Central High Times - Volume 108, Issue 4 - Summer 2022

IN THIS ISSUE: Opinion: “Don’t Say Gay” Bill Pg. 4 School Board Elections Pg. 12 Sports: Signing Past the Statistics Pg. 18

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Volume 108

Issue 4

Summer 2022

IN THIS

ISSUE OPINION Letters from the Editors We Need to Say Gay Day of Silence

WAGS &

GROWLS

LILITH CREEMER / REPORTER Pg. 03 Pg. 04 Pg. 06

WAG

Microwaves are back in the Commons.

NEWS Leads & Shorts Pg. 08 Accolades Pg. 09 World and Springfield News Pg. 10 On the Big Screen Pg. 11 School Board Elections Pg. 12 Kyiv to Kharkiv: War in Ukraine Pg. 14 Spring Musical Pg. 16

SPORTS Signing Past the Statistics

Spirit of CHS Under the Helmet Baby Got Track!

Pg. 18 Pg. 20 Pg. 21 Pg. 22

Pg. 23 Pg. 24 Pg. 26 Pg. 27

HYPE Food Review: Bottle Filling Stations Pg. 28 Horoscopes Pg. 29 Photo Essay Pg. 30 Comic Pg. 32

NEW!!!

LETTER TO THE EDITOR POLICY

Events keep getting delayed.

WAG

The constant snow days are over.

GROWL

The weather still refuses to stay nice.

FEATURES Club Highlight: Girls 4 Good Senior Goodbyes

Humans of CHS: Naomi Meng Teachers of CHS: Mr. Wallace

GROWL

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 kechrismer@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.

EDITORIAL POLICY The Central High Times is a studentproduced publication of the Central High School journalism department.

The staff and adviser strive to create an open forum for students and teachers. We take responsibility 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 to practice honesty, to run the paper as a business and to avoid printing material that is legally considered obscene, libelous or private.

ADVISER Kori Chrismer EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ania Kovacs ASST. EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ned Pickett PHOTO EDITOR Reid Biggers COPY EDITORS Arden Below, Emmarie Logan, Madi Taylor DIRECTOR OF ART & DESIGN Natalie Reece REPORTERS Maverick Hill, Addi Jordan, Morgan Martens, Caden Rector-Current, Kaitlyn Silkey THE CHT Volume 108 Issue 4 CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL 423 E. Central St., Springfield, MO 65802 CONTACT kechrismer@spsmail.org FONT FAMILIES Palladio, Baskerville PUBLISHER Jostens Publishing

EDITORIAL POLICY

The Central High Times is a student-produced publication of the Central High School journalism department. The staff and adviser strive to create an open forum for students and teachers. We take responsibility 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 to practice honesty, to run the paper as a business and to avoid printing material that is legally considered obscene, libelous or private.

LETTERS FROM THE NEW EDITORS ANIA KOVACS / EDITOR-IN-CHIEF NED PICKETT / ASSISTANT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Hi readers,

To those still reading,

This is the first issue of Central High Times that I am officially in charge of editing, so I hope you’ll view it with kind eyes. A lot of effort goes into these pages so that you all can enjoy them. However, I am not going to use this half page to introduce myself again or describe what goes on behind the scenes of making this magazine.

I want to address a topic of which we are slowly losing sight. As I write this letter, the crisis in Ukraine is becoming more atrocious with each passing moment.

I continue to hear about missiles targeting civilians and mourning refugees on a weekly basis from my Polish relatives that must also live in fear of Russia’s unpredictability, which is why it is surprising for me to see how quickly distractions can cause Americans to justify “moving on.” I think it is important to remember that no one living in Ukraine will have the luxury of “moving on” for a very long time.

I don’t know what the latest developments will be by the time we publish this issue, but I know that regardless of its outcome, the war will have more than brutal lasting effects on the Ukrainian people. Don’t let sensationalist culture waver your support for Ukraine.

Having consistent awareness of situations like this is hard and mentally taxing, but I believe it is necessary if you want to remain an empathetic human being. Support for Ukraine is not a trend, transient like every other distraction we see in the media. Solidarity is a commitment, and I think everyone should keep that in mind.

I have started writing this letter at least three separate times and in three entirely separate ways. I suppose there are just two things on which I really want to hit.

The first and foremost thing is that I am your new Assistant Editor, which is something I am honored to accept. As far as I can tell right now, my main job is to awkwardly stand behind Ania and look menacing while she asks people about how their stories are going.

I pray that that is not the only criteria, because if it is, I’m going to be terrible at this job.

The second thing I would like to hit is that for some reason whenever I think too hard about the next two years, the future of the magazine and my place in it, and the eventual leaving of everyone in this class, I get the strangest feeling of existential dread. I’m not trying to be funny here; there is truly something unsettling about remembering eventually there will only be a few people here that have been with you since the beginning.

There are dozens of other topics worth covering, but only so much can be written in half of a page, so I have just one more thing to say. Like almost every year with the magazine, we are pretty much jumping straight in for next year, so I only ask that you wish us luck.

- NWP

- ACK

OPINION / 3

WE NEED TO SAY “GAY”

NATALIE REECE / REPORTER

Over the last decade, there have been many advances in LGBTQ rights. However, what has been observed in recent weeks can only be described as a full-on attack against those of the LGBTQ community and a total upheaval of many of the rights that have been fought for.

On March 28th, 2022, Florida passed House Bill 1557, the Parental Rights in Education bill, which has come to be known as the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill.

Similarly, early this April, a Florida representative stated publicly that he plans to introduce legislation that will make it a crime to provide transgender services to minors, punishable by prison time.

These bills are no doubt being used as a plot to take gay and trans recognition out of the mouths of students and teachers alike under the guise of parental rights.

In truth, this bill invokes intentionally vague language to reduce as much representation as possible and put LGBTQ students more at risk than ever before.

Whether or not Florida representatives like it, gay and trans students do, and have always, existed. Since the legalization of gay marriage in 2015, we have seen a dramatic increase in the amount of openly gay and transgender students in our schools. Students are now able to express their sexuality and gender identities more freely and with less of the stigma that it once held.

However, acceptance and change do not come easily.

Many feel as though addressing and teaching about LGBTQ topics is misguided in our public education.

Supporters of the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill have used the argument that students are too young to talk about gay and trans topics because they are too ‘sexual.’ They have even gone so far as to call those who support the discussion of these topics in schools as pedophiles.

“When you actually look at the bill… it says ‘no sexual instruction to kids Pre-K through three.’ How many parents want their kids to have transgenderism or something injected into classroom instruction?”

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Florida Governor DeSantis argued.

In reality, these claims have absolutely no merit whatsoever. Discussions of gay relationships and transgender identities are not sexual in nature. From a young age, children are taught about straight relationships and cisgender people. When a princess and a prince kiss in a kids’ movie, no one bats an eye.

However, when two princes do so, it is suddenly seen as too sexual for kids? This kind of thinking is not rooted in wanting to protect kids, only in homophobia and transphobia disguised as such.

“Being a part of the LGBTQ+ community is not a bad thing. If they can educate on heterosexuality, they can talk about homosexuality,” Central student Salem Sellers, 9, said. “Oppressing people’s identities is not preventing them, it is just preventing the education of those identities.”

The ‘Don’t Say Gay Bill’ specifically aims at elementary kids, but the language used within the bill is intentionally vague as to include other grades as well.

“Classroom instruction by school personnel or third parties on sexual orientation or gender identity may not occur in kindergarten through grade 3 or in a manner that is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards,” the bill stated.

However, the bill does not define what an ‘ageappropriate’ or ‘developmentally appropriate’ standard is. This leaves the floodgates open for any parent to sue schools for anything they may view as inappropriate.

Just recently this problem has been observed with a sixth-grade science teacher, Robert Thollander.

