WG ECHO September 2022 Issue

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF:

Lydia Urice

PRINT EDITOR: Izzy Poole

JUNIOR EDITOR: Hadley Hoskins

SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER/ GRAPHICS EDITOR: Maren DeMargel

VIDEO EDITOR: Luca Giordano

NEWS/OPINION EDITOR: Ali Schulz

SPORTS EDITOR:

Owen Crews

PODCAST EDITOR: Sam Klein

FEATURE/ENTERTAINMENT

EDITOR: Joe Harned BUSINESS MANAGERS: Soledad Lee

Dakota Motley

TIKTOK/ PUBLIC RELATIONS MANAGER: Eleanor Kanerva ADVISOR: Donald Johnson

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 publica tion as long as intent remains unchanged.

The Echo is a member of Quill and Scroll, JEA, MIJA, NSPA and CSPA.

Cover Cutline: A collage of students par ticipating in school events and athletics.

Cover art by Izzy Poole

theecho

Is BeReal really real?

‘Are assemblies worth the hype?’

‘What do you do on late start Mondays?’

Students share out of school activities

FemCo provides reusable period products

Teacher, former student shares life-changing events

‘What’s it like to have a parent in the district?’

Fire breaks out in girls cabins at Camp Wyman

‘What are students listening to?’

Freshmen inspired by family to run Changes made to hall pass enforcement

Sophomore co-captains dance team

Student produce plays for One Acts Festival

Lifesaver mints encourage community engagement

‘The Summer I Turner Pretty’ divides viewers

Exchange student adjusts to life in Webster Groves

Editorial: Women’s sports face inequalities

How real is BeReal, really?

Eleanor Kanerva TikTok/ Public Relations Manager

BeReal, a social media app created in 2020, has recently taken over the internet because of its radical new way for a person to display their life online.

In the age of so cial media, teenagers are feeling pressured to take perfect Insta gram worthy pictures of themselves. It can be overwhelming es pecially when a lot of them base their selfworth on the number of followers or likes they have.

What makes BeReal so popular compared to other social media apps is that at a random time each day users are no tified to take a picture and post it. Doesn’t matter when or where, users just take a photo of themselves within

two minutes.

This takes away their abil ity to take mul tiple posed pic tures and select the perfect one to post, and partici pants don’t worry about followers or the like count because it doesn’t exist on this app. The idea is that it forces people to show their real life, hence the name BeReal.

Junior Amelia Kennerly said, “It shows that not ev erything you post has to be perfect. Social media is often fake and I think BeReal does a good job at counteracting that.”

However, how truly genuine is this social media app? Some users believe that although the goal of the platform is to show your authentic self, in reality, that’s not what’s happening.

“It should be called BeFake,” said senior Sydney Thornton. “It turned into every other form of social media; we’re only posting what others want to see.”

Social media serves as a sort of highlight reel of one’s life which BeReal was attempting to dismantle by forcing its users to post the reality, not just edited photos of their best moments, yet Thornton said both she and her friends will frequently wait to post until they’re doing something interesting in their day. The app al lows users to wait to post their daily photo, but it will show when it isn’t taken within the two minute time span in which the one posting is notified.

However, others do try their best to show their genuine selves and post right when they get their notification such as junior Julia Fowl er.

Fowler said, “I think it defeats the purpose if you wait to post until you’re actually doing something interesting. The purpose of BeReal is to show a realistic representation of what life is like for high schoolers.”

Senior Olivia Hotze Smiles as she takes photo with Latin Teacher Jeff Smith.

Photo by Olivia Hotze

Senior John Harris poses with friends as he takes a photo of the student section of the football game.

Photo by John Harris

Senior Sadie Saltsman-Buck takes a photo with friends at the Selma Street Dance.

Photo by Sadie Saltsman-Buck

Students Spill

‘Are assemblies worth the hype?’

Lydia Urice Editor-In-Chief

Assemblies are a way for students and teachers to get excited about sports or events related to the high school. There are ones for each season of sports and Turkey Day.

Assemblies have a formula, students, band, sports and an activity- typically mu sical chairs or knockout- in which repre sentatives from each sport can participate while the school watches.

Students have varying opinions on these assemblies.

“I think it’s fun if you make it fun, if you participate and not dread it,” senior Mirabelle Williams said.

“They’re not really overhyped because I feel like they’re not hyped a ton, but the Turkey Day one with the drumline. That’s a good one,” senior Eric Miranda said.

Senior Solia Simpson enjoys the short ened classes but thinks the spirit at the as semblies could use some improvement.

“I think we need to do a better job of getting lit and hype in the stands. I think everyone needs to do their part and get their spirit up,” Simpson said. “I want the step team to come back.”

Participating in the assemblies might be the key to getting the most out of them.

“I normally participate in assemblies, and I find them very fun. I like to get involved in the school and cheer at as semblies,” cheerleader and senior Gillian O’Neil said.

