he Minnesota State High School League approved a policy to provide support for transgender students wishing to play on sports teams matching their gender identity. The policy assists schools facing these situations but is not a requirement, according to Dave Stead, executive director of the MSHSL. Athletic director Andy Ewald said Park will proactively respond to the guidelines. “I think it’s something bigger for us as a district to sit down and look at (the policy),” Ewald said. Roxanne Anderson is the associate director of transgender organizing at Outfront Minnesota, an organization working for LGBTQA+ rights. Anderson said Outfront Minnesota supports the policy, but thinks it could be more forceful. “It was a courageous effort on the part of the MSHSL,” she said. “(But) I feel like the policy could have been a little stronger.” Freshman Thomas Bryant said he welcomes the policy. “This is a big step in an often forgotten part of the LGBTQA+ movement,” Bryant said. “It signifies an awesome shift in recognizing students’ identities.”
n uncommon occurrence at the high school took place when 36 students raised their hands and walked out. The protest began at 12:01 p.m. Dec. 1, which was the time Michael Brown was shot Aug. 9. In preparation for the protest, students huddled in the foyer, gathering homemade signs before they left. Freshman DaeBreona Byrdie said she believes bringing these issues to light in the protest is an important step. “It doesn’t affect just adults it also affects us,” she said. “Being around a bunch of other kids, showing them we can speak out peacefully is as important as showing adults.” However, not all students thought this was necessary. Senior Alexander Jonas said he thinks the protest did not accomplish anything.
“There’s hundred of cases every day where a white cop arrests a black person and in this case the media just fueled the fire,” Jonas said. Despite the dissenting opinions, students carried out their march. While filing out of the school, they were hit by icy winds and temperatures as low as 8 degrees. Despite the weather, freshman Alex Monson said she wasn’t deterred. “It proves the point that we believe strongly in this issue. I didn’t just walk out in 8 degree weather just do it so I can skip class,” Monson said. Principal Scott Meyers said while the school was not involved in the protest, the administration was concerned for the safety of the students. However, they continued like a normal day. “We have to keep proper attendance. We are going to follow protocol as far as students being absent,” Meyers said. “The school isn’t really involved. It’s student led, we just want to make sure students are safe.” Students walked from the high school to the Hennepin County Library,
protesting with chants. Junior Cedar Thomas led the chants, which consisted of phrases such as “Hands up, Don’t Shoot” and “No justice. No peace. Prosecute the police.” When they reached the library, the students met in a conference room they had reserved and sat in a circle. They began their meeting by singing “We Shall Overcome.” After the song, each student shared their reason for participating in the walkout.
ith a new Wi-Fi network under construction, the school is working to provide students with online access that encourages responsibility and learning in school. According to Tom Marble, director of the district’s technology department, the new Wi-Fi should be faster and able to handle more users in comparison to the old network. “This year we kind of forklifted the old network so that we could replace it with a more robust network that can support a room of 45 students with devices or computers,” Marble said. However, bec a u s e of some technical difficulties transitioning from the old server to the new server, the school has turned on a temporary guest network allowing wireless connection. Although a new Wi-Fi system means free internet access in school, Marble said restriction of sites by administration will be minimal. “We are going to do the least amount of filtering of sites to be in compliance with federal laws,” Marble said. “How we see it, it’s more about teaching students about digital citizenship and appropriate use, more than anything.” Sophomore Mykal Howard said having access to the internet is economical. “It’s a nice commodity for students because with free WiFi, they don’t have to use their data,” Howard said. “Plus, there isn’t any harm that people can do online while sitting in class.” Principal Scott Meyers said the greatest advantage to student access to a wireless network is that it allows for access to programs that are useful for students via their devices. “There are many advantages to cell phones, like the instant feedback aspect that a program like Schoology provides,” Scott said.“But, I don’t think we’re at a point where access to the internet via phones is effective for regular school work.”
he city of St. Louis Park revised its parking restrictions making it no longer an automatic ban once 3 inches of snow has fallen, according to public works operations manager Jeff Stevens. “This year, the parking ban still has the 3 inch trigger, but only goes into effect when there’s the need to have one. An example would be in April when we had 8 to 10 inches of snow last year, but it was going to be 50 three days later and it was all going to melt, do we really need
to have a parking ban?” Stevens said. Stevens said with all the ways to be notified about the weather, the best way to not get towed is to check the forecast. “Pay attention to the weather. With today’s technology you should know there’s snow coming,” Stevens said. “We plow day or night, any time there’s 3 inches of snow.” Senior Ian Schneider, who frequently parks on the street, said he believes it is helpful to be notified whether or not your car is going to get towed. “I feel like it’s really useful, because parking on the street in front of your house and being towed for something that’s out of your control would be really frustrating,” Schneider said. According to Stevens, wheth-
esidents in the Elmwood neighborhood near Hoigaard Village are rallying for the installation of a stoplight at the intersection of West 36th Street and Xenwood Avenue after a fatal car accident in May. Richard Mesenburg, 72, lived
er plowed in or towed, it is the resident’s responsibility. “Plowed in, they have to shovel their car out. We encourage the residents to get their car off the street, to pull it up in a driveway or something like that,” Stevens said. “Once it’s towed, it’s towed to Bobby and Steve’s over in St. Louis Park off of Lynn Boulevard.” Although the city of St. Louis Park has changed its policy, the high school continues with its regular parking policies, according to interim assistant principal Kari Schwietering. “We’ll continue to monitor the parking lot as we always do to make sure that at any time, regardless of snow or not, that people with a permit are the only ones parking in the lot,” Schwietering said.