Following the passage of the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill, a group of parents in Orlando, Florida called for “consequences” to be held against Thollander for discussing his marriage with students. The parents expressed their concern.

“He married a man. This alone is not an issue.

Sharing the details… with all his 6th-grade students is the issue,” NBC reported as the parents’ concern.

A similar incident occurred in Tocio Creek High School, where a teacher was asked to remove a shirt that read ‘Protect Trans Kids’ following a parent sharing concern.

These acts are not indoctrination, nor are they brainwashing children into becoming gay or transgender. These acts are simply about helping students accept their identities and come to better understand themselves and their peers.

“[Because of the bill], over time there will be more malice towards particularly LGBTQ students,” student Ariana McGill, 10, said. “It’s a complete step backward in equality, especially when education favors heterosexual sex education.”

Anti-LGBTQ and Anti-Trans legislature continues to be pushed throughout Florida. Randy Fine, a Republican member of Florida’s House of Representatives, has been at the forefront of the controversy as of late. Fine argued that gender affirming treatment should be banned for minors.

“If an adult wants to self-mutilate their body in pursuit of the fiction that they can defy both God and science, more power to them,” Fine stated.

He continued by saying that no child should be able to make a “fundamentally life-altering” decision before they are “of age.”

However, what these statements fail to recognize is that most people who seek out gender-affirming treatment do so to align with a gender identity that they have felt for years. Only a very small fraction of those who fully transition ever regret their genderaltering treatment or detransition.

Many more still advocate for the treatment to be accessible. GenderGP, a medical institution located in London reports that 97% of those who transition are happy with their decision. Only about 3% experience some form of regret and even less detransition.

Similarly, GenderGP also reported, “around 90 percent of people who return to their birth gender in the US don’t do so because of regret or dissatisfaction, but because of pressure from family, school, work, or society in general.”

What this proves is that this type of legislature is inherently harmful to the students it aims to ‘protect.’

Transgender teenagers are already at a higher risk for suicide.

“Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBTQ) youth in general are 3 times more likely to make a suicide attempt than other teenagers, and the rate is highest among transgender adolescents—6 times that of their heterosexual peers,” reported JAMA Pediatrics, a medical journal published by the American Medical Association.

Having an accepting community around them greatly reduces a teens risk for suicide, which have been proven time and time again.

“Transgender people who had received one or more gender-affirming surgical procedures had a 42% reduction in the odds of experiencing past-month

psychological distress…and a 44% reduction in the odds of past-year suicidal ideation,” JAMA Pediatrics reported.

In retaliation to this bill, many Florida teachers have taken a unique approach. The bill states that any discussions on “sexual orientation or gender identity” are barred from the classroom. In response, some teachers have taken gendered terms out of their classrooms completely.

A Florida teacher sent out a letter to parents earlier this month stating the following: “I will no longer be referring to your student with gendered pronouns. All students will be referred to as ‘they’ or ‘them.’ I will no longer use a gendered title such as ‘Mr.’ or ‘Mrs.’ or make any references to my husband/wife in the classroom.”

She continued, “Furthermore, I will be removing all books or instructions which refer to a person being a ‘mother,’ ‘father,’ ‘husband’ or ‘wife’ as these are gender identities that also may allude to sexual orientation.”

Needless to say, these messages were not received well by parents and supporters of the bill. However, in response, the teacher wrote, “If you have any concerns about this policy, please feel free to contact your local congressperson.”

Many were outraged by this “malicious” compliance with the new policy but others argued that the teacher was just following the law as it was written.

Despite the public outcry against the bill, other states have been quick to make plans to introduce similar policies. Since its signing, 16 states have proposed similar legislation, including Missouri.

MO HB1669 was introduced in January 2022 and aims to ban “gender or sexual diversity training” for teachers in Missouri.

Ohio, Texas, and Oklahoma have all introduced extreme legislation against LGBTQ discussion and students, and more have followed in recent weeks.

Taking away one of the only safe spaces for many students will have devastating consequences. The best way to prevent these types of bills from passing is to contact your local officials and express your concern.

Let your voice be heard.

Schools should be safe for all students, all identities, and most importantly, they should be a place where students can learn about the world and others around them.

We cannot be silenced by such cowardly legislature.

We say gay.

OPINION / 5

BREAKING THE SILENCE LILITH CREEMER / REPORTER ]

Day of Silence is an annual event where LGBT+ and allies spend a school day without speaking. This is a silent protest against LGBT+ discrimination and bullying in schools, as people choose to stand silently with those that cannot speak for themselves.

This event typically takes place somewhere in April, and it is usually followed up by get-togethers where people “break the silence” and speak up about their experiences.

This year’s Day of Silence took place on April 22nd, but due to a scheduling issue and a calendar mistake, I ended up participating on April 8th. This itself was annoying to discover after the day had passed, but I decided it had little importance due to the fact that we did not have the standard build-up to Day of Silence. Because of that, I would not be surprised if I was the only one actively participating in the school.

During April 8th, or my Day of Silence, I wore some Day of Silence stickers on my mask. This allowed me to simply point to the stickers when someone asked why I was not speaking. Along with this, I would write a note to my teachers explaining the situation.

With both of these, I was ready to be silent.

Starting off the day, there was some friction going into the silence. It lasted just for the duration of 2nd block, where I was in a reading role for a dissection. This initially posed some difficulties, but with some nonverbal communication and effort, we eventually made it work.

Things went smoothly for the rest of the day, and I was even able to participate 6 \ OPINION

nonverbally in class discussions. The teachers had shown incredible adaptability, as every single one of them found ways to cooperate with my lack of speaking. One teacher even waived my role in a guided reading assignment to accommodate silence.

Throughout the day, I had initially felt isolated due to the lack of easy contact.

I expected this to last the entire time, but I surprisingly found the opposite effect around the end of the day. My experience with people accommodating my choice had made me feel closer to the community.

In retrospect, that was the moment in which I truly recognized how accepting this school is.

An emblem of Day of Silence (Engaging Across Difference - Day of Silence).

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Callery Pear Tree Buyback Event

& SHORT

As spring blooms, so do the Callery Pear trees.

This species of tree is native to China and Taiwan but invasive in Springfield. They used to be popular in landscaping, which is why they can be seen A brief update on what’s happening in the around Springfield.

While they may be pretty, they crowd nearby Central and Springfield communities. native trees and destroy plants that birds and wildlife need. They also have branches that break in high winds and a terrible smell. The Missouri Department of Conservation is hoping to end this invasive species through their tree buyback event.

On April 26th, people who cut down their Callery Pear trees in their yard, take a selfie with it, and submit it earn a free native tree. The point of this event is to raise awareness about invasive plant species in Springfield. The event is hosted by the Missouri Department of Conservation, Missouri Invasive Plant Council, and Forest ReLeaf.

MADI TAYLOR / REPORTER

Callery Pear (Bradford Pear). Image courtesy of

SPS Last Day of School

Missouri Department of Conservation.

Microsoft’s Annual Build Microsoft’s annual Build developer is an event for people to learn the latest news about Windows, Office, Microsoft technologies such as Microsoft Azure, and more.

Build is for those who are interested in becoming a developer, engineers, teachers, and those who enjoy computers. It has been hosted online for the past two years, and it will be online this year as well.

Build will take place from May 24th to May 26th.

To attend the virtual conference, you will need to register on the Microsoft Build website, but it is free and will give you access to around 300 sessions.

Registration opened in late April.

Microsoft will be hosting another event, Microsoft Inspire, on July 19-20th, and it is free to attendees.

This event features partners’ successes and innovations globally.

8 / NEWS

The end of the 2021-2022 school year is closer than you might think. Originally, the last day of school was supposed to fall on Friday, May 20th.