“Being a member of the band, I think they’re quite fun because it’s fun to play music. I think they’re fun if you’re a part of something. If you’re just sitting in the stands, then it’s not really anything, it’s just a way to get out of class,” senior Sam Anderson said.

“They’re overhyped for the athletes, but if you’re a person in the audience, then you’re sitting there, and you’re like, ‘I don’t know what’s going on here,’” senior Brennan Ulrich said.

One take is that se niors enjoy assemblies the most.

“All the assemblies, they’re very loud, but they’re fun, for some people,” senior Maren Kwentus said. “I feel

like they shouldn’t be required though. They’re more fun for seniors than anyone else.”

“I really enjoy the assemblies, but I think they’re underhyped. Mostly the se niors are always excited about the assem blies, but the freshman and sophomores are usually not as excited,” senior Essence Williams said.

Another take is that freshmen are more excited about the assemblies than the se niors.

“It was cool my freshman year, but now I just get my brother, and we just leave,” senior Jack Callahan said. “I mean it was cool the first couple times, but they just do the same thing over and over again. It’s the same routine; the band plays the same songs. I don’t know; I don’t get that ex cited for them anymore.”

Senior Drei Luna is just over the assem blies in general.

“[They’re] pretty overhyped. I don’t go to them,” Luna said, “They’re not that fun for me.”

Senior Ian McCann thinks no one looks forward to assemblies.

“I don’t think assemblies are overhyped because no one hypes them up; no one wants to go to them,” McCann said.

Seniors Dominic Lee and Makenna Sauter fight for a chair in musical chairs at the Fall Activities Assembly. The fall sports assembly took place Sept. 9, in Roberts Gym.

Photo by Lydia Urice

Administrative assistant to superintendent for learning Jennifer Davis cheers during the Fall Activities Assembly which took place on Sept. 9, in Robert’s Gym.

Photo by Lydia Urice

‘What do you do on late start Mondays?’

Luca Giordano Video Editor

Late start Mondays have been in place since 2019, but this year’s late start Mondays have been extended to 9:40 a.m. Stu dents shared opinions on Late Start Mondays and what they do on those mornings.

For students, late start Mon days provide time needed to fully get ready and wake up. Students can spend this time at home, making breakfast, watch ing television, or catching up on homework. This extra time in the morning helps them feel ready for the day.

“I love having my mornings to myself. I love to get up and spend some time doing some thing, and then when I get to school, I am ready,” senior Del aney Sullivan said.

Sullivan went to the Mudhouse Cafe on Cherokee at 7 a.m. before going back home and watching television.

Students take the time to go to cafes and stores before school starts for breakfast

and coffee.

Senior Evelyn Linck went to Schnucks to get breakfast and lunch for later in the day.

Sophomore Claire Stevison joined friends at McDonalds for breakfast.

Late start Mondays also give students the chance to catch up on homework they might have forgotten to do over the week end.

“The thing I like about late starts is not feeling rushed in the mornings,” freshman Evelyn Cole said.

Cole made breakfast, did homework she needed to catch up on and watched television.

“I can get all of the stuff that I might have forgotten to do over the week end done in the morning,” senior Logan Storck said.

Storck made breakfast and played gui tar before school.

Late start Mondays are an opportunity for students to sleep in after a long Sunday night.

“I know some people work Sunday night and getting that sleep is really help ful, and for me, extra time is helpful. Why would you not want to sleep in?” senior Noah Weihl said.

Weihl woke up at 8:30 a.m., went to tailgating club, and met with calculus teach er Eric Dunn for help on a test later that day.

For seniors, late start Monday activities can in clude tailgating club before school. Seniors meet on late start Mondays outside the student parking lots to eat breakfast, talk with friends and sit on lawn chairs.

“Seniors all get to interact and mingle, and it’s a super fun and awesome club and you literally just get to eat breakfast with your friends in the morning. I see nothing but greatness from the club,” senior Sadie Saltsman-Buck said.

Saltsman-Buck is the copresident of the tailgating club.

In the future, students plan to do more of the same in the mornings before late starts.

Senior Annabelle Mueller flips pan cakes before school at tailgating club. Tailgating club meets every late start Monday at 9 a.m.

Senior Noah Weihl talks with senior Eli Suppelsa in front of student parking lots before school during tailgating club.

Photo by Luca Giordano

Senior Jude Bronner plays accordion before school at tailgating club.

Photo by Luca Giordano

Photo by Luca Giordano

Skating into the new school year...Students share out of school activities

Hadley Hoskins Junior Editor

While sports like football, volleyball and cross country occupy the attention of students this fall, some are more focused on nonschool sponsored activities, like skating.

From roller derby to skateboarding, students are just as dedicated as others are to school sports, especially in the absence of structured practices or a coach.

They practice several times a week at skate parks in Webster and in Maplewood, for hours at a time and sometimes even at night.

“A lot of Webster kids skateboard,” junior Sicily Castro said. Castro said she has been rollerskating for about 10 months and also joined a roller derby team a few months ago.

