Pepper Box - March 2022

SMOOTHIE RANKINGS

TV VS REALITY

TV shows and movies have hijacked what really happens in a high school

The Pepper Box editors sampled all eight smoothies offered on smoothie days and ranked them.

SPOTLIGHT Page 7

SPOTLIGHT Pgs 4-5

SPRING SPORTS CAPSULES

Spring sports began their seasons on February 28

SPORTS Page 8

THE PEPPER BOX RITENOUR HIGH SCHOOL

ISSUE 3 VOLUME 99

9100 ST. CHARLES ROCK ROAD, ST. LOUIS, MO 63114

MARCH 2022

Mask Mandate dropped at Ritenour

Ritenour moves from mask required to mask recommended for the rest of the 2022 school year ASHTON MILLER Pepper Box Staff On February 22, the district’s updated mask rule took effect. Staff and students in the district are no longer required to wear masks while in school. If the positivity rate within a certain building becomes higher than two percent, that building will return to mandatory masking.

The Board of Education first decided to update the district's masking guidelines on December 9, 2021. The plan stated that masks would no longer be required starting January 18 if the community positivity rate fell below seven percent.

On February 10, the Board updated the plan. Wearing a mask within a building will be optional unless the positivity rate becomes higher than two percent.

Bus drivers and students aslso went to mask recommendedwhile riding the bus. Visitors are still required to wear a mask when entering a building.

Science teacher Lori Greiner does not have an issue with the district’s updated guidelines.

“With the current rates of the infection going down

I am fine with being mask optional. In general, as long as the district is following CDC guidelines and are basing their decision on science I am fine with their decision,” Greiner said.

While some are comfortable with the new guidelines, others are worried about safety. Sophomore Alex Jost is concerned about COVID continuing to spread.

“I am not as comfortable at school anymore. It just feels like I am waiting for everyone to get sick”, Jost said.

Senior Gracy Gary is also concerned about the spread of COVID. “I do not feel comfortable attending school if they no longer require masks because I want to be safe at school. With COVID going around and people not wearing masks, that’s not being safe, so that makes me uncomfortable," Gary said.

Laura Beamer, an English teacher, believes that the district should have considered community transition in their decision instead of just transmission within schools.

“Personally, I would have been more comfortable if the district was still including the rate of community transmission as part of the

decision making process.

We are moving in the right direction, but under the old criteria we would be giving it a little more time," Beamer said.

Beamer is also concerned about students spreading the virus to each other and their families.

“I would prefer that the students were wearing masks a little longer while the community positivity rate

is still high," Beamer said.

"I will continue wearing my N95 mask and will distance as necessary, so I am reasonably comfortable for myself. I am more concerned about the risk of students spreading the virus to each other and to families at home.”

Jost agrees that the district should have considered waiting longer before deciding to make masks optional.

“I personally do not like going to mask recommended.

COVID is still actively happening, getting worse then getting better. I think it would have been easier to just wait until next year to make masks optional," Jost said.

While staff and students are no longer required to wear masks, the district still encourages everyone to monitor their health and practice social distancing.

Photo by Chloe Sapp Masks have gone from required to recommended in the Ritenour School DIstrict. If positivity rates go above 2% within any building, the district will consider going back to a mask mandatory policy.

Husky time provides many new opportunities The building has used Husky times for many different opportunities to the benefit of students and Yearbook.

E2020 is offered to students who have to make up classes that they have At the beginning of second struggled with passing in the semester, the high school past. introduced a new class that Yearbook has moved from would be included on even being a year long class to block days called Husky meeting twice a week with Time.

English and Journalism This class is meant to teacher Ron Steinschriber. He has taken over the yearbook for the rest of this year.

Junior Layla Fouche joined the yearbook knowing that it would take up a study hall period.

“Yearbook was a great way for me to continue being involved in school. Even though I am already a part of so much, it is a great way for me to apply my media knowledge and give the student body a yearbook that they deserve," Fouche said.

Fouche believes that with Photo courtesy: Elizabeth Dobbs learning the basics of what Yoga club is one of the new initiatives of Husky Time. The club yearbook is, that she can met outside of school hours, but with the new time block, they bring that knowledge into real have added another meeting to their schedule.

CAROLINE GROCEMAN Pepper Box Staff

IN THIS ISSUE

be a study hall period to allow students to get caught up on work and have the opportunity to meet with teachers if they have questions.

During this time there are also initiatives that students can participate in, including E2020, ACT Prep, Yoga Club,

WORD ON THE “R” PAGE 2

MASK MANDATE FANTASY VERSUS CHANGE LEAVES REALITY - HOW QUESTIONS TV & MOVIES PORTRAY HS PAGE 3 PAGE 4-5

world situations in the future.

Another initiative offered during this block period is ACT Prep. It is being offered during the months of February and March to prepare students for the ACT that is in April. ”I joined the ACT Prep class because it was going to be a way to better my score and get more practice in. It’s also a way to keep me accountable for actually studying for the ACT," junior Adriana Guiterrez Gaona said.

Gaona feels like this ACT Prep class will help her not only do better on the ACT but also help her in the future with scholarships and getting into schools that require higher test scores.

