Editors-in-chief: Katie Nelson, Elena Ortiz Fishman
Photo editors: Mya
Stanberry, Eliah Fink
Copy editors: Alex Geretz, Scott
Schmidt, Jesse Belen
News editor: Abby Keller
Features editor: Abby Bartleson
In-Depth editor: Alicia Mainjeni
Sports Editor: Aidan Shafton
Opinion editor: Crystal Diaz
Entertainment Editor: Anya
Panday
Web editor: Modesty Manion
Staff: Rachel Arkis, Serena
Bovee, Cole Denham, Tyler Eoff, Caedon Exsted, Jamar Hester, Alex Hoag, John Hunter, Johanna
Kaplan, Lex Lee, Noah Leventhal, Ari Lissauer, Jacob Martenson, Ena Mekic, Ayelel Meyen, Layla Mickelson, Maya Nieves, Jacob
Perszyck, Sarah Peterson, Taylor
Voigt, Roberto Alvarez, Lilly
Fandel Thompson, Jana Faust, Dahlia Herman, Leo Justesen, Anisa Kahin, Nafisa Kahin, Sarah Kluckhohn, Owen McColgan, Abby Meisler, Cole Taylor, Anna Williams, Liz Williams, Hanna Wilsey.
Principal: LaNisha Paddock
Printer: North Star Media
Adviser: Andrew Wilkes
Awards:
NSPA Hall of Fame member;
2006-2007, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014,
2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 NSPA Print Pacemaker
Finalist; 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2020, 2021 National Print Pacemaker Award recipient; 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 Online Pacemaker Finalist:
2013, 2015, 2016, 2020 CSPA Gold
Crown: 2015, 2020, 2022 CSPA
Hybrid Gold Crown: 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 CSPA Silver
Crown: JEM
All State Gold Award print and online.
3 AP African American Studies amplified
4 Fundraising event brings senior class closer, Bento boxes set to replace hot lunch
5 Model United Nations makes its mark, Wearing our hearts on our sleeves
Hi everyone! We are excited to publish and present our fifth issue of Echo. This cycle was our first of the second semester and with a new rotation of editors, we are ready to bring in new perspectives and ideas. Along with the new staff that the semester brought in, we have also been acclimating to new positions through fun, bonding activities and setting goals for recruitment next year.
While registering for courses for the 2023-24 school year, one new class offered is AP African American studies — a pilot course brought to Park, explained on page 3. Additionally, check out a recap of the winter sports season on page 4, as we enter the final season for athletics. Next, follow up and get educated on the CROWN Act which was passed, on pages 6 and 7. Lastly, as we transition into the rainy season, check out the best places to get nice, warm pho on page 12.
6,7 CROWN Act: embracing Hair-itage
8 Boys’ swimming sets milestones at state OPINIONS
9 Winter sports wrapped
10 Kitchen renovations lead to new lunches
11 New course to be offered
12 The ultimate pho-off
Tropical Senior Editors in-chiefs Elena Ortiz-Fishman and Katie Nelson pose after a dinner at Rainforest Cafe Aug. 5. The dinner was held to celebrate the fake birthday of Maren Wilsey.
Photo by Maren Wilsey
I got my rabbit, Challa, certified as an animal-assisted therapy animal during the summer of 2021. I regularly take my rabbit to libraries and children read to him through the Reading Education Assisted Dogs (READ) program. Being a handler for my therapy animal has shown me how truly transformational the human and animal bond can be.
With the recent snowstorm that shut down in-person school Feb. 22–23, Park brought back asynchronous learning.
On Feb. 1, senior football players Stefano Giovannelli, Zach Johnson, Zach Helfmann, Henry Eaton and Henry Bendickson committed to their respective colleges. Defensive coordinator Rob Griffin said he refuses to credit himself in their success.
Alicia Mainjeni
AP African American studies has been in development for 10 years and College Board recently approved the course to be piloted in high schools across the United States for the 2023–24 school year. Park is one of the many high schools implementing this course next year.
Social studies teacher Emma Engebretson said that this course provides an opportunity for students to engage in material focused on BIPOC experiences.
“It’s a really great opportunity. AP has never offered a course that’s focused on BIPOC experiences,” Engebretson said. “AP African American studies is new, it’s a pilot and it’s giving an opportunity for all students, especially students of color, the opportunity to participate and be a part of an AP class.”
Sophomore Paige Descarpentrie said participating in this course would be valuable to her education, allowing her to learn new material.
“It is beneficial for everybody because the material is important to learn and we haven’t had it before,” Descarpentrie said. “It’s important for the curriculum to be added.”
Senior Maecee Alexander, said that expanding knowledge on a personal level by taking the course will allow her to inform her peers.
“I want to educate myself more so that I can educate other people who may not be as educated,” Alexander said.
According to Engebreton, AP African American studies marks the start of diversifying the curriculum and she hopes that College Board continues to expand their curriculum.
“Students can start getting college credit for a more diverse array of classes within College Board,” Engebretson said. “It’s a really great opportunity with a lot of positives.”
Principal LaNisha Paddock said the name “studies” holds significance in regard to what educators teach the course and the curriculum offered.
“It’s not history, it’s studies, which opens it up to more opportunities (such as), what the content will be and who could potentially teach the course,” Paddock said.
Descarpentrie said informing students about course material is one way of encouraging students to participate.
“Telling students what (courses) are about is encouraging,” Descarpentrie said. “Not many people will take it if they don’t know what it’s going to be like and what the curriculum will be or what they will be doing.”
