Corral issue September 2018 by Parkway Central Corral

Corral

Fall Athletes to Watch pg. 14

Parkway Central High School, Chesterfield, MO 63017 Vol 63, Issue 1 Sept. 28, 2018

The Age of

Chromebooks

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

Respect the rules, regardless of ego T

he first weeks of school always present the same routine of events: traffic at 6:50 a.m. on the first day, AC Labs reserved for class meetings, figuring out your schedule and walkways, and catching up with friends. Along with these constants, there is another that must be addressed, and that is the lack of respect shown in the school. Whether it’s talking during meetings, booing student council delegates, speeding through the parking lot, not throwing away lunchroom trash, or blocking the hallway by standing, the lack of respect is astounding, and must change. For one, it is incredibly rude to talk when someone is presenting. It takes courage for student council candidates to talk to a class of over 100 students, and so when people do not show them any decency or respect, it is a terrible reflection of the class. You may think that it would be funny or that it would be cute to show off to your friends. Newsflash: it isn’t. So next time someone is presenting to you, show them basic respect by giving them your full attention and

Yays Yays!

•• Fall sports are killing it! Keep it up, Colts! •• Homecoming is coming up-ladies, buy your dresses!! •• One sixth done with the school year! Let’s gooo... •• Pep rally is coming up!! Time to get spirited. •• Get excited for some pumpkin spice latte and candy corn!

not talk. It’s only going to be for an hour maximum; you can handle not talking to your friends for that hour. Secondly, by disrespecting speed limits and hallways, you not only create a disturbance, but you are a danger. The parking lot is already dangerous enough, the last thing that is needed is people going 30+ mph when kids are walking to and from school and trying to navigate the twisty turns to find a parking spot. We are lucky that last year there were no major car crashes in the parking lot, but in the 2016-2017 school year, there was a car crash that put former student Niko Stamos out of the running for a repeat trip to state for track and field. The crash could have been avoided, had one girl been paying attention and going slower. Clogging the hallways may not seem as dangerous as a car crash, but the amount of people that have to go through the main hallway is enough that if someone were to trip, they could be seriously hurt. A safe, encouraging atmosphere makes for a good school year for all.

Neighs Neighs •• When will this heat end? #readyforsweaters •• We still miss our planners :( •• Freshmen get Chromebooks and we’re still salty... •• Seniors, have we applied to college yet?? :/ •• Juniors, it’s time for the ACT and SAT! You’ve got this.

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 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.

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Opinions

YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Why Central students should be politically active Shoshana Weinstein Staff Writer

hen you’re a high school student, it’s easy to feel powerless to affect change. Politics often seems like a complicated aspect of the fast-paced adult world, far removed from the daily life of a high school student. Teens are surrounded by a media culture that tells them they are lazy, sheltered, and self-obsessed. In the face of such a demoralizing message, many teenagers do not participate in politics. However, recently the United States has seen a revival in teen political action. Ever since 17 students died in the 2018 Parkland school shooting, young students have been at the forefront of the conversation around gun control. And the Parkland students are part of a trend of growing political involvement for teens. In fact, a study conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that 71 percent of teens have volunteered, 61 percent have raised money for a cause, and 61 percent have worked to solve an issue in their community. Participation in United States politics is not only beneficial for students, but also extremely important. American society desperately needs to hear the voices of young people, and in many cases, students are doing the work that no other activists can. Why volunteer? Teenagers who are civically engaged are likely to reap personal rewards. According to the New York Times, “A study, published in January in the journal Child Development, found that late adolescents and young adults who voted, volunteered or engaged in activism ultimately went further in school and had higher incomes than those who did not mobilize for political or social change.” Kids who are politically active tend to get better grades and make more money; but why? Well, it might have something

Students gather outside of Parkway Central to protest gun violence in April 2017. Photo by Debra Klevens.

to do with the skills that political involvement teaches students. According to NPR, activism can play a key role in helping teens develop their identity, express themselves, and feel connected to a group. And after all, that does make sense. Activism is a way for students to advocate for their personal ideas, opinions, core values. This allows them to form a strong sense of self, expressing the unique beliefs that inspire them. Additionally, the activist community is a vibrant, flourishing group of people. By joining this community, teens can find like-minded individuals who share their morals, and thus a sense

A crowd forms outside of Parkway Central as students rally to speak out in favor of gun control after the 2017 Parkland school shooting. Photo by Debra Klevens.

of belonging. Teenagers therefore ought to become politically involved simply because it will make them happy, giving them a sense of purpose and of community. Some may push back against the notion of teenaged political involvement; the phrase “too young to have an opinion” often comes into conversation when the topic is discussed among adults. Yet research shows the opposite. According to The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, “Civically engaged teens are much more likely to say they have much in common with people with less money than them, with people of different races, of different ethnic backgrounds, with people who live in their community, and to a lesser extent with people in different parts of the country.” In other words, politically involved teenagers are more empathetic towards others, more accepting and tolerant of diversity. And our world desperately needs that. As political culture in the US becomes more divided and factional, we need kind and open-minded individuals to change the world. Additionally, teenagers possess internet literacy far more advanced than many adults. Thus, they can confidently and articulately express their views online. As social media becomes more influential, teens have gained an important role in political action and activism. In fact, According to the University of Chicago, “Teens who use Twitter are more likely to take part in a protest (16 percent vs. 8 percent of teens who don’t use Twitter) and express political beliefs online (44 percent vs. 25 percent).” They are the demographic that is most capable of reaching hearts and minds through social media, where so many Americans get their news and information. For all of these reasons, teens need to get politically involved. The students here at Parkway Central have the power to change the world around them, and can be immensely influential within their communities. It is time for students to stand up for what they believe in.

“Politically involved teenagers are more empathetic towards others, more accepting and tolerant of diversity.”

Current senior Zahva Naeem pledges to call her senators at a demonstration on Feb. 23. Students participating were encouraged to contact their representatives advocating for stricter gun control. Photo by Debra Klevens.

Opinions

ELIMINATING ALUMINUM

Are you willing to make the deodorant switch? Lindsay Dehn Staff Writer

eodorant, most of the time, is essential to human beings who sweat, but sometimes people don’t take into consideration on what’s actually in it and how they are affecting our body. The purpose of antiperspirants/deodorants is to make us sweat less and smell better with the fragrance that it provides. What most of us don’t realize when we are buying these products, is that the deodorant contains aluminum, which is a very common ingredient found in deodorants. Aluminum chlorohydrate is a chemical compound and is one of the most common ingredients found in most antiperspirants/deodorants. The aluminum in the deodorant is actually blocking the sweat glands in your armpits. With the glands being blocked, the sweat gets trapped underneath the skin causing bacteria to build. This bacteria is the reason why you smell a foul odor in the armpits. To really put the cherry on top, Jessica Cruel found that “the acidity of the aluminum compounds causes a reaction with fabric leaving a “lovely” yellow reminder of your perspiration” and who wants this on their white t-shirt? Non aluminum deodorants not only claim to reduce wetness, they also reduce body odor by combating the bacteria that feed on your sweat. According to Jessica Cruel, senior editor of beauty, “Natural deodorants use essential oils like tea tree and

witch hazel to curb the bacteria” these natural ingredients are much healthier on your skin, especially if you have more sensitive skin. As humans, we are meant to sweat a healthy amount everyday, but when deodorants are preventing us from this natural process My resolution to this problem is to make switch and try to start using non-aluminum deodorants. I’ve noticed a tremendous difference, but it takes a month or so to actually start realizing the results. By using non-aluminum deodorants, not only are you putting less chemicals on your body, but you’re letting your body work naturally and the healthier way. These products are very easy to find, you can go to Wal-

Photo by Christine Stricker

greens, Target, Whole Foods, or order offline. There are many different brands to choose from. One of my favorites is Toms’ because it’s very affordable. Also I enjoy Nourish, which has my favorite scents, almond vanilla and lavender mint.

Sports/News

CHAMPS RETURN TO NEW YEAR Soccer adjusts to newcomers and high expectations By Myori Felix Staff Writer

etting back into the season after bringing home the soccer championship can be an intimidating thing, especially for newcomers on the team. “I definitely have some nerves on my back from being new,” sophomore Teagan Dunne said after his first few weeks on the varsity team. Although he feels nervous he still feels confident in his ability to “overcome the hype and step up to the occasion.” The expectations for the team, following the state championship, can add additional nerves. “I think there definitely is an expectation that we should do good this year since we won last year,” Teagan said. The boys have started off the season with 6 wins and 3 losses and 1 tie, but this doesn’t hinder their confidence for the rest of the season. In fact, veteran player Camden Dunne feels good about their start to the season. “We look better at the start of this season than we did last year,” Camden said. At the start of a season it can be difficult to find your groove and make the chemistry come together. Senior Justin Hathcock, who plays wing mid thinks that the team will do just fine. They started off the season facing Ladue, who players felt would be one of the more challenging teams to beat, and they were right “The talents there, we just have to find a way to play together,” Hathcock said. As far as taking home the state championship once again players feel confident in their ability to do it once again. “Yes I feel the confidence that we can win again, we

just need to progress throughout the season and stay together as a team and work as a team,” said Teagan and senior brother Camden feels the same way. “I’m confident but we have to keep working hard and take it one game at a time,” Camden said.

At left, senior Camden Dunne takes a header; while above, sophomore Teagan Dunne slides during the game against Rockwood Summit on Sept 5. Photo by Megan Fisher.

STUDENTS FEEL SCHOOL SECURITY MUST BE ADDRESSED Tori Favazza Staff Writer

chool safety has become an international issue over the past decade, especially this past year. Already in 2018, there has been a total of 23 school shootings in the U.S. Schools have been debating on how they could advance this protection, and a couple students have decided to speak out on this controversial topic, giving ways on how schools can improve their security. “We should have some metal detectors at the doors, kind of like an airport. This would not only stop weapons from coming into school, but also alcohol and drugs,” junior Ryan Finley said. But not every student agrees with Finley’s proposition. Another junior, Adam Booker, said that metal detectors would take too long, and it’d be too much of a hassle. “There should be more cameras more cameras outside,” Booker said, “To detect who goes in and out of the building.” Junior Devion Harris leaned more towards the after school part of the day for the most supervision, referencing how some students stay after school for neither tutoring nor an activity. “There should be stricter rules for staying after school. People should be staying after school for an activity or tutoring, not just for no reason,” Harris said. Before the Columbine shooting of April 20, 1999, the town of Littleton had absolutely no security cameras on campus. Since then, the schools have installed more than a thousand cameras, some even with the potential to alert staff of unusual activity. By 2015-2016, about 81% of schools had security cameras installed.

Juniors Jacob Levy and Morgan Kinran focused more on a teacher approach. “Teachers, with correctly done background checks, should have access to guns,” Levy said, “This would make sure that the people of authority have a source of protection.” Kinran said there should be more than one resource officer, because “in the case of a school shooter, just one person isn’t enough, considering how many students are at this school.” Corporate representatives at the Security Industry Association adopted a number of new forms of school security, including surveillance cameras with facial recognition capabilities, gunshot detection sensors, automated door locks, and a type of software that scans the social media platforms of people entering and leaving a school. The possibility of door locks that open with a smartphone, motion detectors that alert the faculty before a visitor reaches the buildings proximity, and cameras that track the visitors that roam around the campus could be in the making It will ultimately be the school’s decision on how they will

Students practice intruder drills each year

approach this escalating need for school safety, but students feel that action needs to be taken immediately.

