May 2019 Parkway Central Corral by Parkway Central Corral

Corral Parkway Central High School, Chesterfield, MO 63017 Vol 63, Issue 6 May 10, 2019

Seniors decide their future plans pg. 10-11

FED UP After a racist video surfaces online, students vent frustration with the current climate and discipline. Many stage a walkout and demand change.

Staff Editorial

Corral Editor-in-Chief Athena Stamos Managing Editor Wesley Henshaw Copy Editor Madeline Lee Entertainment Editor Brett Smith Features Editor Jenna Lazaroff News Editor Henry T. Eubank Opinions Editor David Amirdjanian Photography Editor Gabby Abowitz Sports Editor Logan Potts Social Media Director Abby Prywitch Online News Editor Claudia Sanders Online Features Editor Sydney Stahlschmidt

Last regards from the Corral seniors Corral Staff

igh school is full of new experiences, new subjects, new knowledge, and new friendships. As you go throughout your journey, it is important to take a step back and enjoy life. Reflect back on all that you have done, whether you have been here for two semesters or eight. Go to Prom, try new foods, take an intimidating class, explore new places. High school is a once in a lifetime experience, do not take it for granted. In eighth grade, as I prepared to go to high school, Mrs. Bay said to our class that “high school is the second best time of your life, college is the first.” I cannot say if the second half is true, but the first part has been pretty great. Learn to forgive, learn when not to forgive. Remember that people change in four years, and remember that you change as well. Don’t judge too harshly, try something new, respect others, take care of yourself, and be happy. Work hard, play hard, try hard. Laugh more than you cry. Not going to lie; high school has been stressful. It is full of tests, expectations, social interactions, mistakes, stupid moments, and late nights studying. However, as much as it stresses you out, your high school years could be some of the best of your life. Talk to your teachers, they are there to help. Communicate with your classmates, if you think you’re alone, you aren’t. If you are struggling, reach out, chances are someone is going through the same exact thing. If you want something to change, make it happen. We live in an age where young people are making a difference. Engage administrators, advocate for the public, raise your voice, talk to your legislators, reach out to social media. Even if you don’t succeed, you will have raised awareness. Remember that you aren’t alone; help others. Speak up for your peers and be there for your friends. Most importantly, enjoy these four years. Even if

Online Sports Editor Alex Maisenhelder Staff Writers Jay Bowen Kaylee Canoy Avery Cooper Eva Deniszczuk Alex Edelman Tori Favazza Megan Fisher Lee Foust Lilian Humphrey Patrick McColl Ryan Pham Haydn Schertz Danni Schneiderman Taylor Stern Margaret Vierling Carly Wasserman Shoshana Weinstein Trey Williams Adviser Mrs. Christine Stricker

A little girl, participating in the PCH Dance clinic, looks up to a senior member of the Varsity dance team at the home game versus Parkway North. Photo by Wagner Portraits.

Yays Yays!

they feel like they’re going slow, they fly by in the blink of an eye. You’ll look back and ask where the time went, and you’ll remember all of the fun that you had and the things that you did. Don’t waste your high school years swallowed in negativity, be happy and help others to be happy as well. Seniors, go have the best time of your life.

•• Two more weeks of school! Get excited! •• We love this spring weather! •• Have fun celebrating your mother this weekend :) •• Wasn’t Prom amazing?? •• Get excited for some pool parties real soon, folks.

Neighs Neighs •• Goodbye seniors!! It’s been real. We wish you guys the best of luck :) •• Is anyone stressed?? AP tests? Finals? Projects? Tests? •• Spring sports are coming to an end :( •• Have we applied to any summer jobs yet?? •• Lastly, it’s Athena’s last yays and neighs!! (cry emoji)

We want to hear from you! Our goal is to always report the truth.

The Corral is a student-written, edited and produced publication of Parkway Central High School, 369 N. Woods Mill Road, Chesterfield, MO 63017; 314-415-7978. The Corral is given away free of charge to students and faculty. Subscriptions and patronships for one year may be purchased, starting at $20. The goal of this publication is to provide accurate, informative and entertaining information in the true spirit of responsible journalism and to operate as an open forum for students, faculty, administrators and parents. The Corral is created on Hewlett-Packard and Mac computers using Adobe Creative Suite 6 and is published by PJ Printing. Unsigned editorials reflect the views of the editorial board. Signed columns and artwork reflect the views of that individual. The staff appreciates comments and suggestions. Letters to the editor, guest editorials and other correspondence are encouraged but must be signed. The Corral reserves the right to publish or refrain from publishing, as well as edit, all submitted material.

What are your yays and neighs? pchcorral.com @pchcorral Pch_publications Parkway Central Publications Pchpublications

Opinions

82 DAYS OFF: WHAT’S THE COST? Rethinking how the school year should be scheduled Trey Williams Staff Writer

here are 82 days of summer vacation, then school comes along just to end it. The annual problem for the administration is finding a good way to spend it, as well as the rest of the break days distributed throughout the year. Among students, it is common to look forward to and enjoy summer vacation. However, as much joy as summer brings, summer vacation has seen a vocal minority of critics. Is summer vacation actually a good idea? No, it isn’t. The biggest and most important critique of summer vacation is how it affects students after they come back. As a result of staying away from school for an entire summer, students lose an average of one month of schooling, according to a study by the Brookings Institution. This means that teachers have to waste a month on getting students back up to speed rather than progressing at full speed with new material. The effects are especially staggering for students who struggle in school, as well as for people with low incomes. According to a review of 39 studies titled “The Effects of Summer Vacation on Achievement Test Scores: A Narrative and Meta-Analytic Review,” students who take longer to learn information will need to spend even more time getting used to the productivity of school, and students with low incomes do not have as many resources for education as students of higher incomes, creating a further disadvantage for those of a lower socioeconomic status. While studies in general have shown summer to be detrimental, the exact detriment has been varied. When it comes to retaining concepts, like problem solving skills, those generally stay roughly the same. Practice based tasks, like math and vocabulary, suffer by far the most. Some schools are affected more than others, but the effect is widespread. Basically, summer vacation is bad for education. What should we do about it? There are many possible alternatives to a summer vacation that may not only benefit education. In the 2018-2019 school year, we had 3 days of Thanksgiving break, 9 days of winter break, 5 days of spring break, and 9 days of miscellaneous days off (MLK Jr. Day, President’s Day, etc.), not including days off from weekends. We had 58 days of summer vacation (also not including weekends). Now, imagine the ability to insert those 58 days throughout the rest of the school year. The possibilities are exciting. One possible method would be to give equally long spring, summer, fall, and winter breaks. This would look like about 9 weeks of school followed by about 3 school weeks worth of break. To put that into perspective, that is about the amount of weeks before the beginning of second semester and spring break, the major difference being that “spring break” would be over three times as long. Furthermore, there would be even more days left over for things like four day weekends. A schedule like this would be beneficial for many reasons. Students would never be out of school

for as long as the 11 week summer vacations we have now, limiting the amount of learning lost. Furthermore, a break of three weeks is substantial, allowing for both teachers and students to take a long, necessary break. This isn’t the only way of changing the schedule. You could instead split summer break and winter break equally, or even make every week a four day week instead of five day week. The point is to limit the length of summer, which could look like however you would want it. To those of you that want to latch on to a long summer vacation consider this: taking off just 10 days of summer vacation would double the amount of 4 day weekdays in a year. Surely this would be worth just two weeks of summer. Unfortunately, the issue is not as simple as I am making it out to be. Instituting this change would be extremely time consuming and challenging logistically, particularly regarding class scheduling. Students create and submit their schedules to counselors in January. The process of determining classes, solving scheduling problems and most importantly hiring teachers takes place during the summer break. Reducing this break would cause for counselors to do this work during the school year on top of their existing responsibilities. Furthermore, summer vacation also provides the opportunity for many students to work. Summer jobs would be eliminated as a result of this change, causing for more students to work instead during the school year. This would be counterproductive to the goal of improving education, as the increased amount of working students would have its own negative consequence, though it is unknown how severe it would be. Finally, there is not an urgent need to change things from the way they are already. This would be radical reform to the school system, and if people do not see summer vacation as a massive issue, no change will be done. As someone who thinks that an alternative school schedule would solve a lot of issues, it is disappointing that this issue is not brought up more often. While some may believe the massive dump of break days between school years makes the long school year worth it, I believe that this schedule would help the school with learning, burn-out, and general mental health. Instead of accepting the calendar of the school year merely because it is how we have always done it, think about how nice it would be to not have to go through the vast majority of the school year without a significant break. Surely four triple spring breaks would make it worth it.

Right: In the current school year, there are far more days off during summer break than all other breaks combined. While this provides a nice vacation, it has become questionable whether or not this large break is actually worth it.

Above: This is an example of a schedule that would potentially replace the summer vacation schedule. Instead of having a sinlge long break, this schedule spreads out all the breaks into four main sections for each season. The shaded regions are breaks and the unshaded regions are school days. Accompanying these breaks would be an additional 11 days for scattered additional breaks not listed on the calendar.

Number of Days Off

Opinions

BATTLE OF THE BATHROOMS The Good, the Bad, and the Dirty Henry T. Eubank News Editor

chool bathrooms, unlike water fountains, are not universally loved. However, like water fountains, bathrooms have many different uses outside of their primary purpose. Most of use probably use the restroom at least once to relieve ourselves, but we have created numerous other reasons to utilize the bathroom. Everyone asks their teacher at least once to use the bathroom so they can just get out of class for a minute to rest their brain. Another reason we go to the bathroom is to meet up with a friend perhaps to discuss the happenings of the day and engage in what can be a pleasant brain break from a hard day of school work. Unfortunately, the bathrooms have also been used as places for Juul parties. Visit a bathroom during passing period and you will surely find a flock of boys (usually underclassmen) hotboxing the bathroom. That being said, not all bathrooms were created equally. Some are remarkably clean and welcoming while others smell terrible and look like a cell block. Some bathrooms are great for meeting friends while others are out of the way. Disclaimer, being that this is being written from a boys perspective, only boys bathrooms will be referenced in the rankings. 1. Cleanest/Best Bathroom: Obviously the upstairs science wing bathroom is the best. This bathroom is impeccably clean and tidy at all times. Why is this? Probably because of its location. Traveling to the second story of the science wing is a hike, so it doesn’t attract a lot of foot traffic. The science wing as a whole just exudes this feeling of pristine, sterile, cleanliness, this probably compels people to try and keep the area clean. Whereas if you visit the dirtiest bathroom (the one in the theater department) the area is usually smelly and dimly lit, not prompting people to be clean. 2. Dirtiest Bathroom: There are obviously a lot of candidates for this honor. The boys hell hallway bathroom used to be hands-down the dirtiest and smelliest. But make no mistake, this has nothing to do with the work of our custodians, there is truly nothing they could do to improve the conditions in that particular bathroom. However, the HH bathroom recently undertook some renovations and it cleaned up nicely. This has left the crown up for grabs. The bathroom in the theater department will take the cake on this one. This bathroom is really just in a tough spot, it’s right by the cafeteria so people are always in there during lunch, leaving trash. Not to mention the whole bathroom just feels compact with stalls and trash cans with balls made of paper towels resting on the floor around them. 3. Most Likely to be Shut Down: The ESOL bathroom is certainly most likely to be closed. Why? Who knows? It seems odd that it is always closed when there are seemingly not that many technical problems. Perhaps it is because this bathroom is also a frequent Juuling location and graffiti defaces its walls; and it is in an area that doesn’t attract as much foot traffic, so forcing the Juulers to a more central location could be a ploy to catch them. 4. Private Bathroom: If privacy is important to you, then look no further than the art bathroom. With only a few classrooms nearby and its out of the way location, seeing other people here is some-

what of a rarity. Not to say you’ll never see someone there, but it is typically very private. 5. Most Annoying Bathroom: The only thing worse than a dirty bathroom is an annoying bathroom. Annoying bathrooms used to not exist, but now that we are living in the age of the Juul, annoying bathrooms have been created. The age of the Juul has totally changed the landscape of bathrooms and their uses. With a sizable portion of our school under the thumb of a crippling nicotine addiction and kids not having the confidence to covertly Juul in class, certain bathrooms have been turned into Juul party pads, none more than the Hell Hallway bathroom; this place is the Mecca for Juulers. Pay this bathroom a visit during passing period and you will surely find a few boys hitting their Juuls. Sometimes there will be 20+ kids in there, contaminating their lungs.