According to Engebretson, diversity within the classroom has potential in AP African American studies.
“Typically, most of our AP classes are predominantly white students, and I’m hoping that this class will look different racially,” Engebretson said.
According to Alexander, she hopes the class offers an open area for students.
“I hope it offers a space where students can pick what they want to learn about and allows people to use their voice,” Alexander said.
Paddock said she has high hopes for student interest in the new school year.
“We’re going to pilot it, we’re going to see how it goes,” Paddock said. “We’re hoping that there’s a lot of interest this upcoming school year.”
AP African American Studies is a course offered to seniors starting in the 2023–24 school year. After monitoring interest in the course, Park will look to expand during the 2024–25 school year.
What type of class is it?
What requirements does it have?
Can I get college credit for it?
What topics does the class cover?
The class is a two-semester history credit.
It is available to all seniors. There are no prerequisites.
Yes — it is through College Board, so college credit can be earned through the AP exam at the end of the year.
The course offers multiple perspectives on the history of African societies, resistance movements and important historical developments that shaped African American experience
Source College Board course guide Infographic by Alex Geretz
This class would provide a new opportunity for students because a lot of the history classes are only teaching white history.”Pointing to the future: Counselor Barb Nelson explains new social studies class to incoming seniors Feb. 17. Park is participating in College Board’s AP African American studies pilot program in the 2023–2024 year. Photo by Abby Keller Dahlia Herman Serena Bovee Jesse Belen
With Park beginning to plan school-wide construction, the question of how students would still have a healthy and full lunch remains. Administration decided the best way to still have healthy meals for students was to introduce bento boxes. Bento boxes are non-reusable boxes that hold cold food in different compartments.
Having the bento boxes would mean that Park will no longer serve hot lunch.
Sophomore Miles Johnson said that this could be a struggle for students who mainly get food at school.
“Some students are not as privileged as others and can’t afford to bring their own lunch,” Johnson said. “Those students will have to eat a cold and less filling lunch everyday, when at home they might not be getting nutritious hot foods either.”
Sophomore Adam Rosvold said that he is concerned about the bento boxes not holding enough food for Parks’ hard-working students.
“Everyone's eating habits are different, some kids will get enough but others won’t think it’s enough. That will decrease the amount of kids that get lunch from school,” Rosvold said. “Kids who are not getting enough food will struggle because they won’t have enough energy to go the rest of the day at school.”
Assistant Principal Derek Wennerberg said when the middle school underwent construction in the fall of 2020, bento boxes were used.
“The middle school went through a cafeteria remodel a few years ago and the food service staff
did an amazing job,” Wennerberg said. “They did an amazing job at mixing up the offerings to make sure it wasn't just going to be a ham and cheese sandwich and a turkey sandwich the next day. (There was) a wide variety and very creative options.”
Assistant principal Alyssa Gardner said that while the ideal goal was to have a way for students to continue to have hot lunch, with the construction it wouldn’t be possible.
“There wasn't a reasonable way to ensure students still had hot lunch,” Gardner said. “The bento box was the next best option to ensure that everybody will still have healthy and full meals while the cafeteria undergoes construction.”
Johnson said the bento box option will allow lunch to take a shorter amount of time.
“Bento boxes will definitely make lunch faster,” Johnson said. “It'll give us way more time to eat and talk if we can just grab a box of food and sit down.”
Bento boxes will start being used during the fall of the 2023-24 school year as Park continues with renovations that begin at the end of the school year.
Every spring, the new graduating class kicks back to celebrate their hard work the past 13 years. This year, parent volunteers decided to host a fundraiser to reach their goal of $25,000 for the senior class party, which takes place the night of graduation.
Parent of a senior and volunteer, Julie Yakes, said the event planning started from scratch, which introduced new tactics and ideas for fundraising.
“We didn’t have a lot of information from the previous classes, so we’re really working this year on documenting everything. We’re trying all kinds of ways to raise money. Everything from direct donations, fundraisers at local businesses, the ‘we love our graduates’ signs, as well as selling spirit wear,” Yakes said. “We’ve also done a lot of grant work. Asking other folks in the community so it can be a free event for every senior.”
Senior Anna Mccallon said hosting the fundraiser
at Mexico City Cafe was a clever way of fundraising due to the restaurant’s name recognition.
“I personally love helping and supporting local and small businesses, so Mexico City Cafe was a good choice because everyone knows where it is and it’s typically easy for everyone to get to,” Mccallon said.
Junior volunteer Chiara Collinet said she came across the opportunity to volunteer through the National Honors Society and was interested in it because she had never been to the restaurant.
“I’m participating in the National Honors Society so I gain volunteer hours from that. It was one of the volunteering opportunities that appealed to me the most because it was so close, it’s in St. Louis Park,” Collinet said. “I’ve always wanted to go to Mexico City Cafe. It’s a really nice local restaurant which is good that it’s being supported as well as the seniors.”
Yakes said she values the importance of each graduating class having a celebration because she saw first hand the joy it brought to her own children.
“My daughter is a sophomore in college now but I helped out at her senior event, and there was just so much joy,” Yakes said. “It’s so important to have something that keeps them safe but still lets them cut
loose and just have fun. We hire a hypnotist and a DJ, and they have full access to all the things that happen at Park Tavern.”
Mccallon said she is looking forward to celebrating with her class because it is a fun opportunity to bond with her class before they go their separate ways.
“This party will be the last time most of us see each other, and it will be a very fun last memory,” Mccallon said. “The parents and staff have worked really hard to have everything free for everyone, which is really cool.”