News

SENIORS STRUGGLE WITH STRESS

Students manage anxiety while applying to college Shoshana Weinstein Staff Writer

t’s that time of year: the leaves are starting to change color, the weather’s getting cooler, and seniors at Parkway Central are starting their college applications. Although this is a moment of exciting change for many students, others feel overwhelmed by stress and anxiety. In fact, stress is at an all-time high among high school students, according to a study from the Educational Development Center. Balancing schoolwork, extracurriculars, and social events is already difficult for most students; once college applications are thrown into the mix, many seniors are left feeling crushed under the weight of their responsibilities. So how do seniors cope with this stress? In many cases, the key is to avoid losing perspective. Getting accepted into that dream college can seem like the single most important objective in a student’s life, and the application process could feel like an all-encompassing ordeal as a result. However, it’s best to remember that getting rejected from that Ivy League university is not a judgment of your self-worth, nor will it deter your chances of future success. No matter what college you go to, what you get out of your higher education is up to you. “I am fortunate enough to have some buddies who graduated last year and the year before, so I talk to them,” senior Manny Stephens said. “Mostly they just

say, ‘Bro, you’ll be alright. You’re gonna do fine.’ They usually say that once it’s over, it’s super gratifying, that college is stressful but eventually rewarding.” An attitude like Stephens’s can be immensely helpful for students hoping to manage stress. Sometimes dealing with anxiety is as simple as realizing that you’re going to be fine. Making peace with uncertainty can also be an extremely effective strategy for managing college-related stress. Teachers at Parkway Central report noticing the most anxiety among the students who are unsure of their post-graduation plans. “For some seniors, I know that they’re still unsure of what they want to do in college or even whether they want to go to college or not,” Brad Robertson, AP Psychology teacher, said. “So I think that level of uncertainty definitely creates some stress as we’re talking deadlines.” Decisively choosing which schools you apply to is important. But so is coming to terms with the fact that uncertainty about college acceptance is inevitable, as is uncertainty regarding which career you will pursue in college. “Be okay with not knowing exactly what you want to do. There’s a lot of time to decide, both in high school and in college,” Robertson said. Seniors Divya Minnaganti and Preston Chen meet with Northwestern college admissions officer in the counseling office on Sept. 22. Photo by Shoshana Weinstein.

NEW SCHOOL YEAR WITHOUT PLANNERS Kaylee Canoy Staff Writer

n the year of 2018-19, students at Parkway Central High School did not receive planners, due to new codes of conducts the planners are being remodeled this year to include the new rules. “Not many students used their planners, so we thought it would be okay to delay them for one year while we revise the Student Handbook. Many students prefer to use an electronic calendar on their personal devices instead of a paper planner,”assistant principal Shenita Mayes said. Every year the school pays $5,000 to buy everyone planners. Students share how they feel disoriented and have been forgetful of homework and had to go buy a planner themselves. “Personally I need to write everything down right when it’s assigned so I know to do it,” freshman Nancy Pate Eubank said. “I used planners provided by the school all throughout middle school and elementary. It’s different not having one, but it’s easy to adjust to.” Like Eubank, some other students agreed they personally liked to write down their homework and many had to go out and buy a planner for the new school year. None of the students phone to write down their homework. Parents spend money on school supplies, and planners were another item to spend money on. “I enjoy getting one because I can get whatever style I choose but it’s a bigger hassle and more money for my parents to spend,” sophomore Emma Kodner said.

On the other hand some students did not feel as strongly as others and didn’t even care about not being given a planner. “Usually only use my planner the first two weeks of school so it doesn’t really matter to me,” senior Preston Chen said. Some students feel that they would not use their planners, while others are mourning their loss. “I write down all my homework in my planner and now I gotta go buy my own planner because my own school isn’t providing me a planner,” sophomore Dylan Floyd said, “Taking away my sense of organization, now I’m less confident in my school work.”

An assortment of planners that students bought for the 2018-19 school year. Photo by Abby Prywitch.

Sophomore Sydney Stahlschmidt writes down her daily homework. Photo by Kaylee Canoy.

News

CREW CREATES CONNECTIONS

Link Crew warmly welcomes this year’s new students

Link Crew members help their freshmen often in small, subtle ways. A smile in the halls, helping with unders it enters its second year of operation, Link Crew has standing schedules, answering questions been helping incoming freshmen and new students about school, and giving tips to help with adapt to the ways of high school. Both members and adjusting. For some incoming students, new students have been enjoying this new way of community like now leader, Amari Hurn, this has building. been very helpful. “We are basically the helping hand, we welcome all new “I, too, was a new student last students with open arms!” senior and Link Crew member Amari year,” Hurn said. “A lot of the Link Crew Hurn said. members helped me my first few weeks Link Crew was created last year to help incoming students of school, getting to my classes and just learn how high school works and provide any help they need being people I could talk to if I saw them adjusting. They do this through playing around school.” various games, talking with the freshmen, The group’s and generally providing aid when needed. advice has also “Link Crew is a way for upperclassbeen beneficial, as men to introduce new freshman and new freshman Dani Lee students into the school through communiexplains. Lee had ty building,” junior Brooke Hilton said. “We mainly worried just try and build a community to introduce about time manthem to the bigger things at Central.” agement going into Much of Link Crew is centered high school, as Brooke Hilton junior around community. Link Crew members she had joined cross country and was interact with a group of freshmen, strengthening taking two honor classes. their community as new students. In turn, the whole school’s “They answer really great questions and they give us some community is built up as well. personal information on how to navigate our way through easiSenior and Link Crew leader Lanese Farr said that Link ly,” Lee said. Crew is about “trying to help the freshmen understand who they These interactions have been good for members of Link are, what it means to be a person that goes to high school, and Crew as well. Initially, many of the Link Crew members were where they fit in.” encouraged to join as both a way to be involved, as well as a good Coming into high school, many Link Crew members thing to spend their time doing. The relationships created have remember the feeling of uncertainty. For some, this served as an been a huge positive. adequate motivation. “I consider them my little babies. It’s like a little family,” “I think we all remember our freshman year or first year Hilton said. coming into high school,” senior Stella Bauer said. “It was awkLink Crew members were chosen based on their ability to ward, you didn’t really know what was going on; you had been help incoming students, looking for specific traits to make sure told stories from middle school.” they were the best for the job. Potential members were judged From middle school, students are faced with the same for positivity and friendliness. warnings. Whether they are being told about how much work “The tryouts were basically just playing the same games high school provides, or how much harder the classes are, expec- the freshmen did and they judged you on how cheerful, happy, tations are built up that create fear of high school. and welcoming you were. That cheerfulness and welcoming “We don’t want people to fall behind or feel like they’re lost aspect is what they look for,” junior Balaji Vijayakumar said. in high school,” Bauer said. “Nobody likes that feeling.” The incoming students and Link Crew first met this year As such, one of the main purposes of Link Crew is to during freshman orientation. There they played games and gave simply be available to the incoming students. Whether it be antours of the school. They also introduced the new students to swering a question or a simple wave in the hallway, Link Crews administrators, helped them with their schedules, and familmake themselves open for the new students. iarize them with their Link Crew Leaders. Each month, Link “It’s just being a friendly face around school, someone they Crew meets with freshmen to follow up and make sure they are know that they can say hi to in the halls,” junior Jackson Sniff adjusting smoothly. said.

Wesley Henshaw Managing Editor

“I consider them my little babies. It’s like a little family.”

2 1. Link Leader Chelsea Baird (11) looks on as (left to right) freshmen Amarion Lorthridge, Chelsea Smith, Lily Liu, and John Mendel participate in the “Human Knot” activity during AC Lab on Aug. 31. The goal is to link arms with someone and by the end of the game untangle the entire group so everyone is standing in a circle. Photo by Wesley Henshaw 2. Link Leaders (left to right) Seyoon Choi (12), Stella Bauer (12), Allison Ludwinski (12), and Remi Taylor (12) prepare their AC Lab group for Link Crew activities on Sept. 21. Photo by Wesley Henshaw. 3. Bauer and Choi do “Roses, Buds, Thorns” with freshman Leo Neuman in Annie Perez’s freshman AC Lab on Sept. 21. The activity requires that the group say one good thing that has happened, one thing they are excited for, and one bad thing that has happened. A rose, bud, and thorn respectively. Photo by Wesley Henshaw 4. On Sept. 21, Link Leader Darby Blum (11) joins freshmen AC Lab in the “Human” knot activity as Link Leader Hunter King (11) and Baird encourage the group. Photo by Wesley Henshaw

News

THE M.O. FOR THE SRO

The who, what, and why of Central’s new school officer Lee Foust Staff Writer

s the 2018-2019 school year begins, there’s a major personnel change taking place. The new SRO hire Travis Layton has stepped in to fill the shoes of former officer Caswell. For many students, this will be the first time a shift in the SRO position has occurred while they were in school. Any student who attended the school before this year will be familiar with Caswell, who was employed as Central’s SRO for five years. “I understand kids having questions: the SRO is not a permanent assignment, and never has been,” Principal Tim McCarthy said. “That role changes and the assignment changes.” While Caswell was widely loved by the student body, the position of SRO has a relatively quick turnaround and it was time for a new hire. The hiring process itself is relatively simple. “It really starts with the Chesterfield PD, it’s their employee, they hire with consultation from us,” McCarthy said. The police department approaches the school saying, “‘So these are the candidates we have, can you talk with these individuals’” But this relatively simple process of application, interview, and hire was a little different for Officer Layton. “About a year ago now, I was selected to be an elementary school SRO, but due to manpower issues that move couldn’t be made at the time,” Layton said. “[Central] didn’t have time to go through that whole process so they approached a few people and I volunteered to come to the high school instead of the middle school.” Now that Officer Layton is here, though, there are a few

different jobs he must take on around the school. “When you come to the school there are things you’re supposed to do like provide security against any kind of threat, things like that, take law enforcement action when necessary,” Layton said. “But a lot of it is communicating with the administrators and staff to know what is it they need and do what you can to fulfill those needs.” Besides just these daily duties, there’s another, more personal facet of an SRO’s job. While the main purpose is to maintain a safe school environment, the job’s impact digs a little deeper. “I think that comes back to the second purpose of the SRO position which is really, early on, helping young people develop a positive relationship with a law enforcement officer,” McCarthy said. The school resource officer is very different from many other police jobs, in that a lot of communication is required when deciding to take action. Out in the field, it’s almost entirely up to the officer’s discretion as to how a situation is handled. In a school environment, this independence is far more limited. “Depending on who’s involved, the severity of it, things can be handled either at a school level, or if it’s severe enough, like a chronic problem or something like that, the decision may be made to not only take action from the schools standpoint but on a criminal and police standpoint as well,” Layton said. All in all, being an SRO is a very important and multifaceted job, with a key place here in Central. They not only keep Central a safe learning environment but also help create strong bonds in the community with law enforcement.

“Schools aren’t prisons and sometimes that can be a fine line, and so having an SRO who is present and visible without being overbearing [is important],” McCarthy said.

