Staff Editorial
As teenagers, every day is a journey, a continuous unfinished checklist as we all struggle to find just who we were always meant to be. With the start of a new school year, it can be easy to get caught in our daily routines, but we must remember that we are originals. Going with what is trendy and what is easy can be much more appealing than taking the time to sit down and be creative. Also, sometimes being who you truly are can be scary and paint us red with fear of rejection. Teenagers around the world find that they cannot be bothered with the trial and error that being a teen often requires. There are numerous stereotypical tales about the girl who jumps from clique to clique until she realizes where she was always meant to settle in, or the boy who pretends to be something he is not when all the girl of his dreams really wanted was the real him. As much as most of us would hate to admit it, both of those stories are relevant to the everyday lives of many teens. As proud Ritenour Huskies, it is critical that we continue to set the bar higher than ever before, not only for those around us but also for ourselves. We must adhere to what we stand for and only what we believe to be truly right. As a school of spirit and pride, continuing to hold one another accountable and responsible for being proud of the way we are should be our greatest asset. Deciding to recognize that individuality is what truly makes the world go around, our school can ignite a flame in many that starts the fire to life-long self-love, which would have otherwise remained dormant. Also, success is attainable with peers around who believe in only the best for one another. The Pepper Box Staff believes that the Ritenour Huskies are a team, and every day is the time to solidify that. It is essential that we show the world that we are the trendsetters, we are the freaks, and we are the geeks because ultimately, regardless of what people decide to label us, we are proud to be Ritenour Huskies.
PEPPER BOX STAFF
Advisor: Ron Steinschriber Content Manager: Aeriel Morrow Design Manager: Kristen Teoli Production Manager: Missy Griffith Business Manager:Saydee Esparza News Editor: Brittany Mixon Opinion Editor: Kaylee Houston Online Editor: Ariella Smith Sports Editor: Daedra Wallace Spotlight Editor: Ashley Meyer Staff Members: Allison Baker, Kaylee Barks, Carcea Carr, Charles Daniels, Sara Declue, Erin Dennison, Morgan Diamond, Deidre Dinkins, Morgan Sweeney, Ryan Tiefenbruch Editorial Policy: The Pepper Box is designed and created by memebers of the newspaper staff of Ritenour High School. The purpose of the newspaper is to provide a forum for the students to focus on issues, give opinions, and share information with the Ritenour High School community. The opinions expressed in this paper do not reflect opinions of our faculty or administration. Letters to the editor are welcome and accepted, but they may not contain profanity, obscenity, or anything innappropriate to school. They may be e-mailed to Ron Steinschriber at steinschriberr@ritenour.k12.mo.us, or dropped off in room 240. The staff reserves the right to edit these letters.
Buy your yearbook, before it is too late. 25% of all yearbooks ordered have already been purchased. For more information come to room 240. Senior Ad space is still available.
Guide to advanced walking The rules of hallway etiquette
Mixon it up
Written by: Brittany Mixon News Editor
When did walking become so hard for people to do? I honestly do not understand people these days. Some people do not make sense anymore; the simple things for them are suddenly hard. All students have been taught how to walk since they started school. It is a known rule that people should always walk on the right and be considerate of the other people behind them. Learning how to walk in groups has even been taught in Dr. Seuss books that everyone read when they were three years old. “Left foot, Right foot. Feet, feet, feet.” Unfortunately, life has become so difficult that people cannot perform the basic task of walking down the hallway. There is a left and a right side in every building right? The wall (that concrete thing you cannot walk through) should ALWAYS, not sometimes, not when you feel like it, ALWAYS be closest to the right
Opinion
side. That leaves the question of why people will walk in the direction of a group of friends they see walking, instead of making everyone’s lives easier and walking on their right side. The people who randomly stop in the middle of the hallway really get under my skin. Why do such an ignorant thing? Are you that oblivious to the people that are walking behind you? I do not care if someone sees one of their “bros” or “homies” or “gals” or significant others in the hallway. Move that little business to the side of the hall, because we advanced walkers behind you could care less if you have not seen each other all day. Nobody is trying to get caught in these random hall sweeps because you want to stop and say something simple-minded. Just because some people do not care about the hall sweeps does not mean I should suffer a detention because basic level walkers decided to gossip and fill their lives with foolishness. A suggestion for one of our hall sweep songs to encourage this behavior would be “I Like to Move It,” from “Madagascar.” The words say it all “I like to move it, move it. You like to move it.” The words just describe what I want to yell every time I am behind someone who is below basic in walking. Some of us actually have
after school activities to attend, and suffer consequences if we have to miss practice because of disciplinary reasons. Are you going to run my super stairs for me and do my detention that I do not deserve? Plus nine times out of ten you have seen these people multiple times already. How many times do you have to say “hey best friend” to someone? You should not have to stop to say that. That should be a quick thing before you keep it moving. The moral of the story is that the superfluous basic walkers just need to be conscious of we advanced walkers behind you and move it.
