Central High Times - Volume 111, Issue 2 - Winter 2024

IN THIS ISSUE . . .

ADVISER Kori O’Dell

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Lucy Caplinger PAGE DESIGNERS

Jack Herr, Emma Lewis, Jack Wegrzyn & Reese Wood COPY EDITORS

Sarah Greene, Jack Herr & Jack Wegrzyn SENIOR REPORTER Nathaniel Hunter REPORTERS

Ariana Abbott, Dhruti Bandaru, Nadia Finan, Audrey Gao, Cooper Lawson, Grant Pickett, Abbott Schmidt, Dane Scholz & Malachi Wright

THE CHT Volume 111 Issue 2 CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL 423 E. Central St., Springfield, MO 65802 CONTACT keodell@spsmail.org FONT FAMILIES Function, Century PUBLISHER Jostens Publishing

EDITORIAL POLICY

The Central High Times is a student-produced publication of the Central High School journalism department. The staff and advisor strive to create an open forum for students and teachers. We take resposibility for accuracy and fairness and for work to be unbiased and responsive to the needs of readers in order to encourage the submission of readers’ ideas. We promise

practice honesty, to run the paper as a business and to avoid

that is

Bennett Derossett (9) performs as Orpheus in the fall musical, Hadestown: Teen Edition.

Photo by Eden Olson.

Boys’ Swim

Greene

Boys’ Soccer

D. Scholz

Letter from the Editor

L. Caplinger

Carter Shipman Film J. Herr

N. Finan

N. Hunter

LETTER TO THE EDITOR POLICY

The Central High Times encourages the submission of ideas or comments from readers. Letters to the Editor must contain no more than 150 words. Letter to the Editor submissions should be typed, printed, signed and delivered to Central High School’s journalism office (room 024) or sent to keodell@spsmail. org with the subject line “Letter to the CHT Editor.” The Central High Times reserves the right to edit submissions for grammatical and spelling errors and for space limitations limitations.

ADVERTISING AND SPONSORSHIP POLICY

The Central High Times has the right to accept, reject or cancel any advertisement at any time. Advertising will not contain any statements, illustrations or implications offensive to good taste or public decency based on the opinion of the Central High Times staff (i.e. any content containing anything racist, sexist or illegal for high school students or violates journalistic principles). Advertisements accepted by the Central High Times staff are not an endorsement from the staff, advisor, administration or Springfield Public Schools District. Advertisements should refrain from attacking competitors unfairly or disparaging their products, services or methods of doing business. If your organization would like to advertise in the Central High Times, or if you would like to provide a financial sponsorship for the Central High Times, please contact the advisor, Kori O’Dell, at keodell@spsmail.org. Sponsorships begins at $25 per year, advertising pricing begins at $50 per issue, and all money raised goes toward our printing budget.

Volleyball

D. Bandaru

Wardrobe

L. Caplinger Best of the Year G. Pickett

Cross Country

Lawson

E D I T O R LETTER FROM THE

My whole life, I have been surrounded by beautiful and magnificent women. I am spectacularly lucky in life to have such amazing people, not only in my family, but my community. One truth about me is that I do not have a mom. The story is long and muddy and complicated, but at the center of everything I do not have a mom, and I have never had one.

Biologically it is true, there is a woman who gave birth to me and whose name is on my birth certificate, but that is simply a title; Mother. This is something that I think about a lot –my mom, or the absence of her. It is kind of a tired conversation but it is a fundamental part of who I am regardless.

There have been times where I thought, selfishly, I was given the short end of the stick. It is easy to play the no-mom card and pretend that my life is incredibly difficult, blah blah blah. This is not true.

My Aunt Kate and my Grandma Nan definitely take the top spots. I have never seriously had to wonder how to braid hair or buy bras or do my mascara, because they answered every question.

Starting with Kate; never have I ever met a better person. She is the kindest and most respectful human I have had the pleasure of knowing. Some of my favorite memories were spent sitting on her couch hearing her stories or asking for advice on all my problems. She is a person who will listen as I tell her the entire plot of a book she has never heard of and happily provide feedback. She has wiped more of my tears

than any other person. I never had to worry about picking an outfit for church on Christmas; I had Kate. For Crazy-Hair day in elementary school, she would come by before work and do everything she could to help. She makes me feel so incredibly loved. I always have a room at her house and a seat at her table, always. There are so many great things about Kate, like her fashion and music taste. The fact that she does everything for everyone, and there are so many more things I want to say, but I have limited space and so many more people to talk about. Kate, I love you.

I remind myself of Nan more and more every day. Anytime my dad went out of town for work as a kid, I would go to Nan’s for a sleepover and she would make angel hair pasta and we would watch Wheel of Fortune. Nan has been there anytime that I have needed her, she has bragged on my writing to her friends and has given me more rides than I can count. Nan has read and watched everything that I have recommended to her. She is who inspired my immense love of literature and has always tried to influence me to become a reader. I admire her strength and the way she always has an opinion and that she voices it. My hand will always fit perfectly in hers.

My brother’s girlfriend and basically my sisterin-law: Marra, has helped me through so much. They are seven years older than me, but Marra has never made me feel small. It is such an interesting concept, that every teenage girl-esque issue that I am facing is something she has fresh in her brain. Starting high school was scary, but she gave me such good insight as to how to deal with the things I was feeling. I have so much to thank Marra for. She has listened to hours of my high school drama, let me join her and her cool friends while they shop, and showed me how to exist as a girl entering womanhood.

Outside of my family, there are so many other mothers and women who have taught me so many things. My time at Rountree Elementary was probably the most isolating in terms of not having a mom. There were so many PTA planned holiday parties where all the moms took off work and brought candy and cookies and joined the kids in the fun. I remember there were a couple years when the Valentine’s Day party was on my birthday, and I felt very alone. This is one of my first memories of a woman just simply being there for me. One of the boys in my class’s mom came

and sat by me and talked to me for the whole party. I do not remember the conversation – it is not important – but this has taught me to try to be there for people who do not necessarily have anyone else.

It is very easy to take a hardship that you have faced and use it as a shield, to identify as the things that have happened to you. It is easy to hide behind your flaws for the scarier things about you. It is a way of coping, but you have to move on. This is something I am currently trying to digest. For a long time my only inspiration was the fact that I did not have a mom, but as I am maturing I am realizing that there is so much inspiration in the world. It is all in the way that you look at it.

Maybe take this as a sign; thank your mom for all that she has done for you. Tell the people in your life that they are important. Realize that it is okay to feel things, but also that changing your mindset can sometimes help you move on.

Yours, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Marra and Aunt Kate hugging at Marra’s college graduation party.

Editor-In-Chief Lucy Caplinger posing with her Aunt Kate, Nan standing in the background.

In what was perhaps a shock to most careful observers, Donald Trump defeated Kamala Harris to become the 47th President of the United States in a relatively lopsided election. Most of the polling suggested that this election would be incredibly close, one of the closest in American history, yet Trump’s victory was announced on the first night of voting. Unlike 2020, which took quite a while for a winner to be decided, this election was over merely a few hours after polls

NATHANIEL HUNTER REPORTER

closed, with Trump winning slightly over 300 electoral votes, and every swing state. Not only that, Republicans also won the House and the Senate, meaning that Republicans have full control of the legislative branch for the next two years. As soon as Trump is sworn in in January, he can get to work on his agenda with little to no opposition. Missouri, as predicted by the polls, continued to be a Republican stronghold this election. As expected, Trump won the state by a wide margin. The incumbent senator who was up for reelection, Josh Hawley, won a second term decisively. No House seats were flipped from red to blue, with Republican Eric Burlison being reelected in Missouri’s 7th Congressional District, where Central is located. Perhaps the only loss for Republicans in Missouri this election cycle was the passing of Amendment 3, which changes many of Missouri’s restrictions on abortion, overturning an outright ban. However, the amendment only passed by about 100,000 votes, a relatively tight margin. After his victory, Trump has quickly gotten to work announcing his Cabinet picks, which have caused controversy, and in one specific instance, criticism from both sides. Trump has announced anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. as his Secretary of Health and Human Services; Fox News host and alleged Christian nationalist Pete Hegseth as his Secretary of Defense; and former Democrat, who is often accused of being a paid agent for the Russian government, Tulsi Gabbard as his Director of National Intelligence. All of these picks have been criticized, but they pale in comparison to the pushback given to Trump’s selection of Attorney General, Matt Gaetz.

Gaetz has been accused of sex trafficking minors on multiple occasions, showing pictures of minors he’s had illegal relations with to his fellow Congressmen, and bragging about paying minors to be intimate with him. The House Ethics Committee was going to release a report about his alleged misconduct, but his nomination as Attorney General led to his resignation from the House, meaning they can no longer release said report. Progressives and Conservatives have both been highly

critical of Gaetz, with Republican senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma saying he wants access to the unreleased ethics report. It has also been rumored that the Senate will refuse to confirm Gaetz when the time comes to vote on him, but it is not truly known whether that will be the case once the time to confirm him comes.

While the Gaetz situation is by far the largest scandal on the Republican side so far, the Democrats and people on the left have had their own amount of infighting over how they lost so badly. Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont released a statement regarding the Democratic Party and Harris’s campaign, saying that the party has abandoned the working class and refuses to meaningfully oppose big businesses and corporations that exploit working people. Many Democratic politicians have resisted this narrative, claiming that they lost because of transgender issues or because Harris is a biracial woman, but these arguments have been mostly unpersuasive to people in the online left, who agree with the explanation Sanders gives and demand the party experiences some kind of dramatic change. Whether the party will embrace that change or pivot in another direction remains to be seen.

Leading up to election day, politicians from all sides of the political spectrum told voters that this would be the most important election of their lives. Now that the election has passed, it is time to see whether or not that assessment was correct. If there is one thing that is certain about the coming four years, it is that the political polarization that defines the politics of this country will only get worse. Republicans and Democrats will continue to fight each other, as well as fighting amongst themselves. All the while, the host of The Apprentice will be the man leading us into the future. How we got to this point is a question that nobody can definitively answer. However, regardless of why, we have entered a new era of American history.

*Written pre-Gaetz withdrawl.*

WAY DOWN

HADESTOWN

The theater department recently brought Greek mythology to life with its production of Hadestown, a musical adaptation of the myth of Orpheus, Eurydice, Hades, and Persephone. The play ran from Nov. 15 to 18. The student matinee occurred on Nov. 18, and the play explored themes of love, loss, and redemption with a contemporary twist.

Bennett Derossett (9) played Orpheus.

“Hadestown is a musical about the Greek myth of Hades and Persephone,” Derossett said. “It tells the story of Orpheus, who tries to bring the world back into tune and falls in love with Eurydice. The plot follows his journey to the underworld to rescue her, facing obstacles set by the gods and the Fates. [The Fates] are almost like the inner thoughts of the main characters - it’s full of adventure.”

Ben Loughary (11), who played Hades, explained how the production added a fresh interpretation to the ancient myth.

“It’s a modern adaptation with an industrial twist,” Loughary said. “Hadestown isn’t exactly a hell - it’s a town. The play focuses less on mythology and more on themes of love and labor struggles.”

The rest of the cast included Sumaya Clark (12) as Eurydice, Nadya Herman (10) as Hermes, and Keilei Downer (12) as Persephone. Supporting roles included the three Fates: Emma Lewis (10),

AUDREY GAO

REPORTER

Autumn Stark (11), and Sylvie Hudson (11); as well as an ensemble of 25 mine workers.

“This cast is so great,” Derossett said. “Everyone sounds amazing and puts in so much effort. It means a lot to all of us to bring this show to life.”

The audience also appreciated the dedication and talent of the performers. Lael Kennedy (10) attended the play twice: first, the show on Nov. 15, and then the student matinee on Nov. 18.

“I’m friends with two-thirds of the cast, so I wanted to support them,” Kennedy said.

“Hadestown is such a cool play. It shows appreciation for perseverance and overcoming challenges.”

Another audience member, Savannah Beezley (10), was impressed by the production as well as the music.

“I wanted to see it because I’m a huge fan of musicals and Greek mythology,” Beezley said.

“The cast did an incredible job. The story was moving, and the music was amazing.”

The preparation process for Hadestown began in early September, with long hours and strong commitment from the entire drama crew.

“We rehearsed Monday through Thursday after school, usually for two to three hours,” Derossett said. “Tech week was even longer, running from 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.”

During rehearsals, the cast focused on music and staging, gradually integrating lighting, props, and costumes during the final week.

“Rehearsals were split between the Underworld and the Living World scenes, focusing on the characters’ struggles and

Dr. Gretchen Teague introduces the play.

Photo by Thomas Klepper.

Nadya Herman (10) performs “Road to Hell” as Hermes.

Photo by Thomas Klepper.

Bennett Derossett (9) as Orpheus.

Photo by Reese Wood.

Keilei Downer (12) performs “Living it Up on Top” as Persephone. Photo by Eden Olson.

Sumaya Clark (12), Emma Lewis (10), Autumn Stark (11) and Sylvie Hudson (11) performing. Photo by Thomas Klepper.

transitions,” Loughary said. “It was about exploring the characters and learning how to portray them authentically.”

