WG Echo December 2023

the

echo Vol 109. Issue 4.

100 Selma Ave., Webster Groves, MO. 63119 WGECHO.ORG

Staff EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Hadley Hoskins PRINT/PODCAST EDITOR: Sam Klein JUNIOR EDITOR: Ali Schulz SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER/ GRAPHICS EDITOR: Soledad Lee VIDEO EDITOR: Margaret Oliphant NEWS/OPINION EDITOR: Arianna Peper ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR: Margaret Korte FEATURE EDITOR: Jasper Winterton ADVISOR: Donald Johnson SPECIAL THANKS TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY OF THE ECHO: Melanie Bennett Kim and Dan Emerson Ariel Johnson Keillyn Johnson Anne and John Klein Jenny Korte Tracy Willis

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Holiday drinks fuel winter spirit 3 Wrestling team creates unity 4 Bread Co. introduces new policy restricting minors 5 Students share opinions on blocking websites 6 DECA prepares for annual trip to New York City 7 Latin classes celebrate Roman culture 7 Webster Wrapped 8-9 New ‘Hunger Games’ movie evokes confusion 10 Film shines light on Priscilla Presley 11 Students advise how to cram for finals 12 Holiday policy limits religious celebrations 13 Holiday gift guide 13 FACS funding limits class opportunities 14 Women participate in male dominated sports 15 Editorial: ‘Webster Confessions’account encourages bullying 16

SOME MATERIAL FROM TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE The Echo is a monthly publication of the newspaper staff of Webster Groves High School, 100 Selma Ave., Webster Groves, MO. To contact staff members, call 314-963-6400 ex.

11157 or write to wgecho@wgmail.org.

Unsigned editorials are the opinion of a majority of staff members; signed articles are the opinion of the writer.

Letters to the editor of 300 words or less are welcome; submit letters by the 10th of the month to wgecho@wgmail.org, or room 155. All letters must be signed, although the name may be withheld from publication if requested. The Echo has the right to edit letters for publication as long as intent remains unchanged.

Cover art by Frances Baken 2

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Table of Contents | December 2023

Holiday drinks fuel winter spirit Sam Klein Print/Podcast Editor

mond Milk Latte, which is $5.25 for a was the Pumpkin Cream Cold Foam Chai grande.

Tea Latte, and it’s been followed up with The drink has been around for three the reappearance of the Gingerbread Oatmilk Chai. The main benefit of the latte Starbucks holiday drinks were released holiday seasons now and are that because the drink only uses oatfor the season on Nov. 2, and include some is known for milk, even for the cold foam, it’s new drinks and some traditional drinks. its green and completely dairy free.

The Peppermint Mocha drink made its red sprinkles For those who enjoy gingerdebut in 2002 and has been a holiday staon top of the bread, it’s the perfect drink to ple at Starbucks since. It can be ordered as drink. get into the holiday spirit. For hot, iced or as a Frappuccino.

The drink those who don’t; however, they may The mint and coco, being opposing has a sweet want to try a different drink off the flavors, come together to create a flavor taste, thanks menu to get in the holiday mood. The that tastes like a candy to the sugar cost for a grande is cane dipped into $6.40 with tax. chocolate. The cookie syrup.

The use After the drink costs of almond p o p u l a r$4.65 for milk also ity of the the grande adds a nutPumpkin size.

Cream Another tier and more distinct flavor C o l d drink that to the drink. has quickly become The latte can Iced Gingerbread Oatmilk Chai photo from Starbucks Website a favor- be spiced up with any of the ite is the Ice Sugar Starbucks cold Cookie Al- foams, like the vanilla cold foam for ex- Foam Chai ample to add some extra Tea Latte, it’s sweetness. debatable if Caramel Brulee Latte photo from Starbucks The Caramel Brulee the drink lives Website Latte, while a good latte, up to the same really isn’t anything spe- standards. While cial. the chai Iced Sugar Cookie Almondmilk Latte The drink is similar to how a noris good, Peppermint Mocha photo from Starbucks Website photo from Starbucks Website mal caramel latte would taste. it may However, the brulee topping is a nice touch that adds to the appearance be recommended to try it of the drink. with a different milk to get One suggestion a more creamy cold foam on would be to swap out top. the whipped cream for The last drink on the holicold foam to make it a day drink menu is the Chestlittle more special. All in nut Praline Latte and it can all, it’s a solid drink but be purchased for $4.65 for could benefit from some a grande. Compared to the modifications like more Caramel Brulee Latte, this caramel drizzle and cold one is superior. The chestnut foam. It can be purchased for provides a more unique fla$4.65 for a grande. vor, making the drink more A fall favorite this year distinct and memorable. The drink embodies the holiday Chestnut Praline Latte spirit, but not in the typical photo from Starbucks peppermint or caramel way.