New School Resource Officer Travis Layton directs after-school traffic. This is on of the many duties an SRO will perform. Photo by Lee Foust

NEED FOR SLEEP, NEED TO STUDY, CAUSES CONFLICT Alex Maisenhelder Online Sports Editor

leep is a big point of contention for many High School students and teachers. In an article about sleep deprivation (SD), written by Paula Alhola and Päivi Polo-Kantola, it is purveyed that lack of sleep, or your sleep being affected has an effect on your cognitive performance “Both total and partial sleep deprivation [SD] induce adverse changes in cognitive performance. First and foremost, total SD impairs attention and working memory, but it also affects other functions, such as long-term memory and decision-making.” (Alhola and Kantola 2007). Whilst total sleep deprivation has the most serious effects, partial sleep deprivation, which is more common, also has detrimental effects. Many students suffer from partial sleep deprivation, such as senior Tony DeVasto. DeVasto usually holds a very consistent sleep schedule of roughly seven-and-a-half hours. However, he felt the effects of sleep deprivation during hell week for theatre. “On average, [during hell week] I would get five to six hours of sleep, more than an hour less than other days,” DeVasto said. However it appears that recently he has been suffering partial sleep deprivation without it being hell week. “I attribute some my sleep loss as of late being electronics. The electronics provide a distraction, sometimes for scholarly purposes, sometimes for personal entertainment,” DeVasto said. While he may be in the minority of being a regular sleep schedule, he is far from the only student who suffers from partial

sleep deprivation. The school nurse agrees that “sleep is the most important thing in order to perform well at school. Things will come much easier to you when you are well rested,” Susan Hunt said. Hunt agrees with the research article that a lack of sleep makes students feel lousy and reduces their cognitive skills. It is well known that many high school students lack sleep, but what differs is the cause for it. “Some students take a lot of honors and AP classes, which move really quick, and this means a much larger workload,” Hunt said. Honors classes are available every year here at Central, whereas AP classes become available during sophomore year. AP World is one of the first AP courses available to students, but a plethora of AP classes become available throughout

Photo courtesy of Pixabay.

schooling, same with honors courses. “I did not take many AP or honors course, but I did take honors math. So whenever I had homework for that class, it took longer to complete my homework and I lost sleep,” Baris said. Even if a student only takes one honors course like Baris, it may still cause a loss of sleep and they would feel the impact. However most teenagers in general do not get enough sleep regardless of workload. Different social aspects of a teenagers life can influence their sleep. “While sleep needs can be different from person to person, the average teenager gets around 7-7.25 hours of sleep per night. That is more than two hours less than the recommended 9-9.5 hours of sleep,” Hunt said. She also acknowledges that many factors like religion, customs, and family events will lead to students getting less sleep Photo courtesy of Pixabay. without even factoring in their workload. Based on these points, it is clear to see why sleep and its effects is a hot topic of conversation throughout schools. While sleep has the ability to help you, a lack of it can prove to be harmful to an adolescent.

News

WELCOMING TEACHERS TO PCH Central adds six new core class teachers to the staff

By Abby Prywitch Social Media Director

Jessica LaSota Science

Libby Reed English

Paige Stewart History

Previous experience: Last year LaSota was a long- term sub in the science department.“This is my first time having my own classroom, which is very exciting,” LaSota said. College: University of Missouri Most excited for: “I am glad to now be a part of the official PCH family. I am most excited to continue getting to know my students and see some extracurricular events,” LaSota said. LaSota is also looking forward to sports, concerts, and theatre events. Fun fact:”I am not from St. Louis, but I appreciate toasted rav’s and gooey butter cake/cookies any day,” LaSota said.

Previous experience: This will be Reed’s 14th year of teaching. Previously she has taught at Villa Duchesne and Parkway South High School. College: For her undergraduate degree, Reed went to Mizzou. She earned her master’s degrees from Webster University and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Most excited for: “So far the community seems really positive and supportive and I’m really excited about that,” Reed said. Fun Fact: Reed loves British mysteries.

Previous experience: This will be Stewart’s fourth year of teaching. Previously she taught in the Wright City School District for three years. College: Stewart attended Southeast Missouri state where she earned her bachelor’s degree. She earned her master’s degree from Lindenwood. “[I] am currently pursuing an education specialist degree in teacher leadership from Southeast Missouri State University,” Stewart said. Most excited for: Stewart is most excited to be a part of a large school community. Fun fact: Stewart has a twin brother, but they were born on different days. He was born before midnight while she was born over an hour after midnight.

Jeff Rogers English

Sarah Burgess English

Rupal Patel Science

Previous experience: Prior to coming to Parkway Central, Rogers taught in St. Louis Public Schools for a year and then at Parkway West Middle for the last 5 years. College: Rogers went to The Ohio State University. Fun fact: “I’ve lived all over. I am originally from Ohio. We’ve lived in DC and Virginia and Ohio then here,” Rogers said. Check out page 9 for a story on Rogers unique class project.

Previous experience: Previously, Burgess has taught at two public schools in California, at three different schools Alabama, and her most recent school was in Joplin. Her first sub job when she moved to St. Louis was here in the counseling office as a long term sub job. After that she was hired to be the TA in the English department for the remainder of the school year. College: Chapman University Fun fact: In high school, Burgess was in Sister Act 2.

Previous experience: Previously Patel has taught a year of Chemistry in Allen, Texas at Allen High School and before that Patel taught Physics for a year in McKinney Texas at McKinney Boyd High School. College: Patel attended SIUE (Southern Illinois University Edwardsville) for her bachelor’s in chemistry and attended Grand Canyon University for her master’s in education. Fun fact: Patel loves to paint her nails and she has 76 different colors of nail polish.

Check online at pchcorral.com to learn about other new staff members for the school year.

NEWS

ON THE WAY TO ISRAEL

Students visit the Jewish homeland with varied purpose Gabby Abowitz

Photography Editor

ver the summer it is routine for some kids to go on vacation. Most kids that are Jewish wish to travel to Israel. Many kids this past summer went with different Jewish organizations with other kids their age. But traveling to Israel can be difficult. Some students struggled with steep airfare prices and others dreaded the long flight. Junior Allie Chervitz experienced something different. As soon as she sat down on the plane she got sick. “I could not breathe out of my nose and I was sitting right next to the bathroom and I literally used all of the tissues in both of the bathrooms,” Chervitz said. She decided to go to Israel because she believes the summer going into junior year is when most people go. “I realized I wasn’t doing anything and it was my first year not being a camper and I have always wanted to go to Israel and have been talking about it and ever since my brother went. This year I’ve been extremely excited and I’ve heard many great things,” Chervitz said. Chervitz went to Israel for 20 days and with the group she went with they planned to go to all of they major cities and seas in Israel. “I could only pack a limited amount and I accidentally overpacked and I had to rewear clothes but other clothes I didn’t wear at all,” Chervitz said. She traveled through BBYO passport which “is a group where I didn’t know anyone and I purposely chose this group to go with so it can be a more personal experience” Chervitz said. “My favorite part was meeting all of the people on my trip. Also getting to stay in different kibbutzim which is a little

village where the Israelites live. And it was super cool to be apart of their community and see how things work and we got to see how they live,” Chervitz said. For sophomore Brette Gershenson, it was a different experience. Before, her group left to Israel the Rabbi from United Hebrew came to the airport and they all stood under the chuppah and she gave them a blessing to have a safe trip. Once she boarded the aircraft, “The plane was a lot bigger than I was expecting because I’ve never been on an international flight. It was a super long flight and it was difficult to sleep,” Gershenson said. Brette could also only pack up to 50 pounds in a suitcase and bring a backpack for hiking. “I went through Israel Bound through the Jewish Federation because the trip was through United Hebrew and that’s the temple I attend...I knew a lot of friends going from the sleep away camp I go to” Gershenson said. “My favorite part was getting to know everyone on my trip and trying new things like repelling, banana boating, and camel riding. I also really liked seeing all of the history and culture there,” Gershenson said. Sophomore Mia Hollander had a difficult plane ride over seas. “The flight was really long because we had layovers in New York and Switzerland which made it even more tiring that it already would be,” Hollander said. Her favorite part was going to a beach in Tel Aviv. “The view was really breathtaking and it just really put things into perspective of where I was and how thankful I am to have to opportunity to experience this,” Hollander said.

1. The Israel Bound trip getting blessed by the United Hebrew Rabbi before getting on the plane. 2. Sophomore Allie Chervitz and a friend riding a camel. 3. Sophomore Brette Gershenson and friends sitting on a statue at the Israeli art museum. Photos courtesy of Allie Chervitz and Brette Gershenson.

HOMECOMING TAKES ON NEW LOCATION Homecoming Week Schedule:

Class Games: October 10 at 6-8 (kickball and tug-of-war) Homecoming Game: October 12 at 7 p.m. against Parkway West.

Spirit Week: Oct. 9-12

Tuesday: Pajama Day Wednesday: Class color (wear this color to class games)

Homecoming Dance: October 13 from 8-11 p.m., doors close at 9:30.

Thursday: Theme Day (Disney) Freshmen: Frozen Sophmores: Moana Juniors: The Jungle Book Seniors: Halloween Town

Attire: Formal (no tennis shoes or jeans).

Friday: Colts Pride Day

Pep Rally: October 12 at 1 p.m.

New Location: Gym B

Ticket Info:

Tickets go on sale: Monday, September 24 for $12 a ticket. Ticket prices will go up to $15 each on October 9. The purchase deadline is October 11, no exceptions!

Henry T. Eubank News Editor

Features

RED AND WHITE NIGHT LIGHTS The annual tradition kicks off varsity fall sports Avery Cooper Staff Writer

t the beginning of every school year, all the fall sports of Parkway Central showcase their talent and teams on Red and White night. On Aug. 17, the varsity level sports scrimmaged in front of family and fans to show off the new teams and the night ended with the annual football jamboree. The tradition has been going on for countless fall seasons and is always seen as an important part of year. “I’ve been here for over 25 years and can’t ever remember not having it,” Athletic Director John Theobald said. For the students, Red and White night is key part of student life. Many of the athletes see it as a night to work together and create goals for the team. Senior Camden Dunne is one of the captains of varsity soccer team and hopes to bring good leadership to the team this year. “A lot of people are going to have nerves early on in the season and it’s just a matter of getting them back into things, just calming them down, and performing well,” Dunne said.

1. Nikhil Deshmukh (10) dribbles while Justin Hathcock (12) defends the ball during Red and White night. “It was pretty fun, it’s cool being in front of everybody and showing off,” Deshmukh said. Photo by Abby Prywitch. 2. Joey Stecher (9) tucks in during a dive. “It was a little scary at first, the first dive was like ‘Am I gonna do bad?’ but then after the first dive I started to do really well,” Stecher said. Photo by Isabel Roman. 3. Camden Dunne (12) defends MJ Fritz (11)on the stadium field. Photo by Kaylee Canoy. 4. Freshman Elisa Dohrmann swings during the Red and White night scrimmage. “It was really cool, but I was kinda nervous at the same time,” Dohrmann said. Photo by Megan Fisher. 5. Andre Butts (10) runs the ball during the football jamboree. Photo by Corral Staff.