This scene at the end of school on September 16th typifies the incorrect hallway traffic flow on display at Ritenour. If students would simpley stick to the right, all of these problems would be solved.
Not as easy as it seems Students think that choosing the right college will be a breeze, I disagree.
Miss understood
Written by: Missy Griffith Production Manager
Looking for a life after high school is not as fun as most people make it out to be. You have to decide if you want to stay in St. Louis, or even the United States. You have to decide if you want to go to community college, a two year college, a four year college, or maybe, whether you want to go to college at all. Anyone who is planning on going straight to four year college, and not community college, I recommend that they re-consider that idea. What if you go to Mizzou
for engineering, then after the first year you decide that you go not want to be an engineer anymore, but rather a mechanic? If you go to community college then you have more time to think about your career path, and if that is really what you want to do with your life. Yes, I know that most kids just want to leave home to get as far away as possible; I am one of those kids. However, if you are like myself, you are not one of the top students of your class, are not a crazy good athlete, or someone who will get a scholarship, so you have to work harder to stand out in the crowd of other students wanting the exact same thing. Most kids just want to get out of the house. They know that they are going to do something, but they do not know specifically what they will do. There is nothing wrong with that; however, it would be better if students knew what they were going to do with their lives after high school. If you go to a two year college, then you can freely
change your mind about your career path. Kids often change their career path at least once while in college. There is nothing wrong with changing your career path because your career is something that you are going to be doing for the rest of your life. You do not want to wake up every morning and have to go to a job that you hate just because you need to get your pay check that week. No, you want to be able to wake up every morning and be excited that you can go and do something that you enjoy, or even love doing. You want it to be something that you can be proud of, or that you would feel honored talking about to someone that does not know anything about. When it comes to your college plans, do not just think about “getting out,” really make an informed decision about where you want to go and what they have to offer you for your future.
Ritenour’s monthly secret message
One of your teachers has a secret message for you. Every letter in the message stands for another letter in the alphabet. HINT: The letter Z on the right is really T, the letter F is really the letter C. Can you decode it and find out what Ms. HaarChapman loves most about the new school year? If you think you have the answer, visit Mr.Steinchidber in room 240. If you are right, you will win a chocolatey prize!
Opinion
“PA HEWUSOZI ZKOQJ EDUYZ ZKI QIX TFKUUN AIES OT KENN TXIIC PYTOF”
New year, New teams Ritenour Sports teams enter a new conference. Written by: Ashley Meyer Spotlight Editor
Sports
A new school year usually presents a multitude of changes, and this year is beginning with a big difference in competition for Ritenour athletes. Starting this 2014-2015 school year, Ritenour sports teams are moving from the Suburban North Conference, into the Suburban XII South Division. Ritenour will now be competing against Parkway North, Webster Groves, Kirkwood, and Rockwood Summit while continuing the rivalry with Pattonville. Much of the rest of the old conference will be in the North Division, featuring McCluer North, McCluer, Hazelwood Central, Hazelwood East, Hazelwood West, and Riverview Gardens. The original decision for the switch was made five years ago by St. Louis public school superintendents and the suburban athletic commissioner, before Drew Lohnes became Ritenour’s Athletics Director. The purpose for the change was to re-align schools whose populations had changed in the decades since
the Suburban North, South, East, and West were formed. The new formation matches schools of similar sizes and athletic offerings. With the change comes a difference in the level of competition, which is now between higher level athletic programs. However, Lohnes is excited for the new challenge. “We got used to competing against the same schools, so this is going to show our students that we will be able to compete with anybody,” Lohnes said. In preparation for the change, varsity volleyball coach Ellen Kim held far more summer practices than past seasons and even added 2-a-day tryouts in August, which is something they have never tried before. “We know it will be tough competition, but if we work together we will be able to compete at that higher level. We are trying to give 110% in practice, games, and even at school,” senior volleyball captain Jessica Poelker said. Although some teams have made practice changes as a result of the new conference, the boys
varsity soccer coaches kept their usual routines. “The reason for not training much harder is because we prepare for a tough season every year. I am excited about the changes though because I know it will be a good challenge for our players, coaches, and the program,” varsity soccer head coach Mike Murray said. Although there is excitement over the change, the biggest complaint Lohnes and multiple coaches have received is about the distance of many of the opposing schools in the new conference. Instead of just playing local schools, teams will now have to travel further to places like Rockwood Summit in Fenton. Looking towards the future, Ritenour’s current facilities will begin to be evaluated to try and make necessary upgrades. Lohnes is hopeful that this will eventually include changes to the locker rooms, weight room, and even some of the fields. For now, the district is still in a planning process despite the switch in conferences already occurring.
