity Ward’s lead anymore.

Black Ops, released Nov. 9, delivers Treyarch’s best story yet, enthralling, dark, and action packed from the very beginning. It sets the player up in an interesting premise-- the main character, an American Special Ops soldier (voiced by Avatar’s Sam Worthington) is strapped to an interrogation table, and in a uniquely fresh take on storytelling, the player relives the character’s memories as relayed to his captors. It’s a wholly unique take on the standard Call of Duty style of storytelling, and a refreshing one at that.

The fast-paced plot of this newest entry is a powerful and brutal (albeit short, the game clocks in at about six hours) ride through the untold story of the Cold War, including an attack on Fidel Castro during the Bay of Pigs, secret missions in Vietnam, and a thrilling escape from the bowels of a Russian work camp. It eloquently captures the feel and paranoia abound during the 1960s, though there are parts that are almost painfully cliché as a result. Even with the uncommon setting for a video game, the variety and engrossment of the missions has always been a highlight of the Call of Duty franchise from the start, and Black Ops luckily refuses to give up the tradition, delivering fresh experiences around every corner. From piloting a missile into a runaway Russian rocket, to crawling around terrifying ‘rat holes’ with bloodthirsty Vietcong lurking in the darkness, you’re never doing one thing for too long, and that’s the magic of Call of Duty. The characters aren’t as likeable

Student bands flourish at Pattonville Musicians excel, create impressive music

By Jaqueline Neil

P

attonville High School has many students who excel in various areas. One of which is music. Outside of Pattonville’s band, orchestra and choir programs are many students who have produced their own music. Some of those artists who have been seen in the spotlight are Leland’s Road, Trey Wright, Today’s the Day and NoLoveLost.

Leland’s Road, originally Thicker Than Water, is a musical group comprised of Tyler Elder, 12, and his older sister Kristen Elder, Class of 2005.

This progressive acoustic duo is glad they can perform on stage together

while not allowing a sibling rivalry to get in their way of performing.

“The chemistry on stage allows me to trust the music and where its going,” Tyler Elder, 12, said. Tyler Elder has been playing guitar since he was 9 and his sister has been singing since she was 4. They have played in many venues like coffee shops, lounges and state fairs. At one coffee shop, they were noticed by JQ Entertainment which decided to manage the pair.

Earlier this semester, The Death of Big Deal had his Pattonville audience in awe as the young emcee abandoned his stage name and decided to publicize himself as Trey Wright, 11.

“I took my shot at the game because I

didn’t like the rappers I heard on the radio, and I wanted to know what it felt like to sit on the throne,“ Wright said. Throughout middle school Wright always had the dream of becoming another famous white rapper like Eminem and Asher Roth. He began to embrace this dream during his sophomore year when everyone told him he would not be successful.

Wright dropped his first mix-tape, Fashionably Late, on April 4.

“I was new to the game and I didn’t really know what I was doing, so I did what every other rapper would do in my case, gather some friends and promote myself,“ Wright said. He is expected to release The Death of Big Deal, for free, before February 2011.

or memorable as those in the past, such as Sgt. Price or ‘Soap‘, but they are nonetheless integral in driving the story and graphically pulling the player though the non-stop combat and excitement.

While the graphics fall a little short compared to the beautiful Modern Warfare 2, they are a considerable step up from Treyarch’s previous title, Call of Duty: World at War. Animations and character models are now on par with Infinity Ward’s skills, and show how much Treyarch has grown as a developer over the years.

Graphically, it is still one of the best looking games out there, and it has no problems expressing the visceral plot and emotions present throughout the game.

Weapons are the core of any first-person shooter, as they are how the player interacts with the world around them, and that is where Treyarch’s inventiveness with Black Ops shines. While there are some era specific weapons like the M16 and the M60, the game introduces its prototype ‘black ops’ weapons throughout the campaign, and has the player taking out enemies with under barrel flamethrowers, shotguns with incendiary bullets, and crossbows with bolts that explode a few seconds after impact. Black Ops benefits from these sometimes outlandish weapons, providing fresh new fun and setting itself apart from the normally realistic line-up of guns found in Call of Duty’s in the past.