Cover Story

a case for

chromebooks

Parkway’s new ALT Project gives freshmen Chromebooks Madeline Lee and Athena Stamos Copy Editor and Editor-in-Chief

them it,” sophomore Chase Henry said. “But it should’ve started earlier and the freshmen aren’t responsible.” s part of a new program that the district unveiled, the freshThe district’s Innovation Action Team are responsible for decidmen were given Chromebooks. ing how to roll out the Chromebooks to the students. In 2016, the “I like how students can access many things at ease,” elementary schools were given Chromebooks. In 2017, they added freshman Vassilios Georges said. “I use it for resources.” the middle schools, and in 2018 they added this year’s freshmen. In eighth grade, the class of 2022 (current freshman) were given Aimed at providing students with more resources, this has the opportunity to get a chromebook as well that caused some controversy among the had to stay in the classroom. This year was differstudents. ent as they were allowed to take them home for ¨I feel like it is a waste of money and is the whole school year. kind of unfair,¨ Henry said. “What makes “The Chromebooks help with school and the freshman different from us?¨ studying,” freshman Dani Lee said. “I can look up The Chromebooks were administered YouTube videos if I need help with a subject and through their AC Lab classes. email my teachers easier since their emails come “I felt that the [freshman] felt comfortright up.” able with the Chromebooks,” freshman Approximately $400,000 dollars was spent this AC Lab teacher Susan King said. “I have year on the Access Learning Today Project; the Chase Henry sophomore no memory of any problems aside from project that was aimed at giving students access to some of [the Chromebooks] needing to technology in order to better prepare them for the changing world. be charged.” “We, the district, felt that the versatility and functionality of a Having access to Chromebooks may help freshmen be able to Chromebook would meet most of our needs,” Director of Technolcomplete their school work, however upperclassmen don’t necessarogy and Innovation Jason Rooks said. “We saw a strong integration ily have the luxury of taking one home. between our already established G-Suite for Education environ“I think it’s annoying that they’re slowly integrating them instead ment and the Chromebook. The relatively inexpensive cost of of just letting everyone have the opportunity to have them,” junior Chromebooks allowed us to ensure that it would be a sustainable Emily Kirkham said. “Personally, I broke my computer so I don’t device.” have much access at home. I think they should have asked everyone The incoming freshman will continue to receive Chromebooks if they wanted a Chromebook.” through 2021. On the other hand, other students are okay with it. Whether or I think every year like a new class comes in they should give not having a Chromebook does not affect them as much as others.

“What makes the freshman different from us?”

“If I had just been one year younger I would’ve gotten [a Chromebook],” sophomore Peter Schaefer said. “But I understand how they are phasing them in, so I’m fine with it.” Non-freshman students still have access to Chromebooks in class with the use of the Chromebook carts, as well as access to school and public libraries. “We have lots of other resources,” King said. “Other students are not deprived completely of technology, so I’m happy. It has been a good experience so far.” In response to critics of the freshman being given Chromebooks, freshman Ebony Page dismisses them. “I don’t want to carry around the Chromebook either,” Page said. “But teachers are already giving me a lot of homework, so I’ll use it.” Other districts are doing similar things as well. For example, Ladue high schoolers were given MacBooks for the same purpose that Parkway has handed out Chromebooks, after previously being given iPads. “It’s not perfect, but we are dealing with a large population [of students] and expensive equipment,” King said. “You have to have control and structure. I think the district is doing this in the right way.”

3 1. Amber Garcia (10) and Julie Ryterski (10) utilize chromebooks in their daily classes, as almost each class has access to Chromebooks on a daily basis. Photo by Nandhini Siva. 2. GraceAnn Robinson (10) and Deja Campbell(10) work on a project in their English class. One use for the Chromebooks is that it easily allows to people to work on the same document or project at one time. Photo by Nandhini Siva. 3. Christian Cross (10) accesses the G-Suite, which is the Google program that includes Google Classroom and is within the Parkway domain, is accessed by students and teachers on a daily basis. Google Classroom is used by the majority of teachers at Parkway Central and is a place where teachers can post assignments for students to turn in, among other things. Photo by Nandhini Siva.

Sports

FALL SPORTS ATHLETES TO WATCH Logan Potts Sports Editor

arly freshman year is usually the time that student athletes are getting adjusted to high school and just trying to keep themselves from being overwhelmed. But for Elisa Dohrmann, who is playing on the varsity softball team as a freshman, there’s more at stake . “I feel a little bit of pressure being a freshman on varsity because I know that I’m playing ahead of some of the older players, and while it’s my first year playing, it’s some player’s last year, so we want to play well,” Dohrmann said. “All of the players are really welcoming, so they take away a lot of the pressure.” The freshman 3rd and 1st baseman is already making an impact on the infield with a .933 fielding percentage, 9 putouts, and 5 assists. “I expect myself to become a stronger hitter and defender and I expect myself to help my team in any way I can,” Dohrmann said. It turns out the team has not done too well so far. The team has started out the season with a 1-7 record, losing 7 in a row after winning their opening game 4-2 over Pattonville. Dohrmann still has confidence in the team even with the slow start. “I think that once we get rolling, we’ll be really good,” Dohrmann said. “We have a lot of strong and quick defenders, good hitters, good pitchers, and we all really work together. We build each other up and are overall a really positive and fun team, so once we get going, we can go far.” Look for Dohrmann to continue to prove herself on the field and for the team to reach their potential as the season goes on. Winning a state title for your school is something that not many people can say they have done. The varsity soccer team did that last fall and junior Jackson Koerner was able to be a part of it as a sophomore. “It was unimaginable because winning state for the school is the biggest accomplishment possible and the fact that it was the first championship for soccer in the schools history just made it that much more amazing,” Koerner said. Repeating a state title is one of the hardest things to do in high school sports, but Koerner thinks that the team can do it. “The team has all the talent to make it back to the state championship we just need to come together as a unit and win

and lose as a team just like last year,” Koerner said. The team has started out with a 3-3 record, losing their first three games, but have won three in a row. Koerner has his own individual goals as well as his team goals. “I need to work on communicating with my teammates more and overall improvement in attitude and ability,” Koerner said. Look for the soccer team to make another run at a state title and for Koerner to make improvements on his game. Senior season. Big expectations. Future NCAA athlete. Girls volleyball player Mackenzie Duvall looks to improve her game before heading off to college. “I need to work on my blocking and closing the black more consistently,” Duvall said. Duvall has 25 kills and 3 aces on 15 serves so far this season. “I think the team will do pretty well this year,” Duvall said. “We will be competing against some pretty tough teams this year.” The team has a record of 10-8-1, bouncing back nicely after losing 4 straight matches. Duvall has plans to continue her volleyball career in college. “I will be playing at Eastern Illinois next year,” Duvall said. “I love the sport and it is something to do to fill up my free time.” Look for Duvall to have a strong final season of high school volleyball. Like Duvall, football player Ryan Long will be looking to have a great senior season. “My goal for myself this season is to be an all-state defensive player,” Long said. The running back/linebacker also has a pretty high goal for his team this year. “I want the team to be successful through the regular season, and hopefully, we can win a district championship,” Long said. This is looking like it will be a very tough goal to reach as the team has started out with a 1-3 record, with three straight losses following a tough

opening night win against Rockwood Summit. Long also has another goal that he’s looking to accomplish, and it’s the long game. His sister is the first member of his family and he looks to follow in her footsteps. “I want to play college ball,” Long said. “If I don’t go to college, I will be struggling just like my parents. Where I come from, not a lot of people make it out, so I want to go get that education so i don’t have to stay in the same place like my parents did.” Look for Long to have a good season and hopefully reach his goal of playing in college. Unlike Long and Duvall, senior girls golfer Carleigh Murphy is not interested in playing her sport in college. “I won’t play in college because when you play a sport in college, it takes up almost all of your time and I don’t want my life to be golf all the time,” Murphy said. Even though it is her last season and last year of high school, Murphy is excited to get through it. “I’m excited for my senior year because I’m ready to move on. High school is getting kind of old,” Murphy said. But before high school ends, Murphy does have some goals for herself and the team this year. “My coach says that every match we have until conference and districts are a dress rehearsal,” Murphy said. “My goal is to improve my game as much as I can before conference so that we do well and move onto districts and state.” Look for Murphy to have a successful final year of golf. 1: Senior Mackenzie Duvall spikes the ball in a match against John Burroughs on Sept. 5. Photo by Catherine Ke. 2: Senior Ryan Long runs the ball against Parkway North on Sept. 21. Photo by Wagner Photography. 3. Senior Carleigh Murphy puts the ball at Forest Lake on Sept. 12. Photo by Sophie Stinnett.

4: Junior Jackson Koerner runs on to the field for a game against Ladue on Aug. 28. Photo by Catherine Ke.

Sports

SOFTBALL GETS READY FOR THE SEASON Players strive to keep progressing through hard work Margaret Vierling Staff Writer

nticipating a positive season, sophomore pitcher Riley Perry said that the team has a definite strength in “Teammates building each other up. We all share the same goal of winning.” The softball team is off to a rough start but there are still many games left in the season for an opportunity at success. “Losing is no fun so I want to strive to win and be the best we can be,” senior second baseman Maggie Kilcullin said. Softball season is a short season, so it goes by in a flash. Most of the work put in to be successful is during the off season. Improving yourself in the summer time is a great way to achieve victories. “I have played a majority of positions in the past, but now I am an outfielder. Centerfield is my favorite position overall because I enjoy it so much,” junior Kara Thomasson said. Playing the outfield is an important part of the game because there is a lot of ground to cover when the ball is being hit fast right at you. “I conditioned over the summer and pitched almost everyday to build endurance on the field,” Perry said. It is important to put in the work before the season begins so players are ready to go. Perry will play for the STL Chaos during the summer. She takes private batting lessons in Eureka to enhance her hitting skills for high school softball. “I want to keep striving for a winning season by continuing to build each of our teammates up and we all share the same goal of winning,” Perry said. If you play a sport in general, you have to want to win. That is one of the most important parts of playing on a team. Wanting

it for yourself and for your teammates will produce a winning season. Senior Molly Wesolich knows that winning some games is key to feeling like the season went well. “The satisfaction that comes with winning really drives us to have a successful season,” Wesolich said. Winning is an important part of having an upbeat and positive season. Continuously working during the season provides contentment in each player. Softball should be about having fun while being victorious. “My favorite part is getting to know the girls and getting closer to the team itself growing in our relationships with each other,” Wesolich said. The key to a good season is to cheer everyone on and be prosperous.