The last initiative that is now offered is The Yoga Club. This club is taught

by Orchestra teacher Blake Hernton.

“The Yoga Club was

BOARD OF EDUCATION CANDIDATE STATEMENTS PAGE 6

originally just an idea to help students cope with stress.

We have all had to face huge impacts in light of the pandemic, and the return to regular school learning," Hernton said.

Hernton believes that with this club there will be many benefits to the students here at Ritenour.

"When I realized the number of difficulties that some of our students face regularly here at Ritenour with the pandemic, maybe at home, or academically, I knew that some students may not realize there is a way to alleviate all that stress and take a step back to improve our physical, mental, and spiritual health….my overall mood was better and my breathing was more regulated," Hernton said.

The Yoga Club also meets on Mondays from 3:00-3:50, and Thursdays before school from 7:00-7:50 in room 620.

SMOOTHIE RANKINGS

SPRING SPORTS CAPSULES

PAGE 7

PAGE 8

Opinion

March 2022

Page 2

PEPPER BOX STAFF Visual EIC: Kaitlyn Hurst Content EIC: Kaylyn Riggs Production EIC: Maricela Nunez Online Editor: Chloe Sapp Photography Editor: Michelle Everett Social Media Manager: Chanel Foster Adviser: Ron Steinschriber

Staff Members: Leanna Duncan, Paula De Hipolito Ruiz, Layla Fouche, Caden Gaither, Alexandria Griffin, Caroline Groceman, Danielle Haynes, Jennifer Huerta Lopez, Autumn Jacobsmeyer, Julia Lohnes, Nickolas Martin, Eaja McBroom, Ashton Miller, Kevon Moore, Jacob NasalroadFrancis, Victoria Pratt, Janiya Scott Special Contributors: Salaya Choudhury, Zack Gordon, Lou Hankins Editorial Policy: The Pepper Box is designed and created by members 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.

Staff Ed Editorial Spring Break is right around the corner, and if you walk down the hallways of Ritenour High School, you can tell that everyone is ready for a break.

Between the war in Russia, the war at home over masks, and the first full school year in over three years, there are many people who are feeling like they are hitting a

breaking point while dealing with stress and pressure.

Spring Break is scheduled for March 18-27, and it will be the first extended break since finals and the beginning of second semester. After students return from break, there will only be eight weeks before finals and the end of a chaotic school year.

Breaks are very important to people in order to reset their mental, physical, and emotional states. Studies on the use of breaks have

shown that they can reduce stress, help in strengthening performance through the day, and reducing the need for longer recovery times.

As students have dealt with the normal stress and anxiety of the school year, in addition to living through a global pandemic and a military conflict that threatens to involve Americans at some point, anxiety levels have reached all time highs. By taking this break to relax, students and staff can reset

Word on the Kyvon PattinsonFreshman

their mental and physical baselines. There will be more opportunities to catch up on sleep and time to do relaxing activities.

It will also be important to take social breaks during Spring Break. By just taking the time to do things like hanging out with friends, people can feel a sense of connection and create a positive mindset heading back into the last eight weeks of school.

When Spring Break starts,

“A show that describes my life is "On My Block" because of how me and my friends get along really well and how we connect with each other.¨

What TV show/movie best describes your life?

¨I chose "Inside Out" as the movie that portrays my life right now because Riley had a bunch of different emotions that showed her feelings. Right now I am not in a new environment, but, technically I am because it is junior year and this is a new environment for everybody. I am prepping for the ACT, and college tours, college essays, and resumes etc. I feel like that movie portrays my life right now because it shows all my different emotions in one. I am sometimes drained and I just have anger issues like Anger. I am fearful of my future not being what I want it to be, which Aundre'A Berry represents Fear. I enjoy some days when I like accomplish - Junior good grades on a test because this year is just extra hard, so that represents Joy. I am sad some days as well, like when I don't get a good grade on a test or something like that. ¨

Space Neighbors - Kaitlyn Hurst

Insert Comic Name Maricela Nunez

¨"I would say "Stuck in the Middle" because I am the middle child, but also because I always resolve other people's Leslie Campos problems.¨ - Sophomore

Caleb DeckardSenior

Comics

here are some activities that help people destress and get back to a positive emotional state: • Get a lot of sleep • Pick up a new hobby • Eat healthier • Get some exercise • Journal • Meditate • Get in touch with your spirituality • Spend time with your pets • Socialize • Take a social media break

¨I chose "Glee" because I like music, and it is very dramatic and its in high school."

Page 3

Opinion

March 2022

More long term thinking needs to go into masks The district policy has changed, but we are still learning about the long term effects of COVID The Diary of a Teenage SmartAleck

Danielle Haynes In the pandemic, a topic that has always been brought up is mask mandates.

Ritenour has lifted its

mask mandates to mask recommendations. I cannot entirely agree with that as we don't know what COVID can do to the human body.

Yes, I understand that is the exact argument against the vaccine, and it is ironic how that works.