Castro said while a lot of people assume roller skating is just going around in circles, there’s a lot more to it than that.

“There’s tricks, ramp stuff like grinding and sliding, and

jumping over stuff,” Castro said.

Skaters like Castro who teach themselves rely on YouTube videos as well as one another for help learning how to skate.

“Whenever someone sees someone who’s learning, they’re really supportive, because they were in the same place [once, too],” Castro explained.

Castro added the community of roll er skaters is smaller, but growing due to its popularity on social media and it’s feminist connotations.

“A lot of the time when you think of skating, you think of men on skate boards, but women don’t get the rec ognition they should be getting.”

Castro said she was introduced to roller skating through a friend who owned a pair of roller skates and another that skate boarded.

“[Learning to skate has] just been really amazing, from the people… if you want to try it, just go out and buy skates,” Castro said.

Stay tuned for a part two about the figure skaters of Webster Groves High School.

FemCo provides reusable period products

Dakota Motley Business Manager

Feminist Coalition club has been able to receive reusable peri od products at the school, according to the club president, senior Sadie Saltsman-Buck.

Rotary Club reached out to Feminist Coalition and gave a grant for the club to get reusable period products for the school. There will be 100 packs of reusable pads in the nurse’s office, with instructions. When the school will receive them is unclear as of right now.

“I came up with the idea of having reusable period products as I knew putting period products in the bathroom was already in the works,” Saltsman-Buck said via email.

Saltsman-Buck teamed up with co-president senior Sydney Thornton to work on this project. The two worked together with Rotary Club, Interact Club and the rest of the Feminist Coalition members to get the idea off it’s feet.

“We did a grant last year through Rotary club, so we’re using the money to buy packs of reusable pads. Basically they will be put in the nurse’s office, and it’s for people who don’t have ac cess to period products at home. They come in packs of 10. You can take them home, use them and then wash them and use them again for a few months, but they won’t last forever, and then you can come back and get more if you still need them,” Thornton said.

Feminist Coalition is also working on getting feminine prod ucts into the women’s and gender neutral bathrooms for those

Period products are available in the nurse’s office, which is located near Junior Entrance. These products will be in at least 5 bathrooms soon.

who don’t have them.

“Once we get the reusable period products finalized we’re gonna shift our focus to providing period products in the bath rooms. I’m very excited that it’s finally happening, and I feel like it should have happened a long time ago,” Saltsman-Buck said.

Photo by Lydia Urice

“I’m glad they have skate groups to help young women find a passion to do something they love.”

6 wgecho.org Feature | September 2022 Junior Sicily Castro

Mono infects students at high school

Izzy Poole Print Editor

Mononucleosis, other wise known as “mono” or it’s nickname “the kissing disease” has been reported by several stu dents.

The exact number of cases is unknown, Al though the number of cases has not yet reached enough to be considered an outbreak, according to Nurse Rachel Huertas there have been several confirmed cases in the last two weeks.

“Five cases would be an outbreak, and we’re not there yet,” Huertas said about the mononu cleosis cases at the high

Students share...

school.

Mono is transferred by saliva, and its incubation pe riod can be anywhere from four to eight weeks. Not all who are infected become symptomatic or have severe symptoms.

Because there is no vac cine for it, “The best thing to do is preventively wash your hands well and often and do not share water bot tles and utensils; those are the general practices for any saliva based transmission,” Huertas said.

The symptoms can start flu like: a fever, muscle achiness and fatigue. The fatigue can linger which can make it feel like it lasts for longer.

‘What’s it like to have a parent in the district?’

Sam Klein Podcast Editor

Several students walk the same high school halls as their parents. Sophomore Gabe Wright and junior Miles Cole are a couple of them.

Wright’s dad is Coach Sean Wright, who works as the athletic trainer and a gym teacher.

“Having a parent in the school is nice because I always have someone I can go to for great advice and help with school. It’s not as weird as you think it would be, and I like that I feel comfortable at school with someone I’m really close to being there in case of an emergency at the high school,” Wright said over email about what it’s like being in the same school as his dad every day.

Of course, there are upsides and downsides to things like this. Wright wrote in an email he likes having his dad work at the school because it means he has somewhere to hangout and do school work while he waits on the bus to take him to his games.

A downside Wright talked about is that he has to wake up early to get to the school when his dad needs to be there, and that it makes the most sense for them to come to school together.

“I get a little less sleep because of it, but it’s not too bad,” Wright wrote in his email.

Cole’s parents are band and piano teacher Kevin Cole and

math teacher Kristin Cole. Cole said over email it’s not as stress ful going to the school his parents work as some people would think. He added that it doesn’t affect him much, and that one good thing is that he gets a good parking spot.

Coach Sean Wright and Gabe Wright climb a mountain together in Zion National Park.

Photo provided by Gabe Wright.