However, in January, there were five missed school days due to bad weather. The district had to use five make-up days because of this, moving the end date to Thursday, May 27th. That date has once again been changed, and this time it is final.

The last day of school will be on May 25th, a Wednesday. Graduation and commencement ceremonies dates have not changed. Rather than the typical half-day, it will be a full day. Summer break is on its way, so let’s end the school year strong.

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Accolades

Central HOSA Competes at Missouri HOSA State Leadership Conference

C ADDISON JORDAN/ SENIOR REPORTER

Central’s Choir Makes Waves at District Music Contest

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n Saturday, March 26th, students of Central’s choir were ranked in the categories of Outstanding and Exemplary with their performances. There were five students and one treble vocal ensemble that ranked Outstanding at the District Music Contest. In addition, various students ranked Exemplary and qualified to compete at the State Music Festival at Mizzou. Of the students, there were 11 soloists, one treble vocal ensemble, and one SATB Double Quartet.

entral HOSA competed in Rolla at the State Leadership Conference, with members placing first through fifth in their events. Of the 13 students that placed, five of them placed first, six placed second, and one placed third. In addition to the 13, five students placed top five in their events. Lastly, 11 students also qualified for an international competition in Nashville over the summer!

Central Scholars Win Big at Battle of the Books

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ix of Central’s scholars pulled through and won the 2022 Middle School Battle of the Books! The six students were Lanie Deng, 6, Todd Gao, 6, Jathin Bande, 7, Audrey Gao, 7, Wilson Johnson, 7, and Lael Kennedy, 7.

Band Students Perform at District Solo and Small Ensemble

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embers of Central’s band wowed judges at District Solo and Small Ensemble on March 26th, earning impressive medals. Nine students were awarded gold medals, seven awarded silver, and one awarded bronze. Students who earned gold medals also qualified to perform at the State Solo and Small Ensemble Festival in Columbia.

Pictured above, Central’s group of scholars with their medals and trophy from the Battle of the Books NEWS / 9

Springfield News

ARDEN BELOW / SENIOR REPORTER

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ccording to data from the FBI, Springfield lands in the top ten list for the most violent crime rate in the United States. The city is not alone in its representation of the state, as St. Louis and Kansas City also made the list.

The data states that there were 2,545 violent crimes reported at a rate of 1,504 per 100,000 people in 2020.

According to Fox 2 News, this rate is a 1% decrease from the previous year’s crime rate. In 2022, OzarksFirst has reported 12 violent crimes in their “2022 Crime in Springfield” article so far. Of these 12, six were the result of gun violence.

Several organizations in Springfield have arisen in response to the high rates of violence. One local watch group is the “Queen City Watchdog”. In its first meeting, several authority figures, including Jim Arnott, a Greene County sheriff, and representatives

from other support groups attended to express their support. Michael Hasty, the founder of the group, hopes to decrease the crime rate with the help of the city. “[The group is] not conservative, it’s not liberal, it’s just down the middle to hold the city accountable to what the people want,” said Hasty. “We have 15.32 crimes per thousand people, while St. Louis is at 18, St. Louis is substantially larger than us.”

Queen City Watchdog aims to work with government officials to decrease all types of crime, including property theft crimes. Paul Williams, Springfield Police Department chief, stated that property crime fell 7% in 2021 compared to the previous year. The aim of citizen-led groups along with local law enforcement is to limit the crime in our area and, hopefully, take Springfield off of the high-crime list.

World News I

MAVERICK HILL / SENIOR REPORTER

n 2017, the armed forces of Myanmar engaged in a military campaign, committing mass murder, rape, and arson against the Muslim Rohingya minority in the country. This campaign forced more than 730,000 refugees into Bangladesh.

Tensions between the Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar and the Buddhists have been well documented for more than half a century. This political and ethnic persecution boiled over in 2017 as the Myanmar military began committing human rights atrocities against the Rohingya minority in the country.

Unsurprisingly, Myanmar’s military has denied genocide and any wrongdoing against the Rohingya in the campaign. This comes despite the fact that Rohingya Muslims are not allowed citizenship in the country.

In 2018, the United States released a report calling Myanmar’s military action against the Rohingya 10 / NEWS

minority in the country “extreme, large-scale, widespread, and seemingly geared toward both terrorizing the population and driving out the Rohingya residents”. The United States government has long sanctioned government officials in Myanmar, including Min Aung Hlaing, the commander in chief of Myanmar’s armed forces.

Despite Myanmar’s claims of innocence, the Biden administration has formally recognized that the Myanmar army committed a genocide against the Rohingya people. This move by the Biden administration aims to hold the junta, the group running Myanmar, accountable.

This decision by the Biden administration is backed by a U.N. fact-finding mission from 2018 that found the military of Myanmar committed “genocidal acts” as a part of their campaign. At the time, US officials called these acts an “ethnic cleansing,” but did not formally recognize the campaign a genocide.

ON THE BIG SCREEN MADI TAYLOR / REPORTER

Central Film Festival

On April 1 and 2, Central’s Media Department hosted its 8th annual Film Festival. It was its first inperson film festival after two years of being held online.

Films from all around the world were featured in many different categories. There were also two Q&A sessions with guest speakers actress Cassandra Ballard and visual effects artist Darrell Claunch. Event and film viewings were split over a span of two days. The film festival ended with viewings of the top films in all of the categories.

The festival’s opening ceremony featured the top Central student films and a Q&A with Claunch. Claunch works as a visual effects artist on various films. Some of these films include “Jurassic Park” (1993), “Guardians of the Galaxy” (2014), and “Mad Max: Fury Road” (2015). Additionally, an award was given to the winners of the Gold SD Card, Melissa Tran, Blaise Vaughan, and Router Hubbell, for their “Unfinished Documentary.”

The opening ceremony was followed by a concert, where English teacher Mark Barger performed. Barger is an acoustic guitarist and singer-songwriter. Following his performance was “Horrors After Dark,” at which the horror film submissions were played.

The second, and last, day of the festival began with a filmmaker meet and greet. Around 12 p.m., the viewings of all film categories began, including international, drama, documentaries and silent films, and comedies.

The filmmakers then participated in a red carpet event.

To finish the festival off was the playing of the top films in each category, with the addition of an experimental film. The Pearl White Award, a prestigious theater award, was given to “A Home Like Mine,” credited to the Media Department’s Central Intelligence.

In addition, there was a Q&A with Cassandra Ballard.

Ballard is an actress who was born in Marshfield, Missouri. She is best known for her role in “Bloodline” (2018) as a main character, but she has also acted in “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,” and “American Horror Story.”

The Central Film Festival aims to celebrate the beauty of films and the hard work put into making them. The festival was directed by media teacher Josh Cantrell and was made possible by all the filmmakers, as well as the student board: Sophia Birmingham, Cal Bussen, Rachel Doel, Macie Jungmann, Jacob Tetlow, and Claire Bodnar.

English teacher Mark Barger performs.

Q&A with Cassandra Ballard and film board.

NEWS / 11

School Board On April 5, two new members were elected to the Springfield Public Schools Board of Education in a close election. Kelly Byrne and Steve Makoski won their seats with 10,119 and 9,549 votes, respectively.

In this municipal process, Charles Taylor lost his seat with the third most votes at 8,432.

Makoski, director of compliance at Rapid Roberts, did not respond to requests for comment for the Central High Times, although real estate developer and investor Byrne provided commentary about his post-election plans as a new board member.

“I’m certainly going to have some learning to do, and I will approach all board issues with open dialogue and an open mind,” Byrne said. “I intend to be relentless in improving academic achievement for SPS. Some areas I’d like to look at are balanced incorporation of technology into education, possibly discipline policies, revamping the strategic plan, teacher pay/satisfaction/ recruitment/retention, curriculum, etc.”