Black Ops offers a very interesting new game mode-Wager Matches.

In this game type, you can bet up to 20,000 points on games against other players in unique free-for-all match types such as One in the Chamber, which gives each player a single pistol bullet to fight with.

Wager Matches are a fun distraction that adds some intensity to the game, but most players will be spending their time in the standard game modes playing with friends in the addicting Call of Duty multiplayer which, after years of little change, still manages to stay fresh. Zombie mode also makes an appearance, Wright is another basement junkie.

He does all of his recordings in Max ‘MoNastyy’ Browne’s, 12, basement with his friends. In his next release, he is expected to do a collaboration with Tempo Drive, a group of Pattonville Alumni including Cody Branneky, Dan Duncan and Richard Harder, all members of the Class of 2009.

Today’s the Day bandmates Jason Balk, 11, and Spencer Powell, 11, have been writing music together for over a year. Their lyrics are based off of life experiences. On Sept. 22, the boys released a 9-track album, Last Chance at Romance, on iTunes. Powell does lead vocals while Balk plays the guitar and backup vocals. They have an electro-pop vibe.

“Put Cartel and The Academy Is… together and that is the kind of sound we produce,” Balk said. Although they are not rappers, they have shared the stage with Trey Wright.

They have done opening acts with mainstream artists Kill Paradise and Jeffree Star.

With achievements like theirs, these two boys hope to become signed soon.

During mid-October, NoLoveLost signed a record deal with Red Cord Records. This Christian metal-core

even more robust and entertaining than in World at War. There is also a theater mode where players can record, watch and upload videos of their accomplishments, much akin to the system found in Halo: Reach.

The improvements and additions that Treyarch has added to the multiplayer mode is just enough to pull players off of Modern Warfare 2 and into Call of Duty: Black Ops, and make them want to stay.

Black Ops is a success, and the shear amount of content and entertainment that Treyarch packed into the game is a commendable feat.

Activision, the publishers of Call of Duty, have found themselves a winning combination with the talents of both Infinity Ward and Treyarch, and with that combination, an almost bottomless well of money that will not be drying up anytime soon, especially with Treyarch’s iterations now on par with Infinity Ward’s. But it seems like the series may have hit a wall with Black Ops as it is a game that is to a point so well developed that it can no longer be refined and has no room to evolve. In order for the Call of Duty franchise to stay fresh and appealing, it needs to change direction, as consumers will eventually find no reason to update to the next installment every November.

That, of course, is a testament to the quality and polish of Call of Duty: Black Ops, a game that will no doubt be spinning in consoles around the world for months to come. v

band base their lyrics off of life experiences too and hope their fans can connect with them. The band came together when lead vocalist Brett Medlock, 12, and CJ Sleme, 12, were looking for other people to jam out with.

“We were originally playing with Jason and Spencer [of Today’s the Day], but then our music styles began to part,” Sleme said. After that, the two started playing with Nick Durso, 12, the band’s other guitarist. The band went through two bassists before they had found Andrew Baldwin, 12, who did not know how to play and figured out chords by himself.

“The guys just showed me a few notes and I just kept playing from there. I was the only bassist who actually committed to the band,” Baldwin said. When NoLoveLost was signed, the guys were happy that their dreams came true while in high school.

“It’s an amazing feeling to know that we’ve worked so hard to get here as we proved all the haters wrong,” Medlock said. NoLoveLost has played at St. Louis hotspots Pop’s Nightclub, Fubar, Firebird St. Louis and many other places. The band returns to the stage on Nov. 24 at Fubar.

From basement recorders to signed artists, Pattonville High School has musicians that are dedicated and devoted to spending time producing their music.v

07 l PIRATE PRESS l NOVEMBER 2010

Opinion

Illustration by Chris Babb

Episode 1: Applegate

“Wait, zoom in on that man and enhance.”