in the Towerlight apartment complex nearby. He was hit and killed by a turning car as he was walking across 36th Street. Debra Heiser, engineering director for St. Louis Park, said the city was planning on installing a stoplight at the intersection in 2018, but has moved it up to 2015. Heiser said Elmwood residents raised the topic at neighborhood meetings in July and August. “(The neighborhood) brought up that they wanted it sooner, so
we really took a hard look at why it was scheduled in 2018,” Heiser said. According to Heiser, city projects also contributed to the need for a stoplight. Kristine Strout, the manager of the American Legion Post located on 36th Street and Xenwood Avenue, said she sees many close calls every day. “People coming from Burlington and Microcenter really can’t pull out properly because the traffic’s flying,” Strout said. Freshman Ellery Deschamps said she thinks the stoplight is important, but the installation can wait. “Because 2015 is soon it’s fine to wait (for the stoplight). But it shouldn’t be too far into 2015, because it’s important that the roads are safe for drivers,” Deschamps said. Strout said she hopes the city sees how dangerous the street is and installs the stoplight soon. “I had heard that (the city was) going to try and (install the stoplight) this year, but now they’re pushing it and making it 2015. Because the light wasn’t there we lost one life,” Strout said. “I’m hoping this woke them up.”
the Turkey Trot along with her mom, sister and family members. “We are trying to start a family tradition of running the race every Thanksgiving. Not only is the run a blast, but I also enjoy how you don’t feel so bad eating a Thanksgiving feast after the race,” Melbye said. nstead of running from store to store this holiday season, some people are lacing up their running shoes and participating in holiday runs all over the Twin Cities. Junior Mackenzie Evenson said she loves wearing costumes for holiday runs every winter with her family. “My family and I enjoy dressing up as characters from the Grinch,” Evenson said. “My dad is Santa, my mom is the Grinch and I’m Cindy Lou Who.”
elly Donahue is the regional brand manager for the Turkey Day 5K on Thanksgiving. She said holiday runs are a tradition for most families and year after year the runs develop a stronger customer base. Thousands of families choose to participate in a healthy activity with their family on what is traditionally a day filled with overeating and lounging on couches, Donahue said. “We’ve truly managed to create an event that people truly consider part of their family traditions, and for me that is extremely important,” Donahue said. For the past two years, junior Abby Melbye has participated in
ary Anstett is the event director of the Snowshoe Shuffle, the biggest annual snowshoe run in Minnesota. Last year, nearly 250 snowshoers trekked through the woods, frozen lake and meadows of Long Lake Regional Park in New Brighton, Minnesota. The run features a 10K and two 5Ks, one of which is a dogfriendly event where people can walk with their canine companions. Freshman Izzy Leviton said holiday runs are valuable to the season. “I think (holiday runs) are a fun and good way to celebrate the holiday and a great way to get everyone involved,” Leviton said. All registration fees and sponsorships go directly to support scholarships for the Camp Bovey summer camp according to Anstett. “Participants join to support Camp Bovey so youth can spend time in the wilderness,” she said. The Snowshoe Shuffle continues to draw a huge crowd every year, according to Anstett. “We often get some pretty serious competitors everywhere from 85 to 10 years old,” Anstett said. The 10th Annual Twin Cities Snowshoe Shuffle will take place
Saturday, Feb. 7 at Long Lake Regional Park in New Brighton. Registration for students is $20.
un the last race of 2014 by joining the 30th Annual Resolution Run. Brandon Fox is the race director for all of the Resolution Runs that take place in Minnesota and Iowa and facilitates each run to make sure they have the support they need to be successful. “We plan a course for each location, facilitate registrations, distribute Resolution Run jackets to each location and find enough volunteers to ensure the race will run smoothly,” Fox said. The Resolution Run is a 5K that is accepting of all age groups and skill levels. The Resolution Run is not a competitive race, so people can walk or run the course. After the race there are snacks and beverages and participants get a chance to draw prizes. “This is a great way to kick off the New Year with family and friends,” Fox said. The Resolution Run is a way for students to exercise this holiday season and gives students an opportunity to volunteer, according to Fox. “High school students can either run the race or they can volunteer at any of our locations,” Fox said. Resolution Runs take place Dec. 31 and Jan. 1 in Apple Valley, Maple Grove, Rochester and Woodbury. Participants receive a jacket when they sign up for the race. Registration costs $40.