Costume design was also important in creating the show’s visuals.

“We rented pieces from Springfield Little Theatre and used our school’s costume closet,” Derossett said.

Loughary noted the creative restrictions the team faced.

“We couldn’t replicate Broadway production sets or costumes due to copyright issues, so we had to get creative,” Loughary said. “We used the Broadway version as inspiration while crafting our own interpretation.”

The cast and crew agreed that Hadestown stood out from previous productions.

“We haven’t done a musical that’s fully sung through since Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, which was three years ago,” Derossett said. “The music in Hadestown is unique, with a jazz influence that makes it stand out.”

Loughary emphasized the significance of performing a contemporary work.

“Hadestown is still being shown on major stages, including Broadway,” Loughary said. “Being able to do something so new, instead of older, well-known shows, felt special. It’s not often you get to perform a musical that’s still so relevant. I believe it will also be shown at Hammons Hall at Missouri State University in 2025.”

Participation in the play offered both rewards and challenges for the students involved.

“The pros are meeting great people, forming

friendships, and overcoming stage fright,” Derossett said. “It helps improve confidence and provides a great experience.”

However, he also acknowledged the demands of theater.

“It’s a big commitment that requires lots of dedication, and it’s hard to balance with other activities,” Derossett said.

Loughary shared a similar perspective, emphasizing the supportive community that the theater department offered.

“Theater offers a wonderful outlet for creativity and allows you to be around people who are just as dedicated,” Loughary said. “But it’s also timeconsuming and stressful, especially when you’re juggling homework and rehearsals.”

The music in Hadestown was a standout feature,

adding to the play’s professional quality.

“Having a live band performing was incredible,” Loughary said. “The music was absolutely amazing and brought a huge level of professionalism to the show.”

Derossett reflected on the broader impact of the production.

“It’s incredible to see all the talent on stage, with students performing at a professional level,” Derossett said. “This show means a lot to everyone involved. It’s a beautiful show.”

Ben Loughary (11) sneers as Hades shows up in the mines. Photo by Thomas Klepper.

The ensemble performs a song in the mines.

Photo by Eden Olson.

Hades looms above Orpheus and the ensemble.

Photo by Reese Wood.

STEEL CREEK:

OZARKS’ HEART

Steel Creek premiered on October 6, 2024 to an audience of locals after being in production for two years. The film is an adaptation of Ernest Hemingway’s short story ‘Big Two-Hearted River’ pioneered by Carter Shipman (12), an International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme student at Central High School.

“[I’ve been interested in film] since I was five years old,” Shipman said. “My dad brought home a camera for the very first time, and I made my first stop-motion film.”

The inspiration for Steel Creek came well before production of the film would begin.

“Two years ago, I was at my Grandma and Grandpa’s cabin in the woods in the winter,” Shipman said. “I had a big book that I was gifted of Ernest Hemingway short stories, a compilation. I was thinking ‘You know what, I want to make more short films, and I need some inspiration,’ I was going through this book, cruising through it, annotating stories. I had, like, twenty stories that I kind of started working on, taking notes, stuff like that. Then, I came across ‘Big Two-Hearted River.’”

This story had a particular allure for Shipman, owing to its setting in the great outdoors following World War I. The nature of the story would spark ideas for filmmaking choices that were incorporated into Steel Creek.

“That one stuck out to me immediately as something unique and original,” Shipman said. “I read it and I thought it was a beautiful story and I loved all the themes of it. I loved the iceberg storytelling. Heavy on the imagery, heavy on the symbolism, and it leaves a lot up for interpretation.”

Shipman did not want to make a wordfor-word adaptation of the novel. Instead, he aimed to set his film closer to home.

“I wanted to set it on the Buffalo River, which is in Northwest Arkansas, because that’s the river I grew up on,” Shipman said. “It’s a super special river to me, so I wanted to set a film on that.”

These ideas had to be put on the back burner for a while as the logistics for doing the actual filming lined up.

“Summer of 2023 would’ve been when

I would’ve ideally made it, but there were so many moving pieces with the film, like having that burnt field for the flashback, or having actual fish, or having a real hundred-year-old fly-fishing rod and reel,” Shipman said. “I was not able to obtain stuff like that at the time, which is why it ended up being a project for the next summer.”

There was a silver lining in having to postpone the project: in the time between the two summers, Shipman improved his technical skill as a filmmaker, contributing to the quality of the final product.

“By the time this summer rolled around, I had everything lined up since I had been thinking about it and working on it for so long,” Shipman said. “It only took like four days to shoot.”

The efficiency of filming was a result of the work and support of an array of people from around the region. Securing equipment did a lot for the project.

“Two lenses, courtesy of Mr. Cantrell, he let me borrow them over the summer, huge shout out because that made the film look way better,” Shipman said. “ Like I said, my dad works at Drury so that’s where I ‘steal’ all the equipment from whenever I make a film.”

Many people contributed to Steel Creek. These connections and interactions gave Shipman an appreciation for the local culture surrounding him.

“The big thing this exemplifies to me is how helpful people in this community are, in the Ozarks,” Shipman said. “I told Eli Kromery’s dad about the film, and he worked his butt off to get me that hundred-year-old fishing rod. There was so much courtesy on that note. Max Brown’s dad let me burn a field for a shot. People helped me get World War I props. That was a big thing.”

The details were everything. Much of the reason for the postponement of the film lay in making sure certain shots were executed as they were envisioned.

JACK HERR COPY EDITOR

“With actually having the fish in the film, because he catches actually decent sized fish, that was completely due to the help of one of my dad’s friends [who] owns some land down in Bolivar,” Shipman said. “He has three stocked ponds that he feeds fish in, so he fished them from there, brought them down to the river, and we got our shot. The white canvas tent, that was a huge deal for me. I was trying to figure out how I was going to have this tent. I had a scene in mind where he was going to be draping it and folding it in this way that kind of had spiritual undertones.”

The theme of a greater Ozarks community was present throughout the entire process of filming, with both familiar faces and strangers contributing to the project. An act of generosity by a stranger ended the search for the shot’s white tent.

“I was super worried about how I was going to get this tent,” Shipman said. “Me and my Dad are shooting a video job in West Plains, and there’s this thing called the ‘Ozark Heritage Festival.’ This guy, he was like a blacksmith, and had all these things set up, and he had a bunch of canvas tents layed out that are exactly the type of tent I need. This just shows how nice people from the Ozarks are, because when I walked up to this guy, I was just, like, ‘Do you know where I could buy one of these?’ and he just looks over and points to the one I was looking at and says ‘Oh, just take that one, man.’ This is after thirty seconds of talking to this guy. He doesn’t even know my name yet, he’s just letting me take his tent, his stakes, everything, and borrow them. Just a sweetheart, just a nice guy. The fact that people who barely know you are willing to give you a huge piece of property is amazing. That kind of stuff is awesome, that kind of hospitality, that was my major takeaway from this whole project.”

The final version of Steel Creek premiered for an audience of locals. The experience of the showing left a lasting impact on Shipman and his attitudes towards filmmaking.

“That was one of the most special experiences I had in filmmaking,” Shipman said. “There were three people in there who cried because they were so immersed in it, that was a huge deal for me. This morning, I premiered it again to the Watershed Committee and now they are talking about placing it in the Missouri State University archive for local art and history. It had a big impact on this particular community.”

A landscape shot from Steel Creek. Photo courtesy of Shipman Cinema.

NADIA

REPORTER

Seven films that Central Media students produced received the opportunity to compete in the All American High School Film Festival this past October. Students traveled to New York City to showcase their work and see it on the big screen.

While in New York, students saw The Great Gatsby on Broadway, walked around Central Park, and were able to screen numerous films.

“It was really fun and fulfilling, and cool to see student projects getting recognized,” Elseya Ligon (12) said.

Ligon and Alex Trieu (11) were finalists in the category of “Best Feature.” There are only ten entries in each category deemed finalists, with theirs being one of them.

“It was really cool to see our film get recognized and shown on the big screen,” Ligon said.

The film was about the history of the Springfield Underground. It showed an ongoing interview with Kristy Angle, Chief Financial Officer of the Erlen Group, which is the holding group for Springfield Underground.

“Kristy Angle gave us an exclusive tour of the tunnels, where we got live footage as well as the interview with her,” Ligon said.

Ligon played the role of director and reporter in the making of the film, while Trieu was the cinematographer and editor. “I was trying to find a documentary idea, so I was stalking local Springfield Facebook groups and found a conspiracy theorist group about the cheese caves in Springfield Underground,” Ligon said.

At the beginning of the film, the viewer transitions from seeing the cave to seeing the location of the Springfield Underground on GPS. The viewer is also shown images of what the Springfield Underground used to look like, however the pictures are edited to look like they are on a cork board. Editing footage as well as

NEW YORK

MEETS CHS MEDIA

these transitions is what took up the most time in the creation of the film.

“Alex spent a lot of time editing, the actual filming probably only took about a day but all the editing took him about two weeks,” Ligon said.

IB Film also submitted a film titled Hostage to the film festival. Hostage was originally a short story written by Joyce Carol Oates, but brought to life by the IB Film class.

“We found inspiration from the book Hostage, which is about this sketchy guy that ends up saving this girl,” Keilei Downer (12) said.

Downer was the prop manager and extra for the film. The entirety of IB Film class played a role in the creation of this film.

“Overall, I think we put our best foot forward. We were mostly there to get the chance to see other films, not exactly to win,” Downer said.

Each student in IB Film played a different role in the creation of Hostage. Screenwriters took the book and converted it into a screenplay. Directors decided how things might be executed.

“The film was very collaborative, we tried to find what everyone thought would work the best,” Downer said.

The class first discussed the making of Hostage in early April of 2023, but the film was not actually finished until May of 2024.

“It was neat that I got to go since I wasn’t on CI, since I didn’t think I could go. It was good that more than just CI could go on this trip,” Downer said. “It was cool to get the chance to see other filmmakers.”

CHS Alumna Darla Bauer was the main cinematographer for Hostage, and was the official Director of Photography for the film. This meant that she planned out all the shots ahead of time and shot most of the footage.

“A ton of people worked on Hostage but some of the main contributors were Tyler VanLaningham as the director. Abby Cawley, Blake Tucker, and Denae Lyddon were the screenwriters. Carter

Shipman was the main editor, and Ned Pickett did sound,” Darla said.

Darla also had two documentaries and a music-only comedy film titled Call Me, Chloe. that were entered in the festival. One of the documentaries was titled The Student Sleep Crisis where students from CHS were interviewed on their sleep habits while referencing information from a child psychologist. The other documentary was about cultural appropriation, specifically focusing on Kickapoo High School and the petitions to change the schools name in 2021.

“I was inspired by the Cultural Appropriation documentary because I wanted to revisit a controversial time in Springfield’s history and see how it was affecting people today,” Darla said.

Darla worked with Madeleine Bauer (12) on the Cultural Appropriation film. Madeleine interviewed the founder of Change4Kickapoo and helped in the production of the film. “We didn’t actually get to shoot the interview [in person]. We had to interview the founder on Zoom and try to [capture] clips from the interview,” Madeleine said.

Madeleine also produced a film about a Hibachi chef at Nakato that escaped from the Soviet Union when he was younger.

“It was a coincidence that I found this story. I just go to Nakato a lot,” Madeleine said.

She worked on the film with Trieu. It took them about three hours until the film was finished.

“Out of the nine films that got selected from Missouri, seven were Central’s. It was an honor,” Madeleine said.

Photos courtesy of Madeleine Bauer.

Madeleine Bauer (12) poses in Times Square.

Mr. Josh Cantrell and students on the red carpet.

SILVER DOLLAR CITY’S

AN OLD-TIME CHRISTMAS

Silver Dollar City is Americas #1 theme park and is a 6-time winner of America’s best holiday event. SDC has 30+ famed coasters and has roughly 100 craftsmen. Tickets to Silver Dollar City range from $92-122. Ages 4-11 and 65+, get $10 less, however ages 3 and younger are free. SDC offers Veteran tickets for $30 less off the regular price.

Silver Dollar City’s An Old-Time Christmas event will feature 6.5 million lights, Broadway-style shows, handcrafted gifts, holiday feasts, and more. Genesis Estes, a creator-designer for new attractions at Silver Dollar City, shared what visitors should be sure to see during the event.

First is “The Christmas In Midtown.” This part of the park has different features and light displays. This includes a 90-foot Christmas tree, a 50-foot Santa and sleigh, an oversized globe, 30-feet in the air, 30 flying angels, three light tunnels, two 40-foot moving trains, along with stars and snowflakes. There are 1.5 million Christmas lights displayed on Christmas in Midtown.

Another light display is “Joy in Town Square,” which has an eight-story, handcrafted Christmas tree. Other decorated trees and lighted buildings are synchronized and play holiday songs.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer will drive through the streets of Silver Dollar City in a Holly Jolly Christmas Light Parade.

