Sept 15, 2017 by Lafayette High School

Sept. 15, 2017 | Vol. 49, No. 1

While most of us were on summer break, Lancer Regiment practiced, attended workshops and traveled to Disney World. Turn to pages 6-7 to see how they banded together to prepare for the marching band season. photo by Marlo May

|OPINIONS|

Sept. 15, 2017

Bias, inaccuracy accompany spike in teen political interest

Staff Editorial

Think school sucks? It doesn’t. It’s easy to point out the perceived The staff editorial weaknesses in education from a represents a majority student point of view — the endless testing and homework on top of opinion of the extracurricular activities stress us out. Image Editorial Board. Trying to balance academics, activities and special events with family and work makes our lives even more difficult. Some students allege schools are prison-like, oppressive and don’t allow for any self expression. However, perhaps we need to take a closer look and appreciate what we really have. The Rockwood School District, more specifically Lafayette, deserves more credit and appreciation. Despite the challenges that come with balancing all of the demands of school and personal life, Lafayette is doing a pretty good job of trying to support us and prepare us for the real world. And, that may come at the cost of fun or an easy four years. We are especially lucky to be in a district like Rockwood that is so open to change, and is always looking closer at its programs to improve the educational experience of its students. Our teachers are constantly attending workshops and implementing new teaching styles, solely to help us succeed. Teachers don’t make their lessons easy because that will not help us reach our potential. Fortunately, we are given many choices as to the variety and difficulty of classes to fit our needs. Classes can sometimes be overwhelming, and will stress us out, but ultimately taking these classes will help us down the line. But it’s not just about academics. Lafayette cares for the whole student by providing many opportunities for students outside of class and allowing them a voice in school procedures. Lafayette has over 70 clubs available to students. Also, if a club doesn’t fit your fancy, starting a new club is as easy as gathering a group of students and finding a sponsor. If you have an issue with a certain policy or practice in place at our schools, you are more than welcome to talk to an administrator about it. Students in our district have the power to serve on committees that implement change and rally for what matters to them. We are lucky to have access to an education with such a large number of diverse and useful opportunities at our fingertips. So, next time you are frustrated with school, take a minute to look around and see just how lucky you are. School is not easy, but Lafayette is no prison either. It is only September. There is a long road ahead until May. You choose how you walk it.

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It can be said, without objection, that last year’s presidential election brought the political opinions of many to the forefront of social conversation, especially in young adults. Having an opinion on the presidential candidates, the current state of the United States and being knowledgeable about frequently argued and controversial social issues, began to flower into a normal occurrence in the life of young adults and students. The days of political discussion being considered a fragile topic for a building full of impressionable teenagers are no more. In theory, more teens becoming politically involved and opinionated would be an undeniable positive social shift. The next generation of American voters should be well-informed in order to make an educated decision come the next election, right? But, there’s an underlying danger in this teenage spike in political interest, one that causes rumor and opinion to be regarded as fact. This threat is none other than our sheer nature as teenagers: our knack for spreading rumors and our fixation on social media. Consider how rumors are spread. One individual shares information that may not be entirely truthful with another, and it spreads like wildfire. This same set of rules applies to how candidate slander based on inaccurate claims and biased political stories are passed around. On the social media website Tumblr, stories recollecting racist,

We take free speech seriously, so should you Jessica Cargill | Editor-In-Chief Being part of the Image and lancerfeed staff gives students a way to express their beliefs on these two opinion pages or online in columns and blogs. For the rest of our coverage, we make every attempt to be balanced and fair. Through opinions pieces, Image staff members put themselves out there with their name on it. When a columnist publishes a piece, they are prepared to face backlash from those who disagree with what they have to say. When anyone shares an opinion out loud, being met with a differing point of view is always a possibility. We get that and, frankly, welcome the discourse. But, we hope that kind of discussion takes place in a respectful manner. Our publication is a public forum which means student editors make the decision about contest and coverage. LHS and Rockwood administrators do not have any say in the content. Neither does our adviser. We are lucky to have that kind of freedom and we take that tremendous responsibility seriously. However, that doesn’t mean that we always take the popular opinion on things. As a staff, we support anyone who uses that freedom of speech to express themselves —even if those are people who disagree with something we have printed or posted. We believe everyone’s opinion is deserving of respect. If you want your opinion to be heard, we would love to hear from you through a letter to the editor or a comment on our website, lancerfeed.press, but these items must be signed, just like our pieces are. We welcome your thoughts and respect people who are willing to stand up for what they believe. Take advantage of the forum that school publications provide to you. We are in Room 137A during all lunch shifts. Come share your thoughts with us anytime and consider joining staff.

General Information

The Image is published nine times a year by the News Production class. Subscriptions are $30. Free issues are distributed on campus. The 2015-2016 Image received an All-American rating with four marks of distinction from the National Scholastic Press Association. It was also a Pacemaker Finalist.

Philosophy Statement & Policies

The newspaper’s primary obligation is to inform its readers about events in the school and community and of issues of national or international importance which directly or indirectly affect the school population. The newspaper, while serving as a training ground for future journalists as part of the school curriculum, recognizes all rights and responsibilities under the First Amendment. Operating as a public forum, student editors will apply professional standards and ethics for decision making as they take on the responsibility for content and production of the newspaper. The Rockwood School District Policies and Regulations concerning official student publications and the specific policies and procedures used by student publications can be found at lancerfeed.press under the About Us tab.

homophobic and just generally prejudiced behavior from supporters of Travis Bodell Opinions Editor Republican candidate, and now president, Donald J. Trump rapidly circulated. When investigated, there are rarely ever any news articles or broadcasts that correspond with the alleged incidents, making it hard to differentiate between actual incidents and fabricated occurrences used to paint the opposing political party in a negative light. Social media has made becoming politically involved and knowledgeable a lot more accessible, but it comes with its risks. As laissez-faire as social media companies are with the content that is posted on their outlets, there is little to no way of telling what is fact and what is false — other than second-guessing what you see and doing your research. Immediately believing what you see on an Instagram post will likely lead to a point of view based on biased statistics and the stretched truth. Second guessing yourself, and others, is the most practical and effective way to ensure your political ideals are based off of what you believe in, not what somebody else wants you to believe.