Jeremiah’s Bird’s Eye View A bloody good idea

W

An A is greater than, less than and equal to a C

By Zach Bailey

By Jeremiah Williams hen some visualize the gruesome image of blood, they either pass out or picture a famous horror scene where blood is never short in supply.

Nevertheless, when I beheld the sight of blood during the Pattonville annual blood drive, it was for neither of these reasons. Blood was the elaborate and remarkable token of generosity displayed by none other than Pattonville Pirates.

Taking place in the multipurpose room, students flooded into line and awaited their admirable act of giving blood. As I stood there and observed the constant poking and prodding of the sharp needles, I became simply vindicated and overwhelmed by the graciousness of our fellow students.

In doing research on the act of giving blood, I came to find it only takes one 5-inch bag of blood to save a life. I was in awe upon seeing students giving two, three and even four bags of their blood to the American Red Cross Society.

Red Cross helps prepare communities for emergencies and keeps millions of people safe every year with the donations of participants’

Zach’s Attack

helpful blood. However, before an ounce of blood is even drawn, a number of tests and preparations must take place for each participant. Each student must be 17 or older, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in good health. They must also pass physical and health history reviews prior to donating.

These preparations were conducted on site by trained professionals in individual booths in order to ensure privacy. Although hesitant over usage of the unnerving needles, students managed to maintain their mentality and brave through the continuous drainage of their blood.

Despite leaving the multipurpose room a little shaken up and with a befuddled walk, students left with a distinct change about them.

This change was in how they realized the immense difference they have made in someone’s life, and the fact that they are responsible for it.

Heading out of the multipurpose room, I remember being struck with a monumental idea: a little drop of blood certainly goes a long way. v

“A

mind is a fire to be kindled, not a vessel to be filled.”

Society deems those with poor grades as unmotivated and unintelligent.

Does a lack of focus make a person unintelligent? Perhaps that certain individual struggles in a classroom setting, yet that individual is a very smart person.

In my opinion, the difference between an ‘A’ and a ‘B’ on a test or paper only shows that one person is able to focus more in a classroom.

A problem with many schools today is that they do not teach students real-life social skills that will be necessary in order to get a job or fill out a résumé. Sure, a student can get a perfect grade on a calculus test, but do they have the tools necessary to communicate socially with a future employer in order to put that “intelligence” to use? In many cases the answer is ‘no.’

Schools should be teaching students how to behave in an interview instead of passing judgment on them because they do not perform well in class. There are plenty of students at

Staff Editorial

Pattonville that achieve excellence in the classroom and in the social aspect of life, but as a whole, some teachers and administrators place too much of an importance on getting A’s because that makes you smarter or better than the next person.

As an average student throughout my high school career, many readers may feel that I am just making an excuse for my “lack of performance” in the classroom. To be honest, I am fine with receiving a B or C in a class as long as I feel I have grasped the material. Whether I decided to do the “busy work” should not dictate if I have mastered the material. That’s why I feel that homework should only be completed or assigned if the student truly does not understand the material.

A student’s effort may have some effect on his or her potential in the future, but for the most part, students who choose not to do the work are actually extremely intelligent. I do

A call to students and staff: Consider advisories with an open mind

It is the opinion of the Pirate Press staff that in order for advisories to be successful, both students and staff must have a positive attitude about the change to the schedule.

Currently, the administration at Pattonville High School is working to create a new plan to promote career education for students. The proposal would group students with a staff adviser for all four years of high school, allowing the student to gain a relationship with a teacher they may not otherwise get to know.

The advisory has been discussed with staff members as well as with students involved in the Board Student Administration Action Committee (BSAAC); however, the plan is being met with opposition from both groups.

In order for an advisory to be successful, both students and staff members must be open to new ideas and schedule changes. Advisories could benefit students academically, which is the most important part of school.