As stated by the World Health Organization, "Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by the SARSCoV-2 virus". We have learned much about the SARS-CoV-2 virus and how it can acutely affect multiple organs and systems, especially the heart, lungs, and blood

vessels, which we would not have known in 2002 when SARS was discovered. We also did not realize that the chickenpox would become shingles 50 years down the line. People were going to pox parties in the 70s to get their kids to have immunity to chickenpox without realizing they were exposing their children to the possibility of shingles.

You may be asking how does this all play into COVID-19? Because we do not know what will happen 50 years later, people still had not gotten their taste back when they got COVID in

2020.

In 50 years, we have no idea what COVID-19 could do to the human body; it could be good, and it could turn out that everyone who survived COVID has superpowers, and I'll be kicking myself for not getting it. On the other hand, it could also be horrible and could shorten your life expectancy depending on how bad COVID was for you.

I am not saying that we should wear a mask forever and never go back to how it was before the pandemic, but I am saying that maybe it's OK to wait a little bit

longer. Perhaps more people should get vaccinated.

Feasibly, shouldn’t we use a little more time to study what COVID-19 does to the human body before we become so lax?

We have seen what has happened before; we let the mandate slip, and then more people caught it. More people died, the hospitals were packed, and we were back to trying to get over the curve.

All I am saying is that mask mandates should still be a thing and that we should not let our guard down because we know what happens when we do.

Why the Russian war on Ukraine could affect us Although the fighting is continents away, any US interaction could lead to changed lives for Americans

Chanel’s Corner

Chanel Foster On February 24 Vladimir Putin ordered the Russian military to invade Ukraine and to strike their first offensive attack.

In response to Russia’s

senseless and violent act, US president Joe Biden made a public statement addressing how the United States would now be involving themselves in the matter on behalf of Ukraine in the form of economic sanctions, honoring the NATO treaty organization created in 1949 as a result of world war II. Since the statement there has been ongoing national buzz about the future of our country’s safety and, let's just say as American teenagers, this is definitely something worth our concern.

Putin has already warned the US, stating “that if America gets involved this would be a historical event like no one

has seen before.”

So, as American teenagers you are probably wondering how a foreign war that is taking place continents away could affect our livelihood. Well if this war is as catastrophic as the news outlets and government officials make it seem, these events will eventually lead to a world war changing our lives as we know it.

When the United States involves themselves in this war, our country will have to prepare for whatever detrimental attacks our enemies have in store for us.

This could inevitably leave us on lockdown and if we have learned anything these

past few years, it is that the United States is not fond of lockdowns.

Another lockdown in the United States would lead to another food and supply shortage, the closing of business, strict curfews, rapid increase of military presence in civilian areas, limited allowed time outside of your homes, and another rapid economic decline.

An economic decline would be terrible, but there is also the unfathomable thought of getting drafted.

Our peers, family members, and our friends could suddenly be stripped of their normal young lives, and be forced onto the frontlines

of world combat, knowing there would be a great chance they will not return home.

How do you prepare for such traumatic events as an adolescent?

As seniors in high school we look forward to moments like prom and walking across the stage at graduation and planning various trips in honor of your completion of high school. With all of this at stake it not only worries me but angers me. Not experiencing these crucial events as a result of world conflict is something no one could predict or plan for.

Thank you from Ritenour Leadership

Yearbooks are on sale and they are

Dr. Haywood Mr. Isaacs Dr. Closson Dr. Hawkins Dr. Schuler Mr. Dwyer Mr. Lohnes Mr. Laskowski Mr. Jones

running out fast.

Either scan this QR code or go to yearbookforever. com to get your 2022 RHS yearbook.

Editorial Cartoons

Illustrations by Maricela Nunez

Page 4 Spotlight Expectations versus reality March 2022

Television shows portray high school very differently than the reality that students experience CHLOE SAPP & KAYLYN RIGGS Online Editor & ContentEditor-In-Chief As students historically have transitioned out of middle school in eighth grade, the one thing normally on their minds was what high school was going to be like.

Nothing can truly, completely prepare incoming freshmen for what high school will be like, but they often have one thing going for them. They have seen high school portrayed on television shows or in movies.

Maybe they have seen “High School Musical.” They watched Troy and Gabriella navigate their high school years and they might have felt ready to start their high school career knowing that their favorite Disney Channel characters would be helping the whole way.

However, as many students found out when they actually stepped foot in the building, the experience was not what they were expecting.

“I thought people would burst into song and dance in the middle of lunch because of High School Musical,” sophomore Skylar Powers said.

The way coming-of-age TV shows and movies portray high school can be highly entertaining to watch but it forms a false expectation for high school.

I thought people would burst into song and dance in the middle of lunch because of high school musical.Sophomore Skylar Powers Environment In many high school based shows, the students really have an obsession with their lockers. The most dramatic conversations happen there.

The turning point of the show happens with the characters standing at their lockers. At some point, viewers might question whether the fictional characters actually go to class, or whether they just stand at their lockers all day.

At Ritenour, everyone is assigned a locker, but very few people actually use them. Half of the students don’t even know where their lockers are, and probably only a handful know their combination.

“One of the first things said to me when I came to the high school was, “Oh, no one uses their locker, you won’t have to worry about that,’” Powers said.