y name is Olivia, and I’m a recovering bully. I have been nice for six years. My earliest memory of bullying was in kindergarten, when I tried to glue an innocent kid to his seat. While I didn’t succeed at the act, I did earn a reputation for being the “mean kid.” I learned while the teachers were not always pleased with me, bullying reduced the amount of kids who would bully me. When I was a chubby second grader, I thought I ruled the school. One day, a boy peed his pants in class, and I could not stop myself from pointing and laughing at “what’s his face,” which he replied with a glare and called me a “fat cow.” From t h e n on, my teacher thought it would be a great idea to always have us paired together, in hopes we could “work out our differences.” One day, as “what’s his face” and I were glaring at each other from across the table, he sneezed. Instead of saying the polite “bless you” or “gesundheit,” I responded by kicking him as hard as I could in the shin. While I was happy I could make a boy cry, my teacher was not as pleased with me. I was sent to the referral room and was told I could go back to class if I would apologize to “what’s his face.” But, that was not an option for me. I was not going to give up my hardcore status just to go back to class. I ended up staying in the referral room for a day and a half. While I’m not condoning being a bully, I can tell you firsthand kids bully for other reasons besides just being naturally rude. I realize now that I was so afraid of people bullying me, I thought if I was the bully, other kids would be too afraid to be mean to me. It was my form of protection. People use all sorts of methods to prevent harm; elbow pads, immunizations, helmets. I used bullying. The point of my peculiar past is that anger often comes from fear. Just because you are trying to protect yourself, does not mean you should be defensive to the point of mean. I’m not entirely proud of my past, but I have learned that actions do not always correlate with intentions. Also do not glue people to chairs.
very two seconds, a hospital patient in the United States needs blood, according to American Red Cross. This translates to more than 41,000 blood donations per day. Student Council is doing its part to collect blood and save lives by hosting a blood drive 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Dec. 17 run by Memorial Blood Center. Park has a reputation for very successful blood drives, according to Student Council adviser Sarah Lindenberg who expects this year’s first blood drive to be no different.
“St. Louis Park has won some awards for recruiting really successfully and having successful blood drives and increasing the volume of blood that they get each time,” Lindenberg said. Student Council helps organize and set up the blood drive through the sign-up booth it runs the week before the drive and through the placing of official Memorial Blood Center posters on the walls during the weeks leading up to the drive. It also helps make the blood donation process easier for Memorial Blood Center staff on the day of the blood drive. “Memorial Blood Center will come in, and it’s all their equipment and their staff and Student Council will help with signing students in and then help at the refreshment table that day,” Lindenberg said.
Sophomore Mia Spano said she is considering donating blood, because it’s an easy way to make a difference and give back. “I think donating blood is a good thing to do because you don’t need as much as you have and other people might need it more than you,” Spano said. Senior Anline Lezama believes Student Council is the best group to organize the blood drive because they represent the students. “We promote it a lot each year and try to get students to join, because it’s really important to us,” Lezama said. The Dec. 17 date of the blood drive is significant for Memorial Blood Center, because it’s the time of year when donations tend to drop off, so they hope to gain a boost from Park’s blood drive, according to Lindenberg.
Senior Haydarus Ibrahim roller skates in his free time at the Roller Garden.
I started roller skating in eighth grade because I work at my uncle’s gas station, which is right down the block. So it was something to do before a shift or while I was waiting for someone to come and pick me up.
About twice a week. I used to do it everyday when I first started, but since getting older and starting high school I’ve had less time to skate.
It’s fun because it’s not something that you do everyday. It’s not like you run everyday or play basketball everyday or any other sport or hobby. Because it’s not something everyone does everyday, I feel like it’s unique to me. You normally don’t hear people say “I roller skate as a hobby,” but that’s what makes it more interesting. I want to break that idea and try to make it more acceptable and common as a hobby.
When I was younger, it kept me out of places I shouldn’t be, because instead of doing things or being where I wasn’t supposed to, I was at the Roller Gardens.
Yes, because it’s in Park. I mean I know people who come all the way from Stillwater, there’s people that come all the way from Marshall. So there’s a lot of people that will say that they wish they
could come here but they live too far away, and since it’s here why not take advantage of it. Skating is fun activity to me, so I could definitely see other students enjoying roller skating.
My usual skate session consists of me trying out new tricks and moves I’ve seen previously. It also consists of me doing different types of things to turn skating into an exercise rather than just a repetitive circle.
ll year the architecture construction and engineering has been drawing blueprints and talking through engineering details, but this month ACE members were finally able to apply their skills to the real world. ACE is designed for students to get a first-hand look at possible careers. Mark Miller is the head of the science program and had a key role in organizing the program. “(Students) are assigned a problem and they engineer a solution to that problem. They work with Mortenson Construction and other team members to try to solve the problem,” Miller said. The problem assigned to the students is the basis for a project they work on for the whole year. The student team meets after school Thursdays to brainstorm ideas for their project and work with mentors. Students in the ACE program went to the Fairview Southdale Hospital to see a live construction site Dec. 5 and applied what they’ve learned. Sam Register works at Morten-
son Construction and is the head of the program at Park. “Students got to see all the systems in progress,” Register said. According to Register, the students toured the exterior and interior of the building. They also saw examination and emergency rooms being built. Junior Justin Less was able to visit the hospital with the program. “The field trip was really cool and interesting,” Less said. “I liked seeing the process of construction and how things get made.” According to Register, the next field trip will be scheduled for spring. Their plan is to visit a fab-
rication shop where materials are made that are commonly used for construction. Additionally, they will be able to visit the Vikings Stadium at the end of the year. Along with the field trip, the group has continued its work on the design aspect of its project. Chris Tauscheck is a mentor in the ACE program who works at PCL Construction. His role is to help guide the students through the process of developing their project. Tauscheck said it is still early on in the process. The group has a vague description of its project and they’re developing milestones to keep them on track.