Students need to buy into the concept of having an adviser in high

school. Unlike middle school “advisories,” high school advisers would take an interest in students’ academic success as well as in their future goals.

The advisory time would be a time for students to explore career options and discuss college plans, but not every advisory period would be used in this way. Other times, the advisory may function more as an academic lab, giving students a time to do homework. Most students would never refuse extra time to work on homework.

Teachers must also have a positive attitude about advisories. Although there would be career exploration included, teachers would not be responsible for the career decisions their classes made, especially if they had no experience in the field. Instead, teachers would guide students based on their interests, allowing students the opportunity to discuss career options with an adult.

Placement in advisories would likely be based on career paths, so science teachers would advise students interested in science related fields while English teachers would

advise students looking into writing related careers. Although many teachers have never had a career outside of the education field, it is likely that they have a basic understanding of most careers in their subject.

Because students and teachers would be together for four years, teachers would have plenty of time to learn with their advisory students about their career and post-secondary school plans. The advisory would be a learning opportunity for both students and teachers.

An advisory will not be successful unless it meets on a regular basis at least once a week. Students and teachers need a designated time to meet as a group in order for teachers to get to know their students and for students to understand that advisories are to be taken seriously.

If the schedule changes made to add an advisory are done timidly, both students and teachers will not take the program seriously. The advisory must be weekly and for an extended period of time, at least the length of a regular class period.

This is a call to students, teachers,

“NIXON!”

not feel that these students should be judged by their teachers because the student may not be comfortable in a classroom setting.

Finally, it is very frustrating to be looked down upon in the classroom by teachers, and even students, who view these students as slackers or incompetent just because they are not as educationally motivated as the class valedictorian.

Every school has the kids who overachieve and the kids who apparently underachieve. To be honest, both groups are not actually doing anything to prove their intelligence.

Getting a 100 percent on a test because you decided not to make time to enjoy the rest and relaxation the end of school brings does not make a single person any better than the kid who decided to blow off the homework.

But will you have a more successful life in the eyes of society? Most likely.

As long as both parties achieve what they deem as happiness, then it should not matter whether one got all A’s in high school while one got C’s.

However, don’t persecute the other party just because you may not agree with them.

Enjoy the time you have at this school, if getting perfect grades makes you happy, then go for it. But if doing just enough does the same for you, the more power to you. v

PIRATE PRESS

and administrators: To students: Enter into an advisory in a serious manner. In order for the program to be successful, PATTONVILLE HIGH SCHOOL students must respect their adviser 2497 CREVE COEUR MILL ROAD MARYLAND HEIGHTS , MO 63043 and be prepared to explore careers, discuss college plans and connect Editor-in-Chief Staff Writers with one teacher for four years.

Elise Moser Chris Babb To teachers: As advisers, realize Managing Editor Zach Bailey Jessica Brunts Armand Hayes that your responsibility to students Copy Editor Hannah Johnson is not to be experts in their choGeri Farrell Lexi Kendall sen career paths. Instead, you will Design Editor Jacqueline Neil support them through their career Jacob Sharp Courtney McNeese exploration as well as learn about the Andrew Tyahla students’ interests and career plans.

Ben Trochtenberg Teachers are qualified to support stuJeremiah Williams dents in their post-secondary plans, Adviser Brian Heyman even if it requires them to learn about new careers.