Among the heavily debated topics that drove the election this year, transportation and start times for schools are at the top of the list for the Board of Education. This stemmed from the schedules that the district set for the 2021-2022 school year.

“The administration has recognized the errors of last year’s transportation changes, in addition to labor shortages since then, and has worked very hard to come up with further solutions to this persisting problem,” Byrne stated. “I look forward to [voting on a new plan] with the intent that we provide as broad of a service as possible while also not having unreasonable start and end times that can really burden families.”

Both of the new candidates have similar views on technology in the classroom. They believe that technology use should be limited, as it has become overused due to the pandemic. Makoski’s website (makoskiforsps.com) stated the following: “Our schools must prioritize in-person learning and not rely solely on technology to instruct our children.

Teachers want to teach, and we should return to traditional, teacher-centered learning to stop the 10year decline of academic achievement in SPS. We must return to the ‘Three Rs’ of reading, writing, and arithmetic.”

12 / NEWS

Byrne has similar concerns about the reliance on technology over text stated on his website (kelly4sps. com).

“Textbooks have disappeared from our classrooms, and have been replaced by a patchwork of online curriculum. Parents and kids need a guide for what is to be taught in the classroom. Let’s bring the books back,” stated Byrne’s website.

The last, but certainly not least controversial issue in this year’s election is the subject of banned books. “[The term ‘banned book’] is a misnomer. The school district doesn’t ban books, but it does decide what content is appropriate in our schools which are predominantly full of minors,” Byrne commented. “I simply think there is content that is not suitable for children and it’s important that it’s not available to those kids in school libraries. If parents wish to provide them access outside of the schools then they have the freedom in this country to do that. Some people, who don’t wish to be intellectually honest, insinuate that by holding this position I want to ‘restrict ideas different than my own’ or ‘not teach real history.’ This couldn’t be further from the truth. Students should be challenged to see different perspectives and think independently, but that should happen with content that is age appropriate.”

On the other hand, Makoski is less concerned with banning books and more concerned with inserting books back into the classroom.

“Certainly a criteria that I would develop is the content. I want to know what the content is, what the objective of that content is to achieve in utilizing a book,” Makoski replied in response to how he would approach a request to ban a book posed by a Springfield journalist coalition. “I’m actually not for banning books. I would rather bring more books into the school system.”

Byrne and Makoski were sworn in as members during a board meeting on April 12. They will work alongside Scott Crise, Denise Fredrick, Danielle Kincaid, Maryam Mohammadkhani and Shurita Thomas-Tate to discuss other issues such as Critical Race Theory, teacher shortages, and improving test scores. They will also tackle the duties required for

Elections

ARDEN BELOW / SENIOR REPORTER

School Board members Kelly Byrne (left) and Steve Makoski (right), courtesy of Springfield News-Leader each nonpartisan member: setting a yearly budget, hiring and evaluating the superintendent, approving and revising policy, and overseeing and interpreting the district’s strategic plan.

“I’m excited to become 1/7 of the voice that the board holds,” Byrne remarked. “I think we can do better as a district in providing the best possible education for all of our students and I’m ready

to be a part of that.”

The board meeting also served as a last hurrah for Taylor and board president Alina Lehnert, who did not run in the 2022 election.

The two new members, along with the five incumbents, will meet at the next six scheduled meetings of 2022 to discuss issues concerning our school district.

Former Board Member Charles Taylor, who served for six years.

Courtesy of Springfield News-Leader NEWS / 13

KYIV TO KHARKIV CADEN RECTOR-CURRENT / REPORTER On February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin March 4 announced a special military operation in eastern Ukraine, and began the invasion.

A projectile hits the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Most western countries quickly implemented harsh Plant, causing a fire. No radioactive material was sanctions on the Russian Federation, causing the released. Russian forces took the plant shortly after.

Russian ruble to drop to 0.0072 USD on March 8.

The Russian offensive into Ukraine began to stall March 13 within days. 10 million Ukrainians have been displaced due to the invasion, with 3.6 million having left the An American journalist was killed by Russian country. troops.

Feb. 24

March 22

Russian forces destroy a new lab in the Chornobyl Invasion begins. Shelling begins in most eastern cities. Russian airborne troops take the Kyiv airport. exclusion zone, which housed many highly active Chernobyl nuclear power plant captured by Russian radionuclides. No reported radiation release. troops. Kyiv, Odesa, Kharkiv, and Lviv were all March 26 bombarded.

Missiles hit inside the city of Lviv for the first time.

President Biden states that Putin “could not remain in Feb. 25 power.”

Russian forces enter Kyiv. Ukrainian President Zelensky asks residents of Kyiv to prepare Molotov April 1 Cocktails to combat Russian troops and armored Two Ukrainian helicopters strike a fuel depot in vehicles.

Belgorod, Russia.

Feb. 26 April 2 Ukrainian forces shoot down a Russian transport Ukrainian forces completely recapture the Kyiv plane. President Zelensky refuses a US offer for oblast. evacuation, instead requests more ammunition.

Feb. 28

April 3

A Russian Major General is killed in unknown The Bucha Massacre is discovered. It is estimated circumstances in Ukraine. Russian forces begin that about 300 Ukrainian civilians were killed by attacking Mariupol.

Russian troops March 2 Russian paratroopers land in Kharkiv.

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April 13 The flagship of the Russian forces in the black sea, the Moskva, sinks after being struck by Ukrainian missiles.

WAR IN UKRAINE Russia and Ukraine have been at odds for several years. In 2014, Russia invaded and annexed the Crimea region of Ukraine. Russian backed separatists had been fighting in eastern Ukraine, using Russian supplied guns and artillery. On Feb. 10, Russia and Belarus began 10 days of military maneuvers near the border of Ukraine. On Feb. 21, Russian president Vladimir Putin announced that Russia recognized the separatists rebels in eastern Ukraine as independent.

International Response

The international community has stopped short of sending troops or aircraft to Ukraine. However, there have been a significant number of sanctions against the Russian economy, causing the Russian ruble to significantly drop in value.

Poland offered its entire arsenal of fighter jets to Ukraine, but NATO stopped the transfer, citing a potentially violent Russian response. Finland and Sweden have also been threatened by Russia if they were On Feb. 24, Putin announced a “Special Military to join NATO, although NATO states that they have a Operation” into eastern Ukraine. Within minutes of supposed open door policy.

Putin’s announcement, missiles and artillery were launched into Ukrainian territory, targeting Kyiv and other large cities. Russian troops landed in Mariupol and Odessa.

In the following days, fighting in Kyiv became intense, with Russian airborne troops landing at the Kyiv airport, which was recaptured quickly. The initial invasion stalled shortly after starting, with Ukrainian resistance being stronger than initially expected.

Initial Invasion

Humanitarian Crisis Over 10 million Ukrainians have been displaced from their homes, with over three million having left the country. Russian forces have also massacred civilian Above: Wreckage in the city of Mariupol (from BBC) populations, and have refused to allow humanitarian Below: Civilians on a destroyed tank (from BBC) aid into besieged cities, such as Mariupol. Hundreds, potentially thousands of Ukrainian civilians have died.

NEWS / 15

Central’s Lucky Stiff MAVERICK HILL / SENIOR REPORTER

Put on by the drama department was none other than Lucky Stiff, a story centering around an English shoe salesman, Harry Witherspoon, who is made to take the body of his murdered uncle on vacation. If he follows through, Harry would then inherit six million dollars.

If he fails, the money gets donated to a dog shelter. The story gets more tricky when Rita LaPorta, the person who was thought to have murdered Harry’s uncle tries to get in on the chase for the money.

Maggie Stanfield, 12, played a large role in this year’s musical.

“My character was Annabel Glick and she was a representative of the Universal Dog home in Brooklyn.