On a show like “Victorious,” the lockers were a focal point of the action in the school. Tori’s locker lights up, Andre’s locker has

an actual piano on it that he plays whenever he stops at his locker, and every single person has a personalized, painted locker.

“Now if we could do that, maybe Ritenour’s students would go to their locker. We should probably stay away from Sinjin’s chewed-up food locker and Jade’s locker full of scissors, though,” Powers said.

The “Euphoria” girls are also getting off way too easy. Maddy never carries a backpack. The bag that couldn’t even carry a notebook does not count.

That would never work at a school like Ritenour.

Also, "Victorious’ students eat outside for lunch every day, with a full outside area filled with benches and a food truck. They have a food truck. Also, for some reason, a kiddie pool.

At Ritenour, there is not an area to eat outside. There’s definitely not a food truck.

Pizza Hut is brought in once a month and smoothies are sold twice a week, though, so there is some sense of similarity.

“I’m still waiting for our food truck, Victorious promised me a food truck,” Powers said.

Student Life Obviously, screenwriters should not have to get it all completely right, since it is only for entertainment, but the way high school is painted is definitely impacting how teenagers view themselves.

Euphoria is not fooling anyone. It is obvious the characters are being played by actors much older than high school age. The main characters, who are supposed to be playing 16-18 year olds on the show range in age from 23 all the way to 31.

The characters on Euphoria do not reflect what students look like at any high school.

Cassie has never had acne and Maddy always has a full face of makeup on. Nobody on that show had a bad hair day, and there is no way there’s a dress code in their school.

These shows can give false expectations to people who actually look their age. It is the same as looking at models on social media. When young girls see that TV shows are having women like Sydney Sweeny, Alexa Demie, Barbie Ferreria, Hunter Schafer, and Zendaya representing America’s youth, they start to believe that is how they should look.

Barbara Goldberg, a clinical psychologist and teen and family expert, talked to Teen Vogue about the issues of adults playing teenagers on these types of shows.

“It can give the message that they’re supposed to look good all the time,” Goldberg told Teen Vogue.

Goldberg says that teenagers' bodies are still adjusting and going through puberty, and seeing a 25-yearold on screen portraying what they believe a high school student should look like could lead to self-image issues.

“Some days they’re thinner, they’re a little heavier, they have pimples, their hair is a little frizzy. It’s all ok,” Greenberg says. “That leads

Drawing by: Maricela Nunez, Photo by Chloe Sapp The above drawing is based on the lockers that were portrayed in the show "Victorious."

The lockers were personalized and were central to the plot of the show. At Ritenour, the lockers all look the same, and many students do not use them, or even know where there locker is located inside the building. to all kinds of body-image and social-comparison issues, and we know that social comparison can be a thief of joy.”

The reality is that teenagers are not meant to be Maddy.

Maddy is a glamorized version of what teenage life is actually like. She’s a confident, honest, extroverted character, and one whose rough edges are sometimes seen. We see the flaws in her life and in her personality. We see all sides of her. So, students should not be shooting to look as “flawless” as Maddy can be presented, with her makeup done and outfits that look like they were pulled out of Coachella. Teenagers should take notes from her confident personality and look at themselves the way she looks at herself instead of being jealous of how she looks at herself.

“I really thought school was going to be how Euphoria is presented, but it is not,” sophomore Alycia Buchanan said.

Community High School in movies, tv shows and other media have

been expertly curated to make its viewers envious of the character’s experiences. From downright illegal parties and school dances, to above and beyond school spirit and tight cliques, it is easy to see just how different real life high school is compared to what is seen in fiction.

Ritenour’s leadership team has put on dances for the rest of the student body with obvious and entertaining themes; but when they are compared to parties put on in “relatable” teen shows, it could become hard to contain jealousy.

In the homecoming episode of a popular teen show, “Pretty Little Liars,”

(season six, episode nine), the characters are seen attending an over-the-top dance put on by their school.

The decorations include large photo booths, realistic fake trees, large lanterns, and to top it all off, an entire hedge maze in the middle of their school’s gym. Schoolsanctioned parties are not the only thing the shows get dramatically wrong. In HBO’s hit show, Euphoria, the characters are often seen attending huge “ragers”.

Hundreds of students are cramped in a house for the party, and, of course, the house is decked out with full bars, disco lights, enormous speakers, and pools large

I thought high school was going to be a scary place where kids get picked on and thrown in lockers from the movies I used to watch, but it really isn't. High school people just do their work in order to graduate and hang out with their friends.

- Ciara Bryan

Page 5

Spotlight

March 2022

I thought bad things would happen and there would be students bullying other students.

- Mainor Berrios

enough to include all of its guests.

Clearly this does not happen in reality. There are parties, but they are nowhere close to the parties depicted in these shows.

High school movies and TV shows also depict a heavy amount of cliques. The characters are married to their social status and a lot of conflict can come out of this. In famous teen-aimed media like “Riverdale” and “Gossip Girl,” the characters are seen ignoring, bullying or downright abusing classmates who are not in the same social group, or clique, as they are.

“I thought bad things would happen and there would be students bullying other students,” sophomore Mainor Barrios said.