The Pirate Press is the open forum newsTo administrators: Consider allowpaper of the Pattonville High School. ing students and teachers to discuss The opinions published are of the publication and are open to criticism. As advisories together. As of now, the members of the 2010-2011 staff, we students and teachers have been dedicate ourselves to the accurate and consulted separately. It would be benobjective dissemination of information to all readers. We will protect and eficial for students and staff to meet exercise our First Amendment rights. and discuss issues with the proposed The viewpoints of all staff members are advisory plan. After all, in order for to be regarded as being seperate from the plan to work, students and teachthose of our administration, faculty, peers and adviser. ers will have to work together. v

NOVEMBER 2010 l PIRATE PRESS l

>> Fall sports cool down:

By Andrew Tyahla

Girls’ Softball

Cross Country How the year went: “Both teams did really well. We just

How the year went: “The team went through many

ups and downs, but we persevered and won a lot of games.” Mikala McGhee, 11 How the team can improve: “Most of what we have to improve on is making plays and getting consecutive hits. We often end up getting overconfident and making mistakes we should not be making.” Mikala McGhee, 11 Record: 10-15

had conferences, in which the girls won and the boys came in 4th.” Coach Scott Fader

How the team can improve: “We mainly hope to grow in numbers, as we have several players leaving this year.”

Coach Scott Fader

08

Students and coaches reflect on the fall season of the 2010-2011 school year

Girls’ Golf How the year went: “We did good this year, as we have

only lost two games.” Kelly Gould, 12 How the team can improve: “ All I can think of is that we will need more people next year.” Kelly Gould, 12 Record: 9-2

Girls’ Tennis

How the year went: “Amazing! We just did really well.”

Savannah Sneed, 12

How the team can improve: “First, we are losing a lot of varsity girls so we need more players. Also, we need to practice more.” Savannah Sneed, 12

Kevon Johnson, 12, runs an offensive play.

Record: 12-1

Boys’ Soccer

Football

How the year went: “We’ve had an up and down season this year. We’ve beaten some really good teams, but lost games we should have won.” Coach Tom Iffrig

How the team can improve: “We are losing 16 seniors,

How the year went: “We did pretty well this year. Lots

of students were out competing, all of them doing their best and it showed.” Coach Steve Smith How the team improved: The Pirates advanced to the playoffs, but lost in a Class 6 Sectional game against Fort Zumwalt West 42-19 on Nov. 5.

Record: 7-4

Will Chaney, 9, runs in a meet at Queeny Park.

so we need to find more players.” Coach Tom Iffrig

Record: 10-16

Boys’ Swimming How the year went: “I never thought of swimming as

a numbers sport. But we had more people than last year so we were able to keep up with other schools. We were pretty solid this year.” Joe Graff, 12

How the team can improve: “The main thing we need to work on is bonding between the team.” Joe Graff, 12

Record: 9-6

Girls’ Volleyball How the year went: “The team improved overall, but still has room for improvement.” Coach Becky Middendorf

How the team can improve: “There is always room for improvement, but the most striking area is definitely teamwork.” Coach Becky Middendorf

Record: 13-12-1

>> Winter sports heat up:

By Jeremiah Williams and Jessica Brunts

A

s fall sports are cooling down, the winter sports are heating up, preparing for the upcoming season. Winter sports teams include boys’ and girls’ basketball, girls’ swimming and diving, boys’ wrestling and drill team.

Boys’ Basketball Dribbling into their season and racking up some points for hard work, the boys’ basketball team is making increasing progress.

A new year means new leadership within the team, new faces, and new goals to work towards as a group.

Kelly Thames, who teaches both Engineering and Publishing on the Web, is the coach of the boys’ team.

“The team’s getting used to things.

The boys are working on being responsible outside the court, so they can be more responsible on the court,” Thames said.

Thames has the players work on setting new goals at the start of every season.

“This year’s new and exciting, the students were hesitant to start off but they gain confidence as the year progresses.”

New players are also preparing for the boys’ team. One player, Phill Easley, 12, who transferred from Hazelwood said, “Both boys and girls have been good this season.”

It is understandable that even with

the teams’ efforts this year, Easley has to cope with his transition from Hazelwood to Pattonville.

“I feel like an outsider, but it’s just being a Pirate and showing that Pirate Spirit” Easley said. “One of my main goals is to be noticed this year.”

Boys’ basketball hopes to have a great year and one of the team’s key players, Dion Scott, 12, said “The team is doing pretty good. We’ve improved since last year. We are in there practicing and working hard and going through all the drills.”