Her goal was to watch over Harry and uncle to make sure that he was doing all of it correctly and if he messed up then she would take uncle and then the money would go to the dog home,” Stanfield, 12, said. Throughout the show, however, Annabel has a change of heart.

“Over the course of the show she goes on crazy adventures with Harry and uncle and eventually falls in

love with him by the end,” Stanfield, 12, said. This role wasn’t just any role to Maggie, though.

“She is a dog lover, she cares about her work, she’s very serious, and I feel that I relate to her a lot. I am very hard-working. I love my dogs. If you look at my camera roll it’s all dog pictures. I am also very passionate about the things that I believe in and that is one of the things that I loved about Annabel... I also got to crochet on stage because that was just one of the things that she did and I love crocheting.”

WOW220125

SIGNING PAST THE STATISTICS EMMARIE LOGAN / REPORTER Central High School is honored to celebrate the 14 accomplished student-athletes who are among a large group of the Class of 2022 going on to play a varsity sport in college. College sports could be considered a staple in American culture, as some college teams receive the same amount of hype and crowd turnouts as any professional game.

The sports we watch today never lack an abundance of players; however, the number of athletes that never make it past the high school competition is greater

than most would know. Only seven percent of high school athletes move on to play a college sport, with fewer than two percent signing to play at Division I schools.

Knowing these numbers, the amount of studentathletes signing from Central seems not only significant but also astonishing. These athletes have worked incredibly hard to be where they are now. They have shown impeccable amounts of potential in their sport and in other important areas of any athlete’s life.

The list of athletes signing includes: 1. Arden Below (Lehigh University-Volleyball) 2. Holland Hawkins (University of Missouri-Kansas City-Women’s Soccer) 3. Leah Shelley (Missouri Valley College-Cheer) 4. Ashton Stine (Central Methodist University-Football) 5. Isaiah Harvey (Clarke University-Football) 6. Brett Turner (Ottawa University-Football) 7. Logan Norman (Central Methodist UniversityFootball) 8. Marissa Gaylor (York College-Wrestling) 9. Isabella Richardson (Adrian College-Wrestling) 10. Cole Hughes (Baker University-Men’s Basketball) 11. Deverin King (Evangel University-Men’s Track and Field) 12. Maverick Hill (Drury University-Bass Fishing) 13. Genevieve Thornton (Wentworth Institute of Technology-Volleyball) 14. Phoebe Riddle (Avila University-Volleyball) Beginning a new chapter in life is never easy, especially the transition from high school to college.

Leaving home, starting true independence, and gaining a sense of “college life” can all release some anxiety and challenges. College athletes encounter a unique college experience due to practice, games, and school all added together. Whether the challenges bring joy or growth, it is all worth it. The early mornings, late 18 / SPORTS

nights, bus rides, the wins, and every loss bring passion and authenticity to the table. Student-athletes embody hard work meeting with talent.

With that in mind, it is important to recognize the efforts that these Central athletes put forth every day to prepare, persevere, and pride themselves in what they do and key characteristics and advice that led them to where they are.

From left to right; Seniors Isaiah Harvey, Brett Turner, Ashton Stine, Logan Norman, and Em Gaylor signed for football and wrestling “The first thing I looked into for each college was the opportunities past college. Which school would provide me with the most advanced and rigorous education that would help me in my future career while being able to play college sports that I love?

Wanting to achieve my undergrad in Science really swayed me toward the University of Ottawa based in Kansas. They were able to give me four to five years of preparation to help me transition into graduate school or into an entry-level job. As much as I love sports, if the school that I wanted to go to could not provide academically then I would not play sports in college,” Brett Turner, 12, said.

There are rigorous traits to be a college athlete including determination in the classroom. Above all else, academics come first. Without proper etiquette or behavior colleges are less likely to be interested in an athlete. College sports are not a right, but a privilege and at any given time that privilege can be taken away.

Making a college commitment off of academics before sports creates a safety net in case anything goes wrong. Turner is one of many to look at his college choices based on the foreseeable future, not just spurof-the-moment feelings. Athletes can easily be caught up in the media, stereotypes, and talk about signing or any other pressure that seems to swarm the potential collegiate athletes. It is important to have structured support from family, friends, and other teammates.

“I think the quality most important in an athlete is determination. As an athlete you are going to fail at things, you are going to mess up, get things wrong and not get the goals or points you want in a game or match and you are going to have off days, but you have to be determined to keep going to keep practicing to get the move right and to keep improving. As an athlete, you cannot give up,” Isabella Richardson, 12, said.

Failure falls around everyone. Richardson has been involved with Central’s wrestling program for four years; however she did not start wrestling until her junior year.

She started out as a manager ended up signing to wrestle for Adrian College in Adrian, Michigan. Determination fueled Richardson throughout her entire journey through wrestling. She had coaches by her side and teammates who encouraged her to always do her best, but her personal drive to compete at her best is what brought her to the collegiate level. Her strength in staying committed and never giving up was a key part in her success.

“Volleyball has not only given me important leadership skills but has also brought me some lifelong friends. I think competition is so empowering and can really bring people together. Central volleyball really became a family this year and I enjoyed every moment.

It provided me with some incredible opportunities and I am extremely excited to continue my volleyball journey,” Arden Below, 12, expressed.

Working hard and putting forth so much effort in school and athletics builds a future for athletes. Just as many athletes from Central are signing to move on to collegiate play, there are also many sweet memories to remember. High school sports hold a special place in college athlete’s hearts. The coaches they had, the teammates they spent so much time with, crowds in the stands, and watching personal growth are all a part of high school sports.

Leaving these things behind to start a new journey can be scary and sad, but these optimistic and disciplined group of senior athletes are going to go far and accomplish so much more.

SPORTS / 19

Spirit of CHS MORGAN MARTENS / REPORTER

D

ance has been through a lot these last few years. Covid set them back far and made it difficult for them to be able to perform at their full potential. But this year with the new leadership they made leaps and bounds difference. Also the restrictions of covid was lifted majorly.

“This year we returned to a normal practice schedule of two days a week and performed at more games. The audience turnout for our football and basketball games was also much better than last year and we felt very supported by the student body,” Lucy Vanover, 11, said, as she explained how this year Dancers getting into formation. (Bailey Dipper)

20 /SPORTS

was different than last year for the dance team.

“The highlight of this season for me was our halftime performance at the Tournament of Champions basketball tournament put on by Bass Pro,” Brookelyn Smith, 12, said. This season for some has been very memorable and different having many new opportunities they haven’t had before. For the seniors this season was an opportunity to give it all they had.

For some of them this is their last season of dance.

Dance team is about giving spirit to a school that needs all the spirit they can have. Dance gives this school life in the halls. When being a part of a spirit team such as this, you show your school sports and events love. The dance team has done nothing short of this.

“I have wanted to join the dance team since the first assembly I attended as a 6th grade Scholar. I loved watching them have fun on Dancers getting ready for the spotlight. (Bailey Dipper)

stage and wanted to be apart of that,” Smith, 12, said. There are various reasons that dance team members have for having joined the dance team at Central.

“My favorite part of dancing is being able to learn and grow in a non judgemental environment.

Everyone is able to learn and grow at their own pace,” Jordan Altic, 12, said.

This team has had a monstrous year full of great memories. This time has prepared each dancer more for their future. Dancing on the dance team has given life lessons that helped develop these dancers into young adults.

“Dance has prepared me for the future because it has taught me how to work together with other people.

It has also provided me with my lifelong best friend, Halle Johnson, [12,]” Meygan Smith, 12, said.

Be on the lookout for the dance team next year, as Dance Team changes their name to the Pomdogs.

CHS Dancers posing for the camera. (Bailey Dipper)

U N D E R T H E H E L M E T

This years’ baseball team is stacked with athletes: from the quarterback and wide receiver of our football team, to the baseball players who have been playing for as long as they can remember. In addition, an allconference junior in the infield Jadyn Lewis, 12, throwing the most certainly helps the team.