Fall Sports Football
• Last Year’s Record: 7-3 • Freshman on Varsity: William Jones • Key Returning Players: Rodney Amerson, DaQuwain Dunn, Seyvon Kenny, John Minner, Ricky McCoy, Bruce Smith, and Tyler Hearns • Season Goals: To make it to the Dome (Championship) Senior Seyvon Kenney tries to add yards after the catch against Pattonville on September 12. Photo by: Aeriel Morrow
Girls Volleyball • Last Year’s Record: 18-11-2 • Key Returning Players: Hannah Baker, Jessica Poelker, Taylor Russell, Tamera Miller, Morgan Coffey • Season Goals: 20+ wins, top half of conference
Junior Jordyne Frost goes through her windup in a game against Webster Groves. Photo by: Missy Griffith
Senior Jessica Poelker serves in a game from the 2013-2014 season. Poelker was identified as a key returning player by Coach Ellen Kim. Photo by Missy Griffith
Softball
• Last Year’s Record: 18-9 • Freshman on Varsity: Izzy Clark • Key Returning Players: Ellie Preis, Kiersten Billington, Jordyne Frost, Alexis Ferren, Alyssa Noble, Nicole Prouhet, Sarah Goers, Kaleigh Robinson • Season Goals: Win games, play as a team, and all the players to stay healthy
Cross Country • Freshman on Varsity: Dustin Herman, Emma Stiebel • Key Returning Player: Vicky Rico • Season Goals: Send at least three runners to state
Sports
Freshman Dustin Herman races in a cross country meet earlier this season. Photo courtesy of RHS Athletics.
Capsules Girls Golf
• Last Year’s Record: 10-12 • Freshman on Varsity: Regan Wilson • Season Goals: Building a closer bond
Senior Jade Trigg prepares to tee off in a match against Clayton. Photo courtesy RHS Athletics
Boys Soccer
• Last Year’s Record: 10-12 • Freshman on Varsity: Jon Bishop and Maurice Lewis • Season Goals: Play tough defense and make teams earn what they get.
Senior Kody Nicks fights for control of the ball against Ladue. Photo courtesy of RHS Athletics
Girls Tennis
• Last Year’s Record: 15-12 • Season Goals: Increase wins
Senior Kristen Nipper returns a volley against RosatiKain. Photo courtesy RHS Athletics
Boys Swimming
• Last Year’s Record: 7-6 • Freshmen on Varsity: Caleb Jovanovic, Jacob Senior Alec Dishaw swims the Individual Medley against HazelVolkert, Logan Causey wood Central on August 28. Photo by Ashley Meyer • Season Goals: More wins, 4th or better in conference, and state qualifiers
Sports
#RHStrending Chart Title What TV shows are Ritenour students watching?
Something on Netflix 18%
American Horror Stories 11%
• American Horror Stories • The Fosters • Love and Hip Hop • Orange is the New Black • Pretty Little Liars
Pretty Little Liars 25% The Fosters 13%
Love and Hip Hop 17%
Orange is the New Black 16%
“I like PLL because A is the best!”
Popular Social Media
Freshman Jodie Wagster
What social media sites are Ritenour students using?