The park also offers shows and singalongs, and will occur multiple times every day. Some include The Living

MALACHI WRIGHT

REPORTER

Nativity, A Dickens Christmas Carol, The Frontier Fa-La-La Follies, among others.

The Living Nativity is a reenactment of the night Jesus was born. As for other religious happenings, the park also has a train ride telling the story of Christ’s birth.

“Silver Dollar City is a Christian theme park and so they don’t offend that many people,” Estes said.

SDC believes that the “Christian feel” of the park is a reason why so many people return each year.

“Dickens’ A Christmas Carol”, is a performance of the novel by Charles Dickens which brings a Broadway-style show that features a Victorian setting, live band, and special effects. The show is 60 minutes long and emphasizes important principles of hope, redemption, and prayer.

“Frontier Fa-La-La Follies” is a comedic-styled performance with the Silver Dollar City band. “[Family and friends] should have hot cocoa, or wassail (an apple cider drink with spices and other ingredients), and see a really good show,” Estes said.

Silver Dollar City is a late-1800s theme park. Stores and restaurants are traditional to this time and sell products that are often handcrafted. While having a large variety of products, SDC also provides opportunities to see the processes in which things are made.

Jingle Bell Junction is a store that displays over 80 themed Christmas trees with about 30,000 ornaments. Ornaments are hand-crafted and made within SDC.

Another shop is Christmas Hollow. This attraction includes 60 themed Christmas trees and is open all year!

Silver Dollar City’s Apple Butter Shop sells hand-made butters and jams. Every morning, apple turnovers are made, and visitors can come and view the baking process.

According to SDC’s website, the story of the Apple Butter Shop begins with a young lady who journeys for the perfect apple. The story was inspired by the legend of Johnny Appleseed. Eventually she reached Silver Dollar City and fell in love with the area immediately. She soon decided to buy some land and start an apple orchard. Later she realized it was too much work for one person

to manage and grow all these apples, so she decided to enlist the help of two sisters who were known for their incredibly fast canning of jams and jellies. With good production of the butter they soon became famous for their apple products attracting visitors every morning.

Silver Dollar City also has a variety of restaurants and quick food places. Some of these restaurants are Fanny’s Famous Funnel Cakes, Molly Mills’ Holiday Feast, and Hannah’s Ice Cream Factory.

“What makes the food unique is that it is reflective/complimentary of the music playing and the time of the year,” Estes said.

Fanny’s Famous Funnel Cakes is right off the city square. The place has customizable drizzles and toppings for funnel cakes including powdered sugar, crushed Oreo cookies, cream cheese icing, and whipped cream. A seasonal flavor is gingerbread funnel cake.

Molly Mills’ Holiday Feast has meals for family-sized groups. The restaurant cooks holiday-inspired meals. Some of the specialized hand cut meats include hickory-smoked turkey and holiday-cooked ham. They serve traditional holiday side dishes such as mashed potatoes and gravy, green bean casserole, sweet casserole, glazed carrots, and dinner rolls.

Lunch with Santa is another feature of this holiday event. This all-you-can-eat buffet is in Reunion Hall and includes visits with Santa. Tickets for lunch With Santa are $25 for 12+ and $20 for ages 11 and younger.

“It’s an excellent way to make memories with family,” Estes said.

Silver Dollar City, courtesy of KY3

Christmas Tree, courtesy of Branson Travel Group

MYP PERSONAL PROJECTS

Sophomores at Central High School are working to build skills inside and outside of the classroom through creating and working on their own MYP 10 projects. There are no boundaries for what they can do, and typically relate to a student’s skills and interests, as the students come up with the ideas themselves. Whether it’s making a grandiose project or just honing previously existing skills.

“This kind of class incentivizes doing things on your own time but makes it enjoyable,” MYP 10 teacher Jodi Pitts said.

Some students have decided to build their own project rather than practicing or doing a service action

“I am working on a core operating system,” Eli Thomas (10) said. “It’s part of a bigger personal project of building my own computer.

The MYP project requires not only in class work time but dedication and time management skills to work on it outside of school.

“I do think with the time in class sometimes it’s hard for [students] to actually work toward their goal because some of [the projects] you can’t really do in school,” Pitts said. “From what I’m gathering a lot of them work on it outside of school.

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Students can also relate their project to their family or heritage and connect on a deeper level with their personal interests.

“My grandpa has always gone fishing with me and gave me some of his stuff, and I just got hooked onto it,” Owen Gray (10) said.

Others have used this as an opportunity to look into their familial history which has provided new insight on not only their family but themselves.

“One student, Shiloh Beulihan, is learning about her native culture of the Philippines and learning about the language, Tagalog. She said she’s interviewing her father and her grandparents. I think she’s learning about her own culture, and that means something to her,” Pitts said.

Others find that they have found themselves and reconnected with something they’ve lost in the chaos of school and life.

“I’ve improved my skills with fly fishing, and I’ve gotten to spend more time in nature and be with the environment and really reconnect with everything,” Gray said.

A main strength of the MYP projects is that there are no two identical presentations, this inspires creativity and a sense of uniqueness among students.

“I think a grand project is a great ambition, and you have time to do so, but you have to know from the get-go,” Pitts said. Some have chosen to do larger creative projects such as Sam Petitt (10), who made his own symphony.

“I have loved playing instruments for as long as I can remember, and I can play 10 different instruments,” Petitt said. “I just love music.” Working on a personal project can also be used to further a potential career or learn a new skill.

“I have a student, Chase Brodeur who took a business course, that could be something he could potentially do with his life, which is cool,” Pitts said. Not every project has to pertain to career goals or even have to do with a student’s future job.

“It could be something like a hobby, such as baking or knitting,” Pitts said. “It doesn’t have to be something super serious. It could really be anything.

MYP 10 projects can also involve helping people in the community surrounding Central High School.

“Erica Fernandez is stocking our bathrooms with period products, and it is in full swing with Community Partnership of the Ozarks after they reached out to her in terms of giving her products to donate to the bathrooms, as

well as the care to learn foundation,” Pitts said. “They’re both community places that have been donating.” Regardless of their topic, students are still required to participate in service learning.

“I took a group of students to the Ozarks Food Harvest, which was great,” Pitts said. “It was a great opportunity to volunteer. We ended up sorting nearly 14,000 eggs!” Even when service of others is involved, you can still connect it back to your interests and values.

“It makes it kind of enjoyable, less like homework and more towards something fun that you enjoy and want to learn more about,” Pitts said. Students are supposed to take their findings, whether that be a project or simply progress in a new skill and make a presentation that is to be shared with their peers.

“You get this sense of accomplishment when you finish [the project] that may be an experience that students maybe haven’t had that feeling in a long time,” Pitts said.

Pitts also believes that students who have a strong mindset gravitate toward these kind of classes

“If you want to create a project and really do something, then you’re already on the right track,” Pitts said.

Sheet Music of Sam Petitt’s ‘Coldest’

Mrs. Jodi Pitts teaches MYP 10, African American Literature, and IB HL Literature I

THE WINTER ARC

In the midst of seasonal change from colorful fall leaves to cold, snowy winters, students are implementing a particular lifestyle trend that promotes physical activity and self improvement. It has recently become common on social media platforms for influencers to inspire others in taking on a path of personal growth during the winter by showcasing their own workouts and goals. This idea has grown in popularity because winter is a time of year that calls for many layers of clothing due to below-freezing temperatures, allowing those that participate to become unrecognizable when warmer weather rolls around. Students can set an example with their scheduled exercise routines, commenting on the gyms in which they belong and sports that uplift their overall fitness.

Soph Brown (11) is involved with multiple sports at Central which allow her to show Bulldog P.R.I.D.E..

“I do dance team [PomDogs] and track,” Soph said. “I’m passionate about the things that I do.”

Max Brown (11) is also committed to multiple extra-curricular activities that he balances in addition to the IB Diploma Programme and frequent workouts.

“I’m in C.I. [Central Intelligence], I play soccer, I’m on Peer Mediation, I’m on student council, Model UN, DECA,” Max said. “I love listening to music and

just hanging out with my friends, I really like to read, I love woodworking, I’m a big woodworker.”

Soph has several years of experience with different workout mediums, including junior sports teams and weightlifting in a gym setting.

“I started playing soccer when I was around 7,” Soph said. “That was probably my first physical activity. My dad also used to take me to the gym a lot.”

Max began his journey of physical health later in his life because he found that there were aspects of his life that needed to be addressed.

“I first started working out whenever I was in, like, 6th grade,” Max said. “I got myself into it because I was bullied for my weight all throughout elementary school and during a bunch of middle school. It was always something I didn’t like about myself, and I wanted to change that.”

Planning a weekly schedule for weight training sessions ensures a steady rate of progress and keeps a pattern of consistency, allowing for daily muscle building results.

“Right now my schedule is a little wack because I have dance Monday through Thursday, so most of my lifts are on the weekend,” Soph said. “I try to normally lift on Mondays after dance team practice, on Wednesdays I lift, and then Fridays and Saturdays.”

Rather than doing a workout that lightly activates the entire body, Soph distributes sets into different days that combine similar movements to heavily target muscle groups.

“My split schedule sometimes changes

depending on how many times I lift in a week,” Soph said. “But I usually go chest, back, legs, arms, and legs and arms switch sometimes.”

Soph has experienced many personal benefits from working out which makes the discomfort of hard work worth enduring.

“I enjoy it,” Soph said. “I like looking in the mirror and seeing muscles. I feel a lot more fulfilled when I’m active and I feel less lazy.”

Max has also found his own set of personal benefits through working out, giving him a sense of security.

“[Physical fitness] improves every single aspect of your life,” Max said. “You can do everything better and more comfortably. You just feel better in your own skin.

Many scientific studies have proven that physical activity and specifically resistance training improves brain chemistry by producing natural painkillers

“I feel a lot more fulfilled when I’m active and I feel less lazy,” Soph said. “It’s also a good stress reliever because it releases endorphins.”

Because her family has a gym membership there, Soph solely lifts at the Pat Jones YMCA which has allowed her to build quality relationships through self-improvement.

“It has helped me connect with people in my life,” Soph said. “Whenever I lift with people, and when I was lifting with my dad a lot, it formed a good bond. Working out gives you the same set of principles to use, and when you’re working hard outside of school, you’re more likely to work hard in school.”

Sam Sulek, courtesy of Instagram

Noel Deyzel, courtesy of Youtube

David Goggins, courtesy of The Edge, a Leader’s Magazine

JACK WEGRZYN

REPORTER

Max has also found obstacles with finding hours in the day to plan workouts, as well as the struggles of battling the mind.

“Staying consistent, not only mentally, but with a busy schedule, can be very difficult because, not only is it hard to stay determined, but also it’s hard to find time,” Max said. “Sometimes you’ll be looking at yourself in the mirror and think ‘I should be further,’ so it’s just mental setbacks I think.”

Through tackling these hardships, Max has gained valuable insights that have helped him push through and achieve his goals.

“I never want to be like how I used to be and a big value for me is that progress is not linear,” Max said. “You’re not just getting better. You might get worse, but you just have to keep trying, and that’s just what drives me: That I have goals I want to

would worry so much about the other people there, but they actually don’t care about [what you are doing],” Soph said. “Try new things!”

Max believes there are some things everyone needs to know before starting to take lifting seriously.

“If you’re going to the gym and you’re lifting weights, you should know that progress does not come overnight,” Max said. “In order to make progress, you need to stay consistent and work hard and push heavy weight. You have to do something that’s hard for you; pushing through the pain is the only way you’re [going to] get anywhere.”

Max attends the same YMCA regularly, further affirming the strongly bonded community that is found there.

“The Y is really convenient, and also quiet and not super loud,” Max said. “I’ve just met these people randomly from talking to them at the water fountain or on machines, and they’re all so nice and they’re people that I talk to and say ‘hi’ to every time I go and work out.”

Despite the benefits of working out and being active, Soph has also been presented with challenges while prioritizing exercise.

“I’ve never experienced any injuries, but it’s definitely been hard to find time especially with IB since I’m doing the Diploma Programme,” Soph said. “The amount of work I have right now is crazy.”

meet, and I’m gonna meet those goals no matter what setbacks happen, one day I’m gonna get there.”

Soph believes there is a certain effort level which is required for people to actually achieve visible results over time.

“I feel like a lot of people, whenever they go to the gym, kind of work out to an extent where they feel like it’s doing something, but they don’t really push themselves as much as they could,” Soph said. “I feel like that threshold difference between almost failure and actually going to failure makes a big difference.”

Due to Soph’s gym experience, she has gained valuable lessons that translate into advice for new gym-goers that are just starting out.

“Whenever I first started going to the gym I

Kayla Itsines, courtesy of SELF Magazine

Brodie Falgoust, courtesy of Linkme

jeremiah Jones, courtesy of Instagram

HOLIDAY CRAFTS

Crafts can make the holidays better, and this holiday season is a great time to create your own art.

Art is a way that you can show that you care about someone, and holiday crafts can be a good way to express yourself and make thoughtful gifts. Craft supplies do not have to cost hundreds of dollars, take hundreds of hours, and they can be just as thoughtful as an expensive gift.