The Epstein-Barr virus, which causes Mononucleosis, is pictured.

wgecho.org 7September 2022 | Feature Art by Izzy Poole

Five year anniversary: Fire breaks out

Lydia Urice

Ali Schulz Opinion/News Editor

Camp Wyman is a week-long sleepaway camp that consists of bonding activi ties that connect sixth graders with peers, teachers and nature. Five years ago, on the last night for team Polaris, the camp went from fun to frightening.

On Sept. 29, 2017- the last day for team Polaris- around 2 a.m. a fire broke out in cabins five and six, which were connected within a single building.

Current junior Taryn Hibbing was one of those sixth graders who experienced the fire.

“I was in cabin five, which was one of the two cabins in the fire,” Hibbing said. “I woke up be cause the fire alarms were going off. My bed was right by the window, so I looked out the window. I hadn’t fully woken up by then. I thought it was day because it was so bright outside.”

“Everything was on fire in the cabin. I didn’t realize at first, but very quickly our counselors got us all out,” current junior Sydney McEvoy said.

“I opened the curtain, and it was just like the whole porch was on fire. It took me a minute to register that, then everyone was like, ‘get out of the cabin, get out of the cabin,’ so I ran out. I didn’t put shoes on, didn’t have any shoes for the rest of the night,” Hib “I just remember getting woken up, and they were like ‘get outside,’ and ev eryone was disoriented and they told us grab our shoes. Some people, who were quicker thinkers were grabbing some of their stuff, but I didn’t, I only got my shoes,” current junior Sloane Carfield said.

“I climbed down from the top bunk,” current junior Lily Win klemann said. “We ran out and saw the whole thing in flames.”

Natalie Burford was a counselor in one of the cabins the year it caught on fire. She was a senior that year.

Burford was awoken by a noise that night and happened to glance out the window.

“The fire was right outside my win dow and was very loud. By that time the whole front porch and front of the cabin was on fire. My bed was right by the window which looked out to the front porch. So once the flames woke me up I looked outside to see the huge flames,” Burford said.

“Sadly the fire extinguisher was outside on the front porch, so obviously that was not an option. The flames were also huge by that time. So I start ed telling the kids to wake up,” Burford said.

Burford got all the children out of the cabin.

“At the time I was not really thinking about it. I was more just do ing what was to be done,” Burford said.

The girls went up the hill to cabins three and four for about five minutes, before all heading down to the cafeteria together.

“As I was walking down to the pavilion, I looked around and just the whole roof was on fire and the trees around the cabin were on fire,” Hibbing said. “I cut the bottom of my foot on the grav el because I didn’t have any shoes on.”

“The fire was right outside my loud. By that time the whole the cabin was on fire. My bed which looked out to the front woke me up, I looked outside -Natalie Burford

out in girls’ cabins at Camp Wyman

“We went outside and I remember being shocked. Inside, it wasn’t really clear what was happening but then when were outside it was like, ‘ Oh, the whole cabin’s on fire,’” Carfield said.

“So then we went to a different cabin that was one of the other girls’ cabins. While we were there, we made a plan to meet at a rally point with one of the teachers because at the point, it was just our counselors and, we hadn’t been in contacted with adult adults. Then we met in this outside pavilion, and it was really cold because we were all just in pajamas,” Carfield said.

“We went inside and had cookies and water, and waited for our parents to come pick us up,” McEvoy said.

The fire destroyed all of the girls’ possessions.

“[I] lost all my stuff,” Hibbing said.

The fire also had a lasting effect.

“I don’t like big campfires. I don’t like leaving candles unat tended, especially in my room. I always check my fire alarm be fore I go to bed. That’s just one of the things I do,” Hibbing said.

“I would say it’s still something I am working through even to day,” Burford said. “After the fact I realized it was actually pretty scary and felt pretty isolating. For a while hear ing sirens was really hard for me, same with fire alarms. I am really conscious of where my things are and try to keep my most impor tant things together and easily accessible in case I have to leave quickly.”

McEvoy and Carfield gained a friendship from that night.

“We weren’t as close until afterwards. We definitely got to know each other better when we were waiting outside and evacuating and stuff,” McEvoy said.

“It brought people closer to gether,” Carfield said. “I think ev erybody’s guards and walls came down afterwards so then were enable

to become closer as a unit. Obviously it was really scary, and I wouldn’t want it to happen again, but I definitely did make friends out of it.”

“After the fire, we had one or two ses sions back at Steger where our counsel ors would come back, and we did kinda group therapy sessions,” Carfield said.

Hibbing said the fire didn’t completely sour her experience with Wyman. She was a counselor last year and will be this year as well.

“I am excited. I’m not sure how I feel about sleeping in the cabins, but the odds of two fires is pretty low, so I think I’ll be good,” Hibbing said.

Carfield and McEvoy hope to go back as well.

“For a few years I never wanted to go to sleep away camp again, but now I’m able to see that was an unusual circumstance and probably wouldn’t hap pen again,” Carfield said.

“We were both think ing about being counselors this year, but it didn’t work out. I think next year,” McEvoy said.