Central baseball has prepared rock. (Darby Plute) to be in one of the hardest conferences this season.

“This season has been much different from last season because we have at least 25 guys playing on our team and many of them are good players,” Dakota Walton, 10 said.

Baseball has had a big expansion to the team with a lot of new players to form a Barrett Burns, 9, up to bat. full varsity and junior varsity (Darby Plute) team. Having this big of a team helps expand the ability to change out and rest the starting five. It also provides younger, less experienced players the opportunity to get in the game.

“Essentially, high school baseball has been a culture shock of an experience for me,” Aiden Wallace, 9, said Nathan Elsenraat, 11, ready to as he explained the difference bat. (Darby Plute) between high school ball and travel ball or other forms of playing. High school sports can affect freshmen because it shows that becoming a part of a team and being a new member

of the team changes perspective and mindset.

“All of our players support and care for each other, and I feel that Central’s baseball program could have a really good team in the near future,” Walton said.

When a team or sport has a positive energy and support, it leads to a better team. This creates more of a family and less of a team—which helps on the field when playing. It also helps when off the field, because it gives the players a more comfortable feeling being around their teammates.

“I joined baseball because I love it. It’s the only extracurricular I have done.

It’s something I cannot live without. It’s what makes me whole,” Wallace said.

This baseball team has extreme talent and apreciation for one another. This gives them the ability to go out on the field and do the best each of them can do for the team and the players on it.

Each player on this team has shown determination and love for the sport, and that’s why this team is so well put together.

Winning is nice, but you cannot win if you don’t have a team that works and communicates well together.

“I joined baseball because I love it. It’s the only extracurricular I have done. It’s something I cannot live without. It’s what makes me whole,” Infield meet-up for a pep talk.

(Darby Plute)

- Aiden Wallace, 9

MORGAN MARTENS / REPORTER SPORTS / 21

Baby Got Track!

EMMARIE LOGAN / REPORTER The art of track and field is found in its versatility. Can you run fast? Join track. Do you like to lift? Join field. Do you have the legs to jump?

Join track. For almost every skill across the athletic board, there is an event.

In some ways, track and field is a more

challenging sport than others because there are many events with no team— just yourself. Having multiple individuals working together as a team against another is normally the gift of a team sport, making track unique and dynamically motivated.

“Track is not my main sport; my main sport is football. I use track to keep myself active during the off-season,” Hayden Smith, 11, said.

Like many athletes at Central, Smith plays multiple sports during the year. You will often see 22 / SPORTS

many track and field athletes who are also involved in things such as volleyball, basketball, football, cross country, cheer, dance, and more. During football season, Smith works hard to stay in shape and perform at his best while building new strength and skills.

Ultimately the hardest part of any athletic season is staying in shape after the season ends. Taking breaks, stopping workouts, and reverting back to old habits can take away all the work put in. Being involved in another sport like track helps to keep athletes in shape while also teaching new skills and workout routines.

“Being on the team is really fun because we treat each other like family and always cheer each other on during meets,” Alyssa Daniels, 10, expressed.

The culture of Central’s track team is unique in its own kind. There are many benefits such as meeting new people or discovering new skills you never knew you had.​ The coaches on the Central track team are dedicated to improving their athlete’s skills. They spend one-on-one time with each athlete, discussing how to improve their success in their events. Having a support system is one of the most important aspects of athletics. Without people to cheer you on and hold you accountable, you may never grow. Central has a wonderful dynamic that feels like family.

“I encourage anyone else who is thinking about [participating in track] to do it, who knows, you might have fun!” Smith said.

Oftentimes, there are rumors or stereotypes projected about track and field, just like any other sport.

However, Central track and field remains diverse as most of its participants are multi-sport athletes dedicating themselves to a proper off-season. This creates a culture within the whole school, providing relationships to those athletes who might not have been given an opportunity to converse otherwise.

The Central Track and Field team consists of talented, hardworking individuals who are genuinely interested in doing their best. This team is a great representation of what it means to be a Central Bulldog.

FUTURE LEADERS OF SPRINGFIELD: GIRLS FOR GOOD ADDISON JORDAN / SENIOR REPORTER

C

entral has many clubs that encourage teamwork and community service work among students.

Girls for Good is a student-run organization committed to helping members of the Central and Springfield communities. The group’s goal is to inspire young women to change the world through community service and important discussions.

Julie Gugel, Family and Consumer Sciences teacher and sponsor of Girls for Good, expressed admiration for the group’s goal and the positive impact it has on participants.

“The girls really care about other girls and women here in the school and in the community,” Gugel said.

“They’re really for helping girls out. They want to empower girls and women in the community to take up leadership roles, and they really strive to do things that encourage that.”

Kiera Kaba, 12, spoke about the community that has been created by the club, and how giving back has brought members together.

“My favorite thing about Girls for Good is the way that it creates a community between the young women and the people of the school, and the way it gives back to the community and helps other people,” Kaba said.

Girls for Good has taken on several projects this school year, such as fundraisers and a drive for menstrual products. Projects such as these give the girls the opportunity to develop skills that will help them in the future.

Gugel spoke about how these projects have helped in the school community and how the girls have learned about self purpose, kindness, and encouragement through them.

“It shows [the girls] purpose; that they do have a purpose,” Gugel stated. “Helping others out is always a good feeling whenever you’re able to encourage somebody, or help somebody out, or be a [sort of] beacon for them.”

It is evident in their work that Girls for Good’s members genuinely care about the work they do. In setting up fundraisers, supplying those in need with hygiene supplies, and organizing the Bulldog Boutique,

the girls show their compassion and natural leadership.

“The goal of the club is to better the community, to give back to that community, and I think that that’s a very important message,” Kaba said. “Especially since we’re young, and just entering the world, it is really important to learn those skills and see how important community service and volunteering is.”

Girls from all backgrounds are welcomed in Girls for Good. All girls, and their ideas to help community members are valued. Gugel emphasized the importance of the girls’ ideas and how a seemingly small change can do great things. “[I enjoy] hearing the girls discuss issues that are important to them, bat around ideas about what they can do, and create things that they can go out in the community and do. I love watching them work, they have a lot of really great ideas,” Gugel said.

Gugel shared an encouraging message-one that shows true compassion and companionship, the same values that the group promises to Springfield’s community.

“The lesson is that you don’t have to have a million dollars and be a philanthropist to really affect your community, and to [create] change for good,” Gugel said.

All girls with the passion to change the world can do so; by joining Girls for Good, you can make a difference and find amazing friends and opportunities along the way as well.

FEATURE / 23

Senior Goodbyes NATHAN SHARP / MAGAZINE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

I

t’s very easy to get in your own head about doing something like the newsmagazine or yearbook. It’s a lot of work just for a grade, and it can sometimes feel meaningless. If you think about it like that, it’s a nightmare.

I did for a while. I got out of that mindset recently thanks to a very nice email from Coach Welch, who I covered last issue. She really appreciated what I had written about her. It’s easy to forget that you can make someone’s day just from this stuff, and that’s amazing. Just like with this goodbye, one of the last things I will write for the publication, I hope that someone can take something from it. Okay, that’s it. Goodbye Central.

BAILEY DIPPER / CO-YEARBOOK EDITOR

I

’ve had the honor of being on Journalism staff for three years now, and I’ve met some of the most incredible and hardworking people that I’ve had the pleasure of working alongside with. The thing that makes being a part of your yearbook staff so special to me is being able to tell and deliver the stories of people that you would otherwise walk past and not spare a second thought. Even if you’ve never enjoyed high school, the yearbook and newsmagazine is important to you for the same reason that it is important to everyone. The words and faces of your teachers and peers are in those pages. You will read it and remember the experiences lived and the friendships loved and lost. I know that I have forever been positively altered by the people in these publications. So, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for letting us tell your stories. Once a Bulldog, always a Bulldog!