Girls’ Basketball Don’t give the boys all the credit when it comes to the hard work and team effort in basketball. The girls’ basketball team’s season started Nov. 8. The team’s coach, Craig Gregory, vouched for the team.

“Coming from our season of 16-9 last year, we have done a lot better,” Gregory said. “A direct goal is to compete and win Conference and go on to the District championship.”

Being new to the team, Christian Johnson, 11, said she will bring strength to the defensive side of the game.

“Compared to everyone on the team, they are tall and everyone’s really good.” Johnson said. “I’m really happy to be playing on varsity.”

One of the team’s key players, Kristen Hanna, 11, explains what is

expected of the team.

“We are doing well and we want to be successful and we want to win.”

For personal goals, Hanna said, “I hope to build my game and become consistent and hopefully we will come out hard in Districts and make state playoffs.”

Girls’ Swimming and Diving This year’s swim team is diving in and taking steady strokes in pulling through its upcoming season.

The girls’ swimming and diving team has made break-throughs in speed and technique and the team is prepping for a good year. ‘ Brooke Michel, coach of the girls’ team, said, “I’m really confident in us winning Conference for our third year in a row. There are a lot of freshman to make up for our team’s loss of graduated seniors from last year.”

As primary goals for the girls’ team, Michel said the objective is “to be strong and win Conference with a winning record and have at least one state qualifier.”

Michel said she remains “optimistic for a great year and a great season overall.”

Laura Fulton, 9, is new to the team this year and is taking strides in her achievement and said that she hopes to make it to the State Championships in diving.

One of the team’s valuable players,

Drill Team How the year went: “The team has really come a long

way. I’ve seen improvements in everyone.” Coach Katie Funderburk How the team can improve: “We really need to set goals as a team and then perfect those goals in our performance.” Coach Katie Funderburk

Pattonville athletes prepare for the winter season

Elise Amo, 11, said “Everyone has shown improvement. The freshmen this year have done really well.”

For a personal goal, Amo said “I’m hoping to make it to State in the 500 and we are going to do really well in Conference.”

Wrestling The boys’ wrestling team, coached

by Brent Mueller, is optimistic about the upcoming season.

More than just stereotypical “tough guys,” the wrestling team is weighing in and making great team efforts this season and the team continues to grow and improve with each year. Mueller said that the team is focused and is working hard.

“So far it has been hard work as expected and they are buying in and building this season” Mueller said.

For team goals, Mueller wants to defend their Conference title and send six wrestlers to the State Championships.

Overall for the season, Mueller said, “We have two returning state qualifiers, Jesse Farmer (12) and Nick Fiquette (12), that we are glad to have back.”

Varsity Drill Team The Pattonville Varsity Drill Team hopes to improve on last year’s achievements. Last year the Drill Team finished 1st in the state competition and 4th in the National

competition.

“The bar is set pretty high from the previous year,” Katie Funderburk, coach, said. “Our goal is to be successful and leave every performance without any regrets.”

In order to achieve its goals, the drill team will practice five days a week for three hours. According to Funderburke, every practice is treated like a performance. The team also focuses on conditioning and skills at every practice.

According to one of the captains, Gabrielle Sealey, 12, one of the team’s main goals is to “bond and become a family as a team and to improve improve as a team.”

Key returning dancers include the drill team officers Jessica Fitzgerald, Gabrielle Sealey, Sara Giancola, Sierra Glenn and Kelsey Koenig.

“I look to them to set an example for the team,” Funderburk said.

Fitzgerald, Sealey, and Giancola are among the eight senior members on the team. The other seniors are Genevieve Schmoeker, Sarah Nunez, Elizabeth Voris and Alyssa Buxbaum.

“I’m excited about their potential and I can’t wait to see what they do,” Funderburk said.

The drill team will be participating in the Lindbergh Invitational, National and State Competitions this season.v