Central softball gives high fives to eachother after a game on August 17. Photo by Megan Fisher

Sophomore pitcher Riley Perry pitches the ball at the Parkway Central softball field on August 17. Photo by Megan Fisher

WILD CARDS SURGE INTO CONTENTION Patrick McColl

Staff Writer

ince the MLB All Star Break, the St. Louis Cardinals have been one of the best teams in the league, with a 39-24 record. Their record in August was the best in the league at 22-6. That hot streak has jolted the Cardinals into the Playoff picture. During the Cardinals surge, there were plenty of players that stepped up. But one in particular, Matt Carpenter, has had one of the bigger turnarounds in MLB history. On May 15, Matt Carpenter was only hitting a measly .140, and had a .286 OBP. As of September 25, Carpenter now hits .261, has a .377 OBP, and has slugged a National League leading 36 home runs to go along with 80 RBI’s. Coming out of May, Carpenter only had a total of 7 home runs. All this success may make you think that their something else going on, right? Yes, Carpenter is taking something, but it’s not a performance enhancing drug or PED. Instead, his homemade salsa has seemed to kick things off for Carpenter. It started with a series in Chicago in mid July when Carpenter hit 3 home runs in one game. Carpenter ate his salsa that day, so he figured why not eat it again. The next day he did well again, so he continued to eat the salsa as he continued to climb. Now, it has become a phenomenon around the clubhouse, and a lot of other Cardinals players are getting into it. “Everyone is literally eating every bit of salsa that you can eat, I have it on every meal” Greg Garcia said, backup infielder for the Cardinals, in an interview with Fox Sports Midwest. With all of the craze in the salsa, Schnucks has started to sell Carpen-

ter’s salsa, but it has sold out fast, being one of the most popular items on the shelf. Players have a direct impact on success of the team with their play on the field, however manager Mike Shildt has had very good success with the team. After the firing of Mike Matheny, then interim manager Mike Shildt took over a mediocre team on July 14. Since then, he has lead the Cardinals into the

The St. Louis Cardinals’ Paul Delong (12) celebrates with teammates after hitting a two-run home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the ninth inning on Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018, at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. The Cardinals won, 3-1. (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times/TNS)

playoff picture, a 40-24 record, and has been recognized for his better management of pitchers and connection with the players. In a recent postgame interview on Fox Sports Midwest, Shildt praised the Cardinals after a 7-3 series finale loss against the Atlanta Braves. “I love this club. This club scratches, claws, competes” said Shildt. That certainly seemed to be the case in that series, as the Cardinals were able to come back multiple times to win the first game of three on Monday, followed by a blowout win on Tuesday. Many have heard of the Cardinals uprising around the school, including Michael Feit, a Special Ed teacher and Chicago Cub fan here at the school. “I think the Cardinals are the scariest team in the National League right now, regardless of Wildcard or Division Champ” Feit said. Certainly, high praise from a Cubs fan. Coming into the final stretch with a tight wild card race, the Cardinals are going to need to turn it up and continue to play great baseball in order to reach the postseason this year. As of Tuesday, September 25, the Cardinals are in second place for the Wild Card and 3 games behind the Brewers for first place. The Cardinals remaining schedule features 2 more games against the Milwaukee Brewers, and after that they will travel to the north side of Chicago to play the division rival Chicago Cubs. If the playoffs started today, the Cardinals would have to travel to Milwaukee to take on the Brewers in the National League Wild Card Game. If they were to win that game, they would advance on to the National League Division Series against the Chicago Cubs.

Entertainment

ALBUM REVIEW: BOARDING HOUSE REACH David Amirdjanian Opinions Editor

ack White, a 12 time Grammy award winner and previous member of The White Stripes, released his third solo album and first new album in nearly four years.

Songs I Love: “Corporation”: Really love the way the song progresses; it almost sounds like a House song with each instrument being introduced one at a time. Jacks vocals breaking the progression leading into the bridge yelling “Who’s with me?” before a bongo solo, then transitions back and progresses the song. With each bridge you can hear White progressively yelling louder until he’s just screaming at the top of his lungs about starting a corporation, with instruments getting more and more intricate behind him. “Over and Over and Over”: A track that was in White’s back-catalog since 2005, “Over and Over and Over” is chaotic and repetitive, but in the greatest way. “Over and over” is chanted throughout the track by a chorus of women in various tones and voices, sounding operatic and almost demonic at times. The bongo solo was a nice touch to break up the song a little towards the end. “Respect Commander”: The song starts with a slow tempo drum loop, then they speed up the whole track making it sound like a 90’s breakbeat techno track (think of the Powerpuff Girls intro song) especially with the sound effects he adds in the back. The songs first lyrics don’t come in until the two minute mark,

slowing the pace of the song and turning back into a bluesy masterpiece. White’s guitar work in this song is astonishing.

part since I end up skipping through the song when I listen to the album on my own.

“Get in the Mind Shaft”: A very dreamy song, that I can only describe as robo-funk. If that doesn’t give you an idea how strange and genre bending this song is, I don’t know what will. White shows his versatility as an artist on this track, establishing that he isn’t bound to the genres that he’s known for

The filler songs were too boring and skeletal for me to enjoy it, broke the flow of the album at some points. The last two tracks was the most anticlimactic way to end such a chaotic album. Other than that, I love the direction White is taking with his music on this album, showing the listeners and the fans that he isn’t a one trick pony when it comes to garage rock and blues.

“Hypermisophoniac”: By far the most interesting song in this album, fully due to the instrumentation. The whole song has this electronic noise playing in the back, sounding like various sci-fi space station sounds.

Songs that were decent: “Why Walk a Dog?”: Super bluesy, with a grumbling guitar trudging along through the whole song. An electric organ plays throughout. Like the song, but it isn’t the greatest on the album. “Connected By Love”: The song is very orchestral, I like it but it’s a little too slow towards the beginning of the song. Picks up a whole lot towards the end, but not for as long as I’d like it, it ends as soon as the instrumental gets interesting.

Songs I Dislike: “What’s Done is Done”: I usually don’t have a problem with slow songs, and while the instrumentation of this song isn’t necessarily bad, the first minute of the song features some of the most painfully annoying vocals I’ve heard in a while. The closing half redeems itself with cool organ work, but I rarely get to that

Score: 8/10 Genres: Experimental Rock, Blues Rock, Garage Rock

ALBUM OF THE SUMMER: ASTROWORLD OR SCORPION? Trey Williams Staff Writer

Astroworld by Travis Scott (left) was released on Aug. 3, 2018 and features such guests as Drake, The Weeknd, Quavo, Takeoff, Frank Ocean and Kid Cudi just to name a few. Scorpion by Drake (right) was released on Jun. 29, 2018 and features many artists, such as Jay-Z, Ty Dolla Sign, Nicki Minaj, Future and Lil Wayne.

Second on Charts, First in Hearts

he only album this summer to stay at number one for more than a week was Travis Scott’s Astroworld (other than Scorpion, of course). Travis Scott is a trap artist known for spacey beats and his creative use of auto-tune. Travis Scott made waves in 2012 with his debut album Rodeo, featuring his most well known song “Antidote”. The hype for his new album has been massive, does Travis Scott live up to it? While I don’t think it’s AOTY worthy, like the hype may lead you to believe, I enjoyed this album quite a bit. This album to me feels like fast food, in the best way possible. This isn’t the deepest album I’ve ever heard. Travis Scott doesn’t do anything groundbreaking musically either. What makes this album great is how easy it is to listen to. Scott’s beats are bass and reverb heavy, which contribute to the spacey mood of the album, “COFFEE BEAN” being one of my favorites. I also like Scott’s vocals far more than I thought I would. It feels like the auto-tune is used like an instrument instead of a mask for poor vocals, especially on songs like “STARGAZING”. There are also some genuinely beautiful moments on the album, like the synth solo at the end of “WAKE UP” featuring The Weeknd. There are some aspects to the album I wish were slightly different. This album is packed with beat switches. I don’t necessarily think that’s a bad thing, but sometimes it feels unnecessary. The most popular (and my favorite) song on the album has to be “SICKO MODE”, but the beat switches (especially the first one) didn’t add to the song at all. Though not every album needs to be groundbreaking, I still wish Travis tried to challenge himself creatively more than he did. Overall, I thought Astroworld was a fun listen, and I’d recommend it to anyone that enjoys trap.

Scorpion: Best Seller, Boring Listen

rake is one of the most successful rappers of this decade, accumulating 30 top ten hits in his career. Hits like “Hotline Bling” and “One Dance” seemed to be inescapable when they came out, but Scorpion, Drake’s fifth album, takes it to the next level. “God’s Plan” smashed the charts early this year, staying at number one for almost three months, and that was only the beginning. When his new album dropped, every single song from the album charted on the Hot 100, four of which in the top ten. “In My Feelings” debuted only at number six, but the popularity of the “In My Feelings Challenge” this summer propelled the song to number one, where it stayed for ten weeks. Was this album as good as its sales? I don’t think so. The biggest problem I have with this album is its length. No Drake album needs to be anywhere close to 90 minutes long. Drake isn’t dynamic enough to stay interesting for that amount of time. Some of the songs off of this album sound like they were copied and pasted, the only differences between them being their names. Still, it isn’t surprising why this album was so popular. Songs like “In My Feelings” and “Nice for What”, high charters, are bright spots. I enjoy these songs, “In My Feelings” for Drake’s vocals and “Nice for What” for its beat, sampling, and aggression. Unfortunately for Drake, two songs can’t carry an entire album. Unless you’re already a fan of Drake, I would give Scorpion a pass.

Entertainment

“THE PREDATOR” APPROACHES Stalking His Way Onto The Big Screen. Was It Worth It? Brett Smith

Entertainment Editor eleased back in 1987, “Predator” has remained a classic to moviegoers around the world. With its intense action, intriguingly original narrative, and stellar acting from stars Arnold Schwarzenegger and Carl Weathers, it’s no question why this film hits the tops of many personal “Top Film” lists across the globe. Throughout the franchise’s life, there have been arguably many hits and misses. Nonetheless, the love for the Predator and its world is shared by many. However, with this new addition to the franchise, does that same love exist? Does this new generation still appreciate these films as much as their predecessors, or is this another example of Hollywood running out of ideas and dragging a successful franchise through the dirt just to make some money? To start off, I was surprised how many people decided to come to see this film. Upon watching the film the Saturday of its opening weekend, my accompaniment and I were two of seven moviegoers in attendance. With the opening weekend’s box office sales reaching a mere $24 million, this is staggering and highly unfortunate. But I wouldn’t say that this is a surprise. The marketing for this film was next to non-existent. The only word getting out about this film was with its trailers released months before the film’s

theatrical debut. Aside from that, occasional movie posters would also try to strike your memory. I mean, even the movie theaters didn’t play its trailer before any of the other movies releasing before it. But of course, the box office and advertisement flaws do not at all reflect the film itself, and whether it’s worth your time. The Predator is a surprisingly entertaining film. Filled with great action, natural comedy, and intense stakes, it’s easy to tell that some love was put into this flick. Especially when you realize that the director, Shane Black, had played Hawkins in the original Predator in ‘87. I’m happy that this film did not try to replicate the original like 2010’s Predators, and instead decided to do its own thing. And honestly, this, for the most part, works exceptionally well. The most important aspect of this film to get correct was, of course, the creatures. And thankfully they are not only great, but these are some of the most threatening the franchise has ever seen. The incredible mix of CG and practical effects bringing the Yautja (that’s the race of the Predators) and their technology to life. Each one we encountered on this journey was not only unique, but also deadly and terrifying in their own respective ways. And this new narrative they’ve created with the Predators is incredibly

intriguing, and without giving anything away, definitely leaves you wondering what else might be out there in terms of Predators. However, like every other film, there are apparent flaws. For one thing, the film’s main protagonist Quinn McKenna, played by Boyd Holbrook, was a rather dull and uninteresting character. Holbrook did a great job in this film with what he was given, but unfortunately what he was given to work with, I felt, was an uninspired and unmemorable. I found myself much more invested with the crew of very unique and clever characters he puts together, one of which portrayed by Keegan-Michael Key. Speaking of Key, like I mentioned before there was a lot of comedy in this film. But in my opinion, it hurts the film. This film loses the horror and thriller feel from the previous films and instead ends up feeling like a comedy featuring the Predators. A satisfying sequel, “The Predator” is a wonderfully entertaining film and definitely deserves a watch. If you’re searching for an action film to enjoy with a group of friends, this is definitely it.