That’s

theTea

STARS & GRIPES

Stars:

• This first issue of the paper is out just in time for National Make a Hat Day! Use this paper to show us your mad hat making skillz! • You know when kids first get Twitter accounts and they just can’t stop tweeting? Follow SRO McDonald @McBadSanta for way-too-regular updates. • There are lots of cool new things in Rockwood this year including Superintendent Eric Knost’s beard growth. • With the end of Game of Thrones this season, all is not lost. Raven is back on Disney channel in a new grown up version called Raven’s Home. • People complain about Missouri, but a least we are not dealing with hurricanes or wildfires this fall.

Gripes:

• We’ve seen the devastation of Hurricane Harvey and Irma, but there’s no mention of Hurricane Taylor. • The new science chairs are especially squeaky. We are getting complaints from people at Marquette who are having trouble concentrating on their work. • Lancers now hold the title for best building evacuators in St. Louis. Well, practice makes perfect...

Image Staff

Digital Media Staff

Digital Media Editor| Jack Weaver Special Projects Editor | Jimmy Bowman Video Package Editor | Kiley Black Aurasma Editor | Emma Grant Staff: Nick Koester, Clay Komor, Jonah Nickerson, Lucas Nickerson, Annika Renganathan, Shwetha Sundarrajan

|OPINIONS|

Sept. 15, 2017

SoundCloud rappers offer dollar store version of actual old-school Hip-Hop music

The Monthly Strawman by Charlotte Komrosky-Licata Even though the statues still stand, what they stand for should not.

Travis Bodell | Opinions Editor

Muse’s alternative and rebellious sound has always been antiestablishment, and while their newest album Drones is shiny and new, their fifth album, Resistance, is the best. The title track “Resistance” was based on the novel 1984 by George Orwell and boasts a beautiful,romantic sound. -Clare Mullherin

Although it is more of a collection of their greatest hits, The Best of En Vogue is my all-time favorite album. The R&B, all-girl group, most popular in the late 80s and 90s, perfected soulful harmonizing and sassy lyrics. In addition, this collection of songs is very upbeat. -Delaney Stulce

track, the use of excessive autotune, and the artist further contributing to the sheer absurdity of the music by uttering “Aye” and “Ya” about 20 times throughout the course of the song. If you’re lucky enough, though, the artist may actually rap here and there. Don’t get too excited, though. Clever lyricism and wordplay are aspects of hip-hop seldom seen in SoundCloud trap. Lil Uzi Vert serves a prime example of the SoundCloud Rapper archetype. Vert brandishes multiple face piercings and flamboyant, sometimes feminine apparel, style choices that are very much different to that of 70s, 80s and 90s Hip-Hop artists. Vert’s music often features bubbly instrumentals that closely resemble Pop music. Autotune is used on the Philadelphia rapper’s vocals until distinguishing between his voice and that of a robot is remotely impossible. Deviation from a well-known, classic genre is not necessarily a bad thing. New genres and subgenres are brought into existence all of the time and many of them have the potential to bring a lot to the world of music. Needless to say, though, SoundCloud Rap does no such thing. SoundCloud artists effectively took what was once a fun, lively genre of music and made it metallic, lifeless and meaningless.

60 percent of votes

Image staff members share details about their all-time favorite albums

Hip-Hop arose from urban American neighborhoods in the 1970s and consists of complex rhyming schemes, innovative sampling and ear-catching instrumentals. Since its debut, the genre has been widely popular in pop culture with both U.S. and international listeners. However, as any popular product or idea always is, HipHop has been tampered with by imitators who hope to “improve” the unique music genre. The prime example of these Rap Travesties are the artists whose careers started on the online streaming service SoundCloud, commonly referred to as “SoundCloud Rappers”. The style of music they produce is usually a watered-down, EDMinfluenced version of “Trap”, a hip-hop subgenre originating from the south. These artists, if you dare call them that, can oftentimes be recognized as such before even hearing their music; they frequently sport colorful dreadlocks and clothes traditionally considered “goth”. Their music is at least as, if not more so, dreadfully tacky and gimmicky as their attire. The majority of songs created by these rappers follow a painfully basic formula. A fluttering high hat, a drab electronic instrumental buried somewhere in the mix of the

Which Homecoming event are you most excited for

50 40 30

20 10 0

Homecoming Kickoff

Powder Puff Game

Parade/Football Game

Dance

Data from @thelancerfeed Twitter | 66 people responded

Photo

Opinion by Amisha Paul

What do you think about the movement to tear down Confederate monuments ?

| Imani Warren, 9 |

“I think that the statues should be taken down. They’re dated, and they should be put in a museum to reflect the mistakes of our country.”

| Katie Barefield, 10 |

| Justin Varnadore, 11 |

“I fully support the removal of these Confederate statues. Not only are they a symbol of oppression and hatred, but Confederates were also traitors.”

“I think it’s unlawful to take down monuments with so much history. It’s not as racist as you’d think. But, I see how you’d want to move on from that history.”

| Kevin Qi, 12 | “I don’t really care that much, but I think a few of them should be left up because it’s still an issue and part of our country’s history.”

| Dawn Indelicato-Faw, Language Arts Teacher | “They serve no purpose in current scoiety, and there is no need for them to still be celebrated.”