“Everyone [can make thoughtful holiday crafts]! No one is immune from crafting,” Bethany Mincks, art foundations and drawing teacher, said. “Craft is an important art form and should be practiced by everyone.”

There are different kinds of crafts you can make for the holidays. Art foundations, ceramics, and sculpture teacher David Cogorno recommends trying different kinds of projects.

“I used to have students make Christmas ornaments,” Cogorno said. “They can make them with clay, and I have lots of fun with my family making garlands. You can make them with popcorn.”

Mincks agrees. She says that food can be a great way to make art for the holidays.

“I love food crafts,” Mincks said. “They

are eco-friendly and you can eat them! Popcorn garlands and dried oranges are fun. I also like crafts that let everyone do their own thing and celebrate the year.. kind of like mini-art. Ornaments that you paint would be a great family/friend craft. Each person can paint their own thing, and you get a fun memory or keepsake.”

The holidays can be a great time to bond with family and create memories.

“When you make a decoration, you also make a memory,” Mincks said. “It is a different experience than buying a decoration. When you make the decor, you get a 2-for-1 deal, and next year you can tell a story about what you made.”

Mincks says that Christmas has many good memories and that creating art leads to new memories.

“I love eating during the holidays, but my favorite is making the cookies for the holiday season, Mincks said. “When I was a kid, my grandma and one of her best friends used to make literally hundreds of cookies each season. [My grandparents] would bake for a solid week from morning ‘till night. There is no way to describe the mountain of Tupperware filled [with] cookies that they made each year. It makes me think of that memory when I make cookies now.”

Mincks and Cogorno believe that crafts don’t always have to be difficult, and you can make them as complex as you feel comfortable with.

“Crafts are as involved as you want them to be,” Mincks said. “There are so many tutorials and videos you can watch now that will break down crafts for the maker. It does not have to be hard, but it might be time-consuming.”

To Cogorno, arts projects don’t necessarily have to be extremely difficult or large-scale. Cogorno said, “[Craft] can be [hard to make], but you can always start with something easy and add on to your skill set as you go.”

Art supplies do not have to be expensive either. “Craft materials can be as expensive or as affordable as you need,” Mincks said. “You can make salt dough for ornaments or buy polymer clay. You can use pinecones you find at the park, or you can buy pinecones at the store. You can use

ABBOTT SCHMIDT REPORTER

dollar store paints, or you can buy fancy craft paints. Crafting is for every price range.”

Cogorno suggests recycling household items for art supplies.

“I usually don’t buy things,” Cogorno said. “Like fabrics, you can find old tee shirts. For garlands, popcorn is pretty cheap. There are a lot of things that you can find. I try not to buy things. If I do, I go to Michaels.”

Whether or not handmade gifts are better than purchased gifts, Cogorno and Mincks have differing opinions.

“Of course they’re better,” Cogorno said. “One-of-a-kind unique things show that you care.”

However, Mincks thinks it’s more case-bycase.

“This is a hard question,” Mincks said. “I think there are times for both. Sometimes, handmade gifts are so much more meaningful and tailored to the recipient. And sometimes, people really need a specific item that is not something you can make yourself. It is about knowing the people you are giving gifts to and finding something that aligns with their needs. Sometimes that requires you buy something, and sometimes it means you get to give them a piece of your heart through something you made with your hands. There is no wrong answer when showing someone you thought about them.”

Mincks believes it does not matter what you celebrate, as long as it’s with the people you love.

“I don’t really have a favorite holiday, but I do love getting decorations out with my partner and filling the house with different kinds of joy each season,” Mincks said.

All Graphics By: Grant Pickett

In a world where a swipe or tap can change your entire day, high school students are spending more time on screens than ever before. Why is this generation more prone to getting on their phones? Although Gen Z is associated with being chronically online, it was actually millennials that got hooked before Gen Z. 1992 was when short form texting was first introduced, and was what got the world hooked onto cell phones, but why is it that Gen Z has the highest screen time out of all generations?

In a survey asking 45 Central High School students what their average screen time is per day, the average daily screen time of these students was about four and a half hours. The healthy amount of screentime to get would be about one to two hours per day. Spending so much time online decreases amounts of productivity and encourages more procrastination in kids. Instead of doing something productive, the time will be spent binge watching a show or mindlessly scrolling through social media.

“Since a lot of this generation was young, they’ve had a phone in their hand or a device in their hand,” MYP 9 teacher, Kyle Wallace, said. “Students were kinda raised with a device in hand.”

Kids in the current day have unregulated screen time, which is what affects their brains long term. Children’s brains are more susceptible to big changes, and having so much screen time can shorten attention spans and cause screen dependency at a young age.

“If there’s any moment that there’s not something going on then the phones are out,” Wallace said. “I see students who get anxiety when they don’t have their phone.”

Screens trigger all the same chemicals

LOGGED IN,

TUNED OUT

NADIA FINAN REPORTER

in the brain that smoking and alcohol do. Screens cause a dopamine feedback loop that the brain is constantly trying to maintain. The human brain is trained to release dopamine when something is done that meets a survival need. Cell phones have turned into one of those needs: the brain gets happy when the phone comes out. The brain always wants more dopamine, which is the reason why students have such a short attention span and are constantly checking their phones.

“Both the content on your phone and the act of checking it frequently can trigger a stress response, which releases cortisol into the body,” Dennis Buttimer, a life and wellness coach, said.

Having too much cortisol can lead to anxiety, and may even lead to chronic disease. Studies have also shown that being on social media too much can lead to feelings of depression, and even dependency on other people. Whenever looking through someone else’s socials, it is easy to start comparing lives. Comparing oneself to others online can lead to depression and anxiety, most commonly in teens.

“Getting off phones definitely will help mental health, especially getting off social media apps,” Wallace said.

Excessive smartphone use also has negative impacts on physical health. Instead of going outside to exercise, one might stay inside and watch youtube or do something else that seems more entertaining. The lack of exercise is one of the main factors that promote obesity in Americans, and screens can contribute to that.

“Implementing healthy boundaries with your phone use will help you think more clearly all day long because you aren’t bombarded with communication and overstimulation,” Buttimer said.

Even when people are not on their phones, they are still constantly thinking of what might be on them.. About if someone sent a message or if

someone responded to a Snapchat. It takes up space in the brains, and prevents them from thinking clearly. Going offline could help bring them more clarity.

Getting off screens can also help to better relationships with others. Putting devices away can help people be more present in the moment, and connect better with other people. Instead of thinking about what is on a phone all the time, be in the moment and listen to what people in real life have to say.

“People want to capture the moment on their phone instead of actually being in the moment,” said Wallace. “I go to concerts and see that too. People are looking at the scene through their phones, but it’s right in front of them.”

Decreasing cell phone usage also shows more mindfulness. Usually when a big event occurs, people are so caught up in taking pictures and posting them that it ruins the moment.

“A photo is fine, but it doesn’t recreate the moment,” Buttimer said.

Once the moment passes, it passes. It is good to take photos to capture memories, but letting the pictures take over the moment ruins it.

The best approach to spending less time online is taking everything in moderation. Avoid going for an all-ornothing situation, and do things slowly. Turn off phone notifications, it is less distracting and can be beneficial towards focus. Have more awareness of phone usage, limit using social media to only an hour a day. In the end, finding balance in screen time is crucial—not only for mental and physical health but also for nurturing real-world connections and experiences.

NEW YEARS

RESOLUTIONS

As the calendar draws closer to December 31, the student body is prompted to both reflect on the past year, and look forward to the next. A major aspect of such reflection is the New Year’s Resolution, which invites students to consider what the future may hold for them. Whether or not such resolutions are fulfilled by the end of the next 365 days, this tradition serves as a facilitator of growth and hope for individuals at all stages of life.

“My goals for next year are all connected to projects I am doing now. This year, I have been working on a short film that I plan to submit to a competition I will be attending in early January of 2025. I hope that the feedback I get will guide me in my future projects I plan to pursue during the rest of 2025. I want to continue writing scripts and making short films and focus on building up my college resume. In the competition I am also doing a duet with fellow Central junior, Lydia Poppen. I hope we score highly and maybe even place high enough to go to nationals for both my short film and duet. Other than that, I don’t have many goals other than to build upon all of the things I’m good at to further me for the future and college,” Colome-Sandoval said.

“Concerning school, I would like to get more grants for my period project, and have that become more mainstream. I want to work on being more responsible with time management. I also want to learn more new recipes and focus on cooking independently,” Fernandez said.

“Probably improving my grades and just getting a better work/study technique! Right now I have all A’s and B’s and I’m fine with that, but I feel like if I really tried I could bring some of those Bs up,” Rapp said.

“My New Year’s resolutions are to sleep eight hours per night consistently; lift weights three times per week; go to Nationals in Debate, FBLA, and DECA; and read regularly. I really struggle with sleeping, and at the root of it is a lot of poor discipline during the day. As a result, it really affects my ability to learn in school. I’ve gotten back into lifting weights and because of what it has done both physically and mentally, I know I need to really prioritize it in the future because of how I look on the outside and feel inside.” Asare-Bawuah said.

ANAYA COLOME -SANDOVAL (11)

ERICA FERNANDEZ (10)

AVERY RAPP (10)

EMMA LEWIS DESIGN EDITOR

LUCY

CAPLINGER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

“My goals are a little complicated because they are more about who I want to become, not specific things I want to do. There are a few things that I would like to do: I want to get my driver’s license and buy a car so that I am able to drive by the start of next year. For the complicated ones, I want to grow as a person. I’m not sure what that looks like but it’s the main one,” Loudermill said.

“A big goal for me is to read 25 books in 2025. I just recently deleted Tiktok so I hope that it betters the outcome of my goals and makes it easier to achieve them. I also want to get a job because all of my friends have jobs and I feel left out,” Loethen said.

“For this upcoming year, my main goal is to finish my last few months of high school strong leading up to graduation. I want to prioritize my future and academics throughout the end of my senior year/beginning of my freshman year in college. More personally, I’m wanting to be more appreciative of my relationships with people and try to be a kinder person overall.” Tomokane said.

“The older I get: the faster time goes by. I wonder why I keep hearing ‘Knocking on Heaven’s Door’ everywhere I go–probably just a coincidence,” Epps said. His go-to goal is to ‘get healthy,’ but as Eppshas gotten older he has decided to find a better focus. Epps also said that he would like to work on his organizational skills, mentally and physically.

“My stepfather and mother-in-law have both had to move from their homes to elderly care facilities... I think I may focus on bringing some order to our house,” Epps said. Epps is ready to begin going through his things and downsizing while he still can. The last goal that Epps has is to learn self acceptance.

“I need to learn to forgive myself for not being perfect. Understand that the world is always going to ask for more even when there is not enough time, energy or ability to give and that is okay,” Epps said. Epps also noted that he needs to learn to prioritize the things that are important to him. “Fundamentally, I guess that is my goal list: ride my bike more, downsize and figure out what really matters,” Epps said.

As the year starts to wrap up, it is important to not only think about how you will change next year, but reflect on the past months–maybe use it as inspiration. Even though it is fun to create goals and set a start date, do not forget that change starts when you decide for it to. Break those boundaries, and keep on growing.

LILYANNA LOUDERMILL (12)

FINLEY LOETHEN (11)

CALEENA TOMOKANE (12)

PAUL EPPS

minors

Unaccompanied Minors have a lot planned for this school year. The musical performance group has been getting ready to start singing soon, and they have been practicing hard for their first performance in December for the winter concert.

Anaya Colome-Sandoval (11) is the leader of Unaccompanied Minors.

“This year… we have not had any performances, only rehearsals, but we are planning on performing at the choir winter concert,” Colome-Sandoval said.

“I was very busy at the start of the year, and it was hard to start the club up again, but I recruited many of my friends, and they have been helping me improve our rehearsals!

There have been some struggles with the club. Over the summer, the group diminished.

DANE SCHOLZ REPORTER

um unaccompanied

The club has been restructured, but there are many problems that can come with making a completely new group, such as the skill level of some members being lower if they are new to the group, and the trouble of teaching someone that you may not know.

“We’ve only worked on one song so far, ‘Winter Wonderland.’ I don’t want to start off with a lot of songs or too complex songs because the club dissolved over the summer, and I had to remake it,” Colome-Sandoval said.

The club has practice after school hours to work on their songs and rehearsals. They rehearse their upcoming songs and prepare for upcoming events at their meetings.

“For practices, we go out together and go through the recordings for each part and also work through the songs together to get a better feel of how the song will sound,” ColomeSandoval said. “We also tweak anything that sounds off to make the performance sound more cohesive.”

There are some members of the group that think it is a very positive environment. Having a welcoming atmosphere can make it easier for people to really get passionate about a club or hobby. A welcoming atmosphere can also make it easier to gain more members in a club.

“I first joined Unaccompanied Minors last year and was very unsure of how my experience would be,” Colome-Sandoval said. “Despite being in a group of people I don’t know, I never felt left out and genuinely had fun. Not to mention, it gave me a reason to come to school on Mondays instead of sleeping in. It gave me a sense of community as well.”