ophomore Nina Afremov started the Poetry and Prose club last spring when she realized the opportunities it would create for herself and other young writers. “I started it because I love to write, but I can never really find time during the school year. So it helps me and other students who like to write set aside a time and have a writing community,” Afremov said. Adviser Kristina Erickson is currently on maternity leave and Mai Hauger, her substitute teacher, is taking her place. Hauger said she isn’t directly involved, but observes the skills the club creates. “It helps students understand that there’s a lot of types of poetry you can enjoy and exposes them to new writing outside of class,” Hauger said. Afremov said she thinks the club creates
“We are trying to teach students from start to finish, all the decisions that are made in the process,” Tauscheck said. “It’s cool to see kids actively working together, bouncing ideas off each other, brainstorming, and trying to do something that happens everyday in the business itself.” Junior Mikey Segal joined the group because of his interest in architecture. He said he wanted to learn more about the field by joining the program. “It helps with team skills and how to work together and that aspect of the job,” Segal said.
a fun environment for writing and believes it is helpful to the members’ writing skills. “We read out what we’ve written to each other. If you haven’t written anything, we read poetry or stories that we have found and really enjoy,” Afremov said. “This is really beneficial to writers, because I think to become a better writer you need to read.” Sophomore Will Poulter, a member of the club, said he joined because he has always had an interest in reading and writing. “In school we have this problem of studying only the greats like Salinger, Homer and Shakespeare, and we don’t get as much time to read other things and discuss them in a setting like we do at Poetry and Prose,” Poulter said. The Poetry and Prose Club meets at 8 a.m. on Tuesdays in C355.
ccording to Steph teachers hold lowe tions for students She added stu color don’t feel belong in advanc because of attitudes from their wh In Stephens’ recent article tit Black Educator has Plenty to Say, Listening?” on Education Post, she understands not all students learn way and some students are coming better prepared to learn than other One of Stephens’ points in the students “don’t come packaged nic bow of compliance.” Stephens believes educators sho on students of color’s assets. Senior Xavier Lawson said teachers have a preconceived p about students from what they see the classroom. “Teachers set the standards f they see in the hallway,” Law “There are students that d class and do bad things mess up the opportuniti other students.” Although teac standards from ac by both white stu students of color, L lieves teachers shoul students as equally a Senior Jihan Jeila students, not teache deeper impact in sch dealing with race. “Truthfully, I t are intimidated races especially if minority in a clas said. “It bothers m see my friends talk don’t think race sh a factor in someon ing.” Junior Jerry Sa lieves many studen don’t take advanc because of the diff tween the number students and studen or. “They are afraid in classes with less s color, because they isolated,” Sanchez s Sanchez said h believe white stud tudes affect studen ors’ choices. He ad students of color sh advanced classes b the different way o and the challenges t However, Step
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lieves students of color are hesitant to enter advanced courses because of the attitude from their white peers. “I think for other students it would make them feel a little better, make them feel a little more comfortable in the classes they are in,” Lawson said. First semester last year, 165 students of color took 352 AP and IB classes, an improvement over first semester two years ago when 113 students took 270 advanced classes, according to interim Principal Scott Meyers. For some students, taking classes with teachers and students that look and act like them is an important aspect to the classroom environment. “There is a preconceived idea about how students of color should act,” Stephens said. “We need to expect excellence and not be surprised by it.”
very so often you might notice an adult sitting in a lone chair in the back of the classroom, taking notes and listening to the class and teacher. These adults are equity coaches, a part of Superintendent Robert Metz’s multi-year plan to address the achievement gap, a difference in standardized test scores between students of color compared to white students. Metz believes the achievement gap comes from the way teachers have been educating students over the years, not with bad intentions, but without realizing how they include their personal beliefs in their teaching. “If a teacher doesn’t believe a student can achieve, they teach them with that belief and the student picks up on that,” Metz said. “It’s an adult problem, and adults are the ones that need to change.” According to equity coach Joy Esboldt, the equity coaches watch the teacher and class, taking note of the interactions between the teacher and students of different races. They also give feedback to the teacher about how to help the needs of underserved students. According to Metz, almost all of the teachers at the high school are white in a school where only 60 percent of the students are white. “We are not able to hire enough brown and black staff,” Metz said. “So we want to train our white staff to teach in a way so non-white students will do better.” Prachee Mukherjee, director of assessment, evaluation and research in the district office believes the school is doing a lot to try to eliminate the gap. “Self reflection on prejudice and bias will help staff look at all points of view,” Mukherjee said. “Staff are learning to take into account multiple perspectives and not teach with the white norm just because they are white.”