Facebook Messenger 18% Snapchat 20% Kik 19%
Twitter 17% Instagram 26%
“My favorite Social Media app is probably Instagram because I love taking pictures. “ Junior Rylee Kopplin
• • • • •
Facebook Messenger Instagram Kik Snapchat Twitter
Games
Clash of Clans 9% Follow the Line 14%
White Tile 29%
What games are Ritenour students playing?
Candy Crush 17% Kim Kardashian 12%
2048 19%
“Definitely Kim Kardashian. It is the best game ever!” Sophomore Serena Turner
• • • • • •
2048 Candy Crush Clash of Clans Follow the Line Kim Kardashian White Tile
What song does Ritenour prefer?
Fancy by Iggy Azalea
66% vs
All of Me 57% vs by John Legend
Looks so perfect 51% by 5 Seconds of Summer
vs
Problem 51% by Ariana Grade ft. Iggy Azalea
vs
This is how we roll by Florida Georgia Line
vs
85%
33% Happy by Pharell Williams 43%
Stay with Me by Sam Smith
49%
Story of my Life by One Direction
49%
15%
Maps by Maroon 5
Play it again by Tim McGraw
The new voice of Ritenour Gary Spiller steps into the princpal role bringing a wealth of experience
Written by: Kaylee Houston Opinion Editor Just before the end of last school year, the Ritenour School District announced the hiring of Gary Spiller as the new principal of Ritenour High School. Students did not really know what to expect of Spiller, but starting last summer, he started getting to know staff and students and showing them his work ethic and desire to make Ritenour a great school. Before arriving at Ritenour, Spiller was the principal at McCluer High School in Florissant, Mo. Prior to that he was an assistant principal at McCluer North High School, a teacher at Lutheran North High School, and started his teaching career as a part of a dropout credit recovery program throughout the Los Angeles area. While working at schools in Los Angeles, Spiller had some celebrity connections. “I used to see stars and meet them all the time when I went to the gym,” Spiller said. One person that he was close to when he went to the gym was Mr. T. “I used to work out with him every day and we would have great conversations,” Spiller said. Spiller arrived in Los Angeles for graduate school at Pepperdine University after attending Concordia University in Nebraska as a student athlete. Since returning to the
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St. Louis area, Spiller considers himself to be a “family man,” in addition to his job as school administrator. “I enjoy hanging out with my family; coaching my son’s baseball team and watching my daughter do gymnastics,” Spiller said. Although Spiller left the area to go to college and start his professional career, he grew up in Southern Illinois as a big Illinois fan. “When you go into my son’s room it is orange and blue, and when my son’s friends come over they know not to wear anything that has to do with Mizzou,” Spiller said. Living as an Illinois fan in St. Louis has caused some problems for him, and he admits that he has a serious problem with Mizzou fans. “Mizzou fans have tormented me for years,” Spiller said. “They have spray painted an “M” on my front lawn, and put toilet bowls in my office. Spiller has not encountered any of those types of negative actions at Ritenour since he took over. He believes that the school year has gotten off to a great start, and that his transition has been smooth. “Ritenour has a lot to offer and I think we are very good school. I know that we could be great in many different areas,” he said. Freshman Principal Bilal Ewing has worked closely with
Spiller and is glad that he became a part of the school. “Spiller is changing the attitude and the culture of the school,” Ewing said. “He is making sure our students are prepared for college.” Aside from his desire to prepare students for their lives after high school, Ewing also noted Spiller’s endless work ethic. “Spiller is one person who gets from point A to point B quicker than I do, and he’s a tireless man,” Ewing said. “He is here early in the morning and stays late at night.” One of the first groups of students that Spiller met with over the summer was the Leadership class. Junior Desiree Chrun was a part of those meetings, and thinks he is a great person with whom to talk. “He interacts with students more, and he is someone I could go to about any type of situation,” Chrun said.
New principal Gary Spiller presides over a grade upgrade luncheon held at Ritenour High School on September 9. Spiller has quickly transitioned into his new role and has attempted to change the culture of the high school. Photo by Charles Daniels
New Teachers Ritenour has 29 new staff members. Here are 6, try to match the pictures with the facts. A. I hit a guy with a bible for attempting to attack me 1. Zach Buxman Social Studies
2. Chris Scanga SRO Officer
B. I won a chicken eating contest- 48 wings in 10 minutes C. I am cool
3. Mandi Little PE/Health
4. Jennifer Tadsen French
D. I like to do dangerous things like ziplining E. I have played almost every sport you could think of
5. Brittney Williams College Intern
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6. Isaiah Melendez Social Studies
F. I am a former Ritenour Student
Answers can be found on ritenourlive.org
Transitioning into High School Freshman students and parents flock to the high school to educate themselves about the transition from middle school to high school.