After December, the club has more concerts planned for the rest of the year. They are singing for Valentine’s Love Grams, other events during the spring, and the end of the year.

“I have Love Grams for Valentine’s Day planned, the other choir concert(s), and an end of school party,” Colome-Sandoval said.

Unacompanied Minors logo, courtesy of Anaya Colome-Sandoval

NATHANIEL HUNTER

REPORTER

The Swim and Dive Team competed at the State level against the best teams in Missouri on November 14 and 15. They finished in fourth place, the best finish for Central High School ever at a State Swimming and Diving Championship. All things considered, this is a truly impressive accomplishment by every member of the team, and their efforts are something for all Central students to be proud of.

All in all, the team competed in eight

SWIMMIN’ WITH A REASON

events: The 200 Yard Medley Relay, where they placed 7th place with swimmers Jonas Tetlow, Brayden Miao, Max German, and Quinn Smith competing; the 200 Yard Freestyle where Jason Allen placed 3rd and Harrison Reed placed 15th; the 100 Yard Butterfly where Miao placed 4th and Tetlow placed 5th; the 100 Yard Freestyle where Allen placed 5th and Smith placed 16th; the 500 Yard Freestyle where Owen Gray placed 11th; the 200 Yard Freestyle Relay where they placed 5th with Allen, Tetlow, Miao and Smith competing; the 100 Yard Breaststroke where Miao placed 5th; and the 400 Yard Freestyle Relay where they placed 3rd with swimmers Reese Wood, Smith, Tetlow, and Allen competing.

“I was pretty nervous going in,” said Allen. “I think most people were pretty excited about it, but I was kinda nervous because I feel like I’ve been working for this for 6 years so I had a lot of pressure to do well.”

For all the current members of the swim team, this is the highest level of competition they’ve ever competed at after years of practice and preparation. Most people would feel a significant amount of pressure to perform, and this is no doubt true about Central’s team. However, the excitement to perform at this level can often outweigh the anxiety, driving participants to give a performance they can be proud of once everything is said and done, and that seems to be the case for the team as a whole after their performance at the State Swimming and Diving Championship.

“I’m pretty proud of how I did, and I think most of us are proud of how we did,” said Allen. “We all worked really hard to get to this point, you know, and we all put a lot of effort into doing as well as we could. Some of us felt like we could’ve done better, but we’re still really proud of how we did and happy with how things went. I feel proud of it, I feel like we did well, I feel like our hard work paid off and that we all did great.”

Moving forward, Central’s Swim and Dive Team has a renewed sense of resolve, as any performance as successful as not only made the team members proud, but also hungry for more success. Many of the members of this year’s team will be graduating and pursuing swimming while in college, giving the opportunity for new members to join and continue the team’s record of success. Any Central students interested in joining the swim team are encouraged to contact coach Joe Price at josephprice@spsmail.org.

Photo by Owen Smith.

Photos by Owen Smith.

Photo by Owen Smith.

KICKING OFF THE SEASON

This season was busy for boys’ soccer players. The season has ended after three months of games and practice. The team finished districts with a final score of eight wins and 18 losses. Their top player this season was Jack Brinkman with 31 goals and 11 assists.

Nathan Cardoza is the coach for the soccer team.

“This year we had a better record during season play, but there’s a lot of games during the season that we lost that we probably should have won, but I’m proud of the boys for putting effort in, even if it didn’t turn out the way we wanted,” Cardoza said.

The team has gained some players this season. They had 47 players across all grades, compared to last year when they had 35 players. The team also had two swing players who leaned toward playing Varsity this year: Daniel Munoz (9) and Son Do (9), who mostly played on the Varsity team for the season.

Will Musgrave (10) thinks that gaining new players can provide a good experience for returning players.

“As a whole, experiencing new players can be a whole new journey for anybody, because good or bad, you don’t know what they will bring to the table,” Musgrave said. “For me, as a sophomore, it gives me a chance to better my experience with teaching younger people what I know, and learning how to deal with all types of things.”

Now that the season is over, the team can look back on how they did at their games. The team did not end up winning Districts, losing

DANE SCHOLZ REPORTER

to Willard. Regardless, the team thinks that they worked for where they ended up in the season. There are many opportunities for next year, and some members of the team are excited to see where they can go next season.

“We ended up losing in double overtime in Districts to Willard, but sometimes that’s just the way things go,” Cardoza said.

The season may be over, but that is not the end. There is still off-season practice for players who want to continue to exercise their skills. There are also off-season teams that players can join while the school season is over. Practicing off-season can be a good way to keep honing sports skills.

Munoz, who plays the center mid position, said that he thinks that they could do well.

“I think that we can go far in the postseason and possibly win Districts [next year],” Munoz said.

There can be different draws for soccer for different players. One of the draws of soccer for some players is the fun they have traveling. Traveling can be an incentive for many sports, and it can be easier to become invested in a sport when there are friends involved as well.

Jude Lewellen (10), who alternates between

left and right back positions, holds this stance.

“My favorite part is traveling and having a good time with my friends,” Lewellen said.

Another draw for soccer can be the academic benefits. Scholarships are very valuable for some players, due to the advantage it can give them if they decide to go to college. Sports scholarships can cover the cost of tuition, school related expenses like text books, and in some cases, even living expenses.

“Sports scholarships can be a good opportunity for college benefits, due to colleges’ need for good sports players,” Musgrave said.

Currently, some players on the team think that their biggest competitors are Willard and Glendale. They went against both teams at Districts, and they have been neck-and-neck in some games, like at Districts with Willard, where the score was 3-4.

“I think the season [went] alright. Varsity [did] alright. Junior Varsity [did not do] too good. We can definitely do better,” Lewellen said.

After all the work that soccer players did, they ended the season with players proud of what they accomplished, and the work they put in to achieve it.

“My favorite part about this sport is meeting people that are fun to be around, and of course playing soccer,” Munoz said.

Photo by Emma Gugliotta.

Photo by Emma Gugliotta.

Photo by Owen Smith.

AND THE CROWD

G O E S W I L D !

Throughout the fall season, the excitement surrounding Friday night football games has cemented Central’s football team as a core contributor to school spirit. Efforts from both Cabinet and the student body as a whole have culminated in a recognition of Central’s spirit, alongside encouragement of the team regardless of wins and losses.

“The 2024 campaign was a tough one for the Bulldog Football program,” head coach Shem Johnson said. “It didn’t go as we would have liked it in terms of wins and losses, but we always fought hard and never gave up. We learned plenty about who we are as a team, a unit and a family.”

Johnson has been involved in Central’s football program since 2017, previously acting as an assistant coach and defensive coordinator. Currently, he carries the title of head coach, and is also a self-employed physical fitness personal trainer outside of school.

“The program has grown in many fantastic ways,” Johnson said. “It began with the growth in numbers of participants, followed by the belief that Central could be a program of success and honor. This has eventually molded into a positive culture that I believe has spread to other sports and clubs within the school spirit.”

A driving force of this growth has been support from the student body. Cabinet has worked to encourage attendance of and grow excitement surrounding football games in a range of ways, including social media outreach and increasingly engaging assemblies and events.

“As Spirit Commissioner, I have worked alongside Cabinet to change our school culture,” Madeleine Bauer (12) said. “We have done a lot to boost participation and engagement with school events. This year, we released all game themes at the start of the season, which I think gave students something to look forward to. We plan to do the same for winter and spring sports. We have seen record engagement at our football games, where we were recognized as the best student section in the state for week one [by the Student Section Report]. We have also seen lots of participation at our blood drives and dances.”

Student engagement has been pivotal in encouraging Central’s football players. Regardless of the record of the season or a particular game’s turnout, players such as senior Noah Phelps are able to find pride in wearing Central’s logo and colors.

“Having one of the biggest student sections at the first football game motivated a lot of the boys to keep coming, even when we were taking our heavier losses this season,” Phelps said. “It was just so awesome hearing everyone yell and scream for us. It’s super fun, especially whenever you’re on the field and you tackle someone and everyone goes crazy. It’s super motivating.”

Beyond benefitting the team, school spirit brings together the entirety of the student body. Student engagement brings the Central community together, connecting those who may not have interacted otherwise.

“School spirit is so important to me,” Bauer said. “I think it’s good for students to engage with those they may not normally engage with. It makes a good school culture when students show up to support each other. Football games are really special because people love to watch football and it

EMMA LEWIS DESIGN EDITOR

is a big part of the high school experience that people look forward to. Win or lose, I had a lot of fun this season!”

When it comes to tangible achievements, the efforts and dedication of the football team have been rewarded beyond wins and losses. Many members of Central’s team have garnered attention from recruiters, their dedication translating into exciting opportunities for life beyond high school.

“Out of seasons like this, we still know that our players can not only continue to find chances at being better young men, but find themselves earning athletic scholarships,” Johnson said. “Even at its darkest, light can be found. Players such as defensive Trevor Wilson (12) have earned several scholarship offers from NAIA to Division 1 schools because of his heart, determination and love of the game. Those are achievements to be proud of.”

Apart from successes of the individual players, the entirety of the group has experienced a sense of personal growth. In the face of challenging competitors and difficult games, the team has grown in their dedication and other qualities that will be essential for any area of daily life.

“Every season has its own set of surprises and challenges,” Johnson said. “We talk about always being competitive and staying focused on what we can control as a program. Whatever that may be, we will be preparedThe discipline, no quit mentality and positive attitudes of these young men were shown off all season, even though times were tough. It takes a special group to continue to find the will to keep fighting and pushing forward.”

The Central football team huddling during a game against Fair Grove. Photo by Kevin Myers.

The student section dancing to Chappell Roan’s “HOT TO GO!” Photo by Emma Gugliotta.

The captains of Central’s football team walking onto the field together. Photo by Emma Gugliotta.

SARAH GREENE

REPORTER

While color guard is a fairly new sport to Central that hasn’t received a lot of attention in the past, it is growing rapidly and quickly becoming a niche favorite. Its members are dedicated to spreading the word and having new people to join.

“It’s very beginner friendly,” Aleyse Goodfriend (11) said. “People can join. It doesn’t matter what grade you’re in, because it’s a startup guard, you can be a senior and join first season, and it’ll be fine. It’s really flexible, and it seems fancy and difficult, but parts are just at a different level, so you can join no matter where you’re at. We definitely want people to join, it’d be super nice to be able to grow it and maybe get a color guard class combined with Advanced Band.”

Color guard is a subsection of the marching band, consisting of a small group of people waving flags and wooden rifles alongside the soundtrack of the band. While many other high schools have color guards, Central did not have one until very recently. The team underwent massive changes this year, gaining many new members and two new sponsors: Brooke Goodin, and the band camp leader, Aaron Hayes.

“Our coach is so much fun,” Aleyse said. “She came in, and we were kind of worried that she was gonna make it like a really strict guard. And then she came in and realized that we were all very social and just messing around and having fun. And so she worked with that, and she definitely made us a lot better. She definitely worked us very hard, but she didn’t take the fun out of it. She kept it very fun, social. We make jokes all the time. I love our coach.”

In an average color guard performance, members go out onto the field with the band and perform a choreographed number alongside the song. The guard is frequently themed with the band and the event, and base their clothes and performance off of it. While most guard students

FLAGS ON THE FIELD

have flags, teens who have been on the guard for a season or more can have rifles, and older guards have sabres.

“Color guard you generally do with a band, with them playing the music you go to,” Bella Goodfriend (10) said. “So it also includes moving across a field and different formations… you’re trying to fill the field with as much as possible, because you’re the visuals for the band, and you’re marching.”

The practices for color guard are simple; it involves memorizing your assigned choreography, and how to perform needed moves. They practice around three songs at a time, each with its own unique move sets written by the coaches and students.

“Our new schedule, we practiced with the band before school two days a week,” Aleyse said. “And then on Wednesdays, we’d usually have our own practice that would go about an hour with the coach, then we’d run like a half hour - 45 minutes after practicing on our own. And then our new schedule is Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 [a.m.] to 8 or 8:30 [a.m.].”

Color guard practices a lot less than some other sports, the practices being in the mornings adding to the manageability.

“It’s about two practices a week, with one game every other week,” Kyler West (10) said. “It’s pretty easy. And then there’s also a parade about every three months, usually… It fits in pretty well, besides work, but not counting that, it fits in pretty well because it’s before school and after school, so it’s really easy to fit in.”

Claire Szura (11) also fits color guard easily into her schedule.

“It fits in as an extracurricular and something that I really enjoy,” Szura said. “Specifically color guard season, because it’s all in the mornings. So you can have color guard in the mornings and then have other extracurriculars in the afternoon. And then there’s also, like a month break from end of October to beginning of December, where you don’t do anything, and so if you have something that’s in those areas, then you can not have conflicts with that.”

In the summer and fall season, the guard performs at every home game, occasionally performing at assemblies and local parades. This year, they performed at the Hello Day and Homecoming assemblies, a first for the guard.

“We performed at like five football games,” Lael Kennedy (10) said. “We performed at the Homecoming assembly, we performed Hello Day assembly… we do every single one of [the home

games]. And then we did the parade, and we have another next year. The year after that, we’re wanting to start competing, like as a whole band… is what the idea is.”