Weirdest Bathroom: Upper commons gets the nod here. If you think about it, this bathroom is kind of weird. No one uses it unless they’re at lunch and even then most people will opt out of using it because it’s just a weird bathroom overall. One stall and three urinals with that giant mirror just protrudes an off vibe that discourages people from going there. Most Underrated Bathroom: The library bathroom is grossly underrated. It is clean, has a central location relative to the rest of the building, and you might even pass a friend on your way. So often, History and English students will use the HH or ESOL bathrooms because they are closer. But they are also not as good and walking to the library is well worth the slight inconvenience and who minds missing an

Opinions

PLASTIC DESTROYING OCEANS

What you can do to cut back on your plastic consumption Danni Schneiderman Staff writer

lastic being dumped into our environment has been a growing problem since 1907, when the very first piece of plastic was created by Leo Hendrik Baekeland. The unique thing about plastic is that it never decomposes. “Greener Ideal” is an independent environmental news and green living publication based in Ontario, Canada. “Although you may only use a plastic bag for about 20 minutes, it could sit in a landfill for 1,000 years,” Greener Ideal staff said. This might be some serious news for you! If the average lifespan of a plastic bag is 1,000 years and more than five trillion bags are produced each year, well, that’s a lot of plastic. You might be asking. “where does all this plastic go?” Plastic bags that aren’t recycled end up in landfills, the ocean or somewhere littered on the ground outside of your favorite sports arena or shopping mall. But for the animal population, the plastic bag can be deadly. The result of this contamination is the death of, “a million seabirds and 100,000 animals such as whales, dolphins, turtles and seals each year” Greener Ideal said. The good news among all of this depressing information is that there are many things we can do to help prevent further destruction of our earth. The first step is taking legal action. “Modbury, Britain was the first town in Britain to ban the plastic bag in 2007. In addition, Italy, Belgium and Ireland have taxes on plastic bags” Greener Ideal said. Both of these things would legally protect a majority of unnecessary plastic from

making their way into oceans and landfills. Taking it from a global level to a local level, there’s many things that students can do to help in the movement against plastic. The biggest culprit in schools is plastic water bottles. “We use an average of 1,500 plastic bottles every second in the U.S” according to Open Water, the first company to bottle water in a 100% recyclable aluminum twist-off bottles. By purchasing a reusable water bottle, or these fancy aluminum ones by Open Water, you can eliminate your contribution to the trash in the ocean which is made up of 90% plastic.

“More than eight million tons of plastic are dumped into our oceans everyyear” “Plastic Oceans”

While “It is estimated that the average disposable razor cartridge should only be used about six to nine times before being thrown away, safety razor collectors purchase and use old Gillette safety razors from the early 1900’s, and some even claim to be using the same razor for over 110 years,” said Rockwell Razors, a company that produces fully recyclable safety razors. In addition to using less plastic by purchasing a recyclable safety razor, their blades are actually cheaper, making them cost less in the long run! Ultimately, there are many small changes that we could make to our everyday lives that could make a big difference. It’s your job to step up a make the change in your life!

Another easy way to reduce your plastic waste is by investing in a nice metal razor as opposed to the flimsy and cheap plastic ones. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Over 2 billion razors are thrown away each year Rockwell Razors is a company that produces fully recyclable safety razors in order to help eliminate the plastic ending up in our landfills.

Photo by Danni Schneiderman

To our senior editors:

Thanks for all of your dedication and hard work! We will never forget your commitment to delivering accurate reporting and telling the stories of Parkway Central High. Senior Corral Editors: Athena Stamos Madeline Lee Henry Eubank Claudia Sanders David Amirdjanian Jenna Lazaroff Brett Smith

To our senior writers: Thanks for joining us for a year or a semester. We appreciate you! Danni Schneiderman Avery Cooper Myori Felix Lindsay Dehn Margaret Vierling Lillian Humphrey Patrick McColl Avery Cooper Alex Edelman Shoshana Weinstein

News

STUDENTS HEAD DOWN SOUTH Nine students tour seven HBCUs over spring break Athena Stamos Editor-in-Chief

ine students from Central went on a field trip to seven different universities in the south. Specifically, they were HBCUs, historically black colleges and universities. Sophomore Makayla Rush enjoyed the field trip as it opened up a lot more opportunities for Rush. “I think this field trip was important because college will be approaching quickly,” Rush said. “It’s important I have an idea of where I would like to continue my education,” Science teacher, Renell Brown and Parkway North math teacher, Joshlyn Harris organized the field trip. They spent the last year organizing it. Students simply had to apply and students from all the district high schools were eligible to participate. There was a limit of 50 students. Students from Central that participated included sophomores Deja Campbell, Marlon Donald, Kamilah Gamble, Jalen Payne, Makayla Rush, Jordan Tate and juniors Oriana Ambus, Devion Harris, and Brandon McKinley. According to Brown, many HBCUs are highly ranked and are highly desired by students. “They provide potential students of color the opportunity to attend a school where they are not the minority while still receiving a competitive post-secondary education,” Brown said. The students toured Jackson State University (Jackson, MS), Alabama State University (Montgomery, AL), Tuskegee University (Tuskegee AL), Florida A&M University (Tallahassee, FL), Bethune Cookman University (Daytona Beach, FL), Fisk University (Nashville, TN), and Tennessee State UniverRenell Brown science teacher sity (Nashville, TN). While they were in Daytona Beach, the students had the opportunity to spend most of the day on the beach. All of these universities that they toured were HBCUs. These universities started out the need to provide quality education to people of color when they were not allowed to attend the same schools as their white peers. According to Brown, “Some of the universities were literally built brick by brick by the very students who helped start the schools.” Brown really enjoyed learning the history of each school. The students were able to learn the requirements of admission and get a glimpse at student life too. “Learning this history and exposing our students to these school options is why this trip was important,” Brown said. Some students already had an idea of which schools they would be interested in. “My top choice has always been Tennessee State and going there confirmed I’m making the right choice,” Rush said. Rush also learned the specifics on what she needs to have in order to get into a specific college. Besides the nine Central students, there were 41 other Parkway students. “My favorite part was getting to know the new people on the bus,” Campbell said. Rush also enjoyed spending time with her friends during spring break. “I learned how to be more responsible because I only had $250 dollars for the week,” McKinley said. The field trip took place March 18-22 (the Monday through Friday of Spring Break).

“Learning this history and exposing our students to these school options is why this trip was important.”

1. The majority of students that went on the field trip gather for a photo in the library of one of the universities. Photo courtesy of Renell Brown 2. The Central students pose in front of a statue during their field trip with other Parkway high school students. Photo courtesy of Renell Brown 3. Central students take a photo during one of their college visits. Photo courtesy of Renell Brown

News

MISSOURI’S MARIJUANA DEBATE After partial legalization, what’s next for drug policy? Shoshana Weinstein Staff Writer

Last November, over 65 percent of Missouri voters cast a ballot in favor of Amendment Two, legalizing medical marijuana throughout the state. According to the Springfield News-Leader, the Department of Health and Senior Services is in charge of managing the implementation of this Amendment. The DHSS began accepting applications for licenses to produce and distribute marijuana on Jan. 5, and intends to open a total of 192 marijuana dispensaries in Missouri. Now, many pro-legalization advocates have shifted their focus to legalization of growing and consuming the drug for non-medical purposes. But what are the implications of this amendment, and what does it mean for us? Dan Viets, board member of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), has answers to these questions. Viets works as a lawyer in Columbia, Missouri, defending individuals accused of marijuana possession or distribution. “Years after I was out of college I went to law school; NORML is the reason I went to law school,” said Viets. “I wanted to represent people with marijuana charges and to be a more effective activist, a more effective reform advocate.” Like many proponents of marijuana legalization, Viets recognizes the way that American drug policy systematically targets people of color. “It’s shocking; it’s just outrageous. The arrest rate of black people is more than twice what it should be in terms of the proportion of the population,” Viets said. “Across the country, in many places it’s far worse. There’s no explanation; black people don’t use marijuana at any greater rate than white people.” He’s right; in fact, according to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) African Americans are 3.73 times more likely to be arrested for possession of marijuana despite using it at the same rate as whites. In Missouri in particular, the criminalization of this drug has become a tool used to fuel mass incarceration, devastating communities of color at a far greater rate than white communities. Between 2014 and 2016, arrests for marijuana possession and sale rose by 19% in Missouri. According to the FBI, Missouri arrested 58,469 people between 2014 and 2016, making Missouri the state with the 5th most marijuana arrests. Additionally, individuals in low-income neighborhoods are often targeted. “If you analyze the statistics about who gets arrested and goes to prison, I think you’ll find that poor people in general, of every ethnicity, do tend to get arrested at higher rates,” Viets said. “It’s very stark.” Amendment Two attempts to take the first step towards solving these problems by legalizing the use of marijuana for medical purposes. “I helped write the text of Amendment Two,” Viets said. “We spent a lot of time, dozens of conference calls, and we really listened to national experts, people we trusted.” Proponents of Amendment Two hope that the legalization of medical marijuana will solve many of Missouri’s challenges around drug policy. For example, according to the Drug Policy Alliance, by legalizing marijuana, the government assumes a burden of responsibility to regulate the safety of marijuana products sold on the market. Product testing would become mandatory. When people illegally buy marijuana they risk ingesting traces of other, more harmful drugs, mainly because it could be “laced” with something more toxic. Were marijuana to be legalized, consumers could be certain of the purity and safety of the product. Legalization would create lots of new jobs around the production, sale, and distribution of marijuana. The state and feder-

al government can generate a lot of money by taxing marijuana products; that money can be used to expand public services or lower taxes on families. The state government will also waste less money on arrests and incarceration. That money can go towards other, more useful law enforcement strategies, especially considering that arrests do nothing to deter drug use. Viets and his coworkers at NORML have taken steps to put that money to good use. “One thing we did, for instance, is create a fund for veterans,” Viets said. “There’s a four percent sales tax on medical marijuana, and when that sales tax begins to be collected early last year, that will be enough money to really help out a lot of veterans; help them with healthcare, help them with housing, and things like that.” Opponents of legalization point out the harmful physical effects of marijuana use. According to the National Institute of Health, marijuana consumption can lead to hallucinations, paranoia, and if smoked difficulty breathing. In addition, teens who use marijuana can permanently impair brain function and development. However, supporters of legalization note that unlike alcohol, marijuana is not physically addictive. Additionally, it is impossible to overdose on marijuana alone; that is, taking too much will not cause death. Breathing problems can easily be avoided by ingesting or inhaling rather than smoking the drug. The National Institute of Health reports that marijuana users tend to have lower physical, mental, and social health compared to non-users, as well as lower life satisfaction. Nonetheless, “I just think it’s crazy that we lock up people in cells for using marijuana, as if they were horrible criminals. That’s exactly what the law in Missouri does,” Viets said. “You have people who have committed terrible crimes getting sentences that are no worse than marijuana users. I just think that’s horrible.” Some worry that legalization will lead to higher rates of drug use overall. This is a common misconception; in reality,

Art by Lillian Humphrey.

incarceration has done nothing to decrease drug use. According to a study by the US National Library of Medicine, prison time has no value as a deterrent for would-be drug users. Perhaps Missouri can learn from Colorado. According to Politico, “Two years after legal sales of recreational marijuana be-

Art by Lillian Humphrey.

gan in Colorado, the biggest fears that once preoccupied Denver city officials—higher crime, more drug use among teens and a drag on tourism—have not come to pass. Instead, the expanded industry [...] has pumped millions of dollars into government coffers. It’s swathed the city in a trendy glow that likely attracts as many outsiders as it repels.” So, what’s next for Missouri? A record number of new legislation regarding the legalization of marijuana has been proposed in the state legislature, according to the Springfield News-Leader. Senate Bill 2, proposed by Senator Shalonn Curls of Kansas City would give an advantage to women and people of color who apply for a marijuana distribution license. House Bill 292, proposed by Representative Barbara Washington, would expunge marijuana offenses. Anyone with convictions for possession of marijuana under 35 grams between 1997 and 2019 would have that conviction removed from the record. Both of these bills were written by Democrats, but some Republicans have gotten on board as well. Representative Nick Schroer, a Republican from St. Charles County, proposed House Bill 238. If passed, the bill would prevent Missouri from sharing the list of individuals with a medical marijuana card. Thus, the state government could not report marijuana users to the federal government. Finally, House Bill 157 was proposed by Representative Brandon Ellington, another Kansas City Democrat. The bill would broaden the legalization of marijuana to extend beyond medical purposes. Adults 21 and older could consume marijuana, sell up to two grams of cannabis, and own up to six marijuana plants provided that they remain indoors. Although the bill will almost certainly be defeated, it could be a glimpse of what’s to come. Just ten years ago, no one would have believed that Missouri would ever legalize medical marijuana. Perhaps complete legalization is in Missouri’s future. If so, it could be a huge step forwards for criminal and racial justice.