HALLE JOHNSON / CO-YEARBOOK EDITOR

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t seems like only yesterday I walked through the doors of Central for the first time and headed down to the Journalism room for my first class. I remember feeling both excited and incredibly nervous as to what would lie ahead of me. Now I’m nearing the end of my senior year and have had the amazing experience of being both a photo editor and yearbook editor with my partner in crime, Bailey Dipper. I am so thankful for the amazing opportunities I have been given while being a member of the Journalism II staff, and I am grateful for all the memories I have made for myself and hopefully for others while capturing the special moments that have happened during my time at Central. Thank you for allowing me to help tell your story.

REID BIGGERS / PHOTO EDITOR

T

his is the fourth and final year of my time here at Central. The time seemed to pass by both so quickly and so slowly. Having this opportunity to work alongside the amazing people on staff, make memories, and laugh so hard that water came out of my nose has been one of the best parts of my public education experience. However, it is now time for my tenure at Central High School to end, and for another cohort of students to take my place. I will value my time here at Central, and think back to it fondly. Goodbye Central, it has been an awesome four years.

ASHLYN WUENCH / YEARBOOK COPY EDITOR

E

ntering my freshman year as a transfer student at Central was undoubtedly a rough go at the beginning.

Knowing roughly around five students within the school that appeared so massive made me feel lost; the four years until graduation seemed as though it would take a lifetime to get through. Well, I was right, that took forever. On a real note, I do happen to know more than five students now, and I know this school inside and out; it isn’t as big as it appears at first glance. My time at Central has helped me branch out, learn new things, and develop interests not previously had. This school has given me great opportunities and memories that I will treasure. Thank you, Central, from the students to the staff, for giving me four years of everything from bizarre to very sweet moments that will remain highlights for years to come.

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MARISSA GAYLOR / YEARBOOK LAYOUT EDITOR

I

guess this is goodbye—after six years at Central and four years in journalism, it has been a trip and a half.

I want to say thank you and goodbye to all the amazing teachers and the friends that have come and gone, and the ones who stayed. A special thank you to Dr. Smith-Nelson, Ms. Chrismer, Mrs. Groven, and Coach Price, who made classes tolerable. I would also like to thank Coach Johnson for giving me the opportunity to be a part of a team and family that changed my life and Coach Pyck and the wrestling team who introduced me to the sport I’m now going to college for. Whether or not I ever use the quadratic formula, I know the lessons and memories I have gained from the people I have met at Central will be with me forever. Thank you Central, goodbye.

ARDEN BELOW / MAGAZINE COPY EDITOR

I

n my last semester of high school, I have had many of what I call “senior moments.” These are the instances in which it finally sinks in that I am leaving this school and this city very soon. It’s difficult to capture all of the emotions I feel during these moments—especially now, as I write my final salutations to the Central Journalism program. I’d first like to thank Ms. Chrismer for giving me the opportunity to have a leadership role on the magazine staff, and all of my fellow newsmag students who have provided me with friendship along with inspiring stories about events in our school and community. I would also like to express my gratitude to Central and the IB Program for providing me with the best public school experience that I could have asked for. I am taking in this moment with happiness and hope for the future.

ADDI JORDAN / MAGAZINE SENIOR REPORTER

I

’m not even sure where to start with this, honestly. High school has been crazy, and the fact that it’s almost over is crazier. In the beginning, four years seemed like forever; it has been, in a way. The scary, unreal thing is that within a matter of weeks, I will have graduated. It hasn’t hit me in full, but one thing has; I’m really going to miss the people here. I’ve had so many amazing teachers, and made amazing friends as well. I know that if I would have gone anywhere else, I wouldn’t be the person I am today. Being here, I’ve learned so many important things, academics aside. I’ve learned about respect, determination, responsibility, and diversity.

Above everything, I’ve found family within these walls. I’ve grown close to people that I never would have expected to, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Thank you, Central.

MAVERICK HILL / MAGAZINE SENIOR REPORTER

A

s a sophomore entering journalism as a class to fill a hole in my schedule, I had no idea what I was really getting myself into. After all, I was simply trying to get an extra elective credit. But what was meant to be a filler-class turned out to be a new passion of mine. The next thing I knew, I was applying to join the magazine staff. Over the last two years, I have thoroughly enjoyed my time as a member of the CHS JII staff. As a staff member, I have grown as a person and a journalist. I am forever grateful for all of the opportunities and experiences I have gained as a part of this team.

KAITLYN SILKEY / MAGAZINE SENIOR REPORTER

I

t’s pretty crazy how fast time flies. It’s weird how it seems like it’s been the longest four years of my life but also somehow the shortest. High school has given me a lot of experiences that have helped me grow as a student and as a person. It’s been a rough but fun ride. I know it’s cliché to say “I’ve found myself” but I honestly did. People always talk about how high school is the most defining four years of your life, and I kind of agree with that. The things I have gone through and discovered while being here at Central have helped put me on the path I want to go down. High school has allowed me to understand who I am and what I want to become.

I’ve figured out what I want to do with my life, and I’m actually excited for the future.

FEATURE / 25

HUMANS OF CENTRAL: NAOMI MENG

ANIA KOVACS / ASSISTANT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF It is Naomi Meng’s fourth year at Central High School, but her first year as a high schooler—and she made it count. The Springfield Scholars Program conditioned Meng’s competitive spirit for three years, but this year her talent shined through in athletic and musical events.

Meng is involved in Springfield Youth Symphony, St. Louis Youth Symphony, Science Olympiad, Math Club, CHS girls’ swim and cross country. She has received considerable recognition for almost all of these activities—and she’s only a freshman in high school.

Meng was selected for the 2022 Missouri All State Orchestra, an ensemble that rehearsed and performed at the annual Missouri Music Educators Association Conference in January of 2022 at Osage Beach, Missouri.

Meng also won a concerto competition with the Springfield Symphony Orchestra and Drury University, receiving the opportunity to perform a concerto with both orchestras.

Meng started playing violin and piano when she was just five years old. Ten years of practicing music has led her to connect with many of her current friends and meet people with similar musical goals.

Meng’s recent success has taken hard work, but playing music is not a chore for her, it is a means of relaxation and a break from academic work.

26 / FEATURE

“I would say music is my passion,” stated Meng.

“I think its so nice because you can express yourself through [music] and its really relaxing and fun. You can play with other people and meet people that are like you.”

Meng has also had amazing success in competitive swimming this past year. Though she only competes on the CHS girls’ swim team for fun, Meng advanced to state as a freshman.

In the fall season of 2021, she also participated in cross country. Meng said it pushed her mentally and physically and she is grateful for the opportunity to strengthen her perseverance.

It has been an eventful first year of high school for Meng, all due to her dedication as a student and athlete.

Luckily, her academic workload has not hindered her motivation at this point in her high school career.

“It’s just freshman year and I think I’m putting school before my extracurriculars. In the future, if it gets harder, I’ll probably chill on the [outside activities] and just focus on my schoolwork,” Meng said.

Regardless of the obstacles that may loom in Meng’s future, she doesn’t see herself backing down any time soon.

“The thought of the future definitely keeps me going,” Meng said. “I see adults around me that are inspiring and successful, and I know I want to be successful.”

Healing Central from the Inside Out

NATHAN SHARP / EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

T

he Inside Out Project is an art installation that will hopefully be coming to life in the next school year.

Photos of 50 or more people, specifically their faces, are taken and blown up onto large canvases which are then pasted anywhere from buildings to sidewalks.

These pictures can be placed virtually anywhere, and naturally degrade over time.