As color guard is a small team, many guard members describe the practices and performances as a fun, very relaxed environment, as well as being a good place to hang out with your friends and meet new people.

“They’re so nice, they’re so friendly,” Aleyse said. “...It’s a super duper supportive community, even when you don’t know people. I know all the time where someone will wander back and they’re like, I’ve just made friends with the entirety of Parkview… So after a competition, you’ll see a lot of people started following each other suddenly, and they’ll reach out and talk to each other and support each other. So it’s a very sweet community, I think because, while it’s competitive, you’re graded on a more individual score, and so guards are a lot more about improving themselves and supporting other guards then they are like, we gotta take them down. It’s a very friendly environment.”

While Central’s color guard is a very new, smaller team, almost all the members work hard to advertise and convince new people to join and watch them.

“Don’t be afraid to join color guard and fail,” West said. “A lot of people, whenever they want to do color guard, they think, well, I’m going to fail. Everyone fails their first time doing color guard. It’s really difficult to learn. It took me a long time to learn it. But don’t be afraid to fail.”

As color guard season ends and the team transitions into winter guard, they continue to dedicate themselves to recruiting for their sport.

“You should make everyone join guard,” Kennedy said. “Everyone needs to join guard. Guard is better now.”

Color guard performing at the Homecoming assembly.

Photo by Paige Bodnar.

GIRL’S TENNIS: SENIOR SPOTLIGHTS

ARI ABBOTT REPORTER

Now that the girls’ tennis season has come to a close, three seniors reflect on their time on the team. They share their favorite victories and memories with the team and coach, Donita Cox, and offer words of wisdom to the team they leave behind.

Savannah Ngo (12) started playing tennis during her freshman year. She has made many memories with her team, including her second-place win in their flight in the All-Area JV tournament and her coach teaching her how to serve.

“[My favorite memory is] when we were [in] off-season, but also during all city JV tournaments because we would spend the whole day out of school and we would all just be sitting there waiting to play the other teams,” Ngo said.

Ngo said that the most challenging part about tennis is playing against other schools and challenging yourself to keep playing even when you do not win.

“My advice for my teammates would be to have fun, and don’t sweat the small stuff,” Ngo said. “Don’t think too much about the losses. Tennis is a way to let go of your stress and make fun memories on and off the court.”

Ngo hopes to take some of the lessons she has learned from tennis off the court, including teamwork and communication.

“I see myself playing tennis after high school. Probably not professionally, but definitely for fun. After playing in high school, I don’t think I could stop playing just because it’s been a great way for me

to forget all my stress,” Ngo said.

Mallory Stockwell (12) began her journey as a tennis player during her freshman year. Her favorite memory with her team is when she and Pasha Brady (12) won JV Districts.

“I had no idea about anything about tennis besides you just hit something with a racket over the net before freshman year,” Stockwell said. “I’m just so glad I [joined] because it’s like one of my favorite things to do now… I think you should always try [new things], and if you don’t like it you can stop.”

For Stockwell, the mental drain of tennis is the hardest part. Staying positive and believing in herself is a challenge for her sometimes, but that does not mean she is ready to stop playing.

“I definitely see myself playing [when I’m] older and might not be like with the actual league, but… definitely as I age, I wanna play tennis, maybe just for fun,” Stockwell said. Chitrani Sharma (12) started playing tennis when she was in seventh grade. During COVID, she played on and off and began playing consistently during her freshman year.

“Do it for the fun. So many of our freshmen… they haven’t even picked up a tennis racket before, and in senior year, they’re going to end up being number one, or number two on the team,” Sharma said. “We had that happen with Pasha Brady and Mallory Stockwell, where they literally don’t even know how to hit a ball, and then all of a sudden senior year, they’re our number ones on the team.”

According to Sharma, being on a team that is positive and supportive is the best part about being a part of tennis.

“I enjoy the experience of being on a team more than the sport itself. I love tennis, honestly, but

being surrounded with such positive people who really understand your strive and your hunger to be doing well at that game is really, really, nice,” Sharma said.

Former CHS student, Elana Hadi, has been an inspiration to both Sharma and Stockwell. According to Sharma and Stockwell, Hadi’s time on the team had made a lasting impact on them.

“Honestly, the person I looked up [to most] for the past four years of playing tennis was Elana Hadi, she graduated last year. She worked really hard every single day for tennis,” Sharma said. “Apart from her, our coach, Coach Cox, she’s been a student-athlete as long as she was a student. And she is so determined, playing and winning, definitely strived out of drive.”

Sharma said she has built a strong relationship with Cox during this season. Due to Sharma’s schedule, she was able to spend a lot of time with her coach.

“Earlier on in the season, I would literally see her all day. I have Fly SPS, so I go to flight school, come to school, and then I would go to Dr. Cox’s room because I have just 45 minutes to burn off,” Sharma said. “I go in her room… we chat, and then I go back to my class, and then immediately after school, I’ll see her again and be able to have that bonding time with her. I love her.”

Like her teammates, Sharma’s time playing tennis has not come to an end. Sharma said she plans to continue playing tennis as a club sport, even as an 80-year-old grandma.

“Keep persevering, as our coach says, keep thinking about your next point, cause if you lose your last one, at least you have your next one,” Sharma said.

Pasha Brady mid-match. Photo by Bella Woods.

SWINGING TO

SECOND IN THE STATE

The girls’ golf team recently achieved a second place finish in the Class 3 State Championship. The tournament took place on October 21st and 22nd at Rivercut Golf Course in Springfield, Missouri, where Central’s players competed against other teams from across the state.

The team’s head coach, John Collins, has been leading the girls’ and boys’ golf teams for the past six years.

“Success in golf, for me, is seeing my golfers improve every season and gain the confidence it takes to be successful at the hardest sport that we have to compete in,” Collins said.

Collins’s coaching journey began after a friend who had been coaching for over 20 years encouraged him to get involved in the sport. Collins initially served as an assistant coach at Kickapoo High School before accepting the head coaching position at Central. Since then, he has been dedicated to helping young golfers develop their skills, self-assurance, and passion for the game.

“It has been an awesome 6 years of coaching both the girls and the boys teams!” Collins said.

Camilla Lu (10) took up golf during the COVID pandemic when many other sports were not available.

“I ended up liking it,” Lu said, recalling her initial introduction to the sport.

Lu, who has now been golfing for three years, notes that while the game requires a significant time commitment and can be mentally challenging, it also offers opportunities for making friends and spending time outdoors.

“It was nice being able to meet and make new friends,” Lu said. “Golf helps you with connections.”

The team’s journey to the State championship was marked by a season of competitive play. The varsity team consisted of Phoebe Lin (9), Camilla Lu (10), Finley Loethen (11), and Hampton Richards (12). Throughout the fall, they medaled in every regional tournament they participated in. Their second place finish at the State level capped off a memorable season for the team. Lin and Lu earned individual recognition for their performance, receiving All-State Honors, placing 13th and 14th, respectively.

“Our team felt proud of what we had accomplished together,” Lu said.

AUDREY GAO REPORTER

Preparation played a key role in the team’s success. According to Collins, the players practiced every day, typically from 3:30 to around 5 p.m. Their training sessions focused heavily on what golfers refer to as the “short game,” which includes putting, chipping, and pitching.

These skills are essential for navigating a course and achieving low scores, especially in competitive settings where precision can make a significant difference. In addition to physical practice, the team spent time discussing strategy, including which clubs to use on particular holes and how best to approach specific course layouts for upcoming tournaments.

“We also had mandatory meetings to ensure that players understood tournament rules, and give them a firm grasp of the regulations they needed to follow during competition,” Lu said. “Team bonding was an important part of the season as well. We held team dinners, which brought the team closer together and buffed us up!”

Loethen noted that golf, unlike some other sports, involves a great deal of individual focus, but team support and shared goals were key to their motivation and resilience during the season.

“Golf is a sport that you really need to focus on,” Loethen said. “It’s important for people to be respectful and quiet while competing.”

In a tournament setting, each player aims to complete every hole using the fewest strokes possible. A “par” is set for each hole, indicating the ideal number of strokes needed to complete it. The goal for each player is to stay within or below the par for each hole; fewer strokes lead to better scores.

“The players with the least amount of strokes place the highest,” Collins said. Lu added that most golf courses enforce a “double par” rule, setting a maximum number of strokes a player can take on a single hole. However, she noted that this rule was not applied at the state and district tournaments.

“Usually we get the double par rule,” Lu said. “But it wasn’t enforced at this year’s state and districts, so that added an extra challenge to the competition.”

Despite the rewards of competing and achieving personal bests, golf presents its own set of challenges. Lu described the sport as timeconsuming and sometimes mentally demanding.

“It affects your mental health and makes you angry sometimes,” Lu said, reflecting on the intense

concentration and patience required to play well.

At the same time, Lu pointed out that there are strong positives. “I appreciate that golf allows me to spend time in nature, and enjoy the sense of accomplishment that comes with each game,” Lu said.

Collins also noted that the season includes a variety of weather conditions, from the warmth of August and September to the cooler temperatures of late October, with players sometimes facing rain, wind, and even frost warnings.

“If you like to be outside, there’s nothing better than being on the golf course competing,” Collins said. “But we do sometimes get notified of possible rain and frost.”

For the girls’ golf team, the second place finish at the State championship was more than just a victory; it was the culmination of a season shaped by hard work, growth, and teamwork. As they look forward to future seasons, the team’s achievements this year serve as a testament to their commitment and skill, setting a high standard for what they can accomplish together in the years to come.

“I love to compete, and golf is the hardest sport to compete in,” Collins said. “I love working with young people and encouraging them to work hard and be committed to being their best.”

Phoebe Lin (9) Taking a swing. Photo by Hampton Richards.

UNITED ON

THE COURT

This year, April Stapp has been appointed as the new head coach of the girls’ volleyball team. Although she focuses on Varsity, she and the other coaches are all working toward a better and stronger team overall. With their efforts, they hope the volleyball team will become closer with each other and improve their skills.

“I feel like she’s been good and she prioritizes mental health a lot so she’s taught me a lot about how to balance mental health and to balance myself skillswise. Her big things are definitely mental health, teamwork and things like that,” Hedda Werner-Click (12) said.

After parting with their previous coach, the team was introduced to Stapp. A new coach also meant new expectations.

“I think the biggest thing for us to do is to continue to work on our mental training, basics and our drive to win. We have so much natural athletic talent we just have to learn how to believe in us the way we should so we can show everyone else,” Stapp said. While the team has only seen a 23.5% win rate this season, that does not mean they have not improved. According to the team and coaches, they have been working hard and have been able to learn a lot. “I learned to collaborate with others and be a good teammate, and I was helped with a lot of things I needed,” Hedda said.

Coming into this year, many girls who were new to volleyball, and even those who were returning struggled a lot. So being able to experience more and being helped with how they think about the game was able to give them some help.

“I got to explore both teams and meet new people and grow new relationships. I also got to experience different coaching styles due to having two different coaches,” Agnes Werner-Click (9) said

Stapp has made a significant impact on the Varsity team despite only being there for a short while, as she had been there to support and console the team throughout this year. By using positive reinforcement and respecting the players’ boundaries yet still pushing them to their limits, Stapp has been able to impress a lot of her players with the way she has worked with the

“I am really glad that Coach April came to Central. She worked a lot with the team about mental strength this season, and it is something that truly made a big impact on the way that I think about the game. She has made a large impact on the way that I think rather than my style of play, which was something I needed a lot more coming into this

season,” Gosnell said

Many specific new teamwork activities have been introduced to the team, mostly involving more experienced people on the Varsity team working with and befriending the JV/Freshman team

“We did a big sister-little sister thing this year where all of the upperclassmen were paired with lowerclassmen, and then they got to know each other a lot better and gave each other little gifts and other cute stuff like that,” Zella Gosnell (11) said. “I think that that helped to make the players on the different teams feel a lot more connected

With the new approach implemented by the coaches, the players are expected to learn how to believe in themselves. Rather than mostly improving their athleticism, they are learning to improve their mentality. “My approach in coaching has drastically changed. If we don’t change our mentality and grow, we ar-

DHRUTI BANDARU REPORTER

en’t doing our job. You can’t be stagnant and expect to help people grow,” Stapp said

The volleyball team has shown many positives with the new style the coaches have implemented, and have come to like it much more than they liked the previous style

“The style of coaching we’ve gotten this season is probably more productive for our team than our previous coach’s because it is primarily rooted in positive reinforcement, which is something we respond really well to,” Gosnell said.

With high expectations and working on their drive to win, the girls’ volleyball team has been working toward a better fight and better plays

“I’m really excited to see the movement forward in this program. We have a great staff from our Freshman and JV coach and we are dedicated to setting a standard for this program to grow in multiple ways,” Stapp said

The coaches want the team to come together like a family, with each player supporting each other. Ideally the players should grow and improve both in their skills and as a unified team

“We have gotten a lot more communication between coaches and players and we grew closer as a team, plus the coaches have all focused a lot on being one and that all the teams should be like family,” Hedda said

With the girls’ volleyball team’s season being over, although they had some ups and downs, overall they have shown themselves to be strong players who work hard for their team

“Our biggest strength as a team is definitely our fight. When things get tough that is where we do our best work. The point deficits that we have come back from would actually blow your mind, and it’s all because we as a team have so much drive and desire to win,” said Gosnell.