|NEWS |

Sept. 15, 2017

LHS policies revised to be more current to student lifestyles Abby Karandjeff | Reporter At the end of last school year, staff members met to address several LHS practices including dress code and cell phone usage and review them. Then, a group of 22 staff members met this summer to determine some rule changes based on the staff’s recommendations. Changing certain practices differs from changing policy, as policies are followed district-wide. Individuals schools are able to choose certain practices to follow. 23% The Less likely changes to be tardy 77% include More allowing hats likely to be tardy and “spaghetti straps” to No be worn, Change allowing 39% 17% Fewer blankets in Tardies classrooms 44% but not in More Tardies the hallways, removing the one-minute bell, bringing back after-school detentions rather than lunch detentions and allowing more use of technology in classrooms. Although these practices are now permitted, it is ultimately up to each teacher to decide whether to allow these in his or her classroom. Hats are now allowed for students. Principal Karen Calcaterra said, “We wanted students to feel more included. Before, when students wore hats it was because they had lost their hair due to cancer or other illnesses.” By allowing all students to wear

hats, we allow students to feel more comfortable with themselves and express themselves.” Teachers also believed the previous concerns about hats, for example that they made it hard to identify students, were no longer an issue. “I love the fact that we can wear hats now. Last year I would get yelled at for wearing hats, so it’s great that I don’t have to feel nervous anymore,” junior Sakura Warren said. “I love beanies, and I’m so excited to be able to wear (From a 8/10 them during the Twitter Poll @ day,” junior Laura thelancerfeed) Champion said. Without the one For some, hats can minute bell are be distracting. you . . . “I’ve noticed there are boys who wear (From a 9/2 beanies that look like Twitter Poll @ ‘Where’s Waldo’ hats, thelancerfeed) which can be kind of Has the absence distracting,” junior of the one Kendall Darnell said. minute bell But, as long as caused you to hats comply with be... district policy and do not promote drugs, violence, etc. they are permitted with the classroom teacher’s permission. Rockwood Summit has allowed hats for several years. Marquette and Eureka still have a ‘no-hats” policy in place. In another major change, the one minute bell has been removed. Calcaterra said this is because it led to students waiting until they heard this bell to rush to class, congesting the hallways and putting students in danger. She said LHS has already seen the

photo by Natalie Karlsson

Chatting at lunch, Samantha Bell, Meghan Morris and Josie Sigwart show the new acceptance of hats as well as the expanded use of technology during school hours. Several long-standing policies were revised for this school year. positive effects of this change. “Teachers have reported fewer tardies, and the hallways are safer because students aren’t running trying to get to class,” Calcaterra said. But, this change has been met with displeasure from students who were chanting to bring the bell back at football games. “I panic when I’m waiting in the bathroom because the girls’ lines are so long and I never know when to leave,” Darnell said. The girls’ bathrooms have been an issue for years, and they continue to pose an issue for students trying to get to class. “I have a lot of anxiety about being tardy. If I need to get to class on time,

then I need a better warning,” junior Georgia Williams said. Although accidents in the hallways have decreased since removing the bell, there are still incidents. “I’ve been run over a lot this year. There’s definitely a higher ratio than previous years,” Champion said. Lunch detentions were in effect for two years and have now been replaced with after school detentions. “Having detentions after school is easier for teachers and students’ schedules,” Calcaterra said. Technology usage was also addressed over the summer. With the district moving to 1:1 with Chromebooks, updates in philosophy were needed.

Beginning this year, all freshmen received a Chromebook. “Teachers and students are becoming more comfortable using technology for educational purposes,” Calcaterra said. Teachers will now establish the rules for cell phone and other technology use in their classrooms. “Personally, I think there hasn’t been that much change with technology in class. We’ve been using it more over the years, and I enjoy it,” Champion said. Staff members are also being encouraged to find more uses for technology and to use Twitter to share what is taking place in their classrooms, clubs and sports teams.

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|NEWS |

Sept. 15, 2017

12 join Lancer team in several departments Jonah Boyd, Math

• graduate of Affton H.S. and Maryville University • 1st year teacher • coaches football “I love sports, including hockey and football. I also like to play music.” “I look forward to building great relationships with all of the students and staff.”

Kaylah Brown, Language Arts

Heather Chamberlain, Guidance Counselor

• graduate of Parkway Central H.S. and the University of Missouri •big Kanye West fan • traveled to Greece over the summer

• undergraduate from University of MissouriColumbia and graduate from Lindenwood • formerly a Crestview math teacher

“I am excited to get to know all of my teachers!”

“I’m really excited to be at LHS! I’m expecting to be challenged but have a lot of fun. I’m hoping to have the best year of my career!”

Jessica Foley, Math

Shay Forsythe, SSD Coordinator

• graduate of Lafayette and St. Louis University • served the homelesses and youths at risk with AmeriCorps • sponsors Sophomore Advisory

• graduate of Lafayette and University of Missouri-St. Louis

“I am excited to build relationships with my students and fellow staff members this year!”

“[I want to] learn the most I can about the LHS community to know how I can contribute.”

“I’m a dance mom. My daughter is a competitive dancer.”

Ryan Claire, World Language

• graduate of Loyola Academy & Washington University • plays video games for fun • will sponsor French Club “I’m looking forward to a great year and plan to set the bar high for myself and my students.”

Amber Hughes, Science

• graduate of GeorgetownRidge Farm H.S., B.A. from Eastern Illinois University, and M.A. from University of Illinois • enjoys walking the local trails, playing with dogs, reading and hanging out with family “I hope we have a classroom that makes students want to learn, work, and reach goals.”

Alissa Jennings, Business

• graduate of Francis Howell Central H.S. in 2009 and Lindenwood University in 2014 “I am a huge sports fanatic! I love to coach, watch, and play every sport there is. When I’m not involved with sports, I love doing anything outdoors, especially kayaking.”

New Office, New Goals, New Challenges

Calcaterra connects to her new role

Ty Prozorowski | News Editor

The 2017-2018 school year marks the beginning of Karen Calcaterra’s tenure as Principal. After Principal John Shaughnessy announced his retirement last spring, Calcaterra, who was the Associate Principal, applied for the job. “I applied because I love Lafayette High School and the school community. I have worked toward principalship in the other positions I have worked. It was a goal of mine,” she said. Calcaterra was Associate Principal at Lafayette for four years. Before coming to Lafayette, she worked at Parkway North as an Assistant Principal for six years, a Special Education Administrator at Pattonville for three years and a teacher for six years. “I have been exposed to a variety of situations needing a variety of solutions over the years. I am a learner and interested in figuring things out. My previous positions taught me a lot,” Calcaterra said. Despite some early bumps in the road, Calcaterra has remained positive about her time so far as principal. “I have had a great first two weeks. They have been exciting, but there have also been challenges, such as having no bells, a fire drill on the first day of school and the intercom not working. There have been a lot of moving parts, which has been crazy, but for the most part there has been a positive tone,” Calcaterra said.

photo by Jack Weaver

In the Commons during lunch, Principal Karen Calcaterra keeps an eye on the busy surroundings. One of her main goals is to ensure that all students feel valued at school. She is Lafayette’s first female head principal.