According to Collinet, it’s crucial for students to volunteer for these local fundraising events because a lot of effort is put into planning and being local makes it beneficial for everyone.
“It’s important to volunteer because people don’t realize how much work goes into planning and executing parties and events for school,” Collinet said. “Otherwise the school isn’t going to get the money for that, so local fundraising is a nice way of doing that.”
For more information and updates about fundraising opportunities and the senior party, join the Facebook group – ‘SLP Class of 2023 Senior Party’ as well as follow slpseniorparty23 on Instagram.
I think it’ll be too simple and nutrition values will go down for students.” “
Calvin Otos, sophmore
I
Elsa Crow, freshmanAfter many years with limited government-related extracurriculars, Park students have stepped up and started a new program involving diplomacy and international relations.
After participating in the Youth in Government program this past fall, club leader and senior Amira Abdirahman said Model United Nations (Model UN) is a great chance for students to explore current issues involving various countries.
“Model United Nations is an opportunity for students all across the state to get together and be diplomats for a country of their choosing and represent a country on issues impacting our globe that affects us as citizens,” Abdirahman said.
Club advisor Emma Engebretson said that the introduction and execution of Model UN at Park was led by students.
“It was mainly student driven,” Engebretson said. “During first semester, Park had Youth In Government (YIG) but Amira (Abdirahman) had said she wanted to start YIG for second semester and then keep going with Model UN, because YIG is in the fall and Model UN is in the spring.”
According to Abdirahman, Model UN is a continuation of Youth In Government because of the positive feedback the program gained from members in the fall.
“Sebastian and Isaac (the other club leaders) talked about wanting to start YIG originally,” Abdirahman said. “We saw an opportunity to get Model UN going too because we saw so much success gained from Youth In Government.”
For chemistry teacher Alex Polk, the phrase “Take a deep breath, you are loved” is more of a belief than just a statement. For years, he’s been spreading his message throughout the school using bracelets, artwork and posters — now with his very own merchandise, complete with hoodies, t-shirts, crewnecks and mugs.
According to Polk, the message has been an important aspect of his life for a long time.
“It dates back to my junior or senior year of college,” Polk said. “Originally, it was ‘Smile, you are loved,’ but eventually I shifted it to ‘Take a deep breath.’ The importance of breathing and continuing on is really valuable. I must have discovered that at some point during those years, and it stuck with me.”
Junior Madeline Anklam said that for her, the message helps her slow down and reminds her to focus on one thing at a time.
“To me, it means taking things one step at a time,” Anklam said. “It’s also a reminder that there are people around you that love you.”
Polk said that the message is meant to serve as a reminder that people are worth more than just their accomplishments, and his goal with the clothing line is to spread it.
“To me, it’s just about the idea that no matter what you’re going through, what you’re doing, or what your accomplishments are, that doesn’t define you — you are who you are, and that’s all you need to be,” Polk said. “That’s enough, and you are enough on your own. It’s something I always want to remind my students, too, and I thought that clothes might be a nice way to do that.”
According to sophomore Ruby Viot, Polk’s use of the motto in the classroom helps emphasize that grades aren’t everything, and that hard work is more important.
“In Mr. Polk’s class, every time we have a test, he writes it on the whiteboard,” Viot said. “It helps make it less stressful, and reminds me that even if I don’t do well, it’s still going to be okay.”
According to Polk, his wish for the message to reach more people, both inside and
According to club member and sophomore Arun Ferran-Sapatnekar, Model UN will be an exciting and unique experience as well as a good resume builder.
“I thought it would be an interesting experience to have and also it is a good thing to have on your resume for your future,” Ferran-Sapatnekar said.
Engebretson said that Model UN can be a good way for students to find people with similar interests, while learning about new passions.
“It’s a great way for students to learn how to advocate for themselves for all issues and what they are passionate about,” Engebretson said. “It’s a great way to build community with other students and people that are also interested in being global citizens and learning about the world.”
Abdirahman said that the competition isn’t only work but there are also multiple chances to create new connections.
“For the competition we are gonna stay overnight in a hotel and there are opportunities to have fun,” Abdirahman said. “It’s not solely just the conference all day, at night you can go out with your friends or make new friends from across the state.”
For more information about Model UN, reach out to Emma Engebretson in room C373.
outside the school, led to the decision to create a clothing line.
“I’ve always had wristbands with the message on it, but I think having actual clothes spreads it even more,” Polk said. “It’s a chance for somebody who isn’t necessarily in the school to remember to breathe as well.”
Anklam said that buying merch can be an effective way to spread a good message.
“I would definitely buy Polk’s merchandise,” Anklam said. “It’s a good reminder, and maybe more people will be able to see it and it’ll make their day.”
Although Polk uses his own motto as a focal point on the clothes, there are also reminders to keep loving unconditionally. Polk said that the purpose of this is to expand on his message, and encourage people to act with love.
“All I really want is for people to realize they have worth and that acting with kindness and love matters,” Polk said.
Design by Abby Bartleson Eliah Finkwould join Model UN because I think it’s important to learn about issues in society and around the world.”Photo by Lex Lee Worldly speaking Club adviser Emma Engebretson speaks to students about Model UN March 1. This was the club’s first in-person meeting this year. Rachel Arkis Layla Mickelson Leading with love Science teacher Alex Polk works one-on-one with a student March 1. Polk created an inspirational clothing line to spread a heartfelt message. Photo by Rachel Arkis
Hair means a lot to people culturally and expressively. It’s a way to express somebody’s character.”