Website

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Wrestling team creates unity Sam Klein Print/Podcast Editor

Wrestling is a sport traditionally participated in by men, but the women’s wrestling team is on the rise with eight members total and seven of them being underclassmen.

Senior Issy DuVall leads the team this year, being the only senior on the team. She’s been on the team since her freshman year, partially because of a family tradition of wrestling.

“My uncles and my dad wrestled in high school, and then my brother wrestled in high school and college, so they kind of forced me to do it,” DuVall said.

“After I started doing it, I really liked it, so I kept doing it,” DuVall added.

While in the wrestling program men and women wrestle Junior Shyla Reid wrestles for control in Webster Quad against a Mehlville wresseparately, the teams practice tler on Wednesday, Nov. 29. together and support each Photo by Sam Klein other throughout the season.

Training with the men’s To create this, LeMay makes sure to set benchmarks of team and being in the same strength and skill that are attainable and fair for everyone in the environment can be intimidating at first, according to DuVall.

“When you first start out wrestling, it’s kind of really weird program. For LeMay this benchmark is who can wrestle hard and like you don’t really feel like you fit in, but as you get to and put in effort the whole time.

“I have really solid relationships with all of my coaches. know the team, you kind of just feel like another wrestler. When you’re in the room, it doesn’t really feel like girls and boys. It’s They’re all very nice, and I think they put a little more work into the girls’ team, just because our team is so small. They want to kind of just like wrestlers,” DuVall said.

The head coach of the wrestling team is history teacher James keep our numbers up,” DuVall said.

Because of the physicality of the sport, it creates this idea that LeMay. He’s been coaching at Webster since 2009 and has been the girls who wrestle are tough, according to DuVall. “I think coaching wrestling since 1999.

“For me I coach all wrestlers as wrestlers. Their gender doesn’t that [favorite part of being on the team] is people think that I’m play a role to me in the methodology of how I teach,” LeMay like tough and cool because I’m one of the only girl wrestlers, said. “When it comes to experience levels and comfort zones, but other than that probably the family aspect.”

“We bleed together; we cry together; we sweat together. Wresthere are some things that I will address because they are necessary [because] not everybody’s used to participating in a sport in tling is really, really hard, and without a tight knit team that feels like a family, I don’t think that I would be able to wrestle,” Dua co-ed way.”

The team, while not technically co-ed, is led in a co-ed way. Vall added to what she likes about being on the team.

“The goal for me is to make the team feel like family. So even Because of weight classes and technicalities, oftentimes at practice the men’s and women’s teams wrestle against each other to when, if you think about your family, you might have a brother train. In matches women’s teams wrestle against other women’s or a sister you can’t stand, but you love them,” LeMay said. “So even though they might not be your favorite person in the whole teams.

“I hold everyone to the same standards and try to treat every- world, you’re willing to work with them on this team together.” one as equally as possible,” LeMay said.

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Sports | December 2023

Bread Co. introduces policy restricting minors Jasper Winterton Feature Editor Panera in Old Webster has a new policy of not allowing minors into the establishment without an adult.

A sign on the door said people 16 and under weren’t allowed inside without an adult, but company employees have kicked out students aged 17 or 18 simply for looking young.

“If I was still younger, I probably wouldn’t come back because it’s getting so cold outside. I’ll probably keep going now that I am 18,” Kaitlyn Patten, senior, said. She had previously been forced to sit outside due to Panera’s new policy.

“So I was meeting a group of friends- three other peopleand two of them were already The Panera located in Old Webster at 21 Allen Ave. has initiated a policy that persons unthere, and they were left alone. der 16 must be accompanied by adults.

Then me and my friend showed Photo by Jasper Winterton up and sat down to eat when a ally being allowed in. worker came over and asked if Poppy Coalier, sophomore, has been to the business multiple we were 18. When we said, ‘No,’ they told us we had to leave times since the policy was introduced and has not had any issues because we needed someone 18 or older with us,” Patten said. with being served food as a 15 year old.