s Sagal Abdirahman walks into the high school, she prepares to prove she’s just as smart as her white counterparts. Stephens joined The High Achievement Program, known as HAP, in fall of 2011. Stephens mainly works with Latino and African-American stu-
dents to boost their interest in enrolling in tougher classes and confidence in themselves as scholars. One of Stephens’ focuses in HAP is to show students of color AP classes are meant for them despite the fact few students of color take them. According to Stephens, HAP aims to build confidence, advocate for and support students of color in AP and IB classes. Stephens organizes college visits for students so they are able to see what a college environment is like. “It’s really important for me to be able to show these students a realistic example of what they have to work toward in school if they want to end up going to a college where they feel like they belong,” she said. Senior Gustavo Manjarrez joined HAP his junior year. He heard about it from his friends and then found out Stephens added him to the program’s list. “It has impacted my life because HAP has helped me challenge myself to take harder classes,” Manjarrez said. Senior Ja’Meila Evans had a similar experience. She heard about the program through friends and found out Stephens wanted her to be a part of HAP. “It helps us achieve our goals and really challenges us to take harder classes even if we don’t feel ready,” Evans said. HAP helps these students overcome educational barriers along with adding a sense of community among the students, according to Evans. “It’s a time for all of us to get together and vent about things that we’re dealing with,” Evans said. Junior Mara Henderson said she agrees. “We can go to a safe place for lack of a better term and talk, but the best thing about HAP is having Mrs. Stephens as our advocate,” Henderson said. HAP helps these students feel confident in themselves, pushing them to succeed in advanced classes. Without HAP, students of color may lack the advocacy needed for equal opportunity into a higher achievement pathway.
he last time I played an organized game of basketball was when I was on my sixth grade “B” traveling team. I was notorious for air balling lay ups, crossing myself over while dribbling and occasionally making a free throw. So despite being one of the taller kids in my grade, I decided to leave my basketball dreams behind as I started junior high. At first I was satisfied with my choice to spend my winters in the freezing cold with the Nordic ski team, but I later figured out that wasn’t really my cup of tea either. As high school started, I could be described as “full of potential” according to my mom, but I had no real intentions of playing a winter sport. But as my mother predicted I did grow and so did my love for basketball. This brings me to Nov. 10 — the first day of tryouts. Even though I’m now 6’3” and can easily make a layup, I felt no where near ready to make a team or even survive tryouts. I just knew that I was willing to go through w h a t ever was thrown for a chance at making the team. For the weeks leading up to the tryouts all I was being told was how difficult they were last year and how I was crazy for trying out. It turns out I was crazy and tryouts were one of the most physically demanding experiences of my life. Never before has walking around school been so uncomfortable or straining. Even after the grueling tryouts, I was inevitably met with, “Sorry, but you should have played earlier” by the coach. Despite not making a team, the only regret I have is not continuing to play. I was able to make friends with people on the team through open gym and strength training on the weekends. I took a shot at something I really wanted and as Wayne Gretzky said “you miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take.” Proving to myself I had it in me to try out and letting people know I was serious about basketball meant a lot. I’m still proud of myself for taking the opportunity to show myself I have a shot at anything to which I commit myself.
or students like junior Christopher Trotter, cost is no longer a deterrent to attend high school hockey games. Now admission is free with a student ID. In the past, ticket revenue went to the St. Louis Park School District general fund. Now the St. Louis Park Youth Hockey Association will give $2 to the high school hockey program for each student who attends a game. Athletic director Andy Ewald said the change was made to increase attendance, and was suggested by the St. Louis Park Youth Hockey Association. “We hope it increases the
number of students who attend. More student fans always make for a better home environment,” Ewald said. Trotter said he thinks free games are beneficial to the school spirit. “I think free games are great because it will attract more students to the games, which will bring more support,” Trotter said. St. Louis Park Youth Hockey Board member Paul Wandmacher said the board made the decision to start free admissions and increase support for coaches. “We really think both Coach (Angie) Johnson and Coach (Charlie) McChesney are doing great things with their programs, and we want to help support them in any way possible,” Wandmacher said. Junior Alexis Baker plays varsity hockey and said the new free admission will hopefully attract more students.
he girls’ basketball team started its season with a 4-1 record. Some team members attribute the team’s positive start to a new style of play, implemented by coach Brian Massie. From these early season games, some players can see the difference in play from previous years, according to junior captain Mara Henderson. “The biggest thing that is different is our newly found energy because of our new coach,” Henderson said. Massie has been the assistant coach for two years and his focus this year as head coach is to change the team’s dependency on set plays and focus more on transitions. He said he believes this will help the team function better as a whole. “We are trying to focus on the defense being able to transition into the offense,” Massie said.
“We want to have more fluidity in our transitions and play more basketball, rather than trying to have only set plays.” By improving defense and focusing on transitions, the team has more opportunities to score, which has helped the team win more games, according to senior captain Autumn Ballesteros. “I think [the new style of play] has helped us win, we have a different outlook, which helps us push the ball forward and score more,” Ballesteros said. The team members hope to keep improving on their skills and style of play against Academy of Holy Angels. This will be a challenging game for the team, according to Henderson. “I think we can beat Holy Angels if we come to the game ready to play with the right mindset that night,” Henderson said. Ballesteros is looking further ahead and thinks the team will continue getting positive results. “I think that we will stay a competitive team throughout the season and we can rekindle the reputation of girls’ basketball,” Ballesteros said. The team plays its next game at 7 p.m. Dec. 18. at Academy of Holy Angels High School.
