Central High Times - Volume 107, Issue 1 - Fall 2020

central high times

OPINION

/

Letter from the Editor

WAG

Enough is Enough

NEWS

Some get to do school in their pajamas

Leads and Shorts Accolades

GROWL The world is burning

Split Scheduling The Effects of COVID-19 Mail-In Voting

SPORTS Athlete Highlight Covid-19: The Impact on Sports at Central

FEATURES

Club HIghlight

WAG People are seeing the systemic issues of our rigged country

GROWL Our society is crumbling

Humans of Central New Journalism Staff New CHS Staff Black Lives Matter

HYPE

Art Prompt

Horoscopes

EDITORIAL POLICY

The Central High Times is a student-produced publication of the Central High School journalism department. to create an open forum for students and teachers. We take responsibility for accuracy and fairness and for work to

Food Review

the needs of readers in order to encourage the submission of readers’ ideas. We promise to practice honesty, to run the paper as a business and to

Photo Essay

is legally considered obscene,

Film Review

Comic

“Black lives matter” is a phrase that’s been echoed in the streets since 2012. Yet, too many black people are still being unrightfully murdered with no justice.

Free Meals for SPS Students

Bulldogs Football

Central Intelligence: All American!

Dance Team ‘Dubs Math Team Takes Sweepstakes

Blood Drive Saves Lives

Split Scheduling at Central ADDI JORDAN/REPORTER Over the past few months, lives all around the world have been challenged with a new normal. The world has seen a rise and fall in COVID-19 cases but one thing has held true; everyone is adjusting to this new way of life, and the best way to do it is together. With that being said, how can you ensure that you and your classmates are safe during the school year?

Central has implemented many new rules that ensure the safety of students and staff. One of which is the addition of staircases labelled “up” and “down”. These staircases were designated to limit face to face contact and promote social distancing. Seating in the commons has also been altered to seat 4 people per table, and students are required to scan a QR code to sign in to their table. These precautions are taken to maintain social distancing and contact tracing.

Students sit in the new socially-distanced commons during lunch NEWS / 8

Tips and tricks to combat Covid-19 and stay on top of this year’s schoolwork Central’s staff is also working diligently to maintain sanitary learning environments. Teachers are sanitizing students upon entering and exiting the classroom and are disinfecting surfaces during passing periods and conference blocks. Many classrooms are also practicing social distancing, with students being seated further apart. The most noticeable change, however, is the split schedule that was introduced this August.

Students were given the option to attend school two days in person and complete the rest of the week virtually, or to complete the school year entirely online.

Students choosing to attend school for two days are split based on last name. Group one consists of students with the last names A-K and the students are in school on Monday and Tuesday. Group two is for students with the last names L-Z, who attend on Thursday and Friday. Wednesday is a conference day in which classes meet via Zoom for blocks 1-6.

In addition to social distancing, online schooling, and split scheduling, there are other precautions we can take to keep each other safe. Students should frequently sanitize and wash their hands using warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds. It is also important to wear your masks properly; masks should cover both the nose and mouth when worn. The best types of masks to use are ones that fit the face snugly without leaving gaps or exposing the nose and mouth. Multilayered masks are also useful to ensure the safety of you and those around you.

Above all, it is very important that you stay home if you are feeling unwell. Symptoms of Covid-19 may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. Symptoms of Covid-19 include but are not limited to: fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, and diarrhea. The best ways to get tested for Covid-19 are contacting your local healthcare provider or visiting your state health department’s

An aerial view of the commons during lunch website for more information.

Staying sanitized and socially distanced isn’t the only challenge we will face this year. Some students love online schooling and others aren’t too fond of it; how can you make sure you’re staying on top of your work?

One useful way to get a feel for what you are dealing with is the “Calendar” feature in Canvas. To navigate your Canvas calendar you can simply click on the calendar icon on the sidebar to the left of your Canvas Dashboard. There you will find all the information you need to stay ahead of the game. The calendar displays information such as what time your Zoom meetings are, and which days your assignments, quizzes, and tests are due.

The Canvas calendar is not the only way to stay organized. You can also do little things to motivate

Megan Bolen, 10, stays masked and safe as she runs The Doghouse

yourself like buying a planner, setting reminders on your phone, creating a study group with friends, or downloading apps to help you work efficiently. There are many apps that utilize the Pomodoro technique; the Podomoro technique is a routine where you work for 25 to 30 minutes, taking a 5 minute break in between working periods. This strategy will be repeated in about 4 intervals, ensuring that students don’t become overwhelmed or distracted. A few apps that use the Pomodoro technique are Focus To-Do, Marinara: Pomodoro Assistant, and Tide. All the apps named are Chrome extensions, so you can download them on your school device!