On Feb. 1, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz signed a law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of hair textures or styles. By adding Minnesota to an expanding list of states passing laws, commonly known as the Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair (CROWN) Act, many have begun to wonder how this may impact the future of academic and professional settings on a state and nationwide level.
Science teacher Alexander Polk said that having curly hair has allowed him to form connections with students who have a similar hair texture.
“Having curly hair has impacted me by letting me have conversations with students about something as simple as, ‘I like your hair,’ and having them give a similar comment back,” Polk said. “It’s helped me connect with students, but beyond that, it hasn’t necessarily impacted me. However, those conversations go deeper than just the comment.”
According to sophomore Jaiden Leary, having curly hair allows attachment to his culture, but it also opens the door to judgment from those around him.
“Being biracial, (hair is) one of the things that helps me attach to Black culture (by) being able to get dreads or curls,” Leary said. “Then being able to get judged by that. I’m on the swim team, I see people stare at me on the opposite side whenever I take my cap off.”
DESIGN BY Alicia MainjeniSophomore Miles Johnson said that growing up around individuals with different hair types than him has impacted his ability to build strong connections.
“It’s definitely had an impact, because growing up around people that don’t really have the same hair texture as you, you don’t have that connection,” Johnson said. “You think that something is different with you that isn’t for everyone else. It shapes how a person views themselves and how they view other people too.”
According to sophomore Lynea Sallet-Smith, having curly hair can discourage her from participating in activities due to the time it takes to properly care for her hair.
“There are certain things that you can do,” Sallet-Smith said. “You can pretty much do everything. But since your hair is curly, after you do an activity, you have to take extra (time) to do your hair. It’s like, ‘Why would you do all that? Just don’t do the activity in the first place.’”
Ryan Johnson, a stylist who specializes in working with curly hair, said that when he was younger he felt his hair was hard to manage, but he’s learned to embrace it with time.
“Fortunately, I work in an industry where showing off natural hair is acceptable,” Johnson said. “But I know that in every workplace it can look (different). I have curly hair. So when I was younger I felt it was always a mess, it wasn’t kept. People feel that it’s more polished if it’s blown out, but I’m all about embracing the natural length as long as it’s kept.”
How the CROWN Act may impact students at Park
Polk said he believes the CROWN Act won’t have a major impact on students, because he hopes Park has done enough to make students feel safe wearing their natural hair already.
“I’d hope that the issue of racial discrimination that the CROWN Act is targeting isn’t impacting students here,” Polk said. “If it is, we have to fix that. The CROWN Act should, and will, impact students on a state level, but I
hope it doesn’t have to impact students at Park.”
According to social studies teacher Emma Engebretson, the CROWN Act may have an impact on students at Park in the future, as students may feel more protected to speak up against discrimination they see or experience.
“The CROWN Act will for sure impact student experience,” Engebretson said. “We’ve got a law now that says that you can’t discriminate based on appearance in schools. That will create a more welcoming environment where students can express themself freely and ensure that there are consequences when discrimination occurs.”
“Hopefully, the CROWN Act gets away from the whole concept of ‘classy’versus-‘dirty’-versus-‘professional’ hair,” Polk said. “To me, that’s where the biggest issue lies — with people dictating what is and isn’t professional.”
Miles Johnson said that before the CROWN Act, he had worried about potential discrimination in the workplace, but he feels more protected after the bill was passed.
“When I started working in a workplace before the bill, there was a higher possibility that they would say, ‘Change your hair, it’s not professional,’” Johnson said. “Now that you legally can’t do that, I feel more safe in having my natural hair out in public.”
Future under the CROWN Act
According to Polk, hair texture can be an impactful part of a student’s life, and he hopes they are able to embrace and feel proud of it.
“Students’ natural hair definitely can, and does, affect their academic experiences,” Polk said. “My hope is that people continue to embrace their natural hair, not because they feel like they need to wear it a certain way, but just
Janet Kromah, sophomore
because they like it and want to wear it that way.”
Ryan Johnson said that he hopes the CROWN Act allows people to embrace their natural hair more in the hair industry.
“In our industry, hopefully it affects things as far as people embracing their natural hair,” Johnson said. “In my workplace, the employees can embrace the artistry of different hair. We’ve got all kinds of hair going on. I hope people are accepting more of themselves, like, ‘This is what I have.’”
Leary said it’s especially important to have written policies in schools to support students and create a comfortable environment for them to learn.
“It’s very important to expand that into the schools because I hear stories of kids getting pressured into cutting off their dreads or cutting their hair short,” Leary said. “I think that’s important to focus on.”
According to Sallet-Smith, the Storiole could incorporate more curly hair products into its stock to make them more accessible for everyone.
“They have brushes, and if they want to give things to students, they should add more curly hair products,” Sallet-Smith said. “Like a Denman brush, moisturizer… Just more stuff to attract more people who have curly hair. If you just give the normal brush, it won’t really work with curly hair.”
Engebretson said she would like to see more legislation passed surrounding natural hair, both nationally and at Park.
“I hope more states continue to pass bills into laws similar to the CROWN Act. I would love to see us get a national law, too,” Engebretson said. “It’ll be interesting to see what policies, practices and professional development Park puts in place that will also align with the CROWN Act.”
CROWN Act: “Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair”
Fourteen states also passed laws against hair discrimination.
MHRA prohibits race discrimination in the workplace (and in schools).
Rep. Abaje said the bill “allows people to show up as their authentic selves.”
Infographic by Lilly Fandel Thompson
Source Kare 11
DESIGN BY Alicia Mainjeni
“ Wearing my hair naturally feels very good because I used to not like my hair at first.”