Art by Lily Musgraves

my window and was very whole front porch and front of bed was right by the window front porch. So once the flames outside to see the huge flames,”

‘What are students listening to?’

Joe Harned Feature/Entertainment Editor

“Excuse me, what song are you listening to right now?” When students were asked this question, the responses ranged from 1910 to the pop hits of a week ago.

The most popular overall genre at Web ster was rap, but Web ster’s taste in rap var ies.

“Automatic” by NBA Youngboy and Rich the Kid, and “Turban” by Yeat are two examples of more aggressive rap, both of which feature some of

the most popu lar artists in the genre. The heavy bass and fast moving tempo of the songs are per fect for work ing out and ap parently make for great mu sic for study ing physics as well.

“Home” by Wiki is a short but sweet underground song. It has a great sample loop, and the well made lyrics flow so smoothly it’s hard to imagine another song could top it, besides “Shiva” by JID. This lofi-produced banger has the best lyrical performance of all the rap Webster was listening to, and the features add onto the great writing of the song.

“California” Love by 2Pac and “Flash ing Lights” by Kanye West are both older, more nostalgic clas sics that are essential to the genre. West and Shakur are leg ends of the rap scene

and have made some of the most iconic al bums in rap history, such as “Graduation,” the album that Flashing Lights stars in.

Webster’s taste in pop is great.

Although it may be overplayed on TikTok, “Bad Habit” by Steve Lacy is beautifully sung and produced.

“Guilty Conscience” by 070 Shake is a synthdrenched trip to the 80s with modern lyrics and production.

Both of these songs have great main perfor mances, and both artists are seeing a well de served rise in popularity.

Rock is alive in Web ster too. Red Hot Chili Peppers’ alt-rock hit “Can’t Stop” is a great introduction to the band, with the contrast between a sweet chorus and the more hard-rock ing opening verse.

“Lola” by The Kinks is a groovy classic of folk-rock, but the lyrics have not aged well into the 21st century.

Could there be rock, though, without the Bea tles? “Oh! Darling” off of “Abbey Road,” perhaps the greatest pop rock al bum ever, is an essential listen and has some of Paul McCartney’s most passionate singing.

Music taste can get un conventional, but it shows how wide the range of music is in the halls of Webster Groves High School. “The Fire bird Suite - Finale” by Igor Stravinsky was made in 1910, but the pure ecstasy of this finale lives on today, making it one of classical music’s most triumphant works.

In addition to music, many students were listening to podcasts, musicals, or as one embarrassed underclassman put it, “just trying to block out the noise.” Webster’s soundtrack is in safe hands; it is beautiful that so many styles of mu sic are alive in the halls of WGHS.

Art by Katie Lawless

Freshmen inspired by family to run

Owen Crews Sports Editor

Area runners will participate in the annual Ivory Crockett Run for Webster is Oct. 15, and starts at 8:30 a.m.

The run costs $30 and starts at the Webster Groves High School. The options are a 100 Yard Dash for children, the One-Mile Fun Run/Walk and a virtual run at other Webster Groves schools in the district. All races cost $30, but the 100-yard dash is free.

Freshmen Joel Herrman and Lucy Marsh both ran the race last year and both had positive experiences with their families.

Herman said, “I have been running five kilometers for three years, and it was just another Webster one that was open.”

Herrman added his family inspired him. “My mom ran track in college, and my dad had just started to get into running, and I like to train with him.

Marsh also had family influences when it came to running the Ivory Crockett five kilometers. She added, “I always do it with my dad and my sister, and it has been a sort of tradition as we have done it every year.”

Both Marsh and Herrman have contributed training for this run to help them in both their respective sports.

Herrman added, “ I am running cross country with the high school. It has helped with pacing and starting out with a speed that I can maintain for the whole race.”

Marsh added, “ I ran on my own because I play other sports, and I enjoy running in general.”

Ivory Crockett, who holds the world record for the 100-yard dash, addresses the participants of the 17th annual Ivory Crockett Run for Webster event. Last year 579 participants of all ages competed in the 100 Yard Dash, the One-Mile Fun Run/Walk, and the Run For Webster 5k.

Photo by Emily Goben

Herman also had some advice for future runners running the Ivory Crockett Run. “It is super fun and you don’t really have to try as hard. You can take it at your own pace.”

Students produce plays for One Acts Festival

Eleanor Kanerva Public Relations/ TikTok Manager

One Acts Festival is one of the longest traditions of the drama department, be ing around for 50-60 years, according to drama teacher Todd Schaefer.

One Acts shows original short plays written by students. The writers of these works are also in charge of auditions, cast ing, directing and producing.

Junior Teddy Woldow is doing a play based on the book, “Song of Achilles” by Madeleine Miller. He’s adapting a few of the scenes into a dramatic stage play.

The casting process is when directors sit at tables with scripts while actors audi tion for each table. Once the actors have gone to every table, they leave, and the di rectors fight over who they want for their plays.

One Acts is taking place twice this year, one on Sept. 28, and another in May. Each one usually has eight or seven plays. The September One Acts took place at 7 p.m.

in the Blackbox Theater. Tickets cost $5.