However, while Panera has created the policy, workers only “I see lots of people under the age of 16 who don’t get kicked enforce it sometimes, with students younger than 16 occasionout,” Collier said.

According to Collier and Patten, managers don’t only kick out kids causing a disturbance, but when they choose to enforce the rule, the establishment will usually kick out anyone who looks young and anyone with a backpack on.

“I would say it’s pretty unfair, because a lot of people who do bad things don’t get kicked out while kids who are minding their own business do, but I think they have a right to kick out people who are being disrespectful,” Collier said.

The Echo staff reached out multiple times to the Panera management but was unable to obtain a comment.

“I don’t go there as much as I usually would because I don’t want to get kicked out, but I still do sometimes. The last time I went was this Sunday (Nov. 26),” Collier said.

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Students share opinions on blocking websites Margaret Oliphant Video Editor

“The tools that we use to filter websites classify websites into categories that can then be blocked or allowed as a whole. However, it’s usually a team of people at the companies that make Website blocking affects students and student teams by pre- these tools that make the determination as to which category a website belongs. We also accept complaints from district staff to venting them from accessing needed websites. block specific websites The off campus that prove to be probtech team has conlematic either for controlled blocked webtent or because of how sites for 23 years, they are being used,” although there are Zach Kleinstinske, direcspecialists in the tor of technology, said. building.

Websites Blocked websites afare blocked through - Zach Kleinstinske, director of technology fect people for academtools installed on district devices and on the district network that detect ics and E-Sports alike.

For senior and Varsity E-Sports player Daniel Sakaitis, the the websites visited. Websites can be blocked if there is content that is seen as inappropriate by staff or if the website falls into a filters were “unhelpful and annoying” when they banned Star. blocked category like social media or search engines that don’t gg, a website used to communicate with competitors and to set up tournaments. Sakaitis filled out a Google Form to get it unprovide “safe search” functions.

“What’s most appropriate is to permit sites that have educa- blocked multiple times and had to send his computer’s make and tional outcomes. That premise must be balanced with [not doing model before getting the websites unblocked.

“There [are] no ads. There’s no way to add personal info other harm] and safety,” principal Matt Irvin said.

To block websites, staff use a combination of both a complaint than creating accounts. It was secure. I think it just makes for a system and an algorithm. To unblock them there, students can whole lot of inconvenience. We’ve had a lot of internet safety click a tab on the screen which sends the request to the service training; we know what to look for,” Sakaitis said.

“I think to a point it’s beneficial, but it’s happened to me a few center, where it will be reviewed. The request can take just a few minutes to unblock however because requests come from a times where I’m researching something and I can’t access it even variety of sources time varies from case to case. The requester though it seems like a perfectly normal website,” sophomore Lia Fairbanks said. is not alerted.

“Websites that prove to be problematic either for content or because of how they are being used [are blocked].”

Join us in Celebration of the Lord!

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News | December 2023

DECA plans for annual trip to New York City Margaret Oliphant Video Editor DECA has been flying out to New York City for over 21 years. This year, it will be in New York from Jan. 9 through Jan. 14.

Seniors in Marketing II, DECA and THRIVE will visit New York for experiential learning through advertisement adjacencies, tours of retail space, workshops and business presentations. The trip is to build networking opportunities and give students hands-on experience.

Students will visit companies like Google, Excel Sports Management, the NHL corporation and McCann Global Health, along with various other businesses and people.

Students pay for most of the trip, and fundraisers such as Night in the Courtyard and the 10k Prize Shot help cover costs.

“I’m really excited; it’s going to be a really good opportunity,” senior and co-president Ava Lamitola said. “I think it will be insightful to see what Marketing II and THRIVE students visit the Statue of Liberty during it would be like to work in one of those businesses.” the 2023 trip to New York City.

Senior Libby Combs is looking forward to making connections through corporations.

Kara Siebe, and Kathryn Luarentius, Makerspace teacher Mindy “I’ve been looking forward to it for quite awhile.

It’s the whole reason I took the class and then I fell in love with Siefert and and district communications specialist Derek Duncan. Laurentius and Siebe go every year; the other four chaperthe topic” Combs said.

Sixty-four students will go on the trip. They will stay at a hotel ones change every year based on availability.