“If it’s free, more people will come, which would be awesome,” Baker said. “It will definitely be better for the team to see more students supporting us.” Junior Alyssa Rauchman said she is now considering attending a few games. “I’ve never gone to a hockey game, but I might go now because it’s free. It will definitely bring more people to the games,”
Rauchman said. Although the St. Louis Park Youth Hockey Board is allocating funds for this, the decision is beneficial for school spirit, according to Paul Wandmacher. “We’d like to see as many students as possible attending the games and supporting their friends and classmates,” Wandmacher said. Admission without a student ID is $4.
tudents in IB sports, excersise and health science are learning the kinds and amounts of food they need to stay away from. Jessica Gust, the IB sports science teacher and strength and conditioning coach, said she believes it’s important to inform students of what they are using to fuel their bodies. “We talk a lot in strength and conditioning about what kids should be putting in front of their face, and things you should avoid putting in your face,” Gust said. “My emphasis has always been on consuming as
s sophomore varsity swimmer Sydney Hall swam in her last state meet event of the year, she realized it was her last chance to swim with some of the seniors from the team she had been swimming with for years. Sophomore Kailey DeLozier, Hall, junior Neda Salamzadeh, senior Natalie Sandford, and senior Emmi Zheng raced in their last state meet event for a hopeful high placement. Assistant swimming coach Amanda Forsberg said the team placed 14th with a time of 1:39.88 in the 200-yard freestyle relay with Delozier, Hall, Salamzadeh and Sandford. Zheng placed 19th with a time of 1:08.21 in the 100 breaststroke. Forsberg said the five swim-
mers who went to state exceeded her expectations. “They all did really well, we were not expecting to get to state, it was a long shot, but they all did well,” Forsberg said. Forsberg said the state team really excelled at the 200 freestyle relay by working well together as a team. “Our relay was really good. We probably had the best relay we have had all season,” Forsberg said. Forsberg said one swimmer stood out because of her .23 sec-
many real foods, protein, fruits and vegetables as you can and avoiding as many non-foods as you can.” Along with the right kinds of foods, the class also looks at the amount of food consumed. “It’s looking at what you put in your mouth the entire day and asking, ‘Did I get enough nutrients? Did I get enough vitamins? Did I get enough calories? Am I getting enough water?’ and then adjusting based on the whole day,” Gust said. “I run into kids all the time who are probably not eating enough, and that’s my biggest battle,” Gust said. It’s important athletes know what food to eat, how much they need and which foods to shy away from. Gust believes this responsibility falls onto coaches. “I believe it’s up to the coaches to inform their athletes on
ond time drop from sections. “Hall dropped the most time, she had a big drop in the 50 free,” Forsberg said. Hall said even though it was a strenuous meet, the team pulled through with good placement while swimming with her teammates. “As a team I think we did really well overall, especially since our section is really tough.” Hall said. “With teams like Edina, Minnetonka and Eden Prairie, we were able to hold down against those really fast teams.”
what to eat to help them be their best,” Gust said. Joe Yaeger coaches both the girls’ and boys’ swim team and has found what athletes eat impacts their performance. “As a coach you can tell when an athlete just went to McDonald’s or isn’t eating well because they just look tired and like they’re dragging,” Yaeger said. Junior Mara Henderson is taking IB sports this semester and has found learning nutritional information helpful while playing for the girls’ varsity basketball team. “The main focus of the class is human anatomy and how to be the healthiest athletes we can be,” Henderson said. “This class benefits athletes or any student really to understand what happens to your body when you choose the foods you eat.”
St. Louis Park Senior High School 6425 West 33rd Street St. Louis Park, MN 55426 Peter Johnson Ivy Kaplan David Hope John Kinney Daniel Vlodaver Ori Etzion, Noah Robiner & Sara Tifft Maddy Bremner & Carolyn Guddal Zoe Kedrowski, Madisen Lynch & Natalie Sanford Amira Warren-Yearby Natalie Vig Noa Grossman Noa Raasch Josh Mesick Emily Melbye Erin Wells Bridgid Duffy, Jackson Eilers and Kate Huber Malik Grays Adna Aideed, Mara Bacig, Harrison Barden, Hannah Bernstein, Joe Brandel, Kaylee Chamberlain, Sean Cork, Allison Cramer, Brigid Duffy, Jackson Eilers, Zoë Eilers, Shayan Gilbert Burke, Hannah Goldenberg, Jamie Halper, Sari Hattis, Abby Hickstein, Kate Huber, Maxwell Kent, Celene Koller, Jonah Kupritz, Shoshana Leviton, Andy Magill, Julia Nathan, Polina Pekurovsky, Conrad Phelan, Loni Rutherford, Neda Salamzadeh, Albie Sher, Olivia Sieff, Amina Mohamud, Harry Steffenhagen, Emily Tifft, Cedar Thomas, Zach Tronson, Miranda VanPilsum-Johnson & Heather Westwood
rotest demonstrations are the cornerstone of a free society, but they are not always the most effective or logical way to express opinions. While student activism has a prominent place in history, it is disingenuous to pursue it for all social issues. At noon Dec. 1, 36 students walked out of their classes and marched out of the school, holding their hands up and chanting “we want justice.” The demonstration coincided with walkouts across the nation over the death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri. The caravan marched two blocks to the Hennepin County library where the organizers hosted a discussion about race issues in our school. School walkouts are most effective when used by students to protest events concerning the school or the school system. This is an important conversation to have at our school, but given the effects of walking out of class and the nature of the act being protested, it was not the most effective way of accomplishing their goals. In general, these protests work because they have a direct impact on the institution being protested.