In these fictionalized accounts, teens who are on the cheer team just do not associate with teens on the robotics team. However, at real high schools like Ritenour, it is common to find members of the cheerleading team who are also on the robotics team.

“I thought high school was going to be a scary place where kids get picked on and thrown in lockers from the movies I used to watch, but it really isn't. High school people just do their work in order to graduate and hang out with their friends,” sophomore Ciara Bryant said.

Of course, the cliques are

caricatures of reality, but over the years the caricatures become more and more off base, allowing for movies like “Mean Girls” to feel entirely cartoonish and bogus.

“I thought there were going to be more cliques and bullies. I had more assumptions about high school when I was younger.

When I got older and closer to going to high school I knew it wasn't like how TV portrays it. I had friends and family tell me stories about high school so I knew it wasn't like TV or movies showed it,” sophomore Kya Merriman said.

Expectation vs Reality In conclusion, it is easy to see just how different fake high schools are to real ones. From wacky parties and cliques that could only survive in the fictional world, to over-the-top outfits that belong on the runway and hour-long passing times, it becomes hard to find similarities.

“I thought high school was gonna be so much fun and everything was going to be easy,” sophomore Niasia Jones said.

These types of outlandish differences can be funny, especially to someone who is no longer in high school, and can see their old classmates in the dramatizations of the characters. However, to someone who is bright eyed and eager to become a freshman next fall, the fake outlook and metaphors around high school experiences can lead to a negative experience. This type of media is having a negative effect on youth, and leads to one of the largest “expectation vs reality” phenomena in modern history.

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Euphoria

Infographic by Michelle Everett

vs.

Illustration by Kaitlyn Hurst

RHS

Spotlight

March 2022

Page 6

April 5 Election Preview - RSD Board of Education The four candidates for Ritenour Board of Education answered questions about their platform Aimee Ratcliff

Linda Henning Describe yourself in 5 words or less.

I'm kind, caring, and thoughtful.

Describe yourself in 5 words or less.

Honest, compassionate, intelligent, straightforward, and genuine

How are you connected to the district?

I've been a district resident for 37 years and have 3 grandchildren living in the Ritenour district.

How are you connected to the district?

I’ve lived in this district since 2006

What are some pressing issues you think this district is currently facing?

Low MAP scores, safety.

What do you see as the responsibility of a board member to the student body?

Choosing a superintendent who will have the student's best interest at heart. Doing all they can to make sure all students are thriving and prepared for their future upon graduation. A board member should listen to student needs and concerns and bring those concerns to the superintendent and other board members to see if they can be resolved.

What do you value most about the educators in the district?

If it weren't for educators, we wouldn't have school. They have the most vital role in our schools, and the greatest influence on our students.

A dedicated educator can change a child's life.

Why are you running? Why should people vote for you?

I would like to see every child graduate with the tools needed for a successful future. I genuinely care about the future of Ritenour students and will do all I can to ensure their success.

If elected, how would you incorporate your voice amongst the current board members?

I will present my position on various ideas and concerns with other board members and listen respectfully to their positions, and collaborate to find solutions.

Stacy Albin-Wilson Describe yourself in 5 words or less.

Committed parent, community member, supporter How are you connected to the district?

Alumni 1989, Ritenour, Ritenour parent, and community dentist in our district for 20 years

What are some pressing issues you think this district is currently facing?

Mandating Covid restrictions only due to the money they wish to pocket that our corrupted government is doling out, and divisive issues such as CRT and ‘equity training’ that only serve to divide our children on the bases of race.

What do you see as the responsibility of a board member to the student body?

To look-out for the CHILDREN’S best interests.

What are some pressing issues you think this district is currently facing?

Striving for educational excellence, supporting our students and educators by providing an educational environment that is conducive to quality learning, maintaining and continually improving our buildings, staying on the mark in providing highquality technology for educators and students.

What do you value most about the educators in the district?

The actual educators are probably just fine, my issue is with the greedy board members.

What do you see as the responsibility of a board member to the student body?

To ensure our students are provided an excellent education. Every Student Every Day.

Why are you running? Why should people vote for you?

To keep Ritenour from going down this road of tyranny and division.

What do you value most about the educators in the district?

I value the professional leadership of our educators in our district. They are the glue that truly holds us together as a district.

If elected, how would you incorporate your voice amongst the current board members?

My vote would be for sanity every time.

Why are you running? Why should people vote for you?

I truly believe that the best way to help our students, teachers and community is by providing leadership that is not only insightful of our past, understands the gravitas of our present, but also looks forward to the endless possibilities of the future.

If elected, how would you incorporate your voice amongst the current board members?

My greatest and most humbling experience with working on the board is to completely embrace the importance of collaboration. Each voice represents a resounding and vitally important component of the how and the what to create new ideas and to think forward to continually strive for the best education possible.

Jennifer Lohnes

Describe yourself in 5 words or less.

Passionate, Listener, Dedicated, Respectful, TeamPlayer

How are you connected to the district?