The group also plans to do things in New York City like see a in Time Square along with chaperones counselor Ken Winningshow on Broadway, go to NBC’s “The Today Show,” the Statue ham, assist. athletic director Chris Johnson, marketing teachers of Liberty and ice skating at Rockefeller Center.

Latin classes celebrate Roman culture Hadley Hoskins Editor-in-Chief Saturnalia, the Roman celebration of the harvest, is the last holiday students would be expected to celebrate at school-- but for those who take Latin, it’s been a December staple for the last 20 years.

Traditionally, the ancient Romans celebrated the holiday for a week straight (usually at the time of the Winter Solstice) with non-stop feasting, gambling and drinking.

Social classes went away, and schools and courts closed for the celebration. While it is named after the Roman God Saturn, the holiday isn’t religious.

“It would be like a county fair, cranked

December 2023 | News

to 11,” Latin teacher Jeff Smith explained.

Now, over 2,000 years later, Saturnalia looks different. It’s celebrated for just one day a year to teach students about Roman culture. Desks are pushed against the walls and covered in all kinds of food, ranging from muffins to casseroles, and students can eat while they learn about the holiday.

“At the start, when it was small, I would go to the hill and get some of the finest meats and cheeses. A lot of the kids didn’t know about some Italian stuff, like prosciutto and coppa, but now it’s kind of like a giant pot luck,” Smith said.

Students can also participate in “Secret Saturn,” an optional gift exchange, inspired by the Roman tradition of exchanging miniature candles.

Smith explained the gifts are small,

nonserious, and capped at $5. “You get all kinds of fun gifts-- usually light hearted.

Matt Lehman, our current FACS teacher, made me a holster one year… another year someone got me a giant roast. They took it out of their freezer on the way to school, and it was a mystery package of meat wrapped up in butcher paper,” Smith said.

The celebration also includes education about Roman culture through a slideshow, which Smith teaches throughout the day.

“In Spanish they learn about Hispanic culture and in French they learn about Gallic cultures… it goes with the class, for students to learn about the Romans and their contributions and their culture,” Smith explained about the importance of students learning about Roman culture.

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Soledad Lee Graphics/Social Media Editor Graphic made on canva

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New ‘Hunger Games’ movie evokes confusion Margaret Korte Entertainment Editor “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” is the well-made yet questionable prequel to the “Hunger Games” movies. It follows the story of Coriolanus Snow before his presidency in the original trilogy.

The prequel takes place 64 years before the original story, during the 10th Annual Hunger Games. Snow, played by Tom Blyth, is not yet the wealthy president, but instead an 18- year-old looking for prestige for himself and his family, namely a scholarship that isn’t easy to obtain.

Put in place by leaders Casca Highbottom, played by Peter Dinklage (“Game of Thrones”) and Dr. Volumnia Gaul, played

by Viola Davis (“The Woman King”), each competitor for the scholarship is assigned a tribute, or a child participating in the Games, to mentor. The scholarship is awarded to the survivor’s mentor.

Snow is assigned Lucy Gray, played by Rachel Zegler (“West Side Story”), and he has to help her survive. Throughout the film, Gray insists on going by her full name, even correcting a character when he only calls her “Lucy” (because that’s definitely not her name), which can become repetitive quickly. This makes it feel more like a children’s book than a dystopian movie.

Snow’s main goal in the movie is to draw more viewers to the Games (which are broadcast on TV) to gain the respect he desires from his superiors.

This brings up a moral conflict of the story: If Snow succeeds, it results in the death of several children and the continuation of

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Rachel Zegler portrays Lucy Gray Bird in “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.”

Photo from Lionsgate

the Games as a whole, which will, of course, bring about more deaths—but he doesn’t care about that because he wants his scholarship.

This leads to some questionable decisions made by Snow, even in the beginning of the movie. It makes him hard to root for, as he does certain things with no regard for anyone but himself and those he loves. To ensure a win for Gray, Snow resorts to methods that injure more people than they help. (Making a movie about a character whose main thing is killing children was certainly a choice.)

Another interesting choice was to make “Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” a musical.

Gray is a musician, which means several of her climactic scenes end with, begin with, or just are songs. These can each take several minutes, as well as having the potential

to remove the viewer from the scene. The songs are addressed and aren’t unexplained but can still be confusing.

It’s especially jarring when the first one begins. In the film, her singing is what wins over viewers of the games, though it may have the opposite effect on actual theatergoers.

The characters are well developed, however, each having their own motives. The actors in this movie give it their all, and every emotion is palpable through the screen.

