Central High Times - Volume 111, Issue 4 - Summer 2025

THE SUMMER ISSUE

Summer Media Preview

Sunscreen Importance & Guide

Minecraft Movie Review

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Every year, as a staff, we enter competitions where our magazine is judged as a whole, as well as stories on their own. We recently received feedback from the Missouri Interscholastic Journalism Association on Issues 1 and 2 of the magazine. As the EIC, criticism is hard, but also necessary, so as a staff we took it in stride and have turned it into motivation to grow and change. Our adviser took us to the floor for some old-school circle time, and we discussed changes that could be made to our magazine that may add new dimensions and allow us to heed the advice we were given. One of the hardships of being a school publication is that, not only do we write all of our own stories, but we are also in charge of coming up with and executing digital page design. This means that we have had to learn how to balance the two, which has not been easy. A critique that we received from our judge was that some of our stories were too long, which initially made sense to me because we tend to do a full page for every story, but sometimes there aren’t 800 words for a specific topic.

As a staff, we agreed to start dividing our space differently, which has forced our design editors to look at the pages in a less linear fashion and come up with more ideas on the spot. We have taken inspiration from professional magazines such as Forbes, The Economist and Wired, but the designers have primarily created their own templates and pages.

Change is scary, but this has allowed us to diverge from the beaten path and write more than one or two stories per page. One specific section that I am excited to see printed is the summer pages, which involve recommendations for movies and books, a two-page spread about sunscreen and a feature about how teachers and students are planning to spend their summer break.

A fun element being added to our magazine is that, with the new way of story division, comes even more collaboration. In the past, we have had a few dual-written stories that were worked on by two different reporters, but in this new issue, we have multiple stories and sections that have different journalistic takes from different reporters who all worked together to diversify our magazine.

To me, this adds an element of relatability to the magazine that may not have been there before. Now, on the same page, you can read news, features and opinion all on the same topic, to get a deeper understanding of the matter at hand.

Being a part of a school publication is filled with a lot of difficulties, as all of us are gaining the experience we have as we go. We are all new to journalism and mistakes are unavoidable, but I am so excited to be working with a staff who takes criticism in stride and learns from past issues to make a bigger and better magazine. I hope you enjoy.

Yours,

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

ARCHERY CORRECTIONS

The Central High Times staff has been made aware of a number of factual inaccuracies given to us in student interviews and published in the archery article last issue. Had we factchecked this article with the archery coaches, Audra Uzzell and Elicia Ligon, we would have corrected the article prior to publication. CHT promises to do better about fact checking in future issues of the magazine. Upon conversations with the coaches, CHT would like to provide the student body with the correct information.

Head coach, Audra Uzzell, gives valid information on the archery team and competitions. Uzzell is the head coach for the high school and middle school teams here at Central with approximately 70 total archers. The team is split into team 1, and team 2. “Anybody that’s going to be on team 1, or the first team, has to show that they can be

close to [a score of] 266 through practice and tournaments,” Uzzell said.

The goal for the archery teams is to take 24 archers to state. A high schools’, state team qualifying score should be 3200, or higher. Consistency between tournaments is an aspect that Uzzell considers among others that results in the placement of an archer among the two teams. “[This means] the teams are flexible. They don’t have to stay the same. I can change them every tournament,” Uzzell said.

She also talks about how the teams are composed of 24 archers, and only the top 12 scores from each team, are counted towards the schools’ final score. “It doesn’t matter who you are, if you’re one of the top 12 scores, your score gets counted towards the team score,” Uzzell said.

When considering the bows of the archers, all bows must be the same. “Everybody has a,

Genesis Compound Original Bow… The only adjustments made is the draw weight,” Uzzell said.

The National Archery In Schools Program has 11 steps for shooting. Steps such as painting your face and following line expectations are for safety, sportsmanship, and for an archer to reflect on mistakes. Coachability, sportsmanship, and experience are aspects that Uzzell considers when placing an archer on a team.

While valuing aspects of being a good athlete, Uzzell values school and following SPS handbook guidelines also. When on the archery team, “I want them to be students, before they are archers” Uzzell said.

“We took 6 people to state last year which was more than previous years,” Uzzell said. “This year was the first time we took an entire high school team.”

CHS BRIEFS HALLWAY HEADLINES:

BOARD OF EDUCATION

by Audrey Gao

On April 8, 2025, Springfield voters elected Sarah Hough and Gail Smart to the Springfield Public Schools (SPS) Board of Education, marking a historic shift in the district’s leadership. With their victories, the sevenmember board is now composed entirely of women.

Hough led the race with 11,407 votes (29.3%), followed by Smart with 10,848 votes (27.86%). Kelly Byrne received 8,931 votes (22.94%), while David Myers attained 7,700 votes (19.78%).

“It certainly feels good to see the results,” Hough said in an interview with Springfield Daily Citizen. “Our hard work and message really resonated, and I had a lot of great people supporting me along the way.”

Hough, a senior manager at Bass Pro Shops, emphasized the importance of thoughtful, informed decisions that prioritize students and teachers. Smart, a former attorney and active volunteer, highlighted the need for setting clear goals and trusting administrators to execute them effectively.

“It was a great experience, and I learned a lot,” Smart said. “There are a lot of people out there walking the walk, doing good work, and I want to be a part of that.”

The election results are expected to influence the board’s dynamics, potentially shifting the balance on key decisions. Previously, the board often experienced 4-3 splits on significant issues, such as funding. With Hough and Smart’s addition, the board may now lean towards a 6-1 alignment.

Aside from Hough and Smart, other board members include Dr. Maryam Mohammadkhani, Susan Provance, and Dr. Shurita Thomas-Tate. Judy Brunner is the current Board of Education President (elected to the board in 2023), and Danielle Kincaid is the current Vice President (elected to the board in 2021).

ADMIN DEPARTURE

by Ari Abbott

Steve Spence and Christopher Kensinger are resigning from their positions as CHS administrators and will be moving to new schools at the end of the school year. Spence is headed to Glendale High School as athletics director, and Kensinger is moving to the Kansas City area, as Belton High School’s principal. Their replacements have not yet been announced.

“Before the end of the school year, everyone will know who my replacement is. But I think that first or second week of May… should be when they can announce it,” Spence said.

Spence has been at Central for 10 years as the athletic director and senior supervisor. Kensinger has been an assistant principal and freshman supervisor for three years.

“I really do have a really big passion for school and for… [the students’] lives after school… The big picture is trying to help students for their futures,” Kensinger said. “A student might not want to show me their hall pass in class and talk to me at 8:00 am in the morning… But my hope is that in the future, they are able to communicate with people… it all comes from a really… big heart and place of caring.”

Spence said that he has enjoyed his time at Central but decided to make the move to Glendale for a change of scenery and a new challenge.

“A lot of people leave because they’re… angry or mad or... they feel slighted,” Spence said. “I’m not leaving because I’m angry or I hate it here… I’ve been doing this for 22 [years]... 10 years here, and so it’s just kind of.. time to just… try something a little different again or a new challenge.”

Kensinger said he made the decision to become principal to continue to make his impact on students, and he wouldn’t be ready to make the move without his time at Central.

“I’d say these last 3 years have been, while my influence is always to… help students and teach students, and have an impact on them, that Central has had a huge impact on me and has helped me grow and become better at my job and as an educator,” Kensinger said. “And I would say without Central, in my time here, I wouldn’t be ready to take the next step as a principal. And so that’s something I’m really thankful for.”

CUSTODIAL HIGHLIGHT

by Reese Wood

In a modern high school, cleanliness and safety are necessary to maintain a positive learning environment. The people who are in charge of keeping the school running behind the scenes are the Custodians.

“Well if you’re daytime, you receive packages, monitor breakfast, clean up, take out the trash, and sweep,” Keith Fry, the head custodian said. “And then after that that’s when you watch for deliveries to come in, deliver that if you need to, and check for emails, if there’s anything that teachers need while waiting for lunch to start.”

The Custodians have the role of cleaning the commons after breakfast and in the afternoon. They are also responsible for cleaning the school in preparation for the next day. From 3PM to 11:30PM, a team of janitors clean the whole building. Doing all of this everyday is not easy.

“I mean it can get really stressful, yeah… yeah way stressful, because some days you get overloaded, like, if it’s winter, you may be out here (commons) cleaning lunch, and then somebody floods the bathroom, or someone tears up the bathroom or a sickness in a classroom.” Fry said “When you’re trying to do three, four, or four things at one time it can get very stressful.”