Angel Washington, freshmanPhoto Illustration Crystal Diaz Photo Illustration Crystal Diaz
With so much cultural appropriation going around and white people wearing breads, I don’t think it’s fair that I wear braids and get scrutinized, but when white people do it, it’s a new fashion trend.”Henry Salita, junior
After getting fourth in the State meet last year, the girls’ Nordic team went into the sections meet determined to return to Giants Ridge for the state meet. This year, we were the Metro West Conference team champions, and we went into the sections meet with confidence and intent. Our chances of returning to state depended both on how our five pursuit skiers placed in relation to the other teams, as well as how the skate relay team performed in the semifinals and finals.
The way that the sections meet works is that a team of seven varsity skiers is chosen, with five of them doing the pursuit race and the other two working together in the sprint relay. The pursuit team does a 5K classic race and later a 5K skate race — their times are then combined to see their overall placing.
The season for boys’ swimming has come to a close after the team placed 30th overall March 3–4. After finishing in 15th place in the 100 freestyle and a school-record sixth place in the 200 freestyle, Nordling said he has a tendency to swim better when he is competing against swimmers with a higher skill level.
Strategies for State and Sections
The sprint relay consists of four laps around a one-kilometer course, where the first racer (me) does the first and third laps, and the second racer, Addison Chenvert, does the second and final laps. There are two heats of the semifinal race, and the top seven teams from both heats participate in the finals. Based on the placing of the top three pursuit skiers, as well as the placement of the relay team in the semifinals or finals, each team acquires a certain number of points that are combined and compared to find the winning team. The top two ranking teams send all seven of their skiers to the state tournament, and the next top four individuals from the pursuit and the next best relay team (not from the top two teams) are also invited to state.
One of the biggest aspects of our preparation is our ski wax. The nordic team’s main coach, Doug Peterson, is a wizard when it comes to waxing skis. He is a master at determining the best wax to use based on the weather. Three days before the sections and state meets (respectively), Doug took our skis to work his magic. Usually, after Doug waxes our skis, each individual racer would scrape and brush the wax off of their own skis. However, for meets as important as these, the coaches did this for us.
Technical changes are another crucial part of meet prep. There was about a week and a half in between Conference Champs and sections and a week between sections and state, so we had a longer period to work out logistics. At this point in the season, our physical conditioning is at a good point where we’re in good shape and need to focus more on race strategy and technique. The pursuit skiers mainly worked as a group on their classic uphill form and skate weight transfers. For the sprint, Addison and I worked with the coaches on skate-tucking, finding the right line to take on sharp turns, positioning our skis to use the most power and uphill climbing technique.
The relay had significantly less time in between the semifinals and finals, so Addison and I were told to eat something small, but to focus on drinking water. The biggest food-related instruction our coaches gave us was to not try something new or stray from our normal diets too much. The last thing you want to do is try a new food the day before the biggest race of the season, just to realize that it makes you sick.
Aidan Shafton DESIGN BY“The meet was highly competitive, which is where I do best personally,” Nordling said. “I really like those high-competition, high-stakes meets.”
Cameron said he enjoyed the experience of swimming alongside some of the fastest in the state.
“State was interesting,” Cameron said. “I added a little bit of time, but I was still really happy with how I did, though. There were some insanely fast kids there. I was really impressed by all the teams.”
Head coach Amanda Forsberg said there were a few highlights of the season that heavily contributed to the success of the team.
“The season went really well,” Forsberg said. “Miles Nordling broke two team records and he placed in the top eight at state, which was great. Everyone dropped time at sections, which is always the goal.”
According to Cameron, Park faced adversity
throughout the season, but didn’t let it stop them from competing at the highest level.
“There were a lot of tough spots this year,” Cameron said. “With the weather and all the setbacks I think we really pushed through.”
According to Nordling, everyone on the team — including the underclassmen — were a useful part of the team’s journey to competing at state.
“This was a really great season for the team,” Nordling said. “It was really good to see people show up and do what they needed to do — even the younger kids on the team.”
Forsberg said next season, the younger swimmers need to carry on where the team left off this year, as Park will be missing their seniors next year.
“We’re losing some really great seniors,” Forsberg said. “I’m looking for the underclassmen to step up and help us fill that void.”
Nordling said he trusts next year’s captains to lead the team toward repeating the success of this season.
“I’m hoping these boys keep up with the great work,” Nordling said. “Next season there are going to be some great captains on the team. I’m looking forward to what they can do next season with the momentum from this season.”
Boys’ swimming finished 30th in the state and made multiple school records throughout the season.
Boys’ swimming state results
6th in state* for the 200 freestyle
Miles Nordling
15th in state for the 100 freestyle
Daniel Cameron 20th in prelims for 200 butterfly
Miles Rost, Magnus Smith, Henry Berg, Miles Nordling
*School record
17th in prelims for 200 freestyle relay
19th in prelims for 400 freestyle relay
Going into the season I was skeptical because we had a lot of injuries, but we performed very well throughout the season, especially at the end.”Aidan Shafton Noah Leventhal Swimming Miles ahead Senior Miles Nordling swims the 200 freestyle at state March 4. Nordling broke a school record after placing sixth in the event. Photo by Eliah Fink Infographic by Noah Leventhal Source MSHSL.org Eliana Montero-Ward, junior
Winter sports for the 2022-23 season at Park have come to a close. Boys’ hockey had about a .500 record going 12-12-1 under first year head coach Tyler Brodersen. Brodersen said he was happy with the team’s season.