FINAL RATING: 7.5/10

BRETT’S BIG BITES: KYOTO STEAKHOUSE Brett Smith

Entertainment Editor o many, especially teenagers, there’s nothing better than hanging with friends after a football game, binge your guys’ favorite show, and have food delivered right to your doorstep. It’s convenient, cheap, and for the most part, pretty tasty. But you can’t spend your entire life eating meals that are delivered to you. Well you can, but where’s the fun in that? Sometimes the past thing you can do is get exotic. And if you’re wanting an exotic and authentic dining experience, look no further than Kyoto Steakhouse of Japan. As soon as you enter the premises, you are greeted with stunning furniture and art pieces scattered throughout. A friendly staff welcomes you inside, leading you into a room filled with heat on the grills and delicious thrills. They will sit you at a table with eight seats, and eight on the other. Most of the time, you will be paired with another group or family before your chef arrives. In the center on the table, there is a hole. In that hole on opposite sides there are grills, ensuring up to chefs cooking and up to 16 customers engorging in Asian cuisine at a time.

Before the chef does come out to prepare your meal right before your eyes, you will be introduced into the culture and spirit of the restaurant, starting with a soup and ginger salad that are provided complementary. You can also order various types of sushi, including California rolls, Dragon rolls, and many others to start your adventure. When the time comes, the hibachi chef (pictured right) will stroll in with cart filled with the ingredients needed to provide his eight attendees with their meal for the evening. Filled with great charisma and an outgoing personality, these chefs both cook and entertain. Each will provide a satisfying and truly unforgettable eating experience. The menu has something for everyone. There’s no need to fear if you’re not a fan of fish or a certain type of meat or veggie, because Kyoto’s vast menu allows for lots of flexibility between the chef and the customer. Everything served is fresh and cooked live. No wall between you and the cooking, so you can see the chef in action. These hibachi chefs have been specially trained and are masters in their craft, always replicating the same, stellar food no

matter if you’re their first or 96th customer. At the end of your chef’s time, he will leave with the same cart he pulled out at the beginning of your adventure, leaving you and your new friends to sit and enjoy your meal. No matter how many times you decide to visit, you will always be treated to a filling meal and smile on your face, with family and friend memories to last a lifetime. And if you’re not a fan of having the food prepared in front of you, or just want a classic dining experience, then don’t fret my friend. On the other side of the restaurant, there are tables set up where you can order from hand menus and still enjoy fresh and authentic cuisine. At the end of the day, one trip here will leave you and your party wanting more. You’ll be happy, full, and excited for your next visit. So whenever you’re sitting at your home and you’re sick of frozen pizza, then you most definitely have to lend yourself and your growling stomach to the great halls of flavor. You won’t regret it. Kyoto Steakhouse of Japan, 4054 N Cloverleaf Dr, St Peters, MO 63376.

A hibachi chef smiles and laughs with guests as he prepares their meal. Photo taken by Brett Smith.

Features

IN WITH THE NEW CLASS OF 2022 Freshmen adjust to freedom and responsibility Jay Walton Staff Writer

reshman John Ellis knew that high school would be a big change from middle school. “It’s been a pretty big adjustment, a lot more work and responsibility,” Ellis said. 74 juniors and seniors serve as link crew leaders, and meet with freshmen five times during the first semester for questions and conversations. “Yeah they’re actually pretty nice like they [upperclassmen] helped show me around on the first week of school,” Ellis said. The freshmen are adjusting, because the upperclassmen can contribute when it comes to being positive and helpful. “Sometimes, like telling directions. I wouldn’t say nice all the time but they’re cool sometimes,” freshman Saniyah Stephens said. Administration agrees that upperclassmen helps. “I think so for the most part,” assistant freshmen principal Shenita Mayes said. “I think our Link Crew are doing a great job and they helped on the first week with finding classes and just helpful in general.” Mayes thinks the freshmen are doing pretty good with hall time and staying on point with classes as a whole. “I can get to my classes way faster because I have a lot more time,” freshman Shariff Robinson said. Freshman Ava Wittner thinks the workload is manageable. “My classes are good for now and not too hard,” Wittner said. “It’s a lot of homework but it’s not overwhelming” But for

the most part the freshman enjoy high school. “I like it more than middle school because we get to do more things and the teachers aren’t always yelling and telling you what to do,” Wittner said. Some freshmen love the idea that high school grants more freedom and space to grow. “I like it, it’s different and it’s more freedom than high school,” Stephens said. There are a lot of things to look forward to in high school for the freshmen. “I’m excited for homecoming and to have more freedom,” Wittner said. Freshmen get to start high school sports which sets them up for future experiences and scholarships. Stephens is looking forward to sports in high school. “[I’m excited about] just playing volleyball all my years and like different games getting involved in high school,” Stephens said. Freshman athletes are excited to work on their skills in a competitive environment. “I play football, I’m actually happy because I am on JV,” Ellis said. “I’m excited for the track season.” For the most part freshmen like high school but some dislike a few things. “I don’t like the food because we have the same thing everyday,” Stephens said. Assistant principal Shenita Mayes is really happy, and has high hopes for the freshmen class. “I’m excited to get to know them and all of their different

personalities, and to start preparing them for their futures and seeing how they make out school community more positive,” Mayes said. “They are doing better than what I thought — I’m just happy that they’re here, let’s make it a great four years.”

Freshmen Taylor Murray, Daniel Baris, Xavier Leguet work in Kemba Metropoulos’ English 1 Class. Photo by Jay Walton.

FRESHMEN GET INVOLVED IN ACTIVITIES Carly Wasserman Staff Writer

he life of a freshman can be a crazy and overwhelming experience. Just waking up in the morning, coming to school, and going home can be really hard for some freshmen. Plus, once they get home they still have to complete their homework. Most people would think adding in an after school activity to this busy freshman’s schedule is just going overboard. According to a research student done by Kimiko Fujita for the Undergraduate Research Journal, participation in extracurricular activities is associated with an improved grade point average, higher educational aspirations, and increased college attendance. When going into high school, every incoming 9th grader stresses a lot about homework. “Most days I do have enough time to finish my homework, but on days that I have an abundance of work, I utilize AC Lab to finish what I did not get to finish,” junior Adam Booker said. Booker currently is involved in STUCO, Link Crew, Project Parkway, and sixth grade camp. However, as a freshman Adam was only involved in two school related activities. He participated in football in thefall, and track in the spring. As the years have gone by he has added more activities into his already active schedule. Booker is a good representation of a successful, involved high school student. “I think that students should start getting involved freshman year because it helps acclimate them to the school

and allows them to make friends with upperclassmen,” Booker said. Many fall sports begin practicing midsummer. Although it breaks into a students summer vacation, it allows them to meet other students that have the same interests as them. It also lets them bond with other students that they wouldn’t necessarily talk to in class. The first few weeks of freshman year is known to be stressful. Having a familiar face in the halls, is always welcomed. “I think it is important for students to start getting involved as early as freshman year so that they have the oppor-

Freshmen enjoy lunch in the commons. Photo by Jay Walton.

tunity to connect with their peers, teachers, and administrators outside of the classroom,” business teacher Julie Weindel said. “I think extra curricular activities enhance a student’s school experience and make school more fun. It is also a great way to build our school community.” There are several common themes between teachers and upperclassmen at Central High. Getting involved early in your high school career promotes friendships, time management skills, and an overall school community. “If you don’t start freshman year, you will continue to put it off,” junior Savannah Vanhoogstrate said. Vanhoogstrate is also involved in numerous activities, such as softball, track, National Honors Society, FCA, choir, and vocal jazz. On top of all these activities that Vanhoogstrate currently engages in, her and many of her friends agree that a badminton club would be lots of fun and allow more people to get involved at school. Freshman Victor Aceiro, came to help out at Beautification Day on Sept. 22, 2018. Photo by Melanie Gubernik and Julia Solomon.

Features

THE STARS OF PARKWAY CENTRAL Students and teachers serve as research scientists

Claudia Sanders Online News Editor

he Students and Teachers as Research Scientists (STARS) Program is for academically advanced students to experience working in laboratories with professional scientists. They work closely with professionals in fields of biology, chemistry, earth science, engineering, environmental science, medicine, psychology, and public health. Seniors Divya Minnaganti and April Moon spent a portion of their summer participating in this program studying in their field. As appealing as the program sounds to science lovers, it’s hard work that takes dedicated individuals to complete. “I’m really interested in science, but I wanted to have a more hands-on experience. I had heard that in STARS, I could have the chance to work on real-life projects in labs alongside graduate students, so that’s why I decided to apply,” Moon said. When trying to understand your future it’s important to get a hands on experience in order to know if this field is right for you. The program looks for students entering into their senior year looking to expand their knowledge through research. Minnaganti received advice from the previous STARS program participants in order to help her succeed there. “They [other students that participated in the program] always told me about how not only the research experience was enriching, but also how you create very impactful relationships with both peers and mentors. This made me think that this was a very important opportunity, and so I decided to take advantage of it,” Minnaganti said. Not only does it look great on a college resume, but this program gave these students a chance to be in a real lab experiencing exciting new things that gives them an idea about a future career in science.

Throughout the program, students participated in different experiments like testing compounds that could prevent or reverse type two diabetes. “My favorite thing I did in the lab was probably freezing the mouse muscles we dissected with liquid nitrogen. The fog from the nitrogen was everywhere, and it really gave me that stereotypical ‘mad scientist’ vibe that people imagine,” Moon said. The ability to research something so relevant in our society instead of the basic high school science appealed to anyone on a science career pathway including Moon and Minnaganti. When Minnaganti signed up for the STARS program she had her future career in mind. “I’ve always wanted to earn my MD,” Minnaganti said. “The biggest takeaway that I gained from the experience was that even after earning my MD, I want to come back to research and help improve vaccinations and medications. I also gained a lot of professional work experience, because I had to meet with professional scientists about my work on a daily basis.” STARS required the many students like Moon and Minnaganti in the St. Louis area to dedicate everything into their program when they could be relaxing, which showed off their goal-oriented mindset. Although the program provided in-depth exposure to the scientific world past high school, there are some downsides to the program. “Getting up early to attend the lectures was hard, especially because it was summer break. I also wish I could have had a chance to meet more people in the program, but it was hard to do that because all of us were almost always listening to lectures or working in our respective labs,” Moon said. The downsides were certainly outweighed by the positive experience they had at STARS according to Moon and Minnaganti.

All students are seen as academically advanced in the STARS program and completed amazing research over the summer, but some students were awarded excellence for the paper following that research. Moon won the award alongside other students she worked with. “The highest scoring papers were then selected as an award winner. I actually didn’t find out until only a few weeks ago, but I was so surprised and honored that my paper was chosen, and glad that the work I had put in for six weeks had really paid off,” Moon said. With the help of her mentor and peers she was able to receive the Award for Excellence in Research.

Seniors Divya Minnaganti and April Moon pose with other STARS Program participants. Photo courtesy of April Moon.