Photo by Emma Gugliotta.

Photo by Sydney McCaskill.

Photo by Emma Gugliotta.

REPORTER

The softball team’s season has ended. Softball players, Arwen Garrison (10) and Kylie Woodson (11), reflected on the 2024 fall season and talked about the new arrivals, potential of teammates, and the strengths of the team. Central High softball started at the beginning of the school year and ended mid-October with off-season practices.

Garrison is a left fielder. Garrison talked about the best game they played this fall.

“In the end, looking back, it was a rough season,” Garrison said. “[We] lost all [of our] games, but came close [to winning] a few times… Even though we had nine players, our best game was probably against Fairplay. I don’t remember the exact score, but it was the highest out of all of ours. I think it was like, 17-10 or 17-7.”

Some teams backed down which means to withdraw from the game. When reflecting, Garrison says there is still room for improvement for the team and the coach.

“We are improving because we got a new coach this year too… it was a learning curve for the coach and us,” Garrison said.

Garrison says she contributes to the teams’ overall positivity and keeps the team composed in bad situations.

“I can play almost all of outfield, and almost all of innfield. I would take up [positions] when people are gone,” Garrison said.

With softball scheduled right after school and homework to do, playing sports and doing clubs can be difficult. Practices are held at Central High School’s baseball field, from 4 p.m.5 p.m. The softball team sometimes has open field and off-season practices.

“Learning to work with others and manage school and other activities are things athletes are learning how to do while on the softball team,” Garrison said. “School and sports can be hard to balance… It’s just the student athlete’s

S W I N G!

life.” Garrison said.

Garrison’s teammate, Woodson, was a new student attending Central and plays shortstop. When looking for social groups, Woodson found the softball team.

“I am fairly new to Central,” Woodson said. “I came only about a year ago, and so this year I really needed to get into something to make new friends and meet some good people, so I was just joining things left to right.”

While Woodson is new to the sport, others have experience from before this season.

“Some of [the players] have been doing this their whole lives. It is very important to them… Some players could very well make Varsity,” Garrison said.

Garrison and Kylie believe that playing for Central High is an opportunity for them to continue playing softball, or sports in general.

Some student athletes play multiple sports for social and lifelong benefits.

“I think [sports] help me gain new friends, and new companionships,” Garrison said.

Besides the social benefits, Garrison says playing sports helps her stay healthy.

“Playing helps me be more active,” Garrison said. “You know, watching my food intake because I have to be prepared for the softball season.”

While Garrison values the social and physical benefits of playing softball, Woodson runs track and plays basketball, and has opinions on both sports.

“I love that the sports I play push me to do better… academically and on the field,” Woodson said.

Garrison comments on other teams’ success at Central High this season.

“The sports around CHS seem to be doing really well and have had a lot of success this year,” Garrison said. “There are a lot of good people on [the teams] and a lot of good players.

Woodson believes that friendship and teamwork are important for the softball team’s best work.

“It’s a very challenging sport, so motivation is something we all struggle with,” Woodson said. “Some of our strengths, though, are that we are all very close and all work great together when we need to.”

Garrison values the team’s potential when also working together.

“We lift eachother up… and we make sure we don’t get down.” Garrison said. “We push each other and make sure we’re staying on task… and we make sure we don’t get down. With a losing season it’s easy to get down… We win and lose as a team.”

Throughout the season, the CHS baseball team came to some of the softball games.

“Growing the community, because the softball team and the baseball team have started to… get to know each other, and grow a community here at Central,” Garrison said.

Woodson and Garrison both talked about the team’s small numbers. In total, the team has 11 players. On average, nine show up.

“Join the CHS softball team… We need more players,” Garrison said. “[Softball] is a great opportunity for female athletes… It is [also] very important as a whole, especially [for] those who want to play… helps [players] be more active… [and] grow healthy relationships.”

The team encourages those who want to play to join the team.

“It’s a great environment… I absolutely love our coaches… Everyone is very welcoming and supportive,” Woodson said.

MALACHI WRIGHT

Photo by Sydney McCaskill.

Photo by Sarah Greene.

Photo by Sydney McCaskill.

CROSS COUNTRY

With the cross-country season reaching its finish line, runners reflect on Central’s 2024 season. Many athletes have joined the team this year, and some say running on the team has benefitted them in multiple ways.

“I stay healthy and fit, and [I] get to talk and relate to new people,” Owen Underwood (9) said. Underwood started running for Central for his physical and social health this year, and Trey Thomas (9) is also new to Central’s team, but not new to crosscountry. He also believes that running for Central’s team fulfills him.

“It’s so rewarding, and after you finish running you just feel so achieved, and it’s a great feeling,” Thomas said. Runners on Central’s team also share a strong sense of community while running together. And feel like they have forged strong bonds with one another.

“My teammates feel like family to me, in the literal sense of the word,” Carter Allen (10), a varsity crosscountry runner for Central, said. “You get this group of uplifting people, and a sense of community and discipline.” Allen also said the community goes beyond teams and schools.

“I feel like there is a strong sense of comunity you get from cross-country. But not only in your own team, but also in other teams around MO. There is a lot of sportsmanship,” Underwood said.

Others do not exactly share that sentiment.

“Cross-country is like a battle: you fight as hard as you can and really strive to win and outwork the other teams,” Allen said.

Athletes get the opportunity to also make new friends or have people they already know join the team from school.

“Jude Thomas (10) told me I should join and stick with it because of the accomplishments that you gain from running,” Underwood said.

Runners also feel like they have improved greatly from when they first started due to sustained practice and encouraging teammates.

“I’ve improved my personal record by one minute and 19 seconds this season. I’m proud of my improvement and it helps me keep going” Thomas said.

Allen believes that cross-country is an important part of his life and helps him through daily life by remembering his progress and past records

“When you show up, you get stability, you get structure, you learn how to work hard, you learn how to be committed, and to show up even when it’s the last thing you wanna do,” Allen said. “You didn’t get any sleep, you still showed up.

Allen also believes that being an athlete helps him not only physically, but mentally as well.

“You also get a way to express yourself, “ Allen said. “A lot of time on runs, I’ll be thinking about my life or I’ll be talking about my teammates and what’s going on. You get a lot of insight, and it’s just a great outlet to get everything out.”

Some runners appreciate the frequent practices that last all year even when school is not in session.

“When I’m not there, I kind of fall apart but it gives me this sense of structure,” Allen said. “Because I feel like everything is consistent, like school is only 5 days a week, but cross-country is every day. That may seem intimidating, but it’s honestly freeing for me. I can always rely on it to help me work through things.”

Thomas believes that the effort is well worth the effort and showing up every day and staying dedicated

“When you finish, and especially when you win, it’s really a feeling you can’t recreate,” Thomas said. “And the best part is you share it with the team.”

Athletes also believe that running requires a certain mindset to really succeed.

“You have to have mental toughness, and a willingness to show up and put in the effort, you’re bound to succeed and surpass expectations,” Allen said. “Being on the team also conditions your mind to want to show up and put in the effort. It really makes you feel like you have a place on the team.”

Runners also pride themselves on the miles they have accumulated.

“They really add up fast and looking at them reminds you of where you started, regardless of how good you are now,” Allen said. “If you told my past self how I am doing now, I wouldn’t believe you.”

A good amount of athletes are going to continue running long distances for track in spring, and continue on the team in the following cross country season.

“I love running and what it brings to my life,” Allen said. “I don’t see myself quitting anytime soon. If anything, I’m gonna work harder towards it.”

Regardless of how they did, runners are content with this season and are remaining hopeful for next season.

“I’m ready to push even harder than this year,” Allen said.

Photo by Gentry Goode

Photo by Gentry Goode

Central High School

Yearbook Recognition Ads are the perfect way to commemorate achievements and celebrate milestones. In addition, revenues from Recognition Ads help our school create a better yearbook.

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LUCY CAPLINGER

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Winter Wardrobe

As the sun begins to set earlier and the warmth is seemingly sucked out of the world, the tank tops and jorts are traded out for coats and gloves. This is typically taken as a cue to go on a winter shopping spree because everything you bought last year is outdated and the TikTokers are telling you which new trends to follow. I thoroughly enjoy shopping. I would even go as far to say that it is a big hobby of mine, and as the leaves fall, I find myself longing for a new wardrobe. I see my favorite celebrities posting on their Instagram stories coining their Winter Faves and jealousy strikes me. It is so easy to feel left out as you see the big mallhauls rolling in. It can feel isolating not to follow the trends exactly.

It makes me think: how is it possible that there is an entirely new catalog of trends to be following for every new season? How can people enjoy the clothes they bought last winter if they are already adding to their collection?

This question can be directly attributed to fast fashion. In the simplest of terms, fast fashion is the idea of brands and clothing stores pumping out clothes with the purpose of speed rather than focusing on whether or not they will hold up. Brands that subscribe to fast fashion typically follow “micro-seasons” which are 52 different fashion seasons in the year–that’s a new trend being set out on racks every week.

This is where the overconsumption

comes into play. With so many brands creating and distributing this many garments not only in a year but in a week, landfills are filling up faster and faster as closets are getting new additions. There has to be a way to balance over consumerism and also feeling adequately dressed for the winter. It makes sense to want to be trendy, to feel cool and look stylish–how can you do so and can it happen ethically?

An easy solution to this problem, if you have the means to do so, is to buy an entirely new closet every year for spring, winter, summer and fall. While in a perfect world this may be a great idea, it is not a doable nor a responsible goal in the world we live in.

A more financially and environmentally responsible solution is to update the things that need updating and recycle your clothes from years past.

I will admit, it is a hard cycle to break. Once you start shopping fast fashion, it feels like you always need something new. Since these brands are not focused on quality but rather quantity, chances are the clothes you purchase will not withstand the test of time and will need a replacement.

A misconception in the conversation of ethical shopping is that in order to begin your big green journey, you need to start fresh. This idea is harmful to not only your wallet but to Mother Nature as well. It is important that you continue to wear the clothes in your closet until they are in an unwearable state–then you can move on to a nicer, more ethical piece.

If you keep repurchasing a $14 top from H&M, you will never stop. The hard part about trying to focus on being eco-conscious is there are investments you have to make. I, personally, am slowly trying to purchase clothes with reliable materials from brands who care about the make-up of their products, even if it costs more. In the long run, though, it is typically saving me money.

Another way to shop that is not only ethical, but also cost effective, is thrift shopping.

This concept has become more and more

popular in recent years but holds up as a way to update your closet without breaking the bank.

Thrift stores are surprisingly stocked with a good mix of newer and vintage items. Oftentimes, I have found things at the thrift that were literally a fraction of their original retail price.

To me, one of the biggest pluses of secondhand shopping is the sense of individuality that comes with it. A big consequence of the rise of fast fashion is the fact that everyone is shopping at the same stores and aligning with the same trends. In short; everyone’s wearing the same stuff.

At a thrift store though, you are typically finding things that have not been in retail for a long time or things people have owned, worn and given away. You are able to go into a thrift store with little to no expectation–you never know what you are going to find, and I consider that freeing.

It is an easy thing to commit yourself to an aesthetic and have an already curated vibe that you can find inspiration for by a quick search on Pinterest. But at what cost? Is fitting the status quo worth giving up your own personal sense of style? By mindlessly buying what the next big TikTok influencer recommends you, you are surrendering an effective outlet of self expression.

This is not to say that I don’t love a good trend. (Reference one of my favorite articles I have written “I’m just a girl”) This is for me just as much as it is for you. It is important to stay conscious about the decisions you make and the way you present yourself.

Using the resources around you, going

to thrift stores and shopping secondhand is an easy way to find the things that you want to wear while not wholly contributing to fast fashion. Giving those clothes a second chance isn’t only saving you money, it is helping to save the environment.

In Springfield specifically, thrift shopping is accessible due to the amount of stores we have here.

All over the city there are plenty of secondhand stores that sell clothes that are not only donated but even ethically sourced vintage.

A good example of a secondhand store is Relics Antique Mall.

Relics is a flea market: an establishment that allows for dozens of vendors to sell a curated collection of vintage and secondhand items as well as crafted items. Some of this consists of things bought to be resold and some is repurposed/refurbished furniture, home decor, clothes and accessories.

If you have dismissed the validity of secondhand shopping because of stereotypes like thrift-store clothes being dirty and worn,

or maybe you are scared the selection will be sub par dirty white t-shirts, there are shops that have a more thought out curation.

Another local example that fits into the considered category is Hakaar’s Bazaar on Commercial Street.

Hakaar’s has a tastefully curated selection of mid-century vintage clothes and furniture. I do not only enjoy the variety within their inventory, but also the shopping experience is incredibly enjoyable.