Leading into the first week of school, Calcaterra had the added stress of a construction project to deal with. “I definitely felt extra pressure because I was adopting the construction in the science hallway,” Calcaterra said. “I learned more about construction in eight weeks this summer than one learns in a

lifetime.” In addition to adjusting to her new position, Calcaterra is open to new things, evidenced by Lafayette’s various policy changes, while also maintaining previous Lafayette traditions. “I hope that we can continue to be excellent in so many things we are already doing,” Calcaterra said. She added, “My hope is that our school community will be connected as students, staff and parents and that everyone will feel like they belong here. It is important to me that people, students and adults, feel valued and cared about at our school.” To foster connectivity, Calcaterra is eager to get to know her students. “I want students to know that I sincerely care about each one of them and that I love being here. I also want them to come up and introduce themselves if I don’t know them and that I am happy to talk about anything. I love having conversations with students!” Calcaterra said. Although her new job has just begun, Calcaterra is already thinking of the future. Calcaterra said, “I plan on doing whatever I can to meet the needs of students, staff and parents. I want to make a difference in a positive way. I hope that when someone asks what my legacy is that they would say that I loved and cared for the people that walked through our doors every day and that I did whatever it takes to make a positive impact in each of their lives.”

Jennifer Clark, Student Resources

Denice Flannigan, Production Center

• graduate of Oakville H.S., University of MissouriColumbia and Lindenwood • worked in Lafayette from 1998-2007 “My plan is simple- to love and affirm and value and advocate for every student who enters my classroom in order to help them set and reach personal, academic, and social-emotional goals.”

Arvie Kilongkilong, ISS Director

• graduate of McAuley Catholic Academy and Missouri State University • former All-State Football player in 2007 • coaches football

• graduate of Ursuline Academy and Jefferson College • worked as a nurse for 19 years • volunteers for Marching Band “My passion for volunteering at school and church led me to work for Rockwood.”

Allie Wonders, Trainer

• B.S. in Athletic Training and M.B.A. from McKendree University • Graduate Assistant Athletic Trainer for McKendree Bearcats

“I enjoy staying active with sports and workouts. I also love an evening out to the casino to delve into some Poker!”

Irvin, Zell join admin team Jasmin Kim | Reporter Matthew Irvin is the new Associate Principal. He was born in South Carolina but moved to St. Louis in high school and graduated from St. Charles West High School. He attended Missouri State University for undergraduate studies and received his master’s degree from the University of Missouri - St. Louis. He earned his doctorate from Lindenwood. “I had a fortunate childhood and was surrounded by great teachers and coaches who encouraged my development as a student and an athlete,” Irvin said. Before coming to Lafayette, Irvin was a teacher, coach and administrator in schools including Kirkwood, Sumner, New Trier, MICDS and Lindbergh. He enjoys spending time with his family, reading and playing piano. “When I finished my doctorate I started taking piano lessons. I’m an aspiring musician,” Irvin said. Irvin’s goals are to get to know the people here and to work with administration staff effectively to meet their goals for the school. “I know you are at a great high school with excellent athletic, academic and arts programs. I hope our students can catapult onto greater things,” Irvin said. Todd Zell is the new Activities Director. He graduated from Eureka High School and the University of Missouri - St. Louis. His master’s is from Southwest Baptist University. Previously, Zell was Activities Director at Rockwood Summit High School and Westminster Christian Academy. Most recently, he worked

photo by Natalie Karlsson

New administrators, Associate Principal Matt Irvin and Activities Director Todd Zell, have settled into their new positions. Both bring to Lafayette many years of experience in their previous jobs.

as the assistant executive director for MSHSAA (Missouri State High School Activities Association). That organization oversees all high school sports in the state. “I now have connection to all four Rockwood high schools. I went to Eureka. I did my student teaching at Marquette. I taught and coached at Summit. Now, I am at Lafayette as an Activities Director,” Zell said. When he’s not working, he spends his time with his family and plays golf. Zell said, “I would like to make small changes that benefit the school, but I think the school is already doing phenomenally.”

For more information and a “fun facts” quiz about Lafayette’s new staff members, visit lancerfeed.press

Sept. 15, 2017

Fearless on the

Field

Lancer Regiment debuts new half-time show, new uniforms & new schedule for 2017-2018 season

Gehrig Prozorowski | Feature Editor

Dressed For Success

Regiment revamps its uniforms Starting this year, Lancer Regiment updated its uniforms which they debuted at Disney World during their march in the Magic Kingdom parade. Each Rockwood high school is on a rotation to receive new uniforms every eight years, and the school district funds the purchase. Marching band staff members collaborated with Fred J. Miller, a uniform company to create the new designs. “We were looking for a uniform that

was current and progressive while still having tradition incorporated,” Band Director Brad Balog said. Fred J. Miller and the band staff agreed on a sketch, and then the company constructed a prototype uniform and sent it back for approval. Balog said they experimented with different color and style combinations for the uniforms’ hats, called shakos and gauntlets. The company produced the uniforms once the Lancer Regiment found their favorite look. “Our main goal with the colors was to keep the uniform primarily our school colors of black and white. The gold is very much an accent on the uniform and the gray adds depth,” Balog said. The color choices were intentional and serve practical purposes while marching band performs. “We also wanted the back of the uniform to be completely black so we could change the visual impact of the show by having the band face front or back,” Balog said. “The gauntlets and plume are white to add visual impact to the show.”

Artwork courtesy of Fred J. Miller

|COVER STORY|

Concept art for Lancer Regiment’s new uniforms displays a traditional usage of school colors. The band collaborated with Fred J. Miller, Inc. to create the new look.