The Custodians are also responsible for keeping after school events in order, such as basketball games, dances, club meetings, etc.

NAVIGATING A NEW ERA IN INCLUSION DISMANTLED

DOne of the most prominent, and seemingly important, goals of the second Trump administration is the complete destruction of DEI programs that have allegedly taken over American businesses and government agencies, to the detriment of the businesses and agencies themselves. DEI, diversity, equity, and inclusion, is a series of programs being implemented by private companies and government institutions that have come under heavy fire from the right-wing of the political spectrum, and the new president has been more than happy to make the elimination of DEI one of his key policy initiatives. However, beyond the meaning of the acronym, there is little agreement over what DEI actually is, how it affects the entities it is implemented into, and whether it deserves the passionate assault from conservatives it has been the victim of.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion, DEI (sometimes called DEIA, with the A standing for accessibility), is, at the most basic level, a program meant to ensure fair hiring practices. These are programs meant to prevent discrimination by forcing employers to fairly consider all applicants regardless of their identity, and create a workplace environment that is welcoming for people of all backgrounds. Conservatives often characterize this as hiring standards being lowered so companies can meet

certain diversity quotas; this is not the case. There is no evidence to suggest that DEI programs cause hiring standards to be lowered. The main goal of DEI is to make certain that corporations and government agencies hire people regardless of their race, sexuality, or physical disabilities.

Despite the reality of DEI programs, they have become incredibly demonized in the American conservative movement. Calling people ‘DEI hires’ as an insult, implying that they only got to their position due to status as a minority, has become common, with former Vice President Kamala Harris often being called a ‘DEI

Ehire’ once she succeeded Joe Biden in the presidential race. The argument that DEI causes lower hiring standards, and thus results in worse outcomes, has become incredibly common to hear from right-wing pundits and politicians. These arguments have become so influential that they’ve reached the very top, as Donald Trump’s administration is a staunch opponent to DEI in any form. On his first day in office, Trump signed Executive Order 14151, aimed at completely destroying all hints of DEI present in federal agencies through Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Since the order, thousands of federal workers at all sorts of government agencies, from

NATHANIEL HUNTER SENIOR REPORTER

the Department of Education to NASA, have been laid off due to association with DEI. Many of these former employees did not actually run DEI programs, but were notified for termination anyway. This anti-DEI order has also manifested in government agencies scrubbing their websites of anything objectionable to the administration, including a page on the United States Army website detailing Jackie Robinson’s military service.

DEI is very much a new program, and the attack it has faced from the new administration has been relentless and allencompassing. Many companies, such as Target, have followed the administration’s lead in rolling back their own DEI programs. In response, many people have begun to boycott Target, and its foot traffic has decreased significantly. In contrast, companies such as Costco which have refused to cut their DEI initiatives have gained ground in the market as consumers have been shifting their allegiances. This provides reason to believe that, despite the relentless attack of the Trump administration, many people are not only not opposed to DEI, but are willing to support it. Trump’s attacks on DEI are far from over, however, as DOGE continues to report the cuts it is allegedly making to DEI programs in the government. Whether or not DEI will survive this administration, when it has only existed for a short period of time, is, like the future of the country at large, mostly unclear.

THOUGHTS FROM THE HALLS OF CENTRAL

504 REMOVAL

by Sarah Greene

It is an undeniable fact of life that everyone is different. We all have different brains with their own strengths and obstacles. According to the US Department of Education, 17% of students currently enrolled in public schools have some form of registered disability. There are a few laws and systems put in place to assist these students; one of the most commonly utilized plans is Section 504.

Section 504 is a civil rights law from the 1970’s prohibiting the abuse of or discrimination against students with disabilities and providing appropriate accommodations and assistance to these students. 504’s aren’t frequently discussed, whether it be because of HIPAA or because it just really isn’t that interesting. All it is a basic common sense law making sure children aren’t punished for being born with a condition. So, if it’s just a common law that doesn’t need discussion, why is it being discussed?

In September 2024, a lawsuit was filed against the US government by 17 states against Section 504. They stated that it was unconstitutional, as it provided extra rights and resources to children with this plan, therefore prioritizing one group of children over another; in this case, disabled children over able children. It really shouldn’t have to be said that this is one of the most idiotic, insane, bigoted, nonsensical things proposed in the tidal wave of tomfoolery that has been the recent government run.

No matter what, everyone has a brain. Everyone thinks. Everyone learns. Some people have to have certain conditions or accommodations to best be able to function, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Even with complex plans that require big accommodations, any inconveniences that might arise from assisting that child are entirely overridden by basic human empathy and morality.

I have a 504 plan, and so do plenty of people I know. My 504 isn’t for anything massive, like a mobility aid or exclusive special education, but it is unquestionably necessary. It has little to no impact on any other person in the classroom, and just keeps me from getting seriously sick and

helps me be able to do my work.

All of this is to say, 504 plans are just guaranteeing assistance to people who need it. I know so many people who would barely be able to even pass a class without the assistance they’re given, and taking it away with the excuse of “discriminating against able students” is so stupid and disgusting that it’s genuinely hard to believe.

504’s exist to level the playing field and make sure children with disabilities are on the same level as their peers, and aren’t at a disadvantage just because of their biology. It doesn’t hurt anyone, it doesn’t provide any sort of unfair advantage, and it doesn’t take any significant portion of taxpayer or government money.

Even if you don’t have a 504, you should care. Just having one plan, one way of helping them, keeps people safe and on the same level as their peers. Without these, so many children would be effectively abandoned by their schools and government, and it would make life so much harder for absolutely no reason.

EDUCATION DISPARITIES IN SPRINGFIELD, MO

by Emma Lewis

Since the very inception of our nation, competition-oriented structures present in the United States have developed a reputation of fairness and equal opportunity. However, despite this emphasis on merit, the American education system has failed to combat the lasting legacies of socioeconomic and racial discrimination. Amidst a political environment that harshly criticizes racial diversity and equity initiatives, Springfield as a whole must evolve to create a fairer and more equitable education system.

DEI refers to any set of practices that promote participation from a range of different backgrounds, specifically within the workplace or academia. It is certainly not a novel concept, as DEI has existed since the signing of the Civil Rights act. However, within the first few months of his presidency, President Donald Trump has issued a series of executive orders targeting these programs in the public and private sectors.

In Springfield, such removal has already

had tangible impacts. Missouri State University has made the difficult decision to shut down many of its diversity-centered programs, including the institution’s Multicultural Resource Center and the Collaborative Diversity Conference. While many view DEI programs as means of favoring minority groups, the empirics regarding students of color demonstrate their necessity. This is no different within our own city; Students in poverty, specifically those who did not have access to a preschool program, are statistically less prepared for kindergarten and elementary school. According to the City of Springfield, 31.8% of students on free-and-reduced lunch (FR Lunch) were evaluated as unprepared for kindergarten, in comparison to only 16.7% of non-FR Lunch students. As students on FR Lunch programs are disproportionately black, this divide in early education preparedness manifests in a widening racial gap later. Community Focus explains that, for Springfield students, 50% of white sixth through eighth grade students were deemed proficient or advanced. On the other hand, a mere 20% of Black students perform proficient or advanced. Later, for college and career readiness, 70% of white students reach state standards, while only 37% of Blacks students do. Taking a look at the statistics, it is clear that this issue is so much more than perception; minority students of Springfield are measurably falling behind, setting them up for failure later in life.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives were with the intention of repairing such gaps, as well as bringing Black and Brown individuals into spaces they would not otherwise have access to. Post-secondary institutions throughout the nation have continued to value a broad range of perspectives, but bringing such ideals to life may be difficult under the current administration.

Ultimately, empirics make one thing clear; The United States is not completely rid of the legacies of racial discrimination, meaning DEI initiatives are still necessary to truly ensure fairness in America. In the face of harsh removals of diversity, equity, and inclusion frameworks, institutions throughout Springfield must adapt in order to preserve America’s status as a land of equal opportunity.

CHARLIE, CHOCOLATE,

AND THE FINAL CURTAIN CALL

The spring production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory marked the final show directed by Gretchen Teague after 25 years of teaching drama at Central. The show was chosen for its bold characters, large cast, and personal significance to Teague, who connected with Wonka’s story about passing something on.