It’s meant to be very low-stress, for example, Schaefer allows new people to help with the production as an opportunity for them to “get their feet wet.”

Schaefer said, “We’ll have a crew of people moving set pieces that are usually new to the process…I have a new person, who’s usually never done it, running the light board, someone who’s never done it running the sound effects.”

Directors only get two rehearsals with Schaefer; every other rehearsal is on their own time.

Woldow said, “Rehearsals vary in amount, time and place depending on the groups. My rehearsals usually happen in Old Orchard after school. Everyone will walk down, buy a snack or a drink and then sit somewhere quiet to go over lines and blocking.”

Schaefer said, “It’s really student driv en, for the most part, artistically. I’m just there to navigate and keep them in check.”

They are only allowed to use black furniture provided by the high school to

create their sets, and Schaefer projects a background slide to show where the lo cation of the act is set. He also provides costumes and props, but most of the time, they’re dressing themselves.

Schaefer said, “This is the one way to get in the directors chair especially if you’re wanting to go to the next level.”

About what intrigued him to participate in One Acts, Woldow responded, “I love finding people through common interests, and theater can be a great place to do that.”

Sophomore co-captains dance team

Lydia Urice Editor-in-Chief

Sophomore Kamaya Norman is a co-captain of the dance team.

“Even though Kamaya is only a sophomore this year, I feel like she’s been on the team for ever. She’s always been a quick learner and choreographs dances everyone loves. Kamaya also brings the team closer and keeps us all upbeat. I’m really glad we got the chance to be co-captains together this year,” senior and co-captain Hannah Silverman said.

Kamaya Norman has that ‘it’ factor,” dance team sponsor and coach Gwendolyn Harris said. “[She] has the stunning ability to control her environ ment and indirectly force people to chal lenge themselves and give their best. She entered the dance program eager and

ready to learn quickly and willing to offer her talents to the team.”

Norman has never taken a dance class.

“It kinda just comes naturally. I didn’t take any dance classes or anything. I just do it. I work hard at practice, and I just do

it,” Norman said.

Harris enjoys the energy Norman brings to the group.

“Her optimism and ener getic presence made her a favorable member among her peers. Fast forward, Ka maya makes intelligent and creative decisions,” Harris said.

As co-captains, Norman and Silverman strive to im prove the connections with in the team.

“Recently we went to Panera and FroYo for bond ing; we just hung out and ate after school,” Norman said. “We make sure everybody knows what’s going on. Like we make sure everyone knows what to wear at games. We plan our team bond ing. Basically, we just keep everybody in one piece.”

Sophomore Kamaya Norman talks to the dance team before the football game on Aug. 26, at Moss Field.

Photo provided by Kamaya Norman

A chalk board adverting One Acts sits outside the drama department.

Photo by Eleanor Kanerva

Changes made to hall pass enforcement

Soledad Lee Business Managers

New hall passes for leaving the class room were introduced this year.

As the policy has always been there, this year is different because of the laminated orange piece of paper that serves as a pass and is shared between students. Some com plain about how sanitary it is and what its use implies.

“Personally, I think they’re stupid, and like the teachers will tie them with yarn, and then the yarn gets gross, cause I wash my hands and my hands aren’t always dry, and they’re too big. Like girl… there’s no reason they should be that big. We are just going to the bathroom,” junior Lauryn Riefle said.

“I mean I don’t understand why we have to carry this pass to the bathroom. They are obnoxiously large and probably unsani tary,” senior Matthew Salmon said.

As far as why students are required to carry around these passes, it is because wandering students is a security concern.

¨We want to make sure people are where they’re supposed to be,¨ assistant principal Madeline Craig said.

In the halls, students are sometimes asked by hall monitors where they’re go ing, even with the pass in hand.

“Having hall monitors is really annoy ing because if I’m carrying a large bright pink pass, and they still come up to me and ask where I’m going, that to me seems then ‘What’s the point of having the pass?’” se nior Kaz Bergmann said.

According to Craig, the size of these passes is so that when students are walking in the halls, they won’t be stopped by teach ers.

“I think they’re stupid, because I don’t want to carry around a giant paper when I have to use the bathroom,” junior Kyzer Strawbridge said.

Starting a conversation has never been so refreshing Lifesaver mints encourage community engagement

Luca Giordano

Video Editor

Senior Jackson Bacilek has handed out mints to students in the hallways since his junior year.

Bacilek buys large bags of Lifesaver mints from Schnucks and Target to hand out during the school day. Bacilek became well known for his mints, often being asked for them.

“As I kept on going, more people kept on coming up to me and being like, ‘Mint man! Let me get a mint,’” Bacilek said.

Bacilek started his mint distribution as a way to spark up conver sation. “There’s so many kids that just say nothing,” Bacilek said.

Seeing the shyness of students upon returning to school from the pandemic, Bacilek used the lifesaver mints as a means to start conversation with quiet students.