Comprising of black and white portraits, the project is supposed to be used as a platform to spark conversations or raise awareness of an issue close to the subject’s hearts. Mr. Kyle Wallace, English teacher and spearhead of the project, is hoping that an element of Central’s lost community can be restored.

“Having talked with students, it seems like in the last couple of years a lot of people have had major setbacks in their lives. I felt like this might be something good for students to get their voices out there, look around, and see other people are struggling just the same. I felt this project was a good one to have just there for support, you know? I’m hoping people will look around and go, ‘Hey that person’s struggling too, and they’re making it’. I think it’s an important piece of the school we’re missing right now,” Wallace said.

Anonymity is a focus of the project here at Central.

Wallace wants anyone to be able to share their story, even if they don’t want to be connected to it.

“I think sometimes people are more willing to share when they know they don’t have to attach their name to it. Maybe they’re just shy, or they’re worried about a stigma being put on them. We’re taking pictures of just the eyes only. Someone can just put their eyes out there, black and white, and you can still have a voice,” Wallace stated.

There is a good chance that a large part of the student body, even staff, won’t fully know about this project until it’s already being put up. That’s actually by design.

“I’ve kept this on the down low, partly because I want to keep some of the mystique of it. All of a sudden you have this installation of eyes and no one knows what’s going on. The teachers I have talked to are very excited about it, and they think it’s going to be a really great thing,” Wallace said.

Wallace has let other teachers and classes in on the project, including Mr. Patrick Burns’ photography

class, who took the photos of each student’s eyes. This extension to other departments in the school will only add to the school unity Wallace is aiming for.

“When Wallace first approached me about this, he expressed it as a platform for students who are dealing with the trauma of the pandemic and everything caused by it. It kind of evolved into all trauma experienced these last few years. This project is a very broad and bold, yet helpful and healing experience. I think it’s something that we need right now,” Burns stated.

The hopes of Wallace, and everyone involved, is to restore an earlier spirit of the school. One that was lost when the pandemic hit. Bringing a community back up from where it is now.

“I think art can bring people together. It can create discussion without taking a side politically, and it doesn’t have to be controversial. I’m hoping that students can see with a bit of effort and motivation you can do something that has meaning for people that you might not have thought of. As a teacher, you can see that sometimes when you assign a project, students take that project and run with it. It turns into something much more meaningful then you had intended for it to be,” Wallace said.

Burns also shares in this sentiment. A shared sense of hope for the future is at the forefront of everyone’s vision who is helping this project. Anonymous or not, each student is helping open the door to an important conversation about trauma.

“I think this project has the potential to really help build the community we had. The unfortunate thing with COVID is that everybody became very isolated from everyone else. We’ve lost a part of our ability to communicate with each other, to really see each other.

I think there’s some amount of reconnection that must happen. This project involves not just one department, and it has the chance to really snowball into some really great things,” Burns stated.

Near the start of the next school year, these pictures are projected to be hanging somewhere in or on the building. Many teachers and students put their soul into each picture, and the bravery involved cannot be understated. The context of how much effort is being sent out is commendable.

Central is stronger together, and our healing process will start from the inside out.

FEATURE / 27

Several years ago, before even the senior staff members among us had started working for it, the Central High Times ran a rather brilliant piece about the quality of the water fountains at Central.

Now, in a post-COVID Central, the water fountains have been disabled and left behind as barren shells in favor of the water bottle filling stations. What started as Second Floor Old something of a staff joke turned Building Filling Station into an homage and spiritual Speed of Fill: 9.28 successor to a story run long ago, Flavor: 6 and an interesting project due Number of Plastic Bottles to the surprisingly quite varied Saved at Time of Review: properties of Central’s very 4963 own water bottle filling station.

Temperature: Cold Overall: 5/10 Third Floor Old Building Filling Station Speed of Fill: 10.96 Flavor: 4 Number of Plastic Bottles Saved at Time of Review: 4685 Temperature: Lukewarm Overall: -3/10

Third Floor Commons Filling Station Speed of Fill: 12.57 Flavor: 7 Number of Plastic Bottles Saved at Time of Review: 45281 Temperature: Lukewarm Overall: -1/10 Second Floor Commons Filling Station Speed of Fill: 9.36 Flavor: 4 Number of Plastic Bottles Saved at Time of Review: 38596 Temperature: Cold Overall: 3/10

Food Review:

The Bottle Filling Stations of Central NED PICKETT / ASSISTANT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF First Floor Old Building Filling Station Speed of Fill: 8.98 Flavor: 7 Number of Plastic Bottles Saved at Time of Review: 30091 Temperature: Frigid Overall: 8/10

If you are in the area and simply looking for something that will go quickly with great flavor and decent temperature, you should absolutely check out the filling station by the Pit. If you want gourmet, the filling stations of the basement and first floors in the new building are absolutely for you. Avoid the stations on the third floor at all costs, regardless Basement Hallway of how thirsty you are and how Filling Station much you need it. The rest of Speed of Fill: 8.86 the stations are, at the very least, Flavor: 8 Number of Plastic Bottles drinkable, although the better Saved at Time of Review: ones are all within a short distance if you truly want to upgrade 16614 your bottle filling experience.

Temperature: Frigid Overall: 9/10 28 / HYPE

First Floor Commons Filling Station Speed of Fill: 8.14 Flavor: 5 Number of Plastic Bottles Saved at Time of Review: 69551 Temperature: Cold Overall: 5/10 Pit Filling Station Speed of Fill: 7.98 Flavor: 9 Number of Plastic Bottles Saved at Time of Review: 6713 Temperature: Moderately Cold Overall: 7/10

Horoscopes CADEN RECTOR-CURRENT / REPORTER Aries: Mar. 21-Apr. 19 Taurus: Apr. 20-May 20 Gemini: May 21-June 21 Cancer: June 22-July 22 Leo: July 23-Aug. 22 Virgo: Aug. 23-Sept. 22 Libra: Sept. 23-Oct. 22 Scorpio: Oct. 23-Nov. 21 Sagittarius: Nov. 22-Dec. 21 Capricorn: Dec. 22-Jan. 19 Aquarius: Jan 20-Feb. 18 Pisces: Feb. 19-Mar. 20 ARIES Are you breathing in the right pattern right now?

CANCER The way in which you walk will suddenly change. You will now run everywhere, except when you need to run.

LIBRA Does the earth make you frustrated? Then try a healthy dose of mars.

The moon might work too.

CAPRICORN Next time you look up qwerty, you will be greeted by a gentle old man, who wants to help set you on the right path for success.

TAURUS You need candy.

LEO Don’t lick uranium. It has a lot of calories.

SCORPIO Your parallel world self is at a party right now

AQUARIUS That water was good, wasn’t it?

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GEMINI Boo! (You’re supposed scream now)

to

SAGITTARIUS (Insert funny sentence here.)

VIRGO I was wondering, do you know the muffin man?

PISCES Next time you have a goal, you will be .00001 seconds from achieving it. Sorry!

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Year at a Glance OLIVIA FRANCIS / PHOTO EDITOR

Aiden Baxter, 9, drawing at the Bulldog Buddy Bash.

(Bailey Dipper)

Jaxson Marte, 10, and Star Beattie, 10, performing in Lucky Stiff, this year’s Spring musical. (Bailey Dipper)

Shayla Frost, 11, portraying the severe emotion need to play the roll of Joseph. (Ainsley Daccache) 30 / HYPE

Hannah Le, 12, at the band senior night. (Bailey Dipper)

Henry Herbert, 12, Performing an original song at Mr. CHS. (Olivia Francis)

Garrison Taylor, 10, drawing an arrow at an archery tournament. (Reid Biggers)

Carter Reed, 11, being a silly little guy before the Homecoming assembly. (Reid Biggers)

Central’s football team winning at the homecoming football game. (Bailey Dipper) HYPE / 31

NATALIE REECE / COMIC ARTIST