“I love that there are so many opportunities for bold character choices, and there was a chance for lots of people to be featured in the cast,” Teague said. “Most of all, I was drawn to it because it is about someone who has been doing a job for a long time and needs to find someone to pass it on to.”

The show was not only a farewell for Teague, but also a celebration for some of the cast members who have been with her for well over 4 years now, such as former Scholar Bennett Derossett (9).

“Every night during the song Vidiots, which is a robotic tone kind of song, some other cast members and people in tech would wear these comically large glasses that we were once considering using in the show for that song, but ultimately were cut,” Derossett said. “So we wore these huge glasses and sang our hearts out to Vidiots. It was a lot of fun.”Many scenes in the show were meant to highlight the cast’s physicality with their lifts and stunts. “We knew that this cast was incredibly gifted at physical actions and loved creating lifts and

DHRUTI BANDARU REPORTER

stunts,” Teague said.“This made both of these moments super exciting to create because we really got to play with the strengths of the cast.”

In the production, the cast and tech crew faced many challenges. One of the main difficulties was figuring out how to use lighting and minimal scenery to support the flow of the story.

“The biggest challenge was the technical elements,” Teague said. “We spent a lot of time thinking about how to create the moods of each one through lights and limited scenery.”Even with a few difficulties, the production came together thanks to Teague’s experience and steady leadership.

“There were multiple technical issues we ran into, but Teague handled them with grace and put together a wonderful, delightful final show at Central,” Derossett said. “She should be very proud of all the work she has done here.

While some of the aspects of the show brought challenges, the experience of directing Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was especially meaningful for Teague as she reached the end of her teaching career.

“I remember hearing Teague say that this was a dream show for her to do, and I’m so happy for her that she was able to do it with

this group of students as her final show here at Central,” Derossett said.

As the production came together, students had the chance to reflect on the impact Teague had on their personal development as actors and performers throughout the process.

“Dr. Teague has entirely shaped who I am as a performer,” Derossett said. “She has given me some incredible opportunities to showcase my abilities, and I’ve learned so much along the way. My perspective on what theater is and what theater can be and can achieve has been completely changed and grown all because of her.”Along with her impact as a director, the way Teague led the program and created a strong sense of community within the department.

“Teague’s organization and poise were very well put together,” Derossett said. “She knew how to handle a group of students and how to direct a show properly. We will be sad to see her go, but we are all excited to see how Mrs. Boes handles the drama department in her absence. We have nothing but faith in her.”

Now, with Teague’s retirement, the drama department is preparing for a period of transition, with Amanda Boes set to take over the role moving forward.

“Honor the legacy, but don’t be afraid to build your own,” Teague said.

The Bucket family waiting in anticipation for Charlie to receive the golden ticket. Photo By Emily Hernandez.

Sylvie Hudson portraying Charlie Bucket’s mother during her heartfelt solo. Photo By Emily Hernandez.

Throughout the year, several nationally recognized awareness months highlight the experiences and identities of many Americans. Central High observes multiple of these national awareness months, and often shows off each of these months and what they stand for.

Autism Awareness Month takes place in April. During this month, people are inspired to learn more about autism and what it means to live with it. It is encouraged to look past the stigma and stereotypes of autism and realize that you can function completely fine on your own, and even prosper more than others while living with autism. At this time, the benefits of living with autism are also highlighted, such as people with autism typically being more creative, and the ability to focus better on some things. Autism Awareness Month allows us to broaden our view and realize that some things aren’t as black and white as they seem.

“I’m a parent of a child with autism, and seeing the world be open for people with different abilities brings me hope for his future, Amanda Boes, an English and drama teacher, said. “People with autism also do not get much media attention, and they need more of that positive support more than ever.”

M O N T H S TO

AWARENESS AUTISM PRIDE HEALTH MENTAL &

LGBTQ+ Pride Month is celebrated in June, and it was first created to celebrate the lesbian and gay citizens of the United States, and has since come on to recognize bisexuals, transgenders, queers, and more. During the month, parades are held by the members of the LGBTQ+ community where they celebrate their importance in society and promote the acceptance of everybody in their community. Pride Month also celebrates the historic Stonewall Riots, a queerled protest that initiated the Gay Rights Movement in 1969. “It is an important month because it shows people of the community that they are not alone,” said Soap Johnson, 10, president of SAGA (Sexuality and Gender Alliance). There are common themes of acceptance in these months. Each of these celebrations promotes the acceptance of the group that they represent, and why we should be aware of whatever group they fall into. In the future, as awareness continues to grow, we might be able to expect more widespread participation. In a way, these months may also lead to more long-term initiatives, aiming to support the communities they recognize throughout the year. Dynamics within Central may begin to shift, and students and teachers will be able to learn and accept more about each other. “It would be interesting to see more celebrations in these months at Central because we learn about each other’s differences and similarities and build more empathy for each other,” Boes said.

C E L E B R A T E

REPORTER

DANE SCHOLZ REPORTER

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to recognize the importance of people’s mental well-being and to break the stigma around mental health. The month aims to raise awareness about mental health conditions and provides a dedicated time for people to be educated, share resources, and advocate, helping to make mental health a more accessible and openly discussed topic.

“Mental Health Awareness month should be celebrated because there are so many individuals who are affected by mental health, and to feel community support and recognition can give them a lot of affirmation,” Boes said.

AAPI

May is also Asian American and Pacific Island Heritage Month (AAPI), during which people are called to recognize the diverse contributions of the AAPI community, including their cultural traditions, ancestry, native language, and unique experiences. It also serves as a way to highlight the historical and ongoing struggles faced by the AAPI community, such as racism and discrimination.

“I think it’s important for everybody to get a snapshot from different cultures that exist in this world and for people to build empathy and understanding for people other than themselves,” Boes said. “Different cultural traditions are interesting to learn about, and there are more ways for people to connect when they hear similarities.”

SARAH GREENE

COPY EDITOR

With Mother’s Day having just passed, mothers around the world are in the spotlight. Mother’s Day is a time for celebrating and appreciating the moms who build the foundations of our world, raise new generations, and are there for us every step of the way. Even though being a mom is incredibly difficult on its own, many women also take on full-time jobs to support their families. Some are even resilient enough to take on one of the other hardest jobs on Earth on top of being a mom– being a full time teacher.

“I remember when I was probably 10, 11, that’s what I said I would want to be whenever I was older,” Brandi Nelson, Earth Science teacher for 20 years and mother of four, said. “I had other things, like I wanted to be a lion tamer at one point... I was actually gonna be a biology teacher, but then I discovered geology. But yes, I’ve always wanted to be a mom and (even) if I could go back in time, I love my job and I wouldn’t change anything.”

With both educating and parenting being very time-consuming, teacher-moms need to achieve a strong work-life balance to do their best in both jobs.

“It depends on if you’re getting ready for an exam, or if you’re in between units, but a teacher who’s working… I would say, from the morning until you leave school as a student… as a teacher we work about another, I’m guessing on the average, three to four more hours after

MOMS OF

CENTRAL HIGH

school,” Laura Durnin, French teacher for nine years and mother of two, said. “I mean, it’s just a very rigorous job. (Balancing) is very difficult, it can have something to do with what may be going on in your home life that makes it a challenge, or vice versa. The balance is you have to watch out for that and take care of yourself because it’s so draining there.”

Even after getting home from school, it can still be a struggle to be able to keep up with parenting duties and be there for your children, especially with younger kids.

“I spend a lot of time thinking about work and the students I teach,” Caitlin Lamberth, Physical Education teacher for 11 years and mother of three, said. “I go home thinking about the day I had and the day ahead. I’d say I spend a few hours after the work day – during basketball season it becomes even more than that. When I am home I try to stay in the moment, focusing on my kids and just staying present. It can be difficult because of the demands of work, however I really do try and be more present at home because of my littles.”

Even with all the stress throughout the day, the joys of being a parent can easily outweigh the negatives.

“(My favorite part is) seeing the joy that they experience,” Lamberth said. “Seeing the little things of life light up their world with so much joy! When you are a kid everything makes you excited and happy. I love making my kiddos happy and letting them experience life for the first time.”

“I love watching them find their way, even though that’s really hard sometimes, because you don’t want to see them mess up or make bad choices,” Nelson said. “(I love) the different stages and watching them grow through all the different stages of life, because every phase has something unique and special about it, and I’ve really enjoyed going through all of that with them, even though some of it has been really hard.”

When faced with all of these challenges of being a working mom, it can seem overwhelming. However, many experienced moms have

plenty of advice to give for new or expecting parents.