News

CAN WHAT WE EAT AFFECT HOW WE FEEL? Healthy foods can help overall physical and mental health

Margaret Vierling Staff Writer

any teenagers, especially in high school, have poor eating habits for many reasons.

Many rush to school without eating breakfast or throw the first food they see from their pantry into their backpack without thinking twice about it. According to the New York Times, many doctors say eating a poor diet can be a major factor leading to depression. Many people who encourage healthy eating show a happier lifestyle, feeling physically and mentally better. Encouraging a healthy diet can avoid many health problems down the road. Eating meals consistently throughout the day will help maintain steady blood sugar. Having the same routine will help enable a healthy lifestyle, keeping your body robust. Skipping meals is a huge part of why teenagers don’t have the nutrients or enough energy to last them during the day. Skipping meals, especially breakfast, makes you much weaker and most likely will only think about how you need food. You will usually have a grumpy or angry mood as well because you haven’t had anything to eat. Also, you are more likely to overeat during the next meal you have. It is essential to know your limits when it comes to grocery shopping. While it is okay to have some sugar and carbohydrates, too much of anything can be a bad thing. Most all foods are good, but in moderation.

Some foods that will help boost your mood are proteins, such as eggs, yogurt, poultry, and much more. Protein, fruits, and dairy are all a good source of healthy eating. A healthy eating plan will help ensure you are getting the proper nutrients everyday and can maintain a steady weight. We all know that we should be eating a balanced amount of fruits and vegetables each day, and according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, we should be consuming 2.5 cups of various fruit and vegetables everyday to get the proper amount of nutrients. Various health organizations are always trying to create new ways to promote Americans to eat healthier. The Produce for Better Health Foundation current campaign motto is “Fruits and Veggies More Matters” tries to inspire more people to eat healthier and its importance. The foundation is currently enabling a nutrient rich diet. Having a feeling of continuous energy is important to have throughout the day. Much of the Nutritionists recommend incorporating many healthy foods in your daily diet that energy comes from nutritious foods and regular includes about five serving of fruit each day. exercise activities every day. If these habits are being used everyday, then your mood will become improved whenever you want, it will come back to haunt you. without a doubt. After all, it’s our choice as to what foods we put in our It is important to acknowledge what good and bad bodies. We just need to be smart about it, eating healthy calories mean. Counting the calories that you consume each everyday and sweets in moderation will improve our overall day can help with your overall eating habits. It is important to attitudes toward others and our surroundings. get into this habit because you if you eat whatever you want

‘FREE TIME’ USE IN ONLINE CLASSES

Kaylee Canoy Staff Writer

arkway Central High School offers multiple choices for an online class, whether it is one of your classes or an addition to one of your eight classes. These online classes do not have any supervision. These classes are taught by real teachers, however these classes are completed in the student’s free time, leaving an open space in a daily schedule. What are they supposed to be doing during this time? An online website that produces stories from different writers or professors is called the Faculty Focus. This website talks about how online classes still need to work on there flaws. “The reality is that online education is moving into a new phase as it matures and will be dealing with a number of related issues and challenges going forward,” said Fred Lokken, chair of the Instructional Technology Council and associate dean of the WebCollege at Truckee Meadows Community College. However, there biggest concern is to “ensure that the student enrolled in an online class is the student doing the coursework,” Lokken said. Kendall Morley, a sophomore, takes an online class this year. “During my online class time I have a free period. During my free period I will either go to the library and work on homework or I will go home early,” Morley said. “There are no limits during this period. Typically I stay in the library because I do after school sports so some days it isn’t worth going home for an hour than coming right back to school.” Terri O’Leary, a Physical Education teacher, is also in

charge of some online classes and explained how there is no rule policy for students taking these classes, “There are no restrictions. Students can go anywhere where they can log on as there is no set class time. Assignments with due dates are assigned weekly and must be completed on time,” O’Leary said. However, students were told they, “cannot disrupt teachers when they are teaching,” O’Leary said. Some students during their online class period travel to other teachers classrooms during the teachers free period. The students are not disturbing a teacher while they are teaching, however should there be rules in place, especially as more and more students take online classes? Senior Brett Smith believes students should be able to do what they want during this period. “I have a blank spot in my third hour Any student in the Parkway School District can access Parkway’s guaranteed curriculum taught by certiand I think that if you don’t have any class fied Parkway teacher’s. Photo by Kaylee Canoy you should be able to leave and you could treat it like a Colt Pass in AC Lab,” Smith are accountable for you,” said Power. “That’s where I think most said. of the time counselors put their online classes at the beginning Assistant Principal Sarah Power said students are allowed of the day or at the end of the day because then they can either to leave or move around the school, as long as administration is come late or leave early,” Power said. notified. Online classes are better for students who are self moti“I need to know where you’re at so if your going to stay at vated and interested in the topic of the class. The options for school, if your going to be going to the library or going out, we online classes increase each year, and more students participate just need to know in case if there is an emergency because we in them.

Sports

SLASHING THROUGH THE COMPETITION

Lacrosse is off to a flying start with a 11-2 record Alex Maisenhelder Online Sports Editor

f all of the spring sports taking place this season, one sport has seen unparalleled success: Lacrosse. The varsity team has started off this season on a tear, starting off 11-2 overall and 3-0 in league games, averaging an astonishing 12 goals a game while only allowing just over seven goals a game. Vital to this dominating record is good teamwork and chemistry. “We are not only winning games but we are gelling together as a team,” senior Molly Wesolich said. “We have done multiple team bonding experiences and the effects of this bonding has shown on and off the field.” Wesolich along with junior Morgan Shea are the team captains and “Not only are they amazing lacrosse players but they are very great captains,” junior Grace Wagner said. “They are always organizing dinners after practice or something like that. They also are so much fun at practice and in games and set an example of what good sportsmanship looks like.” Chemistry and teamwork are not things that can be artificial they have to be attained, and the results are worth the effort. “We are not only winning games but we are gelling together as a team,” Wesolich said. The team has picked up numerous big wins, 19-0 over Hazelwood East, 12-6 over Clayton, and a statement win 5-4 over Parkway South, their first ever victory over South. Even with the victories rolling in, improvement is always important. “I think I have improved at using my non-dominant side, but I do think that I can still get better at using it more,” sopho-

more attacker Maria Klein said. Klein is not alone in feeling an improvement. “I think i have improved on my draw controls a lot this year,” junior Brooke Lierman said. A draw is similar to a faceoff in hockey; it occurs at the beginning of both halves and after every goal. Controlling a draw is effectively securing possession for your team. Energy and emotion is also a big part of the game; the rush of scoring or successfully running a play can beguile people. “My favorite aspect is just the intensity,” Wagner said. Wagner is not alone in loving the intensity and competitive aspect of lacrosse. “I love lacrosse because i am a very aggressive person and it’s an outlet for me to just be me, and I keep coming back because it makes me happy,” Lierman said. For Lierman the aggressiveness has paid off as she leads the team in shots, goals, points and draw controls as of April 23. However, like all teams, there could not be a team without a coach, and there is nothing but praise for Coach Beth Karfs. “She is so patient with our crazy team and also very understanding,” Wagner said. “She is super motivating but also has

fun with us and I really admire her for being so dedicated to our team.” However, the players effort and passion on the field is far from unnoticed. “Our team has been very successful this year,” Karfs said. “Our starting midfield continue to really drive the transition game and the offense. They are all dynamic players who can make exciting things happen.”

Above: Junior Brooke Lierman moving the ball forward during a game against Francis Howell North. Photo courtesy of Wagner Left: Sophomore Maria Klein scoops up the ball off of the turf during a game against Francis Howell North. Photo courtesy of Wagner

CENTRAL’S NUMBER ONE TENNIS PLAYER

Ryan Pham Staff Writer

s a new tennis season starts, new players get more opportunity for higher positions and new roosters. The boys have lost many seniors last year, but still have ranked number one, Cody Zhang, and many new prospect players. “I think a lot of the players have improved, and spite the losses of seniors from last year. We have really made up and some to be a serious competitor for this year in districts,” said Junior Zach Oppenheim. Every year, school’s shuffle sport districts to play more and different schools. This shuffle isn’t random though. MSHSAA reassessed tennis programs by school size and ream record and chose new district groupings. Junior Alex Shervin enjoys the new sense of competition, but the jump maybe to much for others. “Our boys tennis team won doubles districts. They had a good record, but because of that win, this caused this year’s district is be extremely challenging this year,” Shervin said. Junior Cody Zhang has been ranked number one for all three years of his high school career. He was in the doubles team that won districts. Oppenheim referrers to the number one duo, Zhang and junior Jake Steinmetz as, “Our one two combo punch is one that can seriously strike some fear in the enemies eyes,” said Oppenheim. Through year round practicing, Zhang has gotten better every year. “ My mom was like do you want to take tennis lessons and I said sure for fun, but it turned out to be a big thing,” said Zhang. He practices five days a week during the season like most people, but the most astonishing thing is that he practices at least three times a week during the off season. Twice a week he

has practice at a clinic and usually has a private tutor. This cycle started since Zhang was a young boy. At the age of 10 he picked up the sport and practiced weekly since then. Even as a freshman Zhang has been ranked number 1, so even if he was new to high school, he was expected to already be a leader. Zhang even admitted that he was a terrible leader. “Freshman and sophomore year since I was number one I didn’t feel like it was that big of a deal, because I was just apart of the team. I just played. I never felt like I was better than any others on the team. I feel that we are all equally the same,” said Zhang. But in contrast to his past, as a junior he wants to be someone that can help lead and motivate others, ”Junior and going on senior year, it has grown on me to be more of a leader helping people,” said Zhang. He shows leadership and how he has grown as a leader as number one in many ways. “I feel that it doesn’t matter what rank I am, I am just a part of the team, and then junior and going on senior year, it has grown on me to be more of a leader helping people. Last year I didn’t talk up that much, but now this year I have been correcting people how to swing and teaching them new strategies. During matches I like to talk to my teammates about how to win and do better,” said Zhang. During the season Cody Zhang had to play with many other top-ranked players from other schools. The most difficult person he probably played was Parkway South’s Carson Haskin who is nationally ranked number one in nation for high school tennis and was an overall monster at tennis. Knowing that he had no chance of winning, Zhang just had fun and had a good time with it. “I knew obviously I was going to lose, but I felt honored to play him. Coach said to just have fun. It was a one in a lifetime

opportunity, and you can brag to your friends if he becomes a pro that you played him in high school,” said Zhang.