1. At varsity football’s game against Timberland, the low bass, low reeds and trumpets step off to their next set. The set is the formation where each band member has a spot on the field. 2. Overlooking the football field during practice, junior Abby Thompson cues Lancer Regiment to stand at set before its routine starts. 3. The marching band stands in formation as the lancerfeed drone captures “Fearless” from above. The group practiced their new show when attending band camp at Truman University in July.

photos by Gehrig Prozorowski and Jack Weaver

Marching Band optimizes practice time for better performances This year, Lancer Regiment has been working toward efficiency, and a reworked half-time performance displays their hard work as they continue their season. Band Director Brad Balog explained the two parts to marching band’s work for competitions and performances. “You have the side you see with the football games and what we do in the stands and on the field,” Balog said. “And we have our competition side. The competition side is where it’s at for the band from a standpoint of [the halftime show].” Lancer Regiment overhauled its halftime show this year, and their new show is titled “Fearless.” “The first part is being consumed by your fears, the second part, facing your

New Man on Band

Budd shows dedication as rookie marcher As a freshman, Ryan Budd has involved himself in marching band as an alto sax player. He has played the instrument for five years. “I decided to join because a lot of upperclassmen that did band with me in the previous years told me it was really fun and it was worth it,” Budd said. He recognizes the hard work required for marching band. “It’s a lot harder than I thought it was going to be. It’s a lot of work. You have to put a lot of time and effort into it,” Budd said. “Even though we’re not as physical as other activities, we do work really hard and we put a lot of effort into it.” That hard work includes memorizing music and where to stand on the field. Lancer Regiment practices around three hours per day. “We have to stand still a lot and have very good attention,” Budd said.

For video coverage of Lancer Regiment and Color Guard’s halftime performances, head over to lancerfeed.press

fears, and the third, conquering your fears,” Balog said. The band has numerous goals. They include staff goals, the performance in rehearsals, music and visual goals, and goals for sole students or the whole ensemble. Balog said the band never enters a year with goals for placement in competition. “It’s hard in the performing arts because it’s not ‘face head to head’ like a football team and you play a game and you win. It’s so subjective at times, so our goals are based on growth: ensemble growth and individual growth,” Balog said. The rehearsal schedule has also changed to be more efficient where students aren’t practicing as long, but practicing harder.

Previously, practices were Monday through Thursday from 3:15-5:30 p.m., but now Winds and Percussion have the day off on Monday. In their place, Color Guard has the field to themselves to practice what they want until 5 p.m. On Tuesdays, Color Guard takes a break, and Winds and Percussion have a sectional practice until 5 p.m. At the sectional, they can perfect their music or their visuals. As part of music work, they do tracking where they march in a block instead of in the show formation to line up the music. Then, they have step-outs where they stand in a music arc and step out where they’re supposed to change a picture in the show. This allows the group to further

clarify their performance. Wednesdays and Thursdays involve the complete ensemble, so all of Lancer Regiment practices until 6 p.m. both days. Balog said they extended those rehearsal periods slightly so they could get more work done, but they still put in less hours when the week is done. “With a day off and a shorter first day for everybody, but longer second days, we’re still down about an hour-and-a-half each week,” Balog said. The band hopes for more efficiency because this year, they started holding staff meetings each Monday. At these meetings, they can discuss how the past week went and what they need to do to prepare for upcoming events on the weekend.

Assistant Band Director Jamie Parks invented minute-by-minute agendas for the band. These schedules outline the plan for each day, and are posted on the Band Room door for the student leaders. Then, the leaders inform their sections of the routine and necessary materials. “I always went into every rehearsal with that idea of goals for a day, and goals for a week and goals for a month. But it’s doing a better job of us communicating as a staff together, and also communicating with the student leadership groups so they feel a part of that planning,” Balog said. Tomorrow, the band heads to Edwardsville for a competition and the Contest of Champions, which Lafayette hosts, is Sept. 23.

Greetings from Orlando Band performs at Disney World, receives performance advice This past summer, Lancer Regiment, visited Disney World in Orlando and performed at Magic Kingdom. Band Director Brad Balog said Lancer Regiment tries to take a big trip like this one every four years, but they have overnight trips often, like yearly band camp, each summer. The group will also visit Kansas City for a competition later this year. The trip to Orlando was part of the Disney Performing Arts Program, and marching band submitted applications. They marched in the afternoon Festival of Fantasy Parade in Magic Kingdom. It was during this performance that Lancer Regiment revealed its new uniforms. “That’s probably one of the most memorable experiences I’ve ever had in my life,” junior drumline section leader Jake Umstead said. “You just see all these people looking at you, admiring what you’re playing, and it’s just really an amazing feeling,” The band completed a two-and-ahalf hour clinic at Epcot to understand being a professional musician. “We’re in a recording studio, and

they talk about how professional musicians can get in and they may never get to practice or rehearse anything. One shot deal, read the music and off we go,” Balog said. In the clinic, marching band read music and worked with Disney representatives during recording sessions. They recorded the music to the stampede scene in The Lion King where Mufasa is killed, and their performance was set to the movie. They also recorded music from Tangled. “We played a song from the The Lion King to the animation. It was super cool, and I learned a ton from [the Disney conductor’s] teachings,” sophomore and mellophone section leader Grace Kirtley said. Color Guard completed a clinic at the building where Disney’s casting auditions take place. The clinic taught them about the audition experience at Disney, and Color Guard learned what Disney auditions are like. They travelled to the different parks, so the trip didn’t solely revolve around performance.

Thompson keeps marching band together as Drum Major As Lancer Regiment Drum Major, junior Abby Thompson conducts and keeps marching band in order. Besides conducting, she ensures that everyone is on time and that the proper information gets to each band member. She also takes attendance and checks that the lower lots are free of cars before practice. To become Drum Major, Thompson underwent a rigorous interview process involving two half-hour clinics to teach her conducting. Additionally, she filled-out a lengthy application. Afterward, she auditioned with a prepared piece. Thompson must memorize tempos and conduct with different patterns. “Every time I hit a certain point, it’s called the ictus, that’s one beat, so that’s one step in band. So everybody steps when my hand hits that certain point,” Thompson said. For Thompson, learning the patterns took time. “I got really frustrated at first because you have to use your left hand for different things. For shaping crescendos, you conduct with your right hand and shape with your left. It’s really frustrating at first, but you get it after a while,” Thompson said. She said keeping time with the whole ensemble is the most challenging aspect of her job, especially once the band moves around on field. “We have a pit that plays in front, they don’t move, they’re percussion, we have a battery which is snare drums, tenor drums, and bass drums. They move on the field. And then we have the full band, so just making sure everybody is on the same page with tempos without the clicking of the metronome, that’s pretty hard,” Thompson said. “We have sets