NEW TEACHER TAKES ON POPULAR COURSE Henry T. Eubank News Editor

ontemporary issues is an elective course under the social studies wing that has been an extremely popular class for the past several years. According to senior, Alex Edelman, the class is so popular due to the freedom it allows students ranging from discussion of controversial topics to creative writing expressing their thoughts and feelings. Over four years ago, the class was taught by Brian Adam, who said, “The class was pretty popular way back then even.” After BA, former Central teacher Cameron Poole took over the class where it grew even more popular. Senior Chayse Williams had high praise for the style in which Poole conducted the class, “He facilitated everything well, allowed for discussion, and stood predominantly neutral on things.” Poole left Central after the 2017-2018 year to become an assistant principal at Rockwood Summit High School. This semester, new teacher at Central, Paige Stewart, took the reins of the wildly popular course. Stewart has never taught this course before but claimed her experience teaching AP government is very helpful. Even with this background Stewart finds the class and conversation challenging to conduct at times, “Most of what we see in the media, which is where we’re getting our news, is so polarizing. And so what I think is a challenge is teaching students to be empathetic and seek to understand

issues instead of just spewing rhetoric that is maybe out in the media” said Stewart. The class is very centered around the media and current events so the facts are not always clear to students. But there are times when the discussion can be really insightful and productive. “I think that there are sometimes I am presently surprised by the amount of understanding and rationality that students have,” said Stewart. There are some differences between how Poole conducted the class last year and how Stewart has been running the course this year. According to senior Jayden Littlejohn, the class this year has more work involved aimed at understanding the facts, not just discussing the topics. It should be noted that veteran social studies teacher BA will be teaching the class next semester. He has expressed a liking for the style Stewart has been teaching the class. “I like the way she is teaching the class so far, should make it easier for me to pick up where she left off,” BA said. In the meantime, Stewart will continue as the head of this popular class, helping students by exposing them to new ideas to develop a deeper understanding of our current society.

Social studies teacher Paige Stewart preps the class for a group discussion revolving around different aspects of the media. Photo by Henry T. Eubank.

Features

THE ORIGINS OF THE PARKING PASS Ryan Pham Staff Writer

ost people have them but most people hate them. Parking passes are an important thing in the life of a high schooler. With the hefty price of $85, most kids dread paying for them. Some have gone in far measures just to avoid the price of a parking pass; to parking in the Jewish lot all the way to trying to photocopy them, students have thought of numerous of way to avoid the cost. You hear all the fuss of getting around the parking pass but do most people even know the origin of them? Who creates these artistic, colorful masterpieces every year and how are they created? In the class AP Studio Art, junior students work together to create each year’s upcoming parking pass. The creation of the pass has been months in the making; since the final weeks of school. The current parking pass was created by three students: senior Megan Fisher, senior Caleb Licata, senior Matthew Gunn. They brainstormed ideas and produced the current pass. “Each year my AP students who are Juniors create the parking pass during the two weeks after the seniors have left and the end of school, “ art teacher Cara Deffenbaugh said. The creation processes is more tedious than you may expect. The original idea of the back of the car came from Fisher. By adding in the idea of the license plate, that came from other students in the class, the parking pass design was formed. “My whole thought process was there were a lot of same

designs throughout the years so I wanted to do something completely different, that’s when I thought of the car and then with the license plate it became really different,” Fisher said. She created the original drawing with pen and paper. Then the other creators, Licata and Gunn, did the digital aspect such as coloring and tracing. The creation of the parking pass became almost of a tradition for the junior class. Every year the junior class is the one that creates of the parking pass for their senior year class. “They were all Juniors and it was decided by that group of AP Studio Art students who would work on what,“ Deffenbaugh said. This tradition goes way back. It stands as a memorable as the seniors last and finals years. Overall the creation of these parking passes is quite an eye roll. Maybe the price isn’t as bad as most people may think. It is quite the long and tedious process that takes multiple hours. Gunn and Licata did coloring and digital aspects of the current design. Fisher created the drawing on paper. As time goes on, who will create our senior parking pass? We may not know now but with this extensive tradition of great art work, it is in good hands. Judy Unash holds up current Parking Pass created by AP Studio Art students. Photo by Nandhini Siva.

ON THE ROAD WITH PARKWAY BUS DRIVERS

students that will not stay in a seat to having a medical emergency. Staff Writer For a lot of the drivers at Parkway, driving a bus is their ost of us don’t often think about what it takes to drive a primary job. It is what they depend on to make ends meet. The school bus. We just trust the driver to get us to school pay for these drivers depends on experience. on time and home as quickly as possible. For the driv“The average starting rate with no experience is normally ers of the Parkway School District, these are things they strive to $13 to $15 an hour,” Martin said. do everyday. The drivers have two shifts, a morning shift and an after“Education is important and it’s my personal duty to see noon shift. What they do in between this time is up to them. Typthat students get transported safely,” driver Nena Martin said. ically, this involves running errands or going home for a while to These drivers go through training in do housework, prepare dinner, or just relax until order to know the safety precautions to successtheir next shift. fully complete these tasks. Parkway’s bus drivers enjoy driving for “You must be 21 years of age with a valid several reasons; however, there is one particular driver’s license, a CDL is preferred,” driver reason that most drivers have said is their favorite Martin said. part of driving. The process to get a CDL (Commercial “The interaction with the kids,” driver Drivers License) is not very difficult. First, you Angie Batty said. must pass the permit test, then you can train for Making sure that the kids who ride their the driving test. bus are safe is their number one priority. “Once you have learned to drive, and have Some of these drivers have been driving had your permit for at least three weeks, you can for over 10 years. Angie Batty is Parkway’s longest then take your driving test,” driver Pam Crowton working driver; she has been driving for 35 years. said. She has only driven for Parkway and loves it. Paid training is provided, meaning, the “People don’t realize how good the job drivers get paid while going through the necesis and how easy it is to complete training. The sary training. hours are great. I don’t think people really conTraining is not just about learning to drive sider the benefits to driving a bus and the type of but it is also learning all the different parts of money you can make or how good the benefits the bus and how to determine when something are with Parkway,” fleet maintenance assistant is wrong mechanically. Drivers are also taught Alison Fisher said. how to safely load and unload students, along This is why finding drivers has become Driver Nena Martin, sits behind the wheel of her bus at Parkway difficult. with how to handle situations that occur while Central on Sept. 4. Photo by driving. This includes everything from having Bus drivers are trained to maintain safety of

Megan Fisher

children when on the bus as well as when students are boarding and getting off. One thing driver’s wish people understood is how important it is to stop when the stop signs attached to the bus are out. “We transport precious cargo morning Angie Batty and afternoon so please be mindful of stopping at a stop arm,” Martin said. “Slow down because it could be your child, relative, or neighbor, or how about the fact it is the right thing to do. Please be patient with the drivers for we have a lot of responsibility, which is not an easy task at times. So let’s be safe and caring to keep the wheels on the buses to continue to go round and round.” On Sept. 12th, Matthew McCloskey was driving in a neighborhood near Henry Elementary School; to avoid stopping and waiting for the bus, McCloskey swerved and drove into several front yards to get around the bus. This is an example of why it is so important to stop when a stop arm is out. A student could have been crossing the street or walking on the sidewalk. All Parkway buses have cameras, which helped police find the man that ran it. The cameras are there to help catch anything that goes on that could be unsafe for the students on the bus. The next time you are on a bus going to or from school, an activity, or an athletic event, remember to be respectful of your driver. They put a lot of work into their job to ensure that their students are safe. It is not just a pick up and drop off situation, they put time in and care about every student on the bus. Therefore, the next time you are getting off a bus for any reason, make sure to thank your driver.

Features

BRINGING NATIONS TOGETHER Working to strengthen bonds between Israel and U.S. Danni Schneiderman

Staff Writer

n 1995, the first group of Israel Scouts were formed. This organization includes American and Israeli Jews who strive to strengthen the bond between North America and Israel. Yael Avni, senior, first got exposed to this program when she moved to the United States with her family two years ago. “When we moved, my mom had friends here and so they told me about it and they told the people in charge about me,” Avni said. Anyone can be a part of the Israel scouts as long as you speak basic Hebrew. Being from Israel, Avni fit right in. Being Israeli is not a necessity to being in the Israel Scouts. They are trying to get more people involved from all different kinds of backgrounds. “A lot of people who do it are not Israeli.” Despite the external differences in race, religion and language, the Scouts is a great way to get immersed in the culture of Israel. “We teach culture like holidays and language and stuff,” Avni said. In other states across the United States there are hundreds of members in each Scout group. However, Missouri is lacking people. “We don’t have a lot of people, 40 to 50. In California they have four different groups and one of them has 400 people.” Avni said. The group’s lack of numbers in Missouri is why she thinks that it’s important to spread the word about this organization so more people can get involved. Avni is a counselor which means she is in charge of her own group of younger scouts. The age ranges from 3rd graders to 12th graders. Meeting once a week, it’s a great way to socialize with friends outside school.

“It’s up to the counselor what they want their topic of activity to be about, it could be about friendship or Israel or whatever they want.” Avni said. The freedom and flexibility that the counselors get while planning activities makes for a variety of topics which reaches all different kinds of interests. The scouts don’t just strictly talk about Israel and their religion, it can be about all different kinds of things. Avni wants more people to get involved. “It’s really bad that no one knows about it and we have 50 people instead of 400,” Avni said. A lot of people don’t know about the Israel Scouts which could potentially be a reason why there are not a lot of members. In addition to meeting new people, it’s a great way to get involved in more extracurriculars. “Colleges love seeing it on your resume,” Avni said. While hanging out with friends and doing fun activities, it’s also a great way to make yourself more appealing to colleges. “If anyone wants to get involved they can talk to me and I can talk to the head person, Ariel, in order to help you get started,” Avni said. For more information, visit www.israelscouts.org

1. Senior Yael Avni and friends holding up Hebrew signs, dressed in their scout uniforms. Photo courtesy of Yael Avni. 2. Senior Yael Avni and the St.Louis group of scouts huddle around the flag for a picture. Photo courtesy of Yael Avni.

CEILING TILES BRING NEW LIFE TO CLASS

By Haydn Schertz

Staff Writer

ew English teacher Jeff Rogers wants to bring positive energy to the classroom in an unusual way. Rogers lets students bring their favorite book or childhood book to life with a little bit of paint and a brush. “My group painted the cover of the I Am In A Book by Mo Williams. We wanted to relate our ceiling tile to English class and several of my group members enjoyed that story as a child,” freshman Carissa Bersche said. Painting the ceiling tiles is a tradition that Rogers has carried on from his seven years of teaching. Rogers started doing it when he taught in St. Louis city and then again when he moved on to Parkway West Middle. The idea to paint the ceiling tiles came from his cooperative teacher who did it at the end of the school year to blow off steam. Rogers had the idea to do it at the beginning of the school year as a fun way for kids to work on their team building skills and get to know each other. “It was a good team building exercise that helped us cooperate together and learn to make decisions. At first, we had a hard time deciding what to do but we came to an agreement. It helped us with working in a group and learning to do our part,” freshman Mariella Cox said. Rogers’ goal is to eventually paint the ceiling tiles in the English hallway, not just in the vicinity of his classroom. Rogers wants to let his students imaginations run wild and express their ideas through the ceiling tiles. His plan for the English hallway is to keep the standard to being a book. “I think that the requirement will be that it is a book cov-

er of a book that meant something to them whether it was a book you read in fourth grade or a book that you read as a junior,” Rogers said. Coming into the high school environment can be an overwhelming experience, especially as a freshman. A good joint effort exercise can be a good way to slow down an just have some fun. “This was a good team building exercise because we got to socialize and share ideas with our peers. It was a lot of fun and a great way to start the year,” freshman Carissa Bersche said.

Students paint their ceiling tiles of I Am In A Book in Jeff Rogers’ English class. Photo by Christine Stricker.

Students painting The Lorax on one of their ceiling tiles in Jeff Rogers’ English class. Photo by Christine Stricker.