Remember, your health and wellbeing matter. Be safe and stay healthy this year, Bulldogs!

Em Gaylor, 10, completes schoolwork in Canvas 9 / NEWS

What has COVID-19 done to people?

REID BIGGERS / REPORTER The COVID-19 virus has changed many aspects of everyone’s worldview, from food security to mental health issues. Living in these times has led to changes, many of which people are unhappy with. Smaller classes, tighter restrictions, masks mandates, and canceled events. Students face these challenges and more, with mental health and physical safety concerns facing them every day as they go through the world.

MENTAL HEALTH As students learn to look toward this new environment every day, they face certain obstacles that can severely impact their learning. Mental health is an important aspect of a student’s life, and COVID has caused several to take a blow.

“Overall, the effects it’s had on my life have been quite difficult for me to navigate. I am what most consider introverted, but the lack of social interaction is still draining. I miss my friends that have drifted since we no longer have time to hang out. Quarantine has led me to become a completely different person,” a junior said.

According to a poll, nearly two-thirds of student’s mental health has taken a blow as an effect of COVID-19.

Students generally agree that they are more anxious and are more paranoid than in the past. They also agreed that their social health has taken a toll as well (see right).

“I’m a very extroverted and social person, so not being able to have the same amount of contact with friends has been hard for me. Life isn’t as fun as it used to be, and without my favorite people around, it feels like something important is missing,” a junior said.

However, for some, the virus has affected their mental health in a different way.

“It has helped me, and I believe others as well, to take more time to think about the big issues at hand, especially in this country. I think all this free time on our hands has really helped us open our eyes to the world we live in,” a senior said.

Students have the ability to speak to a number of counselors here at Central. They all have counseling backgrounds and are willing to help any students that

NEWS /10

are in need of help. They can refer students to resources that the students wouldn’t be able to get to by themselves.

The counseling center can be found in room 135.

If students are not comfortable with talking to a counselor, they can speak to someone while staying completely anonymous. The national helpline provides 24/7 confidential help to anyone who is in distress. They can be contacted at 1-800-662-4357. The call will be directed to any one of a number of trained counselors.

INCOME As the coronavirus continues to affect our lives, a question that always appears is of income. How are we supposed to make money? People all over the country, and the world, are suffering as their families are forced to work to be able to support them, even with the everpresent risk of COVID-19.

During the lockdown from March to May, several businesses and franchises were forced to shut down while nobody was able to buy their products. They continued to try to be able to pay their employees, while still paying the bills to be able to open their doors again at some point.

Now that lockdown is over and people are going into businesses and buying products, businesses are slowly

A poll sent out by Central High Times showed that 66.1% of respondees felt that their mental health went down or stayed the same as a result of the pandemic.

their families and children. The only problem is, grocery stores can only support so many families.

FOOD SECURITY

Dr. Wittmer puts down the table markers for lunch after the lunch ladies clean the tables. able to get the money back that they had spent to keep everyone safe. The only problem is that some businesses aren’t able to pay the same amount they used to in order to keep employees happy.

“More than 32% of households say they’ve lost income since the pandemic began. About 26% of Americans who are currently working say they’ve experienced a pay cut, while 36% are working fewer hours,” marketplace.org said.

The job industry of the United States has taken a beating, and businesses struggle to stay optimistic about their finances. International trading has plummeted and caused hundreds of thousands of stores to go out of business.

In April, the United States unemployment rate jumped up to 14.7 percent, which is the worst rate since the Great Depression. Being forced to leave your job can result in panic among the household, and can cause family and emotional issues along the way.

In Missouri, the rate jumped to 9.7 percent during the lockdown, which was a massive jump from 3.9 percent in March. The shutdown in Missouri went from April 6th to May 3rd, resulting in many businesses being forced to lay off employees in order to be able to stay open after the lockdown was over.

Also in April, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) sent out Economic Impact Payments, also commonly known as stimulus checks. This was a result of the CARES Act, which provided the American people with 2.2 trillion dollars. This meant that each person got approximantly $1,200.

Hundreds of millions of families used the money that they got to pay the bills that they owed during the lockdown. As grocery stores were opening back up, a lot of people used their newfound money to be able to feed

Having food to put on the table is another issue that the coronavirus has caused. When grocery stores shut down, families couldn’t feed their children. For a good while, the United States had a food shortage.

“As closures caused by the coronavirus lead to a rise in unemployment and poverty, more people will experience food insecurity,” feedingamerica.org said.