Freshmen Emysha McGruder and Jerome Lewis look at their schedules during Freshman Transition Day. Students got to tour their first three hours during this day, and were then treated to a brunch in the school cafeteria. Photo by: Aeriel Morrow
Written by: Ashley Meyer Spotlight Editor On August 13, hundreds of students and their parents descended on the high school bringing a sea of fresh new faces. Freshman Transition day was much more important than an average schedule pick up. This event was a half day filled with answers to all unknown questions. These new high schoolers had an opportunity to learn about different activities for which they could sign up, to sign a pledge to graduate, to have a question and answer panel with Leadership students, and even to take a picture in a cap and gown they can look back on later. “The purpose of the freshmen taking a picture in a
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cap and gown was to get a feeling of what it will be like on their graduation day and to have a desire to want to make it there,” Renaissance advisor Denise Schindler said. In the past, administration felt that the freshmen had trouble learning their way around the school when they first arrived. This event gave students more opportunities to explore the school and allow them to start more comfortably in a new place. “We wanted students to be able to get questions answered, meet their teachers, and explore the school,” freshman principal Bilal Ewing said. Students started their day by getting their schedules, then going with their parents into the auditorium for an expectations
talk with Principal Gary Spiller, who emphasized why freshman year is important. From there, students were dismissed to go to the first three classes on their schedules. A concern shared by the new students was learning how to navigate the campus. Students also shared a concern about how they would make it to class on time, and find their way around a school much larger than their previous middle schools. Many freshmen agreed that this was their favorite and most helpful part of the day; however, freshman Cassidy Schatz enjoyed something different. “My favorite part of the day was just being in a new school because of how big it is and how many more people are here,” Schatz said. Both freshman principals, Ewing and Chris Isaacs were shocked at the tremendous parent turnout, as it was larger than they had expected. They recognized that this type of parent involvement solidifies the reasons why transition day makes a true impact. For future plans, teachers and administration hope to continue and expand freshman transition day. Students also agreed that transition day was helpful and should be continued for freshman in the future.
Ritenour finalizes roller coaster transfer decision All Normandy transfer students who attended Riteour last year are allowed to return
Written by: Charles Daniels Staff Writer 78 familes who live in what used to be the Normandy School District have experienced a summer filled with uncertainty about where their children would attend school in the 2014-2015 school year. While the decision did not happen until school had actually started, those families were ultimately granted permission to have their children return to Ritenour schools. During the 2013-2014 school year, Ritenour started accepting Normandy transfers after the Normandy District was stripped of its accreditation by the state of Missouri. However, when the state took over the district and renamed it the Normandy Schools Collaborative, Ritenour had to decide how to proceed. On July 10, Ritenour Superintendent Dr. Chris Kilbride sent a message to the families in the district about the state of the transfer students from Normandy. “Ritenour School District has made the decision to adhere to its existing policy on admission of non-resident students. This policy dictates that Ritenour can no longer accept Normandy students who applied to re-enroll in Ritenour for the 2014-15 school year because their home district is no longer unaccredited,” Superintendent Dr. Chris Kilbride
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said. The decision was made after a school board meeting and disappointed the families of Normandy students who wanted their children to continue in the Ritenour School District. This ruling stood until August 18, when a St. Louis judge ruled in favor of four families who had sued the Ritenour, Pattonville, and Francis Howell Districts for reentry. Dr. Kilbride announced that all the families could return to Ritenour. “The 78 students from Normandy who attended Ritenour Schools during the 2013-2014 school year and had reapplied to attend Ritenour schools in 20142015 will be welcomed back into Ritenour” Dr. Kilbride said. The school district worked with those who are returning to the district to transfer into new buildings. “The district will communicate with these families to enroll them as quickly as possible into the Ritenour schools they attended. Those who were set to transition into one of our middle schools as a sixthgrader or enter Ritenour High School as a ninth-grader will be warmly welcomed into their new building,” Dr. Kilbride said. This news of the returning transfer students also made families excited for the upcoming school year at Ritenour.