By many accounts, the movie stays loyal to the book it’s based on and answers questions viewers might have after watching the original trilogy. It makes an impact, from the quickly-moving and emotional plot to the development of the characters.

Snow slowly turns into the tyrannical leader seen in the original films, which is a chilling yet exciting path to follow. Because it’s a prequel, the film can be enjoyed even by those who haven’t seen the original movies.

“The Hunger Games: Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” is in theaters and is rated PG-13 for violence and “disturbing material.” It has a run time of two hours and 35 minutes.

Entertainment | December 2023

Film shines light on Priscilla Presley Soledad Lee Social Media/Graphics Editor “Priscilla,” directed by Sofia Coppola (“Lost In Translation,” “The Virgin Suicides,” “Marie Antionette,”) came out to theaters on Nov. 3 The film, based on Priscilla Presley’s memoir, “Elvis and Me,” filled its audience with mixed emotions.

Elvis Presley was one of the known icons in music from the 50s through the 70s. The world saw and continues to see him as the “King of Rock and Roll.” His popularity as a young person with teenage girls, helped to define the first look at a fangirl.

The film wasn’t all about Elvis though. Instead, as viewers can imagine from the title, it was a moment for Priscilla.

“Priscilla” not only goes into her and Elvis’s relationship, but viewers are immersed into her perspective of her life as a woman who was in love with a man obsessed with his career.

The audience is first introduced to 14-year-old Priscilla Beaulieu, played by Cailee Spaeny (“Pacific Rim: Uprising”), sipping Coca Cola at a diner in Germany, where Air Force Officer Terry West, played by Luke Humphrey (“I Was Lorena Bobbit”), invites her to one of Elvis’s, played by Jacob Elordi (“Euphoria”), parties at his home.

Prisicilla begs her mom, played by Dagmara Dominczyk (“Succession”), and stepfather, played by Ari Cohen (“My Babysitter’s a Vampire”), to let her accompany West and his wife and daughter to Elvis’s home, which they eventually agree to.

Watching Elvis and Priscilla meet, viewers will realize what Elvis’s intentions were all along; as he had his friends purposely scout out younger girls for Elvis to meet.

In the film, he immediately charms Priscilla which naturally is easy for him to do since he already was known and loved by a large population of young girls. If the audience knows of the age gap (10 years) between Priscilla and Elvis, they may feel weirded out for most of the film.

Viewers are unable to unravel the story of Priscilla in real time so it does feel rushed, but viewers are able to follow along with her journey because of how the film is precise with the different phases in her life. Another thing that really helped this film make sense was the changing of places that Priscilla goes through when first adapting her relationship with Elvis.

The setting in which Priscilla is throughout the film indicates to the audience what is going on with her and Elvis at that moment. In Germany, the audience knows she is in that phase of talking to Elvis and waiting for Elvis to come back from America. The era of Priscilla living in Elvis’s Graceland home with him is considered the time of her being with him before their marriage and during it.

The audience will see Priscilla fall in love, but that love becomes increasingly toxic and eventually abusive. Viewers will almost be so immersed into how Priscilla feels, they’ll be

December 2023 | Entertainment

shocked by some of the scenes where Elvis is treating her horribly openly, but she and others are not particularly phased by it until later.

The majority of the film, she is treated like his doll that he can make up anyway he wants to; Priscilla dyes her hair dark and wears more eye makeup after Elvis tells her to.

It is relieving to see Priscilla “Priscilla” was released to theaters on Nov. 3.

Photo from Priscillamovie.com start to take back her life as her own at the end of film. Her hair goes back to its natural color, and even though she is still disconnected from her and Elvis’s daughter, Lisa, she still is able to regain her sense of self overtime.

The story was told the only way it could be told, since it is based on a book and so future viewers shouldn’t expect anything wildly surprising, especially if they’ve read the memoir.

“Priscilla,” is out now in theaters and is rated R for drug use, sexual themes, domestic abuse and some language. The film has a running time of one-hour-and-53 minutes.

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Students advise how to cram for finals

to earn 100% on a final they crammed use that,” she explained. for the night before-- aim for scores Once this is done, the actual studyearned on past tests and quizzes. ing can begin-- which differs between One of the most common pieces of classes. advice for stuDeadlines and dates seem to sneak dents cramming up faster in December; holiday preparafor finals is to tions and the anticipation for the end of study in the mornthe semester leaving students panicked ing, not at night. when they realize finals week is sooner Junior Tony than appears.