I've grown up in the Ritenour School District. My husband Art and I decided to buy our home here because we both grew up in the area and love the people and the diversity. I have 2 girls who started school at the Early Childhood Center when they were 3 years old and before that, we were a part of the Parents as Teachers. Our whole family believes in service to our community and we love to work for all the kids.

What are some pressing issues you think this district is currently facing?

The most important would be having the best

supports in place for our students. We need to ensure students are getting the assistance they need to be successful. This could be academic support or emotional support. The district has hired additional staff including interventionists and counselors to focus on the whole student. I also believe we need to incorporate additional supports for our families.

What do you see as the responsibility of a board member to the student body?

The board's responsibility to students is to provide an environment where all students feel excited about learning. Kids should always be the focus when decisions are being made.

It is the responsibility of the board to always ask the question, "How will this help or affect the students?" Whether the focus is around academics, safety, technology, programs, etc., it is the responsibility of each board member to do their research and make the best decisions for each student from Pre-K through 12th Grade.

What do you value most about the educators in the district?

I believe Ritenour has the best educators. You can honestly see how much they care for each student and want to make an impact on them. I

had a teacher tell me one time, "I wish the students understood I chose them." You can see the joy and excitement they get when a student has success and growth.

Why are you running? Why should people vote for you?

I'm running because I'm not done working for the kids. I have met many amazing kids and heard just as many amazing stories. I'm inspired every time I meet a new student and hear what their dreams are or hear what challenges they have overcome. I want to make sure each and every student has every opportunity to live out their dreams and hopes. I want to engage families and the community in the amazingness which is Ritenour.

If elected, how would you incorporate your voice amongst the current board members?

I believe in being respectful and listening. It's important to have a voice, but it's even more important to listen to others. The third part of the puzzle is to be informed and really understand how decisions will affect the students/teachers/families/ community. When teams work together, the best solutions can be created. Ultimately, the board work is always about what is best for students.

Ritenour robotics team ends highly ranked season The Robohounds were one of the top teams in the region this school year, finishing 22-3 JULIA LOHNES Staff Reporter Ritenour's robotic team, also known as the Robohounds had a strong showing in the 2022 season after not having a season last year.

Cybersecurity teacher Christina Demuri is their sponsor, and is proud of how far the team came after essentially starting from scratch. ”Last year we had a couple of members but they were all virtual and were not returning in person. We started the

season out to where I would drop off any supplies needed to a student's house so that they could build. That did not last very long so we ended up not competing at all last year," Demuri said. "This year we started out again with all new members except for one so the team had to learn how to build and program a robot along with trying to do community outreach.

Community outreach has been difficult due to the pandemic and this is the main way to advance to state."

The team finished with a 22-3 record. They were

ranked first in the Missouri St. Louis North League during a First Tech challenge tournament on Feb 6. ”One of my favorite moments was at the tournament where me and two of my other teammates were running back and forth through the bleachers collecting data on both of the games that were going on so that we could see who we were going against.” Sanaya Ford said.

The team won a Control Award for their robot consistently accomplishing tasks autonomously. The

Robohounds lost in the final playoff when the claw broke off of the robot.

"It was stressful getting first place in the tournament.

I had to go up in front of everyone and speak in front of the crowd and pick an alliance member. It was really exciting and it gave me hope for state but then it all fell apart," senior Devin Sanders said.

Sanders is the team's captain, and has been on the team for four years. He has a lot of jobs being the team captain. At the competition he run around a lot making

sure that everything is as perfect as it can be.

During competitions, the team had to wake up early in the moring to be at the school at 5 o’clock. They scramble to try and get all of their supplies together and their robot. They have to test everything and make sure that everything is working before they go to the competition because they can not test at the competition.

“When we get on the bus the team starts talking strategy on what they are going to do at competition," Sanders said.

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A&E

March 2022

March Madness - Best throwback kids shows 1

Victorious

16 Team Single Elimination

Adventure Time 2

PEPPER BOX STAFF 16

March has become synonymous with college basketball and March Madness, so the Pepper Box is going to run a bracket of its own.

From the time this issue is released until Spring Break, the Pepper Box Instagram page (@RHSpepperbox) will be putting up polls for readers to vote on their favorite throwback TV shows. The bracket was seeded by the Pepper Box staff members.

Follow our Instagram page for updates and the ultimate winner of the tournament.

The tournament will begin on Wednesday, March 16.

8

iCarly

Regular Show

Hannah Montana

Steven Universe 7

Shake it Up

Gravity Falls

9

4

13

5

12

15

10

Drake and Josh

The Amazing World of Gumball

3

Big Time Rush

Fairly Oddparents

14

Liv and Maddie

Phineas and Ferb 6

Good Luck Charlie

Winner

Spongebob

11

PrintYourBrackets.com

Ranking the RHS smoothie offerings The Pepper Box editorial staff rated each of the eight Smoothie King options from lunch KAYLYN RIGGS & MICHELLE EVERETT Content Editor-in-Chief & Photography Editor Strawberry Kiwi Breeze Michelle- 10 Kaylyn- 9 Kaitlyn- 9 Maricela- 7 35/40 Strawberry Kiwi Breeze is exactly what you would reach for on a hot summer day. It is perfectly refreshing and delicious. Just like in the capri-sun, kiwis and strawberries just work together. A beautiful marriage.