The mints and an element of surprise to the daily life of stu dents. At any point in the class or hallway they could be handed or thrown a mint.

“Definitely made my day better. It brought a little highlight to what was going to be a mundane physics class,” junior Zephyr Dish man said. Dishman was “minted” once during his physics class.

The conversations started using mints are a reflection of Bac ilek’s character. Bacilek recounted playing role-playing video games where conversations are started.

“It’s a reflection of outgoing. I just like seeing what people have to say,” Bacilek said.

Bacilek wants this project to be big. To continue the mint dis tribution, Bacilek has invited freshmen to hand out mints. Bac ilek provides these freshmen with mints, so they can hand out

mints to others.

“I’m the new captain of this new mint militia, alright. Mat thew Peterson, you’re the vicecaptain, all of you freshmen are freshmen foot soldiers,” Bacilek said, recounting his recruitment of freshmen to distribute mints.

Although the mint distribu tion is meant to be wholesome and harmless, a development has emerged which has seen mint distributors throw mints at students and leave crushed mints on the ground, still in their wrappers. Bacilek acknowledg es these developments.

“Well, at first it was kind of the intention. I was like ‘Let me just start a trend around school of people throwing mints,’ and then now I’m just like ‘Well actu ally let me just interact with some freshmen. Let me just interact with some kids, give them some memories,’” Bacilek said.

Students also acknowledged the mint throwing.

“I was standing in the sandwich line and somebody from be hind threw a mint at me so I would be distracted and then cut me in the sandwich line,” senior Maddie Wood said.

Overall, the mints provide conversation, fun and community.

“Literally everyone has dialogue. Everybody has something to say,” Bacilek said.

Juniors Kyzer Strawbridge and Lau ryn Riefle show dislike of the new hall pass.

Photo by Soledad Lee

Dakota Motley

Senior Jackson Bacilek holds out lifesaver mint in the band hallway. Bacilek has been handing out mints since his junior year.

Photo by Luca Giordano

‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ divides viewers

Hadley Hoskins Junior Editor

Soledad Lee Business Manager

From the star-studded soundtrack to the swoon-worthy cast, “The Summer I Turned Pretty” was one of the defining shows of summer 2022, but one thing divided fans of the show: Team Conrad or Team Jeremiah?

The show opens with its main character, Belly Conklin, arriving at what she calls, “The Summer House,” where she, her mother and her brother Steven, stay every summer with her mother’s best friend, Susannah, and her two sons, Conrad and Jeremiah.

Conrad, played by Christopher Briney, is the older of the two boys. Belly explains in her inner monologue, that she has been in love with him her whole life, and she thinks this is the summer he will finally notice her.

Jeremiah, played by Gavin Casalegno, is the younger of the two boys, and one of Belly’s best friends-- not to mention her first kiss.

Although controversy over which boy Belly should choose began when the first book in the “The Summer I Turned Pretty” trilogy was published in 2009, it skyrocketed in social media and in real life after the release of the TV series on June 17.

“If you’re Team Jeremiah, you haven’t read the third book,” junior Audrey Culver said.

Junior Josh Delay disagreed. “I know it’s a hot take, but like, I find [Jeremiah] comforting,” he said.

“[Conrad] is way hotter. Also, Belly didn’t have feelings for Jeremiah until Jeremiah had feelings for Belly,” junior Lauryn Riefle said.

While those on ‘Team Conrad’ argue that he is the right choice for Belly because he was her first love, those on ‘Team Jeremiah’ say that Conrad is too emotionally unavailable for Belly, making Jeremiah the right choice.

“Team Conrad all the way. He’s cuter, he’s better to Belly, and the bad boy vibe-- I like that. That works better,” senior Ellie Nakatani said.

For Webster students, it was a resounding Team Conrad. Out of 46 students, 63% of students said they were ‘Team Conrad.’

“I’m Team Conrad all the way… he’s better to Belly, and he’s cuter. He kind of reminds me of Dean from ‘Gilmore Girls,’” soph omore Piper Westendorf said about why she’s ‘Team Conrad.’

Others said Conrad’s actions played into their decision to “side” with him.

“He also got her a really sweet necklace for her birthday. I actually cried at the end,” junior Lily Teague noted.

Besides his looks and actions, viewers also argued that Conrad and Belly are simply meant to be.

“I just feel like Conrad was always meant to be with her, with all the flashbacks from her childhood, and I feel like she’s more in love with him than Jeremiah,” senior Lizzie Nieman said.

Meanwhile, those on Team Jeremiah said that this simply wasn’t true, and Jeremiah was actually the one who liked Belly all along-- since before she was “pretty.”

“There’s that one scene on the boat where [Conrad] said he’d never seen her as more than a little sister or friend but this sum mer it’s different… Jeremiah always liked her, though,” sopho more Mary Weimer said.

However, Jeremiah and Conrad aren’t the only two sides to this story. Some viewers say Belly’s true love is none other than Cam Cameron. “Cameron is just a little nerdy. I think he deserves some love,” sophomore George Lempke said.