- Senior Owen Barrs Dearmitt said he While cramming is undeniably a recommended bad study tactic, sometimes this rush skipping the leads to its inevitability. The first thing night-time studysomeone cramming for a final should ing all together. “Go to bed as soon as Students said to prioritize questions do is figure out what grade they need you get that have definitive right or wrong to get the home.

4 answers for math and science questions, grade they p.m., 5 since it’s usually possible to earn partial want. This p.m., it credit on these questions. can easily doesn’t For history and English classes, stube done at - Junior Tony Dearmitt matter. dents said watching review videos was rogerhub.

Then, the best way to go.

One popular Youcom/finalwake up Tube channel for history review videos gradeat 3 a.m. and cram,” Dearmitt said. (especially for AP World History and AP calculator. It’s important to be realistic Senior Tessa Garrison recommended American History) is Heimler’s History. here. It’s unlikely that one will be able studying in the “Make sure they’re short; don’t spend morning as well more than 10 minutes on each topic. Get as at night, sayeverything down,” Senior Owen Barrs Old Webster Groves ing it would be said.

111 W Lockwood Ave 314-395-6094 a good reminder As for essay-based finals (for examLeMacaron1StLouis@gmail.com since, “A lot of ple, LEQs and DBQs), the best method M-Sat 9am-10pm Sun 9am-9pm times you forget for studying is to reread. of Saint Loius lemacaronstlouis a lot overnight.”

“You can get credit for showing what As for the you know when you’re writing; it’s not actual studying just solving a problem,” Barrs said.

Tarts & tactics, students Memorization finals are best crammed Cakes for said to start by for with “brain vomit,” Dearmitt said. the Holidays! figuring out what “I write down everything I don’t is not known. know, and I do that again and again and To do this, again until I have nothing left… just Garrison said she write it again and again and again until had several meth- it’s shoved in your head,” Dearmitt said. ods. “If it’s for The actual studying isn’t the only math or science, important part of cramming for finals, I use Khan Acad- though. emy, and I take “Make sure you put your phone in ! n o a [practice] test. another room or something, and take Le Macar t a k a e r B Or I look over y breaks if you need to, but don’t take r Holida u o y e t a z a z r a b v a my notes, and breaks whenever you want to,” said ,L Cele , Croissants re! n o le o p a N , I’m like, ‘I really o Garrison about her ‘extra’ advice. lairs &m & Cakes, Éc lato, Fine Chocolates, ts r a T , s don’t remember n Barrs added, “Sleep, honestly. You , Ge Macaro Iced Drinks , s e e ff o any of this.’

Or, feel better if you sleep.

Don’t be up C Euro if teachers give until midnight cramming for a final.” a practice test, I

Hadley Hoskins Editor-in-Chief

“Don’t spend more than 10 minutes on each topic.”

“Wake up at 3 a.m.”

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Feature | December 2023

Holiday policy limits religious celebrations Arianna Peper News/Opinion Editor

Margaret Korte Williamson said via email, “Our school district is intentionally Entertainment Editor taking steps to create an inclusive community and not promote

Board Policies IGAC (teaching about religion) and IND (ceremonies and observations) were first adopted in the district in 1993 and have changed over the years. Currently they don’t permit teachers to celebrate or sponsor events promoting one religion within the classroom.

Due to this, teachers cannot promote events for students or staff such as (but not limited to) Halloween costume competitions, Christmas parties and St. Patrick’s Wear Green Day. However, the policies still allow the district to teach about different religions and their holidays and histories.

As for celebrations, rather than having festivities surrounding specific holidays, it is encouraged to celebrate seasons like fall and winter festivals, and others, rather than religious holidays.

These celebrations are more inclusive.

On Nov. 13, Webster Groves school district staff members received an email from the Director of diversity, equity and inclusion, Shane Williamson, as a reminder of the policies.

December 2023 | Feature

or host events that will exclude some staff and students or make some people not feel welcomed.”

Williamson said one example of this was when the elementary schools hosted a Halloween parade and party: several students at each building who were not approved by their families to participate had to be in a separate room participating in an art project while all of the other students were in the party and parade.

“These actions were not reflective of the school district’s principle—promoting a safe, inclusive and equitable environment,” Williamson said.