Junior Cody Zhang poses with his tennis racket on the Parkway Central tennis court. Photo by Ryan Pham

College MISSOURI

University of Missouri Julianna Bell Erin Brozek Annie Campbell Felina Deck Luke Dunbar Genevieve Gittemeier Matthew Gunn Justin Hathcock Ashley Herman Summiaiya Kabir Rachel Misner Emily Ortmann Peyton Parasuram Blake Seigel Grayson Sosnoff Remi Taylor Stephen Unk Caroline Wilhelms Kate Durfee Madison Finegan Sasha Yarovinski Tyler Holthaus Sophia Anguelova Allison Brown Avery Cooper Emanuel Hagoss Amoni Madison Harrison Thomas Gottlieb Gerstenecker Lily Rudman Mario Tran Charlie Meier James Gedda Claudia Sanders Michelle Skroba David Amirdjanian

Erik Lucy

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TENNESSEE

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Culver-Stockton College

PENNSYLVANIA

ALABAMA

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Kaleb Thomas

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WISCONSIN

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ARKANSAS

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Molly Wesolich

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ARIZONA

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CONNECTICUT

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MISSISSIPPI

Abhi Jain Jake Moritz Jonathon Nathan

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IOWA

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Gail Pondoc

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Texas A&M-Texarkana Jonathan Fisher

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NEW YORK

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MICHIGAN

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INDIANA

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RHODE ISLAND Brown University April Moon

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GEORGIA Savannah College of Art and Design Josie Glassman Cas Humphrey Jessica Lam

CALIFORNIA Point Loma Nazarene University Mackenna Marshall

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CSU Channel Islands Lara Coker

University of Chicago

CAREER/TRAINING

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Sam Benoist

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Rochester Institute of Technology

Adam Burnett

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Maryville University

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Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

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Timothy Zhang Jenna Boonshaft Elijah Rodriguez Dave Portillo Joe Peck Jorge Palacios Josiah Runge

MILITARY Juan Rauda

SENIOR MAP Where is the class of 2019 headed next year?

Justin Hudgins

DePaul University Sandi Chasnoff Myori Felix

SEN19RS

Illinois State University Carla Minor

Greenville University Mello Ball

Abby Prywitch

Social Media Director

Cover Story

STUDENTS LEAD WALKOUT Gabby Abowitz

Photography Editor

n March 27, over a hundred students walked out of class following a video released over spring break on social media that recorded three Parkway Central students making racist remarks, which led to the student lead walkout. Even though the incident happened off school property, it was posted on social media and the video has spread like wildfire, being reposted by kids who are hurt and disgusted by the videos. The morning back from break, Principal Tim McCarthy made an announcement to the school on the PA. He explains that the video was viewed by a significant number of students causing Central students and members of the community to “justifiably feel offended, outraged, hurt, and for some, targeted,” McCarthy said. The walkout first started in the location of the administrative building because many students felt that what they knew about the punishment for the students in the video using racist language was not severe enough. Adults that attended the walkout included McCarthy, Superintendent Keith Marty, multiple police officers, and even parents who wanted to have their say in their children’s safety. Sophomore Deja Campbell was one of the main participants at the walkout, and explained her feelings of being unsafe in her environment. “There’s no excuse for no matter if they were drinking or if they were under any type of influence that they should know that this is bad and not that they should get a slap on the wrist

and that shit could come back to the school,” Campbell said. Campbell also believes the school should not ignore what has happened. “We need at least some information on what needs to be done or else I’m gonna feel unsafe in my environment,” Campbell said. Dan Kelty, Spanish teacher, is frustrated that racism continues to exist in our diverse community. “Maybe something new has to be done to address this situation because we can no longer rely on old laws to address this new phenomenon. We have to have a new set of boundaries now and I think this is a perfect example of that,” Kelty said. McCarthy experienced many challenges in this situation, including balancing district policies with student needs. “When I saw the video, my heart sank. I’m working within a framework of rules and expectations over which I don’t have control but I’m working with students who are again understandably feeling a certain way and there are challenges to helping the students feel better with that framework of rules and so that’s just frustrating for me,” McCarthy said. Sophomore Adrienne Reed was an vocal advocate at the school walkout and in meetings with representatives from the Parkway School board. Her focus is to make equality a priority in the schools. “I feel like one of the ways we can change that is, start by like repping up more and Black Lives Matter and doing other things. It has to be the whole year and it’s not just February were we should represent people of color, it should be all year that we represent people of color because there are people of color whose making change today, ” Reed said.

SCHOOL DISCIPLINE: GRAY AREA

Online News Editor

How disruption and discipline are determined Wesley Henshaw and Madeline Lee Managing Editor and Copy Editor

he racially-charged video released over Spring Break ignited discussion and emotion, leaving many wondering what actions could be taken. In the video three students were seen using racial slurs as well as chanting the word “slavery.” “When I first received the video,” building principal Tim McCarthy said. “My heart sank, just because of the contents of that, and what I knew was going to be the impact on the Central High community.” Many students became outraged, holding a walkout on March 27 where students demanded action and discussed reactions from district administrators in response to the video. One of the points made by students who attended the walkout, was that these students should be expelled. “They should know that this is bad.” Deja Campbell said. “I feel like [the punishment] should be expulsion, and it should be something that needs to be acknowledged, not ignored and swept under the rug.” However, there are some difficulties in school discipline when it comes to cases that occurred outside of school. “Legally, schools have more limitations for how they can respond if the incident did not occur during the school day or in conjunction with a school-sponsored activity,” Chief Communication and Emergency Management Officer Paul Tandy said. “Basically, a student’s actions outside of school must cause a significant disruption inside the school.” However, classifying a disruption isn’t so easy. For instance,

OPINION: NOW IS THE TIME TO DEAL WITH CENTRAL’S RACIAL DIVIDE Claudia Sanders

controversial actions or actions considered in “bad taste” do not qualify as disruptions. That is why you are allowed to participate in political speech using things like armbands, shirts, and pins with controversial statements on them. This type of speech is protected by Tinker v. Des Moines. In Bethel v. Fraser, though, it was ruled that the school was within its rights to punish a student for obscene speech, in that case regarding sexual innuendo. Because of this situation, deciding disciplinary action was difficult. “At the end of the day it was me deciding in consultation with district administrators,” McCarthy said. “The reason for some of that communication or decision making process was because of some unique and challenging circumstances to this specific incident.” Although, in this case, it was found that there was a disruption even before the walkout occurred. “The administration had already decided that the video was causing a disruption, based on feedback from a number of parents, students, teachers and community members,” Tandy said. One thing that has been making this case difficult is the role of social media in this situation. “There are developments in the context of our society with social media that are changing the traditional concept of in school and out of school,” McCarthy said. “Those lines aren’t as clear as they used to be in pre-social media days, and that’s what I think makes these types of situations challenging.”

FED UP

here are no words to describe the pain that this video has caused many people throughout this community. The video posted on Snapchat shows a group of white sophomores repeatedly chanting ‘slavery’ and ‘n****rs must die” just shows the complete disregard that many students have of people’s feelings and the way that words hurt. The only thing that can begin to repair the damage is by making changes for a better future. They always say the third time’s a charm and finally, after too many instances, the administration is looking into ways we can prevent the way situations involving hate speech are dealt with. Seeing such a blunt example of racism has opened my eyes to how blind a majority of students are to the impact of their words. Too many people think that because of the popularity of rap music or even just having a black friend gives them the right to use the n word and that it’s not

3 4

school. Students are put into these categories of either City or West County kids and treated differently based on the stereotypes of these groups. We’ve been given ‘the talk’ about how to act when a police officer is talking to you so that our lives aren’t summarized by a court case, followed around in stores to make sure we’re not stealing, and even looked down on while trying to get an education. This district needs to make serious changes as to how minorities are treated in and out of class. A student-led organization called Students for Progressive Change are forcing the district to put an end to this cycle now. They are working to change the culture of this school and although it will take a lot of time, the future kids at parkway central will hopefully feel more protected and included then the current students. During the walkout that took place on March 27, the group of students created a list of demands including an assembly addressing the issue, a formal apology from the girls involved in the video, expulsion of the girls, and a change in the curriculum. I think the most useful demand would be to change the curriculum because if lessons from classes like African American lit or contemporary issues were put into our required classes, maybe people would be less ignorant. It saddens me that racism is something we have to deal with, but it makes me proud and excited to see my classmates stand up for what they believe in no matter what people may think. It takes a lot of bravery to tell authorities that they need to change but this alliance where we stick up for what is right creates a community that we should’ve had all along.

racist to do so. This video just shows what goes on when people think nobody is watching and the people involved were just unlucky because they were caught in the act. As much as I hate to admit it, there is a serious divide in our

1. Sophomores Adrienne Reed and Deja Campbell talk to a group of students during the walkout on March 27 while sophomore Farheen Kahn and counselor Paul Hussman look on. 2. Senior Caleb Tillis speaks out at the walkout on March 27. 3. Superintendent Keith Marty responds to students at the walkout on March 27. 4. Amy Hunter, a Global Diversity and Inclusion Leader for Boeing, spoke at an assembly to address equality and school climate. 5. Seniors Chance Henry and Avery Cooper share their perspectives at the walkout on March 27. 6. Groups of students and administrators raise their hands during the walkout on March 27 at the administration building. Photos by Claudia Sanders and Mikeala Snitzer.

Sports

GRADUATE FINDS SUCCESS AS COACH Logan Potts Sports Editor

here have been Parkway Central graduates that have gone on to do big things after high school. Almost everybody knows about former Colt, Max Scherzer, who is one of the best pitchers in Major League Baseball, but one person most people don’t know about is Jason Bell. Bell is a 28-year-old who is a coach in the Houston Astros organization. Bell played baseball at Saint Louis University and the University of Central Missouri. Bell played for the Parkway Central varsity team for the 2008 and 2009 seasons. In the 2008 season, Bell pitched to a record of 4-1 with an ERA of 3.00 and in 2009 he had a record of 4-1 with a 3.83 ERA. Bell had career ending Tommy-John surgery to repair his UCL, and ultimately had to focus on the coaching side of baseball to stay with the game. It seems to have worked out better than most situations as Bell has been coaching in the Houston Astros organization for three years and was the second youngest manager in professional baseball last season at 27 years old with the Tri City ValleyCats. It is obviously very rare for someone to get their foot in as a manager at that young age. You have to stand out and find a unique way to get your foot in the door. Bell was able to do that with a 17 page master’s paper about how the Houston Astros would win the World Series. This prediction proved to be true as the Astros won the World Series in 2017. That season, Bell was a development coach which means he used analytics to help improve player’s skills. Bell has had three different roles with the Astros organization.

When you were a kid did you ever think you would have a role in professional baseball?

Yes, it was more of a dream though. I wasn’t exactly sure what I wanted to do beyond playing, but I knew I wanted to be involved in the game in any way possible.

Q: Who are your influences? A: The first one would be my parents. They’re the best

people I have ever met and the most selfless people. Beyond them, I would say everyone I encounter is actually an influence. I consistently like to learn about the game, but also about people and how to reach different types of people and personalities. In any given day you can have an opportunity to learn from each person you come across in public and that’s what I try to do to help better myself as a coach and a person.

Q: What was the most challenging moment of your career? A: The most challenging moment of my career was having

to hear that I would need Tommy John surgery to have a chance to throw a baseball again. I went full force in recovery with it, but I never came back the same.

Q: What’s some advice you have for students who have a

career interest in the area of professional sports?

Q: What is your exact role in the Astros organization? A: In my current role as a Coordinator, I’m responsible

Find a way to stand out and show value. Put yourself in the hiring person’s chair. Why should they hire you? Is just a resume and cover letter enough? For me, it wasn’t. I went out and created something that I believed in, which also would show the hiring person comfort in hiring me. Everyone likes to think they just need a chance, but in reality, not everyone gets that. So my main piece of advice would be to stand out in ways other than just a resume and cover letter, and show them what you can bring to the organization.