“I think we performed well this year,” Brodersen said. “One of our goals at the beginning of the year was to try and get into a home playoff game — to be the four seed — and we did that, which was good.”
Athletic director Ewald said the girls’ Nordic skiing team did exceptionally well as they made some significant achievements this year.
“Our girls’ nordic ski team had an outstanding year,” Ewald said. “Not only winning the conference but finishing second at the section championships and qualifying for state and representing our school and our community at the state meet.”
The girls’ gymnastics team went 4-3 in their conference and finished fifth in sections this year. Senior gymnastics captain Sophia Earle said the gymnastics team’s future is looking bright.
“I am super excited to see what all the younger gymnasts on this team can pull off for next year,” Earle said. “I’m really excited to see their skills grow and see them just go up from here.”
Brodersen said there were a couple moments from the season that stuck out to him.
“Beating Woodbury and beating Hastings in overtime were definitely highlights,” Brodersen said. “Competing with some of the top teams in the Holiday tournament was a highlight as well, and then getting to play on Bally Sports North against Edina was a really good experience for our team.”
Ewald said there were some difficulties with getting good attendance for games because of scheduling of the different sports.
“One of the challenges we have compared to other schools is since we have quite a few kids in athletics, especially in the wintertime you’ll get nights where you may have three events going on at home at the same time,” Ewald said. “There’s only so many fans to go around, so it kind of gets split up.”
Earle said there was a need for higher attendance at
Park’s gymnastic meets, and she hopes to bring some more attention for the team in the future.
“It would be great if more of the students from St. Louis Park came to support the gymnastics team,” Earle said. “It would also be great to have more media coverage whether that be in the 6425 or in Echo. That would be really great just to let people know that we are working hard out here and we are trying our best in the season.”
Ewald said the school is grateful for the students who showed up to watch Park sports during the winter.
“We really appreciate all the support from the student body this winter for their peers who were involved in winter activities,” Ewald said.
Boys basketball:
Boys swimming:
2-24, 8th in conference Boys hockey: Girls hockey: Girls basketball:
12-12-1, lost in sections
Girls Nordic skiing:
8-18, 8th in conference
13th in state
30th in state Gymnastics: Boys Nordic skiing:
4-3, 5th in sections
3rd in conference
MEET THE ATHLETE
Alicia MainjeniHow long have you been doing gymnastics?
I’ve been doing (gymnastics) for 11 years. I’ve been on the team for six.
What are some of your favorite memories from gymnastics?
One of my favorite memories is bonding with the team before and after meets and exchanging sister gifts through the years. Meeting new people is really fun and I really enjoy it.
12-14 lost in sections
What is the most challenging part about being a gymnast?
The mental aspect of gymnastics is more challenging than the physical aspect. Obviously, it’s very hard on your body, but just overcoming the fear and reaching a point where you can say “I just have to do it” instead of getting roped up in the ‘what-if’s’ and the possibilities that you can’t control.
How does it feel to be a captain?
Impactful. I feel like I am giving back to a younger generation of gymnasts and I can see myself as those younger gymnasts — wanting a mentor and someone to show them the ropes and show them how fun gymnastics can be.
What is the most important thing you’ve learned through your experience?
One, never take anything too seriously, it’s all for fun. Two, try your best, because hard work will pay off. Three, have a positive attitude, because everyone is working through their own things and having a positive attitude in the gym is really crucial.
What were your goals for this season?
My goal for this gymnastics season was to have fun and enjoy it for my last year.
What is your favorite event?
My favorite event to compete is floor.
The best part of Nordic was the community. We went on a winter trip this year and it was really bonding.”Holy Shot Senior Stayci Spates prepares to shoot the ball during Park’s game against Jefferson Feb. 24. The girls’ team ended up losing the game 61-58. Photo byv Mya Stanberry Infographic by Aidan Shafton Source MSHSL.org
“ People have gotten used to lunch the way it is already. This is a sacrifice that students are going to have to make.”
Ryan Steinberg, sophomore
Park has finally begun to make-do on the long awaited plans to renovate different aspects of the high school. Among the renovations students have been anticipating, none are more exciting than the kitchen renovations. Finally, Park has a chance to reduce the risk of cross-contamination, make food safer for those food allergies or restrictions and potentially add sections of the kitchen dedicated to Halal and Kosher food. With the new kitchen renovations, it’s been easy to hope for a wider range of meal options that begin to add more accommodations for students, or simply better food. However, with the new kitchen renovations, Park has decided to move to a “bento box” system, which will only offer cold lunches.
This poses several issues for students at Park, but the main concern is the lack of lunch options. There’s only so much food that tastes good cold, and by switching to all cold lunches, it may be harder for Park to expand their lunch options to accommodate different dietary restrictions.
Additionally, some of the best lunches at Park are hot lunches. Pizza, mac and cheese and the beloved orange chicken are all options at Park that will be gone with the new bento box system. There’s no particular reason for Park to get rid of some of the best lunch options, and students deserve to eat lunches that are genuinely good.
In theory, the bento box system isn’t a bad idea. It could be a cute way to pack lunches and offer more cold lunch options, instead of just sandwiches and salads. It’s also easier to conceptualize portion sizes and could reduce lunch lines. But why does Park just have to offer bento boxes? It would make the most sense to offer both cold lunches and hot lunches, to maximize the options students have and present more opportunities for accommodating food. If Park is dead-set on bento boxes, why can’t they give out hot lunch in the bento boxes? There’s no reason why Park should continue to limit food. options when they’re presented with the perfect opportunity to add more accommodating and genuinely good meals.