But when the Missouri justice system is in question, the walkout affects the wrong people. Disrupting classes to protest unrelated issues to school is the wrong tactic. The student body would have benefitted more by holding an after school protest along with a club meeting to discuss the racial issues present in both our nation and our own community. A club discussion would have attracted students who have opinions on the topic but were unwilling to leave
school as well as teachers, which was not possible with a school-day walkout. This is not to say the demonstration was ineffective. The disruption did serve to bring more attention to the issue than it may have received otherwise. In order to make a real impact, the discussion about race ought to be continued in clubs and classrooms so students have a chance to openly discuss their opinions on this issue.
This is something students can take upon themselves to do. By forming clubs and other organizations that deal with the issue of racial inequality in our community, students can create a lasting impact. Students need to ensure that the message doesn’t end here. Discussions about race need to become regular occurrences and efforts should be made to reach the entire student body through clubs and other resources.
Brita Hunegs Scott Meyers Quad Graphics Lori Keekley The Echo is the official student-produced newspaper of St. Louis Park Senior High School. It is published tri-weekly for the school’s students, staff and community. The Echo will not be reviewed by school administrators prior to distribution, and the adviser will not act as a censor. Content represents views of the student staff and not school officials. The Echo will work to avoid bias and/or favoritism. We will strive to make our coverage and content meaningful and interesting to all our readers. We will make every effort to avoid printing libel, obscenities, innuendo and material that threatens to disrupt the learning process or is an invasion of privacy. We will avoid electronic manipulation that alters the truth of a photograph. Staff editorials represent the opinion of the editorial board arrived at by discussion and will not be bylined. Bylined articles are the opinion of the individual writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Echo staff or administration as a whole. The Echo welcomes reader input. Letters to the editor and suggestions may be emailed to slpecho@gmail.com or submitted in room C275. Letters must be signed and should be no longer than 250 words. Emailed letters must be verified prior to publication. We will not necessarily publish all letters received and reserve the right to edit for length and clarity. Anonymous letters wherein the Echo does not know the identity of the writer will not be printed. Advertisements will be sought from local businesses. We maintain the right to reject any ads we believe to be false, misleading, inappropriate or harmful. The Echo does not necessarily endorse the products or services offered in these advertisements. NSPA All-American and Hall of Fame member; NSPA 2007, 2011, 2014 Print Pacemaker Finalist, 2013, 2014 National Print Pacemaker Award Recipient; 2014 Web Pacemaker Finalist, JEM All-State; CSPA Gold Medalist; 2012, 2014 CSPA Silver Crown, 2013 CSPA Gold Crown.
ot many high schoolers know the difference between sexual identity, gender identity and sexual orientation. Where sexual identity refers to how people define their own sexuality, sexual orientation refers to the sex of those to whom a person is sexually attracted. This is different from gender identity, which refers to a person’s sense of self as a male, female or transgender, according to the American Psychology Association. Twelfth grade embedded health curriculum includes a student panel comprised of people from different grades with different experiences regarding their sexuality. The panelists explain different terms and definitions that are new for many people, and members of the panel share their personal story with the class. The panel reviews terms established by the queer community to describe different gender identities such as: bigender, androgenous, intersex, transgender and cisgender. The goal of the heis to shift people’s mindset from a gender binary system to a more fluid and inclusive view toward the genders. Although conscious awareness to how people identify themselves
Up to the poetry club. They make more slams than the basketball team. may be most common among sexual minorities, a thorough knowledge of the terms different people choose to identify with is important. The health panel is comprised of four students of diverse sexual orientations who have personal experience with others misusing terms or being intentionally or unintentionally offensive toward people of different sexualities and non-binary genders. These students share their opinions and stories about the process of coming out and how their friends and family responded. Most of what the panel has chosen to share is very personal, and it is commendable students have decided to share such intimate experiences with their peers for the benefit of a more well-rounded sexual health education. As confusing as learning new terminology with similar prefixes may be, knowing the correct way
to address others is essential for a functioning society. Unfamiliarity with the way a person chooses to identify is understandable, especially given the fact many of these terms continue to evolve. But it is necessary people be able to address the topic of sexuality in an informed, inoffensive way. Being a minority of any kind has its difficulties, but it is important to try and prevent unnecessary struggles through educating the population. By including this sexuality panel in embedded health, Park is taking a step toward providing everyone with a comfortable learning environment and a safe community. Just because a person identifies with the sexual majority doesn’t mean he or she is exempt from at the very least being aware of other people’s sexuality and respecting that by being educated.
Up to the blood drive. Skipping class has never been so selfless.
Down to sports diets. Do Lemon heads count as my serving of fruit?