“I feel coming back to Ritenour is a blessing because everything that I ever dreamed of is coming true,” junior Devante’ Byrd said Byrd attended Ritenour in the 2013-2014 school year, but due to the initial rule change, was afraid that he would not be able to come back and would have to return to his old school. “When I had to go back to Normandy I was like “wow,” because I was going to be back into a lot of trouble and I did not want to fall off again,” Byrd said. “But when I heard I could go back to Ritenour I was so happy that I wanted to run on the highway with no shoes,” Byrd said. Byrd has started to take advantage of his newfound opportunities, and has already started to see some positive changes as a result of being a Ritenour student. “I would say it somewhat changed me because I am more respectful and honest with others,” Byrd said Normandy High Shcool is only four miles away from Ritenour, right down St. Charles Rock Road. After Normandy lost its accreditation last year, Ritenour schools took in students from 78 families, and those students were given the opportunity to return this year.
New Policies When school began on August 14, updated rules and policies came into effect. The Pepper Box presents a guide to successfully following the rules.
Don’t:
Do: Dress for success
Wear hats or sag pants
Do:
Don’t: Wear tank tops with straps the width of two fingers
Do:
Wear spaghetti strap tank tops
Don’t: Follow the rule of thumb with shorts, skirts, and dresses
Additional New Rules for this Year: • Students no longer need clear or mesh backpacks • No cellphones in class • Rule of Thumbs (shorts must be to the tip of your thumbs when at your sides) • No yoga pants or leggings (unless the shirt covers
Wear shorts, skirts, or dresses above the rule of thumb
Don’t:
down to the rule of thumb)
News
Photos by: Daedra Wallace
Wear crop tops or leggings
How well do you know your rights? First Amendment rights look slightly different when students are in school Written by: Morgan Sweeney Staff Writter Among the 29 new staff members at Ritenour High School are four student resource officers (SROs). The officers are stationed at Ritenour to ensure a positive environment at all times, but they are also at school to make sure that all students are able to learn without distractions. The four SROs want to ensure that students keep their rights, but still keep a positive environment. “Even though you are in school you still cannot create a peace disturbance. The school can press charges if you are disturbing the learning environment,” Officer Elliott Miller said. Students often believe they can have whatever they want in their car and say whatever they want because that is their first amendment right. However, as soon as students enter the premises of Ritenour High School, their first amendment rights are slightly altered. “When you are in school you are basically dealing with two sets of rules or laws. What I enforce first is the law, whether it is local, state, or federal law, but they have to remember in school they also have to abide by school rules,” Miller said. The first amendment guarantees freedoms concerning religion, expression, press
Spotlight
peaceful assembly, and the right to petition. This is true in public schools, but is altered to make a positive learning environment. If the officers or staff Congress shall wants to search your car they make no law respecting an have the legal right to do so. establishment of religion, or It is the same with student’s prohibiting the free exercise lockers. If Ritenour staff thereof; or abridging the members feels the need to freedom of speech, or of search either one it is seen the press; or the right of as their property or on their the people peaceably to property which gives them assemble, and to petition the right. the government for a redress The Ritenour School of grievances. District student handbook states, “All Parking spaces are considered the property of Ritenour School District and any vehicle parked on school can post directly to social media property may be searched.” The and that content goes out to the handbook continues by stating, world, so they have to be careful “Owners are responsible for the and acknowledge that they vehicle and its content.” represent Ritenour, even when Freedom of speech no they are not on campus. longer completely applies when a Some classes also put their student steps foot on to Ritenour work out publicly, and must watch property. what they say. One of those If a student says anything classes is the Radio class, which that offends, threatens, broadcasts live on the radio at or disrupts the learning 90.1 FM, and also on the Internet. environment, they will be “Being in radio affects punished through the school my freedom of speech, but discipline services. When a doesn’t make a huge difference student disobeys one of these to me. I can still express myself, principles, it can result in but I have to be careful and detentions, suspensions, and/or watch what I say, to make sure expulsion. it is school appropriate,” senior Another reason for Marcus Jordan said. altered first amendment rights in the school setting is the fact that much of the world is now connected digitally. Students