“Go and travel,” Durnin said. “Go do what you wanna do for as long as you can before you jump into some situation that will alter your ability to do something. That doesn’t mean it goes for everyone. But, yeah, get a whole different perspective from school life, get out there and make some new friends, and learn how to take care of yourself.”

And for those with incredible resilience, even being a teacher mom is possible.

“I would say it is definitely possible to be a career mom and it’s possible to do both well,” Nelson said. “You just have to figure out what works, but I always try to remember, my kids come first. There’s been times that I regret not missing a day of work to go to the award ceremony that I thought, well, there’ll be another one next year and he’s probably not getting anything anyway. That’s what I thought one year and then he ended up getting the presidential award. I didn’t know he was getting it, and then I felt bad because no one was there to clap for him. And, looking back, I should have been there. But I chose work over them. And there’s times that you have to do that, it’s unavoidable. But I think knowing… sometimes it is okay to miss work to go to the thing for the kid.”

Caitlin Lamberth’s faculty headshot.

Photo by Kori O’Dell.

Brandi Nelson’s faculty headshot. Photo by Kori O’Dell.

Attending community events can be fun, but earning money can be even more rewarding. Finding a summer job provides a teenager with an opportunity to have fun doing something more engaging with more time available, compared to having a job during the school year. Summer jobs such as being a dog walker and babysitting can be simple but rewarding at the same time. If you like the pool, being a lifeguard could be relaxing and fun. When being a golf caddy, you can make money like a baby-sitter, but also be relaxed like a lifeguard.

With summer being a long break for students, creating a vision board is an activity that involves thinking about future plans, events, and can help manage responsibilities. Plans like getting a job, or getting a driver’s permit or license. Doing this can provide stability over completing your responsibilities.

Summer school is another great way to keep your academics up during the summer. Students are offered Springfield’s Explore Summer School, which gives students within SPS the opportunity to attend a summer course of their choice. SPS offers a variety of courses during the summer, with K-8 being seated and High School being virtual. Summer school can be a good way for people to delve deeper into topics of interest, take classes that

weren’t available during the school year, and finish prerequisites for future school years.

For those who have summer off, Springfield offers a variety of summer camps from learning how to kayak to better understanding the natural world. With most camps being week long, those who choose to attend could learn how to rock climb, improve survival skills, play tennis, or horseback. While these camps are more physical, others such as Animal Science 101, and Green Thumbs are more focused on the environment and its care.

Though Springfield offers many summer activities, Missouri is hosting its annual state fair. The fair will be held in Sedalia, and lasts from Aug. 7-17. History wise, this fair is one of the first with the fairgrounds being one of the oldest in the nation. The first fair was held in 1901 and has been recognized as a key part in recognizing Missouri’s agriculture and the states developments within this top industry throughout many years. The fair allows those who’ve got what it takes to show their talents and heavy duty equipment in competitive events. Competitive events such as the Missouri Association Championship Truck & Tractor Pulls, and the Missouri Fiddling Championship allow for competitors to compete against neighbors where winners can receive ribbons and keepsakes to cash prizes and scholarships. There are also contests in meatmanship where competitors make jerky and snack sticks. Though visitors are not allowed to taste the crafted meats, the fair has a wide variety of foods such as the traditional fair foods and local specialties such as Beef House and Pork Place adding to the fairs unique Missouri qualities. This event is a perfect way to end the summer. It is engaging for all ages and combines history and outdoor activities in one. People from all over the state come to Sedalia, to be apart of one of Missouri’s oldest traditions.

Engaging in summer activities for

independent interest and for community events can be a way for teenagers to enjoy the weeks-long break. Visiting the Route 66 Festival, and Pythian Castle is a way for travelers to learn about Springfield’s rich history along with being able to enjoy local art, food, and live music. Visiting the Ozarks Farmers Market can be a way for families to enjoy organic produce. Familyowned Millsap Farms offers Thursday pizza nights. While some enjoy other activities during their time off of school, others attend summer courses which let students dive deeper into areas of interest, or recover credits. Learning doesn’t have to be just online, High schoolers can attend summer camps based around recreational activities, the natural world, and fields of study such as science, math, astronomy and more. Combining festivities with local history, agriculture, outdoor recreation, and overall, community, the Missouri State Fair will be the perfect way to end the 2025 summer.

Spending your summer break trying new things, pursuing interests, and participating in community events can help you live your summer to its full potential.

=2015 Missouri Fiddling Championship performer Travis Inman seated alongside his instrument. Photo courtesy of Missouri State Fair.

An overhead view of bright attractions at the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia, Missouri. Photo courtesy of Sedalia MO.

SUMMER MEDIA

Stress, homework, and late-night cramming before tests are quickly coming to an end, but what is there to do after the chaos of the school year? Ready for a break, but don’t know how you want to relax? Whether it’s a movie, television show, or book, the summer of 2025 is full of new releases to help build your summer watch list and tobe-read pile.

ARI ABBOTT

REPORTER

JURASSIC WORLD: REBIRTH

The latest installment in the Jurassic Park universe will hit the theaters on July 2. The film follows Zora Bennett (Scarlett Johansson) as she leads a group to find the research facility for the original Jurassic Park. On their mission to find dinosaur DNA that could potentially save human lives, the crew discovers secrets that have been buried for years. The film will be directed by Gareth Edwards, who is most known for his work on the “Godzilla” movie franchise.

SMURFS

A new addition to “The Smurfs” franchise will be produced by Paramount Animation and will be released on July 18. In the film, Smurfette (Rhianna) and her friends go on a mission to save Papa Smurf (John Goodman) after he is taken by the evil wizard, Gargamel (JP Karliak). Matt Landon, known for his work in “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” and Chris Miller, known for his work with DreamWorks Animation, are co-directing the film.

THE SUMMER I TURNED PRETTY 3

“The Summer I Turned Pretty” was adapted from the Jenny Han books of the same name by Amazon Prime in 2022. It has been renewed for a third and final season, said to be released in July. The coming-of-age drama series follows Belly Conklin (Lola Tung) as she and her family return to Cousins Beach, Massachusetts, to spend the summer with the Fishers. Belly has spent every summer crushing over Conrad Fisher (Christopher Briney), but this summer is different. When Conrad and his brother, Jeremiah (Gavin Casalegno), begin to show a newfound interest in Belly, this summer becomes slightly more complicated.

WE WERE LIARS

If you’re looking to get sucked into a thrilling mysteries TV series, look our for the release of “We Were Liars” on Amazon Prime. It will release on June 18 and is based on the story from E. Lockhart’s 2014 young adult suspense novel. It follows Cadence Sinclair Eastman (Emily Alyn Lind) and her friends Mirren Sinclair (Esther McGregor), Johnny Sinclair (Joseph Zada), and Gat (Shubham Mahshwari), also known as the “Liars.” Every summer, the Liars and the Sinclair family go to a private island owned by Cadence’s grandfather, but tragedy struck, and Cadence struggles to remember what happened two years ago.

ATMOSPHERE

Taylor Jenkins Reid, known for her TikTok viral novels “Daisy Jones & The Six” and “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo,” will be releasing her latest novel, “Atmosphere,” on June 3. The story takes place in the summer of 1980 and follows Joan Goodwin, a professor of physics and astronomy at Rice University, who has just been selected to become one of the first women to join NASA’s Space Shuttle program. When Joan heads to Houston to begin training at Johnson’s Space Center, she becomes unlikely friends with a pilot known as Hank Redmond, a scientist named John Griffin, the mission specialist Lydia Danes, an aeronautical engineer Vanessa Ford, as well as the kind Donna Fitzgerald. As Joan explores new passions and prepares for her first flight, December 1984 changes everything. Whether it’s a book to cozy up with on the beach or a new TV series to binge, this list of upcoming releases is here to help find your next summer obsession.

TEACHER & STUDENT SUMMER PLANS

EMMA LEWIS DESIGN EDITOR

As the academic year comes to a close, Central has begun to look up from their textbooks and into their summer planners. Across the school, students and teachers alike have carefully considered summer plans, ultimately dreaming up their ideal summers.

“There are a lot of things I plan to do this summer,” Selena Oghlakian, 9, said. “My family plans on going on vacation to either southern France or Greece. I’ll get to see my friends and family there so I’m really excited. Other than vacation though I want to have fun with my friends, go to the pool, tan, and just have fun!”