where we turn around, and they can’t see me.” She enjoys coordinating the band members, but she also likes how as Drum Major, she isn’t part of just one section but she feels like she’s part of each section. “It’s really cool to work in a setting where you’re in charge, but you’re also an equal,” Thompson said. Thompson also appreciates the progress each member makes and her ability to give advice to newer marchers. Along with her responsibilities in Lancer Regiment, Thompson balances duties for Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFJROTC) where she is a flight commander. “It’s challenging because there are so many field trips and there are so many required hours for band, so many practices that I can’t miss, being the Drum Major.” However, she finds balance with the two schedules. “There’s a Fort Leonard Wood field trip on Sept. 22, and for band we have a call time of 4:30 p.m. You get back at 5 p.m., so I have to compromise with driving home early for [the field trip] to get to band.” She also misses ROTC staff leader meetings each Wednesday so she can meet for band. photo by Marlo May

At the first football game, Drum Major Abby Thompson signals marching band in the stands. “I was really stressed the first game because I was afraid I was going to forget time changes and tempo changes,” Thompson said.

At the Disney Cast Audition Building, Goofy made a surprise appearance. Color Guard spent time in a professional environment to discover how to improve their skills.

photos courtesy of Brad Balog

Marching down Mainstreet USA in Magic Kingdom, Lancer Regiment showcases its new uniforms. This was the first reveal of the new designs.

At Epcot, Lancer Regiment participates in the You’re Instrumental clinic. They rehearsed songs like “Duel of the Fates” from Star Wars and “Stampede” from The Lion King with the help of Disney Performing Arts Program Coordinator Allen Gray.

|ADS |

Sept. 15, 2017

STUCO Is Taking Lafayette

Back to the 90’s Homecoming Oct. 1-7 Events Monday:

Dress Up Day - Holiday Day Lunch Games

Tuesday:

Dress Up Day - Safari Lunch Games Hall Decs After school

Wednesday:

2017

Dress Up Day - 90’s Day Lunch Games

Thursday:

Dress Up Day - Jersey Day / Jammy Day Lunch Games Powder Puff @ 7 p.m.

Friday:

Dress Up Day - Color Block Jazz Band & Vox Solus @ Lunch Parade @ 5:30 p.m. Football vs. Fox @ 7:30 p.m.

Sunday Homecoming Kick-off

4:30-5:30 p.m. Lawrence Strawbridge 5K Run 6-8 p.m. Food Trucks, Class Competitions, Movie on the Turf

Homecoming Dance Tickets On Sale Oct. 4, 5, 6 @ lunch $15 per ticket / Price goes up $5 on Friday!

My Bad!

Da Bomb

Yo!

! f I s A

|FEATURES |

Sept. 15, 2017

Discovering Differences

New students adjust to school at Lafayette Ally Hartman| Reporter

Eric Allison, 10

From one state to another, sophomore Eric Allison moved to the Lafayette area from Woodford County, Kentucky due to his dad’s career with Pfizer, Inc. which is a major

biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Chesterfield. Allison is originally from Webster Groves. He lived there until 7th Grade, when he moved to Woodford County. He was there for three years before he moved back to Missouri. The transition to Lafayette took a couple weeks, but Allison is adjusting quickly. “It’s changed a lot, but you settle down after a while, you get used to it,” Allison said. Not only was the move easy for Allison, but it also had an upside. “It’s a good way to gain new friends,” he said. Not only were the new friends a positive to moving, but Lafayette’s AP courses were a positive as well, despite some differences. At Lafayette, students generally don’t take AP courses until junior year. In Woodford County, even freshmen take AP classes. “Kentucky and Lafayette offered a lot more advanced programs (than Webster Groves). Going here from Kentucky it’s like, ‘oh thank God they still have that,’” Allison said. Another difference is Kentucky’s foreign language program. While the syllabus is similar, the language options differ. At Allison’s former school, they offered Chinese class also. Despite offering a language in Kentucky that isn’t offered here, Allison still appreciates the diversity at Lafayette. “It’s a lot more diverse here and I like that,” Allison said.

Shwetha Sundarrajan | Reporter

When Kennedy High School, a Catholic secondary school in Manchester, closed it’s doors last year after 49 years, it forced the students in it’s diminishing Lexi Campbell, 12 student body to seek other high schools to complete their education. Senior Lexi Campbell is one of them. Campbell has lived in St. Louis her whole life, but was forced to transfer to Lafayette after Kennedy closed. Kennedy had been facing dropping enrollment rates for several years and announced on Sept. 16, 2016 that it would close at the end of the school year. By this time, many students were already moving to find alternate schools to attend. “We didn’t realize Kennedy was going to close until the beginning of my junior year and I didn’t want to move schools then even though my other friends did,” Campbell said. While the Archdiocese offered scholarship grants to students who transferred to a Catholic school, Campbell opted to come to Lafayette. “I didn’t want to go to another Catholic school because I’m not particularly religious. I also didn’t want my mom to pay for a private school when I could go to a public one,” Campbell said. However, the transition from a private school to a public school has been difficult. “I’ve always gone to Catholic schools, so things like not having to wear uniforms and the classroom setting is different,” Campbell said. She said she is still adjusting to life as a Lancer. “At Kennedy, there was more drama and troubled kids. Everyone I’ve met here is so nice. It is so much better compared to Kennedy, but I’m just not used to it yet,” she said.