Q: What were the steps you took to get to where you are today? A: After I had Tommy John surgery in college, I got my

If there’s one thing you could go back and change about your life, what would it be?

for overseeing all of our Minor League players and coaches. I instill player development programs for infielders, outfielders, and baserunners and I travel to each affiliate to make sure those programs are happening properly. I also am responsible for running the entire Spring Training Schedule for the Minor League players to help them prepare for the season.

master’s degree. I then started out with multiple different internships, became a college coach where I worked for free. I then worked my way up as a college coach and got the opportunity to join the Astros three years ago. I wrote my master’s paper on why I believed the Astros would win the world series, and that was something that helped get me in the door.

Q: What are things you learned here at Central that you take A:

with you today?

The first thing that comes to mind is how to overcome adversity. In my first ever pitching appearance on varsity, I came in from shortstop to close out a five run lead and I gave up six runs. The very next time I pitched, I gave up a grand slam in the first inning of the game. So, before I completed my first ever inning of varsity baseball, I had given up a combined 10 runs... That was the first time I had ever experienced true failure in the game of baseball. It was devastating to me and it made me believe I wasn’t going to be good enough to be a Division 1 athlete. As I worked through it during that season, I finished the year getting 3 straight wins on the mound to send our team to the State Quarterfinals in 2008. The following year I became a Division 1 athlete. It was a very tough time to go through, but it made me a better player and person.

Q: A:

I’m not one to look at the past with regrets. Everything that has happened in the past makes us who we are today. I’m grateful for my ups and downs as far as what it has done for my career in sports, but also for what it’s done for me as a person.

Q: What’s your opinion on the way your organization operates?

The Astros operate in a very analytical way. With that being said, what I think people don’t realize is that we not only use analytics as a strategy in game and to evaluate players, but mainly as a tool to help players improve. The numbers show us their weaknesses which help us understand what they need to get better at. Then we can also use those numbers to track progress and actually see if what we’re doing as coaches is working or not.

Q: If you received an offer to play again, would you do it? A:

Why or why not?

No, my time as a player has passed, now it’s all about doing what I can for each player I coach to help them reach their dreams.

3 1. Jason Bell holds the 2017 Astros World Series trophy. Bell has been a member of the Astros organizational staff for three seasons. Photo courtesy of Jason Bell. 2. Bell throws a pitch for Saint Louis University. Bell played college ball at SLU and University of Central Missouri. Photo courtesy of Jason Bell. 3. Bell high-fives a player rounding third after a homerun. Bell was the second youngest professional manager last season. Photo courtesy of Jason Bell.

Sports

CONTENT WITH THE FUTURE

Success is the destination, and content is the vehicle Alex Edelman Staff Writer

he world as you see it through your technology. A look into social media can immediately immerse you in the deepest imaginations of thousands of people, take us to the furthest limits of reality. On the opposite side of that same coin; media and content can take us can afford the viewer a look into the everyday reality of someone else. The ability to capture so many people on social media created a new and almost revolutionary career path. The possibility of achieving massive success in such a field has changed the mindset of myriad young students watching this revolution from their screen, and massive amounts of new content creators (particularly young ones) are exploding onto all platforms. Sophomore Savannah Grasmick and senior David Portillo both look to get their slice of this ever-growing cake. That leaves a big decision for these hopeful students regarding their plans after high school. “I’m for sure going to college, I have no idea where but I have big dreams! I plan to study computer science or something else related to tech, and I’m so ready to take every opportunity that comes my way” Grasmick said. The conventional post highschool path is not everyone’s desired path however. “College is not for everyone. I don’t see myself going to college based on what I want to pursue it’s just not needed, my plan is to hustle[...]Beat the rat race and become financially free. Multiple sources of income in which I will create into passive income,” Portillo said.

Besides plans, the importance of the content that you have as a creator is undeniable, and both of these students put out ample amounts. The type of content that can be made and be successful appears numerous, as evident through the very different media made by Portillo and Grasmick. “My platforms are YouTube, Snapchat, Instagram, and Twitter,” Portillo said, “Right now I have created [mostly] goofy content.”

Portillo’s YouTube profile. Instagram handle: @davi.dp.ortillo YouTube- David Portillo

Grasmick on the other hand, caters more to showing her followers the world through her eyes. “I would consider the pictures and videos I post on Instagram as my content creation, as well as vlogs and video collages on YouTube. I also often make websites for different reason” Grasmick said. “Instagram and YouTube are my platforms. I love posting cool pictures of myself on my main account and I post videos almost everyday on my spam account on Instagram”. Creating levels for significance of content is a useful for the content creator and subscribers. Offering multiple levels of

exposure opens up a larger base for the creator, made up of all different types of media viewers. Grasmick has taken advantage of this tactic, employing multiple methods of content delivery. “My spam account is the best way I can document and celebrate my life, I use it as a diary. For super important events I’ll post vlogs or video collages on YouTube,” Grasmick said. No matter the delivery form, both Portillo and Grasmick utilize their content to reach for their goals. For Portillo, this pursuit is largely income driven, hoping to build a comfortable future for himself. Grasmick on the other hand seems to simply be taking in the enjoyment she gets from content creation right now. In its purest form, content creation enables a creative idea to come to life and communicate something words sometimes cannot. For both of these young minds, the possibilities are limitless. Grasmick’s Instagram profile. Grasmick and Portillo hold Instagram handle: vast opportunity in their Main- @savannahgrasmick hands, literally. Spam- @sparkly.avocado

Sports

TRACK AND FIELD STRIVES FOR GREATNESS Track and field athletes aim for state Haydn Schertz Staff Writer

he boys and girls track teams look to make a statement as the season is coming to a close and look forward to state. This season the Colts are looking to bring back a few district and conference championship plaques. With leadership from Gottlieb Gerstenecker, Nakira Gage, Adam Geisz along with many other great athletes. For the girls track team this year they are looking to make big moves this season and have very high expectations. With the previous seasons being very successful and this season will be no exception. “So as a whole this year we have most seasons is. We’re going to be competitive within our conference, we are potentially in the conversation to bring back a district plaque,” said head coach Ryan Banta. Not only does Banta want to have success on the field, he wants them to be leaders and great role models off the field. “The thing is that we represent our community and take pride in knowing that as an athlete your an ambassador for your school. And you want to have good curb appeal. And so I feel like for us as a program we are putting our best foot forward both literally and figuratively so that we can be a big success on the track and off the track and we are also going to be a community beyond that , so your not just part of a team but part of a small family with tight knit community of ladies,” Banta said. They have a bunch of athletes to look for this year with a lot of improvements from last year that are going to make big steps this season. “So we have a ton of athletes that have made a lot of improvements and we are very blessed to have a lot of athletes who have made contributions since senior year. This year we are looking to seniors like Lanese Farr in the javelin, [Ogechi] Okpara in the short sprint; Margaret Vierling in throwing and she has been a nice addition that we were really surprised about and we

are very happy about,” Banta said. Gage is one of the best sprinters in Missouri and her success starts in practice and repetition to make herself better. Gage has been running track since she was six years old and has had big plans for track since. Though she is a terrific athlete she is very humble and is one of the leaders of the girls track team. “I mean it feels really great being one of the faster ladies on the team, because I know that a lot of people look up to me and competing in track meets makes me really happy,” Gage said. “Along with Nakira Gage as one of the highest ranking sprinters in the state of Missouri and has continued to improve this year and makes us really excited about what the future holds for our team as a whole,” Banta said. Not only do the girls look to make big strides this season, the boys track and field team also looks to compete and bring back a few plaques of their own. With leadership from a few athletes such as Gerstenecker and with Geisz the boys look forward to state. Geisz who is a thrower is looking to make big strides in his sophomore season. Geisz throws shot put and discuss for the Colts. “This year I’m really looking forward to state as I feel like I have a chance to produce points for the varsity squad this year, especially in discuss which is my best throw. Even though I am an underclassman I feel like I can be a huge contributor to the team this year,” Geisz said. One of the leaders from the track team, Gerstenecker has huge expectations this year and is gearing up for making this his best year of his track career. He also has very high expectations for himself and is always motivated by the people around him. To take his talents to the next level the people around them are helping him get there. “I want to place at least top eight all state in three events being the 4x800, the 800, and the 1600. I am motivated by my passion for running, my team and my family,” Gerstenecker said. Some other athletes to look out for in boys track in field are seniors Jayden Littlejohn in sprints, Caleb Tillis in high jump and hurdles, Ryan Long in the high jump, junior Luke Schaefer

2 1: Senior Gottlieb Gerstenecker runs a race at a meet at Eureka high school on April 5. Photo by Ryan Pham. 2: Junior Nakira Gage sprints the 100 meter dash at the Henle Holmes meet at Parkway Central on April 11. Photo by Megan Fisher.

in sprints. Look for the boys and girls track teams to be very good this year and make a statement and state this season later this month.

ROUGH START, DETERMINED MINDSET Gabby Abowitz and Alex Maisenhelder Photography Editor and Online Sports Editor

ven though many players on girls varsity soccer said the year started off not how they would have wanted their luck may be turning around. The team has won to Maryville in Hannibal 2-1 on April 12. The team also defeated Parkway North 1-0 on April 16. Senior captain Talia Emch believed they started the season off rough but it does not reflect their potential and talent as a whole. “We’re going to convert our mistakes into learning opportunities which will hopefully lead us to success in the near future,” Emch said. Emch also believes that this season has been tough and has ideas on how they can improve. “We haven’t had the start we’d hoped for, but hopefully we can use that frustration as motivation for the remainder of the season. We knew from the beginning that we weren’t going to have an easy schedule, so we can’t take any team for granted. To be successful we need to continue working for each other and hopefully we’ll get the results we deserve,” Emch said. Throughout the season Emch has scored three goals, two assists, and eight points.

Senior Genna Gittemeier also agreed on the fact that their seasons stats have not reflected the effort that the team has put forth. “This new season we no longer have many of our loved seniors that made up half of our starting line up and in order to fill those spots, players have moved up from JV and some incoming freshman were added to the squad,” Gittemeier said. The girls on the team have high standards and big goals. Sophomore Emily Lander wants to improve both personally and as a team. “ A goal I have is to grow as a team. A personal goal is to continue scoring goals because the feel when you see the ball hit the back of the net is an amazing feeling.” Lander said. Junior Abbey Poe, the other team captain, contributes a lot to the team and other team members, like Lander, think very highly of her. “Abbey is always so considerate about everyone’s feelings and wants to get everyone’s opinion before reporting back to our coach. She also plays a big role on the field, running everywhere around the field to ensure the success of ball movement,” Lander said. Poe has made one assist and one point so far this season. Gittemeier believes coach Brian Adam holds the team together. “Our main team aspect is playing as a unit rather than an individual. BA really emphasizes the importance of possession

and moving forward together. He says that we play better together rather than apart. I feel that, at times, we have really embraced that message,” Gittemeier said.

Senior Talia Emch kicks the ball during a game against Francis Howell. The Vikings won the game 8-1, and Emch scored the single goal for the Colts. Photo by Wagner Photography.