“This summer,” Joshua Lwali, 10, said. “I have a lot going on! For nearly all of June, I will be attending Missouri Scholars Academy (MSA), a summer program at Mizzou where you get to experience the campus and different courses firsthand. After that, I hope to enjoy time at the pool, vacation with my extended family, and hanging out with friends!”

“I’m not too sure about what I’m gonna do this summer,” Janelle Do, 11, said. “But, I know I’ll be working a lot and doing summer classes. I also wanna hang out with my friends as much as I can. I’m really excited to sleep in and relax at home too!”

“I am planning on relaxing,” Mr. Eichenberger said. “Spending time outside working in my yard. Going camping, trying to reset before the next school year.”

Yearbook Photos Courtesy of Lifetouch Photography

SUNSCREEN you need

JACK WEGRZYN REPORTER

With summer just around the corner, increased sun exposure and UV indexes mean sunscreen is necessary. Nathan Mitchell, 12, is an active user of sunscreen and exhibits Bulldog P.R.I.D.E.

“I think respect describes me best because I always try to consider the perspectives and feelings of others,” Mitchell said.

Along with having interests confined between school walls, Mitchell utilizes time outside of school to enjoy enriching hobbies.

“I like both science and math because I understand them the best and they allow me to solve and reason through problems,” Mitchell said. “I like to play tennis, pickleball, guitar, and I like to do outdoor activities like hiking.”

Because a majority of Mitchell’s interests involve the outdoors, he uses sunscreen as a preventative practice to protect his skin from harsh sun rays.

“I am involved in tennis because I love playing the sport, and

also Envirothon because I like to learn about ways to protect the environment and ecosystems,” Mitchell said. “I use sunscreen for tennis and any other outdoor activities.”

Colin Andrews, 11, also spends time outdoors during the summer which requires a level of sunscreen for skin protection.

“Usually when I’m swimming during the summer I have to lather on some sunscreen before because I don’t want to look like a tomato after,” Andrews said. “Same thing with tennis, I usually just put some on my face.”

Mitchell changes the amount and intensity of the sunscreen that he uses as the seasons and conditions of the weather change throughout the year, fitting his skincare needs.

“If it is during the summer I will typically put on enough sunscreen to cover my exposed skin,” Mitchell said. “During the spring and fall when the UV index is less intense I will sometimes put a light coat on my face and sometimes my arms too.”

Andrews believes it is important to consistently apply sunscreen when he

is outside for long periods of time especially in the summer months, because the alternative comes with physical consequences.

“I should apply it more regularly, but I try my best to do so throughout the day, and if I don’t wear sunscreen I could get skin cancer, and I don’t want to get skin cancer,” Andrews said. “I also don’t like when my skin hurts every time I sit or touch something, and sunscreen saves me from that pain.”

With different mediums and brands of sunscreen for people to choose from, Mitchell has personal preferences based on the harmful chemical content within each formula.

“Sunscreen application benefits me by protecting me from the sub and preventing my risk of skin cancer,” Mitchell said. “I would recommend the rub-in lotion kind of sunscreen over the spray-on variation because I think it provides a better coat and some spray sunscreens use aerosol and chemicals which can be harmful to the environment. Some lotion sunscreens have harmful chemicals too, but less of them in general.”

SUMMER’S

BEST

SUNSCREEN

SUPERGOOP

Supergoop is known for being a clean, cruelty free sunscreen brand. They have a wide range of sunscreen options, including mineral, lotion, tinted, and even glowy sunscreen. Supergoop is great if you’re looking for something light, maybe to put underneath makeup or if you’re feeling a little more natural. Most sunscreens sold by Supergoop are typically only used on the face, as the sunscreens are quite costly. From $22 to $48, the user will receive up to 2.5 fl. oz. However, the sunscreen is formulated with 99% skincare ingredients. This sunscreen is perfect if you have sensitive skin and want something on the lighter side.

Struggling to find your holy grail sunscreen?

Sunscreen is a total must, but finding the perfect one can be so dreadful. You want powerful sun protection, but no ghostly white cast. A moisturizing, hydrating feel but without the dreaded breakouts.

Sound familiar? Dive into this guide to find a sunscreen that checks all of your boxes.

NEUTROGENA

Neutrogena offers a lightweight, affordable sunscreen that leaves a matte finish. This sunscreen is ideal for those who have more oily skin, and want something that won’t make them look greasy. Neutrogena has a variety of sunscreen options, including mineral, acne/oil control, and ultra sheer. Ultra sheer is the most popular sunscreen by Neutrogena, as it provides the user with minimal coverage and leaves no white cast. Their sunscreen is also sweat and water-resistant, perfect for a hot summer day. However, this sunscreen does contain a lot of chemicals, so testing for allergy is optimal before use. Neutrogena creates both face and body sunscreens. Prices range from about $10 to $20 and can be found in just about any drugstore, posing affordability and availability! Neutrogena sunscreen is a great option if you are looking for something more on the affordable side, but still want a high quality product.

BANANA BOAT

NADIA FINAN

REPORTER

Banana Boat sunscreen is great for a day on the beach or any outdoor activity in general. Banana Boat Sport sunscreen is meant for the entire body and provides guaranteed fun in the sun protection, whether lotion, stick or spray. It’s lightweight, non-greasy, and water resistant. Although there are no natural or skincare ingredients, this sunscreen offers UV protection and will keep your skin from getting burned. This sunscreen is on the more affordable side and it retails for $10.99 for 4 ounces of product.

THIS IS WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TEN

I first came into contact with Close to Fire last summer. Singing in English, Close to Fire is a Dutch indie band with just under 50K monthly listeners on Spotify. I’ve found that more than any other group I’ve listened to, they exemplify the sound of Summer.

This Is What It Feels Like is the premier full-length album released by Close to Fire, boasting 16 tracks ranging in pace and topic. Loosely, the album centers on the themes of adventure, coming of age, and love. Utilizing simple yet effective melodies, often delving into groovy baselines and high-pitched vocal effects, every song on This Is What It Feels Like is a unique and enjoyable experience, yet obviously are part of the broader continuum of the album. The album feels light and easy to listen to, it is meaningful, yet still holds up when you tune out the meaning of the lyrics and listen simply to the sound. This Is What It Feels Like sounds like how a sunset looks, a true summer album.

JACK HERR REPORTER

Personally, I think a good summer album to have on repeat would be Pearl Jam’s Ten. It combines classic grunge elements with somber lyrics and Eddie Vedder’s unique vocals. Personally, some of the songs that I keep coming back to are: Even Flow, Alive, and Black. Alive and Even Flow are upbeat-esque songs, while Black has emotionally charged lyrics that make you contemplate everything.

I’m a big fan of grunge myself and love Pearl Jam’s unique feeling when compared to Nirvana, Soundgarden or even Alice in Chains. While you can’t really tell what the lyrics are half the time, it makes it even easier to ‘sing’ along in the summer heat.

SOUNDS OF THE SUMMER

COOPER LAWSON REPORTER

DEJA VU PRESSURE

“deja vu” is a song which comes from the second-best debut album that I have ever listened to: SOUR, the first being Greetings from Asbury Park, New Jersey, and holds a place very close to my heart.

If you rode public transportation, went to a store, listened to the radio, or were really alive at all in the summers of 2021 and 2022, you have probably heard at least three of the songs on SOUR and you have definitely heard “deja vu”. The summer nostalgia of “deja vu” alone is enough to warrant re-listening, it is a well constructed and enjoyable listening experience no matter where you were or what your life was like when you first heard it. The layering of vocals and instruments creates an interesting listen, such that the song never really gets old. This summer, next time you’re on the road, roll your window down and play “deja vu”.

While this song is a bit different from Paramore’s other popular songs, it’s just as good. The guitar and vocals combine to make a song that I could keep on repeat all day, whether I’m driving home, at the gym, or just sitting around. Hayley Williams’ vocals complement the rock aspects perfectly. Whenever you’re on the beach, a long road trip, or just enjoying some sun, this is a must-play.

Photo courtesy of Spotify.

Photo courtesy of Pearl Jam.

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.

Photo courtesy of Spotify.

TARIFFS AND MEDIA

ABBOTT SCHMIDT REPORTER

Prices in entertainment media, like video games, movies, and shows, are increasing. However, smart spending can lessen the blow of inflation on your free time.