Entering high school is stressful for every freshman, but it can be especially challenging for someone who’s never experienced public schooling. Noelle Doolittle Noelle Doolittle, 9 is not the typical freshman adjusting to life in high school. This is her first time at a traditional school since she was in the 3rd grade. “I’ve been home-schooled. Until then, I was switching between being home-schooled and going to a public school. We tried private schools, and I didn’t really like it, but I did like public school. I had a lot of friends, but due to having a bad teacher and my mom wanting to home-school me, I just decided to be homeschooled,” Doolittle said. Home-schooling and public schooling are obviously very different. “The public school atmosphere is very different from being home-schooled. With high school, you’re with people 24/7, whereas with home-schooling, you’re only with whoever is teaching you,” she said. But, she said contrary to popular belief, home-schooled children don’t always study alone. Home-schooled students and their parents often create co-ops, where students form a study group. These co-ops help home-schooled students make friends and study better. “Co-ops helped me make friends when I was being home-schooled. Since I traveled a lot, I met different people in different states and made friends with them,” Doolittle said. Four weeks into high school, Doolittle said she is loving Lafayette. “I actually like all of my teachers, and everyone here is very nice and welcoming,” Doolittle said.

2017

FREE | 6-7:30 PM

Ally Hartman | Reporter

Julia Eklund,11

offered her a lot of choices. “You get to decide where you want to go, like the U.S. and then you can specify which state you want to go to, but I chose not to do that because I wanted to have the best (host) family,” Eklund said. She is living with the Panchal family in Ballwin. They have a 2nd grader at Ellisville Elementary School, so she gets to be a big sister for the year as well. Eklund is now attending school halfway across the world from her friends and family making the adjustment more challenging than that of a traditional transfer student. “It’s hard to realize that I’m actually here, not with my friends, but it isn’t as hard as I thought. Just because I feel that they are still there and I know that when I get home they are going to be there and right now I just have to live the American life,” Eklund said. It is quite a dramatic change, and the vast cultural differences between America and Sweden have really stood out. “You have a lot of drama here for some reason. I come here and I’m like ‘you guys have so much drama. I see it on Instagram. People are like ‘I have so much drama in my life’ and I’m like ‘what are they talking about,’ It is actually kinda crazy,” she said. Despite America’s unfamiliar customs, Eklund appreciates the diversity in the U.S. “It’s so different state to state. If you travel in Sweden the difference is it’s colder and there’s more snow,” Eklund said.

Lafayette Theater Company presents Oct. 12-14 7 p.m.

SEPT. 21 ST. CHARLES COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Coming all the way from Sweden, Julia Eklund, junior, decided to study in the United States for a year through a foreign exchange program. She said the program

Tickets: $5 in advance / $7 at the door

|FEATURES |

Sept. 15, 2017

Not Your Average Summer Camp Experience DiCarlo spends his summer training at National Guard boot camp

photo courtesy of Christopher DiCarlo

Christopher DiCarlo, senior, stands at attention with his M4 Carbine as a squad leader at Ft. Leonard Wood.

Chloe Baker | Reporter Over the summer, senior Christopher DiCarlo underwent basic combat training to become a member of the National Guard. DiCarlo enlisted in the military last February and shipped out for Basic Training in May. He is currently serving his contract with the U.S. Army National Guard. DiCarlo trained at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri for 10 weeks where he learned to handle weapons and be a soldier. During his last two events, he did a 10-mile ruck and a night infiltration course with live fire ammunition. “We are really kind of holding him back to tell you the truth. He’s already been to boot camp, he already knows what he’s going to be doing, but that’s not to say that he’s going to be doing anything here at Lafayette any less thoroughly,” Lt. Colonel Jim Smith, ROTC teacher, said. DiCarlo is doing the Split Option Training where trainees go to Basic Training during the summer before high school graduation. He has already done his Basic Training, but after his senior year of high school, he will go back for Advanced Individual Training where he will train for a specific field. From there he will graduate and go to his first unit, Jefferson Barracks. He plans on going to college and going through Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) to become a commissioned officer for at least 20 years. Since he is a National Guard, he will be able to have a civilian job after he serves as a commissioned officer, and plans to work for the St. Louis County Police Department. However, being apart from his family during his training proved to be difficult. “It was hard coming from a big family. I’ve always done everything with my family and finally being away from them for ten weeks, it was kinda hard to stay in that mentality of ‘I need to finish this to see my family,’” DiCarlo said. DiCarlo has five siblings and two parents who support him. Before he left, his family prepared for 10 weeks with no communication. “That was the first time he had been away for so long. We are both a big family and a close family, so it really changes the family dynamic

photo courtesy of Christopher DiCarlo

Christopher DiCarlo, senior, with his five siblings after returning home from 10 weeks of Basic Training at Ft. Leonard Wood. He will head back after graduation for advanced training and his duty assignment. to have any one of us missing. It was difficult to have everybody missing him and to not have constant contact with him,” Ann DiCarlo, Christopher’s mom, said. He was able to call his family on Sundays, but only for a limited time. His family was originally told they would not be able to talk to him at all over the 10 weeks, so when they received the first call, they were elated. “The initial reunion was a very, very tearful one for me and for his siblings, and that very first hug was the sweetest of all,” Ann said. The weekend he got back home, DiCarlo and his family spent the weekend at his grandparents’ lake house to celebrate. “We were together as a family again but not in our actual home. It is sort of a second home for Christopher because we have spent a lot of time there. That was a great way to

celebrate his homecoming, but it was even better to have him back in our house, back to that normal setting,” Ann said. The warmth of DiCarlo’s family is not just seen in his homecoming, but in the way they encourage him in his endeavors. “It was not a surprise to me that he is the way he is because he has a wonderful support network there at home, and they are his biggest fans. He has a lot of people holding him up,” Lt. Colonel Jim Smith said. After he arrived home, DiCarlo was promoted to Deputy Commander in ROTC which is a Cadet Lieutenant Colonel rank. DiCarlo, alongside the Cadet Commander, will run the Cadet Corps. The Cadet Corps is made up of 110 cadets that are the students and working force of ROTC. “We usually reserve that position for the Deputy Commander, for

people who do all things right,” Smith said. Smith knows that DiCarlo will be able to handle this new position along with his future in the military. “Christopher has an ability. His natural ability is to listen to people and be able to empathize with people and be able to make them feel special. He’s productive and responsible in general, so those are all great things in terms of being a leader,” Smith said. Not only does DiCarlo embody all the right qualities to succeed in the profession, being in the military has always been his goal. He already has all of his plans for the future and a great support system helping him succeed. “I’ve always felt drawn to join the military, and ever since I was 3 years old, I’ve always looked up to the military, so I wanted to complete the dream,” DiCarlo said.