Entertainment

KERO KERO BONITO BUBBLEGUM POP(S OFF) Kero Kero Bonito and Jaakko Eino Kalevi Experiment with Pop

ero Kero Bonito is an experimental/bubbleOpinions Editor gum pop group hailing from Britain. The release of their sophomore studio album “Time ‘n’ Place” and their recent popularity spike due to their 2016 song “Flamingo,” which has been all over the apps Tik-Tok and YouTube, they’ve took the initiative to have their first American tour. On Wed. April 3rd they came around to The Ready Room on Manchester with opener Jaakko Eino Kalevi. The venue was packed, filled with alt-boys and girls, the type of crowd you’d imagine an internet-based pop group to attract. The atmosphere was nice though, typically The Ready Room has good vibes each time I go to a concert there, even more so now that the whole room wasn’t filled with strictly metalheads. Jaakko Eino Kalevi was the opening act, and an artist I haven’t heard of or even knew the name of until their set was over. I didn’t remember or hear anything about an opener for KKB but Jaakko’s set was absolutely stunning. Jaakko introduced himself and his girlfriend and Jaakko continued to use his drum pad and sequencer to produce a kick beat. They expanded upon this skeletal track by continuing to layer more and more sounds and singing over it. His girlfriend was playing on an incredible stylish bass throughout most of the set, and the grooves she laid down were sick. Their whole style felt very comfy, music I’d love to drive to at night or listen to while chilling at home, but standing and watching them develop upon the skeletal backbone

David Amirdjanian

of the songs was really astonishing. The lighting matched the mood and even sometimes along with the drum kicks or bass lines. The songs were completely new to me and I was vibing along with it the entire time, I loved the atmosphere they created. Unfortunately the back of the venue was incredibly talkative and disruptive, talking over most of the set, even then they still gave a great response as they finished each song. Kero Kero Bonito finally took the stage after a little bit of downtime. Their stage was set up weirdly for what I was expecting them to be playing. They are a mostly an electronic band, so I was expecting to see more drum machines, synths, and midi controllers since bubblegum pop is supposed to be super exaggerated and glitzy electronic music. Their newest album broke that loop with being more rocky, featuring more live instrumentation. So it left me wondering when I saw a huge drum kit center back of the stage if whether they’d be playing mostly songs off their newest album, but my thoughts were soon squashed as the second song on the setlist “Lipslap” came on. They started to do rocky covers of the electronic instrumentals of previous albums on stage. I loved hearing this super playful music get a rock make-over; I was definitely not expecting it whatsoever. Sarah Bonito was adorable on stage, taking out a stuffed pink flamingo out and balancing it on her head as she danced around stage. The performance got surprisingly experimental, especially with a interlude with just harsh noise and strobe lights going off at you for a few seconds before starting up the next song. Sarah even started to do death metal like screams and started to headbang during that interlude, strange for a pop

group but afterall they are experimental. They had a fun little conversation with the crowd telling us about how they had Imo’s Pizza and provolone for the first time. Both sets killed, each having their own unique vibe to them. Hopefully they’ve enjoyed St. Louis enough to come back soon.

Sarah Bonito, the vocalist for the group was born and raised in Japan, and moved to Britain as a early teen. She found an advertisement on an online forum with two producers searching for a female vocalist that knows Japanese, and from there on Kero Kero Bonito was born. Photo by David Amirdjanian

TIGER WOODS PGA CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW After Masters win, Tiger is the favorite at Bethpage Black

Patrick McColl Staff Writer

t’s official. The return of the roar. Tiger Woods is a winner at Augusta again, and now a 15 time major champion. It was a long road back, filled with back surgeries and missed fairways. Nonetheless, Next up on the major tournament list, the PGA Championship, which will be hosted in May for the first time ever. After just coming short back in August at Bellerive, Tiger has a chance to redeem himself, win another major, and continue the overwhelmingly improbable goal of the calendar year grand slam. As we approach the first tee at Bethpage Black, Tiger has a considerable amount of advantages in play for him. For one, Tiger has won a major at Bethpage before. The course hosted the 2002 U.S. Open, in which Tiger won by 3 strokes, and was the only golfer of the entire field to shoot under par for the tournament. Along with his experience, Tiger has been better at hitting fairways this year, ranking in at 20th on that leaderboard in the PGA. With Bethpage Black’s very unforgiving rough, combined with its length, bunkers, and potential for disaster at seemingly every shot, Tiger’s accuracy will be needed. Speaking of bunkers, approach shots to the green are vastly important. A Tillinghast special, there are often intimidating bunkers around the greens at Bethpage. They can cause a lot of trouble and add unfortunate extra strokes to an already ridiculously hard to par course. Tiger has done a good job this year of staying out of bunkers this year, coming in at 14th for his fairways to greens hit percentage. If Tiger is going to win this tournament, he is going to have to continue to keep out of the hazards of the course and be consistent from tee to green.

If there is any concern for Tiger, however, it has been his putting. He was good enough at the Masters to win, and hit a surprising amount of longer putts while missing easier one’s closer to the hole. That is unrealistic in the long run, however, in terms of consistency. Tiger is at a relatively pedestrian 72nd in strokes gained putting, while many of the top golfers are up towards the top 25. Tiger knows more than anyone that your play on the green wins and loses tournaments, especially as his distance has decreased with age. If Tiger begins to win more and more again, he likely won’t be where he is ranked now with his putter, and instead much higher. Needless to say, it won’t be easy for Tiger to capture glory at Bethpage Black. A lot of that credited to the competitive field of talent. Many of the top ranked golfers have proven that they aren’t afraid of Tiger, and his sheer presence might not aid him in winning golf tournaments anymore. At 43, that is an advantage that could help him out. Of course there are exceptions, like Francesco Molinari’s round four collapse at the Masters a month ago. Yet, at the same time, guys like Brooks Koepka have shown a lot of guts pulling out victories or hanging up at the top. Last time Woods was this close to victory in a major, at Bellerive, Koepka shut the door on him. After two bogeys through five holes, Koepka birdied five more holes through the rest of the round and got par on every other hole. No bogeys, no blowups, no giving in, even when it felt like everyone was rooting for Tiger. With another major almost here, golf is ready for Tiger’s return to the spotlight. With each time out on the course, he brings along a massive audience, an audience no golfer can seem to match no matter how good they are. This year’s PGA Championship should be no exception, and an exciting showcase of what Tiger’s future looks like after another major victory.

Wearing his new green jacket, Tiger Woods holds the trophy for winning The Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on Sunday. [Atlanta Journal-Constitution via TNS / Curtis Compton]

Tiger Woods lines up his putt on 2 during the final round of the Masters on Sunday, April 14, 2019, at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga. (Bob Andres/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/TNS)

Entertainment

SMOKEE MO’S BARBECUE COMING SOON The popular Arnold restaurant is coming to Manchester this summer Lee Foust Staff Writer

mokee Mo’s is a local barbecue restaurant currently operating in Arnold. Luckily, a Manchester location is scheduled to open in the next few months, bringing this local stop closer to home. The restaurant features barbecue staples, daily-made sides, and a rotating set of specials and sides based on the day of the week. The menu contains all the classics - ribs, pulled pork and chicken, brisket, and sides, as well as a few special creations. They serve sandwiches, platters, and a wide variety of homemade sides. Some of their personal inventions include the Mangia Bene, a brisket sandwich served on homemade garlic bread with their signature sauce. There’s also the Mo’s Nachos, a platter of nachos covered in cheese, onions, beans, and your choice of their meat. Their sausage sandwich is good, with two sliced sausages placed on a bun. It comes with one side and is one of the cheapest items on the menu at $8. The sausage itself is made in store from an old family recipe, not store ordered. They grill it and put it on buns, creating a simple but delicious little sandwich. The ribs were pretty decent, but not the best in town. The meat was a bit dry and dense but still fell off the bone with ease. It was well seasoned but overall better with the sauces offered. A half-rack came with two sides and garlic bread, making it a pretty good deal at $17. No self-respecting St. Louis barbecue would do without serving pork steak, and their platter was delicious. It came with a huge, fatty cut of meat cooked perfectly. It fell apart under-

neath a fork with no effort and basically melts in your mouth. The platter is $15 for the meat, garlic bread, and your choice of two sides. It’s a great deal for what you get and a fantastic meal. Their sides are also delicious, with everything made instore and most sides made daily. Their mac ‘n’ cheese was surprisingly creamy and good for being stored in a hot bar. Their baked beans were great and served in a sweet, syrupy sauce. The fries were crunchy and well seasoned, and the homemade applesauce was fantastic. The cole slaw was the only lackluster side, being lumpy and very watery, but it was still decent. Smokee Mo’s serves dessert from a Blue Owl Desserts, a local bakery based in St. Genevieve. There’s apple crisp, four different kinds of cake, cookies, and homemade frozen custard. The apple crisp was yummy, but a little overpriced at $6 for a medium-sized slice. You can request the desserts heated up, as they are all served cold. The restaurants interior is reminiscent of Sugarfire’s stores, with old-timey dishes and paraphernalia. The dining area is pretty big, with your choice of booths, table, and one long bar in the center. If you sit at the bar, every stool is from a different time and place, which makes for an interesting seating experience. The new location in Manchester is a bit different and is being built as a big barn house-style building. It will feature vegan and vegetarian items, as well as the original menu. The full menu is being released in May on their website, which also features construction progress pictures. The store is scheduled to open sometime in the next couple of months. Smokee Mo’s is a great spot for St. Louis barbecue and desserts, and will be much easier to get to once they open up in our area. It’s a bit pricey, as most barbecue is, but it’s a great stop for anyone craving some homemade food and a nice atmo-

sphere. Rating: 7.5/10

1: The selection of Smokee Mo’s delicious sauces.

2: Quaint decorations hang on a wall above the sauces and drinks. 3: The handwritten menu lists all the food options and features drawings of different items. Photos by Lee Foust

MUSIC FESTIVAL SEASON HAS JUST BEGUN Carly Wasserman Staff Writer

usic Festival season has just begun. Coachella, one of the highest attended music festival there is, took place from April 12 to April 21. Coachella is an annual music festival held at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California. Senior Myori Felix has attended music festivals like Lollapalooza. Felix said, “My dream is to one day be able to go to Coachella.” Music festivals, like Coachella, can cost a lot of money. One general admission ticket to Coachella is $429, While VIP passes start at over $1,000. Plus, don’t forget about airfare and food costs. At music festivals, there tends to have a variety of different foods to fit everyone’s tastes. Another common music festival is Lollapalooza. Felix has gone to this music festival in the past. Lollapalooza takes place in Grant Park which is in Chicago, Illinois, August 1 to August 4. The lowest priced ticket is $323, and the ticket prices can go all the way up to nearly $2,000. Felix said, “The lines for water are a solid 30 minutes long and bottles of water are $3-$4 minimum.” Music festival costs can really add up quickly. Since music festivals are outside and happen close to summer, it can get extremely hot. “But since the good vibes are so strong you don’t even focus on the negatives,” Felix said. Junior Kaitlyn Goldstein has been to two other music festivals in the past, plus she plans to go to another one this sum-

mer. Goldstein has been to Loufest which takes place in Forest Park every year. Plus she has been to Austin City Limits which is held in Zilker Park in Austin, Texas. This summer Goldstein is planning on going to Music Midtown in Atlanta. She has been to many music festivals but they are all formatted differently. “The layouts of the festivals are always a surprise to me, but both festivals definitely met my expectations in a good way,” Goldstein said. There were many performers at the music festivals Goldstein went to. “Some big acts at Loufest were Cage the Elephant and Snoop Dog. At ACL, there was Khalid, Brockhampton, Paul Mccartney, Travis Scott, Arizona, and Chvrches. The Music Midtown lineup isn’t out yet,” Goldstein said. Junior Rebecca Barnholtz has never been to a music festival in the past but is going to Music Midtown with Goldstein this summer in Atlanta. Barnholtz is looking forward to hearing Rainbow Kittens Surprise perform. “I am also looking forward to trying new foods, being with my friends, and finding new music.” Barnholtz will be attending Music Midtown with friends from different cities and schools, along with Goldstein. Music festivals draw large crowds of many different types of people from multiple different cities. Music festival attendance has been increasing by a lot over the years. There are many other factors other than just going to see your favorite singers, that is making this attendance go up. “I love getting to be outside, meet some cool people, and support live music,” Goldstein said.

2 First Picture: Junior Kaitlyn Goldstein posing at the Austin City Limits Music Festival. Photo courtesy of Kaitlyn Goldstein. Second picture. Brockhampton performing live on stage at the Austin City Limits Music Festival Photo courtesy of Kaitlyn Goldstein.