With the success of the Nintendo Switch, 150.86 million sold worldwide, many fans were excited for the Nintendo Switch 2. However, the 3.27 Nintendo Direct revealed pricing for the games and the console, games being $80 to $90, and the console priced at 450 dollars.

These price hikes aren’t restricted to Nintendo. On May 1, 2025, XBox raised their prices for XBox Series X to $600, and their game prices to $80. This is a stark contrast from the $60 standard from previous years, and represents a greater trend in price increases in entertainment media.

Beyond games and consoles, there are also microtransactions, which are purchases made in-game, that can build up over time. These microtransactions can be found in all kinds of apps and games, mostly multiplayer competitive games, where microtransactions could give you an edge over other players. However, recent single-player games, like Assassin’s Creed: Shadows, have micro-transactions for additional content and items.

In March of 2025, the EU put restrictions on the use of in-game currencies purchased with real money

to prevent companies from intentionally confusing in-game systems to obscure real prices. These new restrictions were also designed to protect vulnerable users, like children, from manipulative practices and prevent unwanted purchases. These in-game currencies, paired with microtransactions, can add up to be more than double the upfront price.

Subscription costs have also increased, and for more money you get a less premium experience. Prices for subscriptions like Netflix have steadily increased, and more paid content has ads. It is harder to get enjoyable content at affordable prices. These price increases could happen for a myriad of reasons, anywhere from an increase in production costs, desire for more profit, general inflation, or a combination of these factors.

However, despite this, smaller companies like small game studios are still producing quality content for cheaper prices. Games like Balatro, Animal Well, and Another Crab’s Treasure have been nominated for awards, despite being from small developer teams, and only being priced at $15, $25, and $25 respectively.

To save even more money on games, subscriptions like XBox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus provide free access to a library of games that rotates monthly, allowing for hundreds of hours of gaming for under $15 a month. Game Pass for XBox isn’t restricted to just consoles, though. XBox Game Pass for PC allows you the ability to explore a library of games without a proprietary console, on

your existing desktop computer. Saving money on movies is more difficult. Many movie theaters have loyalty programs that allow for free movie screenings and discounted tickets and beverages. However, movie theaters can still be expensive, and prevent you from watching older movies, or from watching shows all together. Streaming services like Tubi and Pluto TV can be free alternatives to Hulu, Max, Disney Plus, or Netflix. Because their revenue comes from ads, Tubi and Pluto offer plenty of on-demand movies and hundreds of live TV channels. Also, a limited selection of classic films can be accessed through YouTube Movies, free with ads. If paid subscriptions are a must, though, there are still ways to save money. Sharing subscriptions with family and friends can help others save money, and a group can split the bill for one subscription. Family Plans can allow for families or small groups to save money on multiple accounts. Many streaming services and subscriptions have a tiered system, too. Cheaper tiers, often with ads, can save users lots of money every year. Many services often have student discounts, too, that can save money on a monthly subscription. While some plans only apply to college students, many services include high schoolers in their student discounts. Spending your free time can be more expensive than you planned for, but it doesn’t mean you can’t save money. These tricks can make increasing prices less expensive for you, friends, and family.

SCROLL TO SLEEP

LUCY CAPLINGER

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

The concept of being chronically online is not a new one, and phone addictions have invaded over half of the US teen population.

It is also not new news that social media plays a major part in keeping kids addicted. Their socials house not only funny pictures and videos, but in some cases a bulk of their human interactions.

I know that for me and my friends a big part of our phone usage stems from two things: boredom and lack of desire for change. Why not go on your phone? I have many times simply thought ‘what am I going to do instead?’

Having a phone in my pocket has truly limited my desire to look up and try new things. By limiting my screen time, nothing crazy has happened, but I have felt more fulfilled. I have found enjoyment in the mundane, which has generally been a big issue for me.

There isn’t really anything stopping you from going on your phone and spending 13 hours scrolling through TikTok, but that’s what’s stopping you from doing everything else.

Here’s some ideas on how to limit your screen time . . .

1

The most obvious and my favorite of the ideas is to pick up a book. It is my personal belief that whenever you are reading, you are always bettering yourself. There is a book out there that will appeal to every reader and at Central we have a great library of titles to choose from. I have found that reading before bed is a great replacement for scrolling. You can read one chapter or ten pages and if you read every day you’re bound to finish a book at some point!

2

As the seasons have turned from winter to spring, and eventually from spring into summer, I have been spending my time going on walks. I have accompanied this with a good audiobook, but a podcast or album is also always an option. A 30 minute walk is beneficial in many ways, but mostly I think that it adds productivity to your day. It is also 30 minutes you are not scrolling.

3

Completing chores is boring and sometimes very tedious and usually not what I want to be doing on any given day. That being said, the mood of a task can completely change whenever you think about it as a vehicle to consume some media or another. I have found that doing the dishes and listening to an audiobook or folding laundry and watching a YouTube video allows you to do something that needs doing while simultaneously enjoying it. I recommend Libby for checking out audiobooks with your public library card!

I have personally turned using my phone as an excuse to not do anything else. Watching TikTok or Instagram Reels has almost become a crutch so that I can do something without actually getting anything done.

I find myself primarily over-using social media when school is over and I have the night to myself. Recently, I have begun putting thought into my nighttime routine in order to avoid useless scrolling and to end my night feeling calm.

Here are some ideas that you could add to your routine . . .

- Pick your outfit out the night before - Put it away! Clean your space before you go to bed.

- Clean out your backpack/school bag. We all have some unwanted trash, don’t let it weigh you down!

- Read before bed - set a goal

- Intentionally drink water

- Make tomorrow’s To Do list

NADIA FINAN

REPORTER

It is clear that technology has significantly advanced over the past 100 years, which has sparked a common question: are robots going to take over the world? The answer is: yes, but not what you would think. Your microwave is not gonna come to life and threaten to kill you, your refrigerator is not gonna try and freeze you inside your home. The robot apocalypse is more mental than physical. Robots are not trying to take over the world, but take over our minds. Soon enough, the robot apocalypse will come to life, just not the way we imagined it.

The rise of AI is a development that carries significant implications. When ChatGPT, the first generative AI was created in 2022, the world went wild. ChatGPT was a way for people to answer their unanswered questions and provide them with explanations from a unique perspective. What instantly stood out about ChatGPT was how human its responses were. ChatGPT uses the GPT-3.5 model. The model is trained to read, analyze, and produce thorough responses to texts.

All it does is answer our questions and provide insight, what’s so bad about that? Students are known for abusing the AI, especially for essays or papers. Because of how humanistic its responses are, students are known to plug in prompts and ideas into AI and ask it to write their paper for them. Rather than thinking about their words, forming their own ideas, students will simply type a few sentences into ChatGPT and leave all the work to the AI. The use of AI limits our creativity and keeps us from thinking on our own. It is so easy for us to just pull up ChatGPT and make it do our work for us instead of doing it ourselves.

Our brains are not being prompted to think as much as they used to. Rather than thinking through a problem and trying to solve it, people now automatically rely on AI. AI is like an easy way out for us, a mindless approach. The thought process doesn’t really happen; the brain just automatically jumps to, “Oh, I’ll just ask ChatGPT.” It’s easy for us to believe that ChatGPT is not really affecting us, that we’re just using it to answer

AI EPIDEMIC

our questions and solve our problems. However, it is slowly taking over our minds. The more you use it, the more it has a hold on you. It ropes you in almost, no one ever uses ChatGPT only once. Our brains are not working as much as they should. We are meant to think about our issues, try and solve them on our own. AI is scientifically proven to cause a decline in critical thinking, memory, and may even cause cognitive atrophy. The reason why teachers discourage AI is not only because it’s dishonest, but also because it discourages independent thinking. Instead of thinking independently, we think alongside ChatGPT.

However, it is quite difficult for teachers to stop students from using AI. Because of its humanistic features, most teachers can

not even tell when a paper is written using AI. A study done by Gao et al. highlights that ⅓ of papers written using AI escaped detection by both human experts and AI detectors. This study just proves that AI is not only easy for students to use, but also easy for them to get away with. This therefore leads to students using AI more frequently, as there is a good chance that their work will get completely overlooked as using AI.

There are some characteristics that might be expressed in a paper that are an absolute dead giveaway for using AI. ChatGPT specifically uses many of the same words, syntax, and ideas in the text that are easy to indicate. ChatGPT will very commonly try to over-complicate a sentence and add a lot of filler words

to try and make it sound more refined. The sentences will also usually only express one idea, and not a wide variety of perspectives like normal human writing would. There is a lack of depth in the writing and not enough analysis. This is because AI will just stick to whatever your prompt is, and not try and transition into different ideas like a human would.