Features

WAYWARD LIVES OF THE WESTERFIELDS Twins experiences living in London, Frankfurt, Milan, and STL Taylor Stern Staff Writer

For most students who travel over summer vacation, returning back home to St. Louis is no big deal. Summer ends and you return to school again in mid-August as a Parkway Central Student. Same as last year, right? But for junior twin sisters Madison and Mackenna Westerfield, this is their first year living back in the United States, let alone St. Louis, since the beginning of sixth grade. “Every time our dad told us we were moving it was usually after a two year period, so it was just after things started settling in and places started to feel like home. It was really difficult,” Madison said. “I was always excited to go to a new place and for a new change but it’s always a little hard,” These two girls’ experiences of living all around the world begins when they were two with their first move away from St. Louis to Boulder, Colorado. From there, they moved to Midland, Michigan; London, England; back to St. Louis; Frankfurt, Germany; back to St. Louis; back again to Frankfurt, Germany; Milan Italy; and finally back to St. Louis where they hope to remain until the end of their high school lives. While living in St. Louis previously, Madison and Mackenna were in the Parkway Central District so they’re very excited to be colts again. The constant moving around the girls undergo is due to their dad’s job. Their dad works for IBM, a computer manufacturing company. “It’s hard for him to work just in St. Louis because it’s an Junior Mackenna Westerfield (left) and junior Madison Westerfield (right) in Florence, Italy. Photo courtesy of Mackenna Westerfield. international company. He got really lucky and got all those jobs and I’m very happy for that,” Mackenna said. The twins believe the best parts about international living are all the different places they’ve gotten to see and all the friends they’ve made. Madison’s favorite place to live was Milan because she felt they were at an age while living there that really allowed them to get the full experience of living in Europe. Mackenna, on the other hand, preferred London because it was the biggest city they’ve lived in and she loved their house, the people, food, and the culture. Throughout their years living in Europe, they often returned to St. Louis during summer and winter breaks. Because of this, they’ve been able to maintain several friendships over the years, making their return to PCH much easier. “When I leave a place, I usually grow apart from most friends because it’s hard to stay connected but over time. It just shows you who your really close friends are and who will always be there for you,” Madison said. “Coming back here, it feels like I haven’t even left so it’s really special.” Luckily, they’ve remained close with several friends and all of them feel the exact same way, including junior Sophia Chelist. “I don’t really text them on a daily basis when they’re not in America but when they come back, I’m just as close as I was with them when they left,” Chelist said When you’re best friends with somebody it’ll always feel the exact same.” Unfortunately continuously moving to new countries every two years hasn’t always been an easy adjustment for the girls to come to terms with. “I knew when moving back to the states that my connection with all my European friends was going to be different. I knew it Chronology of Moves wouldn’t be easy and that made me sad,” Madison said. First Move Although their long international moves are always filled Second Move Third Move with lots of tears and heartbreak, the girls feel similarly about Fourth Move Fifth Move being back in the gateway to the west. Sixth Move Seventh Move “I knew everything would be okay here but I’m really loving Eighth Move it. I love St. Louis. It’s my home,” Mackenna said. Ninth Move

Features

NOT YOUR TYPICAL VACATION Students make a difference around the world

Sydney Stahlschmidt Online Features Editor

hile most teens go on a vacation, hang out with friends, or simply just relax and enjoy summer, sophomore Tian Strege and senior Divya Minnaganti wanted to do something different, to leave a mark on the world. “This summer I didn’t just want to sit around in my room watching Netflix, I felt that I should be helping others,” Strege said. After her sister took a mission trip from past years to Acuna, Mexico with her church, King of Kings, she recommended Tian go too. She knew that this was the perfect way to make a difference. Strege had been on many vacations in the past. However, this was going to be a trip out of the ordinary, one like no other. “This was not my first time leaving the country,” Strege said, “However, it was my first time in Mexico. I didn’t really know what to expect.” After taking two days to drive and making a family-like bond with her new mission trip team, which included her sister and mom, Strege finally arrived in Mexico. Right when they got there, they started building houses for families in need and Strege even learned how to pour concrete, nail walls together and make stucco (a concrete mixture). Strege and her team visited a stream in Mexico and got to cool off and have fun after all of the hard work that they had put in. And while the trip was out of the country it wasn’t the typical vacation. “This trip was most certainly not a vacation; it took some hard work. But it was truly amazing and

4 surprisingly fun,” Strege said. The trip lasted a total of seven days. Strege spent four days traveling and three days building homes for people in need. But the whole time, she made memories that she would never forget. “The thing that impacted me the most was giving the house to the family in need. While it may not have been large, they were so grateful and happy to have it. Seeing their joy, and that I was partially the cause of it, really touched my heart,” Strege said. Strege experienced something that many people will never get to see in their lifetime. This is an experience that is life changing and will give many stories to tell in the future. “This mission trip really changed me, it opened my eyes up to the world and the people that were suffering in it,” Strege said. She had the opportunity to help those in need and make a difference. And if given the change, Strege says she would definitely go back again. Strege was not the only person wanting to make a change this summer. Divya Minnaganti went on a medical volunteering trip with the organization, Projects Abroad, that manages many different projects, in fifty various areas around the world, with volunteers of all ages. Minnaganti went to Sri Lanka where she got to work in medical camps and underpriviTian Strege sophomore leged areas.

“Seeing their joy, and that I was partially the cause of it, really touched my heart.”

3 1. Divya Minnaganti and medical team in Sri Lanka. “I love how they incorporate their culture into everything they do,” Minnaganti said. Photo courtesy of Divya Minnaganti. 2. Divya Minnaganti with some children and other patients they worked with in Sri Lanka. Photo provided by Divya Minnaganti. 3. Tian Strege and fellow mission trip group member working on building the home for a person in need living in Acuna, Mexico. Photo courtesy of Tian Stege. 4. Sophomores Tian Strege and Colby Heimburger with the King of Kings group and family the house was provided for standing in front of the finished house they built on their trip. Photo courtesy of Tian Strege. 5. Divya Minnaganti working with a patient in Sri Lanka on a medical mission trip for the organization, Projects Abroad. Photo courtesy of Divya Minnaganti.

During the trip Minnaganti went to high schools to talk about healthy menstruation with girls, visited preschools to discuss healthy lifestyle with the children, and so much more. “The best thing about the trip was definitely the people that I met along the way. They made it so much more bearable because they would put a smile on your face in any situation,” Minnaganti said. She got to experience the different lifestyles and culture that takes place in Sri Lanka, and how different it is compared to America. Minnaganti stated how she saw how different the economic statuses were there and they don’t even have everyday needs like air conditioning or hot showers. “It was good to see a different and harder lifestyle because it has taught me to be grateful and showed me all the things we tend to take for granted,” Minnaganti said. This also was not her first time traveling outside of the country, along with Strege she had been to other places before. However, it was her first time ever traveling outside of America by herself and she got to experience a great variety of different aspects of the world along with it. “Of course I would go back, I miss Sri Lanka a lot and I definitely love how they incorporate their culture into everything they do,” Minnaganti said. Both of the two trips that these girls went on were life changing and something that many people will never see. It shows how much other places around the world are different than us, but most importantly that we have people wanting to go out and make a change. To read more about other summer trips that PCH students took this summer, go to pchcorral.com. online website for more.

Spotlight

Senior Enlists In Army Through Split Training Program Jenna Jenna Lazaroff Lazaroff Features FeaturesEditor editor

hen we think of summer break we tend to think about vacations, sleeping, or spending the day poolside. But senior Peyton Douglas spent her summer running, sweating, and enduring the elements at basic training in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri for ten weeks. She left on May 30, only six days after school had let out. “I enlisted into the army as of Feb. 20,2018 through the split training program,” Douglas said. “This means I go to basic training over the summer in between junior and senior year and then once I graduate senior year I have to go back for training.” This six year program is called AIT (Advanced Individual Training). The program is split in half between two years to allow 17-year-olds the chance to enlist and get their career started early. Plus it’s a long program so it makes it more convenient to split. “The reason I decided to enlist was because I’ve always wanted to be military police in the national guard,” Douglas said. “But also because after you finish AIT, the Missouri National Guard will pay for college 100 percent, provide an additional $20,000 bonus, and I’m guaranteed a job in the end.” Douglas plans to go to college as a pre-med student in hopes that she can go to medical school through the military. They will also pay for her medical school as long as she goes active as an army medic. “I’m completely happy doing so,“ Douglas said. “That’s what I wanted to do all along. This is what I want for the next 20 years. I want to retire through the Army. My Mom has a lot of friends in the National Guard and they’ve always been my role models, and seeing them with all their success and happiness made me positive that this is what I want to do.” Life on an Army training camp is far different from normal living. Douglas woke up at 3 a.m. every morning and was required to do push-ups along with countless other exercises and she was expected to stay awake until 10:30 p.m. And then

repeat. She even had specialized times for when they were allowed to eat. For the first four weeks of training, drill sergeants would scream and bang things to wake them up. If they weren’t getting out of bed they’d have to start doing push-ups. “When I got there it was a major culture shock,” Douglas said. “Anytime anything, even little things happened, we’d be on the ground doing push-ups. Every single time. I also had to pull a ACG shift (waking up one hour in the middle of the night every night). Everyone had their own shift. You keep guard, do a head count, and when I was in basic, I did a weapons count and clean.” It wasn’t all smooth sailing though, Douglas experienced a setback when someone dropped her from an 8 foot wall fracturing her tailbone and her spine in two separate places. “I had drill sergeants in my face telling me I was going home and that I couldn’t make it,” Douglas said. “I believed them for a little bit but as it started to heal I could move around more and I began to push myself. I thought about how proud I would make my family and how much I needed the benefits so I pushed through. I did everything they asked of me I even ran on my own so I could pass the PT test so I could graduate.” Not everything there was just about being in shape and doing exercises. Douglas learned to throw live grenades, and also how to shoot m249 and m320 guns. Members of her squad were expected to be carrying these weapons at all times. Douglas herself carried an M4 which is an assault rifle. She had it everywhere she went, and was held responsible for cleaning it every night. “At one point we stayed out in the woods for 7 days and we basically stimulated war,” Douglas said. “We learned different tactics like how to handle indirect fire and we had to carry our battle buddies with the different types of drags and carries that you would use in an actual casualty. Every morning stimulated

smoke grenades would go off in front of our tents. We would also have random blanks being fired around us and we had to shoot back.” Douglas participated in a rock march which consisted of carrying a backpack that weighed around 50-60 pounds and marching for miles and miles at a time. The most she ever accomplished was a 20k which was the final graduation requirement. “My main goal is to prove to myself and others that I am capable of doing whatever I set my mind to,” Douglas said. “For awhile after I enlisted, I felt like I couldn’t do it because it’s hard and a grown-up job. It’s not something a lot of kids do. But after going to basic, I felt a lot more confident in my ability to do it.” People told Douglas she couldn’t do it because they believed she wasn’t in shape, because she was going to get deployed and they even said she just wasn’t strong enough to make it through training. “People had all these excuses for me,” Douglas said. “I gave into it for a little bit but then I realized that I can do this. And I did it. I’m here now telling my experience.” When Douglas graduated she was very proud. A lot of doubt was put on her and people were expecting her not to graduate. “They thought I was going home,” Douglas said. “I did it. I made it.” Douglas still continues to workout every day. She starts each day by waking up at 4:30 a.m. and going for a run, sometimes even the gym. She is staying fit and eating healthy. “I really feel like I made the right choice,” Douglas said.