J.M., J.K., J.M.
he errors that come with online learning make the few online lessons during cancelled days unsubstantial and not worth the effort of the school. In 2013, Columbia University’s Teacher College found varying results as to whether online learning is as beneficial as in-class lessons, in regards to grades they received. Students learn differently with online material. For students who do not fare well with online learning, these lessons will not help them fully understand the information and could cause confusion between the student and teacher. The format of this idea also offers room for laziness and a small chance of participation among the whole class. Students will not
want to spend their day off completing online material. Because of this, it will lead to a lack of concentration and involvement in the lessons. Internet accessibility also makes this idea difficult for some students. According to a survey taken by 306 students, 19 percent did not have internet accessibility at home. The school should not require students who don’t have forms of internet to complete these assignments. Lack of internet accessibility leads to a classroom in which students have different knowledge of the material. This means the class will be divided and unable to learn in the same ways. The lack of participation, confusion and internet accessibility problems that can come up because of different types of learning among individuals, makes this method not beneficial to students and teachers alike.
ast year Park spent six days of school at home for cold days. It was four days of school we had to make up, and it was six days in which students experienced an interruption in their normal learning schedule. Students can still wake up later, but they can also take time during their day off to work on online school assignments from the comfort of their home. The idea came up this year when St. Cloud Cathedral High school implemented the policy of “virtual class day,” instead of cancelling classes. This essentially gives students and educators the chance to resume classes from home via online programs. This was done in the Farm-
ington School District in 2012, which supplied all of their 7,330 students and their teachers with iPad 2’s and iPad minis. Each student had to pay an annual $28 to cover an insurance fee, but the school did allow for scholarships. As a school district almost of the same size, St. Louis Park can do the same thing as Farmington. Whether it is at home on a device, or at the library, access to the internet is easier than ever before. Therefore, the excuses that the majority of students in the district can’t access the internet are unreasonable, and thus everyone should be able to be involved. Instead of spending the entire day sitting around doing nothing, students could be doing light work online from their own bed, still being productive and not losing potential days of summer vacation.
he club policy should have been one of the first tasks the new administration addressed. Clubs are one of the most important aspects of high school to many students, and putting the formation of new clubs on hold discouraged and enraged many students. Instead, all clubmaking was put on hold since last year, which hindered students’ opportunities to do activities they enjoy. By delaying this for so long they kept students from pursuing potential passions. Last year, chess rose in popularity among the student body. I, along with another student, attempted to form a chess club, but the decision was delayed until this month. During the time it took for the administration to determine a policy, many students were discouraged by the lack of a chess club and stopped playing chess altogether. The meeting that finally took place Dec. 1 did nothing that could not have been done in September. It simply asked basic questions about the logistics of each club and used the same club application packet that former principal Joann Karetov made. The interview for each potential club took about two minutes, begging the question: Why did it take so long to happen? Seniors who wished to mention their club participation on college applications questioned whether or not they could mention something that might not happen. Students who wish to form a club must find an adviser and submit the application to the principal’s office. Semiannual meetings now decide if a club will be formed, and existing clubs must renew at the start of every year. Now that the initial decision for club policy was reached, it appears to be an effective one. It simply should have come sooner so seniors could take advantage of their opportunities for extracurriculars.
hat has been a family holiday tradition for the last 10 years for junior Mimi Wyland suddenly changed this year. Instead of going to the annual Holidazzle Parade with her family, she’s going to the Holidazzle Village, which is replacing her beloved family outing. “Last year my family went to the parade as a way to say goodbye,” she said. “I will entirely miss the parade. I loved watching all the floats light up and fill downtown with a festive atmosphere.” This year the Holidazzle Village and Minneapolis’ Holiday Market replaces Minneapolis’ annual Holidazzle Parade starting Nov. 28, according to Holidazzle spokeswoman Lou Ann Olson. Olson said because of the increased number of families living in the Twin Cities, the Minneapolis Downtown Council decided to end the Holidazzle Parade to strive toward its goal of a consistently compelling downtown experience for all. “The Holidazzle Village featuring the Minneapolis Holiday Market offers an opportunity to better engage a growing downtown residential popula-
The Walking Shadow Theatre Company presents “The Whale,” centering on a 600 pound man whose failures in life have pushed him to his current state. Tickets cost $10-22.
The Guthrie presents “A Christmas Carol,” a miserable man, Ebenezer Scrooge is visited on Christmas Eve by the ghosts of Christmas past, future and present. Tickets cost $34-116.
tion, downtown workforce and visitors,” she said. “We wanted to provide an interactive experience for families to enjoy.” Olson said the village shows the joy of the season with food and beverage, live music, demonstrations and shopping. The village also features a Minneapolis Holiday Market where visitors can experience an authentic European market. “The ideal feel for visitors to catch is an old-style European market with a bunch of great food and beverages, goods and activities to indulge in,” she said. Olson said inside the village visitors can ride on a carousel, listen to live local music, enjoy a holiday story, visit Santa’s workshop, see live reindeer or take part in events such as ice skating. “There’s something for everyone at the Holidazzle Village or market,” she said. “We hope this allows visitors to create memories with family and friends and make it part of their holiday traditions.” Sophomore Kirby Goodman attended the Holidazzle Village and Market Nov. 28. Goodman said although she enjoyed the village, she prefers the parade over the village. “I thought [going to the village] was an overall fun and great experience, but I personally prefer the parade more because [the parade] was more holiday themed,” Goodman said. The village opened Nov. 28 and is open every weekend until Dec. 24 along the Nicollet Mall and Peavey Plaza. Admission for the Holidazzle Village is free, but general admission tickets for Minneapolis’ Holiday Market cost $6 for season-long access.
The Saint Paul Police Foundation presents “Holiday lights in the park.” Ride through Phalen Park in a warm car while viewing displays including dancing snowmen. Tickets cost $8-10.
The Minneapolis Institute of Arts presents “Italian Style Fashion,” tracing the evolution of Italian design from Gucci and Prada to Mussoni, Versace and more. Tickets cost $20.