Punctuation is another big indicator of AI. Something that ChatGPT specifically does is use em dashes, or long dashes. However, most teachers will detect AI through natural instinct. It is extremely suspicious if all of a sudden your writing style completely changed and grammar improved. That is how much students get caught, they do not realize what their writing sounds like and do not think that the teacher will notice. Teachers know your skill level, they will know if your writing has improved all of a sudden and probably will assume it was AI.

Although AI has its positives, the negatives seem to outweigh the positives. Using ChatGPT for things like help on your math homework or explaining something you don’t understand are completely innocent. However, most students take it farther than that which is where things get risky. We have gotten to a point where we are fully reliant on AI, to the point where the robot apocalypse might be coming to life.

We just need to learn to start thinking on your own, do not always go to AI when you have a problem. The next time you want to pull up ChatGPT, try and look at what you’re struggling with and think it through. It might be easier than you think it is, and all you had to do was stop and think for a second. The human race is at risk, and it is up to us to decide whether or not we want to save the world from the AI epidemic we are currently facing.

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia

DES SIMMONS

J1 REPORTER

The baseball team has had some successful moments this season, and Thomas McFarland, the first-year assistant baseball coach, has been one of the people responsible for these accomplishments. McFarland has experience with baseball, as he grew up in St. Louis and was a childhood Cardinals fan. When he was younger, he played baseball, among other sports, and coached youth baseball before coming to Central.

McFarland is also a health and P.E. teacher, and he is a drummer for the band Blue Madison, meaning he has a lot on his plate. However, he manages to balance it well and makes sure to put in plenty of effort and time for the baseball team.

“I love getting to share my experiences that I had when I was these guys’ age and get to show them some of the things that I have picked up along the way,” McFarland said. “All three coaches have a different way of saying things, so something that one coach says might not work for one guy, but one coach might say it another way, then it will click.”

He knows that some games go better than others, and he makes sure that he continues to stay positive and encouraging throughout the ups and downs. McFarland has dedicated time and energy to the team, as they practice every day after school from 3:45 p.m. to 6 p.m., potentially later. Most of the time, he finds coaching enjoyable, but there can be challenges.

“The most difficult part is helping guys face adversity,” McFarland said. “Whether it’s striking out or messing up in the field, there are mental challenges because when you mess up, it affects the whole team, so helping guys figure out these challenges has been a fun but challenging part of being a coach. Overall, coaching is really fun, and I look forward to our continued success.”

Central at the Bat

JACK HERR COPY EDITOR

The Central baseball team continues to show grit in the face of adversity, playing and practicing nearly everyday, and working to make the last season special for their many seniors.

“I’ve been playing [baseball] since I was probably two, three years old.” AJ Stanfield, 10, student at Central High School (CHS) and first baseman for the Central High School baseball team, said.

With a record just below .500, the Central baseball team has had a challenging season thus far, yet remains improvement-minded.

“We’ve faced some hard teams,” Stanfield said. “But, in comparison to last season and the seasons before that, there’s been a lot of advancement.”

Much of this advancement can be attributed to the peak of the growth of the many seniors on the team, among their ranks Aden Smith, Brody Holland, Rowen Hart, Grayden Fine, Victor Everts, Zach Cannon and Barrett Burns.

“[The seniors are] very mature, I mean we have a few guys who are just freaks,” Stanfield said. “You look at someone like Zach Cannon, he’s just athletic.” Central’s team practices every day that they don’t have a game. Practices are aimed at results.

“They push you hard, our coaches do,”Stanfield said.“They are pretty tough but it’s all in your best interest. They know what to do to get you better, you just have to trust them.” Central has a very small team compared to their competitors.

“Most teams in our district will have a Varsity, JV, and Freshman team,”Stanfield said. “Each team probably has like 15 to 20 guys on it, we have around 14 guys total.”

One of the struggles associated with a smaller team is a limited number of pitchers and limited time that each pitcher can pitch before exhaustion.

“One thing that we struggle with is pitching, if

we have more than two or three games a week, we sort of know we’re probably not going to win no matter what,” Stanfield said. “I mean, at a certain point, we’ll be out of pitching. We also have to spread our pitching out a lot, nobody can really go complete games, which makes it pretty difficult on us.”

Despite these challenges, the Central baseball team continues to work to try to win games, emphasizing the advantages they do have over their opponents.

“This year we’ve been pretty good on defense, our pitching staff has done a great job of keeping us in tight games.” Stanfield said.

With baseball being a mental sport, Stanfield believes that one of the things Central is really good at is having grit.

“Our biggest success is overcoming the fact that we have such a small team and fighting with the guys that we have,” Stanfield said. “We find a way to get it done and I think that’s the biggest, most important thing about us.” Struggling for wins teaches lessons off of the diamond. Stanfield has learned about himself as a result of participating in baseball.

“Baseball has taught me a lot about myself and how to handle adversity. There’s a lot of struggle in baseball and it’s a sport of failure,” Stanfield said.

Rowen Hart, 12, pitching, Photo by Emma Gugliotta.

THE HOME STRETCH:

GIRLS’ TRACK

JACK HERR

REPORTER

Courtesy of Forbes

The Central Girls Track and Field Team competes in throwing, running, hurdling and other such events, boasting a large roster of athletes and creating meaningful experiences and lessons for its participants.

Gemma Hower, 11, is a Career Program student at Central and member of the Girls Track and Field Team. She participates in Key Club and an independent, competitive dance team outside of school.

“I’ve been doing track since

my freshman year,” Hower said. Sticking with a sport for a while can have a range of benefits. Track and field is a sport that especially lends itself to this. One of the focuses of the team is simply the process of improvement, not achieving some end-all-be-all goal.

“I think that in a more general sense our team is not the most competitive, but that is not what we are pushing for as a whole,” Hower said. “Our head coach at the first practice of the year always says, ‘We are not here to be the best or to get first place at every meet. We’re here to grow and push ourselves, make each other better athletes and people.”

This is not to say the team doesn’t want to win. In this culture of improvement, coaching and pushing peers to be better contributes to a competitive team.

“I think with the girls specifically, our long distance team is very competitive. They have excellent coaches and a great sense of community,” Hower said.

There is a shared commitment to the team. There are around 25 girls on the Track and Field team, and all of them make sacrifices for their sport.

“Track is a pretty big time commitment, even more so for the long distance girls. We have practice every single day after school, rain or shine,” Hower said.

This time commitment applies to both practice and competition and student-athletes have to work to keep a balance.

“Track is even more of a time commitment because there’s rarely a meet that starts after school, so it can be hard to stay caught up with my classes during track season,” Hower said.

Practice is physical and is structured for improvement. Depending on what event one does, they will have an idea of what practice looks like. Hower, a thrower, has places to be during practice.

“There are days when we are conditioning at

the track, doing stadiums, or working sprints in the field. Most of the other time we are at Silver Springs in the rings actually throwing. Silver Springs is like a two minute drive from the actual track,” Hower said.

On track with the theme of continuous improvement, methods of training are diverse.

“Occasionally we are in the weight room doing more strength training and throwing drills,” Hower said.

The culmination of this training is competition, stressing the sacrifices along the way and the goal of continuous growth. It isn’t always about how one places.

“Since track is such an independent sport, doing well in a meet is completely different for each person on the team,” Hower said. “Personally, because I’m going up against 60+ girls in just one event, I’m less focused on placing and more focused on self growth. I try to get a personal record every meet, which is kind of how I determine whether or not I did well.”

OLIVE ECK J1 REPORTER

If you’ve ever watched anyone run track, you know how dedicated they are. Mallory Stockwell, senior, has been on the girls’ track team since her sophomore year, and she’ll be heading off to college soon.

“I’m going to Mizzou for college,” Stockwell said. “I most likely will study psychology, and I want to be a therapist.”

Stockwell was originally on the girls’ soccer team, but she switched over to track in her sophomore year. Track is a sport where the team spends a lot of time together, whether hanging out after daily practice, or even chilling before a race.

“Laughing on the bus is really fun,” Stockwell said. “I’m friends with, like, everyone [on the team].”

However, athletes have to put in the hard work to be on the track team. They do not just become fast overnight, after all. To do this, the team members often run during daily practice and outside of school.