Jill Young, music department chair, said the policy changes the December concerts from being focused on the holidays to focusing on the season.

“I would say that the things we are changing for the music department concerts this season are that we are not having band students wear ugly Christmas sweaters for the concert,” Young said via email.

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FACS funding limits class opportunities Jasper Winterton Feature Editor

big project, which is really costly, and the kids will have to pay a fee,” Shea said. Due to the demand for supplies and how quickly classes run out of it, regarding consumables and things like “(Family and Consumer Science department) only has mon- wood, some schools resort to making students pay them to do certain projects. ey for culinary classes; “So there’s we have (no money) for kind of a hissewing supplies,” Amie torical allocaShea, FACS teacher, said. tion to departAs far back as 2015, ments that they the FACS department has get, and there’s struggled with maintainsome weird ing the limited amount variables in it,” of money given to it by Dr. Matt Irvin, the school. The departprincipal, said. ment includes 15 differThe money ent classes, but the main given to each ones facing the issue are department in the foods and fashion dethe school is sign classes. mostly based “We were running out on how much of money and going over has worked in budget since 2015, and the past, though since then, we’ve added with inflation, another full time teachthey can’t aler,” Shea said. ways just judge The addition of the new off of that, so teacher has made the disthey try to adtribution of money even just as needed. more sparse, with only According $272 for each semester to the U.S. Deper class going towards partment of cooking, leaving money Agriculture, in for five foods and nutri2023, all food tion courses, and none for prices were fashion design. predicted to inNot only does this crease by 5.8%, make it difficult for stu- Freshman Nastia Fylypiuk works on a donation project in fashion design. dents to get the opportuPhoto by Jasper Winterton and in 2024 predicted to innities available at other crease by 2.9%. schools, but it also direct“One variable is what’s the budget of the building- is it going ly impacts the teachers.

“There are times where students need fabric and supplies, and up or is it going down. If the budget expands, everybody gets a I purchase those, no questions asked, so we, with our personal raise so to speak; if it contracts, everyone gets a contraction,” money, will just buy it or we will buy it from our department,” Irvin said.

“We have $6,000 for our entire budget of supplies for the year, Shea said.

She added no student is left out due to the department fund- which is for the entire department. It hasn’t changed since 2017 ing, even if that means teachers spending personal money to buy when I started here,” Shea said.

“The middle school department has (about) $13,000, and them supplies. On the other hand, certain departments in some STL County schools go as far as charging students money to do Kirkwood has $22,000, and I’m just confused why the middle school has $13,000,” Shea said. Hixson’s FACS department is lab work, known as a lab fee.

“I know that there are other departments that charge a lab fee- given over double the amount of money of the high school FACS that’s actually not legal, but I think that’s a common practice department, while having fewer classes, students and teachers to because it is so expensive, so sometimes kids will make a really manage.

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Feature | December 2023

Women participate in male-dominated sports Ali Schulz Junior Editor Winter sports like wrestling and hockey are traditionally maledominated. Now, women in these sports are sharing their experiences in these sports.

Senior Issy DuVall wrestles at a 2022-23 year meet.

Photo provided by Izzy Poole

According to the Johns Hopkins Newsletter, sports like hockey and wrestling “are examples of male-dominated sports because they are thought of as being more masculine.” Due to this belief, women are traditionally discouraged from trying these maledominated sports.

At Webster Groves High School, some women have taken on the challenges of joining male-dominated sports this winter.

Issy DuVall, senior, has wrestled four years on the team.

While it was hard to be on a male-dominated team first, as time went on DuVall became more comfortable and earned respect from her teammates. She feels like she has truly become a part of the team and feels like her teammates and coaches have accepted her.

Luca Tetreault, sophomore, also wrestles.

Tetreault has only been on the team for a couple of weeks, but she said her experience has been good so far. She is a little nervous being on the team and is still trying to figure out a way to be comfortable surrounded by mostly men.

“Everyone is treated the same,” Tetreault said, which has helped her adjust to her surroundings.

Wrestling is not the only male dominated sport. The Skatesmen hockey team is another one of these sports.

Junior Kirsten Loesch is a goalie on the Skatesmen team and has been on it since her freshman year, although she has played hockey for six years now. She has a twin brother Marcus, who also plays hockey. He started a year before and had a female goalie on his team. This inspired her to try hockey out.

Loesch said she and her teammates all work well together, and she loves competing with them, even though they are a different

December 2023 | Sports

gender.