Entertainment

SUCCESSFUL SUMMER BUCKET-LIST 2019

How You Can Give Yourself The Best Summer Ever Taylor Stern Staff Writer

ummer is rapidly approaching with the excitement of going swimming all the time and hanging out outside, but we as teenagers can often fall victim to the attraction of staying inside on our phones or with our friends. For those not going on a family vacation, working a summer job, or attending a sleepaway camp, the air conditioning and Wi-Fi inside can be very tempting. But what can you do to make sure you’re taking full advantage of this summer season? One fun, cheap, and thrilling thing you can do to occupy your summer nights is going to summer concerts. The Hollywood Casino Amphitheater is a venue that offers at least three weekly concerts with different artists at every show lasting the entire summer all the way through September. On the line up for this summer are performers like Pentatonix, Wiz Khalifa, Luke Bryan, and Cage The Elephant. Lawn seating for certain shows at this venue are going for as low as $30. Even if you aren’t familiar with the artist, the Hollywood Casino Amphitheater is an extremely affordable way you can spend a fun night with your friends. Another great option to spice up your summer nights is going to a drive-in movie theatre. With all the hyped up movies coming out in the near future like The Lion King, Toy Story 4, and Aladdin, it is well worth taking the time to go at least once. Outside of St. Louis, there are two very considerable options just an hour drive away. The Skyview Drive-In, 40 minutes away, and the Starlite Drive-In, an hour away, both have movie showings every Friday-Sunday of summer for only $10 a car. Plus, the drive there can even lend itself to be a fun mini road-trip with your friends.

FOR A SCHOOL CALLED PARKWAY ... Lillian Humphrey Staff Writer/Artist

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SUMMER BUCKETLIST 2019

If you’re not willing to make the drive, then while you’re laying in bed watching Netflix, think about inviting some friends over, building a fort, and having a movie marathon with all of your favorite movies that Netflix has to offer. Or better yet, you could even check out a bunch of 80’s and 90’s movies to have a movie marathon that way as well. Of course, there are many things like having a movie marathon that can be done for free too. Simple activities like making a chalk mural, going hiking at places like Castlewood at Queeny Park, waking up to see the sunrise, or going stargazing at night will make you feel like you’re engaging in a very adventurous, fulfilling summer. Other cheap options that are often overlooked by teenagers are all the joyous activities that everyone loved doing as kids, such as going bowling, rollerblading, or playing mini-golf. All three of these activities cost a very minimal amount and can provide a few hours of fun and even nostalgia on any day of the week. You can even maximize this experience by venturing outside of your average Brunswick bowling alley and finding a cool, vintage alley like Saratoga Lanes in Maplewood. People are often inclined to think you can only make lasting summer memories by doing things seemingly very big, extravagant, and costly, but everyone knows that the best memories are made spontaneously. Trying out a few of these ideas over the two month break from school will add up to being way more fun than you could have scrolling through Instagram and Snapchat stories in your room. Make a checklist in the notes on your phone and try to accomplish a few!

Features

Teachers Jafari and Beal Seal the Deal

Jenna Lazaroff Features editor

crowd of interested faces watched math teacher Heather Beal and art teacher David Jafari at the front of the room, but this time it was not students and they were not in a classroom. On March 16, 2019, Jafari and Beal officially tied the knot at the St. Peters Cultural Arts Centre. Not all of Jafari’s family was able to attend, due to current U.S. policies. “My mom’s family came in from New York,” Jafari said. “But my dad’s family lives in Iran and they were unable to travel here because of the Muslim ban.” Despite missing part of his family, their wedding still included 130 guests. But before the wedding came, the proposal first took place many months before, in a surprise fashion. “Every year for spring break I go down to Florida with my family because my grandpa has a house down there,” Beal said. Jafari was supposedly heading up to Oregon to visit friends. “After a few days of being in Florida, we took the boat out and we were coming back to shore,” Beal said. “I was actually mad because I wanted to go take the boat to get dinner but my mom was against it, so we came back in and I told everyone I’d drive to get dinner and began getting ready to leave with my mom.” In the meantime, Jafari was actually on his way to surprise Beal, and her family was in on the setup. The main goal was to get Beal alone on the dock, but that was easier said than done. “My sister demanded we go fishing at right that second, and I was fine with that so my mom had to get dinner for us by herself,” Beal said. “So we go down the dock and start fishing and [my sister] gets a phone call from her husband saying that her daughter fell and hit her head, asking her to go inside. She assured me she was probably fine and I could wait there. So I sat there fishing.” Beal learned later that this was part of the ruse. At the time Beal was actually mad at Jafari because he hadn’t told her he was getting on the plane and in her family it is extremely important to communicate, especially when doing something like traveling. “All of a sudden I see [what I think is] my brother-in-law walking down the dock and instantly my first thought is that my niece is really hurt. So I started picking up my fishing gear, and started walking. But then I start to realize that my brother-in-law all of a sudden has a big beard.” That big beard ended up being the one and only Jafari who had surprised Beal and arrived to Florida instead of Oregon and proposed on their dock, while Beal’s family stood from afar on the deck to where they were staying. “I was just like ‘woah,’” said Beal. “This is really happening.” Like any workplace romance that ends in engagement, the word of Jafari and Beal’s engagement spread quickly because of the high school environment. Beal is happy to share the story but Jafari likes to keep his personal life more private. “We were together several years before we got married,” Jafari said. “I think some people knew at first, but not everybody. It wasn’t something that was like general knowledge at first and I think the longer it progressed people started to notice. But it’s not something that we send out an all-school email to announce.” Most of the teachers have been supportive and fine with the idea. “I think they approve of him,” Beal said. And yes, at the start of Fall 2019 there will be two Jafaris teaching at PCH. 1. Jafari and Beal walk down the aisle hand in hand at the St. Peters Cultural Center on March 16. Music teacher Ben Silvermintz officiated the wedding. 2. Jafari and Beal’s rings lay in her bouquet. Jafari actually designed Beal’s ring. Jafari’s Native American jeweler friend designed his ring. 3. Beal and Jafari pose outside after their engagement. Pictures courtesy of Heather Beal.

Entertainment

THE END IS NEAR FOR AVATAR

Marvel’s ‘Avengers: Endgame’ is Absolutely Snapping

Brett Smith

Entertainment Editor

“I

t’s not enough to be against something. You have to be for something more.” - Tony Stark Back in 2008, a little film called “Iron Man” released in theatres across the globe. Starring Robert Downey Jr., the movie did very well at the box office, and as a seven-year-old in the cinema I merely saw it as just another superhero film. I didn’t fully appreciate it upon watching it for the first time on the big screen. Because what “Iron Man” led to; the legacy that film had sculpted is beyond anything the world had ever seen. Marvel’s Cinematic Universe has been unstoppable, with 11 years and over 20 films under its belt. No movie in history has had so many films leading up to it. And for those of us who have been with this universe since the very first film, this is truly the end of an era. And even if you aren’t caught up with every film, it’s impossible to deny the impact this universe has had on our society. From a Stark to a Snap, everything has been leading to this; the conclusion to Marvel Studios’ Infinity Saga. With so much build up, you’d think that there’s no way a film of this caliber could live up to that kind of hype and anticipation. Then again, we said the same thing about “Avengers: Infinity War.” Where do I start with Marvel’s “Avengers: Endgame”? It’s… so… so good. With each new film, we ask ourselves whether or not they can top themselves. And I can tell you without a shred of doubt that this is easily of the best films they have made. It very much feels like a “farewell” film, in the sense that there are so many callbacks and references to past films sprinkled within that you’d probably only be able to understand and fully appreciate them if you’ve stuck with these films for the past 11 years. Not that I’m saying you’ve had to have seen every film leading up to this, but in a sense I am. Let’s break this down. As performances go, this film has the strongest acting I’ve seen in a Marvel film. Certain actors pull off emotion levels and performances that you’ve never seen from them before. It’s really cool to watch. And while everyone does a great job in this film, the absolute best performances in this film are from the original six Avengers: Jeremy Renner, Scarlett Johannson, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Evans and of course, Robert Downey Jr. These actors give their all in this film. The more I watched them, the more impressed I became with them. There are few films that emotionally register with me, but Endgame, in large part by the entire cast, definitely got to me in its most intense moments. Discussing the plot of this film is very much a challenge without getting into spoilers. I can tell you, however, that the trailers for this film do not tell you anything about what this film is about. There is an entire movie of secrets, moments, and more that are completely hidden by the marketing team. However, for those who may want a little background before going into “Avengers: Endgame,” here’s a quick recap. In “Avengers: Infinity War”, the mad titan Thanos travels across space to acquire six Infinity Stones; those being the Space, Soul, Time, Power, Mind, and Reality Stones. Despite the combined efforts of both the Avengers and the Guardians of the Galaxy, Thanos wins. After capturing all of the stones in his Infinity Gauntlet (basically a glove that can withstand all that cosmic power), Thanos snapped his fingers and rendered half of the universe to dust. Among those dusted were Doctor Strange, Star Lord, Drax, Groot, Black Panther, Spider-Man, Falcon, and many other heroes you may not have heard of if you haven’t seen all the films.

“Now, after the destruction of half of all life, the remaining heroes will team up in order to defeat Thanos.” That’s probably what you think the movie is about given by the trailers released. But what if I told you that there’s a whole other plot to this film? I will not give anything away as to what that plot entails. Just know that, just like with Infinity War, there are many scenes that have been altered and downright missing in the final film, hiding away the plot’s true intentions. Marvel is infamous for going the extra mile to mislead fans as to not reveal movie details. The visual effects for this film are astonishing. There were many points where you almost forget it’s CGI because it looks so good. And it has to for a film like this, as those types of effects are all over this film, and might as well look good. It never felt like any specific characters, environments, or circumstances were punished or watered down due to lackluster special effects. This film is important for so many reasons. As I stated previously, it’s the culmination of the past eleven years as the MCU’s 22nd blockbuster. And when has there been another time in history where a single movie has had more than a decade of buildup with 21 predecessors? There’s a reason Marvel Studios has been successful and functioning for so many years. It’s not a coincidence that five MCU films made their way onto the Top 10 Highest Grossing Movies of all time (as seen on the chart below). Kevin Feige, the President of Marvel Studios, has done a remarkable job leading these films into the direction they’ve gone. One of the main reasons I truly admire and respect Kevin Feige as a filmmaker is because he’s a fan of Marvel. He’s not just a corporate who wants to exploit these characters for personal economic gain. He started off as an Associate Producer for 2000’s “X-Men” and 2002’s “Spider-Man.” He was given this position due to his immense knowledge of the Marvel Universe, moving his way up to President of Marvel just a few years later. He’s a fan himself, and he cares about these characters just as much as we fans do. He knows what to do with them, and we can trust both him and Marvel to take care of our childhood heroes because of this. He weaves their stories together and makes character choices for the sake of a narrative rather than a paycheck. Most of this review talks more about what surrounds and what led up to this film rather than what entails within. I want you, as a moviegoer, to have the same experience as I did. It’s so much more enjoyable to witness a film for the first time with an audience, reacting and connecting with the unknown as it unfolds. And while I could probably take up a whole newspaper talking about my thoughts on the contents of this film alone, this is an experience, once that must be experienced on the big screen. With every film review I’ve published throughout the past three years, I’ve always rated the film I was talking about with a score out of ten. But with “Avengers: Endgame,” giving a rating to this film doesn’t do it justice. If you have not already, you absolutely have to go see this film. The more people you go with the better so you can discuss afterwards, because there is so much in this three hour epic. And after debuting with a $1.2 Billion opening weekend, and already securing itself as the second highest grossing film of all time, it’s safe to assume that it will soon become Number 1 on that list. And I hope it does. This film deserves all the praise it receives. It’s a phenomenal film, and a satisfying conclusion to the eleven year ride Marvel Studios has taken on. While it’s sad to see this saga close, part of the journey is the end. To Feige, Downey, Hemsworth, Evans, and all that contributed to this cinematic experience: “I love you 3000.”