We Proudly Support Lafayette High School

|SPORTS |

Sept. 15, 2017

Striving for Seven

Girls volleyball set to defend their State title for the seventh consecutive year Kayla Carpenter | Sports Editor Every high school team fantasizes about winning a State Championship. The pride of being crowned the best team in the state, the satisfaction of seeing every late night and early morning practice pay off and the gratification of hanging a championship banner on campus. For most teams, this is a far-fetched dream. But, the Lafayette girls volleyball team is not like most teams. For the past six seasons, they have won the Missouri Class 4 State championship. Their six consecutive State titles have turned the girls volleyball program into a renowned dynasty. The Lady Lancer volleyball dynasty’s secret to success isn’t much of a secret. They are focusing on improving their game every day. “Obviously we want to return to State, but our main focus has always been to take it one game at a time and to improve,” senior Maddie Kraemer said. “I think the banners on the wall motivate us to reach our potential.” Senior Lexi Lavanchy played on the 2015 and 2016 championship team. Lavanchy knows the satisfaction of being a part of a championship team and what it takes to get there. “Winning state is one thing, but actually being on the court to help contribute to that title is an incredible feeling,” Lavanchy said. “Going to state is a goal in every team’s eyes and motivation, but our team looks at the team we play now and not the team we might play in a couple months or even days from now.” For all six championships, the Lady Lancers have been led by Coach Zach Young. In July, Young was recognized as the AllUSA Coach of the Year in a fan vote. Young finished with 40 percent of the vote and received just over 10,000 votes. “Coach Young really makes sure that everybody knows and accepts their role on the team. I think that is a huge part of our success since he’s able to get every person on the team working towards their same goals,” senior Katlyn Fastenau said. Young doesn’t take the recognition lightly. He gives lots of credit to the rest of his coaching staff and key individuals in the program. “Head coach of our team is not a one person job,” Young said. “Our players are awesome, the parents of our players are great, and I have the honor to work with the best assistant coaches you could ever hope for in Sue Tillery, Steve Burkard and Kim Aschoff.” Despite the loss of key players Hannah Flowers, Mel Flowers and Emelie Orlando to graduation, the Lady Lancers have a talented

photo by Marlo May

In an attempt to block a hit by Villa Duchesne, senior Lily Cooper uses her length to her advantage. The 6 foot 5 inch tall Duke commit averaged 1.3 blocks per game with a total of 112 blocks last season. roster with scores of senior leadership. With 10 seniors and a veteran coaching staff, the Lady Lancers have no lack of experience going into the new season. “I think having so many seniors this season gives us a lot of motivation to work our hardest and just go out and play for each other every game,” Fastenau said. The remaining members of the team still have plenty of talent. Three of the ten seniors have already committed to play volleyball at a Division I school. Senior Kathryn Wesolich is one of those seniors. She has committed to play at the University of Central Florida (UCF), and she’s using this season as preparation for the next level.

Attention Seniors-Juniors ACT/SAT Tutoring

Call Dr. Jack Arnold 314-805-4561 Appointments Tuesday/Thursday Evenings Saturday/Sunday afternoons www.JackArnold.org

“Knowing that this high school season and upcoming club season are my final months of preparation before getting to go to UCF really motivates me to be dedicated and perform my best to make sure I’m as prepared as possible,” Wesolich said. From the six consecutive State championships to the talented players and premier coaches, LHS volleyball has many factors that make it unique from all other high school volleyball teams. Whether or not they extend their streak to seven consecutive state titles, the LHS girls volleyball program will always have an everlasting impact on senior Lily Cooper. “Lafayette volleyball is the best thing to ever

have happened to me, and I’m not just saying that because there’s a chance the coaches might read this. I was insecure and directionless coming out of middle school. I didn’t even think sports were relevant to me until the coaches took a chance on me. Since then, volleyball has taught me confidence and work ethic. It’s taken me places I never would’ve gone otherwise and introduced me to people I wouldn’t be the same without,” Cooper said. She added, “They say all you need to be happy in life is something to do, someone to love, and something to look forward to, and this sport has given me each of these things at one time or another.” The team plays Sept. 19 at 6 p.m. at Mehlville High School.

Sept. 15, 2017 | Page 12

| E N C O R E |

The Eclipse By The Numbers

states able to view the eclipse

421

1 4 5

excused student absences on Aug. 21

30 million

glasses produced

1 minute

3 photos by Megan Greenstein and Marlo May

1. In Culinary Arts, Julia Stinnett, Madi Slater and Hope Ware make Moon Pies on Aug. 21 to celebrate the solar eclipse. 2. John Deken, social studies teacher, watches the moon begin to pass in front of the sun. 3. Junior Anna Reynolds gets comfortable on the field to watch the start of the solar eclipse. Students were released from classes for an hour to watch. 4. Senior Jack Novak watches the start of the eclipse with the rest of his 6th Hour class. 5. Approaching darkness, the scoreboard counted down the time to totality as the temperatures dropped and crickets began chirping. 6. Senior Lauren Roither snaps a photo on her phone through the eclipse glasses provided by the Rockwood School District.

What did you think of the Eclipse? I thought it was really cool. It totally exceeded my expectations. I definitely won’t forget it. | Heather Rigg, 12 |

I think that this will be a great memory for our staff and students to look back on. | Karen Calcaterra, principal |

I don’t think it will live up to the hype because almost nothing ever does. | Daria Parr, 11 | It’s cool because the whole school gets to be involved, but I don’t think it’s impacted me much more than that. | Natasha Fischer, drama teacher |

seconds 23 of totality in

Wildwood

It feels kind of unreal because when you say once in a lifetime it’s exaggerating but this really is once in a lifetime so it’s really cool. | Siena Meyrer, 10 | I’ve been waiting four years for this to happen, so yes, the eclipse will totally live up to its hype. |Will Landolt, 12| It’s a once in a lifetime experience, but honestly it’s just the moon and sun. I see it everyday. | Josh Luter, 10 |

Page design and content: Chloe Baker, Travis Bodell, Natalie Karlsson, Amisha Paul, Clare Mulherin