Berry Punch Michelle- 7 Kaylyn- 8 Kaitlyn- 8 Maricela- 9 32/40 Berry Punch, just like its name, gives the same perfect punch of sour as the juicy drop pop we all begged our parents for as a child. All the berries combined give the same energy as a good Disney crossover episode. Overall, if you like original flavors with an exotic twist, this is the smoothie for you.

Strawberry X-treme Michelle- 5 Kaylyn- 7 Kaitlyn- 8 Maricela- 7 28/40 This is the safe choice.

Strawberries are the Taylor Swift of fruit, everyone can recite the lyrics to “Shake it Off.” If you approach the counter and a million Ritenour students are crowding behind you while you make the ever so important choice, Strawberry X-treme is a good option. You will not be disappointed.

Caribbean Way Michelle- 5 Kaylyn- 7 Kaitlyn- 8 Maricela- 5 25/40 Caribbean Way brings up thoughts of pirates in a few ways. It is loved by many, but will never win an Oscar. This smoothie is a good choice for those fruit lovers who cannot seem to make a decision and want a taste of the warm weather we all have been craving.

Strawberry Lemon Twist Michelle- 3 Kaylyn- 9 Kaitlyn- 3 Maricela- 9 24/40 Strawberry Lemon Twist is definitely an acquired taste. If you like surprises you will like this smoothie because that artificial lemon hits the back of your throat faster than Sonic can move his legs. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but definitely not my favorite.

So for all you lemon lovers, go try it out and maybe you will find yourself in a high school

Photo by Ron Steinschriber The Pepper Box Editorial Staff ranked each of the smoothies on a 1-10 scale and added up the total points to choose the winner of best smoothie offered during lunches. band run by dysfunctional teenagers.

Banana Berry Treat Michelle- 6 Kaylyn- 6 Kaitlyn- 5 Maricela- 3 20/40 Banana Berry Treat is a smoothie that is exactly what it claims to be; banana. Just like that yellow Laffy Taffy that somehow survived months at the bottom of the Halloween bag, this smoothie most likely will not be your first choice. This smoothie is the outcome of a divorced strawberry and banana marriage that turned south. I will probably never drink this

again.

Pineapple Surf Michelle- 9 Kaylyn- 5 Kaitlyn- 4 Maricela- 2 20/40 Pineapple Surf is focused on one thing and that's about it. It thinks it is the main character, but in reality it plays better as a sidekick.

Relying on just pineapple, this smoothie is not bad, but very similar to drinking a can of pineapple juice and calling it a day. Very similar to Banana Berry Treats, if you love this singular fruit you will love this smoothie.

Mango Fest Michelle- 1 Kaylyn- 2 Kaitlyn- 2 Maricela- 4 9/40 Mango Fest is by far one of the worst things I have ever tasted. To sum it up, peel an orange and instead of eating the orange, set that to the side; you will not be needing it. Open wide for that delicious, oh so stringy, bruised peel! Pulpy and unflattering if this smoothie is your favorite I severely judge if your taste buds are working properly.

Photos by Danielle Haynes Ritenour High School offers a selection of eight smoothies for purchase on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The money gained from the smoothie sales goes to a number of different organizations in the school, including the senior class and the football team.

Sports

March 2022

Page 8

Spring Season Sports Capsules LAYLA FOUCHE Pepper Box Staff

Boys Volleyball • • • •

•

Coach: Andrea Rivera Last year’s record: 3 - 13 - 1 Key returners: Caleb Deckard, Santonio Resonno, Isaac Smith, Nakai Steele-Meyers Newcomers: I have a ton of new people out for the team, more than ever before and I'm looking forward to seeing how much they learn and develop over the course of the season.

Expectations: Hoping to make up some ground that COVID caused and field two solid teams.

Many of the new players come to the team with little to no volleyball experience, so just trying to bring them up to speed and ready for game play is the key. Coach Burkes and I cannot wait to build their volleyball foundation and teach them to love the sport.

•

• • •

•

•

Boys Golf

Baseball Coach: Zachary Buxman Last year’s record: Last year we were 2-13, losing a handful of very close games.

Key returners: Our key returners are seniors Charles Farris, David Montgomery, juniors Blake Dingledine, Andrew Thomas, and sophomore Nathan Hayden.

Newcomers: Our exciting newcomers include: Sophomores - Will Chosich, Aiden Hodges, Caleb Calmese, Taylen Jones-Bluett, and Freshman - Trent Goddard.

Expectations: I am excited for the year, we will be very young, but also very talented. I expect us to be very competitive against the teams on our schedule.

• •

Coach: Emily Castello Last year’s record: 2-15 Expectations: We are very excited for this upcoming girls soccer season. As we are finishing up the first week of tryouts, we are looking like we will have a program that will continue growing and compete well against our toughest components. We are returning a number of key players from last season and we hope to add a few new fresh players onto our roster that will help tremendously. We have some tough games on our schedule this season, but I know with our solid senior leadership, we will have a strong showing for each of those games. Our players have worked hard in the off season and we will come out in full force. We hope to see a lot of fans out at our games to help cheer us on!