For some people, eating out is a way of life. But during the lockdown, no one could go get any food that they did not have in their fridges. People were forced to learn how to be self-sustainable or they would starve.

Many people moved back in with family, to stay close to everyone and allow families to be able to feed each other easier when they are all under one roof. An issue with this is it becomes harder to get the food necessary to be able to feed all of the mouths in the house.

Food insecurity is a major issue that plagues the United States and hundreds of other countries around the world.

For families with children under 18, food insecurity has increased by 130 percent since 2018. The effects that food insecurity has on a family is large and can cause severe issues down the road.

Central has a food pantry that gives students food to take home, no matter what their circumstances are, no questions asked. The food pantry is open every Tuesday and Thursday after school in room 311. Both breakfast and lunch throughout SPS are also free until the end of the semester. If you or someone you know needs food for home, they can find it there.

Dr. Hite cleans up table markers at the end of lunch to be cleaned before the next lunch.

11/ NEWS

How Does Mail In Voting Work?

Rosellen Park

Brett Turner

Left to right: Julian Hom, sophomore, and Anthony Trimble, senior.

Left to right: Paige Horten, sophomore, and Halle Johnson, junior, performing at a football game.

Pictured above: Kyonna Dickson, freshman, is lifted by her teammates.

New Journalism Staff

New Teachers ANIA KOVACS / REPORTER

A quick introduction to some of our new teachers here at Central.

Welcome to the Central family, everyone!

Jerra Gillespie Scholars “Central High School is an amazing school and I am excited for the opportunity to be here.”

Amanda Boes English Language Arts “Teaching at Central High School has been a goal of mine because of their high standards and student energy! I look forward to meeting as many of you as I can!”

Tyler Killen Business Education “Even though we’re living in unenjoyable times, don’t rush through them. Do what you can to enjoy yourself!”

Meon Cloud Attendance Secretary “I enjoy working with individuals who work hard and love what they do. Go Bulldogs!”

FEATURE / 20

Liz Shephard Financial Secretary “I am absolutely thrilled to be at Central and I look forward to getting to know everyone!

One of my favorite quotes: “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream” -C.S. Lewis”

at Central Emily Halcomb Social Sciences

Collyn Riley English Language

“I am looking forward to Arts teaching IB and history “I love CHS with all of because I am really my heart. My teachers passionate about both. I here helped me become am also looking forward who I am today and I to getting to know want to do that for my some really awesome students as well.” motivated people that attend and work our beautiful school.”

Anthony James Counseling “Proud to be a bulldog!”

Meghan Sweckard Counseling Center Secretary “Hello Bulldogs! Thank you for welcoming me into the bulldog pack!”

Lindsay Ransom Special Education “I am looking forward to meeting new students and learning more about Central! Go Bulldogs!”

Stephanie Holloway Mathematics “I’m looking forward to getting to know the students at CHS and see them excel in math this year.”

21 / FEATURE

An Artistic Perspective Hey Central! An Artistic Perspective is back again this year.

For this issue, we asked students to submit an art piece you created during quarantine. Here’s what you guys created!

Haley Langevin

Liatris Parker-Reece

Self Portrait

Cheap Rent

“The medium I used was acrylic, and I wanted to highlight how the transition in physical appearance can change someone’s self image.”

“This is a piece I created for one of my art classes. It was based off an old piece I created in middle school.”

Chance Maples Farm Isolation HYPE / 24

KHLOE JOINT / CO-EDITOR

Abigail Sharp Night Time Fight

Kaitlyn Hoover Contrast

Program Used: Krita “This drawing took me around 6 hours and is one of my first drawings without black outlines.”

“I took this for my Photography I class, and it was taken on my iPhone 11 at some creeks in Lost Hill Park.”

Kaitlyn Silkey

Samuel Martin

Equality

dumb frog.

“The LGBT+ community and people of color are minorities that need to be heard. This is one of my contributions to bring awareness. Do whatever you can to help make a difference.”

“He’s simply a dumb frog named Gabe, He is bisexual and his boyfriend plays basketball. I know this won’t get in but I hope this dumb little frog man makes someone smile.”

HYPE / 25

Horoscopes ASHLEY STANLEY /

CONCLUSION: Stop reading, and put this heavenly food in your mouth already

CONCLUSION: Give these cool dudes some business

CONCLUSION: Beware: only those with no soul dare venture here

PHOTO ESSAY BAILEY DIPPER AND HALLE JOHNSON / PHOTO EDITORS

MESSAGE FROM KERBORT

KEATON LASHLEY/SENIOR REPORTER