With Park’s renovations for the high school just around the corner, there has been plenty of buzz around the dining re-design. The renovation will include a new kitchen with updated equipment, healthier meal options and more seating with new furniture. As the kitchen re-design will take time and money, Park can’t cook hot food in their own kitchen for the next 18 months. This has required it to offer bento boxes for the next year and a half — a reusable multi compartment box used to store different cold foods. While many students at Park may not know much about bento boxes yet, there are many upsides to the Japanesestyle lunch box.
One of the biggest advantages of bento boxes for Park students is that it will cut down on waiting in line for food everyday. The lunch hour is already short enough, and waiting in line for food barely gives students enough time to sit down and eat. Bento boxes would almost completely eliminate this issue. As the boxes will be preassembled, waiting in line will no longer take half of the lunch hour, becoming more of a grab-and-go situation. This would majorly benefit students and give them more of the relaxing time that they need during the day.
One concern about the current lunch system at Park
Publications are designated public forums for student expression in which students make all decisions of content without prior review from school officials or the public. The adviser will not act as a censor, but will advise students. Students have the final decision on all content.
Prior review does not teach students how to produce higher quality journalism. The only way to teach students to take responsibility for their decisions is to empower them to make those decisions freely.
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Are bento boxes worth it?
“It isn’t the best option because based off of what the school has described it doesn’t seem like it won’t be filling enough.”
“They need to have more options to suit everyone’s dietary needs because the option for next year is very limited.”
Anisa Farah
junior
Nora Olson junior
What can be expected...
is how much waste we produce. Whether it’s a lunch tray, a bag of carrots or a treat from the snack bar, everything is disposed of in the trash. In order to become a more environmentally conscious school, we must take steps to sustainability in the lunchroom. If the new bento boxes were to be reusable, this would majorly cut down on our waste impact as a school. Park has talked for a while about how we want to become eco-friendly, and bento boxes could finally take the initiative in reducing our waste.
The multi-compartmental box may also offer healthier options than the ones we currently have for lunch. There have been complaints about the lack of nutritional value to Park’s meals – garlic cheese bread and chicken n’ waffles are just a few examples of Park’s main course for lunch. Some options for a cold bento box meal would include sandwiches, wraps and salads that come with fresh whole fruit and veggies.
For those skeptical of the new lunch boxes, it won’t last forever. Having a variety of cold lunches for a year and a half seems like a small trade off for a completely upgraded lunchroom in the future, one that will offer hot foods again. In the meantime, bento boxes will provide everything that Park needs.
- Sandwiches
- Wraps
- Salads
After currently being asked “I find meals I like to eat...”
40% found meals they wouldn’t enjoy
60% found meals they would enjoy
Source: Slpschools.org
Infographic by: Elena Ortiz
to all our readers. In order to strive for objectivity, journalists should avoid covering stories of which they are involved. Journalists should avoid a real or perceived conflict of interest as well.
The publications will not shy away from covering newsworthy controversial issues of importance to students. We will make every effort to avoid printing libel, obscenities, innuendo or invasions of privacy.
The publications will avoid electronic manipulation that alters the truth of a photograph unless clearly labeled as a photo illustration. Bylined articles are the opinion of the individual writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the staff or administration as a whole.
The publications welcome reader input. Letters
must be signed and should be no longer than 250 words and may be e-mailed or submitted in room C275. Anonymous letters wherein the publication name does not know the identity of the writer will not be printed.
In the event of an error being reported by readers or noticed by staffers, students should first check to see if the information is erroneous. If students deem the material to be incorrect, they should alter any online content to reflect the correction and then print a correction in the next edition.
In regard to material appearing on the websites, nothing will be taken down unless it’s proven factually false or otherwise legally deficient as of the time it was published.
The CROWN Act stands for “Create Respectful and an Open World for Natural Hair.” It has been created as a law against discrimination toward race, based on hair.
Many people may view this law as “childish,” but many Black people do not want others to appropriate their hairstyles that are meant for a simple protective style. It’s just wrong and super disrespectful.
It is not hard to culturally appropriate hairstyles meant for Black people. I’ve seen people around Minnesota, who are not Black, wear protective hairstyles even though they have pin-straight hair. It’s annoying to me when people do things they know are wrong.
With the upcoming 2023–2024 school year, a new history course has been approved to be piloted at Park — AP African American studies. The course aims to bring new perspectives and opportunities. The course has been piloted over the country throughout this past year, but not every state has accepted it. Upcoming seniors at Park will be able to take this course starting next year.
Many on the Echo Editorial Board said they would consider taking this course. The Board believes this class will educate students about important history. The Echo Editorial Board believes that this is a fantastic and long overdue course option, helping to shed light on new points of view.
Over time, this course will grow in popularity and many will take it. In attempt to promote this new course, the Board believes having students promote it in the coming year would be beneficial. Having students present and express what would be taught can help intrigue others to register for the course. Oftentimes, little information is presented about alternate options during registration. If a group of students who were educated about the course’s content were presenting what the class would look like, however, this could help to get more students intrigued and potentially sign up. Teachers can also contribute to promoting the course by presenting slideshows and emphasizing the new option.
Although the course is important, it is still in its infancy. The fact that it is a new class might
scare students away. The Echo Editorial Board believes students are much more likely to take other history options their senior year like AP Psychology, because it has an easier AP test. When registering for classes, students often get their information from students who had taken the class previously. When registering for this course, since it is very new, no one would be able to explain what the workload and tests would look like.