•

Coach: Sean Snedeker Last year’s record: 2 - 4 Key returners: Senior Arlen Smart Newcomers: Freshman Jackson Leong, Freshman Jayden Williams, Junior Kyle Williams Expectations: Arlen Smart continues to develop into a solid golfer. Jackson, Jayden, and Kyle develop good golf fundamentals and golf etiquette to build for the future.

Boys Track • • •

Girls Soccer • • •

• • • •

•

Coach: Michael Nelke Key returners: Sam Williams, Tyson Robinson, Leon Mitchell-Williams, Fortuna Kadima Newcomers: Kenny Brown, Elijah Fry, Nate Watson, Derrick Smith, Richard McNary, Giovanni Jones Expectations: "We are very excited about this group we have out this year. The speed and experience we have coming back will hopefully lead to some great performances. Our goal is to peak near the end of the season and bring as many of our athletes to the state meet as possible," assistant coach Mike Nelke said.

Girls Track • • Photo by Layla Fouche Junior Blake Dingledine warms up during tryout week for baseball. Dingledine returns to the team after playing on varsity as a sophomore during the 2020-2021 baseball season.

• •

Coach: Reggie McNeil Key returners: Azariah Estes, Jordyn Williams, Kelci Sutton, Jakayla Smith Newcomers: Chayl Brantley, Talia Jones Expectations: The team is very young, so we aer working on improving skills and seeing how much better we can get over the course of the season. We will know more after we see how we do at the first meet.

Inside the Huddle - Spring sports begin Question: What has been the Adriana Gutierrez toughest part Gaona of tryouts so Girls Track ¨The hardest part about far?

tryouts so far is staying consistent everyday and getting back into the routine of coming to school, and then having to stay after school to run, and also getting my endurance back."

Nathan Hayden Baseball

Yaztin Chaidez Girls Soccer

Arlen Smart Boys Golf

"The hardest part of tryouts "It has probably been the new ¨The hardest part of our is getting into a good rhythm stretches and stuff, because tryouts so far is definitely these are new stretches, and getting into shape, most of the where my swings are good."

I'm stretching muscles I did girls aren't in shape and we not even know that I have." have a game coming up later on this month, but I think in a couple of weeks if we bond and push ourselves we will definitely be ready."

Russian sports teams banned from international competition International sporting committees, and even video game producers, have taken aim at Russian sports CADEN GAITHER Pepper Box Staff Amidst the invasion of Ukraine, major sports organizations— Formula 1, IIHF, IPC, FIFA and UEFA —have banned Belarusian and Russian teams from participating in competitions and other sports events after recommendations from the Olympic Movement’s IOC EB. War is a malevolent, churning machine, one that does not allow for anything as simple as friendly competition. As Ukrainians fight day in and day out, tooth and nail for the country they call their own, their sports teams remain unable to participate in competitions worldwide.

“We were incredibly shocked to see the images that have come out of Ukraine,”

said IIHF president Luc Cardif in the organization’s official statement on their website.

Though the Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee is unanimous in its agreement that players should typically not be viewed in correlation with the actions of their governments, the actions by the Russian government with Belarus’ direct support have incentivized them to act.

On Feb. 28, the IOC EB released a statement on the official Olympics website explaining that their decision was made in the spirit of fairness and unity. If the Ukrainian teams could not play because of war, then the Russian and Belarusian sports teams would not play either.

Their recommendation has had the desired effect, and

the two countries’ teams are indefinitely suspended by four organizations thus far.

“The IIHF is not a political entity and cannot influence the decisions being taken over the war in Ukraine,” Luc Cardif explained. “We nevertheless have a duty of care to all of our members … and must therefore do all we can to ensure that we are able to operate our events in a safe environment.”

Sophomore Luis Alvarado plays for the Ritenour soccer team. He believes that the sanctions that are taking place are not fair to the athletes who compete for Russia.

"It was not the soccer players' decision to go to war, so they should not get punished. They just want to play soccer," Alvarado said.

Soccer and ice hockey are not the only sports to bar

the two countries’ athletes from competing. The IPC originally allowed athletes to compete, but made a reversal on the eve of the Paralympics.

Video game development company EA has deleted Russian players from the game FIFA 22 and Formula 1 has canceled the Russian Grand Prix.

“The FIA Formula 1 World Championship visits countries all over the world with a positive vision to unite people, bringing nations together.” stated Formula 1 on its website on March 3rd. “We are watching the developments in Ukraine with sadness and shock and hope for a swift and peaceful resolution to the present situation.”

Other organizations are likely to follow in their footsteps. Russia’s major

sports include volleyball, basketball, and chess; the International Chess Federation, Fédération Internationale de Volleyball, and International Basketball Federation may ban their respective Russian and Belarusian participants from competition in the coming weeks.

As the invasion of Ukraine continues and inevitably ends, the grave consequences of Russia’s actions will continue to haunt them. Sanctions, bans, suspensions and more will follow into the next months and possibly even years. The government of Russia has stolen the joy and purpose of competition from their people in their invasion, destroying the very same unity they so desperately sought before.