“I run around downtown mostly,” Stockwell said. “We’re running three, four miles every day for longer distance. [At meets,] I mostly run the four hundred, the eight hundred, sometimes the four by eight, and sometimes the four by four or the mile. They put me in everything!” Track has influenced Stockwell in more areas than just the physical. There are many other aspects of track that she acknowledges, including the emotional aspects of running along with balancing track with her academics.

“Running is really mental,” Stockwell said. “I get really anxious before running competitively… Like, if you don’t think you’re gonna run fast or don’t believe you can pass someone, you’re not going to.”

Photo by Emma Gugliotta

Photo by Emma Gugliotta

As the 2024-2025 Central Boys Golf season nears its close, players are preparing for state qualifying rounds through practicing and uplifting each other as they compete.

Adrian Kamutu, 12, is a varsity golfer on Central’s team, he is a student athlete and exhibits specific Bulldog P.R.I.D.E. attributes.

“I think that the discipline describes me the most as a student athlete,” Kamutu said. “This is because of how difficult it is to compete in golf and having to continue to give my 100% as the same as it is for my studies.”

Along with being a golfer, Kamutu is involved with both his academics and interests outside of school.

“Cybersecurity is my favorite class,” Kamutu said. “I’ve been taking similar classes in the field for years now and I enjoy the problem solving process. Whenever I’m not golfing or at school I like watching sports and hanging out with my friends.”

Kamutu believes there are certain aspects of golf as a sport that make it unique and more accessible to those who are just picking it up.

“I started playing golf 3 years ago,” Kamutu said. “The thing that has made me stick with it the most is how possible it is to hit a good shot just like the pros and I just don’t think there is much of that in any other sport.”

To be fully ready for matches in the early stages of the season in addition to those later on, boys golfers stick to a practice routine that begins in advance to competition.

“The off season practices started

REPORTER

around early March and the season officially started March 31st with a 9 hole match,” Kamutu said. “Our practices are typically at Payne Stewart from 3:30 to 5:00 PM and we practice 4 days a week.”

A select few golfers have proven themselves to be unique assets to Central’s team and they each bring different attributes that benefit their teammates.

“Star players have to be Jordan Githeya and Son Do,” Kamutu said. “Jordan has been crushing it no doubt and Son’s ability to put everyone in a better mood is great.”

Competing at the state level in Boys Golf requires a level above the other competitors in the sport.

“May 20th is the last day of state golf at Silo Ridge,” Kamutu said. “The top 5 have to place by performing in qualifying on May 12th.”

With more stakes behind matches rising as the season progresses, the focus of training changes to improve technical aspects of the game.

“Early in the season we play a lot of the par 3 mini-course focusing on right contact and course management,” Kamutu said “As the year progresses we change gears to more driving range and chipping and focusing practices on fixing the little problems in every players’ swing and getting short game dialed in.”

Kamutu and other individual players find their own rhythm to be best prepared for the match ahead.

“The team will usually do the same routine practice even before a game which is a driving range session, putting and chipping,” Kamutu said. “I warm up on gameday by arriving early and putting and chipping.”

DISCIPLINE

WYATT WAGLER

J1 REPORTER

The boys’ golf team has thrived this season, and one player stands out from the rest. Neil Lu started pursuing golf during his 8th grade year. Watching his close friends and relatives golf really inspired him and was one of the driving factors that led him to start playing golf.

Lu has quickly found a passion for golf and has poured a lot of his time and effort into his game. He has excelled in keeping up with other golfers who are not only older than him, but are also more experienced. Lu has displayed much skill during his development as a golfer, and it has shown during practices and tournaments.

Not only has Neil showed up on the green, but also he has been working hard outside of the sport as well. He participates in multiple extracurricular activities including marching band, boys’ soccer, and freshman student council, of which he was elected as president. His love for golf has carried with him and it’s the reason Lu is as invested in playing as he is.

“Well, it’s easy to love something when you’re good at it, but to me golf is so much more,” Lu said. “The skill and attention to detail that it brings is unmatched. Not only that, but the courses we get to play at are great, and one of my life goals is to be able to travel and play golf at some of the most beautiful courses in the world.”

Lu has been a promising player and it will be exciting to see what he can do in his upcoming years at Central.

“I can’t wait to see how my future shapes at Central, and I’m excited to continue to play and get better while building relationships with friends and family,” Lu said.

ARI ABBOTT

P.R.I.D.E

IVY DANG

J1 REPORTER

Balancing academics, music, a job, and still being in the top five on a sports team is a difficult task. Ethan Dang, junior, is a player on the boys’ tennis team. He started tennis last spring and has been committed to the sport every day since then.

“It was my first year here at Central, and I wanted to eventually get into a school sport,” Dang said. Dang explained that, because tennis was a spring sport, it allowed him to focus on getting used to Central for the first half of the year. As the team started meeting for practices, Dang felt that tennis was something he wanted to fully commit to. Playing with the team let him find a passion in the sport, and it inspired him to do his best in the sport.

“I met a lot of new people who made the sport fun to play,” Dang said, “Standing alongside them on the court made it easy and comfortable.”

That spring, Dang gained both his first car and his first job. As an IB student, he has to keep up with all of his academics. While he could now drive himself around whenever he wanted, he also had to balance his job, academics, and tennis on top of even more commitments, such as piano lessons and practice.

“My friends and I have to work around each of our schedules,” he said. “When one of us has work or another commitment, we end up practicing late nights and early mornings before school.”

Even when he was not practicing tennis, he was working out and reading up on the tips and strategies for getting even better.

“I wanted to fully understand the game,” Dang said.

Dang explained that while his parents were worried about how often he was out for the sport, they were ultimately supportive of his commitment and success in the game.

“I plan on keeping up the effort throughout the rest of this season,” he said. “And I’m going to keep going throughout all of the next one, too.”

BOYS’ TENNIS

NADIA FINAN

REPORTER

The boys’ tennis team at Central competes during the spring season while also attending regular classes, managing both athletic and academic responsibilities throughout the semester.

“Managing schoolwork and tennis isn’t too hard, but sometimes during the season I miss a lot of school work,” Nathan Mitchell, current senior and varsity tennis player, said, “But I usually have time to just do it at home.”

Choosing between sports and school is challenging for players. There are many factors

that might influence their decisions.

“Usually, I choose to go to the tennis matches,” Mitchell said, “I just feel like it’s more fun at the moment to go to the tennis matches and just do whatever I need to do later.”

Athletes who play sports during the fourth quarter tend to be even more stressed and tense during the season. During fourth year however, a lot of stress seems to be taken off.

“In past years, it’s been a lot of stuff to do at once,” Mitchell said, “I think I’d like a first quarter season instead.”

Losses can take a toll on players’ and really get to them, so it’s important for them to stay positive.

“It can get to you, losing a match, but I try to stay positive,” Mitchell said. Academic performance and athletic performance can go hand in hand, and can even directly affect

players.

“If I’m stressed out for either reason, then it probably affects both,” Mitchell said, “If I’m stressed out about something for school, I might not be in the right mindset for tennis, and if I’m losing a lot of tennis then it might affect my schoolwork.”

It’s easy for certain things to get in the way of playing tennis as well, especially if it might be a big deal.

“Recently, I’ve been trying to make a college decision,” Mitchell said, “and that’s been on my mind when I’m in the middle of a tennis match, and I’m just like, ‘I have to not think about that”.

Staying organized during sports seasons can be difficult for players and it can be hard to stay on top of schoolwork.

“I’m not the most organized person, sometimes I even forget what classes I’ve missed,” Mitchell said, “But I try to have a notes app of like what assignments I need to do and everything.”

It’s easy to forget the assignments and things that need to be done, especially since so much school is missed for tennis.

“I wish I was more organized, I tend to forget a lot of things that I need to do,” Mitchell said.

Playing sports can be tiring, and it can be hard to gather motivation to do school work after playing.

“Sometimes I just go straight to bed after a practice or match,” Mitchell said, “But I make sure to do my schoolwork beforehand so I don’t get too behind.” Playing tennis or even any sport and keeping up with schoolwork at the same time can be demanding.

“At the moment, I don’t really do my stuff on time which hurts my grades,”Mitchell said, “But playing tennis definitely keeps me motivated which helps me out.”

Photo by Emma Gugliotta.

Photo by Emma Gugliotta.

The CentralHighTimes is proudly sponsored by Garbo’s Pizzeria!

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