Part of what makes shopping fun, to me, is the atmosphere. Sometimes shopping is simply a vehicle for conversation–catching up–and when this is accompanied by low lighting and cute mirrors, the fun is unmatched.

As I see it, shopping is fun, but to what extent is fun okay when it is contributing to the destruction of our environment?

Using Springfield’s unique assortment of secondhand stores to quench the shopping thirst is not only eco-conscious, but also it allows you to express yourself in new ways that maybe you would have never thought to at a conventional name brand store.

Photo courtesy of Mandy Jensen, online influencer

Photo courtesy of Hakaar’s Bazaar

THE BEST OF T H E Y E A R

2024 has been a great year for media creation, whether it is games, albums, movies, or books, this year has had a very large selection to choose from. My best of the year picks may differ from others, and that is fine. In fact, my choices do not necessarily have to follow the criteria of actual award shows. Best of the year for me means that something has to stand out from other choices, and it has to be creative. I think something truly great should change the game for the production world. Here is what I have deemed the best of the year.

For best game of the year, I chose the independent title Animal Well, a metroidvania focused on exploration available on all platforms. This is a fantastic game, filled with unique ecosystems, a mysterious soundtrack, and stunning visuals. Animal Well captivated me from the start. Its retro and pixelated art style really grabbed my attention. The game could pass visually as something from the 1980s, exaggerated and saturated to its fullest. However, the game has incredible depth, and I found myself staring curiously at the TV trying to piece together everything on the screen. It has an interesting way of telling its story. Instead of giving an explanation

of the character or environment, you as a player must discover what the world around you means. Animal Well has simplistic but detailed landscapes, which you must traverse and examine closely. In the menagerie of animal statues and foliage there are numerous secrets to uncover. The gameplay is not flashy but it is very creative. This does a fantastic job making you as a player feel insignificant, you do not play an apex predator or a predator of any kind. You play as an unnamed blob, the lowest of the low in the ecosystem around you. You have no tools of survival or reason to exist. You just try to explore and survive the lush ecosystem around you as an outsider looking in. This is all tied together by the amazing soundtrack written by Billy Basso, the sole creator of the game. Basso’s hauntingly beautiful melodies play in the background as you discover more and more of his beautifully crafted game. The soundtrack is simple, but holds a lot of emotion. It is up to the player to interpret whether each song is meant to cause fear or intrigue. That is the goal of the game, discover a world different from your own at your own pace. Animal Well is an amazing game developed by one man, devoted to creating a work of art.

My album of the year is Vampire Weekend’s Only God Was Above Us. Vampire Weekend is an American indie rock band that was formed in 2006. Throughout their five albums, they have experimented with pop, RnB, ska, and many other genres. Their fifth album, Only

GRANT PICKETT

REPORTER

God Was Above Us, is in my opinion their best album of all. This album combines a lot of their older rock roots with an immensely detailed and fantastical production that provides a fresh feeling of a unique album. The instrumentation includes an array of different musical instruments such as piano, saxophone, strings, etc. These can be heard throughout the entire album, sometimes in just small fragments to add a grander sound to each song. The album uses a lot of unique sound but maintains consistency regardless. A song that stood out to me particularly was the sixth track “Prep School Gangsters”. This song, besides the cheeky name, is extremely nostalgic. The song starts with low guitar strumming and high piano notes. The vocals start quietly and then eventually build to a grandiose chorus that scratches an itch in my brain. Near the end of the song, the guitar starts playing almost baroque scales up and down joined by violins, creating a perfect and novel ending to the beautiful song. Another song that stood out to me was the fourth track connect. “Connect” is a song that sounds like no other, the majority of the song is played by an out of tune piano and a bass. Listening to connect is very relaxing even though it is an upbeat song. The piano flys up and down the keyes, fluctuating its sounds to reverberate in my head. Quickly it became one of my favorite songs on the album alone from this strange effect in my

The cover of Animal Well, courtesy of Wikipedia

The cover of Vampire Weekend’s Only God Was Above Us, courtesy of Wikipedia.

brain. Only God Was Above Us is a fantastic album full of consistent but amazing and unique songs that really had a lasting effect on me.

Dune Part Two is a $190 million blockbuster film directed by Denis Villenueve, but it has the feeling and care of an independent film. It is the sequel to its 2021 predecessor, and I believe it is a fantastic follow up and continuation of the franchise. Dune was originally a book written by Frank Herbert, and these movies capture the essence of Herbert’s books quite well. The original books were a great addition to the entire genre of science fiction, translating this series to the silver screen would be a challenge to do well, yet Villenueve’s visualizations of the story proved to be quite accurate and did the narrative justice. The score of the movie was written by Hans Zimmer, creating an arabic and futuristic feeling that was quite interesting to listen to. Truthfully, I did not originally like the score. I felt it was very blatant and slightly uninspired. However, I grew to enjoy hearing it more and more throughout the two hour and forty six minute runtime. The repeated theme grew on me and it actually was stuck in my head hours after the movie had ended. I eventually really did enjoy the soundtrack, and I do not know where my original opinion came from when thinking about this movie. Furthermore, the movie had amazing cinematography and visuals. With modern Hollywood blockbusters, CGI seems more like a spectacle than an extension of the movie’s overall look. Dune Part Two actually uses its CGI tastefully with beautiful wide shots showing the massive scale of the film or detailed tight shots showing the care put into the small crevices of the film. The amount of detail

in this movie is astounding, it is filled to the brim with character and ingenuity. You can see each person in the film has a beautifully crafted costume or drinking from a delightfully embellished goblet. Dune Part Two is what a modern Hollywood blockbuster should strive to be. A film with care and love put into it, a movie worthy of Movie of the Year.

My book of the year is Kristin Hannah’s The Women. The Women is a historical fiction novel about the forgotten female veterans of the Vietnam War. When first learning about it, I did not find myself to be very intrigued. I much prefer satire and comedy writing to historical fiction, but I decided to sit down and read the book anyway. I was not surprised that the award-winning author Kristin Hannah’s writing was very good, but I thoroughly enjoyed the style. Hannah’s writing is full of dramatic descriptions and thoughtful character. I found that creating an image in my mind of each scene was incredibly easy due to the amount of detail on each page. The book follows the story of a woman working as a nurse in the Vietnam War, and the traumatic events in her life after the war. Frankie, the protagonist of the story, deals with much loss and terrible fate during her time before and after the Vietnam War. The Women gave insight as to how terribly veterans and nurses were treated after Vietnam. Frankie is a sympathetic character because of her dedication and noble actions that do not receive praise. I actually felt very enraged reading this book, and I am sorry to say that there is not much catharsis. I enjoyed this book a lot due to its strong sense of self. The novel does not stray far from its original concept, showing the troubles and hardships

of all veterans after wars. It also does not fantasize war by any means, showing the brutality and loss associated with it. I do think that this is a great book but there are some flaws with the plot. Hannah’s portrayal of the war and after effects are spot on, but the plot is slightly unrealistic at times. The aspect of romance in this book is very prevalent, I believe that the book did not exactly need this but it still holds up. Hannah’s research process involved talking to many nurse veterans and possibly the story was crowded up with too many love stories. Either way, I still thought the book was great and thought provoking. The Women deals with topics of PTSD, war, and loss very tastefully. Although the book was not exactly revolutionary in terms of creativity, I still believe it deserves book of the year because of its intriguing and dramatic story.

The aspects of care and thought put into many different projects this year makes me incredibly happy. Sometimes popular culture can be seen as just a form of entertainment or spectacle to enjoy as a pastime. I think that many things can be true art when they are developed fully by people who really care.

Poster of Dune Part Two, courtesy of Film Art Gallery.

The cover of Kristin Hannah’s The Women, courtesy of Amazon.

COZY BOOK RECS

Snowy days and nights curled up by the fireplace are upon us as we enter the cozy season, which means books that provide a warm and fuzzy feeling are very much needed. When I think of cozy books that I have read, books that made me want to snuggle up with my hot peppermint mocha coffee and favorite blanket while listening to cafe jazz come to mind. I think about the plots that had me at the edge of my seat, characters that captured my heart, and books I devoured in one sitting. Most people consider cozy books as a subgenre that has very minimal plot twists and an overall joyful vibe, but to me, a cozy book is a book that makes me feel one with the story. With that being said, I am here to fill up your winter TBR pile with my favorite cozy reads.

ARIANA ABBOTT REPORTER

The Princess Bride is truly one of the best books I have ever read. The writing is beautiful, the characters had me crying while also giggling and kicking my feet. The writing style reminds me of being read a bedtime story, and what is cozier than that? Goldman tells the story of his father reading him The Princess Bride when he was a child, and later finds out as an adult that his father skipped the majority of the novel and only read “the good parts.” After finding out that his favorite childhood book is actually a bore, he sets out to rewrite the story he was told as a child. With a beautiful love story that will leave you in tears, suspenseful sword fights, and a less-than-competent but very lovable giant, The Princess Bride is the perfect fantasy to cozy up with.

If you love a good cheesy Hallmark romantic comedy, By Your Side by Kasie West is the perfect book for you. Autumn Collins is studying at the library with her friends and boyfriend when she accidentally gets locked inside after she stays behind to use the restroom. Not only has she been locked in, she is locked in over a holiday weekend, and Autumn is not alone. Autumn finds Dax Miller, your typical tall dark and handsome bad boy also locked in the library. While passing the time by watching the news, the two unlikely friends discover that Autumn’s boyfriend has been in a car accident, and Autumn is presumed missing and possibly dead. While the two try to survive the cold, Autumn suffers from anxiety and her growing feelings for Dax, despite her life outside the library. Honestly, getting locked in a library is every reader’s dream and I could not help but read By Your Side in one sitting.

If you are a fan of Gossip Girl or Pretty Little Liars, One of Us is Lying is for you. Five students are sent to detention. Only four survive. After a mysterious car crash and suspiciously missing EpiPens, Bayview High student and founder of the secret exposing app, About That, Simon, is dead. Simon’s detention buddies, Bronwyn, the brain, Cooper, the athlete, Addy, the beauty, and Nate, the criminal, are all suspects in his murder as it just so happens that Simon was going to release juicy gossip about them the next day. Following the perspectives of each suspect, the reader is taken for a wild ride in this twisty whodunnit murder mystery. I am someone who loves to guess who the killer is in my murder mysteries, and I have to say, I was making guesses and thinking I had it all figured out, and then BOOM. Plot twist. Again and again. I curled up in my bed and started this book one evening and did not stop to sleep until I finished it at 5 a.m..

I cannot help but think about Little Women when I think of a cozy read. If chunky classics interest but intimidate you, I highly recommend you read Little Women. Alcott tells the story of the March sisters after their father leaves to fight in the Civil War: Meg, who desires romance and marriage, Jo, who challenges traditional gender roles, Beth, who is so kind and frail, and Amy, who is sassy and rotten. Accompanied by the boy-next-door, Laurie, the March sisters navigate becoming young women during the wartime era. All classics are a little daunting, but Little Women is truly a masterpiece. This story had me screaming, laughing, and crying while reading about these beautiful characters experiencing life when it was the hardest. Alcott stole my heart with these characters, and remembering each story about girlhood and sisterhood makes my heart melt.

For the ones who cannot decide if they love romance, historical fiction, or Greek mythology most, I recommend Lovely War by Julie Berry. It is World War II and the goddess of love, Aphrodite, is put on trial after getting caught having an affair by her husband, Hephaestus. In order to convince the other gods that love is not silly or stupid, Aphrodite tells two seemingly different love stories that intertwine at the end; James and Hazel, a British soldier and classical pianist, and Aubrey and Colette, a ragtime Harlem musician in the U.S. Army and a Belgian orphan-turned-singer. The entire concept of this novel is so creative and is magnificently written. This is the perfect book to read during a snowstorm, as it is so atmospheric and intense. I read this during a thunderstorm, and the only setting to read Lovely War in that would be even more perfect is late at night during the kind of ice storm that would cancel school the next day. My heart was shattered, repeatedly, while reading these tragic but beautiful love stories, and to me, nothing is cozier.

Established in 1990, Garbo’s Pizzeria is family owned and operated and transferred from founder Pam to her daughter Laine in December, 2023. The family was proud to welcome a third generation to the team when Laine’s son took his first part-time job at the restaurant that year. The tradition continues.

Garbo’s Pizzeria features thin, St. Louis style crust, that originated on “The Hill” in St. Louis, MO. If you like thin, crispy pizza, you’ll love our authentic crust. We also offer thick crust for those who like a more traditional style pizza.

But Garbo’s Pizzeria offers so much more than just pizza. Loaded with fresh veggies and meat, if you choose, and topped with our secret recipe oil and vinegar dressing, our award winning salads offer a little something that you just can’t find anywhere else. Our subs are baked fresh and prepared to order and our garlic cheese bread or pesto pie offer a nice side to any meal. You’ll love our appetizers, calzones, and pastas.

Garbo’s Pizzeria is open Sunday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 11 a.m. - 8 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. Closed Monday and Tuesday. Garbo’s is located in Chesterfield Village in Springfield, MO.