Beyond the differing thoughts behind who Belly’s true match is, this show dives deep into personal struggles for each character, and no spoilers, but by the end of the show, viewers will be struggling to stay focused on the love triangle.

“The Summer I Turned Pretty” is available for streaming on Amazon Prime.

“The Summer I Turned Pretty” became available for streaming June 15.

Photo from Netflix

Mallorca to Missouri Exchange student adjusts to life in Webster Groves

Maren DeMargel Social Media Manager

Senior exchange student Dani Llompart decided to come to the United States for a shift in perspective.

“[I came] for a different experience. I wanted to change, a little bit, my view of everything,” Llompart said.

Originally from Mallorca, an island off the coast of Spain, Llompart is adjusting to a new culture, halfway around the world.

“I’m in a different family, and they have different roles and different things to do. Things like a different type of life,” Llompart said of his host family.

One consistency for Llompart was swimming. Llompart joined the WGHS men’s swim and dive team, and believes that is had helped him fit in and make friends.

“I like the swim team. I wasn’t sure to joining the swim team, but I think I have done well with that,” Llompart said.

Before traveling to Webster, Llompart had heard stereotypes about life in the U.S.

“The food. [I heard] that all the food is fast food,” Llompart said. While Llompart has found this ste reotype to be false, he still prefers Spanish dishes to American cuisine.

Llompart had also heard stereo types about American people. This time, though, these stereotypes were true.

“[I heard] maybe that people are so good. They are so comfortable to talk to, and it’s real.”

This stereotype was so true, that, according to Llompart, the people are the best part about life in Web ster Groves.

“It’s so different than in Spain,” Llompart said. “It’s so good, and so easy to talk with the people.”

Senior Dani Llompart celebrates win ning fifth place in the 200 medley relay at the Cape Rock Invitational with swim teammates Dominic Lee, senior, Calum Shank, junior, and Barrett Rohlfing, junior.

“I love having Dani in class. One of the things that has stuck out to me is how the other students in Advisory and Psychology have gone out of their way to help Dani when he needs it. I think he has adjusted very well because of that.”

-Patrick Rocco

Dani Llompart’s Advisory and Psychology teacher

Photos provided by Calum Shank

“Dani took to America and WGHS like a fish to water, which is not surprising as he swims like one.”

-Richelle Stange Dani Llompart’s English as a Second Language teacher

Editorial Women’s sports face inequalities

Title IX states that no person on the basis of sex should be dis criminated against in any educational activity receiving federal financial assistance, but today, inequalities between men’s and women’s sports can still be seen.

In 1972, Title IX of the Education Amendments was enacted by Congress and signed into law by President Richard Nixon. This tries to prevent discrimination between men’s and women’s sports that are federally funded.

According to the Women’s Sports Foundation, created to “en able girls and women to reach their potential in sport and life,” since Title IX has been passed, multiple amendments have been proposed trying to exempt sports from complying with Title IX.

These amendments include attempting to exempt revenueproducing sports from obeying Title IX. Another challenge to Title IX was that “event and uniform expenditures on sports with larger crowds or more expensive equipment do not have to be matched in sports without similar needs.” While the amendment regarding revenue-producing sports gaining exemption was not passed, the amendment regarding matching expenditures was added to the final version of Title IX, signed in 1975 by Presi dent Gerald Ford.

Inequalities in women’s sports at Webster is not old news. It has been noticed by student after student, year after year. It is talked about around the halls of Webster, and throughout classes. Every year as sports start up, students are reminded about the inequities between men’s and women’s sports, just by looking at the number of spectators.

The Varsity football home game on Aug. 26, had an attendance of 1,598 spectators. This is over two times greater attendance than the Varsity volleyball team had combined on its home games on Aug. 30, Sept. 7, and Sept. 8, with 660 spectators total.

The administration states that efforts have been made to in crease crowd support for women’s games, such as T-shirts and donated tickets. They also recently added advertisements for all home games at Webster on the daily announcements shown to students every morning, as opposed to primarily advertising cer tain sports, such as football or men’s basketball.

Along with more advertising by the administration, there are other ways that women’s sports can be supported. Cheerleaders currently only cheer at all football games, and home basketball games for men and women, and the band only plays at home football games. Instead of having these two only participate in certain sports, they could increase their participation in other sports. Having cheerleaders and the band show equal support for both men’s and women’s teams would be a small step in equality between all the sports.

One can visit the Women’s Sports Foundations website to fun draise or donate to their cause, or email CBliss@WomensSports Foundation.org with any questions about “your gift.”

Students should also try to support as many sports teams as possible, for both men’s and women’s sports.

Coaches of these teams should try to communicate when im portant games are to students, so they can come out and support the team. Information about these sports schedules can be found on statesmensports.org.

Freshman Sa’Nye Cannon cheers on teammates during a JV women’s softball game on Thursday, Sept. 8.

Photo by Arianna Peper