“Opposite genders are surprisingly alike- it’s just another teammate. I don’t feel like an outcast or alone. Sure I’m different, but every player on the team is in some way,” Loesch said.

Although Loesch feels accepted by her team, that does not mean everyone else has accepted her.

“Hockey is a boy’s sport, and I’m definitely not new to judgment, being doubted, mockery from parents, other teams or just society in general,” Loesch said.

Examples of this are being told that hockey is a men’s sport, or that women’s hockey isn’t a serious or competitive sport.

Loesch has also encountered a bad/sexist coach before, but she said many women in male-dominated sports have.

“I just consider it to be more adversity I face. Another reason to go out there and show what I can do, whether to make myself proud, showcase my skills for the scouts, or sexist people,” Loesch said.

The women all had advice for girls wanting to try out for a male-dominated sport.

“Going out for a mostly male sports team can be scary, but if any girls have a chance to come out for wrestling they definitely should. Wrestling teaches a lot of good lessons and teaches you more about yourself and your capabilities,” DuVall said.

“Do it. It will be physically demanding and a lot of new things, but it gives you such strong bonds with all the girls and guys on the team as well,” Tetreault said.

“Come in with an open mind. The guys are just regular peopledon’t overthink how they treat you or how you treat them. Your skill will speak for yourself. Work hard and you’ll have a lot of fun,” Loesch said.

Junior Kirsten Loesch plays goalie at a Skatemen hockey game.

Photo provided by Kirsten Loesch

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Editorial: ‘Webster Confessions’ encourages masked bullying

Webster Confessions is the new Instagram account taking Webster by storm. It features a Google form in the bio where one can fill out a “confession,” and it will be posted anonymously.

Although this might have seemed like a harmless idea, it is causing more harm than it is good. It has received severe backlash from high school students over what is being posted. It features all sorts of negative commentary about staff and students, with little to none of it actually being true.

The account seems to be hidden and is difficult to find if one isn’t following it.

“I think it’s an anonymous excuse for cowards to be mean to other people for no reason. It’s a way for bullies to say mean things and get away with it,” an anonymous student said.

According to the PromotePrevent website, a nonprofit organization established in part to prevent bullying, “Bullying is a repeated aggressive behavior where one person (or group of people) in a position of power deliberately intimidates, abuses, or coerces an individual with the intention to hurt that person physically or emotionally.”

This account is doing just that.

“I think it’s bringing people down. I feel like there’s a lot of stuff being said, and people don’t know how to defend themselves just because it’s so absurd,” another anonymous student said.

A different student agreed.

“What’s disturbing to me is that people feel empowered to say just the most shocking things about people who have developmental disabilities, people who are incapable of defending themselves, and people who have no idea about what’s going on. We don’t need all this,” the student said.

The majority of things being posted on this account have enraged the students here at the high school. It has spread out, so that nobody is safe from the bullying happening on this platform.

While some items posted are relatively harmless, such as “Ryan K is the best swimmer on the team,” a majority of the posts are not.

Many of the posts are sexualizing people at the school, especially women and those with disabilities. The same people have also been targeted over and over again on this account. The account owner has also recently added polls to their story asking followers to pick between two girls which one looks better.

On top of sexism and ableism, homophobia is also a big problem on this platform. Students are constantly trying to “out” other students as gay, just because they feel like it.

The ECHO staff agreed that the majority of stuff posted on this account was too objectionable to include in this story.

Due to the fact that it is anonymous, it is difficult to tell what people are sending versus what the person running this account has made up. This account also has a few “signed” posts, but it is unclear whether these people actually sent in the confession, or if they are being impersonated.

There have been attempts to defend people on this platform, but they are overshadowed by the amount of hateful comments that are being shared.

“I just think it’s not a good face for Webster. Having the name

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‘Webster Confessions’ on it and then saying that stuff isn’t a good look for the community,” a third anonymous student said.

“This is going to spread outside of Webster,” one of the anonymous students said.

This account has already been seen by students from other schools in the St. Louis area.

“The Webster High Confessions page in my opinion, and the opinion of many of my peers, contains a lot of spread misinformation and rude comments on student relationships.

I don’t know if the goal of the account is to belittle fellow students, but I find it crude and simply unnecessary to say the least for a little laugh,” an anonymous student from a surrounding high school said.

Art by Gracie Giles

Editorial | December 2023