10 Highest Grossing Films Of All Time As of May 7

Source: Box Office Mojo | *Please note: The first visible digit is in the billions. Ex. Black Panther = $1.346 Billion

Features

l a C s s l o l f e 2019 w e r Fa

Claudia Sanders Online News Editor

Some classes have been very beneficial to preparing the students of PCH for college. The s the 2018-19 school year comes to a close, next step for Nathan is attending Indiana Univerjust like every year a new senior class will sity where he is unsure what he wants to major in. turn the page to a new chapter of their He currently has chosen a major in Finance. lives. These past four years have been a different “I believe the class personal finance has set experience for everyone at parkway central. me up with enough background knowledge to not Looking back at these years causes people to evalfeel dumb on my first day,” Nathan said. uate everything they did and if their high school Peacock plans to attend the University of Miami in experience was worth-while. Oxford after graduation to study Business. There are many factors that go into “I’m most excited for the independence assomaking a unique high school experience and that ciated with college” Peacock said. looks different for everyone. Something that in However, he’s going to miss being able to volves many students at Parkway Central is sports. see the people he cares about every day. After Senior Remi Taylor talks about how starting a graduating high school, Taylor plans on attending sport helped her feel more involved. Missouri University to study Exercise Science. “I played tennis and track all four years “I want to do Pre-Physical therapy in the but really started getting involved in more things future. I took Anatomy class for a semester and sophomore year and I am so glad I did,” Taylor Senior class of 2019 pose for their class picture. Photo courtesy of Wagner Portrait Group. loved it,” Taylor said. said. Even though she likes the sciences, Taylor says her experience is attending school events. Many students reflect and Another athlete that looks back fondly on the sport favorite class was Adventure Pursuits. She is excited to live on regret not going to sporting events, plays, and other events such season is soccer player Will Peacock. her own in college and she has enjoyed finding her roomate and as lock-in’s and school dances. “My favorite memory was scoring the OT goal against coordinating their dorm theme. Senior Jonathon Nathan talks about his experience Fort Zumwalt South, sending us to the final four,” Peacock said. Coker plans to resume her traveling as her and her freshman year. Another thing that really makes an impact on your high school family move to California. She is attending California State Uni “One thing I wish wouldn’t have done during my high versity Channel Islands. school career is not attending sports games as a freshman,” “Also I am very happy to have “When starting to think about college, having a lot Nathan said, “I was lame and missed out on all the fun.” High more freedom makes me nervous,” Coker said. However, she is school, while it has its ups and downs, creates memories that will gone to this high school, also excited for this new freedom and being able to grow as an last a lifetime. not only because a lot of all individual. “My favorite memory of high school was watching my Sullivan plans to attend either Palm Beach State Collong-time friends put on a show all soccer season en route to a the drama and interesting lege or Florida State University. state championship” Nathan said. “I’m excited to meet more people and see what I’m occurrences, but there are Getting involved can be on the field, in the classroom going to do with my life,” Sullivan said. or even outside of school. Senior Caroline Sullivan recently genuinely great people at this She hopes to become a dietician or some profession joined PCH at the start of her senior year as a new student from regarding health and nutrition. an all-girls private Catholic school. school and I’m proud to have With all the change happening in these seniors lives “I wish I would have joined a club or done extracurricgraduated from here.” it’s important to focus on the good that has come out of the years ulars to really get involved,” Sullivan said. Lara Coker senior Being present, whether it’s on the field or off the field is spent at Central High. really important for many individuals here at Parkway Central. Even on the sidelines, showing school spirit and support for your peers can help you feel a part of something. Senior Lara Coker had a memorable experience her sophomore year when she “If I were to repeat my moved to Baltimore to go to a new school. four years of high school “I moved to Baltimore and attended Long Beach High School,” Coker said, “the people were a lot of fun and I made again I wouldn’t do anysome really cool friends. Coming back was overwhelming and a little disorientating because all of my friends and the people I thing differently; regret is knew had dramatically changed in appearance and grown up.” weakness.” Moving states is a challenge, but ultimately ending up at Parkway Central was a good thing for her. “I am very happy to have gone to this high school,” Coker said, “not only because all the drama and interesting occurrences, but there are genuinely great people at this school Jonothan Nathan senior and I’m proud to have graduated from here.” The graduating senior class of 2019 is made up of a diverse, passionate and driven group of people who have big plans for their individual futures. Photos courtesy of Pixabay.

Features

PROM 2019: GALAXY EDITION

2019 Junior and Senior prom held on Star Wars Day Avery Cooper

Staff Writer

n May 4, the Junior and Senior prom was held at the Hilton Frontenac hotel. May 4 is also known as Star Wars Day, so the idea of “May the Fourth be with you” and Star Wars became the theme of Prom. Senior class Treasurer Remi Taylor was concerned about the theme when she found out in STUCO. “I wasn’t sure how the decorations were going to turn out, but it ended up being really good,” Taylor said. There were purple lights and galaxy decorations with Star Wars clips being played at the front on a screen. One of the biggest concerns every year is if the DJ plays good music. Junior Molly Heitz is part of STUCO and helped MC during the prom court announcement. “He was a little strict about the stage but he played good sometimes, however sometimes he weirdly mashed them up,” Heitz said. The prom queen court consisted of Anna Yanakakis, Felina Deck, Jenna Boonshaft, Remi Taylor, and Molly Wesolich. The Prom king court had Sandi Chasnoff, Brandon Yu, Will Peacock, Mello Ball, and Adam Burnett. After dinner was served, they announced the winners Jenna Boonshaft and Will Peacock as the 2019 PCH Prom King and Queen. “It felt really good to win, I was surprised because I didn’t think I would win,” senior Will Peacock said.

1. Seniors Chloe Groner, Jadin Taylor , and Anthony DeVasto on the dance floor. Photo by Wagner. 2. Seniors Jayden Littlejohn, Blake Seigel, and Sam Benoist surrounded on the dance floor. Photo by Wagner. 3. Prom Court. Photo by Wagner. 4. Juniors Zach Oppenheim, Madison Westerfield, Makenna Carpenter, Anthony Klein, and Luke Schaefer chat before dinner. Photo by Wagner Portrait.

CENTRAL SAYS GOODBYE TO A FAVORITE Tori Favazza Staff Writer

“I started thinking about going back to high school again because I really missed the high school curriculum… I went over there 12 years ago and I walked in and I got interviewed for an opening here at Central High,” said Krone, “I already knew a lot of the students, I knew a few staff members, I always wanted to be at Central. After spring break I found out that I got the job, and I transferred over here to Central High, and it was wonderful.” Parkway Central High has been a second home to Mrs. Krone for about 12 years, having nothing but positive things to say about the school.

he Krones are a long-time Parkway institution. You’ve likely had Cindy Krone as an English teacher or her husband, Randy Krone, as a substitute teacher. After teaching for 41 years, 29 years in the Parkway School District, English teacher Cindy Krone has decided to depart from the world of full-time teaching. Though the years have been many, they’ve been good years, and Krone has cherished every minute of it. Her teaching career started in Effingham, Illinois. “I taught high school in Illinois for 12 years and then when I got married my husband got a job at Parkway Central Middle School. We were engaged, and then we got married, and then I came over here to find a job,” said Krone, “I moved from Illinois to Missouri, and then I had to find a job, and then I became pregnant. It was a lot of changes at once and so he came home from teaching summer school one day and said there was going to be an opening at Central Middle to teach 7th grade.” But because she only taught high school, Krone wasn’t so sure about the middle environment. “I didn’t know, because I always taught high school. I got an interview for the job, and they hired me to teach 7th grade Language Arts and Social Studies...I ended up taking the job and I really liked it. I loved 7th graders; they were fun and silly and unpredictable and I really enjoyed it,” said Krone. After some time had passed, Krone started to miss the Cindy Krone, an English department teacher retiring at the end of the high school atmosphere, and wanted to get back into it. school year, plans for the next classroom activities. Photo by Tori Favazza

“The students, 99% of the students I’ve had in my classroom have been wonderful, they’re enthusiastic, they’re very kind,” said Krone, “I love the students and the staff. The English department here is amazing and I have some wonderful friends here now that I’m really going to miss. That’s going to be hard.” Krone has much she wants to accomplish with her newfound freedom, including other interests she’s never had time for. “I’ll be able to travel. My husband is retired; he’s been retired almost four years now but he substitutes a lot and ushers for the Cardinals and the Blues. He’s really busy. But at the same time, when we want to travel, we just can’t pick up and go because of my job,” said Krone. “I’d like to do more volunteer work in my church. I’ve had opportunities to do it but it’s always rush, rush, rush; I have to fit it in. And now I won’t have to do that, I can fit it in if I want, just things like that,” said Krone. Helping people in times of need is one of her key interests, giving back to the community and showing kindness to others. “I would like someday to maybe even volunteer for the American Red Cross. I can’t do a lot of the physical labor like rebuilding, but I’d like to be there and hand out blankets and sandwiches and be a comfort to people in hard times,” Krone said. Retiring is an idea that doesn’t come easy to Krone, for her job has been enjoyable. “I love my job; I love everything about it. I have absolutely no regrets, but I just want to be able to do other things,” said Krone.

Spotlight

BROTHERS TAKE ON AMERICA Sydney Stahlschmidt Onlines Features Editor

ver the past seven years there has been a civil war between soldiers who support the Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, the rebels fighting against Assad power, and the Islamic State. This was a serious issue when it came to everyday life for junior Gilani Shaker and sophomore Goron Shaker. The Shaker brothers moved to America not just for a typical exchange student experience but because life at home in Syria wasn’t always easy. After moving from Syria to Turkey for two years, the Shakers and their family decided to come to America and have currently been here for around five years. “It was a very hard life. Our situation was just hard with the wars and low education,” Gilani said. Not only was life going to be a drastic change when moving to another country but school life and education was a major difference when coming to America. School can be difficult for anyone but when in a brand new society with a complete new lifestyle; it can be extremely different than what a teenager is used to. “School is definitely not easier here it’s just all new for us with a new language, new vocab, and new stuff in general. But there is just a better system here than they use over there,” Goron said. When Goron first arrived in America he recognized how different the teaching system was and how much the teachers interacting with the students played such a major role in education. Also, school provided greater opportunities for the kids with greater goals because their life didn’t depend on their wealth. “It wasn’t fair for the smart, poor people because they could not get a higher education or college because the teachers weren’t getting paid. Students who were not smart and too lazy to do all the work could just pay the teacher to be more successful in school,” Goron said. Not only do the brothers think education in America is more equal and teachers are

Photo by Sydney Stahlschmidt

better at making a difference when learning, but they like that they have so many different classes to choose from and they can learn about a numerous amount of topics. In Syria they didn’t have access to health, history, and many other classes. The main education they received was 45 minutes of English every two days and even this was not largely beneficial. “The teachers didn’t have that good of an English education to teach us and I would think when my English teacher would teach us that she basically knew nothing about the topic,” Goron said. In Syria, equall rights are not guaranteed and success depended more on status and wealth which is a big reason why the brothers like life in America. Money and power don’t typically come into play in the United States when it comes to education. Many Americans don’t recognize how much they have until they are compared to other who have less rights. While both of the Shaker brothers state that they enjoy school in America more, life in general is just different for them. Whenever leaving comfortable things behind and accessing new ones it will always be an adjustment to the normal and the brothers faced a lot of differences. “There are so many differences and the culture difference is just huge. When you are living there [in Syria] everybody just knows each other and about everything. Now I don’t know any of the people living across the street from my house but there you know all of the cities and everyone around you,” Gilani said. Not only are there differences when accessing foreign ideas, places, and cultures but the brothers also miss there life back home, especially their family, friends, and people they were just comfortable with. When moving to America the Shaker brothers had to readjust everything that they were used to. “I had to make all new friends and family. This can be really hard in the beginning because you don’t know anybody. You have a completely a new neighborhood, new neighbors, new friends, new country, new language, different cultures, and really just a new life,” Goron said.