Members of the Echo Editorial Board hope that this will be able to offer new perspectives. Classes like AP European History or AP U.S. History, while important, frequently offer the same Eurocentric perspectives to the same few moments in history, and many members of the Board hope that this will go more in depth with its content and perspectives.
Additionally, the question of who would be teaching this course remains. The social studies teachers at Park are predominately white. Incorporating teachers of color is a large contributor to how information is delivered to students, and the Board believes that Park should factor that into who they hire to teach AP African American History.
In the upcoming years, the Board believes that offering this class as an option for sophomores or juniors may make more sense. Currently, sophomores are offered AP European History as an alternative to AP World History.
The Echo Editorial Board unanimously believes that Park should make efforts to promote this class so that students are more aware of it and are open to enroll in it.
I had a teacher in my elementary school wear locs and continue to come to our school with that hairstyle. I was a seven-year-old girl and I didn’t know much about the meaning behind her hair. She was a white, blue-eyed, pin-straight-blonde-haired woman who knew it was wrong. Older students spoke to her about it and she kept using the fact that she was in South Africa during the summer as an excuse. That didn’t justify her actions.
The history still makes no sense to me. Why are Black People getting discriminated against for having their hair in braids, twists, an afro or even locs while in school or work? But when non black people do it, they get justified or defended because they were following a trend or being confused by not knowing right from wrong.
The CROWN Act has impacted me positively because it’s teaching others who might not have been educated about cultural appropriation more about how negative these actions could be to others. I have a feeling that people who aren’t Black know that they’re appropriating Black culture — they know it’s messed up, but they still do it. The CROWN Act shows that we’re done taking such mockery and have decided to fully take action.
History classes should at least go over the CROWN Act because few people know about it. It’s sad to know that non black people continue to appropriate our culture just for simple fame or to be trendy. Reading this shows others that they can be educated on the impact cultural appropriation has on people in general. Minnesota officially passed the CROWN Act as law on Feb. 1. The CROWN Act has a huge effect inside of my world. It’s so thoughtful to me that Minnesota has made it an official law.
“
I do plan on taking it, whether or not I get the AP credit. It is a good opportunity to take if you are passionate about it.”
Rahma Aden, junior
Fair use from Musical Theater International, Warner Bros. Pictures, Neil Krug, DC Comics
esiding in Minnesota can be rough, especially with the cold and dry winters one has to endure every year. To combat the constant below-zero temperatures, runny noses and a variety of illnesses that come with every winter, many people turn to a warm meal. Pho, a Vietnamese soup made from slow-simmered broth, herbs, beef, rice noodles and plenty of toppings, is the best way to stay warm during winter. To help students this winter, we have decided to rank the top places to get pho.
Our top choice is Quang, and it’s number one for a reason. Despite the 20-minute distance from Park, it is 100% worth the drive. The proportion from the broth to the rice noodles to the perfectly sliced beef couldn’t be better. With every mouthwatering bite, there’s absolutely nothing that could go wrong. The complimentary bean sprouts, basil, lime and jalapeño push the pho to another level. It accentuates what’s already in the bowl to the best it can be. The broth is a perfect 10, packed full of flavor and can easily warm you with every sip. Its complexity leaves you wanting more and more of its enticing, tasty flavor. The number of noodles and beef in proportion to the broth also could not have been better. Every bite is a full one, filled with everything you could ever want. Quang is the best place to get a reliable, comforting bowl of pho.
Second on the list is Gion Restaurant. Gion is a popular local Vietnamese restaurant with a peaceful atmosphere and plenty of soup options on the menu. However, no soup at Gion is better than their iconic sliced-beef pho. The pho is everything you’d want it to be — warm, savory and full of flavor. However, there’s something about Quang’s pho that just can’t be matched. Gion’s broth had less “complexity” to the flavor, and Quang was more generous with the meat and rice noodles. Despite this, you can go to Gion if you want a big, solid bowl of pho that is guaranteed to be consistently delicious and satisfying for a reasonable price.
3Wok in the Park —
Next on the list is Wok in the Park. At only 1.5 miles away, this is the most accessible option on the list. However, it also ranks the lowest. The pho at Wok wasn’t bad. It was actually good, but it wasn’t anywhere near the best on this list. It was your standard bowl of pho, however, the taste didn’t stand out to me at all. The broth lacked flavor and I found myself adding more and more sriracha to make up for the lack of quality in the broth. Furthermore, the “sliced beef” was really just steak. While I appreciated that they were generous with the meat, no one gets pho with the intent to spend a good two minutes chewing through each piece of beef.
This 60-minute, Calypsostyle musical tells the heartfelt story of a young girl facing classism and discrimination. Watch this moving story on stage from March 3–19 at Stages Theater Company.
“Fury of the Gods” is the sequel to the first “Shazam” movie, which was released in 2019. Opening March 17, this sequel will follow foster kid Billy Batson (Asher Angel) and his superpoweredfamily’s journey.
Her first album in two years, Lana Del Rey will be dropping, “Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd” March 24. The album’s leading single is said to be written with Mike Hermosa, Rey’s rumored ex-boyfriend.
DC is back again with another animated Batman movie, this time featuring his return to Gotham after a 20-year hiatus to fight off an ancient evil force. Releasing March 28, this new film will be the next addition to the Batman franchise.
staffers rank the best restaurant
Quang is my favorite place to get pho because it has a nice atmosphere, good food and it’s cheap-ish.”
Henry Berg, sophomorePhoto Illustration: Layla Mickelson
